Lowest weight ever - feeling uglier than ever

OK--So I have NOT gone through what you are experiencing, but I do have a few comments. I was going through old photographs the other day and I noticed that in the photos where I was younger, I thought to myself, gee, I looked pretty good back then. However, I remembered how I felt about myself and I have never in my life except for maybe 30 seconds when I weighed 147 felt good about my body image. I think that's sad, and personally, I don't feel like wasting the rest of my life hating the way I look. I will never be perfect, but I can be content. Secondly, I think your body looks better and I don't see the flabbiness you're talking about. Thirdly, I am deathly afraid of having a bunch of extra skin, especially in the stomach region, but if that happens, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it and my last comment is....I'm assuming the short haired picture is the thinner you? Maybe growing your hair longer again would help you to feel more feminine. I know that sounds so lame, but the thought did cross my mind. Hang in there!

Nope...I don't weight what I did in high school but I am the same size...actually I am about 15-20lbs heavier now...

I know i am my high school size because I put on my prom dress and it fit....

how....you may ask...this

Many many people get to this point of goal weight- and did it purely through cardio or diet or a combination of both.

And you get to the "number" and are still deeply unhappy because you're pretty much just a smaller leaner version you once were.

This is one specific reason why we recommend weight training- it gives you some structure under there- and gives people usually what they are looking for in terms of body type. Plus the deep satisfaction of tangible results- pulling a body weight dead lift- or pulling 2x body weight- squatting body weight or higher etc etc- very satisfying things.

So- if you haven't done any resistance training- I suggest you might want to look into some programs like starting strength- strong lifts or new rules of lifting.

Actually I was where you are about 2 months ago ... lost 50 lbs of fat and was at 7.4% body fat.

I had a caved in face, no butt .. no chest. At least when I was overweight I had something. My friends called me a "Crackhead". But then .. all but one of them are visibly overweight. I think there was a bit of jealousy there.

But .. there is always hope. I have been eating more .. doing resistance training and spin class right now and I am making progress.

I did go on a ice cream and chocolate binge just to gain fat .. like is it really a binge if you do it on purpose ? But I made some progress .. but for me the hardest part was not the physical part .. as losing the fat was easy for me. But I was not at all ready for the emotional consequences of losing that much fat .. I was not the same person and I was not prepared for it.

But .. now I am gaining fat to get to a better level and I hope that things get somewhat better.

I do have my before pics .. and if I ever need a little push, I just have to look at them. That is enough for me to know that no matter how things are now, I do not want to go back there.

I am physically pretty strong now and reasonably fit and that is a very powerful thing. But the emotional consequences of losing weight is something that is not often talked about here.

It is not always the nirvana that people think it is ... the glass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, so there needs to be some realization that you will not be the same person you were, and sometimes that takes some adjusting.

Take care ... I totally understand where you are at. It is not always so easy unlike people seem to make you believe.

i have recently lost 20 pounds and headed toward 20 more. i am sorry that you have not gotten the amazing results of happiness that most people expect with weight loss. if you where happy at 150 then get back to that and weight train. being to skinny can be just as unsatisfying as being to big. if you look in the mirror and do not like what you see it may be more then weight that is the issue. i suggest doing what ever it takes to raise you self esteem and not comparing yourself to others. i am the best me today that i can be. you have to love who you are or you will not be happy.

Congratulations! On your weight loss. I am not sure what your age is. But since I am in my mid-40's I can tell you physically I have changed a lot, not just the additional weight I have put on. So I realize once I lose the weight I will still need to come to terms with how my face and body has aged and changed and that I simply will never look as good as I once did when I was younger.

I am trying to focus on positive reasons for wanting to lose the weight now such as overall improved health and feeling more energetic.

Also I highly recommend having a Spa Day and Makeover as a reward for all your achievement.

I also saw your photos. You're gorgeous.

Many many people get to this point of goal weight- and did it purely through cardio or diet or a combination of both.

And you get to the "number" and are still deeply unhappy because you're pretty much just a smaller leaner version you once were.

This is one specific reason why we recommend weight training- it gives you some structure under there- and gives people usually what they are looking for in terms of body type. Plus the deep satisfaction of tangible results- pulling a body weight dead lift- or pulling 2x body weight- squatting body weight or higher etc etc- very satisfying things.

So- if you haven't done any resistance training- I suggest you might want to look into some programs like starting strength- strong lifts or new rules of lifting.

will help get you started and something to focus on.

+1!!!!!!!