I still feel fat! :(

SaraLily

Hello everyone! Hope you're all doing well today!
I'm here because I need some advice.

I always had low self esteem, so this is something I've been working on for quite a while now. But I am a little worried. I lost 20 pounds already since October, but I still feel fat. I still feel the need to lose weight. Not a lot of weight, but a little, something like 5-7 pounds.

But my family believes I should stop losing weight and that I am fine just the way I am. On the other hand, I've been seeing a dietitian for the last 6 months and even though she says I'm "Slim", she says I could still lose a little more weight. I'm approximately 130 pounds and she says I could go anywhere from 125-117. I'm 5'4.

I started with a 38 inches waist, and now I'm 30 inches.

I don't know who to believe. I don't know if I should stop now? I don't especially feel good about myself, but then, I almost never have. I am scared this will turn into an eating disorder or an obsession.

I will attach a picture of my progress with this message. Be warned, the first picture is gross...but that's why I decided to lose weight in the first place.

I'm just scared I will never be happy with myself anyway. Is there anyone here who felt this way? I just don't know what to do and so, my motivation has gone down a lot...

this1bigdog

wow. .I think you look great!
I should probably offer advice and not just drool at your picture )

I think it's more important on how you feel, in your skin. . .

Asherah29

Stop worrying about what everyone else says and start finding ways to love yourself. You will never be happy with the way you look otherwise.

EmmieBaby

you look fine to me!

congratulations on the loss

docdrd

Do you see a therapist? This has less to do with weight loss and more to do with you just being pleased with yourself I would think. But my advice is STOP WORRYING about the scale (it is a lying device). Use the mirror and your clothes as the best judge. Your goal should be to be healthy, so set some exercise goals (like I want to lift X by October, or I want to run a 5K in Y time). Clearly, you are looking much better. I think you should change the focus from the scale to just being about health. Cheers!

LadyGhostDuchess

First of all, you look fantastic.
I hope that you get some positive feed back on this post, I know some people can be *kitten* when it comes to being supportive and nice about things.

I understand how you feel on body image and it is something that is hard to get over and deal with. I always seem to get sucked back inot the negative mind and when I look at myself I am like UGH. But in the end I have to love what I have. Find those things about you that are amazing and focus on them. Then the rest will be minimal to nothing. Maybe what you *want*/*need* is to tone up? Maybe that will help if you don't how you look. That will help to etch your body and tone it up to a firmer look.

Like I said, I think you look fantastic.
I do understand what you are going though. Just be good to yourself Find the positive! (yes I know it is hard hehe)

ellycope

For what it's worth, I think you look amazing. I had the same problem though. Having been overweight for so long and being so used to seeing that every day and critiquing it every day it took several months for my brain to catch up with my progress and to start seeing what I really looked like! I would suggest that you reduce your daily calorie defecit to slow down your weight loss and your idea of how fast you should be losing, give your brain a chance to catch up and se how you're feeling in a couple of months. If you spend much time on these forums you'll be recommended a heavy lifting programme before you know it!

tibby531

I think a lot of women feel "fat" when they're untoned. thin people still jiggle. personally, I think you look great, but if you think you need more, maybe do some weight training, and tighten up. the scale might not change, but your body will.

I hope you feel better about yourself. you've come so far and done so well.

AHealthyMe1lbAtATime

You look great... but....... you need to feel good about yourself. so what do YOU want???

Austinetc

Talk to the person whose opinion matters most. She's in your mirror. Well done caring about what other people think; shows empathy. But it's your life.

tibby531

For what it's worth, I think you look amazing. I had the same problem though. Having been overweight for so long and being so used to seeing that every day and critiquing it every day it took several months for my brain to catch up with my progress and to start seeing what I really looked like! I would suggest that you reduce your daily calorie defecit to slow down your weight loss and your idea of how fast you should be losing, give your brain a chance to catch up and se how you're feeling in a couple of months. If you spend much time on these forums you'll be recommended a heavy lifting programme before you know it!

