So I know it takes around a year for your mind to catch up with your body's changes but it's so frustrating! I'm really hard on myself and I'm trying not to be but I get so down in the dumps when I look at myself in the mirror! Everyone says they see such a change but I can't! Anyone else have any ideas for pushing past this? What do you do to remind yourself that you are changing?

I can relate ellie

I find myself in awe of how I've changed. I am a visual person and need to see it that's why I sucked at diets I would give up when I didn't see changes. So every Wednesday (my surgery day) I take a pic and when I want a good laugh I edit the pic to side by side and I can't believe my eyes! I'm glad I knew that about myself and the day I started my wls journey I took a pic and that was my highest medical record weight.

The day I started / last Wednesday

Surgery 7/25/12

Good idea! Go girl your looking great!

SD: 10/10/12, Converted from Lapband to RNY, HW (before band) 263, HW (RNY) 230, Preop 219, after surgery 223, current 209

For years I had the fat tapes playing in my head. I still see my flaws. I am my own worse critic always have been. Sometimes I cannot see the changes. I still see the fattest me. Then I put my clothes on... sizes I have not worn in 10 years or more! Some days I feel sexy and hot and some days not. I was fat for a really long time it will take a while to change that mind set. You are not alone.

I saw my self nude & I'm a sexy woman with out clothes "no wonder hubby can't get enough" minor stuff like my tummy & boobs but that will be fix & I will be perfect enough for me & my self asteem.

I would love to hear more on this. Because it does seem like something every one deals with. and i wonder why.' date='

You have lost 83 pounds, seems like your mind should let your eyes see what a difference that is. Why doesn't it? Good question.

Great Job by the way[/quote']

Cause we always see the imperfections. Suddenly, the things we liked about ourselves, that we considered our finer qualities, have changed. Like our once voluptuous boobs that now are reaching to our toes. We didn't like looking at ourselves before, and had a lifetime of being self critical, and hearing hateful comments.

Why should we like and love ourselves? Because God loves us, and He makes no mistakes. This walk happened for a reason, perhaps even to reveal the hearts of those around us. Let yourself be like a rose, which, in is full bloom is at its most beautiful. We are just getting ready to bloom...

Absolutely! I was so used to loving my "good qualities" such as good person... Blah now I'm being told all of these amazing kind words and its flattering but I know I am made on Gods perfect image, and I am allowing myself to accept the compliments and still be a good person. I am ready to blossom and love the me I used to over feeding and not move:)

Surgery 7/25/12

I found old pictures and videos of myself pre-op and newly post-op... that was my holy shit moment. My thinnest was in high school (180lbs at 5'8") and now I'm 186.6lbs.... but I don't see the Kaylee I miss from high school. When I was huge I saw old Kaylee, so now that I'm thinner I have a sense of "but this is how I always looked" because I never accepted or saw how much I really ballooned out. Now looking at me at 276lbs really puts it in perspective... but I'm still not even close to how I want to look. 140lbs I think i'll be happy...

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgiversary: 6/11/12

Remember, we need to seek happiness at all levels and stages. Don't bank your happiness for when you get to be a certain weight, else, you won't be happy even then. Be happy now...and continue doing the right things. There will be setbacks and struggles. Find joy even in those moments.