What nobody tells you about losing weight

FABRICWOMAN wrote: »

When people ask you how you lost weight, they seem to become disenchanted to find out that you had to work hard and diligently to lose the weight over a period of time. They seem to want a quick fix, which is what I had always wanted, but came to the realization that it takes time and practice. It is well worth the effort in the end.

FABRICWOMAN wrote: »

When people ask you how you lost weight, they seem to become disenchanted to find out that you had to work hard and diligently to lose the weight over a period of time. They seem to want a quick fix, which is what I had always wanted, but came to the realization that it takes time and practice. It is well worth the effort in the end.

I am exactly the same lmao! I know that weight loss is very simple for 99% of the people. Calories in and calories out. Move more and eat less. That’s how I’ve lost 10 pounds so far. But anytime I see someone who has lost a lot of weight, I always ask them how they lost the weight, as if I don’t know the answer.

I don’t know why I do that. Deep down I know the answer. But I always ask the question for some odd reason. Maybe it’s just me psychologically and unconsciously looking for a shortcut or a “cheat code” to lose the weight very fast lol

Anyways congrats on your transformation.

I’ve discovered that my washing machine doesn’t shrink my clothes. They are the same size they always were. Thankfully I am shrinking again 😂

Sand_TIger wrote: »

Something else nobody every told me about weight loss is how GOOD healthy food would taste. I've enjoyed fruit more than any candy, and a really good yogurt with fruit on it is almost as good as ice cream. I'm amazed at how tasty lean protein and vegetables can be when cooked right. Yes, the body can indeed be trained into craving the healthy stuff, just as I wished would happen back in the day when eating junk.

You know the old refrain "why can't the healthy stuff taste as good as stuff that's bad for me?"

It CAN!

Yes!

And on the other hand, some of the "junk" is no longer palatable to me and it's kind of astonishing I used to eat it and like it. There's a couple things I still enjoy, but I think nostalgia may be a very big part of that and it overwhelms my other senses.

I have been having several very odd experiences lately where I realize I have lost fat from very particular parts of my body - the ones sticking out to me right now are where the backs of my thighs meet my bottom and in my armpits. I never thought I'd be able to notice something like that! But here we are!

wunderkindking wrote: »

The armpit thing is so real. The amount of weird pulling I have to do to shave now is mildly alarming.

The deep concave? LOL I thought that was just a weird thing about me!

penguinmama87 wrote: »

Sand_TIger wrote: »

Something else nobody every told me about weight loss is how GOOD healthy food would taste. I've enjoyed fruit more than any candy, and a really good yogurt with fruit on it is almost as good as ice cream. I'm amazed at how tasty lean protein and vegetables can be when cooked right. Yes, the body can indeed be trained into craving the healthy stuff, just as I wished would happen back in the day when eating junk.

You know the old refrain "why can't the healthy stuff taste as good as stuff that's bad for me?"

It CAN!

Yes!

And on the other hand, some of the "junk" is no longer palatable to me and it's kind of astonishing I used to eat it and like it. There's a couple things I still enjoy, but I think nostalgia may be a very big part of that and it overwhelms my other senses.

I have been having several very odd experiences lately where I realize I have lost fat from very particular parts of my body - the ones sticking out to me right now are where the backs of my thighs meet my bottom and in my armpits. I never thought I'd be able to notice something like that! But here we are!

My oddest one is this:
I sleep with some orthopedic pillows. One to raise my head and chest, one to raise my knees. And I had to cut the one for my knees down by half because I don’t have as much Crisco (fat in the can) as I did before this journey.

I have been a strong swimmer my entire life.

I had to basically tread water for half an hour today doing a dog thing.

It was easier when I was fat.

Good god I didn't realize it was going to be that hard.

No one said family/friends would try to sabotage me.

A family member will bring lunch to my job.
1:knowing I plan my day in the morning and bring my lunch with me.
2:only brings lunch the day after my weigh in, and only if I lost.

Best friend makes me feel guilty about my progress by pointing out why she isn’t losing.

I vaguely knew family/friends aren’t always supportive, I’ve experienced that but I guess I thought it would be more dismissive than sabotage.

I definitely noticed that after a significant weight loss that I am always looking at myself and how cute I am! I know that this is totally vein, but it has been a confidence booster in that way!

I also honestly feel comfortable eating whatever I want in front of strangers (like at work) now that I am at a "normal" weight.

Thanks for all that posted, really interesting to read your comments!

That you never really were "big-boned."

That you also lose weight from the inside. I feel so much less pressure on my stomach, lungs and heart. I feel more like a shell where my organs have room to function.

I didn't realize that I had such strong emotional associations with particular weights and sizes. That is, when I get down to certain sizes/lbs, it triggers memories of other times in my life that I was there. Some good, some not. I knew weight loss would be emotional, but it's almost like I have to stop and release different experiences along with the pounds. If I don't, I can feel myself start to freak out and begin sabotaging behaviors. A massage therapist friend of mine used to say, "The issues are in the tissues," and that's proven more true for me than I expected. Each pound of fat contains a story. Some leave joyfully, but others bring up drama.

People always say, "it's a good problem to have" when you drop a clothing size or another five pounds and it is. But you can also feel a little lost and not sure who you are anymore. And you can flashback to old parts of your life that you thought were long dealt with. All because the scale number changed or you suddenly needed a smaller size of underwear. You feel like you should be happy, and you ARE but it's mixed in with all this other stuff. I didn't expect that. I thought I would be unequivocably thrilled to be smaller and feel pretty, but it's going to take dealing with some old crap to get to enjoy it fully.

I think maybe this is why I have regained in the past, because I didn't stop and address the negative emotions that went with being smaller. So part of me wasn't on board with the weight loss. This time I want to lose these pounds for good, and that means slowing down to attend to the mental/emotional stuff.

Sand_TIger wrote: »

WifeDeputy wrote: »

ne of my biggest things was learning how to nest my knees for sleeping at night. What does this mean?

It means that some of us learn we now have super bony knees and we can't comfortably stack one on top of the other while sleeping on our sides. I had something like that happen for a bit as my thighs lost padding and for a while my spine was out of alignment when I slept.

I ordered the thinnest memory foam pillow I could find on Amazon. It has really helped. I don’t like knees, shins, ankles or feet touching each other now, for some reason.

Acne. For some reason, I got a rash of spots on my neck when losing weight that stuck around until I stopped losing.

That horrible quote of Kate Moss’s, “ nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”? Not entirely as ridiculous as it sounds.

Comments on what you eat somehow are acceptable just because you are slim !

Wolf whistling still happens in your 40s once you lose the weight - euw

You might struggle to recognise your reflection and butt up against the self you were when last this size - very confusing

Shopping gets really easy when you are the smallest size of every range!

I dropped a shoe size and that was really sad as my shoes were my one joy when overweight.

I kept all my slim clothes thinking it wouldn’t take as long as it did to get back into them. Now of my larger wardrobe, I’ve learned to only keep the expensive, classic pieces

For me, it's more about things people didn't tell me about gaining weight. I am at my highest weight and I never thought it would be difficult as a heavier person to paint my own toenails, wipe my own butt (it's not that I can't do it obviously, but I have to twist & bend my back more because I got bigger), or be hot and sweaty after trying on clothes in a store. Some everyday, simple tasks are more challenging and it is an inspiration to get back to the old me because these things really suck.

That sometimes you have to actually argue with people to get incidental exercise into your day. If you want to drive a 10 minute walk, fine, but I have legs and I like using them for the purpose they were made for!