Had an interesting experience today.

I was taking pictures at my friends graduation today. While I was looking at the previews I actually SAW that I was noticeably smaller and thinner. Its become more noticeable with the loss of the last 5 lbs in the past few weeks. My face looks really thin and my body... honestly almost had to really question if it was me me in the photo, lol.

Before today I couldn't understand why I was getting so many comments from friends, co workers, and family about the weight loss. But now, after losing 22 lbs, for the first time I SEE it. Kind of nervous/ curious about what I will look like once I drop another 15-20 and questioning whether I need to re-evaluate goals....

Anyone else experience this?

Ya...I had that experience in the dressing room mirror of a department store. I finally did not LOATH my reflection while trying on clothes. I actually looked GREAT in everything I tried on from every angle.

I noticed narrower hips/thighs, but I don't think I look better (yet) because of my core. But yeah, it's funny to notice what a big difference a few pounds make! None of my friends have noticed, though, so I'm still waiting for that.

mine is embarrassing..i measure it by my gut. if it sticks out and hangs out more, i am at least 220. i have maintained being less than 220 and my stomach doesn't hang as much as it did when i was 220+. oh, and i do this by looking at the mirror.

LOL - we all do that. I have my hip test. I feel the fat in my hips every morning. I also have the jeans test. Can I easily zip up the skinny jeans? My boyfriend has the belly button test. How far can he push it in before he feels the muscle underneath?

ALL of you should hold your head up high when you feel the weight loss. But not because you look thinner. Because you are healthier and stronger. Hold your head up high coz you know you can kick some serious butt!!

Skinneyelle39 - good for you!!! So cool to SEE the new you. Now get used to it! That's gonna be you for the rest of your life. You are beautiful.

that actually just happened to me. i was trying on dressing at the store and people literally stopped to tell me to buy the dress because it fit me so well.

at first i was like why these people talking to me, then i looked in the mirror & was like damn, i do look different.

that night i ended up meeting this GORGEOUS guy, who definitely didn't see a thing wrong with the way i looked. it made me really re-evaluate how much i actually want to lose. do i even want to be skinny? if a guy like that (and i mean this dudes a personal trainer) found me attractive halfway to my goal, do i really need to lose another ten? should I?

interesting point. i think different body types should have different goals. aiming for "average" may not always work, or be necessary for some people.

i think i will lose another 6 or so. hit 120, then really take a good look at myself. let myself go out in a bikini or something, and just feel it out. I love my curves, I don't want to be a stick, but i think the main determinant will be whether I still feel like my thighs are too jiggly still lol

Do I see the weight loss. No I don't. I know I've lost weight because I'm wearing much smaller sizes but I just don't see it when I look in the mirror and I honestly don't feel any thinner.

There's a book, "Thin Is The New Happy" by Valerie Frankel ( No relation to the other Frankel). In it she talks about something called the general impression of shape. As she says, bird watchers see a large flying rectangle and think "Owl", and girl watchers see a rounded busty female and think "fat".
Well, I'm not busty but I do have relatively heavy legs and those legs create a general impression of width. I have a small waist and small hips but those body parts are covered up by straight boxy shirts which make me look sort of squarish and stocky. Combine that with my thick legs and I don't look thin, not at all.

I think I would have to go all the way to underweight (not that I'm planning on doing that) for me to see the weight loss.

skinnyelle39 - That's great! I have had this experience too, and like you, the first place I noticed the weight loss was my face. And collarbones too! I think pictures, rather than mirrors, show weight more accurately (in good and bad ways!). I guess when you look in a mirror, you can only really have quite a limited perspective, but I suppose in photos, you see what you might look like if you walked past you in the street, if you get what I mean!

I also think it's totally normal for friends/family to make comments about noticing your weight loss, before you really notice it! I guess that we see our bodies every day, but people we may see less often, or people less intimately acquainted with our bodies, may find these things more striking!

I've been stuck in a bit of a rut for around 6 months, but then have lost around 5lbs in the last couple of weeks, and my boyfriend said I was looking "really thin" (in a nice way though!) - which was great, after having felt a bit fed up with being stuck at the same weight for so long! But as fitness4life says, it's just really satisfying knowing that I actually am so much healthier and my body is happier that feels great too.

Thanks for the kind words! I am hoping to not only reach my goals but to maintain. I used to think losing the weight was the hard part. But now that I'm at a half way point I know that keep it off will be the real quest. I still feel like one bite of the wrong thing and Ill wake up 20 lbs heavier all over again, lol!

This is so awesome that you saw yourself thin, I am sure it felt great!

I remember after second child when I lost last 5 lb it really showed in the face too and I loved it. Also, for some reason I wasn’t as happy when I saw my butt and legs and arms getting smaller as I was losing 26 lb, but last 5 pounds I lost made a huge difference on my face….I am still waiting for this to happen this time. I am getting there, very…very slow, but I am getting there.

Congrats!!!

Totally agree with everything you just posted! Except Im not sure if its fair to yourself to base your personal goals off of the opinions of others. Im sure ppl around you thought you looked awesome 10lbs ago. It was you who decided you wanted to get healthier.

I agree with different body types needing specific goals. I have a medium build with lots of natural muscle and curves ( butt, hips, and thighs). Because of the muscle I look slimmer/lighter than I am and ppl have a hard time believing I weigh what I do. But my goals came from wanting to slim my pear shape down in the areas my body stored the most fat ( hips, butt, and thighs) and wanting more toned, shapelier legs. So I came up with a random weight and size I thought I would be most satisfied with those areas at and I am going for it. Plus a part of me really wants to just challenge myself to see if I can even get to 120lbs and a size 4 or 6 . Once I get there, if Im too slim or gaunt looking Ill gain some weight. But I just want to get there otherwise Ill always have this annoying curiosity.

Either way we're in this together! Good luck girlie!

Thanks! Its awesome that you have had so much success as well. I like the perspective that fitness4life has also. I certainly do feel better and healthier. I ran 2 miles yesterday. 6 months and 20 lbs ago I could only dream of doing that!

Thank you! We all will reach our goals as long as we commit and take steps to get there every day!

I JUST noticed yesterday! I was in the gym and i looked at myself int he mirror and didn't totally HATE what i saw, and then i weighed myself on the brudally honest gym scales and i'm down 7 lb since march. WOOP! not a huge amount but it's getting me closer to my goal!

I see a difference, but it's hard for me to feel as big a difference as the numbers would indicate. Sometimes I feel thin; other times I see certain parts of me in the mirror and I still feel big. I'm not sure I see what other people see when they look at me.