How do you feel about your new body? (xpost)

I know that we all have body image issues, even those who have never had a weight issue. I know that I am probably as self critical now, if not more than I was before. I don't know if it's because when I look at myself now, I see the scars of my obesity instead of the obesity itself or what. I know that I'm more comfortable with my clothed self than I am with my unclothed self. I find that in some ways I want to 'cover up' or hide my arms, legs, tummy and tush more now than I did before. Maybe it's because they are obviously scarred. I'm not sure. I know that others tell me I look great, but often I find myself focusing on the negative. Just yesterday someone said how terrific I looked and that wasn't I lucky not to have all of those excess skin issues. When I took off my jacket, she said "OH!" I almost feel like I'm masquerading as a normal sized person.

I also think that in some part, I keep thinking that I'll wake up and be fat again.

I'm hoping with time that I will be more gentle and accepting of myself. I've decided that when I start to have negative thoughts about my arms, legs ... that I'll make myself look at 3 postives about how I look and try to add some about how I feel. Maybe that will help.

What is your experience? Are you able to accept your body? If so, what do you do to help yourself come to terms with the fact that you don't look like other people that are a 'normal' size.

Barb

I'm still fat! :P  oddly I think I look thinner without clothes on.  I was much larger 1.5 years ago and I really don't worry about getting that big again.  I feel I've made enough lifestyle changes in my eating habits that I'll never regain all of my weight. I honestly don't think about regain.. rather I think about now being able to lose anymore.  Once I do lose it all, I suspect I will go through the whole worry about being regain again.

Hi Chris ...

You know I think you might be right. I don't think I worried as much about regain until I got close to my goal weight.

Like you, I tend to think I look thinner with my clothes on as well. I think it may be because I see all the bumps and bulges when I'm not dressed.

Congratulations on your fabulous losses! Wishing you continued success.

Thanks for sharing,

Barb

Hi Barb! I have had experiences like your lately...not too long ago, posted about feeling bloaty (i think it is menopause-related), yet others say how great I look. So, some incongruencies in hwo i feel and how i look.  I get pretty frustrated cuz of this ole body and how slow it is to respond, but MAYBE i need to realize I never got as fat as maybe it deserved to, if that makes sense. I have been WAAAAY bad in my life with food...just insane choices. I still buy large and XL underwear, and it falls off me just about...cannot get over the truth that my @ss is not that big anymore... I still reach for  XL shirts...and usually need either a L and even...gasp...this is not me...a medium?  Now that I am over the hill, i don't trip so much on smooth skin, saggy boobs/butt things so much. in fact, finally, i look pretty darn good for someone "my age"...other around me who have seen their glory days are really struggling. I feel good about that - my glory days are yet to come. had to  laugh: Kriz, i too feel like clothes be disruptin' my natural lines...I like how I look undraped!

had to  laugh: Kriz, i too feel like clothes be disruptin' my natural lines...I like how I look undraped! Lol! I know right!  Let's all get nekkid and compare our natural lines!

fer real! I could so easily be a nudist...DH and I went to Mexico to an adult resort - it was fascinating to see (especially) bascially naked Europeans - all sizes & ages, mind you - the human body is very beautiful, even the ones who have soft bouncy places that are not "mainstream". i think everyone should go to one just to see how we were meant to be! It was really really cool.

haha!  Awesome!   I don't think I could do it and stay straight faced.  Not to mention my eyes would always be traveling around and I'd have a hard time talking to anyone! heheh At least you'd be able to tell precisely if I was "happy to see you". In Slidell, LA there was a nudist colony down there. I went to it once with one of my sisters friends. Evidently she knew someone in there. Very nice people. A little weird to see at 13 years old..but nice people! lol

I have a hard time accepting my body. I just can't buy a 14/16 or XL when in my head I'm still a 24 and 3XL....  I still don't quite see it when I look at myself.  I think I'm totally dysmorphic. But lately my clothes have been telling me it's time to accept it.

 

 

I found myself having a similar issue. If you look at my profile you will see that I had some portraits done ... they weren't expensive. I had them done at sears, but they helped me get my head around the fact that I am a normal size now. Try it ... sometimes, it helps to see ourselves through someone else's eyes.

Barb

I just looked in the mirror before I came on here. I have only lost 29 pounds to date but I already see a difference in how my pant fit. It's was like, "ewwww!" I see a flatter yet strangely longer stomach than just 6 weeks ago. Hopefully, at some point it forgets to get longer and just gets flatter.  This is definitely going to be a journey of mind as well as matter. I'm not sure how much I will adjust or how fast but I guess like everything else, it will just be one step at a time. Beth