ARE YOU STILL OVERWEIGHT "MENTALLY" AFTER LOSING POUNDS??

Bankman1989
Bankman1989 Posts: 1,116 Member
edited October 21 in Motivation and Support
One of the things that amaze me is when a person who is overweight WILLS themselves to lose 50, 100, 200, 300 pounds. Its an accomplishment that should be celebrated like they do at the finale of the biggest loser..with balloons and a $250,000 check. Instead MORE insecurity creeps in.

The longer you live your healthy life the better you will start to understand ITS NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT..its about being healthy and living longer. It is nice to go from a size 18 to a size 6, but YOUR HEART is thanking you for taking so much stress off it. You lungs are thanking you for making life easier to breath again.

TAKE PRIDE in how you are looking now. One of my friends who isnt overweight and recently lost 50 lbs over 2 years was told by her EX that she was "fat" and a loser practically daily. She is in incredible shape however mentally she still sees and thinks she is heavy. She won't even wear shorts and havent for 10 years.

DONTY BE A PRISONER IN YOUR MIND. Just like your body needs exercise so does your mind. I always believe listening to seminars by Anthony Robbins, Og Mandino, Zig Ziglar, Les Brown etc will help. My pastor Joel Osteen is also an amazing motivational speaker.

Lastly dont beat yourself up. You've done the extremely hard part and should be prould. I hear people wonder WHY they dont have the muscle tone..well it will come. Its a lifetime commitment. I you lose in 2011 and gain it all back in 2012 whats the point. I see that 50% of all dieters losing 75 pounds or more GAIN IT ALL BACK ND THEN SOME. Why would you wanna go back?

I wish you the best and MUCH SUCCESS! Remember you ARE amazing and YOU DID THIS!
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Replies

  • Fourmenandalady28
    Fourmenandalady28 Posts: 87
    WOW!! This is an amazing post. You addressed the problem, gave basis of support and a solution!!! WE LOVE YOU, BIG CED!!!!! You are one priceless pal!!!
  • Stephiede
    Stephiede Posts: 130 Member
    Well said. It's a total body and mind thing.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    Well said Ced! Love this!
    I have those feelings often that I am still 250 lbs.
    :(
  • margo36
    margo36 Posts: 222 Member
    When I first started my weight loss journey I weighed about 350 pounds. I weigh 192 pounds now. It took a while for my head to catch up with my body changes. I went through a period of buying clothes that were too big because I didn't realise how much weight I had lost.
  • italianissima
    italianissima Posts: 140 Member
    You hit the nail on the head!!! I think I actually believed myself into gaining a few pounds in the passed few weeks. I forgot how much I had lost and had the numbers reversed in my head! Ugh!

    I also have a hard time recognizing myself. I think I am bigger than I am, and even have to do a double take sometimes in the mirror!

    Anyway, I think it's a big mind over matter thing for a lot of this journey. At the same time, hard work and dedication go hand-in-hand with the mind!

    Thank you for posting this- now I realize I am not the only one who's mind and body don't seem to match up!
  • TriumphNow
    TriumphNow Posts: 526 Member
    You are so right. The mental battle is hard like the physical one. Thanks for the motivation :)
  • xaniza
    xaniza Posts: 250 Member
    Thank you for this post!
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    Yes, 40-some pounds lost and I still look in the mirror and see the person I was BEFORE starting the journey. If I have a bad week I feel like I've gained 10lbs, I think I look like I've gained 10lbs, but it's all in my head.
  • bringingsexybackx
    bringingsexybackx Posts: 11
    great post...im also guilty of this...im more insecure now than i was at 187lb... im now 134ish...its crazy....i know it is, but i cant help how i feel. I think when you go through all the blood sweat and tears of loosing the weight and critising yourself daily, like, my legs are still a bit fat or my tummy could be flatter....when you get to your goal theres still always something that you think needs improveing.....its so sad but i think this happens to a lot of people.

    I totally agree that people should remember what they have accomplished and be proud of their achievements :) good earth call bigced!
  • WalkingGirl1985
    WalkingGirl1985 Posts: 2,046 Member
    These feelings are an everyday battle for me, and really needed to hear this. I lost 70lbs--but I still feel +70 in my head. I still feel like that big girl inside, who does not love herself who sinks into depression, and turns to food to make her feel better. I'm trying to get out of this rut, find my motivation that works best for me, stick with it.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Thing is, for me at least, losing weight is the easy part. Mentally, my weight loss is now set, fixed, clunked in my mind, no big deal. But because of things that cant be changed now, it's hard to be confident at this new weight. Plus, i don't really think of my weight loss as an "achievement", as its been really easy and hasn't felt like a battle I've won.
  • tangiesharp
    tangiesharp Posts: 315 Member
    Thank you. I'm dealing with this right now. I'm realizing that I need to get out of my head and allow myself to appreciate the work that I have done for myself and my health. It's hard especially when you identify yourself as "the fat girl." Someone called me "skinny" today and I thought it was a joke. But maybe it is me. And maybe that's ok.
  • Journeyingascrystal
    Journeyingascrystal Posts: 195
    Dead on Ced..I swear I still hide behind folks in pics... I am working on this daily!!!!!
  • d2footballJRC
    d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
    This is true. I've lost right at 100 pounds, yet when I go and buy jeans (I'm a guy, don't tell me to try them on :-) ) I still buy a couple sizes too big. It just hasn't sunk in fully that I'm not that size anymore. I am down to a 40 in pant size now and I sometimes still wear my size 50 dress pants. It's almost a weird comfort thing or something.
  • d2footballJRC
    d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
    Dead on Ced..I swear I still hide behind folks in pics... I am working on this daily!!!!!

