What is the biggest unexpected surprise after losing weight?

Yes I can get a little preachy too, especially when my mom says she wishes she could lose weight too because she doesn't want to do the work, just whine about it.

YES! Exactly this!

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ok cruel joke, I always thought I was 5'1" (measured in high school)...got measured again the other day...4'11.75" WTH??? Yeah yeah, I'm getting older but either I lost weight and height or they just wanted to make me feel good back in high school!. LOL! I feel even smaller now and the more weight I lose, all my friends are calling me tiny for real now. But I guess that's better than other names!

Besides that the loose skin is getting bad. That part sucks. My own fault for being so big for so long.

Good things, collar bones, smaller shoes (well that can be bad as in buying new shoes).

Bumping into things & hitting my hipbones, thighs, & shins & getting massive bruises.

Love this topic. I've lost 40lbs so far... my brain still hasn't totally caught up. Still a ways to go but i feel HEALTHY now. I don't crave sugar or fat at all and I love my healthy foods and feeling good after a meal - like i am nourished and not just packed with garbage food.

One of the best things that has happened to me is the way i feel mentally about myself. I was at my heaviest before i started. I was so angry and ashamed every time i looked in the mirror. I was so mad seeing my refection and so embarrassed that i had become this way - gray skinned, bloated, and almost sick looking. Right before i made this change i did some soul searching (the only difference between THIS time and any other time - i made a mental change and not just a temp change). In my search i found that i did not want to spend my life seeing this gross-girl in the mirror. This gross-angry girl that was ashamed of every reflection of herself... that couldn't run or hike or kayak anymore. That ate poorly and let herself go. I was too young to act so old. I was so frustrated and realized that by 'doing nothing' was still leading me to get worse. I made a change and have not looked back.

I totally forgot about this terrible feeling until i read this thread. The number on the scale aside - i feel great. I am proud of myself and feel healthy and fit. I can run a few miles, it feels good to stretch, and i look just fine in clothes. I haven't felt this sad since i started, and i never want to feel that way again. It makes me so sad to think back on this girl and how incredibly unhappy i was - this is enough motivation to keep me on track. Will NEVER go back!

Cheers everyone!

I fit into a smaller pair of jeans then I was in during high school. Never crossed my mind that this would happen. (Oh and they are loose already!)

I'm freezing.. ALL THE TIME

I can run and I mean fairly well and no exercise induced asthma that i had in my younger days (which is what pushed me away form sports and running)

I LOVE ultimate frisbee.. would never have thought of even trying before

More male attention

I also love the look on people's faces when they haven't seen me in awhile. Or when I show them my before picture. I also love to hear "You look like you've lost weight" from someone who I have seen recently. Makes my day because usually I have not, but if I look smaller then I've likely lost inches. WINNING!

I lost 35 lbs due to digestive issues in about 6 months in early 2008. While I wasn't unhappy with my appearance at 5'7" and 165 lbs, I realized that I was much happier with the 'new' me. In my mind, I looked the same as I did before; it took about 2 years for my perception to change. I use MFP to help keep me in line because I see no reason to go back to where I was.

The most important positive- The unknown health issues I would have faced carrying unnecessary extra weight.
The most annoying negative- I'm cold all the time. I'm sure part of that is genetic, but dang if I don't use a space heater at work year round. And sandals indoors? Out of the question.

I mentioned to my husband that the tumble dryer didn't seem to be shrinking my clothes any more.. then realised that it probably was, but I was keeping pace with it!

I've stopped snoring - which I always thought was my tonsils not my weight!

My feet are narrower :-)

All of my t shirts are getting longer (now they don't have to go out so far at the front!)

I am surprised at how fat I still feel despite losing 20+kg

yep I feel the same. I feel fatter now at 62kg then I did at nearly 80kg. I notice every little pudge, where I store fat and roll now, where before I was round all over so didn't notice it as much.

I have these images of what 62kg and a size AU8-10 would look like, and sadly its not what I expected.

Bump.