What nobody tells you about losing weight

Cora0477

I don’t get manicures often, but I have noticed that when I do, they don’t last as long now, because when I am eating healthier, my nails grow much faster! They get longer too, because they are stronger.

CarvedTones

Sp8zmanSpiff wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

It bugs me more that I can find more clothes in my old sizes (3XL) than I can in L. Especially when I see sale items. All the L's are gone but loads of 2XL or 3XL.

Yeah, same at the thrift shops. We are now all in competition with the most popular sizes. Where there were many pairs of size 40, 38, 36 inch waist jeans, there are few 34 inch waist jeans. When we go looking for teenager sized clothes... Good Luck!

I am down to where "real" 32s kind of fit but vanity size 32s are too big. 32 is the smallest size you will find large numbers of new or used and a significant number of them are vanity sized. For some reason, 30 is where they seem to decide that you have pencil thin legs. Mine are pretty muscular. Most 30" pants/shorts aren't cut right for me; the waist fits and I can button them, but they are often too tight in the legs or crotch or both.

Making a more general point of Something no one told me is that losing from being bigger would leave me shaped differently from most people who are that size by a more natural progression. I don't look like a circus freak or anything, but very few pants fit perfectly.

CSARdiver

aeloine wrote: »

My poor air conditioner - I just can't seem to get comfortable! I bump it up one degree, it's too hot when I get back from the gym. I bump it down one degree, it's too cold. On average, though, I'm noticing a difference in my apt. temp. Last year, I had a couple of days when I dipped out of the 70's and to 68. This year, the battle is between 76 and 78.

LOL - you've lost your insulation and need a higher R-value.

Davidaw86

That my Adam's Apple would become a lot more prominent.

jrowden0711

I used to love going out to eat. It was truly a hobby. If we were going to a new city I would research new restaurants for days in excitement and have to plan the perfect place or places to eat and entrees to order.

Fast forward to present day and now eating out is such a chore. I don't enjoy the way I feel after consuming food that is cooked in a restaurant, even when I try to make healthy choices. I just feel bad, my stomach doesn't tolerate it anymore. Not too mention the excess calories. I no longer enjoy over indulging myself.

Somewhere along this journey my view toward food has changed. I have realized that food is a fuel, rather than just a pleasure. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I am so grateful that it did. It makes this journey so much easier. Now, fingers crossed that things continue to be this easy and I don't slip back into my old ways. ☺

Diatonic12

That within 5 years only 5% can maintain a major weight releasing. When all of the hard work is done and you're at your optimum setpoint, that's when the real work begins. The body can fight against you like a wildcat, trying to help you eat it all back in a fraction of the time. It usually takes at least a year and up to 3 years before the body settles into that setpoint and stops fighting so hard against you. Don't let your guard down or coast on your laurels. Maintenance is everything until you remain at your body's natural balance.

dsboohead

sensintaffy wrote: »

One of the best feelings for me was getting onto a crowded airplane and realizing that I didn’t have to squeeze myself into one of the seats - I fit! I even had extra room. I didn’t feel like I was spilling over my seat and bothering the people next to me!

Also I can cross my legs now without my foot sticking way out.

.....and to top it off the seats are going smaller too! Good time to lose the weight If you dont want to go thru the indignity of not fitting in the seats! I am so glad so as to fly international in september

VUA21

kenyonhaff wrote: »

VUA21 wrote: »

Weirdest thing happened today. Was out shopping with my daughter, got thristy and wanted an Arizona Ices Tea Zero. So I go looking for them, and had to search...my daughter found it and I asked her if was the Zero kind. I don't know if I was meant to hear the comment, but I over heard two women make a comment: "like she needs the zero calorie one" followed by "thin privilege, must be nice".
I didn't say anything as I was with my daughter, but I was shocked a bit to hear insults regarding my drink choices now that I'm no longer obese. I'm in a size 8 (US), so not exactly emaciated looking.

Says more about them than about you.

It wouldn't *possibly* be that you're a size 8 because you aren't drinking 160+ extra calories of sugary drink?

That it does. There are people that are going to find something to complain about regarding other people.

Also...yep, that whole not drinking 500 extra calories a day and eating in a calorie deficit is absolutely not related to my (slowly shrinking) size. Must be "privilege".... Sheesh

VUA21

deagh93 wrote: »

VUA21 wrote: »

Weirdest thing happened today. Was out shopping with my daughter, got thristy and wanted an Arizona Ices Tea Zero. So I go looking for them, and had to search...my daughter found it and I asked her if was the Zero kind. I don't know if I was meant to hear the comment, but I over heard two women make a comment: "like she needs the zero calorie one" followed by "thin privilege, must be nice".
I didn't say anything as I was with my daughter, but I was shocked a bit to hear insults regarding my drink choices now that I'm no longer obese. I'm in a size 8 (US), so not exactly emaciated looking.

