Feel fatter than when I started

klkc2005 · November 2017

I've lost 40 pounds which I'm extremely happy about. I still have about 13 to go to my goal. My problem is that I think I look pretty darn good with my clothes on but when I look in the mirror without my clothes on, I feel so disgusted. I still look so fat. I know I have some toning to do which I'm working on now with some weights, hiit workouts, and yoga. Do you all think it's just a mind game and that I am still seeing the person I was? It's just frustrating. I've been working so hard and I feel great. I just wish I liked what I see in the mirror.

laurenebargar · November 2017

I dont have any advice, but im interested in the responses because I feel the same way. And some days even in clothes I feel like I look the same as when I started.

bee_bee8 · November 2017

Yes, it is all in your head. I also lost upwards of 40 lbs this year and most days I can’t see it. Even when I compare my progress photos in MFP, I still can barely see it. It’s especially frustrating because I’ve been sitting at the same weight (give or take 5 lbs) for months. I feel good and healthy but in a perfect world, I’d lose another 10 lbs to get to my dream weight.

I just constantly try to remind myself not just of how I looked before, but how I felt. My favorite clothes didn’t fit me. I was majorly overeating and felt sluggish most of the time because of it. I never went out, both because of the clothing issue and because I was generally self-conscious. When I started trying to get healthy, I could barely go 20 mins on my exercise machine.

Now, almost all my old clothes fit. I feel energetic all the time and rarely overeat anymore. I take my dogs for two 1.5+ mile walks per day. I can easily workout for an hour on my exercise machine. I don’t have to hold my breath to tie my shoes. These are the victories to focus on when you feel like you haven’t made any progress. You obviously have, but I know it’s easy to lose sight of how far you’ve come day in and day out. I hope this is helpful, and congratulations on getting so far in your weight loss journey :-)

ConnieAGinther · November 2017

It is all in your head!! You have to feel good on the inside before your mind allows you to love what is on the outside. I read somewhere that people who had gastro-bypass or who were on the biggest loser still felt that they were fat even after losing 60 pounds or more because they didn't change the way that they saw themselves.

evilpoptart63 · November 2017

I feel the same way. Sorry you are going through this, I know how frustrating and depressing it can be. The more weight I lose, the more I seem to fixate on my flaws wheras when I was overweight I think there was an element of denial. What has been helping lately is taking a TON of pictures and comparing them to my old ones. I cant help but feel a little proud when I see the progress

40lbs is an amazing acomplishment and Im sure you look a hell of a lot better now. Try to remind yourself daily of all the progress you have made and celebrate all of the amazing changes you have gone through to get to the point you are now

klkc2005 · November 2017

Thank you everyone. I know I've come a long way and i see it in pictures but sometimes when i look in the mirror, the old me creeps in. I need to start taking pictures again.

cs2thecox · November 2017

Mind games - it's irritating, huh?!

Also, when do you normally see yourself with no clothes on? If it's in the evening, when you're full of food and drink from the day, and maybe a bit tired and grumpy, I find it's always the worst point to look!
Try having a look in the morning after you've been to the bathroom (as long as you didn't have a crazy high salt day the day before!). I always find that helps me feel better.

Heather4448 · November 2017

Our brains are jerks. Reeeeeal jerks.

ChelleDee07 · November 2017

If I may... I skipped on through and did not read any other replies so if I repeat anything... that is why. I started my journey on January 11th of this year. I weighed 260 lbs. I found MFP on January 13th. Between changing what and how much I ate and getting up from the couch and active in the gym I lost over 100 lbs in exactly 8 months and 4 days. With that said, your mind does have to play catch up to the changes your body has made and it is on-going for a while. There are still times I have those 'moments' even now and I have been in maintenance for almost 2 months. In addition, you are correct... the firming and toning that you can achieve from Strength training will make a world of difference too. It is certainly a combination. Don't let your head get in the way though... You KNOW you weigh less and you have made changes that have improved your health already. Just stay positive. Don't let yourself feel defeated. Keep pushing and moving forward... there is more change ahead for you!

canadianlbs · November 2017

40 pounds is a LOT of weight. so your body has changed shape pretty fast and as people say, your brain needs a while to catch up.

the strength training i do has been a real distraction from that kind of 'i look weird' thing. i've gotten so caught up in admiring my new [fill in the blank] at times, i totally forget to go hate on [fill in the opposite blank] somewhere else. if it's denial, i'm happy with it.

gymprincess1234 · November 2017

I have the same problem. Buying new figure fitting clothes help and as funny it might sound, wearing almost nothing when at home, looking in the mirror, measuring myself, to make the mind catch up that I'm not THAT fat anymore. Also decrease sodium intake, so I don't feel and look bloated aka fatter.
And then there's always 'you are not fat, you have fat'. If it jiggles, it's extra, so needs to be lost, it's still a process, as you said, you still have 13lbs to go, that will make a difference.

Feel fatter than when I started

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