Anyone else feel themselves shrinking???

t4eaed
t4eaed Posts: 25
in Success Stories
I started at 191 pounds and am down 33 pounds to 158 pounds! I haven't weighed in the 150's in years!


I am starting to feel smaller, especially feel shorter! I'm 5'4" and swear that I'm 5 feet tall.
I'm not complaining, it is great to feel 'petite', it is just such a strange feeling while you are waiting for your mind body-connection to catch up to all the hard work!

Has anyone else experienced this?

Replies

  • minizebu
    minizebu Posts: 2,716 Member
    Well, I can't say that I've had the same experience, but perhaps that is because I am already close to 5 feet tall already (5'2"). If anything, I feel a bit taller today. I actually helped a shorter lady at the grocery store get a box of crackers from the top shelf this afternoon. LOL! That is the first time THAT has ever happened in my life.

    I believe that you are right that it takes a while for one's self-image to catch up to one's new shape.

    Congratulations on your progress so far!
  • Lialena
    Lialena Posts: 45 Member
    I have had similar moments. I don't feel shorter, but I do keep noticing the loss.
    I compare it to getting taller as a kid. One day you realize you can see the top of the counter, or the fridge, can reach an item on a particular shelf, see the top of someone's head, etc... The weight loss equivalent for me is noticing clothing moving in places it hugged me before, thighs not brushing each other as much, wrists looking 'wrong' because they are smaller, and so on.

    It's really strange feeling this shrinking thing while still feeling just the same, just 'me', most of the time. I guess wherever you are, there you be. Even when I get to goal I may not quite feel 'skinny' exactly in the way one might hope to. But I sure plan to enjoy the clothes.

    Oh! related story. I just took 2 and a half inches off my hair a few days ago, more then I normally take off. I have Very long hair, even after the trim, so you'd think what's a few inches, never know it was gone... but wow, did I miss those inches for about a day after I cut it. It felt miles shorter. I'm surprised the weight loss isn't more like that, but I suppose it's because it's a subtler, gradual change.
  • alyngard
    alyngard Posts: 103
    Similar to other posters, I don't feel shorter (thank god because I am also only 5'2"), but I do notice other things that are quite weird, mostly things like my ribs, hip bones, etc. I was actually walking the other day in flip flops and as I stepped the tendons in my foot were very prominent (it's been a while since I've seen that). Sometimes it's kinda creepy, like I feel like I'm wasting away (even though I'm still a good 30-40lbs overweight). I guess it just takes time to get used to things, but it can be a very strange experience at times.
  • sokkache
    sokkache Posts: 220 Member
    Not really, mainly because there's not much to shrink, but I feel myself getting stronger and I'm enjoying that.
  • lsfoto
    lsfoto Posts: 1
    Wow I was thinking the same thing the other dy-- I was washing my face and thinking how small my face felt and how weird to feel my cheekbones. I thought the same thing-- am I wasting away? So weird bc obviously not! Just less puffy!
  • willdob3
    willdob3 Posts: 640 Member
    Yes, I do feel smaller. I am a lot smaller than I was so I am happy that I feel it.

    Months ago I felt this weird thing, like I was taking up less space & more graceful when moving... More recently I can see big changes in the mirror & I'm taking the time to recognize the new me. I am not going to be someone who loses a lot of weight & still sees their "before" photo when she looks in the mirror.

    I'm 5'3" and do not feel shorter. I have never thought of myself as short & "think tall."

