Mirror distortion

jamie31

Have any of you ever thought that what you see in the mirror is not what others see? When I look in the mirror I honestly see myself as still obese yet have people telling me that I am thin. And its not even just a mirror thing. I will look at pictures and think "OMG my arms are so fat" or " gross i have a double chin". I honestly wonder sometimes if I am absolutely crazy or do some people really do have a type of body dysmorphia after losing weight?

bt_13_21

I absolutely believe it's true. I think I have it the opposite way. Except I see the "real me" in photos. I think I look pretty good in person/mirrors, but am genuinely shocked when I see a photo of myself b/c I am overweight.

marz31

Yup, I don't see myself nearly as big as I am in the mirror, but in pictures, geesh....I wish I could figure it out, see the real me in the mirrow.....altho looking at myself naked in the mirror is different, I see myself as I am, but I put clothes on and I don't look half bad......

Jenn152

This is a GREAT topic! I believe this is very normal for people who have lost weight (especially those who have lost a large amount of weight like you) to not believe what they see in the mirror. We are so used to seeing ourselves as the overweight people we used to be, that we dont think its possible (the low self esteem that comes along with being overweight) that we could look as awesome as we do now!

Here is a tip ;O) Learn the perfect picture pose! Arms always at right angles (think of hands on the hips or thighs) because that will slim your arms out. Also, take pics from a higher angle (were tall this shouldnt be a problem) to avoid the double chin. Always pull your chin down slightly when you are getting photos taken and the double chin will just go away! And smile! Always, always, always smile! That makes pictures look amazing all the time, just because you LOOK happy :O)

But to your original point, I am with you. I have lost just over 30 pounds and I still see the heavier me sometimes. I will admit that I have never really had a problem with self-esteem. Even overweight, I believed I looked good. Hahah. But I'll be honest, I walk around naked in my house as much as I can and spend time in front of the mirror so I can appreciate my body as it changes. I am working hard for this, and I REFUSE to be disappointed in the resluts!

Love yourselves, you are beautiful!

Channing

First, I agree completely with Jenn that if we are working this hard for something, we might as well enjoy how our body is changing along the way.

Second, Jamie: YOU LOOK AMAZING. Your hard work has already paid off because lady, you are smokin hot.:smokin: Just had to be said!

And finally, I believe women in general are incredibly hard on themselves, especially about their image, myself included. So much of it is mental. For example I see a completely different person in the mirror on days when I workout hard, than on days I don't and overdo it on food. Is my body changing in 1 day? No, but my mind distorts my reflection.

jamie31

First, I agree completely with Jenn that if we are working this hard for something, we might as well enjoy how our body is changing along the way.

Second, Jamie: YOU LOOK AMAZING. Your hard work has already paid off because lady, you are smokin hot.:smokin: Just had to be said!

And finally, I believe women in general are incredibly hard on themselves, especially about their image, myself included. So much of it is mental. For example I see a completely different person in the mirror on days when I workout hard, than on days I don't and overdo it on food. Is my body changing in 1 day? No, but my mind distorts my reflection.

Thanks. I know i look better than I did, its just weird that I can look in the mirror and see rolls everywhere and my boyfriend thinks I am nuts.... I have begun to feel extreme sympathy for people with eating disorders. Before I used to think when I heard a story about a girl with an eating disorder say she was fat, that she was completely insane or just wanted attention. Now I can see how a person sees something totally different in the mirror than what others see in person.

I also totally agree that we are all so hard on ourselves. Its like we have to have this perfect body with nice perky boobs and butt and you are some ugly duckling if you dont have them. I was always fat growing up and never really had attention from guys so I had extremely low self esteem ( i still do just definitely not as bad), I have begun to notice that guys aren't as critical about our bodies as other girls are!!!!!! All of my boyfriends and brothers and even my guy friends always ask me to set them up with a girl that likes watching sports and has a good personality. When i ask them what they want in looks they say they dont really care, looks fade when you are older.... how about that as a revelation! lol.... it seems that the majority of girls worry about their bodies more because of what other girls will think and what they think guys think ( me included)... sorry for rambling on but this has been something that has been gnawing at me for months!

dbanks80

First, I agree completely with Jenn that if we are working this hard for something, we might as well enjoy how our body is changing along the way.

Second, Jamie: YOU LOOK AMAZING. Your hard work has already paid off because lady, you are smokin hot.:smokin: Just had to be said!

And finally, I believe women in general are incredibly hard on themselves, especially about their image, myself included. So much of it is mental. For example I see a completely different person in the mirror on days when I workout hard, than on days I don't and overdo it on food. Is my body changing in 1 day? No, but my mind distorts my reflection.

Thanks. I know i look better than I did, its just weird that I can look in the mirror and see rolls everywhere and my boyfriend thinks I am nuts.... I have begun to feel extreme sympathy for people with eating disorders. Before I used to think when I heard a story about a girl with an eating disorder say she was fat, that she was completely insane or just wanted attention. Now I can see how a person sees something totally different in the mirror than what others see in person.

I also totally agree that we are all so hard on ourselves. Its like we have to have this perfect body with nice perky boobs and butt and you are some ugly duckling if you dont have them. I was always fat growing up and never really had attention from guys so I had extremely low self esteem ( i still do just definitely not as bad), I have begun to notice that guys aren't as critical about our bodies as other girls are!!!!!! All of my boyfriends and brothers and even my guy friends always ask me to set them up with a girl that likes watching sports and has a good personality. When i ask them what they want in looks they say they dont really care, looks fade when you are older.... how about that as a revelation! lol.... it seems that the majority of girls worry about their bodies more because of what other girls will think and what they think guys think ( me included)... sorry for rambling on but this has been something that has been gnawing at me for months!

Great discussion! I think women (myself included) are harsh on ourselves. I personally think women( friends, sister mother)check me out to see what I am wearing, how it looks on my body, if I've gained , if I've lost! I am just as guilty!

I hate that my mind is constantly on having a great figure. As long as I am healthy that should be the main concern! Men definitely don't care. Well I know my husband finds me sexy!

lik_11

I'm like bt_13_21 and marz31- When I think about myself body-wise, I think I look great and I've lost a lot more weight than I actually have. Then- I see a pic or catch a glimpse in the mirror (nekkid)- and wah wah wah... I realize I've still got a ways to go.

amflautist

It has taken me a long time to think of myself as overweight or obese. Maybe I still don't! Naw, I don't. I'm still that same thin, tall beauty I used to be!!

marz31

It's funny because I know what size I really am, not small AT ALL, and I know others HAVE to realize that, and yet there are times when people don't move in the hallway as I'm trying to pass or whatnot where I'm just like "Dude, I'm NOT that small, you can see that right?" but people have NO concept of weight if they've always been a healthy weight. they may not discriminate based on weight, but I remember being like 220 (my lowest I lost to since I started the upward journey) and someone saying I must weigh like 180-190. I thought, wow, that's double what I've lost, they just had NO clue what a pound looks like. also harkens back to the draft days, my dad didn't make the cut because he weighed too much (thankfully! I might not be here if he had, was well before I was born!) but it took 3 or 4 guys who were so experienced in those days, they could peg a guy within a few pounds before he stepped on the scale. yup, the first guy thought my dad was 20-30 pounds lighter. we're just packed solid people! so 180 is going to look AWESOME on me, but others would look similar at 150-170, ya know? I think that comes into play too....

Riley4ever

I absolutely believe it's true. I think I have it the opposite way. Except I see the "real me" in photos. I think I look pretty good in person/mirrors, but am genuinely shocked when I see a photo of myself b/c I am overweight.

I have TOTALLY the same experience!