Dwelling On Your Past Appearance?

[guamvixen]

Ok, so I have a confession. It was just made apparent to me yesterday, by myself, which is rather weird b/c I could actually hear myself being really repetitive.

I have been at goal for 8 months now! WOOHOO on the maintenance right?!?! But my issue is, I can't help but look at other women my height and former weight, and then telling whoever I'm walking with "look, I used to be that size" or "There goes the old Sam" I'm not being ugly about it, it's more of a thinking out loud thing. To be honest, reality didn't hit me on how big I actually was until I was called an elephant in a picture. Now looking at women that have my old body, it still amazes me how far I came, and I'm not sure exactly what I mean or feel when I do these things.

Sometimes I dwell on how much food I used to eat too! I can only imagine that it must be driving my fiance' crazy, b/c it's driving me crazy and no one has complained about it, I don't do it all the time, but do any of you all find yourself doing things like that? Am I shallow? How the heck do I finally LET GO?! I even keep my "before" pics up on the wall in my office so I can think twice before eating that donut or falling back into old habits. Maybe I should finally have a funeral for that girl, and take those pics down. How did you all cope with the big change? I lost 121 lbs total in 12 months, and I'm just wondering if I'm crazy.

[junebug41]

I say take down the pictures. I think the "shiny new car smell" is totally natural and a little (or a lot of) narcissicm is to be expected when making such a change in appearance and lifestyle. I certainly had some moments where I stopped myself and said, "hey, it's time to take it down a notch".

It isn't that you shouldn't be absolutely proud of your accomplishment, but just as you said, if you're being repetitive it may be time to take a step back. I think back to how tolerant my friends were of my constant running commentary about weightloss and it's a wonder they are still my friends! (I mellowed out after a couple of years)

Gosh, if I didn't have 3FC to talk to 6 years later I'd probably be all alone!

[StephanieM]

I feel somewhat like this, when I see larger girls though I sometimes wish I could say 'if you eat right and work out, you could lose just like I did!' But I know that's not a socially acceptable thing to say.

Or I look at girls that were my size and I can't believe I was there, and I look at them sadly wishing they had the willpower I had to make a change.

You've come far, that's why you feel this way. It's a great thing to celebrate, but it might be time to take the old photo's down and focus on a life where you are just a happy person (not a girl who was 'fat')

It's hard, I struggle with it as well though not exactly the same way. I talk about working out and eating right almost every day, I think my fiance is going to get tired of it. I've discovered this passion and if it weren't for the people at 3fc I wouldn't have as good of an outlet.