What does it actually feel like?

Feeling normal - not embarrassed.

Feeling confident - not ashamed.

- you can put a towel around you and it covers everything
- you don't have to worry if a seat belt will fit you
- you can go through a turn style and not worry if you will fit through it
- you can fit into one of those plastic yard chairs
- now that you can fit into that plastic yard chair it will not break beneath you
- you can sit in a theater seat comfortably
- you don't have to scope out the sturdiest chair for fear of breaking others
- you can sit in a booth and not have to ask for a table
- you can pull anything out of your closet and it fits
- you can buy "souvenir" shirts because you don't need a special, extra big limited size and wont fit anyway shirt
- you can actually wear someone else's clothes in an emergency
- you have to adjust the seat in your car because its to far away from the pedals now
- you can use a step stool with out fear it will collapse
- you can go on carnival type rides because you don't have to worry about the weight limit or fitting in to the seat
- you can buy clothes at stores and not from catalogs (if you want)
- you can fit through smaller spots and don't have to strategize your exit from rooms / restaurants
- you can get in and out of cars easier
- you can be amazed when you are folding and putting away clothes that you can actually fit in to that, because it looks so small

It's nice when your legs don't chafe any longer when walking and your arms don't chafe against your sides. Also when your feet and ankles don't hurt any more because there isn't excess weight on them. shirts not riding up on the belly, shirts not pinching in the arms/armholes, being able to find clothing easily, not having your knees crack and pop as you go up the stairs, not having a double chin. Those are the big ones for me. When I was fat I dealt with all those things every day and they wore me down.

I have never been as small as I am now (at least since Jr high ) and am experiencing all sorts of surprising & new things.

*Boom - Chicka - Wow - Wow

LOL, I was going to say that, but I didn't want to be "that guy" so early in the thread.

There's no better place where the new gained confidence is better displayed and appreciated.

Gotta add going to the beach/pool and removing the shirt is great as well, although I still find myself being self-conscious a bit more than perhaps I should as I guess you never look completely the way you want.

Bump

These posts are really helping me today, I need it!!

There has been some winters where my body weight has crept up. I've noticed that is the only time I've had heart burn and needed things like Tums or Rolaids.

Seeing the comments about public speaking, and men being more of a gentleman made me think of something I heard many years ago and never forgot: "When a man speaks, people listen. When a woman speaks, people look, and if they like what they see, then they listen." I found this to be very true. Most of my life, I bounced from between 135-150. After I had my daughter, I sat around 170. I noticed people treated me differently. Then I ballooned up to 210. People treated me A LOT differently. Not I'm around 140, and people are again treating me differently - better differently. Sad. But true.

That's very sad, but unfortunately, it's too often true. I'm a guy. At my lightest adult weight, I was 135 lb. At my heaviest, around 225. But because I'm male and a professional who dresses appropriately, I never thought that people discounted what I had to say because I was fat. In fact, big guys can be imposing; my fat was in general distributed around my body, so I looked big and somewhat puffy but not obviously obese.

As for the benefits of losing weight: I was a fit fat guy, but it was really annoying having to deal with a substantial belly when sitting on the sofa, and climbing hills on my bike was a lot harder at 220 pounds than at 155. And I can run again, something I had to give up when I was overweight because it put too much strain on my knees.

I can get down without it hurting, you take up less space, wind actually moves me around more, bumping into things hurt because you no longer have padding.

My personal experience is that I can't describe what it feels like since I mentally flip-flop between pre-loss me and now-me. When I get a response or comment from someone now that would have never occured pre-weight loss, but my current mentality is how I've felt and identified with for most of my adolescent and adult life (which was 50-75lbs. overweight), it messes me up a bit. I forget.

The weirdest is when people make assumptions about my personality based on my current physical appearance, both positive and negative. Sometimes it's entertaining because of how off-base they are, and sometimes it really upsets me. Still grappling with that one.

Wow, so many to list. I lost over 70 lbs. years ago and never looked back. I'd say:

- Self confidence when walking into a room
- More confidence talking to women
- Self confidence when public speaking
- Knowing that I can do anything physically that I want to do
- Doing a chin-up (I NEVER could do one growing up and now I can do them with extra weight added)
- Clothes still don't fit, but this time it's because my thighs, torso and arms are too big, not my belly!
- Wearing fitted shirts, not "big man" clothes
- The knowledge that I know how to lose the weight and keep it off. This is something most fitness professional have never had to do, so many really do not know what it takes besides what the textbook says.

That's just a few off top of my head.
Losing the weight truly changed my life so don't give up!

I love this!

For me, it kind of changed over time. In the beginning I was getting a lot of attention that I wasn't used to and I actually found it pretty stressful. There was a big disconnect between the way I felt and how people were treating me. Then once I adjusted...it mostly just either feels like something I don't worry about or something fun. It's fun to live fully in your body and enjoy doing things with it. I also like buying clothes for myself again and trying new things...it's basically all good :flowerforyou:

I still forget I'm skinny or slim. I'm always shocking myself when trying on clothes and shoes. I love not having to shop in the Plus size section anymore. It's easier to find shoes now that I'm no longer a size 10/11, and can wear 8/9 shoes now. It is harder to find clothes now in my size. I tend to find stuff that's too big while browsing :-( Three times this past week people have said to me wow! you just keep getting smaller and smaller. you're just so skinny now. Congrats that's so awesome! I never know how to respond, just like Umm...thanks? I don't think I'll ever get used to guys hitting on me. My journeys never been about being more attractive just healthier. I guess the two go hand and hand.

Anyways it feels awesome, and I feel more confident. I feel like I can do anything I set my mind too. Since I have PCOS I feel like I can finally say it can kiss my *kitten*! I'm in control instead of my poor health controlling me.

This is the best thread that I have read! It has made me cry with happiness for everyone of you who have reached your goal or starting out new or are working through the process. Congratulations to all of you! Amazing accomplishments. I've lost 45 pounds with another 35 to go, but I feel AWESOME! So impowered! Some of these NSV's I can relate to and others I'm so looking forward to. Thank you all for being so giving of yourself to share these very personal victories. Each of you ROCK!