Location: Alaska is home- Maine is where I live now.
Posts: 4
S/C/G: 221/167/125
Height: 5'1
When do I get to stop feeling like a fat person?
Does it ever go away? I've lost enough weight now that I am no longer "fat" Still heavy to be sure, I'm wearing 14's instead of 22's... but I have been fat my whole life, and just don't feel like me anymore. I was always a "fat girl" and now seem lost as to who I am.
Is this normal? Does everyone go through this? Am I totally crazy?
I don't think it ever goes away. I am wearing size 2 and little girls size 16 right now. I still feel like I'm fat even though my family thinks I'm way too thin. When I look in the mirror, I see the chubby girl I have always been. I am 44 and this has always been a problem for me.
I've also gone from size 20 to 14 (almost 12). I was telling a friend this same thing last night--I feel like my body is the same and it's the clothes that are changing size. I know that sounds weird. When I look objectively, I know that my hips are slimmer. I can tell that my boobs are smaller and I know by measuring that my waist is smaller. I am moving better and can tell I'm trimmer, but part of me still feels like I look the same, that it's just the tags on the clothing that is changing.
I sound like a mental case, but maybe you guys know what I mean! It's weird that part of my brain understands that I'm smaller, but part of it doesn't.
I feel like my body is the same and it's the clothes that are changing size.
This is so true: I've lost 60 pounds at least 3 times in my life, and each time I do not see that much difference, when I look in the mirror. Taking pics and covering your head with a post-it helps focus on the changes.
I think it is normal, and the closer you get to your goal weight the more changes you will see. It takes awhile for our brains to catch up.
Last edited by better health3; 09-27-2009 at 12:31 PM.
I don't think it goes away either. I'm down to a size 6-8 from a size 22 but when I walk into a store I still think there isn't going to be anything in there that fits me. I'm convinced my thighs are the same size they always were but when I put on my old pj's they fall right off. Someone told me "your brain hasn't caught up to your body" hoping it does soon!
I don't think it goes away either. I'm down to a size 6-8 from a size 22 but when I walk into a store I still think there isn't going to be anything in there that fits me. I'm convinced my thighs are the same size they always were but when I put on my old pj's they fall right off. Someone told me "your brain hasn't caught up to your body" hoping it does soon!
It's funny you should mention PJ's. I nearly walked right out of my jammie pants this morning. Time for new PJ's!
I'm in a size 6 down from a size 24/26 so I *know* I'm smaller....I'm just waiting for the thin image to be burned into my brain! The whole feeling is so surreal though.
Does it ever go away? I've lost enough weight now that I am no longer "fat" Still heavy to be sure, I'm wearing 14's instead of 22's... but I have been fat my whole life, and just don't feel like me anymore. I was always a "fat girl" and now seem lost as to who I am.
Is this normal? Does everyone go through this? Am I totally crazy?
I love looking at before pics of me. It helps ground me whenever I think I am too fat now. I don't think that, but it is possible to get to the point where losing weight isn't just enough. It can be a head trip, and you just have to be able to listen to your body. I have never been faster, more energetic than I am now, and I think I could lose a few more, but no pressure on myself until next spring. I think you just have to let go, mentally and physically of holding that weight for as long as some of us have.
Dear AKJenn,
You are no longer a fat person! Seriously!
I think I have the opposite problem... now that I've lost some weight, I tend to think I'm smaller than I am!!! I saw my reflection in the mirror last night and I was like "oh, I guess I still have a ways to go" but I feel thin... for me, I'll really feel thin when I can shop at just about any store (size 14)... getting there
I've also gone from size 20 to 14 (almost 12). I was telling a friend this same thing last night--I feel like my body is the same and it's the clothes that are changing size. I know that sounds weird. When I look objectively, I know that my hips are slimmer. I can tell that my boobs are smaller and I know by measuring that my waist is smaller. I am moving better and can tell I'm trimmer, but part of me still feels like I look the same, that it's just the tags on the clothing that is changing.
I sound like a mental case, but maybe you guys know what I mean! It's weird that part of my brain understands that I'm smaller, but part of it doesn't.
Oh gosh, you don't sound crazy at all! I totally get it! It really does feel like the clothes have changed instead of our bodies! How funny!
I am a size 12. It still seems unreal to me. I remember being an 18 and thinking that if I ever saw size 12, I'd be over the moon. Here I sit today, a size 12, feeling fat. It's all mental, man...
I think that's why I love shopping so much...I tend to see myself when I try on new clothes. I see the thin girl then.
Dear AKJenn,
You are no longer a fat person! Seriously!
I think I have the opposite problem... now that I've lost some weight, I tend to think I'm smaller than I am!!! I saw my reflection in the mirror last night and I was like "oh, I guess I still have a ways to go" but I feel thin... for me, I'll really feel thin when I can shop at just about any store (size 14)... getting there
I think this is common with some of us who have lived a long time overweight because we feel better then we have in a long time so it feels small. I know I felt the same way when I was in the 220-240 range. I felt smaller then I was. Now I pretty much match what's in my head. Bigger then most people would be happy with, but I feel fabulous.
I know exactly how you feel. For me, it hit me hard when I was 188- having lost 100 pounds and being lighter than I'd been in my entire life, I expected to be skinny! Not the case- I felt exactly the same as I did 100 pounds heavier (except able to move more). Now that I've lost another 20 pounds, however, I'm starting to feel more like a normal person. Most of the time, I feel chubby rather than fat. I think it was hitting the "overweight" rather than "obese" bmi. You'll hit that point in about 10 pounds, and I bet you will start feeling better then.
This has been a hard one for me to get over as well. As I type I'm awaiting for another load of laundry to dry, and the funny thing is, the last load I just folded and put away were jeans. I seriously pulled out a pair of jeans from the basket, gave them a good shake and thought...who's are these? (Like did my 16 year old niece forget a pair of her jeans when she visited last month?) Took me a brief minute to realize they were mine. I mean they looked so tiny. Back in the old days my size 30 jeans took up most of the laundry basket, and sometimes I still see that girl, not in the mirror, or in pictures, but in my mind. It's weird.
I've also gone from size 20 to 14 (almost 12). I was telling a friend this same thing last night--I feel like my body is the same and it's the clothes that are changing size. I know that sounds weird. When I look objectively, I know that my hips are slimmer. I can tell that my boobs are smaller and I know by measuring that my waist is smaller. I am moving better and can tell I'm trimmer, but part of me still feels like I look the same, that it's just the tags on the clothing that is changing.
I sound like a mental case, but maybe you guys know what I mean! It's weird that part of my brain understands that I'm smaller, but part of it doesn't.
This! I know exactly what you mean. I was looking at my scrubs yesterday and I thought, "My scrubs are getting big." Ummm....the scrubs are the same size as they've always been. My body is getting smaller and more muscular.
When do I get to stop feeling like a fat person?
