How has losing weight affected you emotionally?

_crafty_

I am more confident and women talk to me like I am not invisible anymore :-)

Women will swear up and down weight doesn't matter but even from 290 to 240 the difference was night and day for me.

I've always had good luck with some really amazing and beautiful women, even when I was 297lbs. Yes, some are shallow, but the good ones are more interested in who you are. Generalization is not a good habit.

It's those damn eyes aaaaannnnnd the fact that you are an amazing individual.

verptwerp

Honestly, it is ...... so glad I finally did this !

bdeezy3396

Never really thought my weight was an issue until I got passed on a job because of it. Hearing from the recruiter that she was told I looked slovenly was quite a blow to my self-esteem. After losing all my weight I feel a lot better about my self and definitely have a lot more confidence. I would like to interview with that company one more time, land the job, and turn them down!!!!

Alidecker

It has been a very emotional journey for me, more than I thought it would be. I was overweight most of my life, still need to lose a little, but I'm not the "fat friend" anymore, I get more attention which I have gotten more comfortable with. I still see the fat girl in the mirror sometimes and don't know that she will ever go away.

I wasn't unhappy, I have great friends and an awesome family that love me no matter what. Losing the weight gave me self-confidence and self respect, but I revert back sometimes when I have a set back or just when I'm feeling down. I guess that is when the fat girl shows up in the mirror. Like others have said, I don't take as much crap from people anymore. I have gotten some comments about how my "addiction" to working out is too much and that it will fade. Usually from people who would never step in a gym or do a race, even a fun race like the Tap N Run I did earlier this year. These are not the people I mentioned above

I don't know how to explain all the emotional feelings I went through and I am still going through....alll worth it though.

Hildy_J

It's great to read all these uplifting posts.

It's a number of things, isn't it - that lead to the positivity some of us feel with weight loss.

Firstly perhaps it means we are finished with a trauma or a person in our lives who was bringing us down. In my case it was a partner who treated me very poorly. Once he was gone my life felt kind of empty - less awful, but empty - so I began to fill it with things that would make a positive difference to me and the kids.

Then there's the point at which you become honest with yourself. It may not be particularly pleasant and come as a bit of a shock (for me it was a photograph of 'slim' me not looking that slim anymore!). I believe an increase in self-awareness is healthy.

And the maturity that regaining control shows. It's no longer a case of: 'I'll have what I want and I'll have it NOW. Self-discipline leads to achieving - and there's no better feeling than that. I've done the same with my finances - I used to be all over the place, spending like mad one week - and panicking because there was no money left for dog food or milk the next. Now I 'log' everything that's due to come out of my account and balance the books every night.

There will always be too much month left at the end of the money but it feels SO good to have a handle on it. We're going to have a proper holiday abroad next year, I'm saving and I'm going to love how I look like in that bikini. :-)

Koldnomore

In some ways it is good. In others not so much...

I have always been a 'no-nonsense' type so taking crap from people wasn't in my books. I didn't really suffer from lack of confidence because I never equated my 'desirability' with my fatness. As far as I was concerned if someone was 'right' for me they would love me regardless of my size. It took me a while to find that person but he did and still does.

I live in a 'man's world' I do IT support so being 'pretty' is actually detrimental to my work. People take me LESS seriously, assume that I just got to where I am because I'm cute and generally attempt to disregard my advice because they think they know better. Men try to help me do my job by offering to lift things or move things (like I am completely incapable of picking up 10 lbs..with one hand ffs!) It's been frustrating as all heck..honestly. I am used to being independent and now that I am smaller I have people coming out of the woodwork to help me do everything from opening doors to carrying monitors, people expect me to take seats on the bus when I am just as happy standing (and always have been). I almost get the feeling like I have to fight to do just about anything for myself - which has been really hard to adjust to for me.

I suppose I should be happy being treated with more respect but in my eyes if you are just doing it based on my looks I don't need it. I HATE fake people. If you wouldn't help me when I was fat you can go jump off a bridge for all it affects me :P Maybe if I was single I would be more interested in the extra attention, who knows?

Hildy_J

I suppose I should be happy being treated with more respect but in my eyes if you are just doing it based on my looks I don't need it.

It's the way of the world, I'm afraid.

Beautiful women have men jumping all around them and other women don't like them because of it. However, it beats the alternative.

ames105

I feel more confident, which helps with my depression and anxiety. I notice that men look at me more, really look at me, instead of through me. I date more, which also helps my depression and anxiety. I'm not so lonely or bored, so I don't eat as much. I've stopped beating myself up about the lonely eating because I am not doing it, so I feel more positive.

I put all of my energy into exercise, which releases those endorphins, which helps with my depression also.

I've lost a friend or two along the way due to my not wanting to go out to eat all the time. That is a little sad, but I'd rather know now that they are not supportive than find out when I really need someone.

Overall...the affect has been truly positive and I'm so glad I'm on this journey.

zoober

Well, I always felt like I was letting myself down when I was carrying around the big belly. Taking charge of those destructive habits made me proud of myself. There is nothing shallow or wrong about having pride in your appearance. And yeah, it's neat not to be as invisible to women, although at my age, I still can go stealth if I need to. Beyond the body image issue, I am in the best physical shape of my post 40 life. That just feels terrific, even just to be able to carry on a conversation with someone while climbing stairs. Keep it up brother, it's a lot healthier on the other side in so many ways.

jadethief

I've always said that invisibility is my superpower. I'm naturally reserved and quiet and people tend to not notice me. The fat was just an extra layer of cloaking. Since I've lost almost 50 lbs now, it seems as if people, many of whom never acknowledged me before the weight loss, now go out of their way to speak to me. Even strangers seem to speak to me more. :grumble:

Gonna have to swing by the Justice League Headquarters and get my invisibility cloak upgraded. :glasses: