Does/did losing weight change your personality?

2

Replies

  • jmv7117
    jmv7117 Posts: 891 Member
    More relaxed, more confident, and less likely to allow others to treat me like shiz. Once you learn your own worth, you're less likely to allow others to devalue you.

    This!
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    There has been some evidence that shows overweight men having higher levels of estrogen which causes them to develop gyno in some cases. Testosterone levels can normalize when lean body mass is added and excess fat drops. I'd say overall regardless of how one perceives themselves these hormone changes will equate to personality changes.
  • AmyZ46
    AmyZ46 Posts: 694 Member
    I was always pretty confident - I thought .... But definitely more so now . I don't try to sit or stand in the back of the room . I think that is because I have better fitting clothing though.
    Before my clothing was just so big and drab and I needed it lose because I was so uncomfortable so it made me look even bigger .

    I am happier becasue I am not so tired and drained .
    I thought my husband had changed towards me , being more affectionate but then I realized I am more affectionate to him also - I never used to go to his office just to say hi or show him some outfit I loved or stuff like that and now I do .As well as having sexy nighties and undies to show off at home. ( I was way too big for those before )

    Losing weight or at least exercising has also reduced my PMS which was pretty wicked really . I don't even notice it anymore and my hot flashes have gone away - at least for now:drinker:

    I was always pretty outgoing but now I put on lipstick every time I leave the house ( not big into make up) and I smile more, and can't stop taking pictures of myself .:blushing:
  • MildredBarhopper
    MildredBarhopper Posts: 99 Member
    Personality wise, I am the same, but I am more confident. I didn't feel bad about myself before but I like myself even better now.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    Yes, though I have worked on a lot of the "mental" aspects to losing weight. For example, finally dealing with my anxiety. I think working on the mental side of things has made a huge difference that compliments the weight loss. Without a doubt I feel more confident and act more confident. I feel strong and brave. I push myself further in every aspect of my life, and I often do not "settle". I want to be around positivity, and positive inspiring people.
  • caitconquersweight
    caitconquersweight Posts: 316 Member
    I'm the same person as I was at my highest ever weight (294). Like seriously, exactly the same.
  • wonderwoman234
    wonderwoman234 Posts: 551 Member
    No. I have been thin and I have been overweight. Throughout it all, my personality has been the same. I think people who expect that being thin will make them into a different person might be disappointed. Just think of all the skinny, beautiful women who don't like themselves....

    No doubt being thin can make you feel more confident and sexy.....but not always. I have more confidence now even though I'm 40 lbs. over weight than I was at my skinniest. I think your attitude, not your body size, often dictates how you feel and perceive yourself.
  • JackiSto
    JackiSto Posts: 56 Member
    I was chunky as a teen which turned into obese through college. After college I lost a $h!t-ton of weight and my personality turned on it's head. The boisterous, outgoing, flirty, rambunctious person I always had been was just trapped inside because I was so embarassed and horrified by how I looked.

    I've now done a backslide on the weight issue, but there's no suppressing this personality now that it's gotten out! Hallelujah!
  • mypersonalfitnessjourney
    mypersonalfitnessjourney Posts: 244 Member
    I am much happier, more confident, and care much more about my appearance now. I used to spend 20 minutes getting ready every morning, sometimes even skipping a shower - and then proceeding to throw on a loose shirt, sweater, and yoga pants or sweatpants. I've always made my looks and outfits a priority, but during the 2-3 years I was overweight, I simply didn't care. I didn't want to draw any additional attention to myself and my weight, so instead, I hid by trying to blend in with everyone else and not stand out from the crowd.

    Now that I've lost some of the weight, I've found that I put much more effort into looking my best. It takes me at least a full hour to get ready - I always shower and always take the time to go through my entire makeup routine. I make myself look and feel beautiful, because I no longer fear attention, being noticed, or being looked at. I can actually make eye contact with people and smile at them instead of keeping my eyes firmly fixated on the ground or my feet. I wear fashionable outfits - dresses, heels, designer clothes, statement accessories, etc - because I feel fantastic in them. I love standing out from the crowd now and have no desire to fade into the background and be invisible.

