The face in the picture.
I was updating the photos of my journey tonight, and as I scrolled through the edit page I was actually taken aback by the face in the first picture.
I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. I had just told my siblings and my parents that I was going to have weight loss surgery. I knew then, that I was going to make major changes in my life. I was looking forward to living. I was excited about the prospects. I know this all to be true. Yet… I see that face and there is no trace of anything but pain.
Once again, I’m going to comment on the role that the camera plays in this journey. It not only helps me to show you where I have come from, but it helps me to see where I was. It helps me to look back, and acknowledge that maybe I wasn’t as “okay” with being fat, as I thought I was. Maybe I wasn’t as “content” as I told myself I was.
I’m sad for the woman in that picture, but I don’t know if its because I know she was miserable then, or if I am judging her now. Perhaps its a little of both. Admittedly, it is NOT easy to see myself that way. As much as people show their before and after photos off, there is very little pride that comes with the before photo. Its painful to embrace. I was that person. That person IS who I am now. Its hard. Really it is. That doesn’t go away. Regardless of how much weight you lose, you will always have been obese. You will always have been a statistic of the disease. And obesity is a disease. Its physical as well as mental. Its not pretty. It doesn’t go away.
So, thats my truth for tonight. The camera plays a role. Its important. The reminders are sometimes difficult to reflect upon. The hurts can be covered up with clothes and new photos… but they are always going to be there. You can’t escape where you came from. You don’t get to out run your past.
This entry was posted in not always pretty, weight loss surgery and tagged bariatrics, imperfect, not always pretty, vsgmom.com, weight loss surgery, wls by vsgmom. Bookmark the permalink.
Look at you, hottie-pa-tottie! It is heartbreaking to look at your original pictures, I agree, you do look sad. 😦 But wowsa, have you ever rocked your WLS! Congratulations, you have done so well, what a wonderful source of inspiration.
Thank you Julie. I enjoy rockin it!