Trying to lose weight and keep a positive body image

tiny_mayo

I've gained 50+ lbs in under two years due to medication and several other factors. My body has changed so drastically, so quickly and some days it's a lot harder to accept myself.

I've got stretch marks that almost meet in the middle (the ones on my hips almost touch the ones under my arms). They're thick and unsightly. Honestly, even though I know they'll fade, it makes me worry that I'll never be able to love my body again. I'm willing them to shrink as the weight comes off, but they just get me so down.

It's hard to love myself with all this extra weight to begin with. I used to be lean and curvy in all of the right places, and of course, I always took that for granted. I tried to get through this using humor and pointing out my "cutesy chub" to everyone. That didn't last long.

How do you stay positive about the way you look and the progress you've made?

LAMCDylan

By not giving a damn what others think. I've noticed a lot of people who are losing weight have a lot of shame surrounding it (that they completely ignore). In other words, despite the weight loss they don't really think they are fine just the way they are. You'll notice a big part of weight loss, health, and loving yourself is a mental thing. This is probably more important than actually losing tons of weight. It really comes down to how you think about yourself. Sadly, like I say, too many people have been fat-shamed and now have a warped perception of how they truly look. And, they are too fixed on gaining the validation of others, rather than themselves. Anyway, it is your body 99.99999999% of people will never see you naked. Personally, I don't even care what I look like with clothes off. There is much more important things to worry about in life and there are much more better things about me than just how I look. Hopefully you can learn to feel the same.