Lost weight? What else has changed?

For me the biggest thing is not being so damn clumsy. I used to scrape my knees and twist my ankles on a regular basis - it was a miracle I didn't break my first bone until my 20's - but I haven't had a fall like that in a long time. In fact I've had a couple close calls where I was fully impressed with myself about keeping my balance instead of falling and hurting myself.

While I'm still not much of a shopper, it's much more fun for me now. My wardrobe is mostly a jeans and t-shirts but I have a few flamboyant pieces in there now. I LOVE shopping in second hand stores and consignment shops (and places like TJ Maxx) due to the variety of brands and styles. And I love when I go shopping with my girlfriends now that I can actually look at clothing in the same stores with them instead of just checking out the accessories.

The rest of it is still sinking in. For instance, when sitting for a flight recently, I automatically worried about taking up too much space then remembered my new smaller size and got over it. During one leg, I was in the middle seat and instead of getting up, I just pulled my legs up under me to let the person by. Never did that before!!

Well,
I’ve lost 40 pounds. I started before I found MFP, so my ticker doesn’t reflect the real stats. There are numerous benefits I’ve noticed. Many, are just on the inside, in my head. First, I feel like I’m 25 again! I’ve come to realize I’m not happy with myself if more than a day goes by and I haven’t made time for some physical activity. I can’t sit still and watch a movie/TV much anymore either. There’s always something I’d rather go do. I got two different kinds of bikes-thanks Craigslist!, joined a gym with a pool, got a kayak, and got out and started golfing again. Walking the course and carrying the clubs. Now, I fall into bed, and sleep like a rock. I used to have a self-image problem. All that’s left of that is the self-deprecating humor, which I think I’ll keep. I wore men’s Extra large clothes for two decades, it turns out I just wear medium. I still chuckle at the “M” on the tags. It’s like a new lease on the rest of my life. I am thankful for my health.

Ready for TMI?

My sex drive is through the roof.

Before, I had absolutely NO sex drive - things are a lot better now.

^^ This.

I used to hate shopping for clothes, now I LOVE it.

Also, unhappy women, especially married women, especially especially unhappy married women, hate me for existing again.

Better job situation.

Better relationship situation.

Cleaner house.

Better looking, better organized wardrobe.

Cleaner house.

Less of a social life.

Far better off financially.

When I post a selfie, instead of just my mom liking it, I get dozens of likes, even some heartfelt compliments.

Speaking of social media, I no longer have to sift through hundred of pics so a bunch of chins are hidden by the camera angle, I can just post whatever or not freak out when I'm tagged in a photo I didn't know was taken.

Basically, the physical health, the mental health, the spiritual health, it's all connected.

It's all only as strong as your weakest point, and physical health was my weakest point.

When I got myself into shape, my whole life followed suit.

Did she mention she has a cleaner house now? LOL

I freakin' love it.

I even bought name brand laundry detergent for the first time ever yesterday.

*NAME BRAND*

*LAUNDRY SOAP*

Not dollar tree.

A lot has changed:
- I Don't drink anymore (7 months sober - w00t!)

Hey, congrats!!! Don't see many people mention that here and I've been a little nervous about mentioning it first. I'm a few days shy of 9 months myself!

What changed for me:
-I feel better being in public, I was really ashamed and embarrassed to go out before, felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. Wasn't used to being in everyone's way.
-I'm a little less paranoid someone's going to yell out of their car "Hey fat *kitten*!!!" when I'm walking by. That never happened to me, I don't know why I'm paranoid about it... I did get some rude comments before, though. I feel my image of myself hasn't caught up to reality, because I imagine these kinds of things still happening. Like being in a restaurant and someone coming up and pointing to my food and saying "And that's why ya fat, ya fatty!" LOL it's funny but pretty f*cked too.
-I look better to myself. I play around with makeup and different hairstyles more. Before I didn't really do that. The fat was unignorable, felt like I kind of hit an attractiveness ceiling and makeup/hair wasn't enough to make me look better.
-I take selfies somewhat. I don't hide from cameras in general anymore and am more interested in seeing how a photo turned out now, rather than dreading to see the results.
-Clothes shopping is fun and enjoyable to me again.
-Before I lost weight, like 90% of my wardrobe was useless to me. Now I can fit into everything, even the smallest items... it's becoming 90% useless again though, as some stuff is getting too big for me /first world problems
-My self-esteem is still pretty trashed. It's getting better, though... in my experience, if one's self-esteem is broken, weight loss isn't going to fix it all-- I just traded old body worries for new ones. Preferable ones, if such a thing as preferable worries exist, but still. I'm working on it, trying not to go so hard on myself. For awhile there, I was scrutinizing my body so much I couldn't even tell what was different and what wasn't anymore.
-Incidentally I feel like I'm having less sex than ever before in my relationship... likely due to self-esteem and weird self-perception.
-Showed the most skin on the beach than I have in recent years... wore shorts, lol, but it's a step up from jeans, which I wore the time I went prior.
-My tastes in food have changed somewhat. Now I love water, spinach, tomatoes, and genuinely enjoy a lot of healthier foods/meals... fish-- I still merely tolerate you.

I live at 5000 ft plus elevation. A year ago I was on 24 hour a day oxygen due to Pickwickian syndrome. I got off the oxygen six months ago and am now hiking at over 8000 feet elevation. (I may never do 14'ers again, but I may be able to get above 10,000 again.)

