Do you still feel "fat" mentally after a lot of weight loss?

kayla1125

I feel the same way you do and understand totally as I have lost alot before I got on here. My clothes are way too big for me now, but I go to the same sizes that you do when I am in a store.

MrsBailey149

YES!! I know exactly how you feel. I still go straight for the XL in the back of the rack before realizing that I am not that size anymore. However, I see that mistake as a positive thing because when it dawns on me that I am not that size, I smile and work my way up to the mediums

On the down side of your brain not catching up with your body....it can be frustrating to look in the mirror and not see any changes. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I can't figure out where I even got smaller. I feel like I'm the same I've always been, overweight. HOwever, I have actually lost nearly 50 pounds and certainly have major changes in my body.

The solution....be POSITIVE and don't always believe the mirror. AND, enjoy the fact that you get to remind yourself that you are a medium and no longer an XL

supertracylynn

I have been between 135-140 for almost 3 years now, at this size 6.

My goal weight was 167 and a size 12.


I feel fat. All the time.

pen2u

Isn't this incredible? Maybe we all should just accept that this happens and get on with our lives, lol. The first thing I do in the morning is check to make sure I haven't gained back all my weight during the night. Obsessive much??

Lately I've noticed that I feel normal more often than I feel fat, which is a great improvement. It will only get better.

directorj

OMG! This was a year ago! A lot has happened to me since. Thank you to a MFP memeber for sending me a message, I have forgotten all about this thread.

In the span of this full year I have :

1) Lost 50lbs total
2) Ran a 10k and beat my time by almost 4 minutes
3) Ran a Half Marathon
4) Hiked 14 miles.
5) Average pace went from 10:00-10:30 down to 8:50-930 on runs under 10 miles
6) Next week Running, Spartan Beast Mud run (10-13 mile obstacle course)
7) Went from 0 pulls to 6 pull ups
8) Got featured on CNN for losing weight

directorj

So I ask myself again this question and the answer is, it's not as extreme and my old fat self is wearing off. I don't even remember having the huge stomach. I got rid of all the fat problems/ insecurities I have and turned into a whole new person.

nancycaregiver

YES!!!! I automatically go to the plus size section even though I wear a 12/14. I often have to return something because I get an XL.

nancycaregiver

WOW!! That is amazing! Good for you!!

OMG! This was a year ago! A lot has happened to me since. Thank you to a MFP memeber for sending me a message, I have forgotten all about this thread.

In the span of this full year I have :

1) Lost 50lbs total
2) Ran a 10k and beat my time by almost 4 minutes
3) Ran a Half Marathon
4) Hiked 14 miles.
5) Average pace went from 10:00-10:30 down to 8:50-930 on runs under 10 miles
6) Next week Running, Spartan Beast Mud run (10-13 mile obstacle course)
7) Went from 0 pulls to 6 pull ups
8) Got featured on CNN for losing weight

Sharon_C

YES! Then I see myself in the mirror and I have to stop and take a closer look to make sure that's really me.

Excira

You are most certainly not alone. I'm a size 4 but I'm an unhealthy size 4... I'm blessed with a tiny waste but that's all that is tiny on me. Even though I lost so much weight to get to this size, my brain thinks like a fat girl and I always see the problems instead of how far I've come.

It's time to change that mentality and remember that you deserve only the best. Think about this - if your friend talked to you the same way you talk to yourself, would he or she still be your friend?

fun_b

I feel a bit freakish looking in the mirror. Don't get me wrong I look a lot better since I have lost some weight. But I was looking at myself in the mirror and it was like a strangers body infront of me. I still have some way to go but I think even after I get to the right size for me, I will feeling strange for a while.

willwillywilson

Yes LOL. But then again I'm still 240 so I guess I am still fat technnnnically speaking.

DeMarraDontStop

Yes I still feel fat even though everyone keeps calling me skinny and I'm far from it!!!

Zomoniac

Yes. But then, I'm an obsessive perfectionist. As long as there's still obvious visible fat I'll feel fat. I set myself quite ludicrous (and possibly unattainable) standards.

lizz_617

just a suggestion put on your old clothes when you feel that way to remind yourself that you are quite a bit smaller

jjscholar

I have to admit that I still feel fat...

However, I bumped up my calorie allowance today to 3300 net calories because for the past five days I have weighed below 175 lbs... In addition, today I had several dizzy spells which made it impossible to enjoy my yoga class...

It is hard, but I have to remind myself that I am not as fat as I used to be...

arewethereyet

I asked a stranger once "would you say I am fat?"

He said yes.

I said " what if I told you I used to be 250 pounds and lost 100?"

He said " then I would think you we're slim"

Don't ask how that all got started but let's just say I was feeling fat after losing 36 pounds. It took my mind 2 yrs to catch up.

arewethereyet

just a suggestion put on your old clothes when you feel that way to remind yourself that you are quite a bit smaller

Good idea. I threw out the oldest, but I did find some jeans I had grown out of and they fit again!,

SharmaineP

I still feel fat because I have been fat my whole life. I'm not use to being this lean or "fit". Whenever I shop, I have to bring a friend since my views on clothing are not up to date lol

endlesoul

I mentally don't feel fat but I sure have a perception problem shopping for clothing.

ktrn0312

Bump

chelovik

I am paranoid more about putting pounds back on.

ajswriter

Yeah, definitely. It takes pictures or seeing myself side-by-side with someone who weighs more (someone who I initially think I'm the same size as) to "wake me up." Good ol' emotional baggage...

lollyish

Every day I have to fight with myself and tell myself I am not fat. Most of the time I don't believe it.

marialleras

yes

BoatReadyBody

wow I am so glad someone posted this. I feel crazy sometimes because I thought I was going to have this big change mentally and I did not. I still feel like the big girl. When I see other girls who are slim and pretty I feel like the ugly duck. I love Mfp for the boost it give my self confidence but in real life.. I well I am working on that part now

timmyb057

Same here also...I had lost about 20 lbs before finding MFP, and another 15 or so since, but its still hard to break that mental barrier for some reason. At the heaviest I felt really bad about it, so its hard to find a "before" pic because I avoided cameras as much as possible (some subconscious denial, I guess..). Everybody else seems to notice more than I do (even before they knew I was trying), so that has been encouraging. One of the bright spots has been my belt, it's one of the ones with the holes all the way around, and it wraps nearly halfway back again now I know its time for a new (smaller) one, but I enjoy having the reminder of how far I've come..

jeffreyjording

Absolutely.I am 6' 2" 167 lbs and I still feel fat and extremely afraid that I will gain the weight back. Poor self image and self esteem issues probably.

MamaMaryC

I am down 80 lbs and still see the 200+ me. It is starting to sink in, slowly. I am starting to see the change.

saraann4

Down almost 60lbs and still feel the same. Somedays I feel awesome and recognize my progress. Other days, I feel shame and disappointment. Either way, I acknowledge my progress and try not to beat myself up too badly.