Does weight loss make you happy?

NewGemini130

Yes! It does. I am thrilled when the scale moves down. I am less stressed getting dressed, and looking in the mirror I like seeing the changes I've accomplished. The success of losing weight does make me happy, yes! I also think my mood is better due to exercising daily.

trigden1991

If my goal is to lose weight and I lose weight then it will make me happy. The actual loss does not derive happiness in itself though.

Briantime

I gave the seemingly simple question some thought and came up with the following: Weight loss in and of itself has not made me happy, but addressing a problem in my life (my weight) and succeeding so far in doing so has made me feel accomplished. And that makes me happy :-)

StevenGarrigus

For me, weight loss makes me happy as I see the scale go lower & lower and my "trend line" in my report on MFP is steadily declining.

Aside from that, the happiness really comes from several other things. Most importantly, I find myself less & less introverted. Where before I would literally want to hide in a corner and avoided social gatherings entirely, I find myself going out more and not feeling like everyone in the room is staring and saying "look at that fat *kitten*."

I've been able to get up and walk and actually WANT to exercise whereas before, I just wanted to sit in my chair playing a video game or staring at some stupid television show.

Since eating healthier and losing weight, my mind is clear. It's hard to describe, but I felt like I was living in a fog before.

Since I stopped eating garbage fried & sugary foods, my skin has cleared up (not that I had horrible acne or anything, but I did get the sugar zits and oily skin) and my sense of smell has improved dramatically.

My "love life" with my wife has drastically improved. I no longer feel ashamed of my body (well, not as ashamed anyway) and I'm more limber & flexible.

Strangely enough, my OCD has really taken a backseat. I no longer repeatedly check light switches, stove knobs or door handles. I no longer feel the need to relentlessly buy things. I used to buy stuff, as much from OCD as from depression when looking at my health. Now the only things I have been buying are a few new clothing items here & there as I lose more & more weight.

I've been able to stop and realize all the good things in my life like my wife and our two daughters, and to appreciate those things more.

There's more that I could list if I thought about it, but I've rambled on enough.

Shanel0916

I haven't exactly met my goal I have 11lbs to go but I am the lowest weight and size ever in my adult life. I thought I would be happy I thought life would be better, but truthfully nothing has changed for me except my size. I still have parts of my body I don't like and I'm not extremely happy with the way I look like I thought I would be (and I have weight trained since the beginning). There are other factors of life which make me unhappy that I am now working on and losing weight will not change them.

Mouse_Potato

I would not say that losing weight made me happy, but gaining it did make me unhappy, so, yeah, I guess. I have reversed the unhappiness.

SnazzIT

my husband is happier lol

gothchiq

oh yes, it certainly does!!! Getting stronger and lifting more, also.

Mamatano

I'm extremely happy even though i have lost only 2kg. I cant stop taking pictures of myself. I love getting dressed and clothes fit me. Weightloss has made me so happy!

JeffreyOC

I'm about 20Ibs from my goal, I wouldn't say I'm happier but I'm certainly healthier and it's made me more confident.

kgirlhart

Weight loss makes me happy in the sense that I set a goal and I stuck to it and achieved it. I also feel better physically and that makes me happy. But there are things in my life that have nothing to do with weight and if those things are making me unhappy then simply losing weight is not going to make me happy overall.

neldabg

Briantime wrote: »

I gave the seemingly simple question some thought and came up with the following: Weight loss in and of itself has not made me happy, but addressing a problem in my life (my weight) and succeeding so far in doing so has made me feel accomplished. And that makes me happy :-)

I like this. It describes my feelings as well.

drivennightrunner87

JeffreyOC wrote: »

I'm about 20Ibs from my goal, I wouldn't say I'm happier but I'm certainly healthier and it's made me more confident.

Healthy is 1 thing, but LOOKS are another....and they matter!

lorrpb

I am thrilled beyond belief, because of what my weight loss allows me to do now, that I hadn't been able to do for years. 148 lost over 2 1/2 yrs.

kingleahnidas

I don't think I would've been able to lose weight if I were unhappy. I was happy before and I'm happy now

youdoyou2016

Absolutely, in my experience. Physically and emotionally lighter. I didn't feel like "me" in my old body. Now I feel free, strong, my real self. That is liberating and a miracle. Like I won the lottery. It's a totally different experience of life for me: happy, content, at peace. Now I just have to deal with life stuff, not life stuff plus a body that made me really sad and kept me from truly living.

astroamy

I would say yes and no. At first I notice a spring in my step just from exercising and that makes me happy, then looking good in clothes and more double takes from men makes me happy in the moment. However, just day to day happy I am about the same as I was before. I am generally a happy person and I was a generally happy person when I was at 245 lbs. I am about 10 lbs from goal and I don't think getting to goal will suddenly change my mood.

FeelsLikeAwesome

I've been happy (and sad) at all of my weights.

Weight loss isn't a magical bullet that fixes the non-weight related bad things in your life.

It wont fix problems with your boss, coworkers, family, finances, etc. It has however increased my confidence which helps in dealing with the non-weight related problems. Being fit is great. I stay much healthier, can keep up with people half my age, and do more than I ever could.

SunnyDayzMomma

For me, yes, I'm very happy since losing. I've always been happy though. But I'm happier now that I've lost 75 pounds. 15 more would make me ecstatic though!

MissusMoon

I'm 109lbs down and I feel fantastic. However, I had my head in the right place when I started. I feel 20 years younger, I feel strong, my health issues are a fraction of what they used to be.