I have that problem. if I LOOK in the mirror, I see all the flaws, and the same overweight girl I've always seen. but if I just randomly see myself in a mirror, I think "damn, girl, you need a cookie!" a lot of it IS in our minds, I think.

awesome recommend. :drinker:

scarrletti_girl

i think you look great. i don't think you need to lose anymore weight but if you feel u need to lose like 5 more lbs to feel happy then go ahead but i wouldn't dip under 125lbs. you have done a great job and i wish u the best with your decision.

laurie62ann

Losing weight is as much mental as it is a healthy life style. You might want to focus on thinking positive. Take a really good look at your pictures. They say a lot; a lot about how far you have come.

You might consider strength training! I find that lifting weights helps my mental status. It makes me feel in powered!

SaraLily

Wow, I can't believe how many replies I got in such a short time!
You guys are amazing! Thank you SO much! I feel a little better.

To answer most of your questions:

1) I have an upcoming appointment to see a therapist. I decided by myself that I needed help
2) I lost the weight only with diet. Didn't exercise much...in fact...besides using the stairs at work, I don't do anything...

I guess I do care too much about what people think of me.

Thank you all, seriously. I really appreciate that you took the time to encourage me!

laurie62ann

Do you see a therapist? This has less to do with weight loss and more to do with you just being pleased with yourself I would think. But my advice is STOP WORRYING about the scale (it is a lying device). Use the mirror and your clothes as the best judge. Your goal should be to be healthy, so set some exercise goals (like I want to lift X by October, or I want to run a 5K in Y time). Clearly, you are looking much better. I think you should change the focus from the scale to just being about health. Cheers!

THIS!! Set physical goals and change your focus to positive!!

cebreisch

I think you look great. Your family has no say in your health goals. If you still feel fat and taking off another 5-7 pounds will make you feel better about yourself, then do it.

Meanwhile, realize those things that your weight may have prevented you from doing before. I couldn't ride on amusement park rides, or fit in a seat on a plane, or even walk around the airport. I'm able to do those things a lot more easily now. No, I'm still not where I want to be, but there are things that I couldn't do that I can now, and that's something to feel good about.

It's good that you're proceeding with caution. Continue on that route and work with the dietician.

cherigaudet

Hopefully you've received some validation that your persistence has paid off and you look wonderful. Hopefully you will stop using words like "gross" to describe yourself. You've dropped some weight, now focus on getting strong - mentally as well as physically! Keep up the awesome work.

AntnNicsMom

Funny that you say the first pic is "gross" - I wish my stomach would look like that! I have loose skin and stretch marks galore thanks to babies and weight loss. I think you are perfect as long as you are healthy. Maybe you should start working on the inside instead of worrying about the outside. Find a way to love yourself...you deserve it!

Zaftique

Your goal should be to be healthy, so set some exercise goals (like I want to lift X by October, or I want to run a 5K in Y time).

^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^^

In theory, I want to go down to [x]lbs.
In practice, however, I want to get in sufficient shape to do the Zombie Run next year (this year is a wash, I'd have to nearly kill myself to be ready in time, and I wanna take it slow & steady). I want to run up a flight of stairs without getting winded. I want to beat my 1RM of 600lbs for leg presses. I want to be able to lift a timpani over my head again.

Achieving all those will also give me the side benefit of fitting into size 10 jeans, but that's just icing on the cake of physical prowess.

What are your goals? What do you want your fitness to do for you?

martinel2099

You look great, amazing weight loss results and you earned it.

The Scale is a tool to help monitor your progress, not your report card. Take it's measurements with a grain of salt as the human body is complicated. The best measurement is how you look, feel and how well those pants are fitting.

Keep up the good work+++

wannastayfit

I'm 5' 2" and 122 lbs. And I still feel pudgy. At 118 I'm in the middle of my BMI - so that's where I want to be. Would like to just prove it to myself that I can do it. I met with a nutritionist who said this was so fine. She said at my height I could be anywhere from 136 to 101. Go with your instinct and when you reach your goals and feel great - be proud of yourself!!!