Hi! from an old friend

Hi everyone out there --

I haven't been by in a while, though I certainly have missed you all! Life as been a bit complicated--my DDP has had 3 surgeries in less than 6 months, including 1 for breast cancer, my mother landed in the hospital, so I have been working on moving her closer than the 3 hours away where she lives now, my kids have become terrified of us dying, I'm looking for a job, we bought a house, and are trying to sell a house. But otherwise, things have been quite calm.

I also, have to admit, that I have been staying away because I am one of the slower losers and sort of felt like I should stop hanging around here, either because I felt I wasn't a "good example" or because it would be too depressing for those newbies looking for big losses.

Now let me be clear, NO ONE here has ever made me feel that way--this is just MY mindset that I have not been successful enough. In fact, the opposite is true--everyone has always been SO supportive of every little success--I guess in my old big-fat-can't-lose-weight-on-a-diet-mentality, I'm still really good at feeling like a failure or that I don't deserve it, because I haven't worked the tool the way I should have.

But that's my sub-conscious at work. What I really feel is that I have received a miracle. When people ask how I lost so much weight, my instinct is to tell them that I cheated--this was so, so easy.

And while it is true that I think I could have lost more weight if I had worked harder, 83 lbs. is pretty amazing. I ever thought I would ever be below 200 again, or have a waist under 50, let alone 40 inches, or be able to move my car seat up so much that I bump my knee every time I get in, or not look like my face is puffed up like a balloon, or be able to cross my legs, or fit into regular width shoes--the list goes on and on!

I also had been looking at my avatar for a long time thinking that I didn't look so different--then I finally realized that that picture was from years ago, so I was not near my heaviest. (New pics are on my profile.)

So, anyway, what I wanted to say is that, any loss is great, and that even though it took me 7 or 8 months to understand what it meant to work the tool, I finally got it. I'm still not great at it, but I'm getting better, and I'm still losing, slowly, but surely.

So, what could be bad?

I'm glad to see so many of you on here and seeing your new pictures is an amazing experience!

It's good to be back!

Pielet

P.S. For those of you who don't know what working the tool means, please ask--I always felt stupid--like it must be obvious since that's what everyone says. I wish I had asked!

Hi, I am VERY glad to see you again!  I am a slow loser too, despite really working the tool.  Some of us are just that way I guess.  I know how you feel about hanging around "being a bad example" and how its a self imposed kind of label.  Please DO show up, so I don't feel like the "worst" one. Sound like you are doing good, and have a lot on your plate!  Redefine success (that's what I try and tell myself when I get discouraged about not losing) sounds to me like you are doing GREAT!  You must feel and look terrific - look at that great BMI!!! I really am glad to see you, welcome back!!!

Thanks so much for the nice welcome back. You are definitely not the worst--and I agree--these are just stupid labels that we give ourselves. (Besides, if anyone is worse, it would be me since I didn't work the tool until about 2-3 months ago!! ) And I still lost 83 lbs. woohoo!!!

WOW! Pielet, you've had some busy months there, girl!  I hope you are in for a more serene couple of months, a summer full of relaxation when you need it and play when you want it! Good to see your avatar! Mary Claire 

Thanks Mary Claire--so good to see you, too! But, I fear the summer of relaxation is not to be--moving into the new house, selling this one, gearing up for a new job, moving my mother, kids at home for the summer--I'll just be happy if no one else ends up in the hospital!!

OMG!!!!  You look fabulous!  Can you crop that latest picture into your new avatar?? You may be losing slow but you are doing a great job of it.  You look so happy and healthy.  Love the hair cut.  You look so young now. WTG!    

Thanks for the compliment!

I have to work on that avatar change--I forget how to do it.

It's funny--you're the 2nd person to tell me I look younger--hadn't thought about that!

Great to see ya', Pielet!  Sorry you had so much going on.  I certainly hope things calm down for you (and your partner)!

Personally, I think your loss is amazing and I'm proud of how far you've come.  Don't sell yourself short!  You've done a great job.  And your photo shows it! (hmm, maybe it's time to update that avatar....)

Peace,
Rana

Hi Rana,
So good to hear from you! I know my post came out sounding negative--I didn't mean for it to be--that's just the head talk--I am really happy with all of the changes!

I agree I need to work on the avatar--I forget how to do it; also, I'd like to have the changey-kind like yours. Do you remember how you did it?

As always, thanks for your support!

Oh gosh, let me think... um, it was something like you've got to shrink your avatar down to 100 X 100 pixels (just like for the regular avatar), then go to a site like http://animator.iconator.com/animator.php and upload the photos.  You can adjust how quickly it changes, plus you can use multiple photos.  You save it to your 'puter, then go to "User Settings" here at OH and upload the file just like you would the static photo.

I hope that works.  If not, let me know and I'll see if I can help ya' more tomorrow (or whenever).  It's close to my beddie-by time now....

Peace,
Rana