How is your life different now?

BG10708

I'm 45 year old woman and I have been overweight my whole adult life. I have a goal weight but I don't have a "place" that I want to get back to such as "back to when I was 150 lbs" because I have no memory of ever having been there. For those of you who have arrived at your "place" - what does it feel like? I don't mean in terms of how you now eat and exercise, but how will life be better / different? How has your life changed? Do you feel differently? Do people treat you differently? What are you able to do now that you couldn't / felt you couldn't do before? I have a long road ahead of me and would like to know what I can look forward to WHEN I get there :-)

UticaBoy51

I think you will be surprised at how people look at you, which is nice but not as important as how you look at yourself. I am 44 and have always been big and strong. Until I just got bigger and strong left me. Now when someone says, "lets go do this or do that" I find myself saying OK. Before I would look for an excuse because I just didn't have the energy. If you don't have a place, make one up. Be yourself and be happy.

darkmouzy

When i lost the weight 3 years ago (it was not a very healthy way so when i went back to school boom came back on quick over the next 2 years) But when I had lost the weight and got to my place I found that I felt more self confidence and was more proud of myself and therefore people began to treat me different because they were responding to this confident happy person. I also started to attract people who had that same self confidence and happiness. I was able to wear cute stuff that i could never wear, I wore dresses but Honestly the change around you (people enviroment thoughts etc) doesn't come from the out side, but the inside

Sherbog

This is a wonderful post and I look forward to reading all the answers.

I am now walking 7 miles a day and hope to get to running again. Recently while in a shopping mall I saw my reflection in a window. Did not recognize myself. Yes, people treat me differently now. When I was at my highest weight I never remember anyone offering me a seat on the bus and now I get offered a seat quite often.

Perhaps people treat me differently because I have more confidence now and have changed the way I treat others. I have noticed in the before and after pictures posted I see a lot more smiles in the after pictures!

Thanks for the great post topic.

ladytinkerbell99

Hi,
I am not sure if this answers your question. For me, I have been very thin and was noticed. I mean, when I walked down the street, men, women and children would stop and just say "hello". I am not talking about something sexual. I am just talking about making conversation. About being included with others. Then I gained a lot of weight for my size. That was first time I learned what it was like to be HEAVY. It sucked! People were rude, and acted like I did not exist. I was the same person, but instead of saying hello, they acted like they did not see me. Almost like I was invisible.
Now, over the past 7 months, I have lost 50 lbs and I notice that people are talking with me when I am out walking. When I am in the elevator they say hello. I am no longer invisible.
Yes, it is great to fit in the new clothes, but for me these these little moments are truly special for me.

vvanm

You have made a huge step already to be proud of by signing on here. People I talk to about Myfit who could really benefit tell me they could never take the time or make the effort. You have committed to a life journey and one day, as time flies, you will wake up and think "I am my best today". When a special occasion comes up, or a spontaneous event, you will slip on something you really like and go without cringing about photographs or feeling judged. You will notice that you don't have to "push off" of furniture to get up, and walking will seem like flying. Have to climb a chair to reach a lightbulb? No problem, your legs will support you and the old weight will not throw you off balance. I remember how much of an effort everything was, and then enjoy the light, easy feeling of getting up every morning now. I feel like going to the movies for fun, because the seats are so comfortable. Do people treat me differently? I'm not sure. I'm an introvert and that hasn't changed, but I also feel more confident around others. When I am out in public I feel like I blend and I like that. I feel in control, my moods are more level without the insulin spikes of too much food. Best of all, I am closer to the person I was meant to be. It took a long time to lose over 70 lbs., but in hindsight it was no time at all.

Helloitsdan

I'm noticed by women.

=D

ashley67203

I started losing weight because I hated my job and wanted a new one. I went on one interview where I noticed everyone in the office was fit and I was not. I didn't get a call back and decided, even though I was more than qualified, my weight played a part in the decision not to hire me. That week I started working out daily and counting calories. I lost 30 pounds over the course of a few months and the next time I went on an interview - I got the job.

This new job changed my life in many ways and I am much, much happier. It's even improved my health beyond the weight loss. After losing the weight I still had high blood pressure that my doctor said was likely caused by stress. A month after starting my new job my blood pressure dropped 22 points and I am now in the healthy range for the first time since college.

DaughterOfTheMostHighKing

It's been about 4-5 weeks now that I've actually been exercising and as i was walking from my office to another building I noticed that my abs were sucking in on their own and I felt my body standing straighter and my gait was 'peppier'... It's a good feeling to feel confident and strong!

Jmstill300

I've noticed a LOT of changes. For example, people tend to take me more seriously when I bring something up or when I apply for a job (which is sad because that should be based on qualifications alone). I'm getting more looks from gals (and I'm married) when I go someplace and my confidence is through the roof since I've gotten to "that place". My health problems are virtually non-existant where I was previously diagnosed with diabetes and sleep apnea. I was told that I had no signs of diabetes by my doctor in October 2011, when I was nearing the 100 lbs lost mark and my wife noticed that my sleep apnea isn't an issue anymore. It's the best feeling in the world and you will ENJOY it once you find that place!

katmix

I'm a small-frame girl - and have been slimmer (not skinny, but curvy in the right places)... It has been disheartening to have a closet full of cute clothes (yes, some go back to my life before children, and they are close to graduating university!) and have to live in clothes with elastic waists.

A turning point for me this last year, was a couple of photographs that were less than flattering. Okay, to be honest, I was wearing a skirt in one that I couldn't even get zipped all the way up/and buttoned, but felt that since I had a top over it it - who'd know? Seeing myself later in the photograph, I cringed...I shouldn't have been wearing the skirt in public - it was molded to every lump on my hips, legs and bum.

When a friend recommended MFP, I was READY!! I set a small goal for Christmas, and my final goal for this summer...and reached within a half pound of that summer goal - in January!

At my work, comments range from "You LOOK so happy!", at home..."You LOOK so hot!"...of course it makes me a more confident person, knowing I look the way I feel inside. And it doesn't hurt that the only problem I have now with my clothes - is that in my weight loss, my body shape is different - and now most of my old wardrobe that I had hung on to - is now too big!

Healthwise, I recently had opportunity to run up and down a full staircase, and realized that not only was I running up and down it - I wasn't stopping midway to catch my breath, and could easily have done it again! Am loving my healthy life...

BG10708

Thank you all for your replies. I have lots to look forward to :-)