Hi Ladies,
As you can see I am nearly half way to my goal and am currently the lightest I have been since 1995.
I have a question for you. I know I will feel healthier and stronger and have bags more energey...I do already but having defined myself as an obese woman my entire life...will I struggle to find a new identity?
Due to an abusive childhood I think I have classically hidden behind my fat. Will I feel vulnerable when there is alot less fat to hide behind? I am excited about my new self as there are other things that are new in my life too but am I alone in finding it a bit scary??

Those are great questions. Honestly I believe when I got closer to my goal a few years ago - the lightest I had ever been I got scared and needed this weight to hide behind - I didn't know quite how to operate as a more normal person - trust me I was still obese. I put back on about 30 lbs and am struggling to get it off now - I miss the "fit me". I had become an exercise machine. I miss buying clothes in the regular size department. I miss being proud of my accomplishments that were all for ME.

I am again taking care of ME - I will keep the focus on my health and try to figure that out.

Doesn't answer the question as I also continue to find out who I am rather than just being the fat one in the corner.

Hmm, I feel like I'll actually be myself at my goal weight rather than someone new. I'll truly be who I am because I won't be hiding behind baggy clothes or sitting in the corner anymore.

I'm so excited for who I'll be. It keeps me going! I think I'll be a serious fashionista because of all the practice buying clothes that will look good on a fat person will have made me think more seriously about clothes in general. My outfits are going to be frikkin' amazing. And I'll do cute experiments with my hair too. I'm so excited!!!

i totally get what youre saying.. when you are the 'fat' person so long, it kinda starts to define you. when i make a joke about myself, its always weight related etc... im not sure who i will be either when i lose this weight, but i am looking forward to finding out. Its just part of the journey for me... doing a lot of soul searching and finding out who i am all along the way.. if that makes any sense lol

This is exactly how I feel. It's like I'm always hiding my special little 'something' that makes me, well, me, behind all of this weight. Once it's gone, I think I'll be confident and happy enough to just let the real me shine through without caring what anyone thinks.