[PreciousMissy]

Originally Posted by Elladorine

I feel like a "regular" person now, not the one that's always been overweight by at least 100 pounds.


I feel people are finally going to see me as simply Karen, and will no longer dismiss me as just the fat lady.

Those two lines just hit me right in the heart! I'm so happy for you!!!

You've done an amazing job!

[Garnet2727]

Most excellent! You look wonderful and happy!

[Arctic Mama]

Woohoo! Congratulations on making the TOPS milestone. Even beyond that, it is a far greater accomplishment to change your self image and thinking than just your body - that is what sets you apart from most others in weight loss, and what will sustain the losses long after the 'excitement' of weekly losing concludes.

[veggiedawg]

Amazing transformation! You should be so freakin proud!
Congrats!

[Kristeebee]

Way to go, Karen! You must feel wonderful!

[Roo2]

:d ancer::dan cer::goodv ibes:goodv ibes:goodv ibes:congr at:
Karen congratulations ,I'm so sorry that people in the past have not treated you in a kind way. We are all more than a mere number on the scale and even if it would be a 4 digit number should always be treated and judged by what is on the inside ...the outside is just the wrapping the true gift is on the inside.

I too have done TOPS in the past. Brings back memories.
Roo2

[aniela26]

Congratulations!!! You look great and are truly an inspiration!

Originally Posted by LockItUp

#3 I LOVE the shirt you're wearing in the pic with your certificate! I want!

I second this! Love it, want it!

[Terese2]

Karen: You are beautiful and your success is inspiring!

I'm glad I logged on tonight and saw your pics. Good work - and thank you for sharing your success with others. It really helps to know someone who "did it." Keep up the good work!

[Rana]

Congratulations!

[HungryHungryHippo]

Congratulations--so impressive!!!

[Patti909]

Congratulations!!

[belovedspirit]

Congratulations!!!

[Elladorine]

Originally Posted by gailr42

Wow!!!!! You are totally amazing. Congratulations.

By the way, I think someone was talking about your bracelet on a thread about how to reward yourself. You not only lost weight, but you started a fad...isn't that what we all wanted to do in grade school? - start a fad, that is.

Thanks!

I found the thread you were talking about. It's always cool to start a fad, lol. I absolutely love sharing the bracelet with others. It's been a great motivational tool for me and I just know it can be for others as well.

Originally Posted by penmage

Congratulations!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by SouthernMaven

YOU. LOOK. FABULOUS!

Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment!

Thank you so much!!!

Originally Posted by NorthernChick13

CONGRATULATIONS! That's fantastic!!!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by elvislover324

Writing from my phone so I can't insert all the smilies I want to!!!!

Congratulations!!!! You look amazing!!!! It's people like you who inspire me to stay on plan and do all the right things daily. And...I made a bracelet because of your awesome idea.

Edited to add: OK I'm home--here are the smilies!!!

Yay, smileys!!!

And thank you! I always love reading your posts.

Originally Posted by Mozzy

Congratulations! Very proud of you!

Thank you! I always love reading posts from our forum cheerleader (you're always so positive and great with cheering people on)!

Originally Posted by mandypandy2246

Wow Amazing! You are an inspiration.

Originally Posted by mandypandy2246

I just found your thread about beads. I am so inspired. I am going to do the same thing!!!

Thank you so much.
And awesome! I hope you post pics when you get it going.

Originally Posted by EskaDee

You look amazing, congratulations!!! I love reading about successes like this, it is so motivating for me - thank you for sharing your post so that you can inspire the rest of us. 50lbs weight loss is fenomenal, but nearly 150lbs overall is just...

Thanks! You know, it seems so surreal to me that all of this has happened. The journey only gets more rewarding as I go and I'm so happy to share with others that yes, it can be done.

Originally Posted by fattymcfatty

So great! I am happy for you!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by pixiefalls

YAY!! You look outstanding!! Such wonderful progress! Many congrats to you.

Thank you so much!!!

Originally Posted by Mara

Congrats!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by LockItUp

#1 - Congratulations!
#2 - Not only do you look more healthy, but so much younger! (AND you were always beautiful but now it seems as though your confidence has multiplied your beauty!)
#3 I LOVE the shirt you're wearing in the pic with your certificate! I want!

