Inside my head, im crazy!

i have always been the person that people say has a pretty face. I have never been thin. I am afraid to lose weight. what if i am not any happier at a smaller size? im not unhappy now but i am not comfortable in my own skin. I think i am afraid to be thin because what if its not as great as i imagine it will be? how do I get past this mental block that has been there all of my life?

Replies

  • SurfyFriend
    SurfyFriend Posts: 362 Member
    If you're crazy then I am too. I sometimes associate thinness with happiness and confidence. But I think that maybe those things actually arise from the sense of achievement that you get, because you know this is what you want and you deserve it for all the work you put in. In the end, you may decide that you are actually most comfortable with yourself right now. You could look at it like a journey to find where you are the most comfortable and happy because it reflects who you are :)
  • very interesting thoughts. thank you!
  • Weight loss changes: Confidence (sometimes), self esteem (sometimes), and body size (all the time).

    That's about it. Every other thing that is there now will be there when you are thin. If it is simply your body that you are unhappy with, then I suppose YES you will be happier. If there are other things (there almost always are), that'll still be there skinny.

    I think it's normal to have fear (I did). Fat can be kind of a shield, and when the shield is gone there's a certain amount of exposure. That can be shocking. It can be uncomfortable. It can be exhilarating. It can be awful. It can be awesome.

    What do you have to lose though!?
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    No you are not Crazy......because if you are that means I am too.

    How much weight are we talking about? A little or a lot?

    I had the same mental block for years.

    How did I get over it? Certainly not a way I would recomend to anyone out there. Was stuck in the hospital for 28 days because of a blood clot in my lung that almost killed me. So it was lose weight or get another blood clot and mabie not make it to the hospital in time and die decision.

    I'm glad I made the right choice. I'm happy, I'm healthy, I think I look good (for an olefart) No, wait.....I KNOW I look good. (still old though) I have more confidence then ever.

    Perhaps this sounds horrid.....but first lose the weight, see how you feel and if you don't like it you can always put some back on.
  • thank you for the words of encouragement. i have about 40-50 pounds to lose.. but i never seem to get past the 160s bc thats when the fear becomes really apparent & i start to sabotage myself. maybe this time will be different....
  • LeggyAmericanGirl
    LeggyAmericanGirl Posts: 285 Member
    Change is scary. Work on loving yourself now. Self acceptance doesnt happen when the pounds fall off.
  • melodiclyrics
    melodiclyrics Posts: 82 Member
    You are definitely not the only person who thinks and feels this way. When I started losing weight a few years ago, I got down to the 180s, and the change became really noticeable. Guys at work started hitting on me, and it made me REALLY uncomfortable. Instead of taking it as a compliment, or dealing with it, I just stopped losing weight. I also realized that I was truly afraid of success, and what it may bring me (good and bad).

    At this point though, I feel like success is better than failure, and I only get one body in this life. I need to treat it the best I can, and speaking from a purely animal standpoint - as an animal, I need my body to function the way it should, so I can do the things I need to in life - walk, run, swim, etc. I can't do that with an extra 60+ pounds on me, or at least, not as efficiently as I'd like to.

    It really depends on how you frame it in your mind. :)
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    thank you for the words of encouragement. i have about 40-50 pounds to lose.. but i never seem to get past the 160s bc thats when the fear becomes really apparent & i start to sabotage myself. maybe this time will be different....

    Sabotage. That was me. I did the same thing. That's one of the many things I love about this site. My friends kept me going without even knowing it. First time ever I have had this great of a support system.

    LeggyAmerican is right with what she said.

    It took me awhile to get to the point where I felt comfortable in my own skin. I'm there now and not going back!
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    losing weight has pretty much cured my depression, so dont be afraid!
  • saraphim41
    saraphim41 Posts: 205 Member
    Nope, you're normal. Change is always a bit scary.

    I was told by a psychologist that some of us use overweight as a shield, and that it won't be taken away from us until we're ready to give it up. For me, that made some kind of warped sense.

    Problem is, it's exhausting, carrying all that extra weight around 24/7--and it's detrimental to one's health.

    I finally reached a point where I decided that if it gets too scary, I'll just start carrying a gun. (smile) No kidding, adventure is always a bit scary or at least uncomfortable and difficult. But if life isn't an adventure, what is it?