Before Picture

I have a couple on my phone. My weight loss is a popular subject at both my gym and at a couple local casino/poker games I'm a regular at. New people hear stories and ask me about it, or older members tell them how well I did. I'm not ashamed. I was huge and out of shape, now I'm the opposite.

If only one obese person talks to me and decides maybe surgery is a good idea, it'll be worth it. My sister in law and her husband are both in early stage of looking into DS because they've seen firsthand the tremendous difference its made in my life.

Pre-op, so maybe my opinion will change, but I don't plan on carrying my photo around. I may post one or two on Facebook, or my blog (not on here but I do have one I've been irregularly posting about my pre-op process) but on Facebook my security settings are pretty much set so only select friends can see--not even my entire friends list.

Honestly, I hate people taking my picture. I will take an occasional "selfie" but I'm a photographer myself and know how to get just the right angles/lighting to make me look not-so-fat...probably why I'm so horrified when anyone else takes my picture and puts it on Facebook and I m in my "true form!"

Grudgingly, I have my employee badge. I didn't realize until a co-worker pointed it out. But, no, I don't purposely carry my "before"s.

I did take monthly pics and have them posted in my bedroom as a (private) motivator/reminder.

Yes, on my phone I have my before picture and also several from along the way showing my progress. I don't pull them out to show off or anything like that but they are for me. I am a very visual person and I tend to review them once in a while just to see the change I have made because there are days that I feel like I still look the same as I did at over 300 pounds.

I used to attend a lot of different support groups. After I got to goal I still went for a long time. The group leaders wanted me to show my before afters to give inspiration to the pre and newly post-ops, so I did carry mine for a while. I still have one on my phone but haven't shown it to anyone recently. At 9 years out most people have forgotten I was ever big.

Honestly, old pictures don't bother me anymore and I am always surprised they bother others so much. I refuse to hate my old self or have any shame in my obesity. It helped create the person I am now and I am pretty wonderful.

I refuse to hate my old self or have any shame in my obesity. It helped create the person I am now and I am pretty wonderful

I just love this Laura. Your daughters are two very fortunate young ladies - you will give them the immeasurable gift of self esteem.

Thanks, Amy

My drivers license still has my before picture. It doesn't expire until 2019, so I'll always have one on me.

I have some on my phone just because they are there (and usually with other people I care about). I prefer not to look at them. Why would anyone intentionally carry those around?

I did for a while but haven't in years. I have my photos in Dropbox so if someone wants to see them, I can pull them up.