Written by Melinda
Monday, March 19th, 2007
Today I went to the Security office and had my photo taken for my id badge. Normally it cost $25 to replace it, but since I have lost 100 lbs, they let me have a new one. The lady who prepared it was very nice. She took one look at my old photo stored in the computer, and gasped. Yes, that’s the shock factor I was looking for when I lost all this weight! I still love to see people’s reactions. I stood against the wall for the pose, smiled a “teeth” smile so everyone could see my pearly whites, and then walked over to the window to get the badge. She turned the monitor towards me so that I could see the new picture before she printed it out, and I had this unexpected reaction. There, side by side, before and after pictures… I started to say something to her, but got choked up… “I’m think I’m going to cry” I said. Next thing I know she is handing me a tissue and got one for herself, both wiping our eyes. It still overwhelms me to think of all the weight I have lost.
Did you ever notice that people of likeness stick together… when I was in high school, all the band members hung out together… I wasn’t in the band, its’ just an observation that I made. I wondered from time to time… do they all REALLY like each other? Are they forced to associate with each other? They seemed to get along… appeared that they enjoyed each other’s company. Then there was the chorus… they all stuck together. Hours of practice getting ready for Cabaret, special assemblies, recitals, etc. I wasn’t in the choral group either. But I noticed how they all stuck together… I really didn’t belong anywhere… well, yes there was the youth group. We had a rockin’ youth group at church! There were about 65 members and we all were very on fire before there was even such a thing… when it wasn’t “cool” to be in love with Jesus… Ok stick with me a minute… I’m not going to preach a sermon! But my point is, people of like ideas, like interests, like goals, stick together… I noticed this week that its what we do here on Obesity Help… the group we have formed… we’ve all got something in common… we were FAT and now we are LOSERS! Yeah losers!!! 99 pounds and still losing!!
But I think one way we are going to be strong and be successful is to form these support teams/groups.Another observation: if you want to be successful, hang out with successful people. I heard a pastor preach this sermon long ago… only it wasn’t about weight loss… but it fits! We have to rub elbows with them, ask questions, watch their habits, catch their habits, be willing to learn from them… I see so many on this website and also on the BariatricEating.com website that have made it… I am inspired by them. They make me want to succeed. They make me want to keep on keepin’ on… they make me feel like YES I CAN DO IT! So… let’s all join together, learn and teach one another, and be a success together!!
