What is the biggest unexpected surprise after losing weight?

First of all, FANTASTIC job everyone!

My surprise was just a few days ago. I have a tattoo on my right upper arm. It used to be sort of the middle of my arm, but now that I'm losing weight, I've noticed that it's starting to wrap around arm and takes up more space.

Another thing, I stopped taking my acid reflux medicine. I've had to take it for many years just to keep it under control. Now? I stopped cold turkey, and only have a very mild episode once every great while. Previously I couldn't go a day without it, it was unbearable.

Sex drive going through the roof.


Pity I'm single. Somebody would be a seriously happy man otherwise.

TMI WARNING!!!! The urinary incontinence that I experienced with sneezing or that one time I tried doing jumping jacks has magically disappeared. When I first experienced it, I just blamed it on the two pregnancies and considered I'd be stuck with this problem forever but after losing just 4# and walking 2-3 miles everyday, I can do jumping jacks again!

Amen, and jumping rope!!!

People hitting on you all the time when you're still the same nerdy gamer just smaller. Good feeling though.

I, at my heaviest was probably close to 190-195??- I have lost 30-35 pounds in the last year..have about 25 more to go (only 5'5") ....My 14yr old son (stands an inch taller and weighs 150) said to me as we spoke about stuff...."but you are TINY!" WHAT!!!!??? Lol!

I fit on the back of my hubby's motorcycle sooo much better!! And my butt doesn't start to hurt after just 30 minutes on it! lol

I've heard this a lot. I have always been fat and still am, but I can imagine it would be hard even if I was technically no longer overweight/obese...I feel like I look almost the same after losing 60 lb as I did before, and when people who have not seen me in awhile compliment the loss I feel really shocked & surprised that they noticed.

My seven year old can wrap his little man arms almost completely around me when he hugs me tight. The best reward/surprise thus far.

My biggest surprise is how I am treated differently by other people. You don't realize how much you're discriminated until you lose the weight.

A lovely warm bath has always been my personal pick me up and now, because I displace so much less water, I can have it deeper so there is a lot more water than there is me and it feels fantastic !

I've totally noticed this too! My tummy used to stick up out of the top of the bath water and now I can totally submerge.


I'm only about 2/3 of the way to goal (50lbs so far) but I find myself most surprised by the difference in people interactions:

- As a very large woman, I used to get lots of attention from men (cat calls and such). Now as I am slightly overweight, I get none. It's as if I am too small to be approachable, but not small enough to be attractive. Either that, or there is a much bigger percentage of chubby chasers than movies/TV/magazines would lead you to believe.

- People now give me permission to be annoyed or in a bad mood. When I was bigger, if I was unhappy with something --such as a ridiculously long line at a store-- people would roll their eyes, turn away from me or make a face. Now, they agree and commiserate. It's like people are willing to be seen agreeing with me. This happens in work/business situations too.

- When I smile at someone on the street, they smile back. Previously, a lot of people --especially women-- would turn away.

Bump.

My biggest surprise is how I am treated differently by other people. You don't realize how much you're discriminated until you lose the weight.

i second this 100%!!!!

years ago, i lost 65 pounds, and saw this to be very true.

along these lines: when i lost that weight, and as i am losing now, i have this fierce loyalty to my old "fat self" and fat brothers and sisters around the world. as in, i become the only skinny girl who will tear someone a new *kitten*-hole if they make any jibes at fat people, or weight jokes, etc

as much as u enjoy thin priviledge once u experience it, it makes u greive all the more for all the size discrimination u endured, and that others endure.

My biggest surprise is how many foods I have fell in love with that before I would have snarled my nose up at when told to try. I also am amazed that I have developed a love for running and working out.

I have lost over 50lbs and I wasn't really expecting surprises, but they've definitely happened. Biggest one for me is how cold I get now!! I used to laugh at my mom (who is tiny) about always having a sweater even in the middle of summer but I am sorry for laughing at her because I carry one now too!!! Feeling my ribs and hip bones and collar bone has been a big one too. My boyfriend has also lost weight and he can wrap his arms all the way around me now. The first time I realized it I was like woah!! We can also comfortably walk side by side now with our arms around each other. And I used to worry about fitting in seats at coliseums and stadiums and places like that but not now!! And I have room in booths at restaurants. I feel like some of these things are common sense (like duh you lost weight, you got smaller) but when you realize them, especially when you sometimes have a hard time seeing the loss, it is surprising.

I'm sorry for the people who have had negative surprises and comments from "friends". All of mine have been positive. I did get a funny one. I walked back into a place a used to bartend at and some of my old regulars were there. These guys used to like my for my butt and curves and thought I was fine as is (50lbs heavier). I got a lot of jaw drop reactions and was told I looked good but didn't need to get any skinnier haha. I hadn't lost probably 40 lbs at that point.