I hear about this all the time in regards to people who lose weight. Although they may be 10, 20, 100 pounds lighter, they still see the heavier person when they look in the mirror. I think that's what's going on with me. I haven't lost a whole bunch and have a bit to go yet, but I have lost a couple of clothing sizes and I'm convinced that I still see myself as how heavy I once was. Do any of you feel the same way? About how off do you think you view yourself?
Then I couldn't help but start thinking... Will this continue even once I reach my goal? Will I still think I could stand to lose a few pounds?
...Your opinion?
I struggle with this really bad...to the point that I cannot, will not, look in mirrors any more than I just absolutely have to. I feel like I look completely enormous...to the point that people point and stare and laugh or look away in disgust or horror when they see me in public.
I've lost a liiiiittttle bit of weight now and I can tell like, in certain places where my body is a little smaller or different, but when I look at myself as a whole, from head to toe, I don't feel like I can tell. And I worry that I could lose 100 pounds and never feel "skinny" enough or never look in the mirror and not see the Great White Moose (this has been my nickname for myself for a while...)
I think it's about catching up mentally with the physical changes you're going through. Let's face it, if we all had confidence and felt good about ourselves, we probably wouldn't be trying to lose weight the way we are. Most of us have had some serious self esteem and body image issues for a while...those aren't necessarily going to go away when the pounds do.
If you figure it out...let me know. I guess this wasn't very much good advice...was just relating to you. I wish we could all just look in the mirror and smile...
I'm suffering from this big time. Right now I am the smallest I've been in my adult life. I have not been a size 16 since I was 17. I used to be a size 24(and those were tight) I know I'm smaller, but I still feel so fat. I feel like I look fatter than almost every women I come across. I also often feel like my body is oddly shapped and that I will never have a "normal" stomach or thighs or whatever...I would love to hear what people do/did to get over this because I would love feel as thin as everyone says I look.
Yeah, me too. My doctor told me the fact that I carry all my weight at my waist is worrisome, so I'm losing weight (also I'm not OK with how I look).
I have always thought of myself as a "heavy" person (though I've never weighed above 145 pounds) and have spent years sucking my stomach in all the time. If I tell anyone I'm trying to lose weight, they look at me funny and ask, "Why? You're fine." I realize I could be heavier, but I still don't think I'm "fine" -- far from it. So yeah, I probably have a distorted body image.
I have only lost aobut 5 lbs most the last year or so, so I've been basically maintaining. And only a few weeks ago did I start REALLY looking at myself with a new light. Really seeing the person that I've become. It's helped to look at pictures of me that others have taken, and trying to image them being someone else, or catching a reflection of myeslf and now realizing it's me.
For me it took a very very very long time. It also took a conscious effort to start believing that who I am is wonderful and beautiful. I wish you luck on your journey!
I've become really fascinated by my own reflection, and pictures of myself. It's kind of weird.. like I'm kind of unfamiliar, even though I know it's my face. For me it's really hard to see the difference unless I have side by side photos of where I started and where I am. The contrast is what lets me truly see myself. For instance, I took progress pictures the other day and was really disappointed with how my body looked; I felt disgusting! But when I put that picture next to my before pictures, I felt instantaneously so much better about myself. I realized then that I've come a long way, and I have changed, I've made a difference.
I've become really fascinated by my own reflection, and pictures of myself. It's kind of weird.. like I'm kind of unfamiliar, even though I know it's my face. For me it's really hard to see the difference unless I have side by side photos of where I started and where I am. The contrast is what lets me truly see myself. For instance, I took progress pictures the other day and was really disappointed with how my body looked; I felt disgusting! But when I put that picture next to my before pictures, I felt instantaneously so much better about myself. I realized then that I've come a long way, and I have changed, I've made a difference.
I think it's always important to look at before pictures. Old photos make me cringe, and then I look in the mirror and notice how much better I look. These pictures let me see that my face is so much thinner, how my arms are a little more toned, that my legs are smoother. Never think about how much farther you have to go. I had a Weight Watchers leader who lost 90 pounds on the program. She once said that she had to change the way she saw her own weight loss. Losing 5 pounds is an accomplishment that's completely shadowed when you think that you have 85 to go.
I'm there now as well. My mom and I were just talking about this. We both just lost 30 pounds and I told her sometimes I look in the mirror and say, "You are FAT!" (Sometimes I add horrible adjectives). I told her that I'll stop losing when I stop seeing myself this way but I'm scared I'll never get there. I've been really depressed for the last week because I am stuck at 161 and no matter what I do, I can't get passed it. I'm hoping to be at least 159 tomorrow for my official weigh in (I've been staying away from the scale) and then I'll be back on track.
I have lost 28lbs... and I when I look in the mirrow.. I still look fat and full of cellulite.. I use to avoid even look in the mirrow while I was heavy.. so i don't remember being disgusted, so it feels super wierd... looking at past pictures does help, I'm glad I took some. I also feel strange in my body, because I'm finding it hard to find clothes that fit me well, it's like I don't know this body, and what sizes/styles favour it, and it's not like I can do seriour shopping, because I'm hoping to lose more.
I think it really depends on your mood when you look in the mirror, if im feeling happy or having a good day I'll see a pretty (but still chubby) person but if im having a bad day my reflection is just hideous! it makes me wonder what i actually look like because i always look different when i look in the mirror! i think i underestimate my size though, ive been going around feeling fairly ok about my weight but then i got my photos back from my college graduation back and i look huge! but for some reason its still not motivating me enough...
I feel everyone on this one. I guess for some of us, we're so used to looking in the mirror and being the fat chick, that its hard to let go of. I know I feel like this all the time. Sometimes I look at pictures and am like OMG I am huge but then I cover my face and I realize that if I was seeing someone else with my current body I probably wouldn't be like "yeah, she's a cow...." so most people probably don't. Then again, my background with food/body image is not exactly sterling. Anyways, you guys are not alone. Just know that what you are doing for yourselves and bodies is wonderful and beautiful and the caring and health of your body is worth more than the aesthetic and I'm sure the aesthetic isn't half bad either.
Just know that what you are doing for yourselves and bodies is wonderful and beautiful and the caring and health of your body is worth more than the aesthetic and I'm sure the aesthetic isn't half bad either.
Perfect, couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for that.
Distorted Body Image Anyone?
