I thought it might be interesting to talk some more about body image and what we see when we look in the mirror (or don't look in the mirror). What did we see when we were heavy? What do we see now? What would we like to see? How do we perceive our bodies?
For me, when I was heavy, I wouldn't look at anything below my neck in a mirror. I didn't have to acknowledge how big I was that way -- deep, deep denial. I'd deliberately turn my eyes away from mirrors in department stores but can remember being horrified at what I saw if I accidentally caught a glimpse of myself.
It was traumatic when I first walked into a gym because there were mirrors everywhere -- I couldn't escape. But I'd do exercises in front of the mirrors and still not look at myself -- I'd close my eyes or look away. One day, after I had lost maybe 80 pounds, my trainer grabbed me by the shoulders and made me look at myself -- he said "watch your muscles work -- they're beautiful". And oh my God, I looked at my arms while I was doing bicep curls and they were amazing. I couldn't believe it was me. That moment was such a revelation to me and started me getting back in touch with my own body.
What have you all experienced with your image of your body? Do you feel in touch with your body or is it an "enemy"? Are you proud of how you look? Self-conscious? Do you think you really "see" yourself as others do? Thoughts?