First time posting to this board - Hi everyone

Hi, I am writing because I am curious what it feels like to be thin after being so big for so long. I have no concept of this. I've never been small and have been getting bigger and bigger every year. I guess I'm just wanting to hear the positive and maybe negative stories about life after being fat.

It's strange.  It takes a long time for our brain to catch up with our bodies; it's common to have body image issues (seeing yourself as "fat," even when you no longer are).  I'm 27 months post-op and have lost 210 pounds.  I did not perceive any change in my appearance until I had lost over 100 pounds.  I have made a point to look at myself regularly wearing my my bra and undies over the past 2 years, and really looked at myself.  While that didn't immediately change how I perceived myself, it helped reinforce that I was changing.   Some folks find it helpful to take pictures of themselves at regular intervals (every 4 weeks or so) so they can compare what they look like.  That can really help you see the difference, when you're not seeing it in the mirror.   As for what it feels like to be "thin," it's very freeing.  I am no longer held hostage by my own body, but can do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want.  I can run up a flight of stairs.  I can fit in a seat at a movie theater.  I no longer have to ask for a table at a restaurant instead of a booth.  I can shop in the misses department when I'm looking for clothes.  (That's actually one of the strangest things for me, since I've only shopped at Lane Bryant, Roaman's and Catherine's for years.)   That's all that comes to mind for now, but there's more to it.  It's a complicated thing, but for me has been mostly positive.  It may require that you face some of your "demons," but trust me that it will be worth it -  Good luck on your continuing journey - Kellie

Thanks so much. I know that i will have issues as i lose weight. anger toward people for not accepting me before. discomfort at male attention. luckily i have an awesome therapist. i can't wait to fit into that booth without having to suck in air. lol. i also don't know how big i am. that is partly how i got as big as i got. i think i like 250 when i'm 340. so i wonder how that will resolve itself! thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

Oh I have that problem too.  I have no concept of how big I am/was.  I would be absolutely shocked if I saw a picture of myself because I never thought I was that big.  To me, in the mirror, I never looked like THAT. Now its the opposite - I see a restaurant booth or look at a new pair of jeans and I think "there is NO WAY I will fit" and then I do.  I still panic about car seat belts - even though I stopped using an extender about a month after surgery. I am not thin, but I think now I'm about where I always thought I was.  This is about my weight from late high school/early college, and seems to be where my mind was "set" because now in pictures I look like I thought I should.   I am so confused though, because in the mirror I look exactly like I always have.  Talk about body image issues!  I'm sure (or at least hope) these things resolve in time. 

Welcome to the board...... I'm new myself an I havent had surgery yet I was think jus**** ur saying. I never would had thought that I would get to 400pds. An when I found out I was said WOW. Being that I'm tall, people didn't believe that I weigh that much but the scale don't lie. ( I hope!) LOL  Another thing I worried about as most of us have is the excess skin after the weigh melts off. I was told I mite not have it to bad due to I'm young an my weight looks solid. But I dont care rite now I just wanna get the weigh off an get rid of this health problem, before they take over me. So good luck on here an surgery as I see its coming up Barbara

I'll let you know when I get there!  LOL  Seriously...having been obese (hate that word but facts are facts) all of my adult life, sometimes I was bigger than others with my max being 6 months ago at 284. I am short (barely 5 ft tall) with a small frame, so that's solid packed pumpkin for sure!!  I have lost 70 lbs plus in those 6 months and I still feel just as fat. I know its mental cuz thats a significant amount to lose. I am about 1/2 way to my goal.  Even when I feel smaller, a recent photo jolts me back into reality with a voice in my head saying...nope...not yet.  But knowing since having the WLS I am on my way, is very comforting.  I can't possibly think of ANYTHING negative about losing weight!  Best of luck to you.  Jeanine

It is hard to have a mental picture of yourself smaller. Even after16 mos i still think of myself as real big. I have an issue that really gets me. Some people don't see a difference unless I show them a pic of my before. They usually say i didn't realize you were that big. I guess that is a complaiment because they loved or liked me no matter what. then some people really do not know me ( that has come in handy many times) if you don't want to talk to them ha ha!! I still look at a chair and say I will never fit in that and then there is all kinds of room and I am surprised. I had to have a MRI on my neck a few months ago. I said to the technician I will not fit in that he said sure you will. When i was done he said "you still think of yourself as big don't you ?" I said ya I guess so, he said he wondered because there was all kinds of room in the tunnel and I did not think I would fit ???? I guess I would rather my self image be that way than the opposite  Read my profile because this surgery was a miracle for me. I use to be in a wheelchair and alot of medical problems !! I still weigh 298- 300 lbs. BUT I now have a bonier butt that hurts when i sit I knew there was BONES in their some where. But really do not enjoy feeling then as much sitting down but it goes with being smaller I guess. Good Luck, Pam!

I know that I still can't wrap my head around it. I have lost around 100 pounds if you add pre and post surgery. I see that I fit into size 28W pants from 38W pants and yet if it wasn't for the compliments and actually seeing it in physically being able to fit into smaller clothes and spaces, I still don't know if I can really belive it is true. But it is so much better. I notice I have more stamina and can do things I could never do for so long. It is worth every aspect of getting the wls.