Do you ever still feel like your former overweight self???

watch48win

Bah ME ME ME! I know I look sooooooo much better now that I've lost 40 lbs, but all I can think about is the lbs left, and being really unsure how much I want to lose. I mean, I currently want to lose another 20 lbs, to bring me to 155 at 5'7'' but every time I get to a goal, I'm like, seriously, is that all?

The funny part (I have to remind myself of this) is that when I started at 215 I never thought I'd see the weight I am right now (175). I haven't weighed this little since before I could drive. When I broke 200 it was such an amazing feeling! I was so excited to weigh 199, but if I saw 199 now, I'd probably break down and cry!! lol.

I think that I could have written this post....

dewpearl

10 lbs will feel quite different, so keep working toward your goal!

I hear you about the "healthy" BMI - just because I have a BMI of 23 doesn't mean that I don't want to lose weight, right? Good luck reaching your goal!
:flowerforyou:

Thanks! *Hug* I think I really needed to hear this! :flowerforyou:

pecksun8

What's really weird is that at times, I don't feel fat at all. I still see or I guess remember myself the way that I used to be. I mean not all the time, but the majority of the time I don't feel as big as I am, until I catch a glimpse in the mirror, or I try to do something that I used to be able to do and I can't do it that way anymore. What's even odder, is when I was younger, I thought I was so fat and big, and I look back and wonder what was I thinking? I was around all these people whom later on I found out were bulimic or anorexic.

The biggest thing that I have learned over this past year is that my weight is a direct reflection on how I feel inside.

casey34472

Me Too!

FitShark

After reading all these posts, and seeing everyone's weight loss succeses', I feel better in a way knowing I am not the only one who's looking good these days; but still feels fat and cant see myself the way others are. It is funny to have one great day, where I am confident because I just "feel" thin and capable, and the next day be down and out because I just feel fatter. And then I get mad, why should we all have "this"!? I guess its good if we can remain positive.....like remembering where we all started, and how far we've come....but dont let it consume you!

GoGetterMom

I too used to keep on feeling like my former self. Totally horrible when I looked in the mirror... Like a year ago, but after a year of working out & having no option, but to buy new clothes (that fit), it is better. Some things just come with time.

Now I feel like BrandNewLaura.... Happy, proud and unafraid to look in the mirror. For me MFP has helped - not just for the weight loss since I joined but for the buddy system too!

Fitness_Chick

bumpin

AJCM

After reading all these posts, and seeing everyone's weight loss succeses', I feel better in a way knowing I am not the only one who's looking good these days; but still feels fat and cant see myself the way others are. It is funny to have one great day, where I am confident because I just "feel" thin and capable, and the next day be down and out because I just feel fatter. And then I get mad, why should we all have "this"!? I guess its good if we can remain positive.....like remembering where we all started, and how far we've come....but dont let it consume you!

Great post - I really do need to work on the "metal" part - I'm always in my head way too much - bordering on neurotic really... so self critical.... ugh...
:flowerforyou:

jazpiri

Wow. You all have such great things to say.
PrincessLaundry- I know what you mean about feeling "tubby." Since I have been overweight most of my life I have a lot of lose skin around my midsection and on a "bad day" it's the first place my eyes go. I can grab a chunk of it and think "oh my gosh! Look at all this fat I still have to lose!" even though my doctor has told me it is mostly just lose skin and not fat. It's hard. Also, frustrating. I am an athletic 23 year old and should be able to run in a sports bra without my stomach jiggling, but I will never have that luxury and it depresses me.
Well, I guess we just have to accept our faults and move on.
Good luck to everyone. Keep up the good work. Let's hope these last few pounds come off for me. :happy:

FitShark

[/quote]

Great post - I really do need to work on the "metal" part - I'm always in my head way too much - bordering on neurotic really... so self critical.... ugh...
:flowerforyou:
[/quote]

I didnt think anyone could be more neurotic than me!!! (Actually, you should ask my husband, he'll tell you how crazy I make HIM about all this! :grumble: ) If you find a way to eliminate the self criticism, please (begging!) let me know :flowerforyou:

FitShark

geez, I wonder how I undid the quote box! I thought by removing my quote, it'd just be yours, AJCM....oops....

jenbar

Since I have been overweight most of my life I have a lot of lose skin around my midsection and on a "bad day" it's the first place my eyes go. I can grab a chunk of it and think "oh my gosh! Look at all this fat I still have to lose!" ......it depresses me.

