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

Iansmommy123011

Yes I do! I still wear my husbands clothes to feel better. I don't know if it has to do with low self esteem that I have. I would like to wear cute clothes but they never seem to fit my body right and it makes me feel fat.

peacefulsong

My experience with this is really strange, honestly. In my head, I see myself as probably around 175 or so...still overweight, but nothing like the kind of overweight I actually am. And definitely not close to me at my heaviest a few years back. And that is really strange because I've struggled with weight my whole life. I was never a thin girl who just didn't realize she was getting fat. But this self-image doesn't keep me from suffering from a lot of the anxiety that a person as big as me feels. One of the reasons I decided 5 years ago that I needed to lose weight was that I was going to a tennis tournament that summer. I was about 325 then and kept thinking, in addition to how miserable I'd be at that size out in the scorching heat all day, was 'what if I have to squeeze into the seats??" I'd dread turnstiles, etc. I lost 60 pounds and aside from a brief time in which I gained 25 of it back and then lost it again, I've stayed at that weight (though have been starting to go down again with the help of MFP). But even then I'd still be horrified to see photos of myself (when I allowed them to be taken) and realize how big I really was.

What I wonder now is, when I get to my goal weight, will I still see the same picture of myself in my head that I do now, because then it will be bigger than I actually am! I'm hoping that won't be the case.

Danardeener

I still feel ridiculously fat, although I'm down 35lbs. I still have work to do and just about at the halfway mark. When I look in the mirror I feel that it's not me and I didn't lose anything. I swear each time I go shopping for new clothes I go straight to the big sizes XL / XXL section when I know I fit a Medium. Just yesterday my friend asked me what size I wear and she was going to pick up a shirt for me. I hesitated and said Large because I felt that a medium would be too small.

Anyone feel the same?

I was the same way...the first time I lost my weight, I lost about 50 lbs. I did the exact same thing with the clothes (going to the bigger size first). I had to train myself not to do that. I now go to the smaller sizes right away. However, I still have days where I see myself fat, but I'm not.

amikad

88 pounds down and i still have a very hard time with this. I went into a store that didn't sell plus size clothes and felt very self conscious like i didn't belong in there unless I had a skinny friend beside me. I get uncomfortable when people look me up and down once they notice I have lost weight...and i still feel like i am the same big girl and that the smaller clothes just run big. I don't know how long my mentality will stay like this...doesn't help when family members who are not supportive of your progress keeps making you second guess yourself while shopping, wanting you to pick a bigger size eventhough you know you wear a smaller size

Randins2006

I still feel ridiculously fat, although I'm down 35lbs. I still have work to do and just about at the halfway mark. When I look in the mirror I feel that it's not me and I didn't lose anything. I swear each time I go shopping for new clothes I go straight to the big sizes XL / XXL section when I know I fit a Medium. Just yesterday my friend asked me what size I wear and she was going to pick up a shirt for me. I hesitated and said Large because I felt that a medium would be too small.

Anyone feel the same?

i feel the same way the mind games have always effected me my whole life. (if you read my blog posts you'll understand more) its like no matter how much i lost i still felt i looked the same, then i would platue and think "well then wats the point" and quit. ut i keep trying and trying in hope one day i will lose more weight than ever and actually SEE the difference. idk but i guess we'll see...

peaceinside

Well, I have only read the first page and totally agree but it makes me sad that we are all this way. I have lost 47 so far and have made great strides, have no clothes that fit anymore and just ran my 2nd ever 5K yesterday. Starting a new program tomorrow so I took underwear pics this morning so I can track my journey visually. The first thing that came out of my mouth when I got it off the floor was, 'oh my gawd, I'm FAT!!!' I have been thinking about that all day!???????????:ohwell:
Peace! :flowerforyou:

ChristieStearns

Every time I take clothes out of the dryer, I panic because I think they shrunk. I have to put on my jeans and a shirt to make sure they actually fit me, and they do. They just look so small (and I am still a 16/XL/L). I can't imagine if/when I get even smaller.
I still find myself turning sideways to fit through a space when I don't need to. Or thinking I won't fit into a chair or spot somewhere and it's no problem. Even though I can accept what I see in the mirror, I can't stop thinking this way after years and years of it!
The biggest one... if anybody stares at me I assume it's because I'm fat. My husband says I'm hot and that's why they stare LOL. Hard for me to believe but I guess I am getting closer to an "acceptable" size in society now, so who knows.

MrsBigSmith

I've always looked in the mirror and still felt fat no matter what size I wore. But I've always suffered from eating disorders and things of that sort as well.

Elise_healthy4life

Ive lost over 100lbs and still think I look the same it's the toughest part of it all I'm due for progress photos soon so hopefully that will make my mind catch up

jching29

I think the only "fat" moments I have are when I walk into a store...and am astonished when I find a pair of jeans that fit. I was so used to being let down that it's such a relief to find clothes that fit!

jake1967

Yes.It is weird but the mentality stays for a while ,anyway.For me at least.

skywa

a friend of mine (whos quite thin) was talking about how she still mentally feels fat. even as she loses weight. shes currently the most fit and thin she's ever been and is increasingly unhappy and self conscious about her body instead of the other way around.

i think a lot of ppl experience this.

they get it stuck in their head that they look a certain way, and continue to judge themselves for how they looked at that time. the struggles and stress of weight loss i believe is a contributing emotional factor in this as well.

