Horror upon horrors I had to video-conference today for a new job. Eeek! Not only do I have telephone anxiety (conference calls were a major food trigger for me prior to my band) but being seen on camera? Oh. My. God. There are hardly any photographs of me in our family albums and certainly no video. I've always been too ashamed of my weight and how I looked. So today, ta-da! I was fine. Not that I wasn't a nervous wreck -- I still felt anxious but I didn't need food to tamp down the feelings (thank you, Band, for the dimmed appetite). I set the equipment up ahead of time and chose my outfit carefully, positioned the camera just right with all my notes just above and behind. When the conference got going I couldn't believe how good I looked. I am not only acceptable, I'm more than that. I look like some one I'd really like -- and that makes me laugh because now I really do like myself and I like how I look. I've still got some weight to lose but you know what, I don't have to hide anymore. It's okay for me to be out in the world. Yippee!

!!!Applause!!!! I LOVE this post !!!! Thank you for all of the affirming wisdom you share with me and all of us on this board. This is what it's all about. Self respect and "being seen".

Being seen, indeed.

You are truly an inspiration.

Congratulations non scale victories are WONDERFUL!! So proud of who you are becoming with the assistance of your buddy (band). One day one hour one min and one second at a time we all we be victorious with our band buddy and the support of each other..... Hugs to you my inspiration to keep going.

Your post resonates so much for me. I get everything you said. It's both wonderful and terribly sad in terms of how much of our self worth is wrapped up in our appearance. Right or wrong, that's the reality and I can see how much more 'acceptable' I am to the world....and to myself.

I am so very inspired by the work you've put in to make the changes you needed to and am glad to call you friend. Have a wonderful day!

awesome for you to be able to overcome that phobia. I call it a phobia because I avoided the camera like the plague. My family are camera nuts, they take photo's at every opportunity . We Celebrate every holiday and birthday etc. so avoiding the camera was always my goal. Since having lapband surgery almost 2 years ago, I love having my picture taken with my grandkids, kids, dog, husband . lol. this past Christmas I actually had photo's professionally done for our kids, they had always said they wanted them so I had a girl come to our farm and do them. They turned out so good and I did not have the same anxiety I used to have. losing weight has a lot of benefits to our health but feeling better about the way we look is a wonderful benefit. Hope you get the job.

Thanks so much, friends. I love having these people in my life who really get it! This new gig is something I never would have had presented to me before -- not because of my weight but because of my confidence. I am so different now. Different but the same; you know what I mean. I was holding myself back and now I'm moving forward. Scary but very exciting. Thank goodness I chose this path of WLS.

Congrats Bandista! You're an inspiration to many on here, and I always enjoy reading your posts with your upbeat attitude. Well done!

Congratulations my band sis!!! You inspire me so much!

Well, you're just amazing on top of being fabulous, now are'nt you ! Congratulations !!

Congrats!! I love all of your posts! You are amazing inside and out! Way to go!