So in an effort to stave off the emotional negativity during a 3-hour-long train journey, I started trying to imagine what the New Slimmed Salsa would be like.

Well, slim, obviously. Probably, given my body shape, with curves, so thin leg jeans aren't ever going to be in my wardrobe (that's ok with me, though).

But then I got to wondering about how my personality would change, too. My aunt and a few 3FC'ers have said that along with a healthier body comes better self-confidence, for example.

So for us ladies and gents who have a lot to lose (although as of today I have under 100 lbs to lose! )...do we anticipate any changes in our characters?

I personally think I'd be much less out-going. Which for me is a good thing, as being so out-going (people, even my friends, seem to expect this of me) is exhausting. There ought to be a calorie-expenditure on it.

What say you?

I think I'll be MORE outgoing. haha. I tend to be self-concious and shy. And more positive as well. I try to be positive now, but sometimes I have to force it

I'm noticing personality/character changes already, just from eating right and exercising, I feel much more confident, regardless of what the scale says (Even when it's evil, 30 mins of positive thinking and a nap takes care of it) I feel amazing!

I don't think I"m hideous by any means, but i have always thought i needed a heavy layer of spackle on my face to leave the house...(see pic ) the other day I left the house without make up and didn't even realize it until I was halfway up the street! Normally I would have either turned around and put it on or ran to rite aid and bought some to put on.

But I just sort of went with it and even thought, "Man, your skin looks SO GOOD lately you might as well rock it!" So I did, and no one looked at me funny or anything. :P (I always expect looks of horror if I left the house without my make up!)

But really I was curious about my improved skin (It's always been nice, but now it positively GLOWS) and I read that vegetarians get more bioflavanoids than most people from eating so much fruits and veggies and this vastly imroves the quality of your skin! This is so true because I have never had skin this nice before, not even when I was vegetarian before, and probably because i ate pasta all the time and not vegetables and fruit like I do now!

I find myself wearing more fitting clothes lately and I am just leaps and bounds more confident...what's funny is I was already pretty damn confident! I mean, all of my friends alway say things like, "you are the most confident person I know." and things like that, but it's just shot through the roof!

Also I'm pretty outgoing but I don't do a lot of things because I don't want people to notice me in certain situations as 'the fat girl' so I try and blend in sometimes, but I think that is something that will change as I lose.

I can't imagine having more self-confidence than I already do. I can't imagine being more outgoing that I am now. I too wish being outgoing had a caloric-deficit effect. As well as mental energy. Because those of us with ADD are mental fidgeters and it doesn't seem to burn near as many calories as those with ADHD that are constant physical fidgeters!

I can imagine being more reserved in some ways, especially regarding men's attentions, and even questioning why someone would want to be my friend. I have friends now that truly know who I am and enjoy my company. I know people who didn't want anything to do with me because of what I look like but seem to love calling on me to get things done for them, because I'm a very useful, resourceful woman to have around. When these sorts of people come into my life and I turn them down, I'm labeled a "fat-b" and then they have to go off to find another way to get what they want. I learned about these people the hard way.

I have learned not to wait until I'm at goal weight to live my life as I wish and to be the woman I want to be. I'm tall and I like to wear heels. I'm big and I'm funny and intense. I'm smart and talented and I intimidate some people. That's not my problem. I'm kind and generous and have a big heart. Some want to wrongly take advantage of that and I don't let them. That also is not my problem.

I still won't learn to ski after I'm at goal. I still won't sky dive or bungee jump. Or drive race cars. Or go water skiing. Or wear a bikini. I don't find any value in climbing Everest or Whitney. I wish I could go to Machu Pichu, but the last time I climbed Whitney I got serious altitude sickness and had to turn back...so that's out. And I don't want to run a marathon, or a 5K.

I will go kayaking as soon as I find one I fit into and can't sink! And as soon as I have the cash, I'm going to learn to sail. I suppose I'll also have to lose some weight in order to play tennis, which is something I'm thinking about taking up. I don't believe one's weight matters much when it comes to rhythmic movements, and I'm already a good dancer. I already have a nice wardrobe, great shoes and handbags, and there are some clothes I'll be altering down to fit and some I'll give away.

And when I lose weight and get to goal and have a ton more energy to get things done, I'll still hate doing housework!

I DO want to run a 5k someday!!!!!

Running is something I really look forward to being able to do.

