I still feel fat!

Am I still FAT? Is this common to sometimes feel almost like things haven't changed? I'm still the once very fat person I use to be and other times I know that I have lost a lot. I have lost over 180 lbs.... I had surgery 2 yrs ago. Went from 319 - 129 and when I was 319 I couldn't imagine being 129. I remember saying i would be SOOOO happy to be 130 or 140 and If I ever reached 120 It would be a miracle. I'm at 129 nine lbs till 120 WOW. BUT why do I feel like I'm so fat still? Does anyone else do this or feel this way? Or am I losing my mind lol. I see other people who I think are just the right size and my husband will say they are chubby and i'm smaller then them? I think he's teasing me, but he swears he is serious lol.

Amy; I think it's very common for us to still feel fat in our new bodies. For me, my body is smaller, but it's the same basic shape it was when I was heavier. I swear, everytime I try on an item of clothing that doesn't fit just right, I fall into the "I don't look like I've lost an ounce! I'm still huge!" rant. It's called body dysmorphia. They say it takes 2 years for our minds to catch up with what we really look like now. Photos help me a lot. At the start, I could just look at photos of myself and see the difference. Now, it helps to see myself in photos with other people so I can get a gauge on what I look like compared to others (especially those with physiques that I admire). Another thing that my therapist told me to do was take my pre-op clothes and lay them on the bed or floor and then put a set of my current clothes over them. That will give you a big comparison and show you how far you've come! Blessings, Jennifer

Thanks Jennifer nice to know I'm not crazy lol

Hey girl, that's a great idea laying the current size clothes over the pre-op, I'm going to try that. I agree, pictures help but these fat days can be a killer *sigh*. Dana

The fat days are a killer. And I'll tell you what, after New Orleans this weekend, I'm feeling chunky today.

Amy, you aren't alone, this is a very common occurance that many of us deal with. I have good days when I'm amazed that it's really me in the mirror and other days I see the 260 lb Dana. I've heard it takes at least 2 years to see ourselves as others see us. Looking at comparison pictures does put things in perspective for me. I also feel that once I can have some plastic surgery done, it'll help matters tremendously. I'm anxious to see if others can offer insight to help with the mind games. Congrats on the 180 lb loss, that's phenominal. Dana

I am almost 6 yrs post op and still see a 233 pound girl in the mirror. My slimmer sister reassures me everyday I am small. Wearing a size 6-8 as opposed to a 24-26. I truly believe this is all mental and I dont know if we ever get over it. Of course we all still have fat days or whatever you want to call them...but I seriously see myself as fat. Since day one....30July2001.....I still say that weight loss surgery is more a mental recovery than physical. Congrats to all of us for however much we have lost.....it is a long hard battle and it is life long we are not sured of obesity. Yes we all say if only I had not eaten as much or that cookie isnt healthy...we are human. We will never be the same. Kudos to those people who have never cheated or slacked off on the workouts. I feel we all see something that may need a change or what ever. I am getting new boobs.....to be honest if you saw me naked I look like I have just had a baby...people are shocked when they find out I am a gastric bypass patient. I wear a bikini in the summer......might not look like a vickys secret model but hey my lil fat butt can fit into one now. just remember where you were 2 years ago...one year ago....five years ago. I carry a fat pic of me...there are very few pics of me from 1991-2001...and even fewer since as I stll think I am fat. God loves us regardless of our weight. It is time we love ourselves even if we cant quite hit goal weight. I dont have a goal weight. I know that the 98-113 pounds the charts say I should weigh is a bunch of crap. Thats a third grader.....I am 36 not 9. as for your husband.....he prolly loves you the way you are and those people are chubby!!!!!!!!!! thats my opinion...... have a good day and remember....you are a new person now....time to love the new you...and remember the old one on occasion.... take care, tammy

Hi, Amy - Michelle, here, 21 months post-op and 185+ pounds down from my top weight (just had TT done 1-1/2 weeks ago and don't know what I've lost from that). I am a large-boned 5'8" woman who was 370 at my top weight and before my TT I was about 185. No, I don't look it - no one can believe it when I tell them I weigh that they all say I look around 150 at most. I wear M-L tops and L bottoms (12/14) and am very healthy looking at this weight. However, having said that - there are definitely days that I look in the mirror (especially before my TT when I had this HUGE panni) and say, "Did I even make a difference having this surgery??" when I know full well that I did. Now, after my TT - my waist is super small, but I still have "my family's" hips and butt. I look at it and say, "Hmm...I sure do have big hips!" I think, like others have mentioned, that it will take some time for my eyes to adjust to my brain. We all have these days!! Michelle

My husband found some program online that he downloaded that allowed him to make a life sized photo of me. I wanted to see the "new" me standing next to the old fat me. So now I have this lifesized picture of me mounted on foam board standing in our spare room. After he pieced the parts of the picture I had him take a picture of me standing next to the photo of the old me. That really helped me to be able to see the difference. I think the program cost him $20 or $30 to buy but it was well worth it. At first I would always point people out to my husband and say "am I that size....smaller or bigger than her?" No we definately don't see what others see. But even on days when I feel fat now I have to say to myself in front of a mirror.....you're wearing a size 4 pants, that's a tiny size, so you must be tiny. Later, terry

I am not proud of my butt being big....but I work with a girl who has no butt...really....she has huge boobs...well I would rather have my booty and fake boobs than her huge boobs and no booty. I have curves and those curves do draw attention...but at least you know I am a woman from any angle you look at me....unlike "co-worker Flo"...she looks like a man from the back. no I dont like her because she comments about my butt being big....it isnt big,,,,it is just curvy..to me thats very hurtful to say that to me considering I have come a long way since 2001...she is jealous. and quite frankly can kiss my big butt....even the tattooed side. we all need to remember we are new people....we were re-born. our bodies may never be perfect...but that is not the results of thses surgeries. we did not have surgery to have ripped abs and perky tits....we had it to live a healthier life and to just live!!!!!!!!!! everyone will have a different experience....not all of us need plastic surgery...not all of us will get it..... my friend had rny in 2001 as well.....but last year he died......he said he had gastric bypass to lose weight and be healthy and not have the problems....well he died in nov from cancer....there is no guarantee what we will "get" from this surgery..... the best thing to do is to be thankful you are alive and healthier today than how ever many months or years ago. follow the rules as best you can and live life in your new body. remember surgery is a tool....you must work to achieve the results.