Body Image???

Anyone else have issues with this?  Don't get me wrong I am estatic over the weight I have lost and I feel better than I can ever remember but when I look in the mirror all I see is a "Fat Girl" looking back at me.  When I used to dream of losing the weight I guess the skin was never a part of the vision I had of myself and it is definitely a reality, I know plastics is going to be a part of this journey for me since everything has fallen south and maybe then I will feel small.  So I was wondering how others feel about their body image. Stephanie

Stephanie, You're not alone.  I think anyone that's been Obese/Morbidly Obese for any length of time has the same body issues after losing the weight.  Even after losing 143lbs, I still see the fat girl.  Two years post op and after losing all this weight and 11 weeks post op from a LBL, I'm slowly but surely coming to the realization that when I hold a L or XL shirt up, it's probably going to fit.   Even though I am thrilled with the weight loss and regaining my health, I'm always going to be the "fat girl".  That's okay though, that keeps me humbled/grounded and keeps me in touch with those feelings/that place where I was pre-WLS and reminds me that I don't ever want to go back there again!   Plastics do help, but I'm not going to feel good until I get everything done and from what I've read on the Plastic Surgery Forum, once you get one thing done the "undone" part looks worse (I can attest to that).  I'm hoping for maybe late October for my upper body lift.  If not October then I'll be shooting for next June. I think knowing that a situation can arise is half the battle of preparing/conquering it.  I have just accepted the fact that my body is not ever going to be perfect.  That's okay.  I feel good because I look back to where I came from.  I also feel great that I can go to the regular size Misses section to buy clothes now.  I am no longer a slave to Roamans, WomanWithin catalogs or the super expensive Lane Bryant/Avenue/Catherine's Stores!  

Terry, I love the new photo you look wonderful!!!

Stephanie

Everyday I am still totally amazed when the scale reads under 200 pounds. I am inside forever 360 pounds and nothing seems to make it go away. Sometimes I am happy for that because it makes me still want to watch what I eat. 164 Pounds is gone, I am size 10/12, I am still Fat! Diana RNY 9/17/03 360/196/still aiming for 180

This was our topic last week when the Carroll County Support Group met!  I think most of us have 'issues' with this. Logic - the numbers on the scale - the size of our clothes are tangible evidence that we have lost weight, yet we still look in the mirror and see the morbidly obese person that we have been used to seeing.  It is amazing that we are the LAST to really SEE the results of all of our efforts, but it comes! 

I still feel like someone is going to tell me I don't belong on the regular size side of the store.