Questions for those who lost 30 or more lbs

This has been a long process for me that I've learned so much from, so please excuse my long post. I just want to share the wisdom I think I've gained.

1. What was your starting weight and height?
I started at 5'9" and about 360 pounds.

2. What is your current weight/goal weight?
I am currently 175. My ultimate goal is 160, but right now I'm in sort of a plateau. But the weight I seem to sometimes gain appears to be muscle that I'm building while the fat goes away.

3. How long did it take you to reach your goal?
I have been on MFP since July of 2013, so about 3.5 years so far.

4. Did you feel different, mentally? e.g. did you have more confidence or did you feel awkward?
I am definitely a different person mentally now. I am not as shy, I'm not as awkward, I'm not as terrified of what people think about me. It's been a struggle for me, personally. I am definitely MUCH more confident than I was when I was really heavy, but it's really a process for me. I guess it depends on the person, but I think there's always going to be some mental struggle somewhere in there you have to move past, whether it's working out in front of people or just being mentally strong enough to stick to your food and exercise goals.

5. Were you treated differently by family, friends, coworkers, exes, people who never used to talk to you, even strangers? Just anybody at all? And in what way? How did you take it?
Absolutely. Less so with family and friends, who loved me back then and love me now (although I can name a few family members who looked down on me when I was bigger). But the difference in treatment from strangers is huge. In my case, when I was 360 pounds, I was either a freak show people stared at (usually directly at my tummy) or somebody people completely ignored. People either only saw my fat, or they didn't see me at all. People tend to smile more, say hi more, hold doors open more, etc. now. Unfortunately, people have very little respect for those with weight problems, which I definitely experienced.

6. Is there anything that I should expect on my 60 lb weight loss journey, mentally, emotionally, and physically?
Mentally: Expect to hit bumps in the road. Prepare to fail every once in a while. Know that not every weigh-in is going to be a good one for you. But know that this is a life change and a sometimes very long process. It may be something you have to stick to for the rest of your life (I will be counting my calories and logging my exercise for the rest of my life, I have come to terms with that, but it's what works for me and will keep me on track). The absolute best advice I can give anybody starting this is that you have to keep going. Do not use gaining two pounds one week as an excuse to give up. Use it as motivation to move forward and improve.

Physically: Pease always remember that bodies, especially women's bodies, are weird and stupid, and they hold water and, and gain and lose weight in weird ways. It's normal and it will all even out if you stick to your plan.

Also, you will probably lose quickly at first and then it will start to level off. Don't be discouraged by that (easier said than done, take it from me), it's normal. Not every week is going to be a three-pound loss. But you will keep chipping away!

Emotionally: This will be emotionally trying. It will be exciting and happy, and then frustrating and infuriating. Try to sort through those feelings and avoid emotional eating, if that's your thing. If you think you may have some emotional issues to sort through, get therapy. Work out why you're eating and gaining weight and work through the emotional issues.

7. Have you had any period changes (cramps, shorter periods, etc)?
I did not have periods for years (yes, YEARS) while I was heavy. They came back regularly once I got to a non-morbidly obese weight. It's kind of amazing if you think about it. My body knew I was starting to normalize, and it started working correctly again.

8. Did your skin change?
Not in any significant way, at least not as far as complexion. My skin as a whole is a lot looser now, just because of the sheer amount of fat I lost.

9. Anything weird happen to you at all?
For a while, when I dropped a lot of weight quickly, my hair got a little thinner up on top, but it was not a permanent thing, and it's back to normal.

That's about the only weird thing, but a lot of wonderful things happened. I found my confidence, I found activities I loved, I met new friends online, I learned a lot about patience and perseverance, I was able to fit into normal clothes and buy stuff that was more stylish, and I think I became a more well-rounded person when I stopped living to eat, and learned to use food as fuel to survive.