What nobody tells you about losing weight

As of today.. I am down 31kg. (68lb) and am now finally only considered overweight instead of morbidly obese. (current weight is 75.2kg (166lb)) What I have learned so far...

-My feet have shrunk almost 1.5 sizes already.. Who the hell knew your feet got smaller???? (side note, shoes are expensive)
-My Belly no longer touches the steering wheel when I drive.. in fact its about 15-20cm away...
-My brain still thinks I am a size 20 AU.. and I keep trying on clothes that are too big for me. I need someone with me or I am likely to come home with a shirt too big.
-I am convinced all clothing labels are suddenly lying about their sizes because I fit them. (I wish I was kidding about this one)

But by far.. the best and most unexpected side effect?... I can walk down stairs without having to hold on.

When you stop eating sugary foods, just a little sugar goes a long way. I used to love plain M&M's. Last week, I had a handful and was instantly sorry. Waaaaay too sweet.

wunderkindking wrote: »

This is one I truly did not expect, but is definitely not just in my head because my husband has noticed.

I am more fit and capable than I have ever been but at goal weight people have started treating me like I'm going to break/can't do things on my own/am some kind of incompetent. It is very, very strange and I hate it.

Are you sure that it isn't just that people now find you more attractive and therefore want to do things for you? When I was 85lbs/6 stone heavier, I seemed to often be invisible. No one offered to help me when I struggled with heavy packages, no one held a door open for me, no helpful person volunteered to return a grocery trolley, etc. Now that I am much thinner, I get all sorts of help - welcomed or not.

The loose skin is rage-inducing.

Great thread!

NOBODY at work has said a word.... All day long I keep thinking, "today is the day someone is going to mention my weight loss" But it hasn't happened. Down 35 pounds and several inches! But at least my kids and ex have noticed! They tell me every time they see me.

Good stuff:

I can tie my shoes straight on! I don't have to contort my body to the side to get around my gut! I can actually lean down while sitting on the bed and tie them. The knot sits in the middle where it is supposed to be, instead of off to the side.

I have about $1000 dollars' worth of exotic outerwear and cycling clothing that fits again! It's been like a trip to REI opening the back of my closet!




I swear people are more friendly and open to me now. It sucks but our culture is not nice when you're fat.

NewTJ65 wrote: »

Great thread!

NOBODY at work has said a word.... All day long I keep thinking, "today is the day someone is going to mention my weight loss" But it hasn't happened. Down 35 pounds and several inches! But at least my kids and ex have noticed! They tell me every time they see me.


This hit home with me. I guarantee you people have noticed your weight loss, but most won't say anything. I've lost over 80 pounds during the past 13 months and I've had TWO people say something to me - one of them is also on a "weight loss journey" so it came up in a conversation we were having about workouts. My wife and son don't even mention it anymore unless it's to tell me the clothes I 'm wearing are too big. I've always leaned towards loose fitting clothes and am still learning to wear clothes that "fit" properly. Keep up the great work and know that even if they aren't saying it, your coworkers are aware of the changes you're making!

@wunderkindking So now, people think because you are tiny you can't lug heavy things! I know what you mean, now that I have lost 109 lbs, people think I can't walk without an attack dog! Lols, I actually got way more honks and aggression from the road when I was morbidly obese. Now, people do NOT see me when I cross the road! It has been dangerous on more than one occasion. The hubby one day I was taking my walk, was concerned for me because there was fog - and he wondered if someone would "attack me because I couldn't see them." But I was all like, "When I was fatter that would have been more likely because they could see me. I presented a large target. Now, evidently, I am more like a ghost." Even my tiny short friends have asked, "will your dog protect you when you walk?" etc. My pumpkin spice pibble is the kindest dog ever and he will not protect me. But when I was 100 lbs overweight, you can bet I had a 105 lb lab and a 85 lb shepherd with me every day while I was walking. I am stronger and much much faster now than ever before! I just am in a smaller package. I am not offended by the different reactions. I would like to be seen more by drivers though. But people and cell phones - I may just end up a smear on asphalt somewhere.

bemorestubborn wrote: »

These days, anything anyone says at work, even with good intentions, can go badly very quickly.

tangent-- I dislike the framing of "these days." People are not more sensitive, we just have (one hopes) more agency to say when something is inappropriate. Does anyone *actually* want to go back to the days of getting accosted in the walk-in freezer by a coworker 30+ years older and several steps up the management chain, and not daring to say he tried to kiss you bc you might get fired? (personal experience here, 30+ years ago.)

I realize there's a difference between someone trying to kiss you and someone complimenting your looks, but if I'd been able to tell that manager to knock it off when he commented on my *kitten* (or, better, if he'd known he just better not bc "these days," ) probably it wouldn't have gotten to the walk-in incident.

Your Mileage May Vary and all that. Peace.

After losing weight, I have noticed a lot of family and friends make negative comments about me. It was bad enough always being told I was too big and had to diet. Now they are always on me about needing to gain weight. I am happy with where I am now. I told them it isn't about how I look. I just want to FEEL healthier. I was always getting picked on as a child.......and at home. I lost weight in high school. As an adult.....I gained a lot of weight after I had my 2nd child. He is now 10 years old and I feel happy about my weight. You need to ignore the haters and do you. Get to that point where you feel good, you feel healthy, you feel happy with your progress. You are doing it for you....not to please others. I am just focusing on toning now.

That I’d be feeling all over my body while I’m going to sleep at night…I’m always rubbing my hands over my tummy, hip bones, boobs, thighs, etc to see if I can feel my body changing. My hip bones have just recently started poking out a little when I’m laying on my back. And sadly my boobs have deflated a bit more just recently. I love feeling my tummy shrinking, although it’s getting a little wrinkly, too, so it’s a shrinkin’ and a wrinklin’ lol