What nobody tells you about losing weight

cblue315 · August 2016

thereshegoesagain wrote: »

coachsaralee wrote: »

sparklyhippos wrote: »

Loose skin .. I only lost 40 pounds as opposed to people who have to deal with huge amounts of loose skin due to 100 pound, etc. weight losses, and it took a good 2-3 years of working out to snap things back (mostly) into place lol

I lost over 80lbs and have very little loose skin. That usually happens if you lose it too fast.

Not necessarily, I've lost 95 pounds over a 3 year period and have tons of loose skin. I think genetics, how long one is overweight and numerous other factors determine how one's skin will react to weight loss.

I agree with @thereshegoesagain and @mccokat
I have lost over 120 pounds, not symmetrically. To the point that my stomach is very lopsided. But I am still very glad I did it. If I fell into some money I might do something about it. If not I'm still down to a healthier weight and a more active life.

philbanet · August 2016

I am surprised every time someone says that I look great without me asking, and I am *completely* addicted to it!

sohifirefly · August 2016

c123c wrote: »

Don't "save the best thing til last" on your plate! This will make you rush the rest to get to the good bit!
Instead take small amounts of each thing in a circuit

Holy cow, I never thought about it that way. I always save the best for last.

sohifirefly · August 2016

Madwife2009 wrote: »

girl_inflames wrote: »

when I lay on my side and my knees touch --so uncomfortable

I hate this as well - I couldn't work out how on earth I was bruising the INSIDES of my knees, until I twigged that it was the result of my knees clanking together. Sleeping is dreadfully uncomfortable now

I sleep with a memory foam pillow between my knees or under my knees if I am on my back. Definitely helps with the knees resting uncomfortably on each other.

dramaqueen45 · August 2016

sohifirefly wrote: »

Madwife2009 wrote: »

girl_inflames wrote: »

when I lay on my side and my knees touch --so uncomfortable

I hate this as well - I couldn't work out how on earth I was bruising the INSIDES of my knees, until I twigged that it was the result of my knees clanking together. Sleeping is dreadfully uncomfortable now

I sleep with a memory foam pillow between my knees or under my knees if I am on my back. Definitely helps with the knees resting uncomfortably on each other.

Yes- or just a bit of blanket in between the knees does the trick.

krazgrl · August 2016

How I plan my work attire based on what will function and look okay after I take my walk breaks and get sweaty . (I also keep a pair of tennis shoes at work.) How much I look forward to my walk breaks. I laugh because I have to walk alone since no one can keep up with my fast pace. lol

How weird it feels when people say it's hot in the room and you're freezing. I used to be the overheated one...

How much more tolerable hot weather is! Also being able to wear more weather-appropriate clothes helps too. In the past I would always be covered no matter how hot it was.

I still see myself as the same shape when in front of the mirror. It's just weird that my clothes are smaller sizes. How did those size 6-8 pants get in my closet (was a 16)?

meritage4 · August 2016

How much harder it is to shop the sale racks when you are in the "medium" sizes.

pstegman888 · August 2016

LindaGilpin59 wrote: »

That you could get to the point that you can have food (ie Chocolate) in the house and not eat it or even think about eating it.

...until somebody mentions it (chocolate)...then all of a sudden, I can't think of anything else, LOL!

JennifrClaire · August 2016

Not dreading the job interview -as much- because that moment when they actually see me isn't a deal breaker, now that I'm ordinary-sized.

RoseTheWarrior · August 2016

That all the pants hangers you had your size 24 pants hanging on are not actually too small when you hang your size 12 pants on them;
That you actually WILL feel colder; I didn't believe it until it started happening to me;
That people will feel so inspired by your weight loss and increased fitness that they will start living a healthier lifestyle too (YEAH!);
That you could very well become a shop-a-holic when you can buy any clothes you want instead of just the hideous ones at the fat store;
That you will be thrilled to be able to see bones poking out here and there - wrist bones, collar bones, shoulder bones - who knew I had so many bones???
That people will specifically ask you what you did to lose the weight and then completely talk like that could never work for them... because tracking calories is so ... what... boring and "sciencey"? Then they'll proceed to tell you how they lost weight 20 times on 20 different fad diets, and they should "get back to it" because you're "making them feel fat".

nowolga · August 2016

JennifrClaire wrote: »

Not dreading the job interview -as much- because that moment when they actually see me isn't a deal breaker, now that I'm ordinary-sized.

I hated this when I was looking for a job.