Aw, thank you! It's been one crazy journey and gaining the confidence has probably been the most difficult task.

As for the shirt, I got it at Ross for $12. It's my official weigh-in shirt until it gets too big.

Originally Posted by Kitcherella

You are truly inspiring and I love your sunny disposition.
I also know what you're talking about having been the token fat girl myself. But I have always considered that a part of me, it made me the person I am, it was my course through life, it gave me a sense of humour, empathy and sympathy for others. Now, simply, my course is different. Though sadly, I will have to lose the self-sarcastic comments eventually.

your hard work is paying off!

A happy dance for you

Thanks!

I do think our given sizes really do affect our roles, outlook, and friendships. One thing I am personally thankful for is that I believe being the token fat girl has given me a certain amount of empathy for anyone that feels that they don't fit in, for whatever reason. And I hope that I can someday help others that have been through similar things that I have. There's nothing like being there yourself.

Losing the self-sarcasm isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at the same time there's nothing wrong with a little sarcastic wit. I know I'll always have a certain amount in real life, it's just being directed in other ways now.

Originally Posted by PreciousMissy

Those two lines just hit me right in the heart! I'm so happy for you!!!

You've done an amazing job!

Thanks! Sometimes I don't feel much different (I'm still the same on the inside, after all), so it still shocks my system when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a store window, or when I realize it's no longer a struggle to pick something up off the floor or to maneuver around a crowd of people. It blows my mind that my weight no longer makes me stand out in the way that it used to. I hope it's a state that we can all reach!

Originally Posted by Garnet2727

Most excellent! You look wonderful and happy!

Thanks Garnet! I always so look forward to your posts so your reply means a lot.

Originally Posted by Arctic Mama

Woohoo! Congratulations on making the TOPS milestone. Even beyond that, it is a far greater accomplishment to change your self image and thinking than just your body - that is what sets you apart from most others in weight loss, and what will sustain the losses long after the 'excitement' of weekly losing concludes.

Thank you! I do think that the mindset is the most difficult aspect of weight loss, and is why I'd failed so many times in the past. We can tell ourselves the reasons over and over, but it does little for us until we feel it and actually believe it for ourselves.

Originally Posted by veggiedawg

Amazing transformation! You should be so freakin proud!
Congrats!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by Kristeebee

Way to go, Karen! You must feel wonderful!

I sure do, thank you!

Originally Posted by Roo2

:d ancer::dan cer::goodv ibes:goodv ibes:goodv ibes:congr at:
Karen congratulations ,I'm so sorry that people in the past have not treated you in a kind way. We are all more than a mere number on the scale and even if it would be a 4 digit number should always be treated and judged by what is on the inside ...the outside is just the wrapping the true gift is on the inside.

I too have done TOPS in the past. Brings back memories.
Roo2

Ooh, let's have a dance party!



It's just one of those things we learn to deal with, I guess. As I was saying to a previous poster, I think this is the kind of thing that gives us empathy for others.

Originally Posted by aniela26

Congratulations!!! You look great and are truly an inspiration!

I second this! Love it, want it!

Thanks! And check out Ross if you can, you might get lucky! I picked it up for $12 there.

Originally Posted by Terese2

Karen: You are beautiful and your success is inspiring!

I'm glad I logged on tonight and saw your pics. Good work - and thank you for sharing your success with others. It really helps to know someone who "did it." Keep up the good work!

Thank you! Before and after sets have always given me hope, especially at a forum like this where I know the results are real and not just an ad to sell something.

Originally Posted by Rana

Congratulations!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by HungryHungryHippo

Congratulations--so impressive!!!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Patti909

Congratulations!!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by belovedspirit

Congratulations!!!

Thank you!

[Missy Krissy]

Karen, you've worked so hard and boy does it show! I think that you already look like you weigh less than 200 pounds - you look freakin' slim! And I agree with Stephanie, I LOVE that top

I always enjoy reading your posts. Whenever I see a 3FC member's success, in some "kindred spirit" sort of way I feel like it's my success too. It really makes me happy to be part of this community. Keep on keepin' on

[Cherie2888]

You look fantastic, congratulations! I am stealing your bead idea for myself.