Hi all

Last Friday night I went out to a fashion show that my DD was modeling in (She has entered our local "Show Queen" contest at our annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, kind of like an amateur beauty pageant?)
The show was nice and each table had a large platter of finger food. I was thrilled to see fresh fruit but then realised that most of it had been dipped in chocolate ! I managed to have a couple of grapes (no chocolate).
Any way they then bought out the BIG plates of hot supper and I looked at the food and realised I wasn't able to eat any of it.
I just said to myself, "OK, so I cant eat any of that" and got on with enjoying the evening, drinking water and chatting to friends.
I realised when I was back home that it really hadn't bothered me and I didn't sit and sulk like I would have if I had been on a "diet" I just accepted it.

Great thing is people are beginning to tell me I look really good. Only a couple of people have realised that it is weight loss that is making me look good, most just cant quite put their finger on it.................YET!


Silly question but when does a newbie become and Oldbie??

Meg

Way to go Meg!! I remember the 1st time I went to a dinner where I couldn't order my own food and it was chicken parm with spaghetti!!! I scraped off the bread crumbs and ate some of the chicken but that was it. I wasn't upset either. I just have to eat a certain way now and I accept that and so do YOU! I think that acceptance is so important. It makes you feel OK with the choices we have to make everyday. So you dont get frustrated and then want to cheat just cause your mad! I'm only 9 months out so I'm not sure when we become oldbie's LOL. Maybe after about 2 years?

Hi Meg

Congrats on knowing you could not eat it and walking away thats great I'm proud of you...It's wonderful when someone tells you that your looking good and let me say wow you look good your new pics say it all the surgery was a success not only for your eating but look at you dont you feel so much better your selfasteam must be on cloud nine because now you relize you can say no and you do have control I will do a very happy dance for you .....I feel so good about myself when I can control my willpower something I never could do before thats why I ended up MO now I can control and so can you....again Meg you look wonderful and sending you many blessings and hugs

Meg, your pictures tell the story! Of course people say you are looking great, because you are! What a HUGE change with just 46 pounds! You need to put copies of those pictures all over your house to remind you how well you are doing!

I am glad that you had no problems at the dinner. I think that we find it surprising that food is no longer the center of our world. It is so nice to just enjoy the company of others without stressing about what we are going to eat next! Our days of mindless grazing are over and I think we all feel a new freedom because of it.

As far as when a newbie becomes an oldie, I think after your one year anniversary but the oldies here know for sure.

Keep up the wonderful job you are doing!

Meg, thanks for posting your ongoing photo--you're really doing it! You're making it happen. I'm so happy for you. You know, I don't know when a newbie becomes an olbie! I still think I'm a newbie. There will always be people on here with more years out from surgery than you... From what I'm reading on here lately, it seems like you're a newbie until you've relost your regained weight! (kidding) I think that maybe you're a newbie until you don't feel like a newbie anymore.

I think that you were a good sport about the "dinner" out. I've had inner melt downs at the lack of food choices I've been given at some of these kinds of functions. It amazes me how the world seems to constantly grazes on simple sugars and starch!

Anyway, you're doing great. Keep up the good work. It's a thrill to see your progress.

Megs

You look Fabulous!!!!! What a difference a slice of weight makes....

From this Newbie to another....You have the right attitude, keep it up!

What a great story Meg!

As for when you lose your newbie status...hmm...maybe after a year?

Congrats!

Meg I'm grinning ear to ear for you! Keep that feeling of not being bothered by not being able to eat as long as you can! Start carrying a protein bar, or other healthy choice with you so that you don't have to go hungry at times like these.
I adore the picture progress report! 46 lbs sure shows my dear! I always hated looking in the mirror and knowing my face...my pretty face....was hiding under all the fat. I love seeing it emerge as the fat comes off and thats just what I'm seeing in your pics! Keep up the fight and we will emerge from the coccoon!
As for the newbie/old timer debate, we will always be newbies in some respect. Even the neighbors who are 2+ yrs out are facing new challenges like regain/loss, plastic surgery etc. This will be a lifetime learning experience. We are all also old timers when we realize that we have been there done that in regards to a certain question or topic and can give our perspective on it. We are people, we are poineers, we are SURVIVORS!

I guess being a "survivor" is better than being a "liver!" But I want to do more than survive--I want to really live. So call me a liver. And I'd rather be a new liver than an old one!!! =)

Meg!!!! You go girl!!!!!!! You're doing GREAT!!! Your pictures just made me go WOW! Awesome job with the eating out thing...I hope I can do that well some day.
Pat yourself on the back ALOT!!!!!
Here are some virtual pats on the back and high-fives from me... : ) (I'm trying but I just can't reach!!!!)