The way your goals change - from just wanting to lose enough to get in an acceptable range, to wanting what left of you to look fit and not soft, to wanting to see if you can squat more than your body weight or run a half marathon. Just 'cause.
One thing I'm not thrilled about is how lean my arms have gotten. If I'm cold, you can't really tell, but if I'm warm at all, the veins start a-poppin'. When I do upper body lifts, they look like an anatomy drawing of the vascular system.
And when you've maintained your success for a while ... having the people that spouted the popular diet nonsense at you come back and ask for advice. Taking you seriously this time.
This! The way your goals change! I used to be a runner and thought that my running days were over. But I've lost 20lbs since Dec and am planning to do a 5K soon! That was not on my radar in December. I just wanted to lose the weight.
One day you WILL find the perfect bikini. It WILL be half price. It WILL be available in a range of sizes. You will never be able to have that bikini because you don't know what size you're going to need the next time you have the cance to wear it.
On the flipside, there's looking forward to just how great bikini shopping is going to be when you have the abs n *kitten*!!
Such a great thread! I've lost 45lbs in 5 months, with not a lot of change in the first 3 1/2, it seems, but the last 6 weeks it became dramatic! I just finished week 1 of maintenance with losing .2#, so I'm still trying to figure it out, and I'm okay with that!
Things I didn't expect or have pleasantly discovered:
-constantly looking down when I'm walking because I can't hear/feel my jeans/legs rubbing together
-finding my pants are longer, even the current size, because I'm taking up less sideways space
-feeling full after a meal, putting my hand on my belly and it going down further than expected because it's flatter,
-having to double up my workout mat to do sit ups/crunches because my tailbone hurts against the floor
-crossing my legs! It's easier and not awkward
-new friends! Peeps that eat healthier and work out seem to draw one another
-the encouragement I give others who are friends, or even people I don't know well that have watched me in my weight process
-FINALLY answering my inside-my-head-question, "Am I going to have to do this for the rest of my life??? (i.e. exercise, watch my calories, get on the scale, etc., etc., etc.), with a happy, "YES!, and it's totally worth it!"
-not being self-conscious about my stomach, 'love handles', booty, or whatever, showing as 'overflow' in my clothes.
-my office chair hurting my tailbone (I suffer from SI Joint Dysfunction) and having to get an exercise ball to sit on - Win-Win!
I'm so hopeful that these will become the norm for me, that I won't ever 'go back'.
How you'll acquire a taste for food you've previously "hated". I've always liked fruit but apples were pretty much a "meh". Now, I'll forsake just about any other fruit for apples. I could eat a dozen a day.
This happened to me too, but with grapefruit. It was always too bitter before, but tastes refreshing now.
I'm 5'2" and have lost 25 lbs so far (15 to go). For the last couple of days I've been feeling simultaneously "too fat" and "too thin"! Guess I'm still adjusting mentally.
Having to remember not to judge people who are not eating healthily enough. That was me before, and I didn't change until I was ready, no matter what others thought.
Everybody's different, but for me there are certain foods I just don't eat because they send me into a tailspin. As they say, too much is never enough.
So, over the last couple of weeks, when I've been out running I have had random cars toot at me and people wave. I'm 99% sure they're not people I know, but I'm not very good at recognising people in a flash as they drive past!
My first thought is always "am I having some kind of clothing malfunction?" But nope, not so far *phew*. Previously it was always people shouting insults at the fat woman wobbling down the street. 25kg later and I still feel like that person and can't imagine anyone would want to pay me a 'compliment' while I'm out running, as I still have a way to go before I hit my healthy weight range (~10kgs).
So I guess my 'thing they never tell you about losing weight' is that you'll be perpetually confused by people's reactions as your body changes!
I love the fact that getting dressed doesn't take very long now. I used to go through 3 or 4 outfits because "my bum looked big" or "these jeans are too tight". Now - everything fits like it is supposed to - job done!!
I have had my weight off for 4 years now but forgot how awful it was trying to find something to wear. Thanks for reminding me.
Ok, so I understand that the boobs would get smaller. In a way that was a relief. But why do they have to look so awful! There really is no discernible shape to them unless I have a bra on.
So, over the last couple of weeks, when I've been out running I have had random cars toot at me and people wave. I'm 99% sure they're not people I know, but I'm not very good at recognising people in a flash as they drive past!
My first thought is always "am I having some kind of clothing malfunction?" But nope, not so far *phew*. Previously it was always people shouting insults at the fat woman wobbling down the street. 25kg later and I still feel like that person and can't imagine anyone would want to pay me a 'compliment' while I'm out running, as I still have a way to go before I hit my healthy weight range (~10kgs).
So I guess my 'thing they never tell you about losing weight' is that you'll be perpetually confused by people's reactions as your body changes!
Since I've started running myself, I've found that whenever I see someone out running while I'm driving I want to toot and shout some encouragement. Especially if, like me, they look like they're kinda new to it and are trying to lose some weight. I want to tell them that I get it, they're awesome, and they should stick with it, I'm right there with them.
