I can see changes in myself already.. but I have to realllllly look for them. I'm only one month post op, and I've lost quite a few inches already, but other people apparently see it way easier than I see it myself. I just decided to believe them LOL. I can completely relate to your words.. it's difficult to get past that mental image that we have had of ourselves for so long. On the flip side of it, it took me a lot longer to see my fat self than it did for everyone else too. It's sad to admit that, but it's true.. I told myself for so long that I didn't look as heavy as I was, that when i finally did get honest with myself, it was a harsh day in the neighborhood. And that's when my self esteem started to go too.. It's some sort of self protective mechanism that we employ I suppose, I don't know, but I do know that I will have to work on that every single day in order to completely regain my self confidence and become totally healthy ~ not just my body, but my mind too. Hang in there!! One day you will just wake up and look in mirror and say OMG you are beautiful, where have you been hiding for so long?!! It will happen, I know it!! HUGS!

i hear you. Funny thing is for the longest time i saw myself as that thin kid in high school who was 185 LBS and playing basketball everyday. I knew I weighed more but mentally that is who I saw and who I thought everyone else saw. Then somewhere along the way I accepted my new reality and started seeing myself as heavy (not fat). But that was not the full truth as I was fat!!!!! I knew things were bad when I hated having my picture taken. When I saw myself in pictures I could hardly believe it was me. So I didn't. Consequently every so often I would go up a shirt size believing I was heavy. Denying Denying and Denying all along the way. It was not until I would stand if front of the mirror with my birthday suit on that I realized how big I had gotten and accepted it. I hated elevators with mirrors on three sides because it made me deal with the reality. Now that I am a week post opp and due to the liquid diet before and after I have dropped 30 pounds and everyone around me says man looking better. But I don't see it, I still see the old me. Granted I got a ways to go so I am still see the belly big time. All this to mean It will take time for you at your new weight to accept it.

i know what you mean.. the scale has not moved down for me in the last 4-6 months!!!i go to the Y 2 or 3 times a week and get on the elliptical and dont get off till i have burned atleast 400 cals. My guess that my graising is the problem..BUT still i eat about 40% less than before the band. I still need 50lbs to loose but most importantly i want inches off my waits?core area. THe muffin top is killing me!!!

I do get compliments and its had to just say thankyou cuz i dont see much difference... BUT i will try to loose 10-15lbs by Aug for a wedding...small goals are good right?

Good luck with your struggels.

<P>I do appreciate everyone's words of encouragement and suggestions. I will continue to workout at the YMCA or at home with the equipment I have collected. I know if I continue the weight is going to come off soon. I guess we all need to stay encouraged and focused on the big picture. For me the big picture is overall good health and a better outlook of the person I am working towards becoming. </P>