XPOST-Officially Overweight and other musings

Posted this on the main board but wanted to get some vets ideas on this topic as well..Any input would be appreciated!


Well today I hit 85 pounds lost and my weight is at 174, which means that as of right this minute for the first time in my entire adult life I am no longer obese! 

Today my therapist and I spent some time talking about the NEED for me to help my brain understand what my new self looks like. At the moment I am not seeing it...I mean I know that the scale shows it, and yes my clothes are smaller, and I feel so much better blah blah blah..but in my HEAD I still sort of perpetually feel like the biggest girl in the room.

Some suggestions that I have been given to help correct this:

~Mirrors: (Dearest Brandilynn gets credit for this one) Keep some around in the spaces where you spend the most time..like at my desk! The continual images will help to cement the new reality of my smaller size.

~Exercise: Stretching, strength training, yoga etc..This will allow me to be in better physical touch with the size of my new self. I will be more aware of my body and the new things it can do...

~Photos: Keep before and afters close by and refer to often

~Compare old clothes to new clothes

The reason I NEED to get my brain to understand how I actually look is because if I don't my chance of regain is higher (according to beloved therapist) because if I don't see myself accurately and realistically its almost as though it never happened. And if it never happened in my brain, if I never actually successfully lost the weight, I may not care if I gain it back..and I may not realize it is happening if I cant see thin then I cant see fat either...

Additionally we discussed the importance of my celebrating my accomplishments.

I expected to be over the moon..to even be below 200 would feel like a miracle..and it does..some days...but I think I am afraid to be too excited. I am afraid to share too much with people, or to seem too happy...especially when I am around a lot of people who struggle with their weight...then again...this is a battle for me as well...but its just not a journey I can share with everyone...

But today I did hit a huge milestone..my BMI is 29.9 baby!!!! Only 39 more pounds to go!!!

Overall I truly do LOVE my sleeve..don't regret my decision at all!!!! 

To Celebrate today I changed out of my huge sweat pants and put on a cute little outfit..even got my nerve up to put up an after shot on Facebook! (photos in OH profile also)

Any other suggestions on how to get my brain to catch up with my ass would be greatly welcomed! 

I would like to congratulate you on this amazing accomplishment and to share with you something that my doctor told me when I first reached goal.  He said that it takes a full year for most people to get their head wrapped around their new bodies.  There are no short cuts, it just takes time to get used to the new you.  I used to walk around the mall with my husband constantly asking him, " Am I smaller or bigger than that woman".  It is not because I wanted to be better than someone else, it's because I really could not "see" myself.  Now that I am almost two years out and have been maintaining for about a year and a half, it has gotten a lot clearer to me what I look like and I no longer more chairs out of the way because I am sure I will not fit.  It really did take about a full year before this changed, once again my doctor was right on the money.  You will get used to it too, just give yourself time and reward the behaviors that got you here.  I would focus on celebration staying on track for X amount of time over pounds lost.  On the other hand, celebrate EVERYTHING!  Why not, it is so much fun to celebrate.  :)

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply...It is nice to know I am "normal" 

I do the same thing with my husband regarding other people's size...and for the same reason. In my mind I am still glaringly the largest chick in the room...I honestly dont know how to gauge my size. I laughed about the chair comment...I still do that too! Then every so often it hits me, wait youre not that big anymore...Its like I keep forgetting Im not fat anymore...wow what a weird thing to say..Im not fat anymore. craziness!

So it takes time...another this too shall pass.

You reply was very reassuring, thank you!

Off to do a happy dance and celebrate being overweight! NORMAL..here I come! 

 I have totally experienced this...and am still experiencing this.  The other day my friend laughed at me because I created a foot traffic jam by refusing to edge past another person standing at an ordering counter.  It just literally never occurred to me I could possibly fit past another person if there wasn't a huge aisle available.

And word to the: "Am I bigger or smaller than that person?  What about that person?  What about that person?"  I take 4 versions of the same piece of clothing to the fitting room so I can figure out what size I am.  I constantly pick up a piece of clothing at home and can't figure out whose pants these are because they are so small they can't be mine.

The other day someone told me I was extremely active and fit.  Umm...wha?  Who are they talking to?  When my husband comes to spinning or lifting class with me he makes a point of telling me how fit I am and gives me specifics of what he sees me doing because he gets I have no idea.  It's crazy.

But it's great...but crazy.

 Better then being CRAZY FAT!! This much I know is true!!

First, congrats on reaching this important milestone. YOu have obviously been doing your homework and you should feel proud. YOur goal weigh is on the horizon!!

Good that you are working on these issues with a therapist. Probably a lot more people should be. One other suggestion is to take measurements. Don't know if you did at your high weight but I sure felt good to discover my waist was less than 30 inches for the first time since I was a teenager.

For sure get rid of the fat clothes and get new ones to the extent you can even though you will need more later. Put on a slimming black slinky outfit and look in the mirror and take pics. you will love it.

I personally was so ready to get rid of my weight and looking forward to being slim that I have adjusted pretty quickly. But I am a person who is always looking forward rather than backward. Once in awhile I do  forget and think I can't do something that I in fact can do now. But mostly I feel pretty good in my skin now, saggy as it is. For a long time I would wake up and think to myself  "I AM NOT FAT I AM NOT FAT I AM NOT FAT". Pretty heady for someone who was fat since childhood. So just repeat this to yourself as often as possible. I am not fat. I am not obese. I am trim and look great. Say it out loud to the mirror. Then go get a new hairdo and such and feel transformed. Have a party for yourself if you have supportive friends and tell them you have reached an important milestone and want them to celebrate it with you and help you step into your new body. Do like a "reveal" on those makeover shows.

I think because I wanted this so much and couldn't wait for it to get here that I was ready to accept it pretty quickly. Like a kid that gets up at 5 am for christmas.

Everyday do something you couldn't do while fat like some exercise, a deep knee bend, run up a flight of stairs, put on pants with no "x" in the size or something to remind you of the change. And report in what you do.   But most of all just learn to enjoy your new slimmer self. Its a total joy in itself.   Diane

No real advice here......I'm hoping my brain will adjust soon!  Just wanted to say congratulations....you look great!

I so understand about not having your brain adjust!!  You look awesome, normal, and healthy!!!!  You've come a long way and it shows.  Great job!!!!  And thanks for the post.  It was great to read, I got me a cup of Joe, parked my butt in my chair and had a good read!