I refuse to age gracefully! A novella

Lizanne, you're not 57!!!!...Holy Hanna, you wear it well!!!

Hugs

Donna

Thanks, Donna---you made my morning!

Lizanne

Yea...what she said!!!!!

Wow, it's like you are describing my mother, beautiful and elegant and a bit old world.  She always looks like a movie star.  People literally stop and stare and her beauty and her style.  Even now, when she is much older, she gets tons of compliments wherever she goes.  Much of this is natural beauty, but so much of it is style, confidence, and the time she puts into her appearance.  I too have had long stretches in my life when I was thin and I loved the attention, but that was in my 20's.  I have been heavy for well over 12 years and this new me is well, new to me.  I seem to be going a little overboard on the vanity department, but I am sure it will balance out in time. I wish you lived closer, I have a feeling we would really enjoy a cup of tea together.  I would invite my Mom, who still tells jokes that will make you blush.  I love her so much, she is still my very best friend.  We often mix and match friends now and shopping is always more fun with her around as she has impeccable taste.  If you ever come this way, let me know, I can always put the tea kettle on.  Thank you for your support Lizanne.  I have enjoyed your company from the very beginning of my journey and it has meant the world to me to know that you are here.

I really hope we get to meet sometime, Elina!! Would love to have a cup of tea with you and your mother...maybe we could meet in the city sometime. It's easy for me to hop on the ferry and get there--I just don't like to drive in SF...I'm totally bummed that I won't be able to make Sublimate's get together--I had planned on coming with my hubby, but then I realized that we had already committed to going down to San Diego to visit our daughter...but one of these days for sure!

Lizanne

Oh good golly.  Flaunt it, parade it around, do any freakin thing that you want with it Elina.  You've worked so hard to get and maintain this incredible body that you have today.  I'd take myself for a walk down the street daily if I looked like you, just to get every head to turn and stare.  :)

It's so true about having missed a lot over the years.  I'm 60 and I have to say that my face is really looking it these days.  There's nothing like sagging skin after the fat is gone to make a girl look old.  My surgeon told me to get myself in for plastics consults as soon as I want, but I want to wait until I hit a normal BMI.  I've never had the pretty face or body and if plastics can help, I'm in.  This week I told my 37 year old that I'm about to spend his inheritance and he laughed and told me to go ahead.

I'd love to experience having a nice body and face before it's too late.  Both of my parents weighed under 120 in their last years so I come from little people.  I have a long ways to go, but I'm on the path.  There's no aging gracefully in this house!

I love your point of view, it really helps hearing from people who understand this journey, not just the weight loss, but being a woman and aging too.  I think 60 is the perfect time for a face lift and I am proud of your 37 year old for getting why you want to look great and supporting you in this.  My Mom had me at a very young age so she is still quite young and I totally get that she is not ready to age gracefully, she probably never will be ready.  I respect that about her, so I have to wrap my mind around it for me as well.

 Elina, regardless of how fat I was, the one thing that I never felt was my age.  I had my son at 23 and I think he helped me feel forever young.  My weight kept me from doing some things, but even in my 220's did things like hike the Great Wall, go snorkling and kayaking in Thailand and lots of other great adventures.

I am so looking forward to a facelift and perhaps other plastics when I've let go of enough fat to feel like it will give me the results that I want.

As I am having my surgery Monday I cannot share on how I feel at this time, but if I am lucky enough to look like all of you I would flaunt it also. Not only do you look great but you have increased years on your life. I do not have money for plastics but if I did I would do everything I could. You are such an inspiration I only pray that I can do as well as you.

Hey..... It's been along time since we've had our SEXY on.  We should do it AND have fun doing it!!!! We shouldn't feel guilty - it's OK for it to be all about us!!
Kathy