I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Has the confidence you've gained since losing some weight inspired you to make other changes in your life?

Since beginning to lose I've:
1. quit my 8-year teaching career
2. moved to the UK for 18 months (and then moved back to the States)
3. gone back to school for a new career
4. dropped 2 of my 4 meds for Bipolar II (with my doctor's blessing, of course)

I've also become much more outgoing, and my general attitude toward life is 100 times better.

Anyone else out there with big changes to share?

Well, I am not quite as close to goal as you are, but I have surely noticed a new "life" about myself. I FEEL so much better in general, I am regaining my "go power" that I always used to have. It feels good! I also have a better "attitude" towards almost everything, that kinda freaks me out once in a while....becuase I really see a difference there.
Strangely enough though, although I have lost 26 pounds as of this morning, only one person, (besides hubby and my kids) have said anything about me loosing *some* weight. No one else seems to either notice or say anything....strange..but that is OK, I know I am I can feel it in my skin....

I suppose this is kind of related to diet, but my kickboxing regime is really turning up a notch... I wouldn't have had the confidence or indeed fitness to do it before. I would never have dreamed that becoming a black belt in kickboxing was even possible and now I'm on a fast-track black belt course!

I don't know if this is to do with my weight or eating habits or what, but I'm a lot more chilled out than I used to be. I get less depressed (maybe because I'm actually quite happy ) and it's not the end of the world if I do feel a bit blue one day. Maybe that's more to do with me not being a teenager any more

Definately - but since it's been gradually happening over the past 10 months - it's not as obvious as it would be otherwise.

Since Dec. 24th, 2004 - I have lost 59 lbs. I have also:

1. Applied and pursued a position in management (despite a HIGH level of in-house competition) - and I GOT IT
2. Re-applied to graduate school for my Masters uin the Ivy League - GOT IN
3. Cut off most of my hair - I've had LONGGGG hair since I was 3 - am now 24 (starting length just under my butt, end length my jawline)
4. Started being my goofy outgoing self again
5. Vastly improved my wardrobe - and will continue to do so (CHARGE IT!! )
6. Started physical therapy and taken more responsibility for my personal health
7. Returned to my old self-assertive ways (a bit more willing to compromise)

and the big one
8. *I've realized I don't have to be perfect. I have an OCD thing about doing everything to the best of my own ability by exceeding all expectations - going without sleep and generally making myself sick*. It's ONLY a job / degree / class / etc. It's ok to just do what you can - and feel good about it afterwords. The worst thing they could do is flunk / fire me. (And my taking-it-easy is still way more productive than when others give it there all anyway )

A lot more happened - but this covers a lot.

I've become far more girly, interested in fashion, reading trashy mags, enjoying shopping etc. That's really surprised me, I was never interested in clothes or anything like that when I was fat.

I've also taken up Spanish classes which I'm really enjoying at the moment, and next week I think I'm finally going to try scuba diving.

Also I'm generally just a lot more confident and willing to try things. If I can like exercise and vegetables, what else might I like?!

That's a great way to put it !! I hadn't thought about it that way before, but it's true...there are a lot of things that I didn't think I'd like to do, but since losing weight I'm much more willing to give it a try. Example, the friends I lived with in England are really into rock climbing. I NEVER thought I'd be interested in that -- it sounded too "sporty" for me -- but because they go 3 - 4 times a week, I found myself going with them. It took a while for me to try it, but now I own my own climbing boots! It's also the same with my career change. I've always loved animals but I also always thought "I'm not smart enough in math and science to do anything with animals." Yet, I ended up quitting my job teaching World History to start a program thata include hematology, anatomy, etc. And it's the confidence I got from losing weight that made me think, "Well, if I can do THIS (lose weight), maybe I can do that, too!"

GonnaLoseIt...I barely got any comments about my weight loss until after I'd lost about 35 lbs. The few people that said anything were people who I really don't see at that often. I think people who see you every day may not see the changes right away.

2frustrated -- I wanna try kickboxing! It sounds fantastic! I used to play field hockey and loved the (illegal but constant) kicking of each others' shins and stuff . I played defense, so I got away with A LOT of that! LOL, I know it's not the same thing, but I love a sport where you can really get your frustration out!

Great stories, chickies...thanks for sharing!

I am much more confident personally and professionally. At work I keep getting more responsible roles - so someone else is seeing it, too.
I never thought I would enjoy exercise....or be on a first name basis with the dude at the gym. I shop for tennis shoes...what's up with that? Still can't quite get my brain around the fact that other people might think of me as sporty....

I am a lot less dependent on other people. I mean from getting up and getting things for myself (instead of asking someone to hand it to me) to taking charge of my own happiness.

I, too, am more girly. I never understood shopping. Boy, do I get it now! I don't think I've become vain but I am aware of my appearance and put forth a lot more effort to look nice now. Before now, any effort seemed a waste of time so I didn't even try.

I feel more in control now that I'm not avoiding life because of my weight. And, I know that food isn't the only option when it comes to fun. I'm much more likely to call a friend and invite them to go and do something BESIDES meet me for lunch. I we do get together for a meal their company is still my focus and the food is secondary.

I have been a stay at home mom for about three years now. I love it. But I have lately been getting the urge to get at least a part-time job. I excelled in my previous career and I'm starting to wonder how much further I could go now that I have changed so much (personality wise, confindence, etc.).

GonnaLoseItAgain, that's what I need -- "go power". Good way to describe it.

I've paved the way for some new changes that are all part of the weight-loss awakening for me. I started therapy (about other stuff, but really everything is connected to my weight anyway), I start a new job next week, and I'm learning to stand up for what I need. I've started telling friends I won't meet them for dinner and drinks, but I'd gladly meet them for a walk. I've begun to eliminate some of my mother/martyr tendencies, and I'm taking time for myself instead of dedicating all time, energy, and resources to my teenager.

I'm identifying triggers that cause me to want to spiral in the wrong direction - unplanned meals, certain relationship patterns with certain relatives, etc. I hope to purchase a home soon, and make other efforts toward my goal of living according to my values.

For me, this is an Extreme Makeover that started from the inside and is working its way out.

Very nice...

Boy, a million things have happened. Probably the worst is that I crashed and burned (alcohol) big time and ended up in a 30-day rehab that's probably the best thing that ever happened to me. So I have two biggies going on. I'm finally fitting into some of my pre-fat clothes. I bought a really gorgeous RED lacy bra and am starting to wear much more girlie clothes and take better care of myself. I discovered Teen Vogue (I think that's the name of it) and boy do I love that magazine. I discovered the Alloy catalog and love that, too. I FEEL ten years younger. Although I'm still working at the same place of business, my job has been changed to that of the receptionist, so I get to dress up all I want now. And just being able to do that is helping with the weight loss. Used to be I'd wear jeans and a t-shirt every day because who knew what I'd end up hauling out to the warehouse or something. I'm actually wearing shorts that are over my knee. And I'm even buying clothes that are a good deal but they're too small, because I know I can trust that the weight is really going to come off and I'll be wearing it soon. What a weird year it's been. Sorry for rambling.

I'm a lot more confident, and completely willing to try and fail now, whereas I'd been living my whole life in fear of the f-word before. (The biggest example of this is my willingness to start applying for new jobs.) Instead of wearing t-shirts and ragged, bleach-stained sweatpants to work, I take great pride in my appearance and am a raging shopaholic (or would be if I could afford it!). I've been very happy to discover that I'm not a wimp in the gym, either. I've been working on making myself one of the "tough" chicks, and I'm having a blast doing it.

So yeah, what everyone else said.