The question is, are you unhappy? If you think losing weight will "fix" psychological issues, nope, need help for that. Will it make physical issues better? YES! Will you be able to handle stress better? Most likely. If you are miserable for self esteem reasons, weight loss will improve, worsen, or complicate those.

I'll take not obese and happy over fat and mostly happy any day. Life is complicated, and this question is far too simplistic for a quick answer.

drivennightrunner87

MissusMoon wrote: »

I'm 109lbs down and I feel fantastic. However, I had my head in the right place when I started. I feel 20 years younger, I feel strong, my health issues are a fraction of what they used to be.

The question is, are you unhappy? If you think losing weight will "fix" psychological issues, nope, need help for that. Will it make physical issues better? YES! Will you be able to handle stress better? Most likely. If you are miserable for self esteem reasons, weight loss will improve, worsen, or complicate those.

I'll take not obese and happy over fat and mostly happy any day. Life is complicated, and this question is far too simplistic for a quick answer.

Agreed. Life is unpredictable and no amount of weight loss will shield what it may throw at you...but losing weight definitely helped raise my self-esteem and lowered anxiety/depression personally... clearer skin too!

Congrats on the loss, btw. ( :

JeffreyOC

MissusMoon wrote: »

I'm 109lbs down and I feel fantastic. However, I had my head in the right place when I started. I feel 20 years younger, I feel strong, my health issues are a fraction of what they used to be.

The question is, are you unhappy? If you think losing weight will "fix" psychological issues, nope, need help for that. Will it make physical issues better? YES! Will you be able to handle stress better? Most likely. If you are miserable for self esteem reasons, weight loss will improve, worsen, or complicate those.

I'll take not obese and happy over fat and mostly happy any day. Life is complicated, and this question is far too simplistic for a quick answer.

So true!

southportmom2fab5

Happiness is an inside job. It is also a way of life and not a destination. Your thoughts/reactions to situations, people, circumstances will ultimately determine your state. It is always your decision.

rainbow198

I was happy 80 heavier and I am happy now. I believe happiness is an internal thing.

When I was obese I was uncomfortable and it sucked being so out of shape, but I worked with it and made the best of it until one day when I had enough...

When I was losing I got highs from seeing inches fall off of me and moving down clothes sizes and it gave me motivation to keep going. Now it's so great shopping in the junior's section and wearing size small and medium clothes.

But yes, losing 80 pounds in 2012-early 2013 and being in the best shape of my life, having tons of energy feeling and looking great and keeping the weight off over for over 3.5 years has been an amazing experience. I am ecstatic beyond words could describe.

I'm working hard everyday to stay here, which makes me happier.

75poundstogo

To me the happiness from weightloss comes from satisfaction of making good choices for my body. Happiness also comes from seeing results in the mirror from good changes

jgnatca

Significant weight loss disrupts social and family dynamics. Some people cannot deal. So some of my relationships changed.

I regained mobility. I have new confidence. My energy is increased many fold.

I have new hobbies like running. I go out more.

Tackling my weight allowed me to conquer Covey's third Habit which as promised has made me more effective in all areas of my life.

Happier?

Heck, yes.

But I get a lot more pleasure from the exercise than the calorie counting.

Intentional_Me

jgnatca wrote: »

Significant weight loss disrupts social and family dynamics. Some people cannot deal. So some of my relationships changed.

I regained mobility. I have new confidence. My energy is increased many fold.

I have new hobbies like running. I go out more.

Tackling my weight allowed me to conquer Covey's third Habit which as promised has made me more effective in all areas of my life.

Happier?

Heck, yes.

But I get a lot more pleasure from the exercise than the calorie counting.

May I ask how your relationships changed?

jgnatca

Here's the longer version. You asked for it. The dynamics of the relationship changes.

A good number of my post bariatric surgery buddies ended their marriages some time after surgery. Weight loss affects a lot of things including confidence and independence. If the partner can't deal with the changes, well then. Plus the successful loser may no longer want to be a doormat.

My marriage survived because my hubby is cool as in chill as in easygoing.

Co-workers weren't universally overjoyed. My loss might awaken their personal struggles and failures. Also consider how friendships change with reformed smokers and alcoholics who manage to overcome their demons. No more weekend drinking buddies. Smokers also don't need their personal failure rubbed in their face.

Then there's relatives. Some were so uncouth to suggest to hubby that I might dump him now that I am prettier.

And neighbours. A lady ran out of her house and asked if had cancer? Another neighbour just this week asked if I could eat ham. She had a treat to share and she did not wish to offend.

I respond to compliments, backhanded or sincere, with a simple "Thank you" and confide that it was very very hard. This takes the listener off the hook for any perceived failing on their own part.

I also miss the sisterhood of the plus sized woman. I see their struggles but any encouragement I might offer is going to come off as smug. So I simply treat them as honoured peers with valuable insights.

To those fearing I am on deaths door, I cheerfully respond, "No, it's all good!"

I don't give out much information on how I did it. I save that for MFP among friends.

taymam

I don't believe it is so black and white, but losing weight definitely helped me to reach a place where I was proud of myself. Exercise gives me a healthy outlet for stress and scientifically speaking does actually produce endorphins that make you happy. But that being said I haven't lost a single pound since I started exercising last December. More than anything I think it can be a process to discovering what makes you happy instead of giving into the superficial kind of happiness you get from eating junk.

theGarinator

Goal not nearly met but I like the direction......