I can actually walk miles at a time, rather than feet at a time.

I feel sharper and take on more projects at work.

I can fit on airplanes again, and without a belt extender. I love to travel for work again!

I smile a LOT more.

I can see parts of my anatomy I haven't seen in years (decade or more?!!?)

And, I'm only just more than half way to my goal.

My doctors smile on the RARE occasions I actually go in to see them. They get excited by my losses shown on their paper.

I go more than half a year before I meet my insurance deductible to get the 15% co-pay to kick in. Win for the insurance company, big win for me!

Ready for TMI?

My sex drive is through the roof.

Before, I had absolutely NO sex drive - things are a lot better now.

^^ This.

I used to hate shopping for clothes, now I LOVE it.

Also, unhappy women, especially married women, especially especially unhappy married women, hate me for existing again.

Better job situation.

Better relationship situation.

Cleaner house.

Better looking, better organized wardrobe.

Cleaner house.

Less of a social life.

Far better off financially.

When I post a selfie, instead of just my mom liking it, I get dozens of likes, even some heartfelt compliments.

Speaking of social media, I no longer have to sift through hundred of pics so a bunch of chins are hidden by the camera angle, I can just post whatever or not freak out when I'm tagged in a photo I didn't know was taken.

Basically, the physical health, the mental health, the spiritual health, it's all connected.

It's all only as strong as your weakest point, and physical health was my weakest point.

When I got myself into shape, my whole life followed suit.

All of this. And I no longer pay attention to *kitten* who are jealous/food pushers/saboteurs/hateful/ignorant. Ain't nobody got time for them.

-IndiaGuerita

I care less about what people think. I'm more confident and more outgoing than I used to be. I can participate in my own life again and I am just overall happier. And my favorite, I can shave my legs standing up again. (I seriously had to sit in the bathtub to do it before.)

I have never done that - ever - and can't even imagine how it would work. Weird that I never realized some people shave their legs standing up.

It makes a lot more sense though now how some women don't ever take baths. Me, I take a bath every morning of life anyway.

I can't stop clothes shopping. I kinda need them all, since just about all my old stuff is too big now. But I feel like a little mall rat.
Also, I'm not afraid of the possibility of running into ex-boyfriends anymore. lol

A few of the upsides:

I no longer have hypertension, cholesterol/lipid issues, or type 2 DM.
I am no longer on any meds for the above diagnoses.
I only take Tums for the calcium, no more heartburn.
I'm the "patient of the year" according to my MDs.
I don't hide from the camera
I am actually less weight then the lie I put on my drivers license
I no longer look at all like my drivers license photo
I take & share selfies
I fit in restaurant booths with room to spare
I don't dread shopping anymore
I can find deals in thrift stores in my size
I need to wear belts now
I can & do tuck my tops in
I can fit into one size fits all spandex shorts
I like looking in the mirror now
I discovered I really do have ribs, collar bones , hip bones and unfortunately a tail bone
I no longer use a seat belt extender in my car
I'm no longer morbidly obese- I am at a healthy weight now (first time since grade school)
I enjoy walking and walk 3-5 miles daily
I actually use the exercise equipment I bought
I will get out of bed if I notice I'm short my 10K steps and walk around the house to get my steps in.
I will park the car further away from the store so I get more steps in
I am on my 3rd fitness tracker (Flex, Force, Vivofit)
I have been keeping the a/c on at 82*F and am not a sweaty mess
I can sleep with only one pillow now (vs 3 or 4)
I like the new me, at times I don't recognize the new me, but I'm growing on myself.

Some of the downsides:

I have to carry a sweatshirt when I eat out as I get cold since I lost my fat layer
(I live in Tucson, Az, its NEVER cold here, not really)

I need to sit on a pillow as my new found tailbone kills me (lost my fat layer there too)

I do have some saggy skin but not as much as I thought I'd have, very happy about that.

I am more confident
My dog gets more exercise
I watch less TV
I have gotten my friends to do things that are not food and beverage related(well, not until we cross the finish line) We do several runs throughout the year.
I sleep better
I acquired really bad sweet tooth after losing 100+ pounds(this is not good, but true for me)
I get hit on when out and I am not real good at dealing with it.
The people that sit next to me at sporting events/concerts/movies don't mind anymore since I don't flow over into their seat.
I am a regular at the gym and have gym friends that I socialize outside of the gym with (never would have thought this would happen)
I pass up happy hour to go workout

I could go on....one thing that didn't change that I thought would.... I still hate to shop. I can go anywhere and find clothes that fits,I still would rather not.

When I was larger I was made fun of and or ignored by strangers. Since I lost weight and now have a actual shape men hit on me more, and people are generally nicer. It is actually really sad that skinny people get more respect in society than over weight people.

OK, I am obviously new to these rooms, but my comment is for the one that I quoted in the post below....I am sooo looking forward to that!

I've noticed that my taste has changed in food. The junky stuff that I used to crave, now seems like a distant memory, and I enjoy home cooked things a lot more. I have also made a personal challenge to make healthier versions of the food that I love. I am enjoying my new life style!

I've gotten a lot more male attention. I also ditched the glasses for contacts and ditched the brown hair for purple. I used to have some back pain, now I have none. I have way more energy.