    You shouldn't you are smashing. (Not whiteknighting!)
  • Starkle09
    Starkle09 Posts: 238 Member
    Excellent post!! Self imagine is a constant struggle for me. Im working on it tho. Thanks for this :)
  • quichebradford
    quichebradford Posts: 327 Member
    This is a major issue for me. When I look in the mirror I still see 200 pounds, not the 168 I actually am now. I have to force myself to not go to the plus sizes when I go shopping, like I expect those clothes to still fit. I guess it will take time for my mind to adjust.
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    Thank you for sharing! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: I find myself in this scenario more often than not! :noway: :noway: :noway: I'm learning, though! :wink: :wink: :wink:
  • PudgyPigeon
    PudgyPigeon Posts: 89 Member
    Thank you for posting this- I needed to read something like this today. C:
  • AandJsMommy
    AandJsMommy Posts: 314
    Well said!! Thanks for posting this!
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    Great post! I still see the old me in my head, even though I see the new me in the mirror. I'm getting better at it, though!
  • PuffinPie
    PuffinPie Posts: 22
    I always pick up clothes in a 16 / 18 even though I am now 10/12 .
    I think I will always think i'm fat but I do have a very poor self image anyway.
    Always think I look terrible.
  • CommittohealthCHANGED
    CommittohealthCHANGED Posts: 436 Member
    Aww thanks Ced for the post., I really struggle with realizing my accomplishments and Sexycook has really help me get over some huge hurtles (like realizing I am no longer fat cause even though I lost 80pds I still was not happy cause I still saw myself fat) funny how being over weight all my life really does a numbers onyour mind. Thanks to awesome friends I have learned to get pass that mentally and now see the big picture of am no longer that fat girl who keep tryout to look back at me in the mirror. Thanks for the ideal of putting a after pic of me on the mirror.
  • jewel6018
    jewel6018 Posts: 210 Member
    Great post and thank you. I am still mentally thinking I am fat and I am down to 128lbs. I know it is just because my stomach is not toned and I know it will come with time and hard work. Thanks for the support!!!
  • Teliooo
    Teliooo Posts: 725 Member
    exact same here. over 100 pound lost in 6 years and 26 in the last 6 months and I am still moaning about how fat i am. i keep looking at clothes and when i get in them i just see lumps and bump. not taking into account that i used to be size 24 and i can now get into size 10 tops and 16 bottoms. I just cant get my head around almost not being medically overweight. how do you even begin to heal the head?
  • MsQt
    MsQt Posts: 793 Member
    What a great post! It seems that I'm never satisfied and just when I reach a goal I'm looking like :huh: cause I'm still now happy yet. I will start to exercise my mind starting now! Great profile pic btw. Happy Martin Luther day everyone:smile:
  • getfitdiva
    getfitdiva Posts: 1,148 Member
    It really does take a long time for my mind to catch up to my body. Since I have yo-yo weight loss/gain in the past, it's constantly in the back of the mind that I will return to my unhealthy ways and gain it all back. This also affects my self-esteem and confidence which is something I strive to improve everyday.
  • Shausil82
    Shausil82 Posts: 218 Member
    Thank you for posting this. I needed to read it. I've lost a ton of weight the past 10 years (went from 240 to 153). I lost 32 pounds last year thanks to this site. I still see myself as how I was before I lost my weight. It's a hard thought process to break out of. I look at my stomach and see left over flab and since my stomach isn't flat, I basically think it's because nothing has changed, despite what the scale says. Even though I know I've made great strides, I still criticize myself for not having a flat tummy.
  • Libby81
    Libby81 Posts: 734 Member
    I have this same issue too. I still go to pick up my old dress size when shopping ~(admittedy finding they're too big is a bit of a boost). I also don't see myself as I see other women the same height and weight, i don't think I measure up in any way. Someone at work called me the vanishing lady the other day and they're always asking if I've lost more weight, but yet it still doesn't go in when it's just me and the mirror
  • shellybean826
    shellybean826 Posts: 44
    great post !!! and when i had lost to my lowest weight ..which was a loss of 156 lbs ...i still thought of myself as 271 lbs ....:noway: i would be shocked when i would catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror or window at the mall ....and i would look at my body that was now smaller and much healthier and be dissappointed cause even tho i was smaller i now had areas that looked horrible with skin or whatever :cry:
    as far as the question you asked about why we would suffer to lose the weight only to gain it back ...well that isnt a easy one to answer ..is it ??? i read a article the other day in the new york times that states they did a study on some men where they kept men in a setting and had one part lose weight (they ran tests) when those men had lost that weight they tested them again and the men's hormones that regulate hunger and satisfaction after eating was all off balance. so that when they ate they didnt get the feeling of eating and the satisfaction of being full AND on top of that ...the hormone that regulated hunger period was extremely low making them feel hunger all the time ....( there body thought they were starving basically and was trying to force them to eat again back to the size they were) ...the article called this the "body set weight point" ...
    the other thing they said was when they allowed the men to gain the weight back up ..so that both groups now weighed the same again, the men that had dieted and lost the weight could no longer eat the same amount of calories and stay that weight ...so where both groups at "x' amount of calories to begin with ..the "dieting" group now had to eat something like 15% less to maintain the original weight ...because again their body adjusting for what it felt was starving had made their muscles more efficient and now they burned less calories :sad: :yawn: :noway: .....sooooooooooooooo bottom line is your body actually fights you all the way around once youve allowed it to set its natural weight point at the higher weight ...

    now i know that some folks are not going to agree with this ..and say its the dieters fault for falling back into old eating patterns ...or that they lack the will power to follow thru with their new healthy eating, but think about it ???? ALL of us are weak ??? all of us lack willpower ???? all of us dont want to be healthy ???? .....
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