Still getting used to being smaller?

Hi all,

I've been noticing, as I'm out walking about, that I feel a little less in perfectly calibrated, intuitive control of my body than I used to feel. I am not dizzy and I don't really lose my balance. Rather, I feel a bit as you would if you were used to driving a big, luxurious, heavy car, one which you knew so well that it was a perfect extension of you, requiring no real effort to drive. But suddenly you have instead switched to maneuvering around in a very small classic roadster. This feeling has become more pronounced and frequent over the past 10 or so pounds of weightloss. I haven't fallen, but for a moment I will feel like I'm leaning a bit too much in one direction or another as I'm walking, and will have to make minute adjustments. Or I'll kind of hop for a step to correct course. It's a strange feeling and I think it's due to having a 126-pound body instead of a heavier one. It's like I over-steer as if I was still heavier, and my tinier body moves further and faster in response. Muscular effort that would have kept me sailing steady is now overkill. Has anyone else experienced this oddity?

I talked about something similar to this with my Pilates instructor. She said that it really is about learning a new center of gravity and way of moving because our balance points are different. She recommended focusing on core strengthening but also to think about how I stand, not locking knees (she said a lot of larger people do that) and paying attention to how my hips are centered over my knees over my ankles. I think it's working because 1) I haven't fallen and 2) my sister commented "you even stand differently".

That makes perfect sense! After I hurt my hip and was in PT for a year my PT always told me not to lock my knees. We worked on my core and finding my center. This just makes perfect sense to me. Thank you for sharing your insight.

Yes, that's it exactly: learning a new center of gravity and way of moving because our balance points are different. I was walking to my car down a long stretch of parking lot the other day, just before the big snow**** (I enjoy walking so much now that I park far from any entrance). For the fun of it, I was trying to walk in a straight line, swinging my legs out from the hip and placing one foot exactly in front of the other - a runway walk. I wasn't wearing heels, which actually make walking that way easier. I definitely felt off balance as if I was tipping too far forward over my hips and going too fast, rather than making smooth, pneumatic strides. It was bizarre to have to practice this rather than just switching into that mode effortlessly!

I'm just a clutz and often fall over my own feet getting off of the sofa, LOL. But, I get what you are saying. While I do get dizzy spells, and still fall over my own feet I have found myself making adjustments to how my body moves when I walk or run or just stretch. It's a brand new territory for me. Super interesting post.

I was like Slip Mahoney for a couple of years after I lost the weight. I would say from when I hit maintenance just about three years ago, and it has been better the last 9 months. I think part of that has been working out and strengthening my muscles and getting in touch with this new body.

I literally would fall and trip frequently...my brain equilibrium didn't know what to do with 200+ less pounds. Luckily I fell well for the most part and didn't break my falls- which actually helps. I remember my trainer was incredulous that I would fall and trip so much....

Of course I am nervous about saying this, as I will then probably fall tomorrow and break my streak....ha

Sometimes I envision a long red line extending deeply downwards from each of my feet, into the earth. There's something about this visualization (and feeling it energetically) which helps me to ground, center and physically stabilize rather than feeling tippy. I just have to figure out how to apply that when I'm in motion!

May you remain safely upright!

Forget tomorrow I said it and I tripped today over the rower at the gym getting on.... oy. Threw out my hip and shoulder a little. I'll be fine tomorrow.

Ouch! Sorry to hear that!