are you happy now?

What an interesting discussion.

Like so many others, I gained my weight due to grief and depression (and related medications). I went from never having had a weight problem to being 60lbs overweight in a year. Being fat made me feel as though I were wearing my grief for all to see. And I wore it for 5 long years before something 'clicked' and I was ready to take it off.

For me, losing weight has felt like returning to myself, and to life. I don't think the weight loss has made me happy - I think perhaps I had to be happy to be able to face losing weight.

I don't hurt as much-knees, back, etc. I feel more in control. That is a good feeling.

Definitely happier, even if I'm not nearly as accomplished as other MFP members.

I'm 50 lbs down and about 2/3 to my goal weight. I have always felt blessed, but now I am blessed and I feel free!!! The happiness that has come with weight loss is in the form of freedom. Freedom from judging myself and worrying others were doing the same (even if they really weren't). Freedom from feeling winded all the time, or worried about my clothes, or stressed every time I had to go shopping. Freedom from saying no to things I really wanted to do or try but thought I'd look stupid (whether or not I actually would have!). Freedom from constantly indulging in foods for comfort and then beating myself up about it. Freedom from telling myself I could never do athletic things or that being big would always be "just the way I am". I am not all the way there, but I also have given myself the freedom to be kind to myself as I get to my goal weight. There's no timeline because this is a life change not just a weight change. . I feel like I had been living in chains and didn't even realize it entirely until I felt them fall away. The weight loss is great, but it only started happening after I decided in my HEAD that I wanted to live in freedom.

I've lost 135 pounds. I'm thrilled that I dumped my car three years ago for a healthier life style. I am happy that I climbed and rock climbed Mt. Kineo on the advanced trail or the many physical things I can now do. I am thrilled I can wear dri fit work out pants and jacket, bikinis and junior sizes dress. I am even more thrilled that I went from a size 3x to small.

However..

The constant need for new clothes, undergarments and coats is exhausting. I plan to drop 15 more pounds and hit 14% body fat so I will need to cloth shop again in the near future. The jealously my weight loss has caused = much unnecessary drama. It is painful to sit for long periods of time as I no longer have much tail bone protection. I still struggle with body image issues.

I'm happier because it's one less thing to stress and worry about. For example, when I was obese I would fidget a lot with my clothing and worry about sitting with my back to the wall so people wouldn't look at my fat rolls. Now I don't worry about those things and I can dance around foolishly in more situations without concern.

Did going from size 24 to size 10 magically increase my happiness and boost my self confidence in all situations? Nope.

Absolutely. With the weight loss, my confidence has soared, and I'm much more social (still an introvert though). I've found things that I am really passionate about and am just generally loving life and living it up.

Simple question, but it really makes you think. I didn't know I was fat until I lost weight and someone mentioned how fat is used to be . . .

I needed to lose weight for health reasons and I am so much happier feeling better without all those mysterious aches and pains that being overweight seems to bring with it and medication free. I am more content with myself and probably from the absence of IBS I probably seem happier to most of the people around me.

Given how I seem to be much more accepted by society in general I guess that should make me happy - actually the jury is still out on that one.

But seriously whatever you may think losing weight will change, other than health issues, it more than likely won't. But do it anyway

Weight loss cure any diseases or health conditions?