Question:
I'm wondering if I'm the only one feeling this way....

I've actually got two questions. First, it took me a long time to accept the fact that I do in fact look different now after losing 160 pounds in the past nine months, but what bothers me is when people don't recognize me. I thought before the surgery that it would be really great to be unrecognizable, but the truth is it bugs me and makes me think that people only could recognize me before because of all the space I took up. Is anyone else freaked out when people they know, but haven't seen in awhile don't recognize them? How do you handle it? Second question - Is anyone else now horrified by pictures of their former self? I can't even bring myself to look at them and it makes me kind of nauseous to think that I let myself get that bad. Will this feeling eventually pass? Any thoughts?    — Traci H. (posted on May 16, 2002)

May 16, 2002
I have a two year old son. When we look at pictures of our family from before the surgery, he doesnt know who that woman is with daddy. He can point out Dad, grandma and grandpa, his sister, his aunt, cousins, but not mommy. It breaks my heart. But I look at it on the other hand, he will grow up seeing a healthier parent. And yes, my old pictures horrify me. I dont even want to look at them. I wonder how I ever got so large.
   — RebeccaP

May 16, 2002
I hadn't seen a former co-worker for 5 years and saw her a couple of months ago. I kept talking to her and she just stared at me and then finally said, "Your voice sounds familiar but I have NO idea who you are!!". I was a little ticked at first but then I thought about it and reversed the situation. I've seen people who used to weigh 135 pounds and then I see them at 200 pounds and I haven't hardly recognized them. So the same can work in reverse. As far as the old pictures of myself, I HATE them!! I truly don't know the person who's in those pictures and I cringe whenever someone shows me one.
   — Patty H.

May 17, 2002
Hi Traci: I know EXACTLY how you feel. I went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and saw the friend that helped me make my weight loss decision. She moved away just after I got my approval. She had ABSOLUTELY no idea except for my voice who I was and the look on her face was priceless. She was so happy for me!!! I also have people that I do business with that have come into my office and asked me...for me not knowing who I was. All I can do is laugh at them and so does the rest of my office. Like you, my pre op pics mortify me...I had a friend ask if I was pregnant in a couple of pics..you're right..how sad that we could let ourselves go that far... I am SO PROUD now of what I have accomplished with my weight loss...I love to wear those cute little clothes when I am out with my husband and ACTUALLY have other men look....YIPPEEEEE!!!! FINALLY!!!! I am not just that big blob on my husbands arm anymore. I feel proud to be in public and be his wife now.My self esteem is NOTHING like it used to be and it is reflecting in all aspets of my life. I had the guts to leave the company that I was with for 12 years and become their COMPETITION..and you know what...IT WORKED!!! I am succeeding but I would have NEVER EVER done it when I was heavy. I would stayed at that company, continued to gain weight and probably have died there. I thank god every day for the way that I now look...
   — Joi G.