I have to share what happened to me today. Part of my job is to interview inmates to see if they are eligible for a program I run. Today I screened a young guy and within 5 minutes of interviewing him it became obvious that he is not the brightest bulb in the box - terrible upbringing - and pretty socially inept to boot.

In the middle of the interview, he says to me "I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I ask you a question?" I assumed he hadn't understood something and I said "Sure." He goes "Didn't you used to be a big lady?"

I was so caught off guard - he clearly was not trying to be rude but he must have been sitting there and it must have been bothering him so much he had to ask. Turns out he went to prison 3 years ago and had seen me in and out of the jail and remembered what I looked like.

Some of the reactions I've gotten telling others this is complete shock that he asked me that, and how "rude" it was. For me, all I could think of was that he said "used to be" and how happy that made me - LOL.

In this journey it honestly and truly has been very hard for me to think of how much I've lost - instead I focus (at times obsessively) of how much further I have to go and/or how bad I still look. This has been particularly true in the last 3 months or so as my extra skin has seemed to become much more pronounced as well as how the loss has slowed down. So it was actually thrilling to hear someone - who is not a friend or family member - refer to me as someone who is not a "big lady" any more!

i think that would make me smile too! that's awesome. you USED to be a big lady

That's pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

Oh wow that's a great story! Congrats on being a former big lady lol.

Such an interesting context for a compliment/comment like that. Your progress has been amazing! Congrats on your successes, and I hope you continue to surprise people with your new physique and lifestyle.

Congratulations! I just joined today, and have your exact same starting weight. It is inspiring that you are almost to your goal!! You have proven that it can be done!

well, considering you have lost more than you weigh now, it's obviously an amazing transformation.

Probably inappropriate for him to say it in the context, but really, based on your description of him, I would take it as a comment from someone who is like a child, with no filters on what he says (or obviously does, to be where he is! lol!), and accept it in the honest spirit in which it was meant.

Congrats to you!!

AWw! I actually think that was very sweet!

Congratulations!

That would have made my day, too. But I have to ask...what did you tell him and how did he respond to your answer?

Congratulations on your weightloss thus far! You are an amazing inspiration!!!

I was thinking the same thing! You've done a great job!

I actually was just honest with him - I said "Yes, I was, and I've lost over 175 pounds so far." He said - in the "street" way that they usually do "Damn girl! That's cool!" He proceeded to tell me that he recognized me from seeing me around the jail 3 years ago and that when he came out from his cell knowing that he was supposed to be meeting with me, he was confused because he didn't see me...

Then we went back to the interview. And yes, he did earn some "brownie points"

This made me smile. Congratulations -- what an accomplishment.

Oh what a great story!! I love it! That whole exchange would have put me on cloud 9.

I thought it was sweeet. You've done an AMAZING job. You should be so proud of your hard work!!!!

Damn girl, you sure have done good!! first, congrats on your incredible loss and your current light weight...and I think the guy was relatively polite and respectful, wasn't he, considering his surroundings and the vocabulary he is exposed to