OK... Let's get down and dirty here.

Even in this forum, I noticed people pussy-footing around the issue of weightloss and being fat.

So let's hear the real down and dirty stories as to why you are losing weight, what you WON'T miss about being fat, and what will keep you from going back.

(note that there are plenty of threads that can talk about "I did it to save my life..." I want to have some fun and hit more honesty.)

I will give three things to kick us off.

One: I don't like people looking nervous when I get into an elevator. (OK... that was more of a joke to warm things up.:thumbup:)

Two: Actually being able to wipe myself - a digusting but true thing that some of you not so extremely fat folk may not relate to, but I am sure that I am not the first person to find a shower massage to be a hygene tool. - Never want to get back to that point again!

Three: Making love to my wife, and actually making it work! This week was the first time in 3 years that we made love (lots of pleasuring each other, mind you... and yes, ladies, I have a trick that can bring her to that pleasure point... ) But this is the first time since before we got married that "Little Boy" actually visited "Little Girl." Life just gets better.

OK>>> There's the honestly... Now let's here your unspoken stories as to what will make living thinner better:thumbup:

1.The wipping thing is a definate.

2. not rocking side to side when I walk. (you know not quit the prego walk, but close)

3. my fat hanging out under some of my undies. (where your legs go.) I would check all my undies to make sure my fat wasn't hanging out. do ya'll understand what I am trying to say on this one?

4. I don't know about other women out there, but I look forward to going to a gyn. I haven't been in about 10 yrs. I am to fat. still have another 50lbs to go before I will go and get a check up.

O.K. was this honest enough?

Yep. Doesn't it feel cathargic?

Honestly I can't really think of heaps, I'm not banded yet so I'll list the things I'm looking forward to or hate - I go to tafe - like college/uni and I have to catch the train, the thing that annoys me is having to basically squeeze myself next to others just to sit down but the thing that really gets me is when people smaller than me and they take up more room than me! It's just like wtf? I'm bigger than you give me more fricken room lol.

Having people stare is annoying but more so when I say loudly to the person I'm with at the time "Don't you just hate when people stare at you for no reason, so f*cking rude" and then I stare at them and they keep staring - I mean seriously one of these days that person staring is gonna get a black eye

1. i started this journey because i stopped having sex because i was too embarrassed about my body. (still lookin' for the next guy.... lol)

2. to shut my mom up. "kris marie... i'm calling to tell you that you're fat. i'm sure your friends don't want to hurt your feelings..." ok mom... but it's ok if YOU hurt my feelings?

3. my older sister who's had 2 kids weighed 60 pounds less than me!

4. i'm TIRED of being the fat friend guys feel like they have to be nice to so they can hook up with my tall, skinny friend!

5. a few years ago, one of my sister's ex-boyfriends saw me unexpectedly one day at my place of employment and asked when i was due. i've never been pregnant.

i could go on and on... but honestly, deep down i started this journey out of vanity and not health reasons. i don't want to cringe and jump every time someone touches my back or arm. i want to wear nice form fitted clothes. i want to hear that i look nice.

i'm not quite there yet but i'm on my way!

Yah, I sat permanent shiva, too. I also avoided having pictures taken of me whenever possible.

Hear hear!

One of the things I was worried about was having a "pre" picture before surgery because I can probably count on one hand how many have been taken of me (willingly) in 16 years.

Thankfully when we went to Hawaii in October, some pics were taken of hubby and I at a luau we went to. I didn't buy them, but my friend did (we went with another couple). I hated having it, but realized that I can use it as my "before."

Worst of all, I regret that I was fat in my wedding pics.

One of the things I was worried about was having a "pre" picture before surgery because I can probably count on one hand how many have been taken of me (willingly) in 16 years.

Meeee too, Beth. Also, I'm just not very photogenic (even thinner, that probably won't change)......but you know something? I wish I had a few more "before" full body shots now that the weight is starting to come off. I'm just now seeing some big changes in photos.

So, I predict you'll be happy your friend hung onto those pics.

I took no before photos either. I'm also not a very photogenic person, I'm fine looking in real life but I dont photograph well at all. I'm always looking weird in some way, just dont have the bone structure or something, and too many shadows on my face.

That avatar is probably the best photo of me I've ever had, I'll never be able to repeat it.

I want to lose all the weight because I want to stop having to wear corsets that look and fit like swimsuits every day in order to have some idea of a shape

To be hit on by good looking men

So that I can have liposuction when I hit my goal for waist definition

So i can shop in regular stores

So i can stop looking so much older than my age

And honestly, so I can look how I feel:thumbup:

Meeee too, Beth. Also, I'm just not very photogenic (even thinner, that probably won't change)......but you know something? I wish I had a few more "before" full body shots now that the weight is starting to come off. I'm just now seeing some big changes in photos.

So, I predict you'll be happy your friend hung onto those pics.

She bought 'em for me, so I have them in all their "glory..." :wub: :wub:

And I've visited your MySpace page. Don't cut yourself short. You are a very nice-looking guy! I mean, I didn't barf or feel queasy when I looked at your pics. :tt2:

Really, you look just fine.

....BFVa: maybe fat in the OLD wedding pictures, but certainly in the NEW anniversary photos you will be thrilled!!!

That's a way to look at it! I'll be nearly a year in by then. Hmmm...

So i can stop looking so much older than my age

I don't fit the regular type -- I look much younger than my age. People usually figure me for my early- to mid-30's, which is fantastic. I wonder if I will look older once I lose. It's worth the trade-off, but I still wonder...

1. The wiping thing is a big one! (how awful!)

2. To actually look and feel as sexy as my husband (he must be senile) seems to think I look in trashy lingerie.

3. To comfortably wear high heels again. I am tired of tennis shoes.

4. Being the fat friend.

5. Hearing how shocked every one is about how big I have gotten since I used to be so little.

6. I am VAIN! Carly Simon was really singing about me.

10% of the reason I got banded was for health reasons; 90% pure vanity. When I look at pictures before I got fat, I realize now that I was pretty damned hot before (didn't think so at the time) and now want to get back to 1/2 that hot level. I went through most of my 30s in various states of overweight and can't stand the thought of going through my 40s, much less the rest of my life, fat or in various stages of fat. I just want to look like the person I feel I am.

Me too, Donna!

I don't miss getting up in the middle of the night to go pee and it taking for ever to make the 1st step to the bathroom because my feet hurt so bad. I would just pray that I would make it those 20 steps. As far as the photos I did start a scrapbook my 1st day and have monthly updates. It is amazing to look back and see my progress. I have had several people take my book home to read and look at the pics. The size 32 pics look a lot different than the newest size 18 pics.

I don't miss getting up in the middle of the night to go pee and it taking for ever to make the 1st step to the bathroom because my feet hurt so bad. I would just pray that I would make it those 20 steps. As far as the photos I did start a scrapbook my 1st day and have monthly updates. It is amazing to look back and see my progress. I have had several people take my book home to read and look at the pics. The size 32 pics look a lot different than the newest size 18 pics.

WOW! It must bring out all kinds of emotions in you when you look through your weight loss album. You're literally 1/2 the size you used to be but I bet you're twice the woman.