    Long story short, I'm proud of who I am and how I look (at least, much moreso than I used to be) - so now, I am flattered by attention rather than fearing it. Life is too short to blend in!
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    Very much. I used to have zero confidence, except at work. Now I have much more. I'll always be a work in progress, but I'm so much more confident in everything I do.
  • Nightfall30
    Nightfall30 Posts: 112 Member
    I think I became more confident - I used to think I didn't deserve certain things like being with a man that loves me because I felt like I wasn't good enough - I've learnt better now. I'm still far away from my ideal body and have a fair bit of fat on my body, but I learnt to love myself. I also stopped feeling so guilty if I ate an extra helping or indulged - I've found a new sort of balance in life. :)
  • karmic_fit
    karmic_fit Posts: 24 Member
    Nope. I'm still a reserved, quiet, snarky person.

    Although, now people assume it's because I'm stuck up. Whereas before they assumed it was because I was shy. :drinker:

    ^THIS^ i think there's a lot of pressure on bigger girls to be THE NICE ONE (cause... you sure aren't the cute or outgoing one) but if you aren't... you must be shy... so i guess less change on my part, and more of a change in the perception of others

    I'm only about 30% through my journey though, and i have noticed that i'm actually more anxious now then before, i'm not sure if it's because i'm way more conscious of my food choices or because i've gotten used to moving or what but there's definitely some major guilt going on when i don't exercise or keep my log in the green (even if for the week i'm good) whereas before i wasn't thinking about it, so i wasn't worried about it
  • wertgirlfor
    wertgirlfor Posts: 161 Member
    I'm more confident now, especially with what I choose to wear. I was confident before, but I'm more comfortable taking more style "risks" now that I'm no longer overweight.
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    I've been wondering this for the last few weeks, so why not ask in the best place possible?

    Did losing weight change your personality in any way? In any way at all, from happier, more confident (which I hope to become), calmer etc? I'm interested to know. Thanks!

    Nope. I'm still a misanthropic, introverted *kitten*.
  • pwittek10
    pwittek10 Posts: 723 Member
    That is a big YES!
    I am kinder than I have ever been, I am friendler
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    Kind of. I'm less grouchy but that's in large part because exercising daily plus the weight loss has meant my chronic insomnia has pretty much gone and I'm a much nicer person when I get a decent night's sleep LOL. I am also more confident. I never outwardly lacked confidence but inside would question my own decisions and actions. Now I feel more sure of myself. I think its because I've proved to myself that if I put my mind to something then I do know what I'm doing and I don't need to over analyse my decisions. That's more to do with what I've achieved exercise wise (from unable to climb a flight of stairs without gasping 10months ago to running 9 miles this morning) but obviously the weight loss is also playing a part in it.
  • mikemikemikemikemike
    mikemikemikemikemike Posts: 6
    i lost over 100 lb and i've turned into a complete *kitten*. it's jarring.

    i pretty much hate who i've become but at the same time it's sorta rad because i have way more confidence now. whatevs
  • jemsign
    jemsign Posts: 6 Member
    But don't puppies fart rainbows anyway? So you're full of rainbows and rainbows.
  • ZeldaMarooner7
    ZeldaMarooner7 Posts: 307
    I feel a bit more confident. And somehow want to wear clothes that don't fit my entire personality. I mean, I want to wear punk rocker and band tee clothing. I've always loved wearing band tees, but this whole "punk rocker" thing came after I lost 20 pounds. I'm still heading to my goal, and I think it will change me a little more.
  • jemsign
    jemsign Posts: 6 Member
    That's a good question. I don't know if it is the hormones or what but sometimes after I work out I am crazy crabby. Sometimes I'm crazy happy. Thanks for asking. I'm going to analyze my behavior a bit to see why these things are happening.
  • sentaruu
    sentaruu Posts: 2,206 Member
    More relaxed, more confident, and less likely to allow others to treat me like shiz. Once you learn your own worth, you're less likely to allow others to devalue you.
    pretty much this.
  • EddieHaskell97
    EddieHaskell97 Posts: 2,227 Member
    No, I lost weight because my personality changed, actually. It may sound goofy, but there was a time in my life I believed myself lacking the willpower to quit smoking. Well, I quit because I'd grown to hate it, and because I had to. My employer tests new hires for nicotine, and they will rescind any job offer on a positive test result. Because I'm a pilot I couldn't take Chantix since the FAA will yank your ticket for taking pretty much any anti-depressant, even once.

