Unexpected results of weight loss

mrsbunbunbun · January 2015

I have been enjoying my collarbones, for sure!
-And the definition in my arms/shoulders just from loss of excess bodyfat, not really even from lifting much at all.
-The knees when I'm sleeping thing started fairly recently, and it bothered me at first, but I have found that if I just nest my knees, staggered slightly one beneath the other, it helps, rather than with my knees stacked straight one atop the other

-Definitely get that feeling of wow, not only Can I cross my legs, I WANT to because it's more comfortable to sit that way! Weird!
-I am noticing more of my hip bones sticking out, and in fact, protruding beyond my stomach! How weird is that? seeing a gap across my tummy when my pants stretch across from hip bone to hip bone.
-I am also noticing more of a V along the front of my torso, and the way my abs change so dramatically from standing neutral, to flexing, to stretched out. Really pretty fascinating.
-Seeing my lats and back muscles wrapping around the sides of my waist.
-Sizing into 2's and XS some of the time. That I really can't even believe! Like I'll pull a 6 b/c I was a 6 five years ago, and I can accept that I'm not a 12/14/16 anymore... but pulling a 6, putting it on and finding it huge just boggles my mind.
-Buying dresses in a size 4 because it's the smallest size they come in... and not only does it fit, but Loose! Wha-wha-whaaaa???
-I literally kept re-ordering a dress I got for my wedding rehearsal in a size 14, down to a 10, and then when I was able to hunt down the 4, discovering that's the smallest size it comes in. No words.
-Realizing that it can be fun to wear and try on clothes. I don't think it ever was before! Now I see it really can be better to go in and try on because whether its a 0/2/4/6 it's not my body that's changed, it really is just how wildly different clothes can be cut/sized, and some styles really may be more or less flattering to my figure than others.
-Realizing my figure is actually straighter than I ever thought. "Curvy" cut stuff just gaps at my waist now, and straight-cut stuff fits better. I can even wear those cute mod-style shorter sheath dresses I used to think, oh, I just have the wrong bodytype for that.
-Discovering that my old rule that dresses had to be 40" long to cover my knees... No. Matter. What. ...That may not be a thing anymore! (except maybe for Church) I actually don't mind how my legs look in shorter skirts now.

gothchiq · January 2015

Good: No more chafing legs. Bad: Loose skin.

For my rings I bought this stuff from a jeweler online, it's kind of like thinner rubber cement in a tiny applicator tube. You clean the ring with alcohol then apply it in a layer on the inside of the ring, wait at least 24 hours, then wear the ring. Lasts a long time, works great, now I don't have to try and come up with money to get my wedding ring resized!

kimekakes28 · January 2015

I was surprised to find that clothes came in other colors than black, navy, and brown LOL.
you don't hear me coming when I wear pantyhose, also all this time I thought I had big boobs, it turned out to be just fat LOL.

Lalalindaloo · January 2015

Beanogirl wrote: »

My bottom hurts when I sit on a hard seat. I can live with it though!

I have this one too! Or in the tub!

Also not realizing/recognizing the loss myself.

Annabear3 · January 2015

I love this thread! I still have a way to go, but the first big wow moment for me was at work. We have a stadium room that they use for big meetings and presentations. The back row seats have a little desk that tucks away down the side and you just pull it up and in front of you. I used to not be able to use the desks because it wouldn't fit past my stomach. Now I fit behind the little desk and will pull it out even if I don't need it just to sit there in awe.

Also fitting in chairs with arms that used to be tight is great, crossing my legs, not struggling to tie my shoes. Another one is I can get up off the floor easier without having to brace myself on my knee like I used to. I can use the floor and just push myself up.

melifornia · January 2015

missh1967 wrote: »

I nearly had a panic attack recently thinking I had thyroid cancer or a large tumor in my neck.

Well no. I just don't have a bunch of neck fat covering my trachea.

HAHAHA! Love this one! When I lost weight about 14 years ago (and kept it off for several years), I remember being really worried about these sharp, knobby things on either side of my pelvis. My Mom had bone spurs in her heels, and I wondered if I had developed hip spurs (is that even a thing?) from too much working out (for real). Finally one day I mentioned it to a friend who started laughing and said, "Those are hip bones."

Roxiegirl2008 · January 2015

1-Flexing my arms and actually seeing muscles.
2-Running is fun again because my knees and hips don't hurt.
3-I gave up spanx because I don't need them to prevent chaffing!!!!!! YAYA!
4-being able to hit the sale rack at places like H&M, Forever 21 and Old Navy where all the "small" sizes are located
5-being able to side crossed legged in the car and on the couch.

aubyshortcake · January 2015

My armpits are actual pits and not just a flat area. Shaving got harder..lol

katsmo · January 2015

Such a wonderful thread! I will add:
1. My mind is much clearer and more focused, most likely from eating well, getting enough physical activity, water, and rest.
2. My temperament is much better. I don't lose my cool easily and keep a good balance in all aspects: mind, body, and spirit.
3. I like how my husband's hand fits into that curve just above my hipbone now.

Lalalindaloo · January 2015

katsmo wrote: »

Such a wonderful thread! I will add:
1. My mind is much clearer and more focused, most likely from eating well, getting enough physical activity, water, and rest.
2. My temperament is much better. I don't lose my cool easily and keep a good balance in all aspects: mind, body, and spirit.
3. I like how my husband's hand fits into that curve just above my hipbone now.

Awwwww. That's awesome.

LivingtheLeanDream · January 2015

I still enjoy touching my now bony shoulders and realising I've never been this slim before, not since my late teens anyway

and no back flab! yess! no flab anywhere apart from my little mum tum but I can live with that!

oh and I love that I no longer have a muffin top!

