Body dysmorphia

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  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
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    I don't know if you lost weight before the 6 pounds on MFP, but I've noticed that after losing 64 pounds, I don't see myself the way everyone else does. I always try on clothes about 2 sizes too big because I can't imagine I could fit in the right size. I can look at pics and tell I've lost weight, but I see myself about 30 pounds ago. I'm hoping that my body image will adjust, but my friends know that they have to tell me if I look too thin. I'm a long way from that being a problem (unlike you), but I don't see the changes they do so they already know they should always tell me the truth. I just look at myself and see what's left to achieve, not what I've done. I wish I could see what I really look like.
  • SmileyFaceGuy
    SmileyFaceGuy Posts: 201
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    I wish it wasn't so hard to look at your body objectively. In the mirror I look OK, in some pictures I look relatively less fat, and in other pictures I look like lard. I really have no idea what my body looks like.
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
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    My friend will offer me an outfit of hers to go out in and my first reaction is that there is no way that your clothes would fit me. In truth, some are actually a little baggy.

    I had that happen last week and I still can't quite comprehend it. Especially since she weighs about ten pounds less than me. She tried to explain the muscle v. fat thing, saying that I have more muscle than her, but I don't see that. Then it sounds like I'm fishing for compliments. I'm not, I genuinely can't see it and am trying to understand.
  • jess6741
    jess6741 Posts: 107 Member
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    Unfortunately this is definitely something I think a lot of people deal with. There is so much pressure to be thin and competition among women. I definitely see myself as much heavier than what I am. But it helps me to know my numbers. I know I might feel really "fat" but I know from my numbers (weight, bmi, inches) that I'm not as big as what I think.
  • suzycav77
    suzycav77 Posts: 189 Member
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    I have fairly bad body dysmorphia. I can't even look in a mirror without stressing about everything wrong with me. I feel fat and lumpy most of the time. My friends have suggested therapy, and I'm at the point where I think I should probably get help, because it's pretty rough.
    [/quote



    this is exactly me!! i must drive my hubby bonker's!!
  • petstorekitty
    petstorekitty Posts: 592 Member
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    it could get easier as you get older and your social circle becomes less shallow.

    http://www.mybodygallery.com/

    this website is cool - pics of real women at all kinds of sizes.

    put in your height and weight to see other chicks who are the same as you and you can see what other people see.

    Whether you're satisfied with that is up to you but I found it interesting and helpful.

    PS: I was a size 18 in highschool and about 7 years ago - I am now a size 4

    looking at pics from then and now helps too.
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
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    it could get easier as you get older and your social circle becomes less shallow.

    http://www.mybodygallery.com/

    this website is cool - pics of real women at all kinds of sizes.

    put in your height and weight to see other chicks who are the same as you and you can see what other people see.

    Whether you're satisfied with that is up to you but I found it interesting and helpful.

    PS: I was a size 18 in highschool and about 7 years ago - I am now a size 4

    looking at pics from then and now helps too.

    Thanks for the website. It was interesting how different people look at the same height and weight. I'm still not sure who I look similar to, but it's cool to see.
  • Doctorpurple
    Doctorpurple Posts: 507 Member
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    Unfortunately this is definitely something I think a lot of people deal with. There is so much pressure to be thin and competition among women. I definitely see myself as much heavier than what I am. But it helps me to know my numbers. I know I might feel really "fat" but I know from my numbers (weight, bmi, inches) that I'm not as big as what I think.

    I definitely agree with this. Women can be so competitive with each other especially with weight in today's society. I wish it wasn't like that.
  • littlebutnice
    littlebutnice Posts: 83 Member
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    i suffer
  • babydoll789
    babydoll789 Posts: 23
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    My family tell me that at 5'2" and 105 lbs that I don't need to lose but I really think I do; I always feel like a chunky girl :-( Maybe my body just holds weight in a horrible way...I don't know but I am very confused when people tell me that I'm thin! ♥
  • MyProgressISYour1Proof
    MyProgressISYour1Proof Posts: 376 Member
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    I'm really fighting my mind and the scale lately....my bf says I feel lighter but I'm up ten pounds :/ My clothes fit the same and I think my body is toning up....just feel like I could lose like 30 more....somehow..but idk where..
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    I have diagnosed body dysmorphia, and dealt with anorexia for a long, long time. Managing the ED, unfortunately, does not suddenly turn the BDD off.

    Doing everything I can to take focus off my body's appearance and onto its ability (read: how well I play sports, how much I can lift and carry, how fast or far I can run) has helped me deal with my warped self-perception. It's a big recommendation I have for anyone dealing with an ED or body dysmorphia (which often go hand in hand)--feeling strong and powerful can shift your focus slowly but surely without you realizing it.