DayByDayGetStronger · August 2016

Maintaining weight is just as exhausting mentally as losing weight. Nothing worth having comes easy. I have come to the huge realization that I have a chronic disease called obesity and food addiction and every day I will manage it. Your friendly dietitian

WendyLaubach · August 2016

The business about being cold, absolutely. I NEVER used to be cold. Now I enjoy being in the direct hot sun when it's in the 90s, which is good, because 90s-weather lasts for months here. Losing 85 pounds is like taking off several wet-suits when it comes to heat retention.

I can wear all kinds of shoes now without pain, even heels. I find myself shopping for heels, which I haven't done for decades. No 4-inch ones, I haven't gone completely nuts (yet).

Amazon_Who · August 2016

WendyLaubach wrote: »

The business about being cold, absolutely. I NEVER used to be cold. Now I enjoy being in the direct hot sun when it's in the 90s, which is good, because 90s-weather lasts for months here. Losing 85 pounds is like taking off several wet-suits when it comes to heat retention.

I live in southern Louisiana and I am looking forward to this.

Fit4D83 · August 2016

mdnorthside wrote: »

trailgirl777 wrote: »

Hello, I don't quite have the success story yet but I read this post and love the comments. I wish to congradulate all that have found the right path for them. MFP works and I know it, however, I don't stick to it for the time the process needs. Many of you post about it being easier finally and you found determination or similar statements. My question is how/what clicked to change for you guys because that is what I am trying to find at the moment.

For me, I finally called *kitten* on myself. I admitted that I wasn't happy at this weight, and was never going to be. Furthermore, I realized that I had been steadily gaining weight for years, and that if I didn't take action I would eventually be hugely overweight and then obese and then dead. What a terrible future. So I committed myself 100%, to continue the effort no matter how long it took until I was done. Not only did this motivate me to stop wasting time by emotionally overeating, but gave me permission to be a little gentler with myself when I did mess up. This emotional freedom paired with total commitment has made all the difference for me.

Mantra: This is the last time I will ever lose weight.

It's like you took the words right out of my brain!
My Mantra: I'm taking my body back!

mazarasltm · August 2016

WendyLaubach wrote: »

I can wear all kinds of shoes now without pain, even heels. I find myself shopping for heels, which I haven't done for decades. No 4-inch ones, I haven't gone completely nuts (yet).

Go Nuts. I mean it. My wife tried her first 2 piece bikini. If you got it, flaunt it. I went shirtless, there were guys 10x bigger than me shirtless at the pool & jacuzzi on my vacation. Again GO NUTZ. You earned it. Unlike people who were never big, you will always have that small core of humility.
Post a pic of the 4 inch heels when you take the plunge.

soufauxgirl · August 2016

joans1976 wrote: »

lujako wrote: »

How many dishes you would have to clean to loose weight

^^^this, this, a thousand times this! I don't have a dishwasher and some days I swear if I have to wash one more 2 ounce container....grrr.
Also, the amount of containers I have to store!
It IS all worth it though!
***this thread is super great happy times***

Lol! I have a container mountain sitting in the corner of my kitchen...its going to topple over soon better do some more meal prep

evilqueencathy · August 2016

I can see my ankle bones.
I still try to give people lots of space when walking past, forgetting I don't take up as much room anymore
When looking for my swimsuit in a bag of our clothes, I passed it several times, thinking it was one of the kids'.
Seats are less comfy and my bony son actually stabs my leg with his knees now. My padding used to protect me.
I feel full eating a lot less and too much junk hurts my stomach and gives me a headache. Pop burns my throat. How did I used to live putting all that crap in my body? I hardly ever get sick anymore

KatMac22072004 · August 2016

That just because you're proud and excited to show people how much weight you've lost, doesn't mean that they want to know or even really care.
Which is strange to think about now. I used to imagine that "overweight" and "big" was the only way people saw me. Harsh truths!

lizzy_satellite · August 2016

How jarring it is to look at photos from a decade ago that you haven't looked at since years before you started dropping weight, and wonder how the hell you did not realise how out of shape you were back then. I was way bigger than I thought I looked at the time. Denial, possibly - but it seriously did not register with me.

dbashby · August 2016

Because of the exercise (more energy) and weight loss (sleep apnea). I shed about 2 hours off my nightly sleep requirement.

GabinkaP · August 2016

LindaGilpin59 wrote: »

That you could get to the point that you can have food (ie Chocolate) in the house and not eat it or even think about eating it.

I wish. I can leave it without eating it but then when I do want it, I'll find either my husband or teenage daughter has eaten it all.

