My surgery was almost two years ago and I've been "at goal" for over a year. I am still amazed when I see pictures of myself not fat.

The kid in this picture is a size 2. I am not. Ha!

Thanks, y'all! I wasn't fishing. It's seriously weird. Good, but weird.

xxxooo

@gowalking. A m a z i n g!!!!!!!

Something weird is going on with me. I have somehow convinced myself that it's the mirror that's making me look this thin. I'm wearing these small sizes, but having a hard time believing the mirror.

I can't wait until I am amazed I'm not fat! LOL omg that must feel amazing!!

Over 4 years in, and I still have not gotten used to it....the other day I put a shirt on and it felt a little tight....told myself I need to lose a few pounds.....

How inspiring! This posting is just what those of us who've recently had surgery need to see. Thanks for the picture, very motivating.

@@LipstickLady and @@gowalking ... you both look so lovely, healthy and happy.

But it really does feel strange not to be fat anymore.

Our looks change the most at the end of this process. At some point we are no longer just a smaller version of ourselves -- still round and circular, but with smaller circles -- but we start to look quite different. Our face changes its shape. Many of our body curves disappear. And from some point downward, it's just a whole different deal.

I find myself wondering lately if I look as good now as I did 10-15 pounds ago when I looked more familiar. After all, I haven't looked like this version of me in 35 years. This version of me is now a bit of a stranger.

I know this is just another phase like all the earlier phases. But this one is completely in my head and has nothing to do with controlling my physical behaviors. I just have to be patient and let time do its job.

When I first started my journey last year, I would go to the gym and hated the mirrors everywhere. I tried to distance myself from them whenever I did cardio. But I'd be pumping away on the elliptical and catch a glimpse of myself and think it was someone else, then the dread realizing it was me and how much I had to lose. I thought I looked like a rhino in sweats.

About a year later...I remember the first time I caught a glimpse of myself wearing a medium compression shirt and I still thought it was someone else at first. But this time I was elated to realize it was me.

So, this is a bit vain, but I now do cardio right next to the damn mirror! And I look GOOD!

I used to avoid looking at myself in the mirror. I don't even have any pre-op photos, except my driver's license. I deleted any photo that people sent of me.

Now it's like I'm re-introducing myself to myself. It's very strange. But a good kinda strange.

Best of luck to everyone.

Edited April 6, 201511 yr by AlwaysVegas

@LipstickLady you look great!!! I had run out this week to buy some cheap shorts--I realized with it warming up a little, that I literally had nothing to wear! I had already donated all of my old shorts I wore last summer, that were 2-3 sizes too big. Took me longer than I expected, since I actually had to "find" the misses section of the store. I had never been there! LOL

Edited April 6, 201511 yr by hillgirly

Beautiful!

Ok, I have to share my recent experience.

I live in the UK, but grew up in a different country, and I go back there regularly as my parents and sister still lives there.

Last time I visited was 6-7 months ago, so naturally I have lost significant amount of weight since then. I just visited them again last week My sis and mom barely recognized me, but I just thought they are being silly and anyways they got so used to me being the round face fatty for so long. They just kept saying how much I have changed. This was weird coz -as I said earlier- in my mind I did not change much and I still think I am large. They have exemined everything on me, my hands, fingers (Oh my how small your hands are...), my shoulders (Oh god, you look so narrow...), my butt (your behind is half the size it used to be), I mean commented on everything and I found it hilarious

But when I started to walk around in our small town and run into childhood/teenager/young adolescent friends and they just walked by, I knew that I must have changed completely. NOBODY recognized me. None of my friends!!!! I do not say they are close friends but like class mates or ppl I know for years. It was a total shock. The feeling when somebody looks at you and no, nothing, walks by...wow, I could not believe it!!!!

So how on earth am I gonna recognize myself when even my own mother is having a hard time???

I never thought it is gonna be tuff like this. Not this part at least

Edited April 6, 201511 yr by green*eyed*girl

Looking great everybody!!

I can totally empathize with this dilemma.

I was sorting through clothes the other day trying to get rid of anything too big (I do this about once a week) and found a tshirt I wasn't familiar with. I assumed it was one I had bought awhile back and forgot about it because it was too small or something like that. It was a brand new looking Little Big Town Concert tshirt and I really like it so I went ahead and wore it for the day. My husband came home from work and asked me why I was wearing his shirt?!? I just stared at him. NO WAY could I fit into his clothes. He's so much smaller and always has been. He weighs around 200 right now and he's about 6'. I couldn't believe I was wearing his shirt. I actually had to go in the closet and find another one of his shirts to try on and IT FIT! Not that I want to wear my husbands clothes all the time, it just amazes me that I could do that. Of course the boob area is still tight but otherwise it fit great. I don't see us being close to the same size when we're together. I still see him as being so much smaller than me. I don't know what it will take to eventually see and understand the changes that are happening and what they look like to others. For now the only reference I understand is what fits.

@@LipstickLady

You have the right to fish even though you werent. You worked hard and you are an inspiration to everyone here. Fish away and we will all be more than happy to shower you in compliments. I cant wait to be where you are.

Like i said before..... you look amazing. Keep up the great work

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!