Do you notice the flaws more ?

donna_glasgow · May 2012

When I was 201lbs + I never felt "fat" I never felt that I needed to lose weight, Then one day I saw myself in holiday photos and video footage (I was nornally behind the camera) and I didnt recognise myself, I saw a fat person playing with my kids in the sea.

I realised when I saw the pics that I had a problem and decided to sort it ..... I lost my first 2stone (28lbs) and went down to 173lbs, in my new size 14 body I felt great and thought Id maintain before getting back to the fitness and lose the rest of my weight. I maintained for about a year (i never kept real tabs on the exact time its taken)

Now I'm at 167 lbs and I feel fat ... I hate my body I look at myself when I get into bed and feel repulsed ..... I find this strange as i never hated it when I was at my heaviest .... yet 33lbs lighter and I notice the flaws and dont like being naked any more ....

does anyone else find this?

donna_glasgow · May 2012

just me then

kelseyhere · May 2012

No it's not just you. Everyone, especially women, feel this way. The harder you work the more critical you get of yourself. Also, you tend to see more progress at first so when that slows it gets frustrating. You probably weren't working out when you were 200 pounds, weight maybe wasn't even an issue at all for you then. Now because it's a "goal" you are thinking about it everyday. Just don't beat yourself up and continue to reward yourself for the progress you do see. If you're feeling down it can help to look at old pictures to see how far you've come. Also, think about other positive changes you've seen in your life-- can you run around with your kids without getting tired now? Or maybe it's easier lifting all the groceries into the car? Whatever it is, congratulate yourself for the positive achievements and don't give up!

Also remember that even tiny models will sit in front of the mirror and only see flaws. When anyone else looks at those women, all they see is beauty. I guarantee no one is focusing on those flaws like you are, and instead they see what I do in your picture- a woman who has come very far already in her journey and made amazing progress! We are always our harshest critic, trying hugging yourself instead

fatty_to_fitty · May 2012

You've set a new standard. Try not to be hard on ourself.

Once you open that can of worms it's hard not to be critical and always think you can do better or there's more to be achieved. But I'd rather be on that path than the ignorant one.

albinogorilla · May 2012

I feel fatter now than i did when i was 60-70lbs heavier. The fat that is left to lose is that much more apparent..........its normal.

jdploki70 · May 2012

Yep, right now I am stressing over the last few inches of extra bulk I am carrying around and the 15 pounds I have yet to lose, not the 60+ that I've lost so far or how I fit in the suit I graduated college in a dozen years ago. People tend to notice small flaws when they can do something about them. The important thing is not to get into your own head and talk yourself out of losing the weight, and don't stress the plateaus (those points where it doesn't seem like you are losing anything for a period of time).

mfpcopine · May 2012

To lose weight and exercise presents an added psychological challenge because of necessity you look at yourself in the mirror more and are more aware of your body. The "Everybody is Beautiful" folks aside, if you ANY tendency to self-criticism, dieting and working out will bring it out.

Especially since you can't go on automatic pilot. You have to pay attention to what's going on and make adjustments as needed.

Easier said than done: Try to focus on the positives, i.e., that you're looking better, getting healthier, stronger, calmer, etc. Do not obsess about the fact that no matter what you do, you may never look like a fitness model.

mfpcopine · May 2012

You've set a new standard. Try not to be hard on ourself.

Once you open that can of worms it's hard not to be critical and always think you can do better or there's more to be achieved. But I'd rather be on that path than the ignorant one.

