Totally caught off guard by this in the grocery store.......

 I don't think many people would recognize me if they haven't seen me in over a year

Yeah, I wouldn't have recognized you! Totally different person!

People that have known me for years who've I've ran into dont recognize me at all. Sometimes I'd be standing with my husband and they'd ask him, "where your wife?" And I'd be standing right there! It's a trip!

Ok, you are so right!  I would have not been able to recognize you.  I looked at all of your facial features and that is where you have totally changed your look.  Yes, the major weight loss changed your body, but as far as your face, nope.  Not even the same person.  Thank you for letting me see myself as others are and will see me.  Jane

My own father, with whom I am very close, walked by me twice in a bowling alley one day before realizing it was me.  As he said, he was looking for the old me... the me he had known for years.

 

Audrey

 

when i graduated high school in 1990 i weighed probable 145-150.  gained up to 272.   I had people that knew me all my life walk by me and not speak to me when i was big but now that i am back down to approx the same weight will speak.

it hurts my feelings that they will speak now. 

 

then i have people that have known me all my lift and don't recognize me.  LIke Lora they said they recognize my voice.  I have a very distinguishable voice and worked in a grocery store for 12 years. 

i have to re introduce myself to some people and then they are like WOW!!!  i love to do it some times

 

Tamara

Yes I can relate to your post also.  I forgot to mention I was not heavy until later on and was a normal weight of 129 lbs when I graduated.  I can only imagine because at one of the reunions I too had gained alot of weight and someone asked who the fat rich looking Jewish princess was with all the jewelry?  I was told later that was about me.  I was like, you have got to be kidding me.  That is obviously what some people thought when they saw me.  I will never, ever forget that.  Why is the pain of sad memories stay with us forever yet happy events and other things in our life we cannot remember? 

Thanks to all of you for such positive feedback and calling it like it is.  I know on the grand scheme of things this is not top of the list of catastrophies that life can deal you, but even the small ones can have such a major effect on you.  My thanks to each and everyone of you.  Jane

I had someone not recognize me just recently. Even 8 years out it still happens. I went to my 30 year class reunion last October....it was somewhat uncomfortable the number of people that asked others who I was and then approachedme to talk and give me a hug. One girl told a close friend of mine that she was pulling her leg I wasn't Dana. Once I talked she was floored. I hadn't seen this classmate since graduation.

Our assistant principal was there. He actually embarrassed me and pissed me off actually. He yelled "No way, you were a fatty back then". I wanted to crawl under the table. One of the guys there actually came and apologized, gave me a hug and told me I looked fabulous. Remember Marcantel (asst principal) is a drunk and once an ass always an ass.

So although there were many wow moments still an occassional uncomfortable moment even now. Sorry for going off topic.

Just be prepared for anything and know you are fabulous and no matter the situation believe in yourself.

I used to be a support supervisor for a hotel call center.. Most people I worked with knew me by my voice firstly! Now, when I run into them in public, I start talking!! I talk right at them until they put my voice to my face and they always tell me, if you had not started talking I would have NEVER known it was you! It is a little unsettling ... But, it's kind of fun too.. It's like a contest to see how long it takes them to get it!