Body Image Adjustment?

I just found this board. I had surgery on May 6, 2005. As of today, I have lost 80 pounds. I can now wear a size 12 in jeans or medium scrub pants and a L or M on top. The thing is, that I can't wrap my mind around that. I know that I look different, but I can't see the difference. I still see the fat girl in the mirror. Anyone else having the same problem? Any ideas on how to get over this? Thanks, Sonja M

First, welcome to the May board!!! Congrats on 80 pounds gone forever!!! I too struggle with the "fat gal in the mirror." I still walk by and have to do a double take. It's very strange. One thing that has helped me a little is taking more recent pics of me and the kiddos and keeping them around me so I see myself a little more. I know it's weird but I figure I'll get used to it eventually. I was wearing a size 20 and now I'm in a 10 and I still see myself as 221 vs. 151. My good friend had the surgery almost 4 years ago and she went from 350 to 180 and has kept her weight off. She said it took her over a year and a half to get used to the new her. I guess it will just take time. Meanwhile, enjoy your shrinking body!!!

Ana, You look fabulous! Great job. Thank you for the reply. I am finally starting to see some changes myself, slowly and just a little bit. But at least I can see some changes now. It just takes some time to adjust. I guess it's just going to keep getting better and better. Sonja

I still see myself as I always was... huge. No double takes for me because I just don't see the loss. I am wearing smaller clothes and I can do many more things, so I know I've lost weight, but I just "see" it or, frankly, "feel" it emotionally. I still feel very large and very undesirable, and I don't know if that will ever change.

Tracy, It will take time. Just in the past few days, I have finally begun to see some differences in myself. I even had to do a double take when I saw my reflection in a window. I was wearing a white, yes white, sweat suit and I thought like I probably looked like the Staypuff Marshmallow Man. But everyone I saw that day went on and on about how thin I looked. I saw my reflection and I'll be darned if I didn't look almost like a normal person. Also, I got out a picture of me when I was my heaviest ever and one when I was a little thinner than my heaviest, and I am WAY smaller now. Even I can see that. Take some pictures of yourself and look at them. Heck, I am even starting to see collar bones. I drove 600 miles yesterday and boy did my butt hurt-- from my pelvic bones not having so much fat around them and pushing on the seat. You were beautiful before you had the surgery, and I bet you're even more beautiful now. Just take some time and truly look at yourself. Get out somewhere that men can check you out, and try to catch them doing it. It feels so good! I have even been dating this guy for a couple of months and am having so much fun with him. I was almost 30 pounds heavier when I met him than I am now. I haven't told him about the surgery- he just thinks that I am really picky about what I eat. I know it's hard, but try to have some fun with this and enjoy it. Feel free to contact me any time. I used to live near Baltimore and went out there sometimes. There are some great places to go up there, now you need to get out and have as much fun as possible! Maybe the next time I am up that way we could get together! Sonja