~*`Body image question? Are you seeing something people are not??`*~

I have lost 75 pounds to date. I started at 310 pounds and am down to 235. I have 5 more days before I am 4 months post-op. I am hoping for a 4 pound loss in that time. Anyways, Body image and how I feel. I still see myself as fat. I evaluate those booths and door ways, and such. I too have expereinced the booth panic moments. I too am effected by the clothes I wear. I wear something big and I feel smaller. I feel the loss in my clothes. I don not know how clothes are supose to fit. I have wore baggy's since I was a teen. I had a mirror but my son broke it months ago so the only time I see myslef is when I am out and about. In window reflections and public bathrooms. Guilty of staying in the bathroom for a little extra just to take a look in amazement. I ask when I return I saw the strangest lady in the bathroom. and laugh. I do not see myself as I am. But this is part of the whole piture. When I was 310 I could not feel myself in space. I felt numb as if I did not know where I stopped and started in space. I did not see myself as fat only fat (overweight). I too had to see a comparision picture of me then and now to really get the idea of how big I was then. But BUT.... I still do not see myself now as I am. I see I have lost weight and changed clothes sizes yet I feel like I have so much more to loss and it's just not fast enough. I am behind in weight loss in some way. I use that feeling to more more. ride more, walk more and really watch what I eat compared to what I physically do in a day. I am soon going to have a new mirror so I can see me all of me. I hope to converse with myself in that mirror. I hear that talking to your self in a mirror where you can see all of you helps inlay the imgae and soon acceptance of that image as your self over time. Identify what you like tell your self you like and dislike and just spend time with the NEW YOU. Your mind will catch up with you. Asking people to give you feedback and supportive encouragement about what they see as you change is not fishing. Just tell them you need that kind of support so they do not get upset with your constant requests smiles. I ask my partner everyday. It is a way of support for me. I can't wait for what the furture brings.

Hi Melissa, First, let me say that you were one of the few women that actually looked BEAUTIFUL big. You are such a pretty woman! If I could've looked as good as you looked at your heaviest, I don't know if I would've had surgery. NOW, LOOK AT YOU!!!!! You are beyond beautiful! I find it hard sometimes to imagine how things were before the weight loss. There's no more pain when I walk, I can actually cross my legs, I can walk farther and faster than I EVER could before, but I look in the mirror and see the same person as before. They say it will change with time, but you are taking the right steps (by seeing a councelor) and listening to your friends and family. You look so good, enjoy it! Hugs and prayers, Wendi

I feel the same way as some of you. I am having people call me "skinny" and I say, oh no I am not. I am having a hard time living with the changes that my body is making, my nutrionist thinks that I need some counseling but she hasn't sent a name to me so I will have to call her tomorrow. Even though I have lost almost 90 pounds and when I started I was wearing 26's and yesterday I got into a pair of 16's I am still having trouble realizing that I am losing weight. I need some help to get my head on straight. I guess it is from all the failed weight loss programs that I have done before and that I can't succeed at a weight loss. Need to get in a positive note before the holiday season is totally over LOL

I struggle with the same thing. I have no concept of how I look. Everyone tells me so many great things. THey say I'm "hot." THe other day, my two friends told me that the last month or so I've been "exuding sexiness." It made me feel uncomfortable because I do not see myself as "sexy" at all. I'm still 45-55 lbs until goal (not sure what that will be yet) and I still feel very overweight. I feel like I need to hear encouragement by people who see me quite often - that makes me feel like okay, you can notice the difference. I'm not fishing for compliments but I'm surprised at how much I feel like I need that encouragement because I've never been that kind of person. I've always had fairly good self-esteem and been pretty strong. The thing that makes me really stop and look is when I see a picture of my old self. I was at my best friends and saw a picture on her wall of me and her on her wedding day a couple of years ago. I was in a spaghetti strapped bridesmaid dress (not pretty). I was taken aback by how I looked. Maybe if you get an old picture out and put it up somewhere where you can see it everyday... you'll see the difference then!