do you eat a lot of salt? i know its just another thing to have to think about but it causes you to retain water. also, i gotta throw in weight training -- that means using weights that are heavy to you. whatever that may be -- it is different for every person. i lift weights regularly and look much thinner than the scale says and can wear smaller size clothing than one would think for someone my weight. for example, pushups are hard b/c you are trying to lift your body weight. which is a challenge for regular folk like us...2 cents

thanks for all of your helpful responses!!

i dont really have an issue with salt, i really dont like it all that much, but i also check the few processed things i eat for sodium. after thinking about it a lot last night i came to the conclusion that im probably not excersizing like i should, i havent stepped it up really since i started. so i think i will start really focusing on that.

and yeah the jeans are a little loose, and i probably did wear them too tight before. i have the nasty little problem of not seeing what my body really looks like no matter what my weight, and i really didnt think i was big at all until i saw a picture, so i was probably wearing my clothes too tight thinking i looked pretty damn good. :(

jenniCole,
you're doing great! 30 lbs weight loss is a big accomplishment!
You aren't the only one who can't see yourself the way that you actually look.
i think when you've suffered with weight and self image problems for a long time, you loose the ability to look at your body objectively, with out judgement.

just keep on the right track and look for ways to improve your health, stay active and eat the right kinds of foods :)

I suggest going and looking for some new clothes- for me I felt so fat on top still and I went out and got some new bras that fit perfectly and threw out the old ones that made my boobs feel like they were more near my armpits than my chest- and what a difference it made- a few people have commented "hey looks like you lost weight" :D

Clothes definitely play a part in how you look. There are thin girls out there who wear such baggy clothes it makes them look like they have no shape when in reality they have curves too! Yes I watch a ton of those makeover shows :p

Hang in there!!! :hug: FWIW, it took me about 30 pounds before I needed to start buying new clothes.