Oh I doubt you'd have been able to win with them, regardless. If you'd still been obese it would have been "Pfft, she's getting the Zero, like she thinks that's gonna help. She's already fat, might as well get the one with the sugar." Or something. That kind always finds *something*.

As for me, I'm not down a lot yet, but I have noticed that I can fit more stuff in the pockets of my cargo trousers. Sometimes I can do without a bag entirely now, as phone, wallet, keys, etc, all fit, as there's less of me taking up the room.

I don't know about that, if it wasn't for my daughter being there, I would have completely went off on them. I do carry my before picture on my phone. And, I am not at all polite, civil, nor care about anyone's feeling when someone decides to insult me, I have been told on many occasions that I can be downright cruel.

Congratulations on your increasingly baggy cargos! Just think, all that extra stuff you can fit into your pockets, used to be you.

akboy58

I've been maintaining at 175-180 lbs for almost 3 years now, but what I didn't realize is how much my body would change -- and continue to change -- with exercise. This is mostly a good thing, although I had kind of hoped that after buying and then discarding three progressively smaller wardrobes I could stop for a while ..

Vonny198334

I began very obese so I know this won't be everyone's experience...

But the sag & firm as I affectionately call it! When you lose fat in a certain body area, the skin wrinkles & puckers for a week or two (where it looks lumpy but feels "empty"?!... presumably it's filled with water), then it smooths out again while another area goes wrinkley & so we go on!

I'm always happy to see it because when everything "firms up" again it's noticibly smaller & the scale takes a dive! Think it's also known as the "whoosh" effect?

Still, I didn't know my actual skin would be doing acrobatics from early on (began at around 25lb gone) & continue to - know that sounds silly!
I'm very grateful for it's resilience & now I'm 30 odd pounds from goal, I'm not worried about loose skin. It's worked super SUPER hard through yeeeeaaars worth of horror so wherever it ends up I'm very grateful to it!

middlewatch

I will take the discomfort sitting in a bath, at least I now dare! At my worst I dammed the water at one end, and then found I could not get out. I so get the mirrors, I would shut my eyes rather than look into one!

smantha32

MichaelRow wrote: »

LauraInTheWater wrote: »

Also, feeling insecure about eating healthy when everyone else is eating unhealthy around you.

This is so difficult. I usually eat lunch at home with my family, but once or twice a month I go out with coworkers. They typically get beers and burgers with fries. There I am with my unsweet tea or water and a salad with grilled chicken. I just don't think I can get a 2 patty, 2 cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, potato sticks burger into the calorie budget! Plus I don't feel right without the lunch salad.

I usually have one beer, and skip the bun on the burger and the fries. People think I'm weird for eating a cheeseburger with a knife and fork, but hell with it. I can eat at chili's and still make it fit into my calories.

rheddmobile

smantha32 wrote: »

MichaelRow wrote: »

LauraInTheWater wrote: »

Also, feeling insecure about eating healthy when everyone else is eating unhealthy around you.

This is so difficult. I usually eat lunch at home with my family, but once or twice a month I go out with coworkers. They typically get beers and burgers with fries. There I am with my unsweet tea or water and a salad with grilled chicken. I just don't think I can get a 2 patty, 2 cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, potato sticks burger into the calorie budget! Plus I don't feel right without the lunch salad.

I usually have one beer, and skip the bun on the burger and the fries. People think I'm weird for eating a cheeseburger with a knife and fork, but hell with it. I can eat at chili's and still make it fit into my calories.

Skipping the bun is helpful for diabetes too! I like five guys because they will make any sandwich as a lettuce wrap.

Snowflake1968

ceiswyn wrote: »

CarvedTones wrote: »

This one is not a real positive thing about me, but I find I have less sympathy for people who complain about their weight and claim they just can't lose weight. In very rare circumstances that might be true, but it is usually pretty clear that the problem is lack of commitment and/or discipline.

I get this as well, and I feel bad about it. After all, for *cough*ty years, that was me.

Worse, I find it way easier to be sympathetic to strangers than to my friends. Because my friends have seen me do it, right, so why are they still faffing about with fad diets and stuff?!

But it’s not that simple, and I KNOW that, so I bite my lip and try to say kind and encouraging things instead of what I’m actually thinking.

The really petty part is how I feel about those of my friends who have body image issues and are only slightly overweight. I mean, I was never terribly impressed by their complaining about how fat they were while I weighed twice what they did. Now several of them are clearly really struggling with discovering they weigh more than I do these days. And I’m feeling... smug.

