Does the feeling ever go away?

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I was just talking with one of my amazing friends on here. We both are going through the same thing, I'm hoping to hear what people think.

My highest weight was 215 I was in a size 18/20 pants and 2X shirts, I'm now 156 pounds, I'm size 8 pants, small/med shirts.
There are so many days that I look in the mirror and see that 215 pound, unhappy woman. I also catch myself looking at bigger clothes sometimes when I'm out shopping.

I know what I've accomplished, but does that feeling that you're still as big as when you started ever go away?

Thanks :smile:
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Replies

  • Machafin
    Machafin Posts: 2,988 Member
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    First of all, great job! But that feeling is normal part of everyone. Even though you know you have made awesome gains, some days you may eat something bad here, maybe in a bad mood, or whatever. And these bring you down and you don't feel so good about yourself. This is where you have to be strong and reassure yourself that you are doing things right because obviously you are you know? You will never have it in a way where everyday is easy and you just gotta stay strong. Great job on accomplishing your goals so far.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
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    Congratulations on your weightloss. =)

    I'm sadly still the same way! Went from an XL to a S and sometimes an XS depending on brand and every time I hold up the hanger against my body, I swear I can't fit into it. Shopping can be hellish.
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
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    I think it just takes time for your brain to catch up with your body. When I was recovering from my ED, I left myself post its reminding myself that I was beautiful EVERYWHERE. There were on my mirror and pillows and hidden in books. I found when when I moved recently and it still cheered me up.

    Of course, now I have the opposite problem as I gained weight recently after being thin my whole life and now I see myself as skinnier than I am...until I peek in the mirror and realize I still have a long way to go.
  • Kelley528
    Kelley528 Posts: 319 Member
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    It takes a while but it will eventually go away.

    It has gotten to the point where I can look at myself in the mirror and actually see how much smaller I have become. The odd part is when I look at my clothes that are now a size 4 or 6 my eyes still look at the clothing as being huge. I guess only part of my brain has caught up.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,704 Member
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    I was just talking with one of my amazing friends on here. We both are going through the same thing, I'm hoping to hear what people think.

    My highest weight was 215 I was in a size 18/20 pants and 2X shirts, I'm now 156 pounds, I'm size 8 pants, small/med shirts.
    There are so many days that I look in the mirror and see that 215 pound, unhappy woman. I also catch myself looking at bigger clothes sometimes when I'm out shopping.

    I know what I've accomplished, but does that feeling that you're still as big as when you started ever go away?

    Thanks :smile:
    Talk to a professional. It's obvious that there are feelings that you have that are much more complicated than just how you view your body at a lower/higher weight. At least this way you can try to identify why you feel this way.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
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    Yes. I reached GW about 2 years ago. The feeling fades. Just keep taking care of your body and your mind will catch up.
  • mattschwartz01
    mattschwartz01 Posts: 566 Member
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    It only does if you begin to accept and love yourself. What you see in the mirror now is skewed by your background and personal bias. Once you start loving yourself, you'll see someone that looks great. I know you can get there!
  • DaBigChief
    DaBigChief Posts: 146
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    Yes but it took a while forum brain to catch up with reality. Going from 2X to medium or large clothing was drastic and I found myself picking up extra large thinking it would fit. It took about two years for my mind and body to balance out.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
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    I found mine went away but was replaced with a burning sensation when I peed.
  • 1223345
    1223345 Posts: 1,386 Member
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    It's funny, because even when I weighed 125 as opposed to 180, I always felt "big". I never looked at anything that someone who was lean, trim and sexy would wear. I was always trying to cover up the "fat". I suppose I will always think that way.
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
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    I've started drinking all my feelings away at age 16. Worked for me. Now all i ever feel is shame in the morning.
  • Alex_is_Hawks
    Alex_is_Hawks Posts: 3,499 Member
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    i'm still working on it....it totally takes time...