This is interesting! Why do you think you will be less out-going when you are slimmer? Do you think that being out-going is not a normal part of your personality, but that you are that way to compensate (maybe that's not the right word) for being heavier? I never thought of that before, but I wonder if I do that as well?

I hope to be more confident and have better self esteem cause right now mine is in the toliet

I see myself being more outgoing and having more confidendence too. I'm not a super wall flower, and (as anyone here who reads any of my posts knows) I'm not particularly hesitant to give my opinion. IRL I tend to hold back somewhat socially because I can be self conscious of my size.

Gloria, you have a great attitude. I get altitude sickness and thought it was because I was heavy. When I read up about it, I found out that it doesn't have to do with weight. so there's me using my size to discourage me from mountain climbing! ha. I would like to learn how to scuba dive (I have to improve my swimming skills), and I've had this goal/desire to hike part of the Appalachian Trail (which I tell myself is something for when I'm thinner...)

so I guess I see my thinner self as being more physically adventurous.

I currently avoid a lot of things because I am ashamed of my weight. I turn down a lot of invites to things I would really like to attend. I also try to keep to myself and hope people don't notice me, which obviously doesn't help me make any friends. The last time I lost a good amount of weight, I noticed myself doing more, being more sociable, and just enjoying life more. I can't wait to have that feeling back!

Thanks for the huggies, dragonwoman!!

That's exactly what I think. I'm not saying I've ever done it consciously or deliberately, but I suspect that what I've been doing.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm actually really shy, and that my "bouncy" side is an artificial construct. With close friends, though, I think I might relax and come naturally out of the shyness.

When I get under 140 onwards, I'm not really more outgoing but I am more relaxed. I remember being abroad at 136, and it was literally like a weight had been lifted off my mind. All I can liken it to is: when I fly, I'm never relaxed, always concentrating so hard to keep the plane up. That's what I feel like when I'm overweight, always concentrating so hard on - don't quite know what but once I get into the 130s, I know I look what I define as 'normal' , I can mentally hit the standby button, and get some rest.

I've changed. People have noticed. It's a NOTICEABLE change.

I always thought that I was overly friendly - ya know to try and compensate, but looking back I realize that was false.

I couldn't help but change. I was miserable, unenergetic, depressed. I lacked self-confidence. Having the added, unneeded weight was like walking around with a big shield. It held me back. I was always aware of it. Wondered if when people spoke to me, were they thinking why in the world is this woman was so large.

Now, having lost the weight, that shield has been lifted. I walk around with a big grin on my face all the time. Whether it's at the post office, the bank, grocery shopping. I am so friendly now. I can't contain myself from speaking to perfect strangers.

It's also made me a better citizen. I volunteer now. I give up my seat on public transportation now all the time. I help strangers with their packages, help older people cross the street and so on. I wasn't able to do these things when I was so heavy. It was too taxing, physically.

I've have also become MUCH better friends with those who were just acquaintances in the past. I've taken it a step further now. Losing the weight has freed me up to be bolder, and kinder and more generous and, and, and.......


I am more fun to be around now. That's for sure. Even my old friends could tell you that. My kids can. So can hubby. I am so full of energy and joy now - instead of sadness and lethargy. It can't help but spill over into your personality.

And the biggest thing that changed probably - I've gained my own self-respect. I didn't have much respect for myself when I was so heavy. I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing, what was required of me, what I was capable of doing. I was falling short. That's not the case any longer. Having gained my own self-respect, that changes you. Also accomplishing such a big feat - well that ALONE has given me added confidence and strength. Having found the strength to lose the weight, it's given me confidence that I can do anything that I put my mind to.

I've finally discovered who I was intended to be.

Robin,

Wow, you leave me speechless! You have given me even more incentive to lose weight and more to look forward to. When I get tired on this journey, I read some of your posts. What encouragement and hope.

It seems to me that personality would be bound to change with such significant weight loss. I already feel more confident and less self conscious. I look forward to the day that I can say, "Me too!" to Robin's post. I am naturally out going but, at times, have hidden that trait because of embarrassment at my size. I will probably have to be careful not to be obnoxiously out-going when at goal!

Sign my name to Robin's post

I was outgoing before but it was more of a forced outgoing. Now? I am outgoing still but it's more natural. I get comments all the time that something about me has changed besides my weight and while they can't quite figure it out they do say I have a glow about me...like I'm keeping a really juicy secret lol

I guess you can say I feel a bit more free?