Hi Chickb,
Wow! What honesty! I think we all know, deep inside, that just losing weight is not going to change who we are. It may remove some of the barriers--either real or imagined--that prevent us from letting other people get to know us. That's one great thing about these bulliten boards. We can get to know each other without forming judgements based on appearance. I think that as we lose our weight, our phyhsical relationships will become more like our online line friendships. More and more, we will stop letting what others think about our appearance influence what we do or where we go. As we lose the We will gain confidence that people will get to know us as people--not "fat" people.
You already have much to contribute. First of all, you are on a journey that many people fear to travel. Through this experience you are developing empathy for what other people experience in their lives. For us it is our battle with weight. Someone else may have health, personal, or emotional issues. What everyone is looking for is for someone else to listen and be empathetic. That is what we give each other through this board, and it is what you have to contribute to the people you encounter in your day to day life. You're only 26! Every day you are learning something new--I still am and I am more than twice your age. All of that learning is what you have to contribute, and you will never know how you may impact someone else down the road.
Good luck in your journey. Keep us posted!!