I recently did a side-by-side comparison of me now vs. me 1 year ago when I started my pre-op diet. I look at the old picture and I don't even recognize that person anymore. What really surprised me, though, was that I honestly never thought I was that big! I always thought I looked nice when I went out, always tried to present myself in a very neat, orderly way. When I see photos now, though, I see a sloppy person drowning in their own fat. Its horrendous!!

Anyone else have that moment where they just didn't realize how big they'd gotten until they'd lost most of their excess weight?

Yup. I look at pictures today vs. 1 year ago, and I can't believe I looked like that!

Cruel to post this and not post the pics to go along with it!

Yes every time someone snaps a picture of me now vs then. I totally feel you!!!

I felt fat and looked fat, but I also thought I looked good when I was dressed to go out, and I did. The thing is I've only lost half of my weight and people are reacting so strongly to the way I look. I have not bought any new clothes. I'm trying to get by for a little while more. Anyways, I'm now wondering what the heck people's reactions will be as I Iose the next 40 pounds, and wear clothes that actually fit me. Will be interesting to see

JamieLogical...here you go!!

I knew I was big, the biggest in my life but I didn't realize how it seemed that I had a hard time to even walk to others until recently a colleague came to give me compliments and she told me that I looked like tired all the time. She was so happy to see me moving more active and looking so healthy now, even my skin is glowing!

Lumpyspaceprincess you Look great

JamieLogical...here you go!!

Thanks! And WOW! What a transformation. You are looking great!

I like how you managed to take your selfies in the same bathroom. Tee hee.

You look great. And yeah, even though I'm still fat (but creeping closer to onederland), I realize that when I was over 300 lbs I must have looked terrible in the minds of other people.

@LumpySpacePrincess Um, Astonished...Doesn't even look like the same person...amazing results. at a loss of words here...incredible ....wow. like night and day.

You look wonderful!

Oh yeah, this is very common! My coworker sent me a before pic about 3 months after surgery saying how proud she was of me. I still keep that pic as a reminder of the journey. I too never thought I was "that big", it funny how our brain works.

I'm with you on this! I wasn't in total denial, but when I took my before pics I remember thinking something along the lines of "I'm sure this won't ever be a dramatic before/after, I'm just curvy, but will be good to do a side by side comparison"

I was expecting more people to give me a reaction of "you don't need the surgery" when I told them, and was always surprised when people didn't say that. Just one friend did say this - and got a little annoying about it, acting like I was nuts to have the surgery, but she was the only one.

I'm still a ways from goal, but I look at my before and think wow, I really was big.

The other thing I've noticed is that everyone else looks bigger to me now too! It's like my perspective has adjusted. I sort of feel the same, so people who are the same size as I used to be now look bigger to me. And some people who looked "normal" to me before, who are about the same size I am now, look a little big to me. It's strange how our minds work...

I like this thread. @ OP you look fantastic!! Great transformation. I went out this past weekend and cannot tell you how many people who had not seen me in a long time just couldn't recognize me. It's surreal. Keep up the great work everyone. We are winning!

Yep definitely. I look at my before picture and I don't really even recognize myself anymore. My kids say they don't remember me that way either. It's a really strange feeling. I never felt as big as I was either. Like you, I always tried to dress nice, find things I "thought" covered my stomach etc. But looking back I'm struck at how overweight I really was. And now, I don't feel that I'm as thin as the number on the scale says. I guess my mind is still trying to catch up.