I can soooo relate! I have struggled with this on and off during my weight loss journey (and still do from time to time). I think you have gotten some great advice, and I really don't think I have anything to add, well maybe I do..when I was talking about this issue not too long ago, my trainer asked me to think about how long I was at my higher weight vs how long I have been at my lower (and still going down) weight. It takes time for our mind to catch up how our body is changing. It will happen. Keep doing all of the healthy things you are doing for yourself. Keep working for those size 10 jeans! You will get there. Just this week I am able to wear a size 8. I even bought a pair of skinny jeans to wear out w/ friends this weekend...yikes, now to actually wear them outside of the house, hahaha!

I started noticing when I hit 30 lbs which has been great motivation. I'm still far from my goal but right on track!

I still look in the mirror on some days and can't believe how skinny I am.

Other days I look at myself and feel like a Goodyear Blimp!!!

I've been reading all the answers here and they have brought up some questions in my mind.

First - I think age has something to do with this. I am at a distinct advantage at my age. Society doesn't have the same standards for someone who is 60 as for someone who is 30. Or even 40. Looking good for me now is a whole different ball game than looking good was for me at 30.

Second - Part of this is like the "glass half empty" theory. I try to always see the glass as half full. Some days I have to work very hard at that. Some days I'm good with any amount of water in the glass - I can be happy that I have some water. Other days, even when that darn glass is almost full to the top, I wonder who the heck took some of my water! The day will pass regardless of your outlook. Keeping it positive makes the day a good one.

Third - and others have said this - we can't compare ourselves to someone else and hope to get personal satisfaction. We can't even compare ourselves to ourselves! Our old selves might not be what we end up like this time around. Does that make sense? I'm not shaped anything like I was when I was 164 pounds in my 30's. My waist is thicker in proportion to my hips. My hips are smaller than back then. I definitely have less boobage now (sheesh - a chest like a chubby 14 year old boy does SO much to boost the self esteem!) but what can I do? It is so much better than FAT.

I can't say it enough - you've accomplished a lot. Be proud. See your new self with eyes wide open. With skinny eyes. Hang in there.

Lin

i started at 300 pounds. i'm currently at 250. and i'm trying to get to 165.

i still have a loooong way to go. and when i look at that, i get kinda depressed thinking how awful i must look. i mean really, an extra 85 pounds still on my frame?!

but then to turn it around, i look at how far i've come. i've lost 50 pounds! i've picked up a 50 pound bag of sand before. that's no joke. that's serious weight. my before and after pictures help a lot too, seeing the difference.

i can't say i feel "good" yet, better yes. in the "fattest, fatter, fat, good" stages, i think i'm in "fatter" (yes, i think i'll go with that, morbidly obese, obese, overweight, and normal just don't sound as good to me!). so i feel better than when i was at my fattest, but i'll feel better as i go. it's a process, just like losing weight is a process.

you've done great so far. just remember that when you look at yourself in the mirror.

thanks you guys on all the great advice. idk it can be overwhelming sometimes and sometimes im like yes i look great (at least compared to before) but then sometimes i get all critical of myself =/ but im trying to stay positive about this because if i dont i know i'll want to give up and i can't i've come too far already just as you all have and we just need to keep working towards our goals and just be healthier in general =]

Also you and I are not very tall and that causes an optical illusion with our weight. I've noticed taller people same weight as me- look slimmer and wear smaller sizes. But you will definitely get there!
You have done great with your weight loss :cp: :congrat:

that is so true. there's a girl i work with who is also trying to lose weight because she's seen the progress ive made and we were discussing that earlier because even though she outweighs me by like 20lbs she still looks smaller simply because shes a bit taller then me and carries the weight different. it really does suck being short =/

I think to certain degree, I feel better about my body and that started maybe around 200-210 lbs where I was in a size 12 or 14 in jeans. I think intellectually I realized ok, my appearance must be somewhat "normal" when I was able to go into a regular store and not have to shop in the plus size section. Sad, but true.

I also think that being unhappy with your weight for a while gives the false idea that that's the only thing keeping you from true happiness with yourself. It's one thing to before starting this journey think: "oh when I lose the weight, I'll be hot, everything will be perfect, that's all that's holding me back." It's another thing to lose a significant amount of weight and realize that losing weight won't make everything perfect. There's a lot of mental work to be done and positive self-talk and self-encouragement. This journey is tough and I'm realizing it's more than just taking off the pounds.

It's also a sad state of affairs to remember that lots of 'regular size' or even 'skinny minnies' HATE the way they look and will never be satisfied. That's an internal dialogue that only YOU can regulate. You can choose to be dissatisfied for the rest of your life with what you have, which will communicate itself to others (ie boyfriends etc.). OR you can decide that I"M AWESOME, I have flaws but so does ever other human living, I'm fixing the problem, I'm better than I was a year ago, and a year from now I'll be even MORE fabulous! That confidence and happy self-acceptance shines out of people, and makes boys drool, just so you know!

apparently. like even though i'm still not entirely happy with me physically i still have a lot more confidence then before now that i'm not as big as i used to be. i'm even starting to get boys interested in me again =] makes me super happy to finally start dating again because for a long time my lack of self-confidence and my weight kept me back.