What is the biggest unexpected surprise after losing weight?

The loose skin, for sure. I wasn't *that* overweight and I'm still relatively young (25). Here's hoping that my skin will regain a little elasticity since I did lose quickly. Oh, and I work out tons.

People do look at me differently. I'm finally in the normal range for my weight and I feel like people aren't seeing the chub first thing.

My confidence with my naked body is actually lower. I never lacked libido, but I have found I have more stamina in the bedroom now. I like being on top a lot more now too.

Your skin will tighten up...esp at your age. I'm 40 and I have lost some of the saggy skin already after a 40 lb weight loss.

I am freezing, all the time (yes, I get plenty of iron-I'm assuming it's because 75lbs of insulation is gone).

And my weird one is that I feel like peope are constantly in my "space"-like always too close. I think this is probably because I still don't "see" the change. I am about 12" smaller around than I was, but I don't see it or feel it. I'm assuming that since I occupy a foot less space (not really, but not getting into geometry), I just feel like people are in my "space" that used to be occupied by flab and I still feel like it is. Idk - but people really need to back off - do you really need to stand that close to me in line at the store?

It also surprises me that I don't see it. I was wearing a size 20/22, now I'm in 8/10. How can I not see that? I honestly don't know-but I really don't. And that is a surprise to me. Everyone else sees it-but I don't.

Try standing with your feet shoulder width apart and put your hands on your hips. I will venture to guess that when you were bigger you consciously and unconsciously tried to take up less space. Now that you are small you need to claim that space back. People are much less likely to crowd a woman who is claiming the space around her.

I know what you mean about not seeing the difference. I went from size 14 to size 6/8. If I eat one thing that is off my plan, I feel like I'm back to a size 14. Then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I am surprised to see this thin lady looking at me.

bump

I'm starting to feel a lot colder too. I've only been on MFP for about a month, but before that have lost about a stone and a bit (16lbs total) since April 2012. My sister (a fab size 10!) has always felt the cold and used to call me her Furnace and put her hands on me because I could SO easily warm her up. But I'm starting to wear a coat when I walk between buildings at work (never used to, even in winter snow!) and turning the radiator up from Snowflake in my office. I didn't think 16lbs would make such a difference. Or maybe I'm just getting old

I'm cold...All the time...But it's a small price to pay.

Only time I am NOT cold is when I am burnin calories at the gym! hehe...but I agree, a small price to pay!

I stopped snoring and was able to sleep on my back again
Being able to walk around on my tippy toes with ease around the house
Springing into my minivan with ease instead of hefting myself up into my seat (I'm a 4'11 shorty)
WANTING to go clothes shopping for myself for the sheer fun of it instead of basic necessity

I find that people treat me differently now. I am not sure how I feel about that really. I am still the same amount of awesomeness I was almost 100 pounds ago :laugh: Strangely, it seems that the smaller I get, the more visible I become. Weird.

My biggest surprise was that I was saving a pair of pants as my goal pants. When I reached my weight loss goal I had planned a whole outfit around wearing these pants and I was so excited! When I got dressed, guess what - I put them on and they were TOO BIG! I couldn't believe it. I weigh the same thing as when I wore them last but all the exercise has left me smaller at the same weight. I could have been wearing those pants months ago but I thought I was going to be the same size and now they can go to someone who needs a size 10 because I am an awesome size 8.

This is going to sound completely ridiculous...but I watch alot of Law & Order SVU lol....

The saying goes "fat people are harder to kidnap" I have a very irrational fear that when I hit my goal weight, I will be easier to kidnap! It scares me a little.

I think being heavier gives me a false sense of security that I could handle myself better in a altercation with a man...not that I've ever had one.

I need to stop watching criminal shows. End of story.

How small my boobs got! Lol Not use to them being only a B cup

I get hit on once in awhile, nice feeling

Hey baby, what's your sign? Hope it's not "do not disturb."

How small my boobs got! Lol Not use to them being only a B cup

I'm with ya girl!!!

Went from 36C to 34A!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not expect that increasing my attention to health and fitness would lead me to other areas of self-improvement. After 20 pounds down, I had a hernia repaired. I'm getting my teeth fixed. I had to buy new clothes - which ironically I wanted to avoid while I was on the gain side of the hill, never occurred to me I'd have to do it on the downhill side. I'm starting to work on my house clutter, throwing stuff away that is useless. Like that. The self-improvement thing gets a life of its own.

I'm only 1/3 of hte way through my 120+lb loss, but some pleasant surprises:
-How quickly I walk, and the fact that I can walk quickly beside another person and carry on a conversation. I used to hate my walk across campus, because undoubtedly, someone would ask me a question, and I'd be huffing and puffing and embarassed to answer.
-I sleep all the way through the night now. And I wake up without joint pain. (Muscle aches are a different story, of course. I revel in them!)
-I care so much more about what I look like now. I style my hair every morning after years of the "pony tail rut", and have even worn makeup on occasion -- something I've never really done before.
-I used to suffer from depression and anxiety, and my entire outlook on life seems to have changed. I love to go out and be social now, love to challenge myself to new things...
-I can bound up the stairs and run down them without any problem. My obesity used to cause terrible chronic knee pain and I not only had to go slowly, but hold on to the railing as well. No more!

Yes, I have noticed that getting rid of excess fat has run over into getting rid of other stuff. Wanting to be more organized and throwing things out that before I held onto. (Like those extra pounds)