What a charming idea for a post! Let's see, aside from the ones others have posted... 1) When on the commuter train in the morning, no longer getting the looks from other people who are clearly silently begging that the fat woman doesn't sit with them and squish them for the hour long ride. Now I sit easily with others and fit comfortably in just one seat and people acutally sit with me first instead of my being the last one someone sits with! 2) Not sweating my ass off even when it's 65 degrees in the office and everyone else is freezing. 3) Being able to do 45 minutes to an hour on the elliptical at the gym without feeling like I'm going to pass out. I do still sweat like an animal on that though! 4) having my weight obsessed mother give me clothes that she pointedly tells me are too big for her and having them be too big for me, too! HA! 5) My beloved godson/nephew telling me spontaneously and somewhat amazed that I am half the size I used to be and I look great. And also spontaneously telling me when I cut my hair off that my new style suited me perfectly because it looks easy and fun just like I am. Awwww.... LOL 6) Not having to wear giant shirts all the time to cover my giant belly. Now I can actually tuck things in! 7) Finding an old pair of jeans from more than 20 years ago that I forgot I had, and pulling them on only to find out they're too big now. I think I had been saving them to someday shrink back into them, but I missed that window of opportunity! Hope someone at Goodwill gets good use out of them. 8) And speaking of Goodwill, being able to donate tons and tons of clothes. I have always had a ton of clothes, from professional suits to jeans and tshirts. What a pleasure to give them away and know they will be used again! I feel very blessed that I have so many to give away (though when I was heavier it always felt like I had nothing to wear!). 9) and my favorite, having my boyfriend tell me on a regular basis that I'm stunning and a knockout. I don't believe it for a second, but I think he does! Very sweet to hear after wanting to fade into the woodwork my whole life. I met him two months after the surgery, and he tells me he would have dated me even at my heaviest because I'm so wonderful. Sometimes, not all men suck! Great post idea. Mary Ellen

Hi Hope - I can't really offer you any suggestions or advice as I have the exact opposite problem and can't seem to lose no matter what I eat or how much I exercise, but I wanted to wish you well and I hope that your issues resolve quickly! Mary Ellen

I received a "non-certification" for my plastic surgery this week. (BCBS PPO) I was fairly bummed--but I called BCBS and they said I needed to submit a letter of medical necessity--that the plastic surgeon did not submit any of my history ie: weight loss greater than 100lbs (my highest weight in 2003 was 285, day of surgery 256), rashes (documented with my PCP),venous distention in my legs etc. I do not understand why it was not done correctly --but I am going to start the appeal process and get my letters of medical necessity submitted. Any ideas? Suggestions? Anyone been through the same thing? Ok everyone, I need feedback, comments, suggestions and please say prayers for me!! Meg RNY 3-8-05

Thanks for sharing. Co-workers can be a good indicator for changes in our bodies. They know just how to make you suddenly aware you look different. I had noticed the crunched up bra thing under my clothes. Hard to find clothes that fit just right sometimes. I can easily get into a size 12 pant. But all that skin kinds slip slides around. SO I end up with this loose flap poking out from under a shirt. Weird stuff like that. My boss had come to me and said my clothes looked so big maybe I shoud wear a belt or something so I would look more professional. She said it in a nice way but I suddenly realized the overall look was becoming sloppy just because it was so obvious the clothes didn't fit. She and I both laughed together. IT could have been an odd moment but she has been so supportive. She kindly let me know- I know you are holding out on buying clothes. But get a few so we don't think you are smuggling another person into the building under all those clothes. Anyway- this is a better problem to have than all the shame I felt before.

Oh honey, CAN I relate! I have never had really big boobs. My mom & sister got all that good stuff. Me, I was always around a C cup. When I started this journey I was wearing a 48C. Well. Today? 40B. And? The B cups are too big. I just cannot find a 40A, and bras in B or A tend to have only 2 hooks in back, but I need one with 3 or 4 hooks and with sides high enough to hold in my underarm boobs and my back boobs. The other day at work I was wearing a cute new sweater and a cute new 40B bra underneath. Unfortunately the tips of the cups were so EMPTY that they kind of crumpled up under the sweater. A coworker took me aside and said, "Kathy, you need to go put on a jacket or something, your nipples are showing!" and I had to tell her that was not nipples at all, just my folded over B cups! And I put on my jacket. My 12 year old niece was here for Thanksgiving. I had not seen her in months and now she's so cute just starting to develop. I asked her how she liked wearing bras and what size she was wearing. 34A. I told her to look forward to next summer when we can share bras. But she will probably outgrow me by then Suffice it to say, I feel your pain. I too am looking forward to having things replenished there in a year or so. Fingers crossed!