What is the biggest unexpected surprise after losing 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.

Strangest thing for me is my feet shrank! I didn't know that could happen. I used to wear a size 7-7 1/2 but am now a true 6 1/2! I also find shaving around my ankles incredibly more difficult now that the bones protrude more so now! lol

im halfway to the goal but what i´ve noticed is how i am always cold on my feet, and i still look in the mirrow and cant see that i´ve got smaller (i´ve lost 45 lbs) and that makes me soooo sad, but hopefully sometime i can see it.

Sex drive going through the roof.


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

I was just thinking along those lines today at the gym. Finished a set toward the end of my workout and suddenly really wanted a woman, too bad I'm single because she would be having a great time about now :-)

- confidence level BOOST! xD
- lying down and being able to feel my hip bones and my ribs and a large crater in the middle. ALSO, collarbones<3
- so cold. it gets so cold so easily now.
- shopping. i used to not be able to fit in a lot of pretty clothes, and now i'm buying everything in sight. ... on hindsight, maybe not so good. xD
- becoming obsessed with food, but not scared of it. i stil eat, but way more healthily
- exercise. i've always hated sweating, and now i love the feeling of being bone tired and dropping to sleep after a harrowing workout. its the best feeling ever.

Just getting started (12kg gone) but so far:

* The drawstring on tracksuit pants serves an important function! I've never had a pair that needed more than the elastic waist and my hips to stay firmly in place; now I have to tie them up before exercising.

* The speed-limiting factor when you run can be how fast your legs can move, not how long you can last with your lungs feeling like they're going to burst.

* Coke really *is* sickeningly sweet

* I can have a treat, just eat part of it, save the rest for tomorrow and feel satisfied.

Agree with the others who said this is a great thread; keep the stories coming.