Question:
Today is my 13 month anniversurginary.
I was wondering this morning, as I was once again cleaning out my closet and getting rid of clothes that are too big. I still feel fat!!!! But the reality is that I am wearing a size 6 jeans. That is not fat. Why do I still feel this way? And why when I look in the mirror most days I still see the fat me? I don't feel different inside. On the other hand when I accidentally catch site of myself in a window or mirror or look really good in something I acknowledge that I am much thinner and look pretty good. And I know that I am so much healthier and thinner when I am on the treadmill running and the trainer is working me to my max. Why do we do this to ourselves? Am I the only one that feels this way? — greenrobinson (posted on April 12, 2008)
April 12, 2008
why do we do this? wow if only we could figure it out. I have gone from a
size 28 to a 16 and I still feel fat and I still see the fat me. I think we
spent so many years being big for many reasons that we don't know how to
look past that. We have to really train our minds to see ourselves in a
different light. I believe that it will take time and more confedence. Best
of luck.
— Alvernlaw
April 12, 2008
I still get behind someone when a picture is taken and never want to look
in a full length mirror. I think as the person earlier said, we have been
fat all our lives and we still have not changed our thinking about our
appearence. People tell me all the time that I am so differnt looking, or
that I am too skinny, and I still have a ways to go. Just think about
those jeans and how old were you when you no longer could wear a size 6. I
remember that if I travel by my self for the past 10 years, I had to pack
loffers and no socks as I could not get the socks on or tie my own shoes.
Now in fitness classes I can hold my legs out streight and reach over my
toes and grab my heals. I can never rember even toughing my toes, even as
a kid. Best of succes to you. I bet you really look great!
— William (Bill) wmil
April 12, 2008
Pull out your old photos and have someone take new ones to compare...If
that doesn't make you fell better ...I dunno what will! I love seeing my
before and after photos...I don't see myself as thin in the mirror but am
always shocked at how much thinner I look in photos!
— .Anita R.
April 12, 2008
You are not the only one who feels this way because I feel the same way,
EXACTLY!! I know I'm thin, I know I look better, I know the fat is gone
but I just don't see it. No one understands and thinks I'm crazy but I
guess you need to experience it to understand. I have my before and after
photos from my one year check up and they amaze me but when I look in the
mirror or go to buy clothes I still see 286 and still start out looking for
big clothes. Our minds are strange creatures that don't seem to want to
cooperate.
— Shatcher
April 12, 2008
I too have issues with my size 3 years post op. When shopping, I pull size
8 Jeans off the racks and check round to make sure no one is checking out
the ridiculous woman who is grabbing such "tiny" clothing".
I know others will see that I can't possibly be wearing such clothes. BUT
then I go into the changing room to try them on and they slide right on! I
don't know when our heads will catch up with our size.....
— AlleeM
April 12, 2008
I think you are not alone in feeling this way and that the best thing you
can do to help yourself is look into some therapy. Honestly, I am seeing
someone who has experience with WLS patients and it has been so helpful.
She makes me see myself in an honest light and this has helped me to become
stronger and healthier.
— eddyrider3
April 12, 2008
You pose an excellent question!! I went from a 26/28 down to a size 4/6 I
felt more confident and secure about who I am at the bigger me than with
the smaller me... I still look at a space and think I can't fit and turn
sideways to get through.. I really really don't need to do that.. I am
skinny now and it freaks me out I sometimes have a hard time recognizing me
in the mirror.... I know I look great and Men find me attractive which
freaks me out.... but to everyone we do and don't know we look great now we
have to wait for our brains to catch up.. it a strange new world for us and
I am loving every minute of it and enjoying the attention too.. so I
suggest you sit back relax and enjoy it!!! good luck!!
PS my Sugaversary was April 3 so I am on the same page as you!!
XO
ELisa
— Elisa S.
April 12, 2008
I think everyone posting here is correct. We have been fat for so long, our
brain still thinks of us of fat. Old habits die hard.
— chell1957
April 13, 2008
i felt that way fora long time -- i'm not feeling that way anymore for the
most part -- there are some days i'll look down at my legs crossed and
think -- dam 1 thigh used to be that big!! i know i'm not fat -- i'm a size
4 pants and size S shirt -- that is not fat by no means -- and i'm starting
to put things in perspective now -- my lowest was 124 -- i've bounced with
5 lbs -- i could careless now -- as long as it stays under that 130 mark
for me -- and at 124 i could stand to gain a little weight back -- it's
still all about acceptance of who you are :) good luck
roberta
— RCassety
April 13, 2008
I'm struggling with this as well. My therapist suggested covering the
mirrors and pasting up photos to look at instead. For some reason we
register ourselves differently in photos and when we get used to seeing us
smaller, it will become habit... just like that rut of thinking ourselves
fat. Hope that made sense! lol
— Lori A.
April 13, 2008
I feel with u sweetie, I still grab size 10's when I wear a size 4 and an
extra large top that just doesn't work either. It's just not our bodies
that were obese it's also our thinking and it take work and time to even
figure out where all of it started and why. I suggest going to a support
group or going to an individual that can work on this with u. Joni
— jonicorona
April 13, 2008
I think in my case it as a matter of being heavy for so long..and losing so
fast...my brain couldn't wrap itself around a new thinner me. I was a size
4....and couldn't grasp that. Eventually...I gained some weight..and went
to a size 10....Ive been a size 10 now for 4 1/2 years....and I now feel
like I'm a normal size 10. I'm happy with my reflection in the mirror. I
look at my pictures...even the one I have here as an "after"
picture on OH...and I was just too thin....my face looked terrible..yet..I
still felt fat. Funny....I weigh more and am several sizes larger and I
feel smaller. I think it's just time that's needed....might be that
before...we'd lose some weight and immediately gain it all back plus
some...so we could never allow our brains to accept the thinner self. I
really like how I turned out...and I'm not a size 4 or a 6. I think I am
finally healthier mentally than I've been in a long time. Regards~
— Statuesque
April 13, 2008
Thanks everyone for responding. It makes me feel better to know that I am
not alone in this journey.
Robin
— greenrobinson
April 16, 2008
No your not along, I'm told it's called body dysmorphia. I'm 3 years out
and a size 2/4 and i suffer from the same problem, I look at my clothes and
I see how small they are but when I look in to the mirror I just don't see
it. I don't think I need to loose weight I just don't see small in the
mirror and I'm 5/8 I was told by my nutritionist that a lot of people have
this problem after losing weight.
— Lil' Booty
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