I was blessed with friends inviting in for a wonderful Thanksgiving day. There were pictures taken. I've gone

from busting out of a size 26w this time last year to an 18w this year, surgery at the tail end of April. And the pictures were a little eye opening. I am still soooooo fat. I will say that in spite of the depressing part, it was also motivating. I can definately tell you I'm putting off that venture into on line dating for another 3 or 4 months into spring and a few more pounds.

And will be giving myself that gym membership for Christmas. And possibly a tummy tuck next year. Because as it is emptied, it's like a leaking blimp.

What a day.

I feel the same way when I see pics! Everyone has been calling me skinny and then someone takes pics. I look at them and I am like "hey! I am still fat wth!" ugh soon I hope that changes.

I've gone through this as well. It just sucks. Celebrate the victories and remember we're running a Marathon not a sprint.

Hugs-

Amanda

yikes... i know the feeling though. i remember losing weight from a diet & everyone said i was so skinny but i felt huge!

You are definitely not alone! Even though I have come quite a ways, it is sooo hard to see because all I can think of is how far I still have to go. I still have so far to go. In fact I would still qualify for surgery even! So I see all the posts of people with lower bmi's (low to mid 30's) saying how they are fighting for their surgeries and it always reminds me of how bad I let it get and how much more I have to go.

I avoid pictures. I have a few that i'll use as my "before's and during's" but at this point they are not positive reinforcements for me. Just ugly reminders.

I've gone through this as well. It just sucks. Celebrate the victories and remember we're running a Marathon not a sprint. :smile1:

Hugs-

Amanda

I love this so true!

I have lost 100 pounds since my surgery 7/19 and people I do not see are asking me to post pics on facebook or send them a pic on their cell phone. And I say no just wait I have more weight to lose. I still weigh 309 pounds and am still very fat. I still cant believe I let myself get that fat. Wow. I just walked my dog in the rain. dedication baby, I will get there.

I can totally relate to this post. This holiday season is the first one I don't mind being in pictures - in fact I tried to get a formal family portrait taken when the kids were here, but couldn't get it scheduled. I will get that done Christmas!

BTW - even though I am 100 pounds down and within 15 pounds of my goal, I don't feel or describe myself as "skinny". Skinny to me is model-thin, and I am nowhere near that - and I won't be at goal weight, either. I am still about 8 pounds from hitting a "normal" BMI. I sort of mentally think of myself as normal now.

I can totally relate to this post. This holiday season is the first one I don't mind being in pictures - in fact I tried to get a formal family portrait taken when the kids were here, but couldn't get it scheduled. I will get that done Christmas!

BTW - even though I am 100 pounds down and within 15 pounds of my goal, I don't feel or describe myself as "skinny". Skinny to me is model-thin, and I am nowhere near that - and I won't be at goal weight, either. I am still about 8 pounds from hitting a "normal" BMI. I sort of mentally think of myself as normal now.

Ahhhh.....you see, that's why the pictures caught me off guard. With being in the smaller range of plus size, and comparing myself to the normal public, I was thinking I was in that group. Normal. And I'm way not. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine who was in the picture is clearly 20-25 pounds lighter than I am and I was thinking we were close to being the same size.

I've read a lot of posts here where people say they are actually thin but still see themself as fat. So it felt odd to be on the other end of the spectrum....where I was thinking I was starting to look "normal" and not realizing just how big a size 18w still is.

It didn't bother me so much as wake me up. I've done and am doing all I can go solve the problem so I am trying to stay positive. It's that old "I didn't get this fat in a year so I'm not going to lose it all in a year". But it definately lit the fire to start paying more attention to the details and see if I can't get things moving a little faster.

Thanks all.

Ahhhh.....you see, that's why the pictures caught me off guard. With being in the smaller range of plus size, and comparing myself to the normal public, I was thinking I was in that group. Normal. And I'm way not. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine who was in the picture is clearly 20-25 pounds lighter than I am and I was thinking we were close to being the same size.

I've read a lot of posts here where people say they are actually thin but still see themself as fat. So it felt odd to be on the other end of the spectrum....where I was thinking I was starting to look "normal" and not realizing just how big a size 18w still is.

It didn't bother me so much as wake me up. I've done and am doing all I can go solve the problem so I am trying to stay positive. It's that old "I didn't get this fat in a year so I'm not going to lose it all in a year". But it definately lit the fire to start paying more attention to the details and see if I can't get things moving a little faster.

Thanks all.

Good for you to turn it into a motivator! It just shows how much its all about perspective. As someone who just had surgery with a BMI well over 50, the thought of people with BMI's barely over 30 fighting for surgery is alarming. I would consider myself 'skinny' if my BMI was in the 30's! It makes me pause and realize that I need to evaluate what I consider weight loss success and specifically what goals do I want to make for myself. Seeing a size 18 again is definitely one of them. Don't forget where you have come from and even though you now feel there is more weight to loose, remember that what you have done so far has been great and you will continue to do more!