What is the biggest unexpected surprise after losing weight?

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Replies

  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    I lost 80 lbs prior to joining MFP. The biggest surprise for me was how great it feels not to carry around the extra weight. I love how light and strong I feel. This summer my son wanted me to put up a pullup bar. He asked me to try, too. I've never been able to do one in my life and I did *three*! Three!!!

    I ran my first half marathon in November and felt wonderful. Because of weather and the holidays, I had to back off on running the past couple months and ended up gaining a few pounds back. Boy, can I feel them - and I am trying hard to get rid of them again because I know how good it feels without them.
  • peachezncreme
    peachezncreme Posts: 60 Member
    I never became "attractive". I thought I would. I've still never been flirted with, hit on, or had a drink bought for me the way all my other friends who've lost weight said they had once they lost weight.
    I always thought being slimmer would mean I was automatically going to be good-looking. it was a pretty big eye-opener when that didn't happen.

    so i got all depressed about it and gained the weight back
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  • peachezncreme
    peachezncreme Posts: 60 Member
    I never became "attractive". I thought I would. I've still never been flirted with, hit on, or had a drink bought for me the way all my other friends who've lost weight said they had once they lost weight.

    I always thought being slimmer would mean I was automatically going to be good-looking. it was a pretty big eye-opener when that didn't happen.

    so i got all depressed about it and gained the weight back
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    .
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    ..

    Um, not sure what you are talking about, but the woman I see in your pictures is beautiful!! And I'm not just trying to be nice, either :)
  • Controversial
    Controversial Posts: 157 Member
    One unexpected result was being COLD all the time! Even in the dead of summer, I was always comfortable and barely broke a sweat in the heat of the sun. But winter has been unbearable.

    I'm also an attention *kitten* and camera hog now.
  • FitToLead
    FitToLead Posts: 275 Member
    what a brilliant thread, now that is motivating, I am looking forward to having more stamina, being on top more, having smaller feet, being unrecognisable, fitting into plane seats easily, (and I'm pretending that I won't have baggy skins when I lose all 125lb:)
  • jessiekanga
    jessiekanga Posts: 564 Member
    I got pregnant after being told I couldn't.

    That just freakin' rocks. Congrats to you, truly! Amazing.
  • LozPenguin
    LozPenguin Posts: 139 Member
    This thread should go on forever! So many things people have said on here are things I've wondered about/hoped might change. I won't get my hopes too high that they'll all happen, but it's encouraging and something to look forward to finding out.
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    Seatbelt panic..... I don't feel it anymore so I have to check to make sure its buckled multiple times
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member

    Negative: My tailbone REALLY hurts when I sit. Well more when I actually get up.

    Yep, I have this problem too.

    This, occasionally. But worse for me is the hip bones. Every time I run into something with my hip, I've got at least three minutes of hell coming my way. But...it's AWESOME!

    I have to add that laying on my side causes my knee bones to press together and its not comfortable...
  • charismanoodles
    charismanoodles Posts: 343 Member
    People not recognising me.

    Male attention.
  • anastb
    anastb Posts: 9 Member
    I had a weird moment a few weeks ago when I went to lunch with some coworkers and we all rode in one car. When I was heavier, someone would suggest that I sit in front (because I needed the room, of course) and then three smaller people would squeeze together in the back. Not this time. Apparently I am not "automatic shotgun size" anymore.

    That's great!!! :D
  • nhradeuce
    nhradeuce Posts: 168 Member
    All my loose skin on my stomach and thighs... I was only overweight for 2 years of my life and it really affected me.
    I didn't think I was that overweight at my largest, but I now have loose skin on my stomach and it's driving me nuts.
    I'm cold...All the time...But it's a small price to pay.
    IKR?? I used to laugh at my wife for being cold all the time, now I am bundled up right there with her. Apparently 60 lbs of fat are a good insulator.
    I'm sleeping better.
    Not only did I snore like crazy, everyone that heard me sleep thought I have had sleep apnea. Now my snoring is not so bad and it doesn't sound like I am about to die every few minutes because I stopped breathing. Amazing how much better I feel in the morning with the same amount of sleep.

