Comments on: Leave them gasping for air

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:13:48 +0000

just discovered your blog and have been reading for the past 3 hours! I’m ready to “try harder” as I’ve been in the “plateau” phase…self induced by sweets, crap and ice cream….I would love to get a few “gasps”

By: dietgirl

dietgirl — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:10:17 +0000

first kiss, rather. arrgh.

By: dietgirl

dietgirl — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:09:34 +0000

Really enjoyed this entry… it’s a strange transition to make, going from when losing weight is your whole world, then making it part of your career, yet feeling like it’s just something that happened to you, like graduating high school or a kiss first … how do you figure out what the hell comes next.

By: Butterfly

Butterfly — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:00:37 +0000

Brilliant post. You’ve put into words what many of us feel. I once longed for people to notice my efforts and praise my transformation. At this stage in the game, I’m simply annoyed. I’m tired of comments like ” Wow, keep it up” or ” I can see it in your face” (which prompted my blog name). For me, this is a totally private journey and I use blogging as an outlet and a means to vent, not to mention to one day remember where I came from.

I recently overheard a co-worker talking about another colleague and nearly tackled them to the floor. He said, and I quote ” wow, I don’t understand how someone could let themselves get that big”. He’s obviously a sensitive and empathetic person of course.

Can’t wait to read your book!

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:48:04 +0000

Wow. This is one of your best posts. And so frustratingly true.

It annoys me when people say that they can’t change. Are you kidding me??? Change is the only constant in life.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:55:44 +0000

The shock is exasperating, I agree. For me — and this is totally a personality trait thing — the shock is grating because it feels like disbelief that someone like me could lose that much weight. It’s probably not how they intend it and I’m probably oversensitive. Okay, I am oversensitive. But it would be nice to have my announcement of, “I’ve lost 72 pounds in the past ten months,” be greeted with congratulations instead of gaping, slack jawed mouths.

By: Kristen Harrison

Kristen Harrison — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:31:32 +0000

I agree completely with Laney.

Besides, if it’s gasp-worthy, it’s buy-your-book worthy. Which is a good thing. If it wasn’t remarkable, you wouldn’t have written a book, and a publisher wouldn’t have picked it up. Well, you are a talented and funny writer, so you might, but on some other gasp-worthy topic…

-k

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:43:30 +0000

Kittens, that is.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:42:41 +0000

They’re so sweet that really they should be saved for dessert. After dinner.

But that’s just me.

By: laney

laney — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:52:11 +0000

I have very, very, very long hair. Down to my butt. It’s long blond and flowing, but all through college and even a little after, I had a shaved head (ala sinead o’connor) people comment on my hair a lot, and when I tell them (and I don’t always, but sometimes) that I had my head shaved for 5 years of my life, they gasp and say the same thing, “I can’t imagine you like that…” I don’t think it’s a compliment or an insult, I think that the real truth is, they can’t imagine it. Sometimes I pull my hair back and tell them to imagine, mostly I don’t. I don’t know that the gasp was horror, maybe, but I’d like to believe that people were impressed, awed, shocked at that amazing feat. Losing over 200 pounds. And really, seeing the pictures of you now, it would be very, very difficult to imagine you much bigger. You’re pretty darn small now. You look like a small person (at least in pictures). So I can see how the fact that you once weighed 372 pounds is gasp-worthy.

And it is. You conquered an incredible challenge. I am in awe of you and I think many people are, which is why we all continue to read your blog.