Hey...as my date approaches, (June 8th), I am starting to think about how people will perceive me when I lose my weight...you know what I mean? I mean, I think I like how people treat me now...and that I'm in the shadows a bit... I've been reading obsessively from these boards, and it really scares me that I may be different after. This really does sound crazy as I'm typing it, but I don't want to be looked at differently.

Does anyone else feel this way or am I the only odd ball? lol

@@gowalking I would say you were beautiful to begin with and the smile on your face in your 'after' picture not only reflects that same thing but an additional radiance coming from the inside.

@@gowalking I would say you were beautiful to begin with and the smile on your face in your 'after' picture not only reflects that same thing but an additional radiance coming from the inside.

How sweet of you to say @sharonintx. Thank you.

So glad someone started this subject. It has been on my mind lately.

I am happily letting my old self retreat. I used my weight to be invisible and to keep people away from me.

I have been in the process of finding myself. learning to forgive myself for many things, love myself again, never taking my health for granted and experience as much as I can because life is short. I have more confidence but it funny the things I'm struggling with right now.

I still find that I am uncomfortable and awkward. I'm learning t how to dress a new body and how to act in social situations. These things are trivial. But I just have to laugh at myself that I'm this old and such a kid inside.It is a strange and wonderful experience to walk in the same shoes as a morbidly obese person to a healthy weight person.

So glad someone started this subject. It has been on my mind lately.

I am happily letting my old self retreat. I used my weight to be invisible and to keep people away from me.

I have been in the process of finding myself. learning to forgive myself for many things, love myself again, never taking my health for granted and experience as much as I can because life is short. I have more confidence but it funny the things I'm struggling with right now.

I still find that I am uncomfortable and awkward. I'm learning t how to dress a new body and how to act in social situations. These things are trivial. But I just have to laugh at myself that I'm this old and such a kid inside.It is a strange and wonderful experience to walk in the same shoes as a morbidly obese person to a healthy weight person.

Just like me, you are a not even a shadow of your former self...you are completely different from the outside and no matter what others say, this type of transformation has to impact the inner person as well. It has for me...and I can understand how it has for you. I was always the happy fat girl laughing at my size to lessen the impact of the hurtful things that I'd hear..even when not meant to hurt.

I have some very close friends who have told me that I got attention for my size in a very negative way even if I wasn't aware of it. I'm sure I was stared at and I'm sure no one wanted to see me try to sit near them for fear of loss of personal space. I no longer feel that I'm trapped by my size, nor do I take up more space than I should these days. I don't think about my size all the time anymore in terms of will/if I can fit somewhere. How wonderful to feel that I fit in the world now rather than take up too much of it.

I know I've already posted on here but this topic resonates so much with me that I am compelled to write again. This is a journey...a transformation. Both inside and out. Even if we are not aware of it, we are changing everything about our lives whether it's small things or huge life changing things.