Being ACTUALLY handicapped, I get really annoyed when large girls take the handicapped stall. It's NOT for you...it's for us who really need it. Please...a little respect.
With all due respect, as the daughter and niece of longtime wheelchair bound women (advanced MS), you are incorrect in your statement. The only handicapped-related facility that is exclusively for handicapped users (and is thus protected by law) is handicapped parking. Ramps, toilets, elevators, support bars, and so on are available for use by anybody, including the able bodied. They are made available because some handicapped people are not physically able to use the regular facilities or entrances, stairs, etc., but they are not reserved for the exclusive use of disabled people. If the handicap bathroom stall is the only one available, I will use it with no qualms or guilt whatsoever, and I know that my mother and aunt would not begrudge that in the slightest. Now, if there is a disabled lady waiting for a stall, I would certainly leave the handicap stall open for her, but only in the same way as I would encourage an elderly lady to go ahead of me in line. It's common courtesy, not entitlement. I'm sorry, but as one who lives closely with disabled people, I find your attitude disappointing.
Being ACTUALLY handicapped, I get really annoyed when large girls take the handicapped stall. It's NOT for you...it's for us who really need it. Please...a little respect.
With all due respect, as the daughter and niece of longtime wheelchair bound women (advanced MS), you are incorrect in your statement. The only handicapped-related facility that is exclusively for handicapped users (and is thus protected by law) is handicapped parking. Ramps, toilets, elevators, support bars, and so on are available for use by anybody, including the able bodied. They are made available because some handicapped people are not physically able to use the regular facilities or entrances, stairs, etc., but they are not reserved for the exclusive use of disabled people. If the handicap bathroom stall is the only one available, I will use it with no qualms or guilt whatsoever, and I know that my mother and aunt would not begrudge that in the slightest. Now, if there is a disabled lady waiting for a stall, I would certainly leave the handicap stall open for her, but only in the same way as I would encourage an elderly lady to go ahead of me in line. It's common courtesy, not entitlement. I'm sorry, but as one who lives closely with disabled people, I find your attitude disappointing.
Replies
I picked up a 10Kg weight yesterday just to see for myself how much I had lost. Boy did that feel good!
Things they don't tell you:
This! The way your goals change! I used to be a runner and thought that my running days were over. But I've lost 20lbs since Dec and am planning to do a 5K soon! That was not on my radar in December. I just wanted to lose the weight.
On the flipside, there's looking forward to just how great bikini shopping is going to be when you have the abs n *kitten*!!
Things I didn't expect or have pleasantly discovered:
-constantly looking down when I'm walking because I can't hear/feel my jeans/legs rubbing together
-finding my pants are longer, even the current size, because I'm taking up less sideways space
-feeling full after a meal, putting my hand on my belly and it going down further than expected because it's flatter,
-having to double up my workout mat to do sit ups/crunches because my tailbone hurts against the floor
-crossing my legs! It's easier and not awkward
-new friends! Peeps that eat healthier and work out seem to draw one another
-the encouragement I give others who are friends, or even people I don't know well that have watched me in my weight process
-FINALLY answering my inside-my-head-question, "Am I going to have to do this for the rest of my life??? (i.e. exercise, watch my calories, get on the scale, etc., etc., etc.), with a happy, "YES!, and it's totally worth it!"
-not being self-conscious about my stomach, 'love handles', booty, or whatever, showing as 'overflow' in my clothes.
-my office chair hurting my tailbone (I suffer from SI Joint Dysfunction) and having to get an exercise ball to sit on - Win-Win!
I'm so hopeful that these will become the norm for me, that I won't ever 'go back'.
My first thought is always "am I having some kind of clothing malfunction?" But nope, not so far *phew*. Previously it was always people shouting insults at the fat woman wobbling down the street. 25kg later and I still feel like that person and can't imagine anyone would want to pay me a 'compliment' while I'm out running, as I still have a way to go before I hit my healthy weight range (~10kgs).
So I guess my 'thing they never tell you about losing weight' is that you'll be perpetually confused by people's reactions as your body changes!
I have had my weight off for 4 years now but forgot how awful it was trying to find something to wear. Thanks for reminding me.
I don't though, because that would be weird.
Awesome.
it feel great.
With all due respect, as the daughter and niece of longtime wheelchair bound women (advanced MS), you are incorrect in your statement. The only handicapped-related facility that is exclusively for handicapped users (and is thus protected by law) is handicapped parking. Ramps, toilets, elevators, support bars, and so on are available for use by anybody, including the able bodied. They are made available because some handicapped people are not physically able to use the regular facilities or entrances, stairs, etc., but they are not reserved for the exclusive use of disabled people. If the handicap bathroom stall is the only one available, I will use it with no qualms or guilt whatsoever, and I know that my mother and aunt would not begrudge that in the slightest. Now, if there is a disabled lady waiting for a stall, I would certainly leave the handicap stall open for her, but only in the same way as I would encourage an elderly lady to go ahead of me in line. It's common courtesy, not entitlement. I'm sorry, but as one who lives closely with disabled people, I find your attitude disappointing.