Body Perception
 

Lately I've realized that although I'm unable to look in the mirror and notice that my body is smaller, I can kind of see the proportions changing- but in terms of things getting bigger. It's like I'm so attuned to being fat and trying desperately not to gain weight that I can't handle the concept of being smaller, but I can see something getting proprtionally larger. I saw myself and noticed that my boobs seemed to have gotten larger, but I took some measurements and what that meant was that I lost an inch off my hips! And last month I noticed that my hips were looking huge but that translated to suddenly being a size smaller in shirts. It's like I can't handle being smaller so I fixate on the bigness of it all.

Does anyone else notice something like that happening?

Well the only time I can see myself as smaller is when I try my clothes. I've had to throw away lots of clothes that were huge on me. But so far I haven't been able to notice a change in my shape. I hope I will.

betty, that's really interesting. now that you mention it, the same has happened with me-- especially with the boobs. i thought they were bigger, and was amazed that some button-up shirts did not have peekaboo holes between the buttons like normal. I was just so used to my body parts being a certain proportion...

on another note, sometimes i feel very small or large depending on my mood or who i am sitting next to. it is amazing how all of these factors influence our self-perception.

I always feel huge. The only thing that makes me realize I am not.. are pictures...

And isn't it interesting how we can feel light and fit and fabulous one day, and like beached whales the next? Depending on when you go, clothes shopping can either be the greatest or worst thing in the world!

I worked in a plus sized clothing store for awhile & when helping people size bras we always found that when people lost weight they would go up a cup size. So proportionally maybe your boobs are bigger.

That has happened to me! I have only lost one clothing size, but my cup size has gone up a cup. Did you notice that the effect plateau-ed after a point, like after going up a cup or so?

I wish that had happened to me! After losing 60 lbs., my once full C-cups are now barely filling A's!

I wouldnt have noticed any weight loss if I hadn't taken pictures at my highest weight and stored them on my cell phone.

What??? I burst into tears in VIctoria Secret when the lady measured me at barely a B cup- down from a very full C. Lucky. Well, maybe not burst into tears...

Actually, very recently have a I really begun to accept my body for what it is now, what it will probably never be, and be generally happy where I'm at. For a long time (and still a bit now), all I saw were flabby arms and a loose tummy that I could never get rid of, along with the bony pelvic bones and collar bone and elbows... I think it just takes time. When you are losing weight, some weeks your body literally changes overnight, but self perception doesn't move so fast. I think kaleystar pretty much nailed it. I do look back at pictures and at the time, I just looked normal. Now it doesn't look like me at all. I didn't realize how much of a mental journey it is, just as it's a physical one.