    I love this time of transformation & discovering the me that has been hidden!
  • TheRightReason
    TheRightReason Posts: 1 Member
    Do you really feelin like you're shrinking? or that your pants/slacks are getting longer? That was my experience. I didn't realize how much "length" in my clothes were being stretched across my backside until I started losing inches. LOL!
  • retiree2006
    retiree2006 Posts: 951 Member
    At 5'4" as well I am now trying to maintain at around 140 (down from 214). I haven't experienced the "shorter" feeling, but definitely feel smaller and stronger. Some of the things I notice...my arms hang straight down rather than out a bit as they did when I had wider hips, I can bend and pick up items easily without effort, cross the legs easily, I can see ribs that now aren't covered up by fat, and I'm even amazed by my shadow looking "normal" rather than hulk-ish! Sometimes I get a weird feeling that I'm more "frail"...but then realize that no...I'm just smaller overall!
  • SarahIluvatariel
    SarahIluvatariel Posts: 96 Member
    I remember that after I had lasik eye surgery, whenever I left home, I felt like I had forgotten something. I would pause for a moment and then realize it was just my glasses. lol

    I feel like loosing weight is sometimes similar - I feel like I'm forgetting something or that I'm still wearing my pajamas (because my clothes is looser like pajamas, or because I'm lighter when I go down/up stairs - so I attribute the change to wearing lighter-feeling clothes). But then after thinking about it, I realize that it's just the weight I've lost. It's kinda funny. :)
  • tommyswoman
    tommyswoman Posts: 24
    Yes, I feel myself getting narrower, but because I'm tall I don't feel shorter...in fact I feel more willowy and leggy.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I actually feel taller, but I do feel smaller and that's an odd sensation.

    I have always been bigger than most of my friends but now that I'm losing weight I am starting to see that I'm bigger not only because I am heavier than they are. When I am around my friends in the 5'2-5'5 range I realize being 5'8 that I'm just a bigger person, longer arms, longer legs, etc. I used to feel like we were all the same size height/frame and I was just big due to the extra weight distributed all over my body.

    Much of the time I don't realize how much my body has changed. But I think the best for me is when I am lounging around at home with my fiance in a pair of shorts and look down at my thighs/legs and they're completely "ok". I've cringed at my legs for years and didn't wear shorts even at home. Now they look like someone else's legs. I kinda love that!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Do you really feelin like you're shrinking? or that your pants/slacks are getting longer? That was my experience. I didn't realize how much "length" in my clothes were being stretched across my backside until I started losing inches. LOL!

    This!! At times I've almost felt like something was wrong, or someone switched my clothes in my closet because of this. I know I'm still as tall as ever but I put on a pair of exercise pants from last winter and they always grazed my shoes before, this time there were a few inches of material dragging the ground and I had to get rid of them. Makes sense as I've definitely lost a lot in my lower abdomen and thighs. But it was SURREAL!
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    what i recall last time I got to my goal weight and look forward to again..

    --- the bathtub seemed bigger with more room

    ---- i could no longer feel my seatbelt against me..and I'd have to double check to make sure it was on.

    --- folding my jeans.. i'd think they were my teenage daughter's...

    and when i was "shrinking" a lot of the time the scale wasn't moving...
  • amandapanda007
    amandapanda007 Posts: 11
    Yes! I am only 5'3" tall, but I always felt big & strong. I weighed 280 at my highest. I built sheds, put down flooring, handled 80 pound bags of grain (not easily, but managed them). I was moved big furniture, etc. I always felt capable, strong, and well... fierce. LOL. I'm now hovering at 150 (which is still 30 pounds overweight for my BMI). I feel TINY. Petite. Even diminutive. I am shocked to find my bone and muscle structure is so small! I thought the "sense of becoming shorter" was unique to me. Interesting to find that other people are experiencing similar responses in their mental body image!

    Good going on your personal journey! Wishing you the best!
  • gigglybeth
    gigglybeth Posts: 365 Member
    Similar to other posters, I don't feel shorter (thank god because I am also only 5'2"), but I do notice other things that are quite weird, mostly things like my ribs, hip bones, etc. I was actually walking the other day in flip flops and as I stepped the tendons in my foot were very prominent (it's been a while since I've seen that). Sometimes it's kinda creepy, like I feel like I'm wasting away (even though I'm still a good 30-40lbs overweight). I guess it just takes time to get used to things, but it can be a very strange experience at times.

