Another thought provoking question/discussion!!

Great topic and we all have wow stories! A silly one for me is when my husband mistook me for our very skinny au pair - now Bill is legally blind but he doesn't recognize my shape any more!  Another one for me certainly has to be restaurant booths - now I love to sit in booths! But before I always asked for tables  Now when I am struggling with my suitcase at an airport I get a lot of offers to help me with it - before I was alwys that fat woman with a suitcase and no-one offered to help I can pack much lighter now as my clothes take up much less room in a suitcase! I can go to a mixed gym now - before I limited myself to places like Curves but now I can have a more rounded workout. For the first time in my life I can wear a bikini or a bathing suit this summer and go on the beach without many clothes!! Usually I go onlu for short periods at a time in a t-shirt and capris - my son is delighted that I will stay out much longer this year! There are lots more but I want to give some others a chance lol!! Jackie

"my husband mistook me for our very skinny au pair " Now that sentence could have ended very differently! "I can pack much lighter now as my clothes take up much less room in a suitcase!"  That one just dawned on me when I packed to go to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago.  Never could I have gotten a week's worth of clothes (including those big clunky gym shoes) and work paraphenalia  in a carry-on bag before WLS.

Thanks for sharing your experiences Jackie! These are all wonderful! I think its funny Bill mistook you for the au pair! I remember the days of being obese when simple things seemed so painful. For example when going to stores, restaurants or what have you when I was obese I rarely and next to never had doors held open for me. I was basically invisible. I believe we have all felt that at one point or another being obese. I am excited about the "wearing less" following plastics. I gotta get through the processes first right?!?

What a great way to enjoy our wows.

One of my biggest things is the energy I have to play with my nieces & nephews.  Although they were always special to me & a big part of my world, because of my weight I was limited in what I could do with them, now nothing limits me except what I want to do.  I play on the playgrounds, I chase them, I climb things, they chase me, I wrestle, I swing, I am the cool auntie because I just don't sit there.

I too have grown in personal areas, I venture out & do things I would never have done before.  I have gone places I would not have had the courage to do before, conferences, Vegas, dates, work stuff, belly dancing classes.

There is another area that I have mixed feelings about.  When I was heavy, I was the ignored, nonexistent person, now I get the attention, people talk to me, flirt with me, etc.  I struggle with how I feel about this because it hurts that society sucks like that, but I do enjoy the acceptance now. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences Courtney! I LOVE that and its WHY we are out in nature so much. Sure I have access to the gym, a treadmill, weights etc but I cannot and will not be stuck in the house or inside when there is a whole world to be explored no matter the weather and so we go between 3-4 different parks and trails and playgrounds and such and its wonderful to slide down the slide, swing comfortably, teeter totter, run etc. The last paragraph I identify with as well. That has been one of the hardest challenges. I went from really never leaving the house with the exception of work, appointments and the store. Then suddenly I'm on the go, go, go EVERYDAY and sometimes for the better part of the day and doors are held open, the flirting, the whistles etc. I STILL personally have a hard time with this. I really do have more confidence in myself and my appearance but the outside attention is frankly weird and kinda of hard to deal with.

I'm still pre-op ...only 4 weeks left YES! But I truly enjoy reading these. There is so many things I want to be different.  I seen an old boyfriend the other day with his wife, and I was just thinking I bet he's glad he didn't stay with me. Maybe he wasn't, but I was really embarassed to see him. I really dislike seeing old friends and co-workers. I just feel like they are talking about how big I am. Also, to me and many others, my husband is very attractive. He gets compliments and attention all the time. People are always telling me what a great guy he is. I'm always thinking that people are wondering what is he doing with her. However, he treats me great and I don't feel that from him, but I want to be the same women he married and I'm definitely not. Okay, I'm making myself depressed now, but I'm so looking forward to just wanting to feel normal. I'm on the way. Penny

Thanks for sharing your experiences Penny! Its truly great that you are replying regardless of your status! Speaking for myself I've been there as well. Its hard not to let our thought processes wander and wonder what folks are really thinking of us. Most folks "ass"ume things about obese folks and they don't take the time to really come to learn and understand that many obese individuals just cannot progress to healthier times without intervention. Simple as that. But, know this you are on your way and this is a safe haven for you to come to and vent, chat, share, grow & learn. We are here for you and know that you are supported tremendously! So THANKS for allowing us to share in your journey thus far. All best!

Well seeing as  my surgery isn't for 32, yes 32, more days, lol, I don't have any of the "wow, after surgery" moments but I do have some things that I am looking forward too.  I can not wait to run after my son and actually, maybe be able to catch him.  To be able to walk up the stairs and not have to get to the top and take a breath before I do what it is that I went up there for.  Having 1 chin and the not so rounded, fat cheeked face would be nice.  I can relate to Kat about the booths versuses the tables and I have to say that very few places make boothes for big folks.  I also can not wait to find a piece of clothing that I like and not have to worry about whether it will be in my size.  Gosh....  Until the days and weeks after my WLS!!!  Please join in the countdown with me!!!  LOL Hugs, Theresa

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Theresa! Again, no matter your status in the journey we are glad to hear from you! Its a great way to share with us what you are looking forward to and it helps us support you! Here's to the countdown and ALL your "future experiences" coming to be! All best!

Hey Kitty Kat, Another great question! As personal challange and reward to myself for getting to my goal, I am now taking a Scuba Class! I have always enjoyed swimming and was a lifeguard in my skinny teenage days and on a swim team as a plump child. Skinny or plump my love of the water has always been there!  I still donned a swimsuit in my heaviest days but i didn't feel good about it! I can also rember being hot as haties but not wanting to peal off the clothes and dress wheather appropriately because of my size. Now that's not a problem! I am just about to finish Varicose Vein surgery and I think this summer, I might just be able to wear shorts as well as a swimsuit in public without stares or embarassment and actually feel good about it!. Another thing, sports, I am so much more agile now, that everything I enjoy sportswize is so much easier! I have been able to do everything with my scuba class with ease and it is so exciting and just feels great! I don't even need the silly ladder to get out of the pool!!  I'm on the top of the world!! As we loose weight and become more fit, I challenge everyone who thinks they might like to participate in or check out a new sport to do it! You just might surprise yourself like i did! McLean