JenHuedy · August 2016

You might get resentful of family members who can't do what you want to do.

When we went to Yellowstone this year, we spent 90% of our time in the truck or on the crowded boardwalk areas. My husband was too out of shape and my boys, well, they're teenagers. The one hike I talked them into (less than 3 miles) they complained about the hills the whole time. And my paranoid hubby was too worried about bears to let me go by myself, even on well-traveled trails. I'm still working on letting go of the disappointment and resentment for not getting to do many of the things I dreamed of.

My one and only "back country" experience the whole trip was a 13.1 mile "hike" through the national forest with 2,500 other people (aka Yellowstone Half Marathon). Enjoyable, but not quite the same.

jpheller88 · August 2016

-The strength you feel when we can easily turn down that beer that everybody is enjoying or be satisfied having just that one bite of cake that you're obligated to have at a party. It was SOOO TOUGH in the beginning and I'm really enjoying how far I've come with seeing foods that are just not worth it. Pasta?! If you would've told me a year ago that there would be a point in my life where I could easily pass it up, I would never have beleived you.

-Having calorie counted for so long, friends regularly ask me the nutritional content of food and I'm usually pretty accurate without looking.

-Getting excited to do activities that take a lot of energy (hiking, kayaking, biking) and overall not being content sitting on the couch for more than a half hour.

-Watching your friends lifestyles change for the better. This was a big fear of mine as my girlfriends like to drink and go out for food a fair amount. I was extremely pleasantly surprised that they've slowed down on the drinking and are getting more active with me!

lissadecker · August 2016

kar328 wrote: »

And if people haven't seen it, search "I've lost an elephant's penis" here in the forums. It gives you a list of interesting items corresponding to different weights. I was so proud when I could claim that distinction.

Holy cow! This is awesome. I, too, have lost an elephant's penis and a chihuahua! Thanks!

12Sarah2015 · August 2016

How your body is different each time you lose weight. Lost once before, was hourglass shape. Now post baby I'm straight shape as my tummy is bigger (weaker muscles I'm sure) and boobs are bigger too. Maybe coz I've mainly walked this time and swam last time?

TypingToaster · August 2016

How your pets will react to you exercising. My cat has three main reactions. The first one is she stares at me with concern, the second is she gets very happy is purring up a storm and rubbing up against me and the third one is she gets energetic and starts running all over the place.

palmtang · August 2016

AmusedToaster wrote: »

How your pets will react to you exercising. My cat has three main reactions. The first one is she stares at me with concern, the second is she gets very happy is purring up a storm and rubbing up against me and the third one is she gets energetic and starts running all over the place.

This really made me laugh! I have 3 cats, one of them is generally uninterested, but the other 2, well the second I pick up weights they are frolicking around my legs like they want to do them with me. The only way to get rid of them sometimes is to go on the treadmill. This is still the machine of fear for them, they sit from a safe distance with a look of disapproval on their faces. It is like they are saying ''What is this witchcraft!? Her legs are moving and she goes NOWHERE!!!''

palmtang · August 2016

mariacooper1987 wrote: »

Perhaps slightly inappropriate, but one of my biggest surprises about losing weight is the hypersexuality I've experienced. My sex drive has increased enormously, not that my husband is complaining, but it's been shocking how I seem to be "in the mood" all the time. I enjoy sex a lot more too, probably because I'm not out of breath or feeling completely self conscious the whole time!

That's awesome for you I'm a little jealous!

I've gone the opposite way though, my poor boyfriend. Maybe I'm just super focused on other stuff but the thought barely comes into my head these days! Anyone else experience this? (if it's not TMI for everyone)

louann_jude · August 2016

palmtang wrote: »

mariacooper1987 wrote: »

Perhaps slightly inappropriate, but one of my biggest surprises about losing weight is the hypersexuality I've experienced. My sex drive has increased enormously, not that my husband is complaining, but it's been shocking how I seem to be "in the mood" all the time. I enjoy sex a lot more too, probably because I'm not out of breath or feeling completely self conscious the whole time!

That's awesome for you I'm a little jealous! I've gone the opposite way though, my poor boyfriend. Maybe I'm just super focused on other stuff but the thought barely comes into my head these days! Anyone else experience this? (if it's not TMI for everyone)

I feel the same way most of the time. I think for me it's I am terrified of getting pregnant. I mean I am busting my *kitten* to lose this weight. I already have four children and know I am fertile and weight loss is a sure fire way to up the chances of pregnancy.

What nobody tells you about losing weight

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