    I can say that I've moved into the "stage" where I am able to own my before pictures and look at them and see them truthfully without shame and embarassment...

    however some days I still look in the mirror and see that girl.....all 146 pounds of her...
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
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    I started at 205 6 years ago. Was a very unhappy and unattractive size 16 and XL. Today I am size 4, got to my goal of 135 but keep popping to 140 since the holidays (which is a really old excuse now!!). Granted I am more of a skinny fat due to sagging skin (I'm 56 next month), time limits and I mainly walk the dog for both of our benefits twice a day. My fat feeling hasn't left yet. Not sure it ever will. I don't have anyone to talk about this with because no one can relate to being a size 4 and feeling fat. Tends to come off as bragging. While I'm proud of what I've done, I can't reconcile it in my own mind. I've been a size 4 for over a year now. Even before my struggle with the latest unwanted pounds I felt this way. I get that same feeling while looking to step into pants that "I know" won't fit and then they are even sometimes too big. I've saved my old pants and I can comprehend how big they are in comparison, but maybe it is because we didn't turn into supermodels maybe? All I can say is I can now relate to anorexics who think they are fat. I guess we just have to know we aren't fat anymore, will probably every find that perfection we thought we would find, and get over it and move on.
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
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    It takes a while but it will eventually go away.

    It has gotten to the point where I can look at myself in the mirror and actually see how much smaller I have become. The odd part is when I look at my clothes that are now a size 4 or 6 my eyes still look at the clothing as being huge. I guess only part of my brain has caught up.

    I've also noticed that those size 4s look kind of big.... until I reluctantly try to step into the pants. Then I find the waist to be too big! My old size 12 problem follows me where ever I go!
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
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    Congratulations on your weightloss. =)

    I'm sadly still the same way! Went from an XL to a S and sometimes an XS depending on brand and every time I hold up the hanger against my body, I swear I can't fit into it. Shopping can be hellish.

    I wear s and xs too, sometimes and often wonder what the skinny women wear?
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
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    I wear s and xs too, sometimes and often wonder what the skinny women wear?

    I think it's all about learning how to dress our body shape. We shouldn't have to (in a perfect world) wear 'one size fits all' clothing. At any size, it's going to fit each body differently.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
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    I was just talking with one of my amazing friends on here. We both are going through the same thing, I'm hoping to hear what people think.

    My highest weight was 215 I was in a size 18/20 pants and 2X shirts, I'm now 156 pounds, I'm size 8 pants, small/med shirts.
    There are so many days that I look in the mirror and see that 215 pound, unhappy woman. I also catch myself looking at bigger clothes sometimes when I'm out shopping.

    I know what I've accomplished, but does that feeling that you're still as big as when you started ever go away?

    Thanks :smile:

    If you were big for years I think it is natural. Your mind can take a long time to catch up with reality. Taking comparison pictures helped me.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    Options
    I was just talking with one of my amazing friends on here. We both are going through the same thing, I'm hoping to hear what people think.

    My highest weight was 215 I was in a size 18/20 pants and 2X shirts, I'm now 156 pounds, I'm size 8 pants, small/med shirts.
    There are so many days that I look in the mirror and see that 215 pound, unhappy woman. I also catch myself looking at bigger clothes sometimes when I'm out shopping.

    I know what I've accomplished, but does that feeling that you're still as big as when you started ever go away?

    Thanks :smile:
    Talk to a professional. It's obvious that there are feelings that you have that are much more complicated than just how you view your body at a lower/higher weight. At least this way you can try to identify why you feel this way.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Unless you're adding psychologist/psychiatrist to your list of qualifications I don't think this advice is valid.
  • 7funnygirl7
    7funnygirl7 Posts: 1,176
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    Truly hope that one day when you look in the mirror you will see that outstanding beautiful woman that others see. :flowerforyou:

    I think your amazing friend rocks just like you! :wink:
  • NicoleMensigg
    NicoleMensigg Posts: 40 Member
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    This is one reason why it's so important to figure out why you got to the 215 to start with and get the professional mental help. It's a VITAL part of weight loss. I was a bit skeptical of the mental aspect until this year and now I can connect things and spot them occuring and step in and stop myself.

    Way to go on your weight loss! That's a major accomplishment and I hope that one day I can get there!