I am a horrible person.

...but a horrible person in really cute clothes

I don't think you are horrible, I think you are honest! I'm still the friend that needs to lose but I can see me being very smug and saying just do it. I already don't have any use for people using the "fad" diets.

Snowflake1968

VUA21 wrote: »

Weirdest thing happened today. Was out shopping with my daughter, got thristy and wanted an Arizona Ices Tea Zero. So I go looking for them, and had to search...my daughter found it and I asked her if was the Zero kind. I don't know if I was meant to hear the comment, but I over heard two women make a comment: "like she needs the zero calorie one" followed by "thin privilege, must be nice".
I didn't say anything as I was with my daughter, but I was shocked a bit to hear insults regarding my drink choices now that I'm no longer obese. I'm in a size 8 (US), so not exactly emaciated looking.

I have a young girl in my life that is very thin, I have had to hold her while she's in tears because of people saying cruel things to her in restaurants. I can't imagine how anyone thinks it's ok to comment on anyone's size period.

VUA21

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

VUA21 wrote: »

Weirdest thing happened today. Was out shopping with my daughter, got thristy and wanted an Arizona Ices Tea Zero. So I go looking for them, and had to search...my daughter found it and I asked her if was the Zero kind. I don't know if I was meant to hear the comment, but I over heard two women make a comment: "like she needs the zero calorie one" followed by "thin privilege, must be nice".
I didn't say anything as I was with my daughter, but I was shocked a bit to hear insults regarding my drink choices now that I'm no longer obese. I'm in a size 8 (US), so not exactly emaciated looking.

I have a young girl in my life that is very thin, I have had to hold her while she's in tears because of people saying cruel things to her in restaurants. I can't imagine how anyone thinks it's ok to comment on anyone's size period.

Bullying comes in all shapes and sizes. People seriously need to rewatch Bambi and heed the advise of Thumper's father..."If you ain't got nothin' nice to say, don't say nothin' at all".

It still sucks though that people will make nasty comments and judgements about people for thier size, regardless of what that size happens to be.

ssurvivor

cjv73 wrote: »

cakegoddess1 wrote: »

Being ACTUALLY handicapped, I get really annoyed when large girls take the handicapped stall. It's NOT for you...it's for us who really need it. Please...a little respect.

With all due respect, as the daughter and niece of longtime wheelchair bound women (advanced MS), you are incorrect in your statement. The only handicapped-related facility that is exclusively for handicapped users (and is thus protected by law) is handicapped parking. Ramps, toilets, elevators, support bars, and so on are available for use by anybody, including the able bodied. They are made available because some handicapped people are not physically able to use the regular facilities or entrances, stairs, etc., but they are not reserved for the exclusive use of disabled people. If the handicap bathroom stall is the only one available, I will use it with no qualms or guilt whatsoever, and I know that my mother and aunt would not begrudge that in the slightest. Now, if there is a disabled lady waiting for a stall, I would certainly leave the handicap stall open for her, but only in the same way as I would encourage an elderly lady to go ahead of me in line. It's common courtesy, not entitlement. I'm sorry, but as one who lives closely with disabled people, I find your attitude disappointing.

I think you may have misunderstood her meaning. There is a marked difference between using the only available stall - that happens to be the handicapped stall, and using the handicapped stall because it's more comfortable than the other 10 available stalls. I am also disabled and more often than I can count on two hands, I've had to wait for an able bodied person to finish using the handicap shower when every other shower was empty. It's not entitlement. It's just frustration at having to wait unnecessarily. I think @cakegoddess1 was thinking about the many times a person has several options and still chooses the handicapped stall for comfort.

With that said, I don't get upset when very large women use the handicapped stall. I actually see it as a disability of sorts. That is, if your hips can touch either side of a bathroom stall, then it is completely impractical to use it. So in that case, use of the handicapped stall is a necessity.

christschild2

bump

jlbtnc

I could make a long list, lol, and some are the same as others have mention. First and foremost is maintaining the weight loss after you get to your goal or have lost the majority of your weight. I keep losing and gaining with every time being said this is the last time. It is hard for me to maintain the weight loss, even though I know it is unhealthy to take off and put on.
Support from family is not always positive
Adjust to your surroundings with food rather than purchase items you don't really like or diet food (I have a husband who does not need to loss weight, so we purchase all regular foods).
Don't be so rough on yourself, I tend to be my own worst critic especially when having a bad day
Adjusting to your own body after weight loss
Lastly, all the positives of clothes fitting, being able to move easier, pains gone from all the weight, great reports from the doctor with your transformation.