Learning to live with the loss

I had lap band surgery 5 months ago. I feel great and have lost over 50 pounds. I am just trying to adjust to the transition. I went out and bought new, smaller clothes but am still having a hard time accepting the compliments and basically the new me. Has anyone else experienced this?

yep. even after losing as much as i have, i still deflect most compliments with humor. i'm getting better at accepting them, but having spent a life being overweight, being complimented on my looks is probably not something i'll ever get used to.

You're definitely not alone in that. As Eggface (an OH member named Michelle) once said, the mental/emotional journey takes a lot longer than the physical one. Those compliments may be hard for you to accept now, but I suggest that you put them somewhere safe and pull them out again from time to time, until you're better able to appreciate them.

Yes, this was the most challenging and most exciting thing I experienced when I was losing weight rapidly with my band. Honestly, after I'd lost about 70 pounds, and my clothes were too big, I had trouble finding the right size, and sometimes I would just wear baggy clothes.

 One day I went shopping and I had no idea, that I could fit into a size 12, and that was the one of the greatest feelings I had....it was hard to believe going from a size 26 to size 12 in less than 18 month post op. Enjoy it! and Congrats on your weight loss.

Yes --- it helped me to take lots of pictures as I was losing weight, especially pictures with other people in them, so I could see myself in relation to others.

As I was gaining, I did not notice myself getting bigger -- so, of course as I was losing I did not see myself getting smaller.

If you are getting un-wanted attention, that can be stressful and painful.

Many people (consciously or un-consciously) use excess weight to protect themselves from unwanted attention from others.

It may be helpful to get some counseling if you find yourself being uncomfortable to the point of distress.

Thank you for your feedback and comments. It is truly appreciated.