Heaviest Weight: 300-310lbs/Current Weight: 162lbs
emseigle
Posts: 23
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!
Before I even get into what I am about to say, I have to say thank you to my husband Mark and my daughter Elizabeth for bearing with me while I was under construction. I would not have been able to get to where I am without your love and support. That goes out to everyone else in my group of family and friends that has lent their words of encouragement and support as well. I couldn't have done any of this without such an awesome group of cheerleaders.
365 days ago, I could never have imagined accomplishing the things that I have in just one short year. Well, I guess I could have imagined it, I've imagined what it would be like to be thin for most of my life, but I can't believe I actually did it. I see my new reflection several times a day and each time is like the first time, it's hard to describe, but it still doesn't feel like me.
People's reactions have been, for the most part, positive and supportive. It is weird sometimes though when I have to tell someone I've known for years, who I am. It's also a little strange talking about it so much in social settings. Someone will ask how I did it, what motivated me to do it and how much I've lost overall- the next thing I know I've been talking about myself for 5 straight minutes. I'm not use to the attention, so it feels odd, even though I do realize that I'm talking about it because I'm answering direct questions, not just talking to talk.
I am extremely proud of myself and I'm happy to talk about it or show someone before and after pics, but I'm constantly paranoid I will come off as conceited or full of myself. I am humbled by, and grateful for, this change so much more than I can explain. I am the polar opposite of conceited, and still have a lot of insecurities about my body, they're just different than they use to be. I don't mind the way I look in clothes now, but I feel like a hot mess when I take off my clothes. Mark tries to put things into perspective for me, when I look at myself and get upset that my breasts are smaller or that my stomach has so much extra jiggly skin, he will ask something like, would I rather have my big boobs again and be over 300lbs. It makes me realize how stupid I sound complaining to others, but it doesn't make the way I feel inside change.
The mental aspect of all of this is overwhelming. I have so many thoughts and emotions that I have a hard time processing them all. Having been heavy for more than half of my life, I still think that way. I keep thinking one day I'm going to wake up morbidly obese, as if this past year never happened.
I look at an old picture of myself and don't recognize myself, fat. I look in a mirror everyday and don't recognize myself, thin. It is as confusing as it sounds. I know I was morbidly obese for over a decade, so I identify with that mindset more, but the physical being that I see in those old pics, doesn't feel like me. I know that I'm now at a healthy weight, but because of that fat-girl mindset, I don't identify myself with the reflection I see in a mirror, it doesn't feel like me either. I sometimes feel lost.
Christmas night, Mark told me how nice I looked that day. I thanked him and told him it was the first time I can remember in my life that I really FELT pretty. I know many times in my life, heavy or not heavy, I've seen pics that I thought I looked pretty in or I've gotten dressed up and thought I looked pretty, but I never felt pretty. It was a big deal for me.
Changing the way I feel about me is more important than changing the way others feel about me or perceive me. I know I need to work on it going forward, and that will be something I try to accomplish in 2012. I don't think it will be as easy to reprogram my mind as it was to reprogram my body, but I'm determined to get there.
Before I even get into what I am about to say, I have to say thank you to my husband Mark and my daughter Elizabeth for bearing with me while I was under construction. I would not have been able to get to where I am without your love and support. That goes out to everyone else in my group of family and friends that has lent their words of encouragement and support as well. I couldn't have done any of this without such an awesome group of cheerleaders.
365 days ago, I could never have imagined accomplishing the things that I have in just one short year. Well, I guess I could have imagined it, I've imagined what it would be like to be thin for most of my life, but I can't believe I actually did it. I see my new reflection several times a day and each time is like the first time, it's hard to describe, but it still doesn't feel like me.
People's reactions have been, for the most part, positive and supportive. It is weird sometimes though when I have to tell someone I've known for years, who I am. It's also a little strange talking about it so much in social settings. Someone will ask how I did it, what motivated me to do it and how much I've lost overall- the next thing I know I've been talking about myself for 5 straight minutes. I'm not use to the attention, so it feels odd, even though I do realize that I'm talking about it because I'm answering direct questions, not just talking to talk.
