Lost 15kgs - success story + body image issues.

notfatimaqamar728
notfatimaqamar728 Posts: 2 Member
in Health and Weight Loss

I have lost 15 kg’s weight in the past 3+ months and I have been feeling great lately like I have healthy habits now and I am feeling very great like my acne has gone. My nails and my hair are so strong now my skin is good and I have very good energy levels like I am energetic all the time and I have gotten so much confidence but the main issue here is I am still seeing my past self in the mirror whenever I see mirror I see myself fat and like overweight and if I wear some baggy clothes like some loose fitted, I feel fat I think I don’t wanna look fat again ever in my whole life like it was so traumatising I’m just ranting my things all out and I want you guys to talk about yourself too, it is a very great achievement for me that I’ve lost so much weight I’ve tried many times to lose weight but I’ve never lost sorry for my english I’m a little weak but it is what it is. I was very insecure from my childhood like everyone used to bully me for because i was a fatty and used to call me fatty and I also used to think that I am a fatty and being fat is bad but the real thing is having bad habits unhealthy habits is the bad, not the being fat part. Just here to share me journey. And MFP helped me really im at 100+ day streak now.

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Replies

  • stewartdougall5714
    stewartdougall5714 Posts: 1 Member

    Yeah I really struggle with body dysmorphia even after losing all the weight I aimed for. I don’t like what I see in the mirror. Convinced I have man boobs because I still have a small amount of fat on my chest, etc. I’ve found taking progress photos has helped a bit because, when you look at photos side by side, you can see the changes. It did take me a lot of effort to even take photos of myself.

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,818 Member

    Congratulations on the weight loss and more importantly, the change in habits and good results from that! That's amazing.

    First, you have to give your brain time to catch up with your body. It has only been 3 months at your new size. After a lifetime of being heavier, it takes some time to adjust to your new size. Keep up the good work and enjoy what you've accomplished.

    As the previous poster said, progress pics also help because often what we see in the mirror is not what we see in photos. Crazy brains! Again, good for you!

  • Strudders67
    Strudders67 Posts: 1,056 Member

    After I reached my goal, it probably took me about a year to stop thinking of myself as 'fat'. Not so much when I was looking in the mirror but definitely when I was shopping for clothes. A few months into being my new reduced weight, I went into a GAP shop when they were having a sale. The size I wanted was on a higher shelf than I could reach so I asked an assistant for some help. I told her what size I wanted, she looked at me and said "no, I'd say you're x" - which was several sizes smaller than I was about to buy! They didn't have a changing room, so I wouldn't have known my error until I got home. She was quite right. I was x.

    Just be aware that it's hard work to maintain that, but if you've learned some good habits over the last few months, and can stick to them, you'll do well.

  • oapillai1980
    oapillai1980 Posts: 1 Member

    body issues have nothing to do with size. At my skinniest, I felt worse about my body than at my heaviest. I was only with the help of a good Therapist. I learned to deal with these issues rather than changing them with my body.

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 10,372 Member
    edited October 21

    What you are describing is called Body Dysmorphia.

    That’s when your brain sees something different than what is in the mirror.

    I lost 44 kilos about six years ago. Even now, I sometimes have days I feel fat and “frumpy”, and days I feel like I’m slender.

    I still catch myself moving sideways between tables in a restaurant, trying to make sure i have enough space in a crowd for a fatter version of myself, or opening a door all the way so “fat me” has enough room to go through the door. I still grunt and groan when sitting down or getting up. That’s an irritating habit I developed when I was obese.

    It feels weird, but the sensation will gradually decrease. I don’t think it will ever go completely away. I was obese for too many years.

    In a way, it’s a good thing, and I’m
    not sure I do want it to go away fully. It reminds me that I don’t ever want to be that large again, so I make a real effort to maintain my new, lower weight.

    I spent years avoiding having my photo taken. What really helps me is when my husband or a friend takes a photo of me when I’m not paying attention, and they send the photo to me.

    I still don’t recognize myself. I’ll admit I study them when they do. I’m not being harshly critical of myself. it’s more like studying myself. Do I have visible muscles? My legs look so (surprise!) shapely! My triple chin is gone. How can I dress more effectively?

    Looking at third party photos. Really helps me with my own dysmorphia. That’s when I have my “wow! I really am thinner!” or “I look like a whole new person” moments.


    They say “the camera never lies”. That’s usually considered to be a bad thing, but as a former fat person, I think it’s great. The camera tells the truth even when my brain may not.

    You might also check out the NSV (non scale victories) thread over on the Success Stories board. Realizing some of the “wins” that the mirror doesn’t show has also been a big help: rings or shoes getting loose, and so on. One biggie for me was, as a fat person, I needed an 18 or 20 inch necklace. Now those necklaces hang all the way down into my cleavage. I’ve had to have all my necklaces shortened! That’s something that I would never notice, just looking in the mirror.

    There is no shame in feeling like you do, and you are perfectly normal. My heavens, you’ve made a massive change in your life and health. Of course it’s going to take a while for your brain to catch up!!!


    Congratulations on your success. Pay attention and don’t put it back on!

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