I don't like my scrawny neck though, or turkey neck!!

reedzen · January 2015

I am still at the beginning of my journey, but I really loved reading these responses. It gives me a bunch of little things to look forward to.

acstansell · January 2015

My brain took forever to catch up too! I would try to try on clothes that were at least a size too big... some of the best parts:

- Enjoying looking at pictures
- being able to see my toes
- my elbow and knee
- Enjoying a dress and a skirt - I hadn't worn one in 3 years.
- NO MORE SPANX
- seeing my collar bones,my hips, and my ribs...
- I'm constantly rubbing my neck because I can fit my hands around it... I wasn't able to do that. so my jawline/neck feels weird.

I stopped working at it for 2 years, and am trying to get back on track. I'll be glad when I feel like myself again, which ironicaly now includes all of these things. WHen I put back on weight, THAT felt odd. I like that.

_L_A_ · January 2015

It's the feeling of being cold that surprised me most, I didn't think that much new would happen, but jees the cold is ridiculous! I used to be the one always clammy and warm wearing pumps, skirts and stroppy tops with just a thin cardigan in Winter, now I have to keep very wrapped up! I've still got a bit to lose... I hope I don't get even colder!

mrsbunbunbun · January 2015

aubyshortcake wrote: »

My armpits are actual pits and not just a flat area. Shaving got harder..lol

Lol Me too! I was like, jeez, is this really supposed to be this difficult???

Karenk160 · January 2015

Just beginning and these are very inspiring!!

jnc777 · January 2015

Great thread, and agree very inspiring

keshabbaker · January 2015

I am just surprised when I can fit everything in my closet now. I don't have to skip pass this skip pass that I can pull out almost anything and it fits.

ajff · January 2015

So many of these are familiar to me. The one that is sticking out in my brain is that the pockets in size 14 pants are way smaller than those in size 24 pants. I used to be able to carry my whole purse in my pockets... now my phone hardly fits!

seltzermint555 · January 2015

I love layering clothes for the first time ever. Before, a sleeveless dress & cardigan was the extent of my layering options. Finally I can copy fashion bloggers and do a button-down under a sweater or a dress with a vest and all the lightweight thin camis and long sleeve tops under it. I used to feel like the Michelin man when I did that and it just did not work, too many lumps and the thickness of the fabric made me feel much larger.

TheVirgoddess · January 2015

Sitting on the toilet for more than two minutes is now super uncomfortable.

I'm always cold. Always.

My feet shrank two full sizes.

TheVirgoddess · January 2015

Oh and tending the lady bits no longer involves really awkward positioning and fat shifting. That's pretty amazing.

flowerhouse · January 2015

Loving this thread - I had forgotten how uncomfortable church pews were. There are a hundred little things, I'm 47 & I had a chuckle when my 15year old asked could she borrow my new top

sofaking6 · January 2015

corbinskiii wrote: »

I love this!!

Really the main one is the brain! I still have no idea how much space I take up and I always bring the wrong clothes into the dressing room. I still look at myself in the mirror knowing I've lost 115 pounds but I still see a 320 pound girl. Come on brain, you're killin me!

Look up "cortical homunculus", not only because it's hilarious to say that even in your head, but it's a map that your brain makes of your body in order to position you in and move you through space. It takes time to update it, so that disconnect you feel is not imaginary! Well I mean it is imaginary but also real...ugh something something consciousness..

Ok I'm only @10 lb down but I've already gone shopping in my closet. Yesterday I dropped off some work pants at the cleaners that I haven't worn in @2 years. It's like winning free clothes!

skinnyD2308 · January 2015

Today I was in a video conference meeting and didn't hate how I looked on the screen.

clare120 · January 2015

I can curl up into the most adorable/comfy positions in any chair (airplane seats for the win!). I have always been able to do this (never technically overweight, maybe for a few months in middle school) but now it is much more comfortable, and I have only lost 17 pounds! As a 5'9 woman, that isn't much - but enough to make life a little easier

I can see my ribs and when I lay down my hipbones stick out in a big way.

I can wear size 4 jeans comfortably. When I started this journey I was a 6. My biggest size was a 10 and I tried on my old middle school uniform and it slipped right off me

Love this thread!

muzichick · January 2015

-I can feel my collarbones now.
-My new winter work parka is a size XL, and I have room for a sweater and a hoodie underneath. The one I had before was XXXL.
-I can cross my legs.
-My bones pinch the skin on my side, when I lay on my side in bed.
-My knees rub together when I lay on my side.
-I can shop at 'regular' stores now. I still feel weird being in a store that doesn't have a plus section, like someone is going to come and tell me that I can't be there.

My arms are now the biggest part of my top, that's the limiting factor when I buy fitted shirts, or anything with a sleeve. It's sad, but hopefully as I lose more weight, they will continue to get smaller.

MDF247 · January 2015

lol, I haven't gotten used to my knee bones touching when I sleep either. I think it's the ankles and knees touching at the same time that seems so unusual.

CipherZero · January 2015

Same one I always post from my blog on MFP: Not dying, and recovering faster than the best of estimates.

jnv7594 · January 2015

hanajbanana wrote: »

- I also didn't realise how bony my knees would get! They look fine but I sleep on my side and have to put some of the quilt between them because it freaks me out when I can feel the knee joints against each other!

I just noticed this about a month ago, lol. It has been driving me nuts. I used to always sleep on my side, and now it's uncomfortable. Funny how this is mentioned in so many posts.

Unexpected results of weight loss

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