I just spent a fantastic weekend with my cousin. She had to be at her son's college about 15 miles from where I live for a swim competition and we decided to have a weekend visit.

She's 3 years younger, but growing up we were always taken for sisters if people didn't know us well. In the small town where we grew up, most people knew the family so that really didn't happen often. Usually the questions was "Which one of the Smith's was your parent?" Truly, the whole bunch of us look alike! When I moved away and she came to visit we always told people we were sisters. We used to be of similar shape and size, though I'm taller. Then I got very heavy.

We are again of similar shape and size! We had a great weekend visiting and shopping and running around. We had hours to talk and catch up. I tried not to be too boring about my weight loss, but it hit me when we were talking that I was the heaviest person in our whole family (and our family is quite large - in numbers.) My mom was one of 12 kids. I have about 30 first cousins. One male cousin is pretty beefy, but everyone else is average size or "normal over 50" chubby. Not that being older allows us to be heavy, but I think you know what I mean by that. Using BMI strictly as a guideline, I'd have to say I was - by far - the biggest one.

No more. Never again. Yippee!

Lin

What a great feeling to no longer be the biggest one! Woo Hoo!! And to now be the same size as cousin...so great!!

I am so happy for you, you have done such a great job!

Congrats on your awesome progess!

What a great feeling that must be! Awesome!!

That is so awesome!

Lin, how amazing for you. I am so Inspired by you. Your posts are always insightful and wise. You have showed me how I need to change what goes in my mind, just as much as what goes in my mouth.

Yeah! I love reading the posts where people share realizations like this. They are fun to read. I like seeing how people think about weight loss in non scale terms. I am glad you are the same size as your cousin. How healthy and exciting for you.

That is so wonderful. I have thought about that subject on and off for years. I am so glad you shared this!! Carry on.

How awesome!!!!

How wonderful for you! I know that feeling all too well.

I know I shouldn't let this thought bother me, but I can't wait until I no longer feel that people are thinking this when I am out with my normal weight husband and daughters: What a nice looking family...too bad the mother is so fat!

I hate thinking that. They may not even be saying that to themselves, and why should I care, right?

But I am slowly getting to the point in my weight loss where I am feeling that way less and less. Yay!

Glad you had a great time. That's a good feeling isn't it?

I was also always the largest person in my family by far. But, now, I am the smallest person in my immediate family, although I am nowhere near small (but I'm slowly getting there). Now, my sister even complains that she's no longer the "thin one." Now, I'm both the "thin one" and the "smart one." Anyway, enough about me, congratulations, linjber, on your weight loss and your return to "normal."

Well done!! Thats an awesome acheivement!

I know what you mean. It's definitely more in your head than reality i would say babe, its just a form of insecurity. Remember you are beautiful now, even if you are not at your goal weight yet. You are a great mother and wife and you are not defined by what the scale says.

Yeah, who cares what they think! (or what you think they are thinking :P )

Thanks for the support and kind words! We really need to allow ourselves to accept who we are and not worry about what anyone else thinks. But, when you're the biggest, it really can't be ignored. I never felt like my family judged me, but it's nice to be "the same." I hope everyone has a great week.

Lin

Good job!