Getting used to weight loss but feeling fat again?

I can relate, especially because I had just gotten used to how I was able to fit into some of the smaller cold weather clothes and then it went and got hot here. Now I have to readjust to how I look in the different cuts of warmer weather clothes as well as the way the lighter fabrics cling to me! I have lost 15 pounds since starting MFP and have slowed down a bit recently too. I am going to be kicking up my exercise a lot, knowing that will help since my first couple of months I was mainly focused on learning how to eat properly. After getting in two days in a row of great exercise I am feeling confident that I will start seeing the numbers go down again. Hopefully you'll get some response from some more experienced people. It's probably time to change up some of your current routines with food/exercise Hang in there.

Must be a common psychological thing amongst those of us losing weight. I've been there as well, and it's when I hit my plateau. Hang in there, just keep going. I don't think it will last. The loose pants are what keep me going. Smiles. What I'm struggling with is how my skin looks now, it's loose and kind of droopy looking. Whereas when I was "fuller" it looked better, in my eyes. Go figure. I think we just need to keep up the exercise, and do what will tone us.

I am currently feeling this way. It's very frustrating

I hear what you're saying. It's taken me about 7 or 8 months to lose 13 pounds. After the first 8 pounds, I felt great. Jeans were looser, I felt like I just had squish on my belly instead of bulge. I can't say I necessarily feel fat now, but because I've lost the weight so slowly I never felt "suddenly" thinner. It was so gradual that my weight has constantly felt "normal".

I have 5 pounds left. They're definitely vanity pounds, but I think it'll push me into a figure I think is skinny. At least I hope so!

We have to learn to not be so hard on ourselves

I can definately relate; im going through those feelings right now. But, I keep reminding myself of all the hard work I've put in. Last time I tried losing weight, the same feelings came about around the same time and I gave up. So, I keep giving myself pep talks, and look at the success of others on here, and I know it will get better and this feeling will pass soon. So, don't give up, it will get better!

I wanted to reply because I can really relate to this where I am right now. Even the number, 157--for years I had tried to lose weight and never got below that number, so it became some kind of mental block for me. Right now, through logging my diet and exercise here on mfp, I've gotten down to where the past few weeks (I weigh myself daily) I weigh between 153 and 155.5 depending on the day. Whenever I start to feel fat, I just remind myself that I AM past my unreachable-below-157 weight and that I can keep going, and I remind myself of my high weight too. Think about how much weight you've lost. If you tried to pick up a dumbbell that weighed that much, you'd be impressed!

I just try to force myself to think positively like that when I'm getting down on myself. And honestly, when I'm starting to feel fat, it usually means I haven't been working out much or I've been eating foods that make me sluggish (even if there's no change in the scale). "Feeling fat" is also an emotional barometer for me. If I'm stressed at school or work, feeling lonely or just had a fight with a friend, my negative emotions can turn on myself like that, probably due to years of habitually feeling bad about the way I looked. So I try to be realistic about what is causing the feeling, and address it head on. And if I can't think of anything that is an underlying issue (let's say everything in life is going well, and I have been being really healthy and exercising a lot) then I just force myself to think positive thoughts until the negative emotions pass.

Hang in there, you can do this. Your mind can be your worst enemy sometimes, but it is a very powerful ally if you let it be.

I've had nothing but fun on MFP. Reading these comments makes me so sad. I just wish everyone could be successful AND happy with their hard work and progress. You guys work so hard and deserve to feel as good as you look. Good luck to all! :flowerforyou:

I just had to chime in and say I am feeling the same way after 32 lbs lost. In the beginning, I felt amazing. Now, Its a strange phenomenon - its like, I've gotten used to this 32 lb lost, and now i just feel 53 lbs overweight instead of 32 lbs lighter. (I have 53 more lbs to go before goal)

It doesn't help that I am on week three of a plateau and I want to just give up.

I relate as well. I've lost 65 lbs and still look at my body in disgust because I'm not where I want to be. I try to just keep reminding myself of how far I've come and remember what I used to look like. It helps.

I'm feeling this way a little bit, too. I've lost 20 pounds, but still have another 20 to go until I'm where I want to be.

I do feel a lot better, look better, am getting a ton of compliments, etc... but there are days that I still feel "20 pounds overweight." I guess that's what keeps me going.

157 was a tricky number for me, too. I had not been any less than 157 for about 5 years... but finally got down to 155 this week! So it will happen. At one point, I couldn't even imagine getting down to 155, let alone 135... and I will get there!

Granted, I'm nowhere near done and still have 100+ lbs to go. But Even having lost 104 lbs so far...I'll have a day where I feel good that I fit into something smaller and then 3 hours later I just go back to feeling like a blob. Which I still sort of am...lol, but I don't feel like looking in the mirror I'm any different than 100 lbs ago. I know I have to be, but I don't see it. I suppose it's mind and emotion not catching up with the physical. *shrug*

yes, me too!!!! I seriously think i have self-image issues. I look back at a picture of me in my bikini from my honeymoon 7 years ago and I think "damn, what was I complaining about then, I'd give anything to get back there" I have that picture on my fridge as motivation and my bedroom mirror to keep me focused. I have made myself the promise that I would look at myself differently when I get there again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I just hope I can keep that promise, I have lost more than half of what I needed to, to get there, and I look in the mirror and I still see the same ole me

I very much understand where you are coming from! :grumble:

It does not feel like I lost 17 pounds today. I guess I have gotten used to this weight being gone and I am starting to get impatient for more of a loss. :embarassed:

We got this! I know we do, or we wouldn't have made it this far! :drinker:

I actually don't think the way you feel about how you look really has anything to do with the way you look!

I am a very overweight person, currently 268lbs however, I am happier with the way I look and have more self-confidence than one of my friends who is literally the most beautiful girl I have ever seen!

We are both in the Girl Guides and were recently at an international camp, we got into a routine where we would get up, go for breakfast, have a shower and get ready for the day ahead. She would not get out the tent without full make up on (which she would have to reapply after the shower)as she hated the way she looked. She wore some really baggy clothes as she didn;t want to show off her body. She had a totally false image in her head.

I think if your main goal for losing weight is to look better, then by the time you get to your goal weight, you are unlikely to beleive you do look better. If your goal is to be healthier and have a better lifestyle, I think you will be more satisfied.

I have no idea what the answer is apart from therapy (I know that sounds flippant, but it is not meant to be). We all have a very false idea of how other people percieve us. Most of the time we put a negative spin on it - it seems to be human nature.

You are definitely not alone. I feel the same way even though I have people that tell me how good I look I still feel fat. I wonder if I will ever be satisfied with the way I look. Will I ever be happy?

I hear you. I ask myself all the time if I am ever going to be happy with how I look. I met my goal of 125 lbs, and then I read that an ideal weight for a 5' 3'' woman is 115, so I made that my new goal. I am so determined to get there (8 lbs away), but I have recently come to a stop, which is frustrating. I'm wondering if I'll even be happy when I get to 115. I am constantly nit-picking at my body too. I hate being so caught up on all this because I know I work so hard to keep healthy. GRRR