What changed, besides weight, after losing a lot of weight?

justaboat wrote: »

It seems that the more weight I lose, the more depressed I get (is this just me or do others feel this way?)

I wonder if some of that is due to hormone changes as our body attempts to regulate itself?

Sometimes I look in the mirror and although I am 30 lbs down, I don't see a huge difference. I still see the problem areas and although they don't look to be getting any smaller, my clothes are too big, so I know they are shrinking. I just can't see it yet.

I have more confidence, I feel better about myself, I feel more attractive, I feel like I can pick out a piece of clothing and actually have a chance of looking good in it (and it's not plus-sized), and....

I was able to get pregnant. When I was Obese, my period/ovulation was pretty much non-existent, and what I did get was completely untrackable.

I got to my first major goal (155 lbs) and we started trying as soon as I reached it. Got pregnant first time trying. My weight has been holding back my family plans for far too long.

Bonus is that I've gained a little more than half of what I did with my first child. At 32 weeks in my first pregnancy I was up 35 lbs (gained 45 total), at 32 weeks this time, I'm sitting at 16.6 lbs gained. The difference is staggering. I can't even imagine what pregnancy would be like for me if I still had all the weight on me.

I got a big confidence boost, and I am a little energizer bunny now. I am out most nights doing an activity of some sort or another. Of his third habit Covey asks, "What one thing could you do (you aren’t doing now) that if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous positive difference on your personal life?" I've known for years it was losing weight. It is only now that I have experienced continued success.

I have experienced the benefits I expected (increased stamina, greater mobility, higher esteem, no medications), and a few more besides (exercise is fun!). Yesterday out of the blue I got all social, chatting up everyone I met.

Hubby hasn't changed much as I have gone through this transformation, though he happily tags along with the healthier eating, and our marriage is fine. He liked me big, he likes me now. The change has not modified the power dynamics of our relationship.

I stopped thinking about what I eat all the time and started concentrating on the rest of my life.

Aleishia22 wrote: »

I'm in the process of losing weight and I already have friends telling me that they're not going to hang out with me anymore when I reach my goal because "I'll be too hot". They say it jokingly but I'm nervous that it may be true. Did anyone experience that? Am I going to lose friends because I'm not the " funny fat one" anymore?

I've only lost 25 of the 70 pounds I'd like to lose, but I've experienced the loss of at least one friend. The advice that "they were superficial, you don't need them, you're better off" only works in the long run.

I'm looking at it as the opportunity to practice self care. My closest friend in this city ignored my texts, unfriended me on facebook and apparently just rolls her eyes when my name is brought up. (Some background: we started losing weight together in August, she dropped out a few weeks later and is continuing to gain.) Rationally, I get why she did it. But it hurts more than you would expect.

There was a time that I would have buried my sorrows in alcohol, potato chips, and ice cream. Now, I'm exercising more and watching more comedies. This is how I want to cope with my heartaches from now on.

To the OP: I feel more energetic and healthier, plus I notice that there's muscle under this flab. I don't feel sexy, confident, pretty, any of that yet. I trust it will come. My depression was better until my friend "dumped" me, but now I feel back at square one. I cook more, but I've always loved cooking.

Ftw37 wrote: »

Now, I am just a background character--one of the crowd. I have disappeared. It's kind of weird, since I am still trying to get rid of the defensive chip on the shoulder I had when I was fat. I am now part of that "normal-sized-person" club that everyone else always was a member of.

People sit next to me on the bus and subway without a second thought. I am not obviously judged for every public meal I eat.

It's weird.

Yes to all of this, I can relate very well. It is weird. It's also odd as a thirtysomething woman to suddenly be touched so much by random women and girls, whether I know them or not. I was obese even as a teen and while I've always had female friends we didn't touch or hug really. Now I'll just be in a public place, shopping in a store, or at a casual party and women will touch my skin, hair, face, clothing or whatever...hug me and so on. I never realized until now how they kept their distance before and to be honest it's a bit unsettling to suddenly feel like I have less personal space.

The same is true when shopping in stores. In the past, being a woman at 270-300+ I was given SUCH a wider berth (no pun intended). Now I always feel like people are in my space, and it seems difficult to "own my space" in a way I have never experienced. I'm not small at 5'8" and on the higher end of a healthy weight - but it seems that with me being relatively "normal" most people are like "oh it's just some lady I'll share her tiny bench seat on the bus or stand six inches from her in this line".

So weird.

I also feel like before I was noticed a lot for being "the big girl with confidence/style" and now I'm just seen as an average person. I do still get compliments a lot, but I realize now that being a plus-sized fairly fashionable woman I was getting somewhat backhanded compliments near-daily for being that way "DESPITE" my size...kind of crazy.

goldenweasel wrote: »

i also love exercising and i'm not afraid to try new physical things because i'm not so afraid of failing now.

THIS! I have learned to be fine with looking foolish while trying and failing at things, because I've learned that some failure is necessary while pushing yourself, and I've also learned that success does come with persistence.

I had let a whole lot of life pass time by while sitting things out because I "knew" I couldn't do things...

So I am more of a participant in the active parts of life, and less of a passive observer.

LOL. Findings that you can gain a lot of it back if you aren't careful.