Captian_Dathon

I do feel like I'm still fat!
I completely understand. I never stop surprising myself when I go for new clothes and it seems I need to now search the isles with the smaller clothing. I usually think it'll be too tight, and it ends up being a bit baggy on me! But it does boost my confidence some, so no harm done!

kris4chloe

::raises hand::

when people compliment them on my weight loss, instead of just saying thank you, i respond with the fact that I still need to lose 30-40 pounds. When i look in the mirror all I see is the weight still in my lower belly and my thighs and now all the saggy skin.

not sure I will ever look good without clothes on, and get sad but don't want to go back.

When I clothes shop I am still grabbing xxl tops and bottoms even though i am med/large top and large bottms

lisavino

When I was a size 8 (135) I felt fat. I never would have thought that would now be my dream weight. Two kids later I've gained 90 pounds and I'm a size 18. I'm wondering if ill still feel that way when I do loose the weight.

kunibob

Yep. 50 lb down, and the majority of that was lost 5 years ago...and I STILL feel fat. Sometimes I'll just stare at myself in pictures or in the mirror because I just can't believe it's me.

bregalad5

Sometimes I'll just stare at myself in pictures or in the mirror because I just can't believe it's me.

I just did that today

logicandlove

Oh my god yes. I've lost 22 pounds, but coming down from 190, that's over 10% of my total body weight, so it's a huge difference visually. I'm down 2 jean sizes and I can see hipbones that I didn't even know I had, and yet the pooch of my belly or the way my thighs still jiggle makes me see myself as that same person. I get so confused when I wear an outfit and see a small waist, or when clothes I've had for a while are super loose. My first thought is "when did this shirt stretch out so much?"

malibulu

I definately still feel fat - I was at the doctors a few weeks ago (a doctor I've never met) and I made a joke about sitting on my daughters pap when she steals my chair... he said " oh, well I think I'm a bit bigger than you though ha ha ha" I felt this huge sense of pride as he didnt know that a year ago, I ws 4 stone heavier!! BUT still, I look at myself and don't like what I see. I still see the fat girl staring back at me. I know I've still got a fair bit to go, but still...

BlaireV

I'm down almost 40 pounds and I still feel fat. I didn't start out that big either (started at just under 170 lbs, and I'm 5'6'').

andforpoise

totally!! I call it "fat girl mentality."

shmunster

I do this a bit, but I seem to cycle from feeling great to feeling like someone is playing a trick on me and changing the size labels on my clothes, I guess my brain will eventually catch up to my body

Elizabeth_C34

Oh my goodness YES!

I still look in the mirror and see a 220 lbs woman sometimes. I am totally shocked that I'm a size 12 now. Was an 18W (tight) before. It's just surreal, but also wonderful. I think I am also a size L tops, but I keep buying XL's though they are a little big.

alibab36

Yes yes and yes .

Only yesterday experienced it again . My last boyfriend told me he felt I was too skinny etc so said well he just likes bigger women so off you go . I am a American 2 or British 6 on top and 4/8 on bottom but I am petite . Yesterday had a first date with a new guy and he is into running fitness also . We were discussing our routines and I was saying I mostly lift now as my aim is not to lose more weight but to maintain and get strong . He replied well I am glad you said it as you are perfect as you are but any more and you would be too skinny . I am about 7 lbs lighter than profile pic so not exactly skin and bone but I am a petite build .

When I look in the mirror I see bingo wings and a muffin top with big thighs . I am working on this and only yesterday brought a pair of uk size12 jeans into the dressing room and ended up buying a 8 so my mind is not there yet . I am 18 months at this weight so no idea when it will catch up

rdchick

I think I will be delusioned when I get to my target weight. The illusive 11st 2 will be something to celebrate as it's been something I have been aiming for since I was 17! but I can't remember the last time I was 10 stone 7 which is my target weight so excited to see what I am going to look like!

I sometimes have delusional days when I think I am SMALLER than what I am, ie: when I have a good week, feel thinner etc and then try on a pair of trousers that were a bit tight last month and then get very disappointed when I can't fit in them yet! xxx

JenCat162

Bump

lindsaybherrera

Yes! I will always feel like the fattest person in the room. I've lost 65 lbs from my heaviest and have 35 more to go, but in my head, I'm still 260+ pounds. My friends often correct me, and I try to correct myself. Having 2 daughters, it is important that they do NOT grow up with a mom who constantly rags on her weight. I still have to work on catching my mind up to my body. Looking at other pics on this forum and finding the ones that are around your weight really does help gain perspective. When I see other ladies who weigh around my where I am now, I remind myself that that is what I look like now. Not the old version of myself that is stuck in my head! It is a tough mental block to overcome for some of us.

Joannie30

YES!!!!

I've gone down from 210lbs to 184lbs but most days i still feel as fat as i was before i started. Some days i even feel like i'm fatter than i was to start with!!!!!

Alpine005

I'm the opposite. I've lost almost 35 pounds, I'm eating healthy, working out like crazy in the gym and I feel skinny. The reality is that I'm still probably the biggest person in the room. I'm not sure which one is worse.

rlawrimore

Yes, I still look in the mirror and say, 'I'm still fat'.