    So many others. Now I have a bony butt. I can feel my tailbone when I do sit ups and crunches. Clothes fit right and I have a much larger selection to choose from. I'm WAY more flexible. Touching my toes, tying shoes, putting on socks, all easy to do now. I never really connected any of these things with being a fat *kitten*. Now I know.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    That my gallbladder was going to have to come out. And what shallow azzh_les people are. Even women were more friendly I have never been invited out so much in my life.
  • AngryDiet
    AngryDiet Posts: 1,349 Member
    Negative feedback from family and friends.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    I've noticed that guys are looking and holding their gaze on me, whereas before they would glance and then look away because there was nothing exciting going on haha. It's strange but it feels good as long as they don't get too creepy about it.

    My friends and family have been amazingly supportive (no jealousy or ill will as I hear about a lot on here) and I wasn't sure what to expect from them.

    I feel more comfortable in my own body, so it has really helped my already awesome relationship iykwim.

    Oh, and my favorite thing...I can sleep like a normal person now! I don't need rx drugs to knock me out. I think this is a result of eating healthy food and exercising regularly, neither of which I was doing before.
  • TheRightWeigh
    TheRightWeigh Posts: 249 Member
    BUMP
  • Jmbean84
    Jmbean84 Posts: 261 Member
    Mine too! I went from 9.5/10 and right now I'm 9 with some 8.5! I was so excited! Lol
    My feet got smaller! Went from a 9/9.5 to an 8.
  • Jmbean84
    Jmbean84 Posts: 261 Member
    Bahahaha! This made my day!
    since no guys have said it. apparently every 30-40lbs you lose youre little soldier is said to gain an inch.

    now, im not sure cause i dont have two yardsticks to properly measure but.....
  • Jmbean84
    Jmbean84 Posts: 261 Member
    I don't think your face looks old and wrinkled. I think your beautiful and I love your chin! ;) it's perfect!
    I HATE the way my face looks now. I'm so sad about it. I've worked so hard to lose this weight and still have 30 pounds to go and I hate to look at pictures of myself now. I look so wrinkled, old and tired. Everyone else on here looks so much younger and healthier in their after pictures. :-(
  • LaurenVamp
    LaurenVamp Posts: 74 Member
    HOLY HELL! If the sex get betters with weight loss I might end up killing my partners. MWAHAHAHA! cant wait.

    Anyone else frightened by this?? ^^^
  • MsipiGRITS
    MsipiGRITS Posts: 128 Member
    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.

    I agree with MANY of the other posts, but this one is kind of unusual and I say ^This^ totally! When I was bigger, I did feel 'tougher!' Now, I feel like a scrawny weakling and I hate that! So, now for weight lifting to build up these guns so I feel like I can take em on! :)
  • lacewitch
    lacewitch Posts: 766 Member
    having people tell my my butt is sexy. i've always hated my thighs as they seemed to run straight into by but with no delineation ( i had thi-*kitten* or ars-igh. now apparently i have a sexy butt!

    smiling when i look in the mirror i didn't realize how unhappy i was with what i saw in the mirror till i was happy

    realizing i have the figure for skinny jeans

    i am loving the new me - and that's the best surprise. for the first time in my life i feel attractive

    also how much use my sewing machine gets- i am quite good at altering my clothes now!
  • NatsukoG
    NatsukoG Posts: 104
    I've found that I'm so much more conscious of how I am feeling, whether that be tired, full of energy, blue, happy etc. That definitely wasn't one I was expecting.

    My life is less stressful - I hadn't realised how stressful being overweight was. I used to constantly worry about going to new places - would the chairs be wide enough and sturdy, would the airplane seatbelt fit.

    There's lots of other lovely ones like compliments, being called inspirational, getting asked for ID when buying booze (at the ripe old age of 35), being told by everyone I look younger, shopping, feeling physically capable when trying out new classes at the gym. I could go on all day.