    Edited to add: Pictures can be a double-edged sword. BDD carries over into "camera" views, too. I've been told not to take pictures from a therapist, because often that can trigger even more self-perception issues. Remember, it's a disorder that drastically affects image of yourself (if it's BDD and not insecurities, or the brain not yet "catching up" to the body's current appearance); that doesn't necessarily change when it's looking through a camera. I can't recommend enough learning to love and appreciate your body for its function, because appearance will come right along with it.
  • Fenomka
    Fenomka Posts: 103 Member
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    It's weird, when I was 70 lbs heavier I never really thought I looked that big. When I saw myself in the mirror I thought I looked okay but it took seeing myself in photos to realize how big I really looked. Now that I've lost weight I feel like I look pretty much the same as when I was heavier and my friends tell me I'm crazy for not seeing the difference.

    This is me exactly. I feel more self conscious now than I did 70 pounds ago.

    Me, too. the picture I have in my head is of a completely different person. now that I'm dropping the weight, I'm having a really hard time seeing it, because I'm so used to envisioning this ocmpletely different me, so the reality still looks huge and distorted. alternately, my sister who is super tiny (~110, 5'1") envisions herself as HUGE, and always talks about feeling bloated and fat, when she's this tiny little thing that I could pick up and carry around. some days, it gets hard to accept the reality of myself, because I think I'm skinnier than I am, and some days, it's hard to accept compliments of the people who see me not as fat as I I believe I really am. what a battle. O,o.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
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    Every time I look in the mirror I see an overweight person.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
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    your gorgious wish I looked like you! But I would have to say I like the changes I am seeing in myself
  • rachel4304
    rachel4304 Posts: 115 Member
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    Happened to me yesterday at the gym. My brother-in-law was there and my husband told me how much he weighed after an injury. I had always pictured myself as bigger than him even with my 50# weight loss. I was shocked.... not only that I was smaller but I got to thinking about it... why would I automatically assume I was bigger than this man. It was a weird moment. Then I got back to exercising so I could be even more badass. :)

    I dont know if I'd go as far as to say actual Body Dysmorphia diagnosis but sometimes we automatically assume the worse of ourselves. And since we are men and women trying to lose weight, our brain/perception has to play catch up to our weight loss.
  • Mich4871
    Mich4871 Posts: 143 Member
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    It's weird, when I was 70 lbs heavier I never really thought I looked that big. When I saw myself in the mirror I thought I looked okay but it took seeing myself in photos to realize how big I really looked. Now that I've lost weight I feel like I look pretty much the same as when I was heavier and my friends tell me I'm crazy for not seeing the difference.

    This is me too.

    This is me! I've lost 60lbs, went from a size 16/18 and XXL shirts to a size 8 and S or XS in shirts and I look in the mirror and see a fat girl. I see a change obviously when I look at pictures, but I just can't see it in the mirror.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
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    I have diagnosed body dysmorphia, and dealt with anorexia for a long, long time. Managing the ED, unfortunately, does not suddenly turn the BDD off.

    Doing everything I can to take focus off my body's appearance and onto its ability (read: how well I play sports, how much I can lift and carry, how fast or far I can run) has helped me deal with my warped self-perception. It's a big recommendation I have for anyone dealing with an ED or body dysmorphia (which often go hand in hand)--feeling strong and powerful can shift your focus slowly but surely without you realizing it.

    Edited to add: Pictures can be a double-edged sword. BDD carries over into "camera" views, too. I've been told not to take pictures from a therapist, because often that can trigger even more self-perception issues. Remember, it's a disorder that drastically affects image of yourself (if it's BDD and not insecurities, or the brain not yet "catching up" to the body's current appearance); that doesn't necessarily change when it's looking through a camera. I can't recommend enough learning to love and appreciate your body for its function, because appearance will come right along with it.

    I agree!!
  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
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    I vote for getting rid of mirrors. I have never seen anyone but a fat lady in mine.
  • jen81uk
    jen81uk Posts: 177 Member
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    Yeah this is me, no matter how much I lose I still think I look 'bigger'. One of my friends is smaller than me but weighs more and I always think that she looks loads smaller than me, but she's not. We're the same size. My problem is I was 25lbs lower than I am now as a teenager and that's what I remember as my 'ideal'. I'm hoping that if I tone up I'll be happy. I know I'm not technically overweight, but I defo don't think I see myself as others do xx

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