    "Cold turkey" was the only option, and it was three of the most miserable days of my life. Once it was over I felt invincible! Shortly afterward, I went back to grad school (and am a 4.0 student) and then began the journey to lose sixty lbs in five months. Yeah, those helped with self-confidence even more, but I lost weight because I knew I could, and I never had any doubt. :)

    I guess the only change due to weight loss is Thursdays @ 7am (in the summer) when I hear the garbage truck coming, I'll bolt to run the trash out and not bother putting on a shirt.

    :Edited to correct two sentences and a typo:
  • Cathalain
    Cathalain Posts: 424 Member
    Did losing weight change your personality in any way? In any way at all, from happier, more confident (which I hope to become), calmer etc?

    I'm definitely a lot more confident than I was, but I've also noticed that I've become.... I don't know, less connected with my (old?) friends. I'm into exercise and eating better, etc., and my friends are... just kind of not with that program, if you know what I mean. They're not necessarily jealous or unhappy for me, but they're definitely not interested in joining me along my path. Which is okay, but I do miss hanging out a lot of times. I find myself in the position of needing new friends that are more supportive. If that makes sense.

    I'm definitely on a more firm track as to finding out just who I am and want to be, and exercise/eating right is a part of that. So, I guess the answer for me is yes.
  • Cathalain
    Cathalain Posts: 424 Member
    I really find that since I've started to really focus on losing weight that my personality has been changing. I don't know if I am becoming meaner or what but I feel like I don't have patience for the same things any longer. I find that I don't put up with the same things. Like before I was ok with being treated poorly but losing weight has given me this new sense of strength and self-respect that I didn't have before.

    ^^
    This. Exactly. And said better than I could have expressed.
  • Cookie_4
    Cookie_4 Posts: 152 Member
    Interesting that this thread came up today... I was talking to my friend this morning about how I was afraid that losing weight and finally reaching my physical goals would change the only part about me that I ever really liked... My pleasantly plump bubbly personality :blushing:

    In my case, I'm hoping that my weight loss will not change my personality. I think the only thing that needs to change is the way I see myself :smooched: Good luck to everyone on your way to loving yourself and here's hoping that everyone will be happier!
  • julieh391
    julieh391 Posts: 683 Member
    When it was first obvious that I had lost weight, yes. Absolutely. I went from being the fat funny girl to being a little more introverted because I didn't know how to handle all the compliments mixed with digs about how I looked before I lost weight. Example: Wow! You look great! You lost that "pooch" and "shelf butt!" Ummm.. hearing things like that all the time was very hard for me for several months. Now I've settled into my body, and it's pretty rare that I run into someone who's shocked by my appearance (its been over a yr since I lost weight.) Now I can just be my silly self without making jokes about my weight in an effort to mask how self conscious I was.
  • charcoalgriller
    charcoalgriller Posts: 17 Member
    You

    Are

    Awesome

    :smile:
  • rarabeans22
    rarabeans22 Posts: 3
    I feel worse than I ever did a as big person, to some extent I believe I was in denial when I was bigger and sometimes my weight got me down but generally I was confident and happy, always sociable and had a great love life. As I have lost weight (84lbs lost) I find myself more and more self critical and when I look back at pictures I feel embarrassed that I didn't know at the time how bad I looked and what's worse is I now feel that no matter how much weight I lose, that is how I will always look. my partner still checks if I'm 'counting my calories' or 'if I have weighed myself lately' and he panics when I eat anything other than vegetable or fruit. Losing weight has been like seeing the matrix - and now it can't be unseen. I have been dieting for two straight years and I feel like it will never end, like I will never reach goal and like I will always be watched as though I cant be trusted near a cake.

    so yes it changed my personality, I've lost my confidence, I'm less happy, I feel guilty when I eat but find myself doing it as though 'theres no point' and if anything I prefer to just be on my own most of the time.

    Though from the looks of everyone else's comments I'm the exception and not the rule... I would still always suggest losing weight to anyone as big as I was.
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    I had less insecurity and more self confidence when I was bigger. I'm not really sure why that is.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I find that I'm much the same. Lifting has done a lot more for my confidence than losing weight did. I still have insecurities (sometimes I think I have more of them) and I'm still very much a work in progress. I think that too many people neglect the psychological aspects of weight loss and get blind-sided when they arrive at goal weight and realize most of their problems are still there.

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