Still Surprised

I must say that every time I see myself in the mirror, I'm still shocked at how I look.  It's really beyond the weight.  It's the crazy spare tire I'm carrying around my middle.  I just can't believe the spread that happens at my waist.  It's horrible.  I was having a good day, really, and then I went shopping tonight.
I bought a skirt at a garage sale last Saturday, and I love it.  I thought I should find a shirt that was a little cooler than the short-sleeved sweater I wore with it last weekend.  At Walmart tonight, I tried on a shirt and (as it turned out) a short-sleeved sweater, with the skirt I brought with me.  Oh.  My.  Word.  I could not believe how bad I looked.  Even the skirt seemed bad.  Even what I wore to the store seemed bad!  Somehow, I can't believe the mirror was deceiving me.  I look bad.  Needless to say, I'm sticking with the sweater I already own, even though it's going to be a million degrees tomorrow, because at least last weekend I thought it looked good.  I just won't check the mirror in the morning.
I think I'm a little freaked out because we are going to our previous church tomorrow, and I will see people I haven't seen in about four months.  Those four months equal about ten pounds.  Scary.
At the same time, I am learning that I'm not alone.  I'm 'friends' on Facebook with a neighbour who I actually don't know at all.  She commented on a page (about working out) a few days ago, and she could have been writing my story.  She said:
"This post is perfect timing for me.  I've been working hard for the last two weeks on my exercising side of things.  I've always eaten very well, but for some reason, continued to pack on weight over the last few years.  So, I started jogging a couple times a week about a year ago ... and packed on 20 more unexplained pounds.  My doctor referred me to a dietician who is stumped because I have an excellent diet, yet the weight won't budge.  Anyway, now I'm being referred to an endocrinologist to see if something's up with my hormones, so we'll see.  But, aside from that, I decided to try and take it to another level to get my metabolism pumped up a bit.  I've been getting up for the last two weeks at 5am and doing runs about five times per week now, and added in some weight training, too.  I've either run 5k outdoors, or done a 20 min run on my treadmill, then 20 min of weight training.  I know it's only been two weeks, but the weight still hasn't budged -- not even a 1/4 pound.  I feel really good and definitely am feeling motivated (lying in bed at night thinking about what strength training I'll do the next day) but after my workout, when I go upstairs to shower, I see myself in the mirror ... still fat and not how I feel inside, and knowing that the scale has not budged one bit, nor are my clothes any looser, it's so deflating.  I know with time something has to give, but until then, it's hard to keep motivated."
Yup.  I couldn't have said it better myself.