It's like Adam and Eve and the apple: I'd rather walk around with my eyes open.

shirerose · May 2012

i just posted a status about this! oh man... i've been feeling the exact same way. so no, you are not alone. : )

ideliver · May 2012

Agreed. Being surrounded by posts and profile pics of people who are gorgeous also doesn't help. Plus, if the rest of the people in your life don't say anything, its hard to feel good about yourself. Let the skinny person inside come out, the confidence will come!

blackandsilver66 · May 2012

It is normal. Try to think of positive things you have done over the last bit you have to do. I know it is hard.

robot_potato · May 2012

I have lost 81 pounds, and I feel HOT...in clothes. Undressed, not so much. I pick and poke at every bit of fat on me, never mind that there were several more inches of fat on top of that before. I am in the best shape I have been in 10 years, but I am more critical of myself than I ever was before.

sevencallmemom · May 2012

I'm so much more insecure about my body now...and it is SO ridiculous!

karylee44 · May 2012

down nearly 40 pounds and still see a fat girl in the mirror.. i get more upset over my weight now then i did before.. i see all the fat, all the flab.

the body changed.. but my mind stil hasn't..

shodaimetruth · May 2012

I have felt that exact way....and I've felt it for a while. Once I started to really dedicate myself to working out and eating better, even cut out drinking on the weekends; I started to really notice the flaws. I didn't have the love handles that I have now and my stomache is a lot softer than it use to be. I figured it was all just because of various reasons. I heard alcohol caused visceral fat to increase which is what had my stomach feeling firmer and I'm assuming that since I started to lose a lot of the fat around my midsection the lovehandles became more noticeable by lack of comparison since my stomach was no longer as big. I figure I just have to keep on the same path and get rid of more fat weight, eventually the stomach will be firmer and the love handles will be much smaller. hopefully they are not the last area for the fat to leave from.

lururu · May 2012

I was having a conversation about this yesterday, I have lost over 40lb (3 stone) but I am miserable. I hate my body, I feel disgusting, but when I was fatter I was really happy. I looked back through some before and after photos and all I saw was a really happy fat person vs a miserable fat person.

I started losing weight as I thought it might help my arthritis, so far I haven't felt any difference so I feel a failure, my left knee is deformed and is way more noticeable now my legs are slimmer. All in all I just feel rubbish.

If I had known I would feel this way I am not sure I would have started this but now I have started I can't stop.

I don't like being this sad person, I was never like this before, I think I am going to try and make a conscious decision to blooming' cheer up! This post is now a box where I seal these feelings and then leave them behind! I need to be proud of what I have done and proud of who I will be when I am done! My body may not be perfect but it's the best I have!

Sorry, I am a bit random....

donna_glasgow · May 2012

Thanks so much for all the replies, Its gave me the reasoning to realise what I kinda thought was the issue anyway. its because "I am more concious of my body now than I was" ... like some of you I also pull and poke and prod at my belly love handles and inner thighs, basically I think trying to will them away .... I see some of the amazing transformations here, on this site, where loads have gone from fat to flat ...... I hope I am able to manage this also .... I used to be a swimmer (as a hobby not an athlete) with a very active lifestyle, walking everywhere I went ... but life and kids took its toll, theres only so far you can walk a toddler and when you have 4 it becomes obvious that the car is an easier option! lol

I look at how far Ive come and I know I would be extremely unhappy at over 200lbs again, The pics on my profile remind me of this every day I NEVER want to go back, so forward, upward and onwards is the only direction.

Its nice to know Im not alone, thanks for the time you all took to reply and I wish you all every success in removing those last annoying lbs .... we have worked hard for where we all are and we all deserve to be trim and fit.

all the best on your journey

Donna x

DaveTopliss · May 2012

I feel fatter now than i did when i was 60-70lbs heavier. The fat that is left to lose is that much more apparent..........its normal.

Agree with this, before i never really cared where bits poked out.

81Katz · May 2012

Yes, I feel more insecure at times about my smaller body than I did my bigger body. I have areas now that droop and sag. My boobs have practically disappeared and what is left is saggy and flat looking.

My upper inner thighs have a little jiggle from some loose skin. At least when I was heavy it was filled out, it didn't jiggle. LOL

My stomach looks like I had kids. NO OFFENSE to moms! But I always had the pooch to begin with, which is and has been getting slowly flatter (not anywhere near 6 pack abs though!) but it now looks wrinkled and saggy and it has some stretch marks. Hips and thighs have some stretch marks too.

So ... I can relate. In clothes I find myself feeling really good about myself at times. Naked... that's another story. :blushing:

Do you notice the flaws more ?

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