I know what you mean. I still stop and stare at myself in the mirror. I even told my wife the other day; I'm still fat and boy did she ever let me have it. After years of seeing myself as being overweight; I'm sure it will take time to see myself as thin. I also struggle with the small amount of food that I eat. I'm used to a large plate filled to the edge; and eating it all. Now, just a small plate and a sparse amount of food and I'm full. Old habits die hard; and seeing ourselves as a new thin person will take time. Hang in there. mark g.

I wonder sometimes if I will ever accept myself as an acceptable person. I am down 74 lbs from surgery on Nov. 21, 2003.. With only 28 lbs to goal. I think that is great. I am down from size 22 to a size 10. And medium shirts. I have lost very little hair and I am feeling great.. However, When I look in the mirror I see the same person who has always looked back at me Just the me that ate to much and looked so frumpy. Why cant I see the new youthful me...HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hold on now... Now I know everyone needs to vent.. Maybe that is what is going on here. As far as her changing, yeah, I have too. Not for the worst, but for the better. Sounds like your daughter needs to grow up and find herself quick before she burns all her bridges. It would be hard to forgive, but people do make mistakes. I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your family, but please don't blame the sugery itself. I wasn't able to walk, I had asthma so bad I couldn't play with my kids.. I was a wreck, depressed, and very over weight. I always went to food with my problems. Now I CAN play with my kids, I walk all the time and my asthma, totally under control. Maybe she has fallen into a differerent kind of depression. I agree with what someone had said above with maybe this is her comming out of her shell. Maybe this is her way of paying the weight back ( so to speak) being overweight does make you angry inside and it hurts, well now she can fly.. Granted, she is flying the wrong jet,,,,,but....she will fall on her face and hopefully realize what she has done. Please blame her rather than the actual sugery. It is her fault, not everyone elses, nor the doctors. She must not have been honest enough, or never gave the right signs, or maybe even the right questions weren't asked. I know you want to blame something.. so please just blame her.. Drugs... well they will mess you up anyways.. that again was her choice.. Not being there for her daughter.. that just sucks of her.. but again, she made her bed, she can sleep in it. Her daughter will remember, and that is the sad part of it. Work on healing you guys, then if she ever does come back around, make her do counseling or whatever she needs. She is lost somewhere inside of her own self. Her loss.. I do hope all turns out for you.. and your family. Please keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing and your family. people on here are just trying to help, not really trying to be mean. Most of us stay the same, and some could possibly be hurt because your post kind of made people think you were attacking what they most believe in and on what gave them their lives back. Again, please keep in touch. And vent all you want, just please realize it is her, not the rest of us. We are all here to help...

IN the last 6 weeks I've lost 6 lbs (and gained by 2-3). shoot me.

I am with you I would like to be at my goal by November. Not sure what it is yet I have never been thin so I have no idea what I will look like at what weight but I think around 150. I am 5' 9. Right now I weight 231 As i see it I am more then half way there haveing lost 106lbs. Have you tried the worldwide protein shakes. they come in a can and are pretty good. Everyone that I have told about them loves them. 35 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar and 3 carbs I try to stay away from them because my nutritionist says that if you have too much protein it can slow weight loss too. Also at this point we should try to be weening off the suppliments and more into the regular foods.