Same here. If I didn't have sooooo much loose and stretched skin, I don't think I would feel so bad about my body. Yes, I haven't weighed this little since high school or college, and when I look in the mirror I can see parts of my waist and kind of see (if I stand a certain way) in between my thighs and I can almost see most of my collar bones, all I can see is my stomach. It is so highly damaged from having 10 & 11 pound babies, that it REALLY bothers me. I have ALWAYS had a "roll tummy". Ya know, never flat, always 2 rolls. And it wouldn't bother me if knowing all this hard work would eventually get rid of it, but it won't. Nothing but surgery will get rid of it and even then, I would still see stretch marks on a "flat" stomach, b/c my stretch marks start at about 4 inches below my bra and goes from side to side. I probably have AT LEAST 4 inches of stretched out skin that I will never get back or return to "normal". If it weren't there, I could probably fit into smaller shirts. Also, my arms are really starting to bother me too, but that's another story.
So, for me. It is always a constant reminder of the fatter me.

OomarianneoO

What's really weird is that at times, I don't feel fat at all. I still see or I guess remember myself the way that I used to be. I mean not all the time, but the majority of the time I don't feel as big as I am, until I catch a glimpse in the mirror, or I try to do something that I used to be able to do and I can't do it that way anymore. What's even odder, is when I was younger, I thought I was so fat and big, and I look back and wonder what was I thinking? I was around all these people whom later on I found out were bulimic or anorexic.

The biggest thing that I have learned over this past year is that my weight is a direct reflection on how I feel inside.

I thought I was big at 110lbs. and often wonder why I ever thought that, but I know why now only after years of working through it. Oh the things I would've done differently had I known or if I had a higher self-esteem. It is absolutely how you feel on the inside. Back then, I was married to a man who was very abusive and would tell me things like "Ugly fatty!", or "Who would want YOU?! No one! You're lucky to have me", or "Stupid b***h!", etc...I could go on and on. After we divorced (I was 23), was when I discovered that I really wasn't such a bad person after all and in fact, there were people that would accept me the way I am. The words still run through the back of my mind sometimes and I have to remind myself of what I have now.

OomarianneoO

Same here. If I didn't have sooooo much loose and stretched skin, I don't think I would feel so bad about my body. Yes, I haven't weighed this little since high school or college, and when I look in the mirror I can see parts of my waist and kind of see (if I stand a certain way) in between my thighs and I can almost see most of my collar bones, all I can see is my stomach. It is so highly damaged from having 10 & 11 pound babies, that it REALLY bothers me. I have ALWAYS had a "roll tummy". Ya know, never flat, always 2 rolls. And it wouldn't bother me if knowing all this hard work would eventually get rid of it, but it won't. Nothing but surgery will get rid of it and even then, I would still see stretch marks on a "flat" stomach, b/c my stretch marks start at about 4 inches below my bra and goes from side to side. I probably have AT LEAST 4 inches of stretched out skin that I will never get back or return to "normal". If it weren't there, I could probably fit into smaller shirts. Also, my arms are really starting to bother me too, but that's another story.
So, for me. It is always a constant reminder of the fatter me.

I know what you mean. I'm just under 5 feet tall and have a medium frame. I was HUGE during all of my pregnancies and had two c-sections. The loose skin left over from each pregnancy will only be remedied by surgery. It can be a little depressing to know that even after I lose all the weight, that skin won't go away and is more than likely to look worse than it does now.

jenbar

[/quote]

I know what you mean. I'm just under 5 feet tall and have a medium frame. I was HUGE during all of my pregnancies and had two c-sections. The skin loose skin left over from each pregnancy will only be remedied by surgery. It can be a little depressing to know that even after I lose all the weight, that skin won't go away and is more than likely to look worse than it does now.
[/quote]
Yeah, it's getting worse as the weight comes off. :grumble: :grumble: :grumble: :grumble: :grumble: