seeing change on scale and clothes.....but not seeing it in the mirror :(

danimoore08

Does anybody else struggle with this? Clearly things are changing i see small changes on the scale, have had to add belt holes in my belts.....but when i look at the mirror or a picture i literally see no change! It sux!
It makesit hard to stay motivated for sure.
If you struggle with this, what do you do?

JamesBost2016

I have the same problem. I think we are just losing weight all over at the same time. Keep trusting the scale and how your own body feels.

danimoore08

Thanks, thats what ive been trying to do....but somedays its harder than others. Helps to know im not the only one

teetertatertango

Some people lose weight very proportionally, and end up looking like a smaller version of themselves. If you lose weight like this, it really won't be very obvious if you weren't that heavy starting off.

Are you already at a healthy weight? Weight training might help if you are looking to change your shape.

violet124

Just a tip: it will take weeks before you see anything, and months before anyone else sees it. Don't focus on doing things for looks. Focus on your health and how you feel on the inside you won't notice until it hits you, dang, you look great now! Take lots of pics

STEVE142142

I think what you're seeing in the mirror and what's actually in the mirror might be two different things.

Based on the physical results you're getting, your losing weight. What you're seeing in the mirror may not be real. We are our own worst critics.

When I started in January 1st 2016. I really didn't even like to look in the mirror because I didn't like what I saw. I started to lose weight and the belt holes kept on moving, but I didn't see any results in the mirror. The clothes kept on getting baggier, but I still didn't see anything in the mirror. Then one day in May I looked in the mirror and I said, damn It worked. I saw muscle definition and a couple bumps that I said what the hell are they and then I realized it was my bones.

All I'm saying is have faith in the process. one day you look in the mirror and have that same reaction. Good luck and enjoy the journey

koslowkj

Do you have before pictures? Sometimes changes can be hard to see until you do a side by side comparison.

danimoore08

Thank you everyone for your responses:) in answer to your posts:
Yes, i am nearing my goal weight, and i do think its time to amp up the strength training, but cardio is whats been helping me lose the weight.
I do have before pictures and can see differences in some things, but not in the places i wish to see changes. I guess thats part of the frustration. I understand people lose weight in different ways, i seem to lose it everywhere but my mid section
I am focusing on the long term, i was just frustrated today after seeing some pictures.....it helped to post here and get some compassionate, supportive responses

pefal1

I have some days where I look in the mirror, smile and say, wow I really have lost weight. Then some days I look in the mirror and say- you look worse then when you started. Ugh the struggle

danimoore08

Struggle it is indeed! But i know it will all be worth it eventually.

samchez0

Take progress pictures. I find them to be really helpful when I can't see the day to day changes

danimoore08

I have take some and ive yet to see major differences. Yet when i look at my body, arms legs etc, i see visible differences....just wish the camera and mirror did too lol

ericatoday

Body dismorphia. I doubt i spelt that right but still its where your body makes you appear different to you than everyone else. Kind of lile when an anorexic sees a fat person in the mirror but we see a skeleton. I had the same issue my first 30lbs it started changing slowly thiugh now i see it. I take a photo in a sports bra every 10lbs and the first 20 i saw no difference but when i hit 30lbs down i saw it but only in photos i didnt see it in the mirror for awhile afterwards the photos helped though. Keep at it and it will change i promise but its totally normal. Your body is changing faster than your brain.

danimoore08

Thats a good idea. Maybe ill start doing that as well

tifflong109

danimoore08 wrote: »

Does anybody else struggle with this? Clearly things are changing i see small changes on the scale, have had to add belt holes in my belts.....but when i look at the mirror or a picture i literally see no change! It sux!
It makesit hard to stay motivated for sure.
If you struggle with this, what do you do?

I have the same issue, but everyone around me sees a difference. Just today i stepped on the scale and saw that i hit the 20 pounds lost mark, but looking in the mirror i cant tell at all... just keep going though, dont let the mirror discourage you.

Tophers_Motivation

I don't see a difference unless I look at old photos, and then it usually takes them to be full-body ones. Being obese is ingrained in my mind, I guess.

danimoore08

Its amazing how much of losing weight is a mind battle! Today for the first time in a while i was at work and happened to be standing in front of a full length mirror (i was waiting for someone to finish what they were doing, not just standing there ogling myself at work lol thought i should clarify) and i saw myself and thought dang, my stomach is looking way thinner!
So i guess somedays our brains are on track with our bodies and other days they arent, and those are the days i feel like i cant see a difference.
Its good to know others struggle with this as well!

st476

I think almost everyone does! I know that sometimes I look in the mirror and see a huge change but sometimes I look in the mirror and feel the same exact way I felt before I lost 20 pounds (150 to 130). I'm sure this was already said but progress pictures help so much. Whenever I feel like I'm putting in all this effort for no reason because there aren't any changes anyways, I just look at my progress pictures and it really does work

aftnrid88

This has been something I experience all the time! It can be frustrating, but I think it's gotta be normal. I noticed this when I was gaining weight too and pictures would shock me! I think our brains must be wired to see the exact same person that it saw yesterday until we die. Sorry if that's too morbid, it's just my hypothesis. I've noticed that when I catch sight of myself in a window or something I'm always a little surprised.

saragd012

It took me so long for my brain to catch up with my weightloss. People would comment about how thin I was, and how much weight I had lost, but I could not see it in the mirror at all. One day it just hit me, I was getting ready to shower, caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and realized, oh my goodness thats me!

Deadlineordust

I understand. I dropped 55 pounds so far and I am not happy with what I see in the mirror. I want to drop 30 more. Just keep at it.