<<I just never paid any attention to how I looked because I was so embarrassed. Now that I've lost so much weight I am paying very close attention to it.>>

Word. I think this hits the nail on the head for me. I didn't even own a scale until this year.

I have to say, I have the occasional dark moment when I realize how far I still have to go and how long it's going to take, but mostly I'm just psyched all the time that this is finally happening at all.