    What I didn't reckon on was that dieting would continue to be a struggle, even after almost achieving my goals. I didn't realise just how hard the last 20lbs would be. I also didn't realise how plagued by fear I'd be about going back to where I was.

    I haven't noticed any additional male attention or feeling cold though.
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    TMI warning...while I agree with what most guys have said...I can pee better too :)

    I'm 33 now, and I was in CRAZY good shape in H.S. and College (played all kinds of sports), but I got a desk job and 3 kids and put on 70 lbs. It really bugged me because my whole life up to that point I was an athlete and it had gotten to the point I couldn't run for more than a minute or two without being completely tired. I didn't even feel like myself anymore.

    Now I can run 4-5 miles no problem.

    Other good:

    1] People constantly talk about it at work and when I'm out (it's fun to hear, but when it's the only topic it gets old sometimes).
    2] A few people have said I'm the reason they're getting back in the gym :)
    3] I spend more time looking in the mirror (probably not a good thing, but I can't help it)
    4] I've grown a beard before but hated it, now I have one and love it (I had a fat face).
    5] Spending time outside. I've a very outdoors person and I couldn't take the heat when I was bigger.
    6] I don't get sick as much, or at the very least it doesn't effect me as much
    7] I have confidence, but not necessarily because of how I look but because I know I can accomplish what I set my mind to
    8] I actually was NEVER a morning person, but I realized that the only way I would have time to work out is in the mornings. So I've been getting up at around 5-6am every day for the past year...it actually feels REALLY good to get such a good start
    9] I love the way my face looks now (probably the most unexpected)
    10] I wear my seatbelt more
    11] I can wear a medium shirt instead of XXL
    12] I gave up pop COMPLETELY save 1 or 2 a month and almost every single bit of caffeine in my life. I strongly recommend this. I have so much more energy now. Caffeine doesn't even give you more energy, it just causes you to burn more and when it's done, you have less than if you'd not had any at all so you have to 'dose again'. It's a bad cycle IMO.

    The bad:

    - I pretty much had to replace my wardrobe (and I gave away all my 'fat' clothes).
  • KimberlyinMN
    KimberlyinMN Posts: 302 Member
    My stamina.... for shopping!! :)
  • nps101
    nps101 Posts: 3 Member
    How much I enjoy being active, and the lack of period cramps :)
  • A lot of people don't recognize me or gawk when they realize they know me. I never thought I would get such a reaction.

    I have the same reaction. It is amazing. I also struggle with the loose skin but toning it up takes time and I work hard.
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    My feet got smaller! Went from a 9/9.5 to an 8.

    I thought I was imagining things but my shoes are all feeling bigger! I'm glad I'm not alone!

    Me too. It's kind of annoying, but not a huge deal.
  • placeboaddiction
    placeboaddiction Posts: 451 Member
    My health. I know i was going to be healthy losing weight... didn't expect to lose my blood pressure issues or acid reflux. I now don't have either, and its NICE!!
  • MochaMixAZ
    MochaMixAZ Posts: 844 Member
    Way TMI but keeping it very real:

    - I stopped pee'ing when I laughed or coughed. Used to have to wear a sanitary napkin just in case

    - "Things" moved and didn't line up like they used to. Yep, talking about sex. It was like learning to ride a bike again. (ha!)

    - I successfully got off of 6 medications to control blood pressure, sugars, and cholesterol. I was HOPING for this result, but when it actually happened and I had normalized all my numbers - that was a surprise.

    - How much saggy skin I had, and how much I didn't care. (even tho I eventually did have it removed)

    - That I no longer had to worry about chairs, toilet seats, benches BREAKING when I sat on them. I don't say this comically - it was a very real fear and my mind still plays it on my sometimes. When I was at my largest, I *did* break a toilet seat right off the wall in a public bathroom. And I'd sat on lawn furniture and had it break. Not my proudest moment, but... it happened.
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