I see myself as thinner than I really am!

me too. It makes me think of those anorexic patients who tend to see themselves as fat when they are skin and bones.

I thought I was the only person who sees herself skinnier in a mirror than she really is! When I see pictures of myself, I just can't believe it is really me! I don't look that way in the mirror :-)

me too =(

i am the opposite. I think I am bigger then I actually am. I can this my 'fat girl brain'

I am now a size 5 and when I look in the mirror I still see the size 13 girl, then I see pictures and say, wow, I look pretty darn good.

It was the opposite way for me before I started losing, thought I was smaller then I was.

I wish it would all just go away!

This isn't a problem, that is good! Why feel bad about yourself? I don't get that. People should do what is best for them to be healthy and enjoy life. Exercise, drink lots of water, eat well, end of story. You should feel good about yourself if you are doing those things. Pictures are not accurate anyway. Everyone knows unless you are a model (and they take 100's to get a good one) we don't neccesarily hold ourselves the right way in the right light etc. We may not be built for pictures and we only think they look good because that is what we are comparing ourselves too since its the "standard" (out there in magazines etc) Very few are actually comparing themselves to themselves or other people who are built the same as themselves. (i have never liked photos, since I am not a model, it did not matter how thin I am in the photo either, this is stupid of me and it ends now).

I resolved this year to say F this, and take LOTS of photos in the hopes of getting better ones. Say F this to looking to loose weight when I AM healthy, and just had a weird obssession with numbers. And be thankful I feel good and am well and have healthy habits.

I personally have been both ways, where I will always be a certain size in my mind, and I have also thought it was much worse than it ever was. I think because I grew up thin, any extra weight seemed like a big deal. And for me, as it turned out, it never was. My "weight problem" mostly existed in my mind. And its my mind that matters, how I feel about myself that matters. And I say you should feel thin, as long as you are healthy, how you feel is what matters. Pictures are NOT accurate on most people. They do flatten out the image, and if you are critcial of yourself (as most of us are) you will think you look worse than you do in reality.

I'm the opposite--I think I still look fatter than I am. I don't believe I look like I weigh 159...I think I still look like I'm 185.

When I started losing late last summer, I thought I'd be thrilled if I could get down to 165. Now that seems heavy. I think I could get down to 140 without too much work.

Definitely agree! The other thing I've found is because I'm taller than most of my friends I try to use that to justify why I stand out in a group photo.

Exactly! Being 5'11'' barefoot tends to make me standout already. I'm just bigger overall. I'm def NOT looking to be skinny. I want to have muscles and be FIT! I'd love to be able to do just ONE pull up and 20 regular push ups!!!

i am the opposite. I think I am bigger then I actually am. I can this my 'fat girl brain'

I am now a size 5 and when I look in the mirror I still see the size 13 girl, then I see pictures and say, wow, I look pretty darn good.

It was the opposite way for me before I started losing, thought I was smaller then I was.

I wish it would all just go away!

I did this for so long and looking back now on pics when I thought I was so fat it was disgusting, I realized that I was very wrong. The pictures that I am referring to, when I look at them now, I see someone so sickly thin it was nasty. I never ate back then because I thought I was so fat and come to find out at 120 lbs I was far from fat

I do too.... I see my arms as thinner, my face thinner....then I see a photo and I almost don't recognize myself.
I guess it is better than being one of those people who see themselves fatter than they are and then become anorexic because of it.

I have the same problem! Pictures tend to be a rude awakening. Though I've also had it happen where I feel like a tank when I see myself in pictures and then a year or so later think I actually looked pretty good then.

I've been there and yes it's denial but now that you know it's an issue it's time to address the issue. On the flip side though it's not any better to get close to goal and still see the tank you used to be when you look in the mirror. I went from a 26W to a 12 but when I look in a mirror I still see the 26W. Picture never fail me though they tell it like it is.

Like everyone else has said, this must be a pretty common thing. Maybe it is a form of denial or something else, but I have the same issue. I definitely look worse in pics than what I think I do when I look in the mirror. Then again, I also don't honestly think I look horribly huge for the weight that I am (258.5 currently), but I am 5'7 1/2. I decided to have an honest, not sucking in picture on my profile at all times and that serves as my reality check every time I log in! I do not want to be really skinny at the end or even muscular looking. I definitely want to keep the soft, feminine, curvy look, but I do want my body to be a lot smaller and healthier and stronger!

Does anyone else struggle with this?

I am 5'4" and 280lbs so I know I am obese. I look in the mirror and in my mind I think I'm 4 or 5 dress sizes smaller than I actually am! Then I see photos of myself and am shocked at how big I look. Especially next to my skinnier friends! Or if I see myself in a shop window... objects in the mirror are larger than they appear (in my mind.)

Why is this? Am I in denial? Is this some sort of mental block?

I am guilty of this too! Every time I tend to do this, I look on my phone at my pictures or recent family photos just to put myself in check...It's like my mind is working against me. Hang in there you're not the only one.