Question

How is it that I have lost 130+ pounds and I still feel like the goodyear blimp?  I tried on some 2x clothes at walmart and they were too big, I got an XL and they fit, but when I looked at myself I saw this whale and I didn't buy them.  I would rahter wear the 5x stuff that is still in my closet:(  How does one go about seein what is really there instead of what has been there before?

the 5 x stuff is comfort :) it will pass...im a 3 or 4 X but still wear my 5 x. ... but now people are telling me my shirts are too big... so... time to pass them along :) Your looking fantastic :)  Just from when we met at kingsway :) keep up the good work :) 

sarah

Relene....I'm the same way. I had my surgery on July 13. I have lost about 65lbs since surgery and 106 total. But when I look into the mirror, I see me at 360lbs not 254lbs.

I am now a x in tops...I have no idea what that means in regular sizes as I have never shopped at a regular store before. Soon I won't be able to shop at Penningtons and Addition-Elle for my tops and that is causing me great fear as I have no clue where to shop and I keep on thinking if I go into a regular store, I'll be kicked out.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone and the one thing that I have been doing since surgery, as soon as some clothes dont fit, I give them away. I do not have ANY pre-surgery clothes left in my house (I didn't even keep a bigger size set to compare) And I'm giving away all post-surgery clothes that don't fit as well. Maybe that will force my mind to realize that I really have changed.

Hello

It's one of the things that we go through with our "minds"...there will be others. We physically are smaller but our mind tells us we aren't.

Like going into normal size clothing stores...now I look around and think, I can go in there buy something that fits great...that only happened in larger sized stores and even then things wouldn't fit.

It will take some time to soak it all in....

Keep up the great work.

Brenda

Brenda, 

How did you get your member of the century club card?

Katrina

I have the same feelings.  I have lost 125lbs,  I am so use to wearing whatever I can find to fit that I am not sure what clothes I even like.  I tried on a beautiful full length dress about a month ago as a sort of joke, thinking no way will it fit  & it fit...this made me feel so overwhelmed.  I sat down on the floor in the fitting room & cried.  I talked to my therapist about this & she said that my body is losing the weight faster than my mind can adjust to the change & that I just needed to give myself a break.  You need to practice wearing some correct size clothes at home & start getting use to seeing your new self.

I am not there yet but I am practicing & everyday I feel a little better.

You have lost 130+ lbs, be proud of yourself & tell the negative you to shut up!

Katrina

Thank you all!  I am so glad that I am not the only one.  I have been holding on to my way too big clothes and I know that is not good.  I think I might go in to Walmart and buy those clothes because I haven't bought anything since last Christmas except bras, and I am having trouble parting with my big clothes because I still have it in my head that I might end up there again....but realistically I do not think it would be possible to get back to 370lbs with the decreased stomach I have.  And I work out every single day, so as long as I keep that up and eat right for me I will be safe.  So negative me shut up! 

But as a side note and testament to just how much I have changed someone I worked with 2 years ago did not recognize me on the street.  She told my boss that there was no way that could be me because I was alot bigger than the girl she saw.  So I need to keep that in my head:)

Hi there,

I've lost over 160 lbs so far and was having major trouble in self image once I started loosing the weight... My hubby said, very casually, that a picture is worth a 1000 words. He took pictures of me from different angles while I was cleaning house and printed them for me.

I can tell you honestly, that's when my thought process changed. I seen myself, as myself in the pictures and could not look in the mirror and see the old me...

I even went has far as the 'Shock and Awe' treatment... I stood in front of the mirror naked and took a really good look, then dressed and seen the same transformation... I recommend the picture taking... it puts it all into perspective...

Melody

I completely agree with this!

I was looking through old pictures and saw some of myself from before and started to cry at the way I was.  It really put into perspective all that I had gone through and it made me happy at where I am today.

I still have that desire to go into Penningtons or Addition Elle but nothing there will fit me anymore.  I remember having a complete melt-down over underwear and where the hell am I going to get underwear now?  Thankfully, I got over it, now I can walk into a "normal" store and know that I may find something I like and it will actually fit!  It's such a strange feeling.

I still say the transformation after surgery is 90% mental and only 10% physical.  I still struggle with the mental part and I think I will for a long time.

Jill

I also use pictures to help me see the new me, I thought it was weird that I had to do that so I did not mention it but I am glad I am not the only one.  My biggest issue right now is all the loose skin, especially under my arms.  When I am swimming it can actually hurt.  The extra skin even stops me from getting  some of the clothes I want to wear.  It does make me sad that I have done so much damage to my skin.  

It is really annoying how hard all the emotional stuff is. 

Also, Relene I think you should definitely go get some new clothes.  You deserve it!  It is time to let go of the old you.  I understand where you are coming from...I also have failed at loosing weight sooo many times that I lost confidence in myself but not this time.  I have worked to hard & I never want to live that way again.  I know it will take a lot of practice but we can do it.  You just need to believe in yourself.

Katrina