Warped body image?

jeepinshawn

Maybe it is different for guys, but I have lost dang near 80lbs and went from a 42 to a 36 and a 3xl to a 2xl, I don't get how people have gone down so many sizes.

frontdoorangel

ashliefisch wrote: »

I'm going CRAZY with this. My 13 year old step daughter is over weight, as well. I started out at a size 24. We now can wear the same shirts - an XL fits me perfect, and a little loose on her. She wears a 15, I'm in a 17. She is wearing a M/6 in undies. I'm thinking it's time for me to buy a 7 because my 8s are starting to hang off of my tush. But in my head, I'm still a size 24. I still take up as much space as I did at 262lbs. Fortunately for kiddo, with how much weight I have lost, and the fact that we are starting to share clothes, is freaking her out a little bit and she is starting to get more active and cautious about what she puts in her face. Which, I'm glad its happening now instead of 15 years down the road.

Haha, this is happening to me and my daughter. She's only 10 but she's already taller than me. When I started borrowing her shirts, she stopped complaining about going on walks with me and isn't begging for junk in her lunchbox as much anymore. lol. And ditto on the taking up the same amount of space, I still turn sideways to get past certain pieces of furniture only to realize that I had more than enough room just walking by normally.

kshama2001

dubird wrote: »

For me it was the opposite. I was a much lower weight in college and didn't start gaining weight until I stopped working at a restaurant and went full time at a desk job. Even at my heaviest, my mental image was college weight, so it was always a horrible shock when I looked in the mirror. Now, I'm much closer to what my mental image is and I feel better. Only advice I have is to give your brain time to reformulate what your mental image is. It'll take a while, but it'll happen. Maybe have current pictures of you and your friends/SO around where you work as a reminder that this is what you look like NOW. That might help reset your brain's image of you.

Yup, my mental image is for my skinnier self as well.

Coolhandkid

I'm the exact opposite. I never saw myself as a fatty. I thought my clothes had shrunk, etc. The excuses amaze me in retrospect.

mandarkio

this happened to me, too, and it actually worries me a lot. about ten years ago i lost about 45lbs and went from a uk18 to a uk14 (i think about a us14 to a us10?) but i couldn't see any difference in myself, even though i knew i was wearing clothes in a size i had previously only dreamed of being. anywho, i quickly piled it all back on and then some. i'm worried the same thing will happen this time, too, assuming i'm successful!

HippySkoppy

lana0715 wrote: »

Body dysmorphia- it's real and it can also be dangerous. I think it can be helped but probably never completely goes away. I wish there was a cure to make us see who we really are unfortunately there is not just know you are not alone. There are several of us here who struggle with the person looking back at us. The key is to remind yourself though you are fit and healthy. I like @snowflakesav suggestion. Look at pics of yourself and see your new beautiful changed body. Lots of hugs for you

+1

I struggle with this condition....it sucks and it can be a life long struggle to overcome.

By far the most useful tools I have found have been a measuring tape, scale and MFP logging.

These provide me with solid evidence to the contrary of what my mind is telling me.....can't argue with the number on the tape or scales. But, I acknowledge the catching up, if it happens can take a long time and in the mean time we need to deal as effectively as we can with the 'wrong' messages we get.

Maybe these ideas will help.