I am extremely proud of myself and I'm happy to talk about it or show someone before and after pics, but I'm constantly paranoid I will come off as conceited or full of myself. I am humbled by, and grateful for, this change so much more than I can explain. I am the polar opposite of conceited, and still have a lot of insecurities about my body, they're just different than they use to be. I don't mind the way I look in clothes now, but I feel like a hot mess when I take off my clothes. Mark tries to put things into perspective for me, when I look at myself and get upset that my breasts are smaller or that my stomach has so much extra jiggly skin, he will ask something like, would I rather have my big boobs again and be over 300lbs. It makes me realize how stupid I sound complaining to others, but it doesn't make the way I feel inside change.
The mental aspect of all of this is overwhelming. I have so many thoughts and emotions that I have a hard time processing them all. Having been heavy for more than half of my life, I still think that way. I keep thinking one day I'm going to wake up morbidly obese, as if this past year never happened.
I look at an old picture of myself and don't recognize myself, fat. I look in a mirror everyday and don't recognize myself, thin. It is as confusing as it sounds. I know I was morbidly obese for over a decade, so I identify with that mindset more, but the physical being that I see in those old pics, doesn't feel like me. I know that I'm now at a healthy weight, but because of that fat-girl mindset, I don't identify myself with the reflection I see in a mirror, it doesn't feel like me either. I sometimes feel lost.
Christmas night, Mark told me how nice I looked that day. I thanked him and told him it was the first time I can remember in my life that I really FELT pretty. I know many times in my life, heavy or not heavy, I've seen pics that I thought I looked pretty in or I've gotten dressed up and thought I looked pretty, but I never felt pretty. It was a big deal for me.
Changing the way I feel about me is more important than changing the way others feel about me or perceive me. I know I need to work on it going forward, and that will be something I try to accomplish in 2012. I don't think it will be as easy to reprogram my mind as it was to reprogram my body, but I'm determined to get there.
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Replies
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Yes, you are inspiring. And the mental part will be tough, but it sounds like you own the accomplishment, so you may shed that old self-image before too long.
Congratulations!0 -
I hope so.0
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You look AHHHHH'Mazing lady! I few years ago I weighed 328...the highest I had ever weighed in my life. I lost 128 pounds only to put most of it back on with having a baby...(i know...don't blame it on the baby). LOL! Anyway....I remember how insecure I was with my body being 128 pounds smaller too and its such a blessing to have husbands that encourage us even when we are being hard on ourselves. I am currently 252 and working my way to 170. You are an inspiration and I pray to reach my goal in 2012!0
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You've accomplished a great deal. You were committed to yourself and you made it happen.
I don't know you but I am so proud of you.
Congratulations! :flowerforyou:0 -
awesome loss way to go0
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Thanks to all of you. I am now a firm believer that we can all do anything we set our minds to. A year ago I didn't have the same view of life that I do now.0
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You look great and it is AWESOME to have a great support system.0
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congrats! i looked at your pics in your profile. you look great
PS.. i spotted a Jamaican Flag in one of your pics too... Wooo!0 -
congrats! i looked at your pics in your profile. you look great
PS.. i spotted a Jamaican Flag in one of your pics too... Wooo!0 -
You look amazing!! I especially love that dress!!0
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Just amazing! You are very inspirational...0
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Great story!0
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I looked at your pics in your profile and you look amazing. Thank you for sharing, especially for sharing more of your story than just the physical aspects of your weight loss.0
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congrats! i looked at your pics in your profile. you look great
PS.. i spotted a Jamaican Flag in one of your pics too... Wooo!
I love me some Bob Marley!0 -
way to go!! you summed up pretty much exactly how I feel, I used to be 307lbs and now I'm in the 140's. I still tend to have the mentality of the big me though.....it's hard to accept I'm thin now.
I want to see before and after pictures of you.....I love those!!
Congrats on such a huge accomplishment though! It's amazing you lost that much in just 1 year (it's taken me almost 2 years to get to where I am)
I hope that 2012 brings you much happiness and health!!0 -
amazing! utterly inspiring!0
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Very inspirational... Congrats!0
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I loved reading this
Great job! 0 -
Great work on your transformation and for achieving your weight loss goals this year!0
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Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS on your weight loss. I can so relate to how you feel. I have lost 92 lbs in a yr and half and I feel the same way at times. It is hard to relate to the thin me even though I like her alot better....heehee0
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Omedetou. (bow of respect)0
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You are a great inspiration. I really appreciate you sharing your story!0
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SIMPLY AMAZING & FANTASTIC!!!!0
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