    I can totally relate. I'm taller (5'11") and I don't feel shorter, but longer and leaner. I aslo feel like I take up less space. I am constantly feeling my ribs, collarbones, the bones in my hands. I also have 30-40 pounds to go and I can't imagine what it will be like then.
  • seliinac
    seliinac Posts: 336 Member
    Do you really feelin like you're shrinking? or that your pants/slacks are getting longer? That was my experience. I didn't realize how much "length" in my clothes were being stretched across my backside until I started losing inches. LOL!

    Yes! My pants are longer now that they're not being stretched across my stomach & butt! And my rings are looser. I think my feet may be smaller, too. And I can see my kneecaps!
  • t4eaed
    t4eaed Posts: 25
    Wow I was thinking the same thing the other dy-- I was washing my face and thinking how small my face felt and how weird to feel my cheekbones. I thought the same thing-- am I wasting away? So weird bc obviously not! Just less puffy!


    I was thinking the same thing when I am putting lotion on or makeup. Seems like all of my products are lasting much longer so that I don't have to use as much now! There are days I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think, who is that? How could I not know my own face??? lol
  • thefitmess
    thefitmess Posts: 7
    Sitting in the bath tub where both my hips used to touch the sides, and instead feeling like I'm in a swimming pool!
  • jessizona80
    jessizona80 Posts: 108 Member
    I haven't felt shorter, but one of my coworkers has said twice now that I look shorter to her. I'm 5' 5", or so I thought... ? ;)
  • paeli
    paeli Posts: 295 Member
    I have always been bigger than most of my friends but now that I'm losing weight I am starting to see that I'm bigger not only because I am heavier than they are. When I am around my friends in the 5'2-5'5 range I realize being 5'8 that I'm just a bigger person, longer arms, longer legs, etc. I used to feel like we were all the same size height/frame and I was just big due to the extra weight distributed all over my body.

    This has been my experience as well! I always thought I was the big (huge) friend BECAUSE of my weight. Now I realize I simply am larger - that doesn't mean I have to be unhealthy! So I guess to answer the original question - I don't really feel like I'm shrinking but finally realizing my true shape and accepting and loving myself.
  • lisabeccia
    lisabeccia Posts: 1
    I've not lost a HUGE amount of weight (yet), but my shoes are loose on my feet and have stayed that way for over a month. My clothes are sagging on me in ways I never thought I'd see. ;) I have to constantly readjust my tops because they slide up to my neck in the front and are way heavier in the back than before (less fabric in the front due to the Vneck). It's surprisingly irritating! lol

    I'm looking forward to my next weigh-in on Thursday because I know my body has changed since the last time I was at the doctor's.
  • lisaanne1369
    lisaanne1369 Posts: 377 Member
    Bad and good; my wedding ring is too big .
  • tracieangeletti
    tracieangeletti Posts: 432 Member
    I have a tendency to only see how much work I still have left and ignore how far I've come. This weekend I noticed that I'm actually becoming that lean person I so want to be. I think it takes a long time for the "mental" to catch up to the "physical" aspects of weight loss. I think I might always feel like the overweight girl in my mind though. Hoping that changes.
  • willdob3
    willdob3 Posts: 640 Member
    I have a tendency to only see how much work I still have left and ignore how far I've come. This weekend I noticed that I'm actually becoming that lean person I so want to be. I think it takes a long time for the "mental" to catch up to the "physical" aspects of weight loss. I think I might always feel like the overweight girl in my mind though. Hoping that changes.

    I'm glad you caught a glimpse of your new, improved figure!

    We don't automatically start to see ourselves correctly as we lose. I know of women who lost 100 lbs & still saw herself as big & fat. We need to make the effort to change how we think about ourselves or it might not happen. concentrate on all the positive changes you are making in your lifestyle & notice the positive changes to your body - every day.

    Don't focus on how far you have to go. Our minds will believe anything we tell them. Say good things to yourself & you'll believe them & see them as they are happening. It seems so simple but it is hard to do consistently. It does work, though, and it is very much worth the effort.

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