When did you stop feeling fat?

I think I'll always feel fat when I look at myself naked in the mirror.

But at 120, I looked freaking awesome in clothes and I loved it (until I took them off and got a glimpse of myself).

Working on getting back there now.

I'm still fat, but I don't feel that way. I stopped feeling fat when I stopped acting fat.

I hope that doesn't come out the wrong way. My old habits were literally weighing me down... and my whole life now is completely different. My attitude toward everything has changed, and it just feels good.

You my dear have found the golden ticket

Once I lost the 20 pounds(5'4" now weigh 132) and went from size 12/14 to 6/8 I didn't feel large any longer. In clothes when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I feel pretty good. I still don't like the look naked as there are areas that could look better. My biggest issue s that we have a boat and spend a lot of time with friends at the lake in the summer time. Here is where everyone gets to see me practically naked. That is where I feel thereis more work to do. In reality if I compared myself to others I look pretty good. I suppose you have to be able to see the world "comparitively".

Regardless of how all of you feel about yourselves, remember that you all have something to be proud of. Everyone on these boards is taking steps to improve their own health and that's not something to disregard. I hope in time those of you still feeling fat will be able to see yourselves as others see you!

For myself I've just recently stopped seeing myself as "fat". When I was 150 I knew I was fat. When I was 140 I looked at my waistline and wanted to cry. At 130 I found myself still making jokes about my chubby stomach and shaking thighs. At 120 I grimaced at the little belly bulge I could see in my reflection, and then I realized I was putting myself down more than anyone else ever had. There are still parts of myself I can objectively see need work, but I'm not fat. I'm not "skinny" either (actually I'm just a touch above the exact mid-range normal of my BMI) but I'm lovely. It took until I stopped calling myself fat, even in jest, before I could stop feeling fat, even though I was a good ways from the overweight range already.

hastnt happed for me yet - but, funny thing is - I look back to when I was a size 12 ( oh how i miss that number now ) and I remember thinking back then that I was "fat" - funny to think about it now.........

I'm at my goal weight and it's still a daily battle whether or not I feel good about myself. I heard from someone that we spend too much time talking to ourselves (aka speaking bad feelings, thoughts, etc) and not enough time preaching ourselves the truth. I spend too much time telling myself how horrible I am and not enough time telling myself what a blessing a can be to others and myself. Now, when I feel fat or even icky about myself, I try to combat that with knowing where I stand. The things you may feel about yourself isn't exactly what others think of you. Spend some time letting yourself be "okay" with you. I think once we let go of our insecurities, we'll start to heal and get healthy! Good luck to you!

I'll let you know when it happens.

This.

Haven't

I hope this doesn't come across as an insensitive question. I just still find myself despairing over my reflection in the mirror, even though I know according to the numbers I am ok. I spend half my life still feeling fat, and the other half thinking I look great, then catching my reflection and thinking I look like a heifer.

So when did you get used to your new body?

Just this morning a girl in work said how "skinny" I was, that I'm looking great. A fantastic compliment of course. When she left I had a good look in the mirror and I honestly couldn't see that I am now slim. I'm 5'5 like you and 135lbs. BMI is around 22 and I've dropped a couple of dress sizes, so I KNOW I have a perfectly healthy weight.
But I still can't see that I'm actually slim now. How weird.

I think there's been some very great and very telling replies to this thread. So I'll try to share my tips for loving yourself.

If you want to feel good about yourself, the change happens from the inside. No matter that we're all on our own personal journeys to health and fitness - people here are obsessing about not being THIN. So it's worth asking yourself why do you want to be thin?

By eating healthily and becoming active, you're improving your body's health, whether you lose twenty or gain twenty pounds by keeping up your habits. Health is about how you feel, things like cholesterol and blood sugars and blood pressure. Fitness is about what you can do - run a marathon, bike for an hour, complete the 30 Day Shred without feeling like you've killed yourself.

When you look in the mirror or catch sight of yourself, don't think about your flaws. Find one thing, just one thing you like and focus on that. It could be "today, I like how I've done my eye makeup" or "today, I'm rocking great cleavage!" - ANYTHING, just one thing about how you look or what your body is doing that you can enjoy - and then move on. Be body-positive, not body-negative.

Remember this is all an ongoing process. I don't have it all figured out, not by a long shot. But when I can think "today, I ran for three minutes - longer than I've run in a long time!" I LET myself be proud of myself. We're doing fantastic things here - let's celebrate them!