[Novus]

Not being recognized. I think it's one of my favorite things about weight loss.

Last week, I ran into my best friend's mom (who I hadn't seen since June.) I thought she seemed kinna weird and awkward but didn't think much of it. Today my friend told me that her mom said she had to stare and stare to figure out who I was! She's known me since infancy. How is that possible?

And another encounter was with someone who was one of my high school teachers. Again, I thought she acted a bit oddly but dismissed it. Well, we're friends on facebook and the day after she saw me she posted on my wall, "I apologize to you if I looked at you dumbfounded yesterday in the grocery store. The face kind of looked like you, but that smokin' hot body...girl!"

What are your "not being recognized" experiences? Is it fabulous or what?

[mandypandy2246]

I haven't lost enough to have that experience- but its a dream of mine! CONGRATS!

[PreciousMissy]

What a wonderful feeling for you!!!!

That happened to me the last time I reached 170. My step-nieces hadn't seen me for a while. They were sitting next to me on the couch, and while they were polite, the weren't as friendly. Eventually someone called out my name and they both looked at me with complete shock. It was pretty funny.

[ILoveVegetables]

Like Mandy, I haven't experienced this (yet), but I really do dream about it all the time

Congratulations to those to whom it has happened. It must feel awesome

[fairandfree]

This hasn't happened to me yet but it is one of my unmentioned goals!

And congratulations for having had it happen to you!

[alaskanlaughter]

I've had a few of those:

- once sitting at a restaurant with DH, a guy walked past us who we used to know maybe 10 years ago...he recognized DH and paused to say hi and kept walking...never even acknowledged me and I realized later that between then and now i'd lost about 60 pounds and he probably had no idea who I was

- I went to teenager's high school last spring to give him something and ran into someone who worked at my school a few years ago...we had always gotten along well and I paused to say hi...it took him several looks to figure out who he was talking to LOL

- and just last week I ran into an old friend at the grocery store...my family used to do social events with their family but we haven't been really friends in about 3 years...I smiled and nodded at him, made eye contact, and he just had this totally blank look on his face as he looked at me...he wasn't trying to be snotty or anything...he couldn't figure out who I was lol

[vintagecat]

I had that on my up side. I gained weight pretty rapidly after a bad life incident and a few people I had previously known had no idea who I was a fat girl. I'm waiting for it to happen on the down side. Congratulations.

[tavvy]

O my! I can't wait for that moment! What a great feeling that must be!

[hhm6]

I can't wait for this moment too!!! I feel like throughout my years I've kinda looked the same, so this would be huge!!!

[IanG]

Happens to me daily. Even people I know well but haven't seen me in the last few months. The best ones are where people look straight at you but don't recognise you until you speak.

One guy even did speak to me and tried to find out how long I had been at my job. It took him a good five minutes to realise it was me: a colleague I had known for at least two years, but again not seen in the last few months.

To be honest, while I do find it funny I am also starting to find it a little weird.

Security blocked me from getting into work last week because my ID photo did not match my new face and the guard did not believe it was me.

Psychologically these types of changes are in many ways more challenging than the weightloss. So you 100 pounders had best get ready for that.

At the beginning, I used to think I would just be a thinner me. I have actually become a different me...in some ways better and (perhaps) in other ways worse.

This guy gets it: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...ist-tommy.html

[AwShucks]

Interesting link to that article, Ian. Did you listen to the song he wrote about? Is it about murder? I wondered if I heard the last part right? Disturbing...

[mzshaunna]

I have only just started my journey so havent lost enough weight to experience it but I reckon it must be a great feeling and definately a confidence booster

[kelijpa]

Great article Ian, thanks for sharing.

I've experienced this on both ends of the spectrum, being a regainer-loser, it is strange at times..

[LisaTcan]

I haven't experienced this is years but when I was a kid I went from being a 5'0'' tall 200 lbs 12 year old to a 5'6'' 130 lbs 13 year old. I remember it being more awkward than uncomfortable than anything! I totally see how it could be really awesome though!

[JeniH]

That's so cool!

I haven't lost enough of anyone to really notice and I cannot imagine losing enough for it to make me look different. I've always been big, I simply cannot imagine myself smaller. Like I look in the mirror at my face and try to figure out if my face is round because I'm fat or because I have a round face... I'll tell you one thing though, if I ever lost enough that someone didn't recognize me I'd be telling EVERYONE, seriously I'd be the crazy girl on the street screaming at strangers lol