Self Image

Good Evening Everyone!

I am looking for tips for combating body image issues.

There are days where I feel FANTASTIC and can really notice my weight loss. Unfortunately, I have days where I look in the mirror and think I don't even look like I've lost weight. These types of days are becoming more and more frequent, and I'm not sure why. The best I can figure is I have been stalled for a couple weeks, only losing a few lbs. I had surgery just over 8 months ago. 

So, what are your tips for combating body image issues? 

You have to look at your body without being able to see your face.  I used to advise people in my support group to cut eyeholes in a brown paper sack, put it over their head and then see their body in the mirror.

Now we have smartphones and can take a selfie from the neck down. 

The brain cannot separate your face from the body it is used to seeing and it will fill in the fat it was used to.  When you look at your body alone you can see the weight loss difference.

What a great idea, thanks so much! I have never thought of it that way...

I had someone ask me to put a bag over my head once. Do you think this explains why?

My wife asked me to put a bag on my head once except it was a plastic bag.  Is that bad?

When a woman asks you if you want paper or plastic, always say paper.

White Dove th ourat is a great idea to take a selfie without seeing your face.

Dress up in your prettiest clothes, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself "I am beautiful!!"  Repeat as needed.

For far too long we've only given ourselves negative feedback due to our obesity and how horrible we all felt because we don't look like the latest media beauties.  

Time to re-enforce your beauty, not any shortcoming you MAY have.

I take pictures of myself. Someone also said take the pictures with friends so you can see how much smaller you are. Then compare them to before pics. 

My husband bought me a huge full size mirror for Christmas last year. I used to never look at myself. I would go outside and look in the windows.

So look at yourself.

I have three dogs. Well they go through a lot of food. I try to picture the three 40 pound bags off dog food that came off my body.

When I get down about myself. I don't look at the scale number I look at the NSVs. They really do make you feel better. 

I figure it is all adjustment time. I have a different perspective. I am glad I am loosing weight, but I don't really like the thinner neck and face. Seems like a stranger looking at me in the mirror. I did not much like my fatter neck and face, either.  Don't know what I expected to look like, but this is not it. Focusing on how much better my body feels without the excess baggage and dropping off some high blood pressure meds, omiprozol and statins. My appearance is not all of who I am. I am getting compliments, and that too comes as a mixed bag of ego gratification and discomfort. It sure is easier walking up those hills.