I sure dont feel 45 pounds thinner

I've lost 23 (183-160). Since you see the changes everyday they aren't as noticable to you. For me there was one day that I walked past the mirror in the locker room and thought - "who is that, oh it's me."
I often still wonder if I have really accomplished anything, because I still see myself as being fat. Looking at pictures of before and after can be helpful also.

I think we all feel that way, just because we see ourselves every day and don't notice the little changes, but others who don't see us every day notice.

When I first started losing weight, I think i'd lost 10 lbs maybe... when I asked how I looked I had a friend (now EX friend) tell me, "Nobody notices when you take a couple buckets of water out of the ocean."

She was a **** lol.

However, in my experience, the farther along you get the more difference a few lbs seems to make. Even if you're not noticing so much of a change now, stick with it! You'll get to that point I swear it!!

I might add that even though i've gone from a size 16 to a size 6 there are still days I feel like I look horrible, sometimes one's perception of ones self isn't always realistic. I'm sure you look fantastic.

Stick with it. Don't be discouraged! Good luck!

Maybe now that you've lost weight, your expectations are higher? I have lost weight, but I am always striving to improve as my standards go higher and I am able to do more. Do you also do strength training? If you only do cardio, you end up with a smaller version of your previous body...strength training helps to shape it up and make it tighter. Good job on the initial weight loss, you are definitely headed in the right direction...how about looking at some of your before and after pics? Oftentimes we are ignorant of our progress, and pictures help to make it clear that you have made some changes. If you were overweight for a while, your mind is probably stuck at that time period..I know for myself since I was overweight most of my life and still felt fat and uncomfortable yet I was definitely in a different body. Mind and body need to come together..it takes time, you can do it.

I feel the exact same ways most days. I too have lost just over 45 pounds and still feel fat. I was one who never quite understood how people who lost a lot of weight and look fabulous can say they still feel and look fat to themself, until now. I think it is a mental thing. I KNOW that I've lost weight...my clothes are proof. I can mow the yard now and not feel like I'm going to die. I FEEL healthier, however I still see fat. Mentally I have to learn that I'm not fat anymore. Yes, I still have a ways to go before I hit my goal, but I'm getting there.
One thing I've done to help me out, is I have posted a picture of me at my heaviest next to a recent picture of me. This helps as a visual reminder that I am getting thinner and I'm not the puffy blob that I used to be :laugh:
Good luck!! Keep your chin up and keep on going! BTW, you do look GREAT! It shows in your pictures!

Hey! I understand what it is like to want to "feel thin", but chasing after a feeling is sort of unhealthy (like anorexics want to "feel thin", too). I know you want to lose weight, but maybe you should just make daily goals, like calorie or new exercise hobbies your high point. I understand that "feeling thin" is something you want, but you have to realize thin and confident is not always synonymous and I think what you really want is to feel confident. Work on feeling "confident" by doing things that really matter so when you are thin, you don't have to play catch up with your self-esteem. However, I bet you look great now and there are a lot of people (including me) who are proud of you. So hopefully, you will get to the point that if you reach your daily calorie and exercise goal, you will feel "great", no matter what. Write down a list of things that make you feel great, in the meantime. Hope this helps.

Wow i feel the same exact way! i also lost 45lbs and still feel fat i went from a sze 18 /20 to size 12/14 evertone tells me how great i look and im fine where im at now i just dont see it you look great good luck!

Omg, you are preaching to the choir! Like you, I've lost [40] pounds and I can't tell. Like you, again, I'm 5'9", others notice, clothes no longer fit, etc. but I just feel it should feel and look more obvious in the mirror! All I can suggest is to keep up what you're doing and you'll eventually get to your goal and then it'll be obvious to yourself.

But again, I 1000 percent feel the exact way you do. Add me!

I definitely feel the same way! I think you're right on both counts-- being taller (I'm 5'10") and starting very heavy (I started over 300lbs) both affect it. As a tall person, each pound looks like less because it is stretched out along a bigger surface.

I know how you feel somewhat and it sucks :C

But don't get discouraged! I haven't seen a dramatic change yet but the other night I turned off the main light in my room and the lamp on my bedstand was still on and it threw shadows across my chest and I could see my collarbones! That is a FIRST! I don't mean they stick out dramatically but they used to be completely hidden in fat ;D I've also gone down a pants size so even if I can't see it, the evidence is overwhelming

There's probably a lot of little things you don't see. Keep at it! I think you're probably right that the results will be more dramatic now that you've hit 200

p.s. I see a big difference in your face from your profile before/after pic! It's much slimmer!