What do you see????

[SnackyStacky]

I haven't read the entire thread, I just read Glo's initial post and two things struck me.

Firstly that I knew EXACTLY how you feel Glo!

I've lost 138 pounds, and while it feels great, I too know about the excess skin, and thinking "Why don't I look like THAT?!" when I see other people of my size.

The second thing that struck me is that I really have moved past all that. And it's something that will happen in time Glo, I promise!

We really are a society that is too concerned with outward appearance. It's hard NOT to be hard on ourselves when we see images telling us what we're supposed to be like, and trying to feed us the "ideal" image of beauty.

I said this in another thread. We all could list 5 negative things about ourselves in under a minute. But try making a list of 5 positive things, and we'd struggle. It's all about what you choose to believe. Choose to be positive. Choose to list those 5 positive things.

 

[CynJ]

I didn't get a chance to read all the replies yet but here is mine!

One of the most important things anyone has ever said to me was by a doctor - he said that there is no such thing as a perfect body. And to trust him because he got to see a lot of them. lol.....

Something else that I find interesting is that so many women that are "thin" and "beautiful" are also the most insecure.

For me my DH is a fantastic help in my weight loss battle! When he met me 6 years ago I wore a size 12/14 jeans and weighed 165lbs. Fast forward to last year I had ballooned up to 265lbs and was looking at a size 22 jeans. He loves me no matter what weight I am he just wants me to be healthy and happy. He makes me crack up sometimes when we walk through walmart and he sees some lingerie (think size 2 thongs) and he says "you'd look good in that" - needless to say I think he needs his head examined sometimes but he loves me and finds me sexy and that is a wondeful feeling!

I go to a lot of upscale fundraisers where there are some very wealthy people who I know could buy any outfit they wanted without looking at the price tag and I am constantly dumbfounded by women who insist on wearing clothing that is too tight just so they can say its a size ? - if they bought the same outfit in the correct size they would be gorgeous!

I have been wearing fat clothes for so long I forgot that I lost 50lbs last year -and for a fancy Christmas party last year I found this absolutely awesome top that I really wanted - it was that black stretchy spandexy type matieral with navy blue spangly dots on it- the cut was a little different then I normally wear and it was only a size 18 - I tried it on and lo and behold it fit! Normally because I am big busted I buy size 24 tops and was shocked that this fit and looked good. I went to the party and everyone RAVED at how good I looked and at how much weight I lost! I have now started buying clothes that are a little smaller - and I look better!

Sometimes you have to take a plunge to realize that the water isn't so cold.......the confidence will come.......you just have to listen when others pay you compliments and soak it all in! Its a great motivator!

I realize that I have rambled on and on but I hope you can take some of this to heart!

 

[PAdisMOM]

OMG, glo you look gorgeous in the second picture. I honestly had to look 3 times to convince myself that those pictures were of the same person. I feel inspired.

I'll tell you what got me to change my attitude about clothes and how I look. My mom wears clothes that are way too large. She claims that it's for comfort, I know it's for hiding. She is not a really large woman, just larger than she used to be. She had my sister and I in the same habit. She also has somescars on her shins from trying to get rid of varicose veins. The procedure went wrong and she ended up with large scars. Because of this, she wears pants all summer long. One day I just realized that I did not want to hide like that all my life.

I knew that I didn't look perfect, but I wanted to look as good as I could with what I had. I started buying clothes that actually fit me. (My husband helped with this. He kept telling me that I was not as large as I was imagining). I feel much better now (But not perfect).

I got my mom a gift certificate for her birthday with the condiditon that my sister and I had to go with her when she picked out her outfit. She immediately found an outfit she liked. Of course baggy pants and large untucked shirt. I told her it looked nice, but said "Don't you even think about buying a size bigger than large!" She became angry and said that I just don't understand (What a laugh!). I finally got her to try on a large and of course she looked great. I would really love to see her shed her insecurity because it breaks my heart to think that she thinks so little of herself.

Anyway, just a little story.

 

[nativetxn]

<b> PAdisMOM</b> That was a difficult lesson for me to learn too. My mother (who has never had one extra pound of weight on her body) finally sat me down and told me that wearing clothes <i>too big</i> was as bad or worse than wearing clothing that is too small. It makes you look larger than you truly are. It took me a while and a few times with her stopping be from going out by saying "You're not going out in public wearing that, go find something that "fits" you." LOL, I may be over 50 but she is still my mom and I still mind her. She was right, though.

Glo, Marsha has excellent style sense, doesn't she? She can be very encouraging and motivating, too. The difference in those two photos of you is nothing short of amazing, my friend. I'm glad you aren't angry

Katholyn

 

[glo]

no Kath...not angry at all, and hopefully when I see you next you will see more of a difference...We can take a picture together

I need a personal shopper....maybe Marsha will do it? Someone to shop with me and tell me if something look good or not. ANyone want to volunteer?

 

[Cthia]

glo I would volunteer to help you any time. I know when you have something that fits you properly you have a whole new attitude you did not even know you had. Amazing how clothes can do that.

 

[glo]

way cool we need to meet up

 

[Cthia]

Just for you I would go out of my way to help you out.

 

[Luvinit]

If I could Glo..I would jump on a plane and help you shop til you dropped. Unfortunely I can not.

There is a web site www.landsend.comthat you can design your own model. I did one of me...and boy did it look just like my body type.

You can have her try on clothes..It works best with bathing suits. Than you can either order some clothes that looked good on her (remember though she doesn't have "rolls" or imperfections) try to keep that in mind.

My sears store just started carrying some landsend stuff. You may be able to find some thing there. HTH

Tracy

PS..I think you are beautiful!!

 

[nativetxn]

Tracy, that was such a nice thing to say.

Glo, if I had Marsha's sense of style I would fly up and take you shopping. Sadly, I do not

 

[KarenNY]

Glo, you look fabulous in the picture with your family! I don't have any fashion sense, but I do love to shop. Give a yell if you want a shopping buddy- I can be over there in a few hours.