Feeling Better About Myself --

I used to hate having my picture taken -- especially in group shots. I was almost always the largest person there --- a little head stuck on top of bloated up body.

A photo book that is a retirement gift for one of my bosses was lying on my desk this morning, with a note to find my picture and write my well wishes next to it. (Great gift idea, by the way!) I cringed thinking how awful I must look. 

Well, I've just got to tell you how pleased I was -- I was in a group shot with 3 other ladies and I looked.... normal!!!!  I flipped through the whole book just to make sure.  Of course I'm still fat, BUT I didn't stand out at all, I looked just like any of the other ladies that weren't skinny minnies! 

Before surgery I would've never thought looking normal in pictures would be such a big thing for me. I didn't realize what it does to your self esteem to be so afraid to see yourself in a photo and to hate the way you look. Every time I saw myself in a photo I looked bigger than the last time, until I got to the point where I didn't even recognize that person as me. This morning I wanted to cry with thankfulness for the opportunity this surgery has given me to feel better about myself.

That's wonderful!  I'm so happy for you!   Good work!!   Yes, I too hate looking at pictures of myself.   Losing weight sure does give us a boost.  It may not be the whole ball of wax for me in regards to how I feel about myself but it sure will help.  I can move on to other things I hate.....only kidding.   I admit, I have to learn to love myself more.

Congradulations!  I too hate pictures taken of me for the same reason.  Some day I'll be were you are!

Congrats!  What a wonderful thing to discover that "normal" is EXCEPTIONAL, SUPER DUPER, GREAT, FANTASTIC, AWESOME, AMAZING! 

That's an awesome victory! 
My DH and I had our photos taken for the church directory and I experienced something similar.  When we viewed the pictures I was dreading the self-critisism which would surely come, but surprise, surprise!  I actually like the picture.  I liked it a lot. We even bought some extra's and gave them to family for Christmas gifts.  The funniest, (and most satisfying part), my DH had the "slim down" his double chin when they did the re-touches.  My chin looked great!  Ha!

Congratulations!

Lisa O.

I use to only take pictures of my kids without me in the pictures..On the ones I was in, I felt awful about and didn't like seeing. The sad thing is... I cant get those memories back. I wish I would have taken more so when they look back at the pictures of us they can have those memories too. Now, I take pictures with them and realize "they will love u no matter what u look like"... !