I'm afraid..?

ZeloHello
ZeloHello Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm afraid, almost terrified even, to lose weight.

I know it sounds silly, but I've been big my whole life. I feel scared to become fit, skinny, or anything like that!

I'm not a person who cares about looks and stuff, but I'm just afraid that I won't look well when I'm a healthy weight.

Has this ever happened to anyone? Are my anxieties for nothing?

Thanks.

Replies

  • phyllb
    phyllb Posts: 735 Member
    I am petrified to look like a deflated balloon but on most levels I know I just gotta look better if I loose the weight and even the small weight I have lost has made it easier to do the usual physical stuff, Looking forward to getting my bloods right again. It is terrifying to prepare tonchanfpge ypur life but you can do it mfp is a great support. Use it/ Us.
  • unFATuated
    unFATuated Posts: 204 Member
    OH MY GOODNESS! Yes! Most people I know who've been overweight (including myself) whether it's been forever or just a little while, have had fears around losing weight.

    My fear personally was that once I lost weight I needed to get the rest of my life together. I needed to BE the person I thought I would be once I lost weight - wear nice clothes, makeup etc (I didn't do any of that while I was overweight, my thinking was "What's the point?"), know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, etc.

    Lots of people fear that they won't like themselves when they have lost weight. That's totally understandable. From what I know of my own journey and that of those around me, losing weight won't magically fix anything or make you deliriously happy (apart from your weight, probably improve health/reduce risk etc). If you don't like yourself now, then things won't be better when you lose weight.

    Looks-wise, it's hard to come to terms with seeing the slimmer, fitter you. I was slim until I was in my early 20's, then piled on the weight, it was 10 years roughly that I was overweight (to some degree) and I find seeing pictures of myself now and when I was overweight really weird. And it really wasn't until I saw pics of myself recently that I realised how far I've come.

    Long story short, no, your anxieties are normal (or at least common, haha!). Can you get some counselling around it, or find someone to talk to about it? I know many people find these fears hold them back and allow self-sabotage behaviours to sneak in. I'm sensing you really want to achieve this goal but are fearing the result at the same time.
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    If you've lived your whole life a certain way then its only natural to be anxious about changing that.

    Looking back, I wish I'd lost the weight sooner.

    Be excited for your future, not scared of the possibilities - but excited by what you can/could do
  • Annabear3
    Annabear3 Posts: 92 Member
    You are not alone. I've been big my whole life too and can't even imagine myself thin. I'm worried about not recognizing myself. I recently got lasik surgery to correct my vision after wearing glasses for 25 years. I had an identity crisis for a few months where I felt overly exposed and unlike myself. I'm hoping that because this is a gradual process I'll be able to adjust during each phase.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    If you're that frightened, you should maybe consider putting it on hold and see a therapist. A therapist will surely be able to help you sort it out.

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