Friday Question. Weigh-in on this one.......

DeeDee, I have felt the same way you describe here. I didnt see myself as big as I was. I grew up "too skinny". I was called skinny minnie, boney maroney, etc all my life. You may have something there regarding folks who gain weight later in life. BTW, great pictures. I loved wearing my boots with "hot pants", remember those? Joyce

Joyce, Another one for gaining later in life, eh?! Do you think it made a difference in your personality as well? I just haven't seemed to face the adversity and name-calling that a lot of folks talk about who were heavier much earlier in life. That picture of me in the lavendar skirt... well, if you unbutton those buttons down the front it would reveal a pair of very, very short hotpants! So, yes, I remember them well. I look at those pictures and wonder how in the world my mother could rant and rave every day about how fat I was and how no boy was ever going to want to take me out and no one would ever want to hire me because "fat" people aren't as clean, productive, etc. Talk about some mental child abuse!! Fortunately she ran off and left us while I was in high school but I sure wish I could have enjoyed those years a little more realizing now that I looked pretty dang hot at the time!! Ah well, she was only around to screw up the first 16 years of my life... I've had a fabulous life since she left so I'm not going to whine. =) I think the thighs may prohibit hot pants at this age but I do still have that size 7 disco dress and I plan to at least fit in it again one day! DeeDee

DeeDee, My personality never changed. I have always had an outgoing personality, fat or skinny. Like you I never noticed much negativety towards me, maybe I just didnt pay attention to it if it was there. You do look really hot in those pics...I surely dont understand how your mother could possibly think you were fat back then. You look absolutely stunning. Actually, you look a lot like me at that age. (Just cut off the hair...lol I always had a shag, or pixie hair cut my mom used to call it) My prom dress was a size 3 and we had to have it altered. When I gained weight my mother never called me fat, but would comment that she never thought I would get "that big"...she would point it out to everyone we knew and say can you believe Joyce is this size...she was always so skinny, then she reminds me and anyone who will listen how we had to have my dress altered because a 3 was too big...geesh! Embarrassed me constantly! She even offered my sister and I a trip to Vegas if we would lose some weight! Never did take her up on that...hmm, maybe I should remind her...lol Joyce

GM, Dx! Between you and PH, my brain is on overload. I didn't 'think' that I had begun to see myself any differently after losing weight UNTIL I started regaining and began to look like I really AM pregnant. I guess my brain had been 'starting to see the light' when this happened, only to jerk me back into the mode of seeing myself the same way as I did pre-op... I dunno...I think I need therapy. ~~Sherry

I am horrible today again, I am sorry for the hi-jack!!! I am so envious of you Sherry.....You can tell your pregnant That was the one thing I was always so ashamed off......I would have to stick out my back and hold down my shirt for anyone to ever tell I was pregnant....I was always too big......just looked bigger, never pregnant! How I would to be in your shoes Take Care jesi

I didn't look pregnant when I was carrying Joshua either...I lost 70+ pounds during that pregnancy, due to severe nausea, and I still just looked fatter. Beats me how that is possible. I would bet ANYTHING that you were adorable AND did look pregnant...you just didn't see it. ~~Sherry

Hey Sherry, And here I thought this was going to divide neatly into "Those who were Regular sized Before..." and "Those who were 'always' Big..." And then you throw in Pregnancy? That's a twist I wouldn't have thought of. Glad that cooler weather is on the way As you enter the "Home Stretch." My wife carried through the hottest months In Atlanta, and wow, what a trial it was to keep her cool. Best Wishes- Dx

I AM one of the ones that was always big...my highest weight was around 340 pounds...I was 294.5 pounds the morning of surgery. Wow! I can only imagine the heat and humidity there during the summer...tell her she has my belated sympathy. It poured rain here yesterday morning and I was never happier to see it...cooled off for a little while, at least. Humidity is back today...think I will stay inside with the AC. (((Hugs))) ~~Sherry

Morn Dx, You hit the nail on the head with this one. I know most of us suffer from some sort of body image miscalculation. I have actually moved out of my own way. I was walking into a building with mirrors in the lobby and I didn't recognize that it was me walking towards me!!! I got out of my own way. This same mirrored lobby created my first real WOW moment months ago. I looked at myself and thought you really don't have any hips!!! I can never buy the right size clothing always a size too big...I can try on the right size carry it around for a half hour or so in the store then change it for the next size bigger and then buy it...maybe the "fat" fairy will sprinkle her dust on me on the way home... It's getting better every day. I am seeing someone about this my surgeon has recently started a group for older post ops and the physcologist there is addressing this very subject.. one of her suggestions was to place two photos of yourself next to each other one from pre surgery and one from post surgery. Although you think you realize how you look now you'd be amazed at your reaction to this visualization. Lots of issues for us all are "head" issues part of the reasons we became morbidly obese in the first place. All we can do is take one day at a time and thank God for leading and guiding us on this journey and appreciate any support we receive from everyone.

Too funny Dee--moving out of your own way . I too have sometimes not recognized my reflection or shadow.