what do you see...
 

when you look in the mirror?

I find that my mind hasn't quite caught up to my body yet.

When I look in the mirror, the reflection I see is distorted... I still see a heavier person. But when I look at a recent picture, I think I look pretty good... that is not the same person I see in the mirror though.

Is this normal and for those who have reached goal and been maintaining, does it get better?

Thanks! :)

I have lost almost 75lbs and I don't see it in the mirror at all. It takes pictures of myself side by side of then and now to really see it. Everyone else sees it for sure but I don't. I don't know why but maybe one day that'll change. I hope it gets better for sure.

I could have written this post myself! I caught my reflection in the subway doors today and was kind of surprised, but then when I looked at myself in the mirror when I got home I saw the 'old' me. When I turned sideways I finally saw a bit of a difference but yeah, you're certainly not alone!

I lost 75 lbs. a few years ago and I could not see it at all. I wonder how long before a person can see the change in the mirror.

I still "feel" fat and think I am until I throw on a cute outfit. :) It's a nice realization that "oh, I do fit into these size 8s!" WOW!

I agree, I have to look at pics to see a difference...

I've lost a pinch over 90 and just last night I asked my husband if I look different. He just can't understand how I can not see the difference all of the time. On Saturday I am flying home for a long weekend and I haven't seen some friends and family since December and I'm WORRIED that they won't be able to tell a difference even though I've probably lost about 40 more pounds since they last saw me. I would love to know when I will fully see what others see now?

lol... same for me!

I have to do a double take at the size to remind myself that I am a size 8. :D

I notice a difference when I look in the rear view mirror or in the morning when I shave. My face is much thinner. I can also feel it in different ways all of the time. It is pretty encouraging. I saw a friend today who knows I've lost a lot of weight and I asked him if he could tell, he said no. We were roomates about 20 years ago and have been friends for a long time. I told him I'd lost 88 pounds, laughed and called him a din*k! We laughed together and that was the end of it. I showed him a before and after photo and he was surprised, I also showed him my duty belt, it is another size too small and I need to get a new one.

So many have told me they can see I lost weight I still don't see a difference:(

I LOOOOOOVE shopping. It doesn't mean I always buy stuff, but I love going through clothes on hangers and look for something "special". Recently I've caught myself that I'm going towards women's sizes and I'm still looking at 18Ws, when I'm already almost in 12P.

Nope.... don't see it or feel it at all.
Maybe that's why I'm having such a problems shopping for new clothes. All of my old clothes are falling off, but when I try on new clothes all I see is flaws... loose skin, sags, and get discouraged, and leave the store empty handed.
I'm getting compliments every day, but all I see is the imperfections.
Hubby can't keep his hands off me. DD's both are proud of me (I'm in a smaller size now than my 20 yo step-daughter who gave birth 6 weeks ago.... yet I still don't feel "thin" or "fit" or "just right"



I wonder if I will ever be satisfied with myself.

Definitely. After a year of maintenance I still have a tough time actually seeing me for the size I am. I usually think everyone else is smaller than me....but they really aren't.
I exercise a lot. I think I am afraid I will wake up and be bigger again.

I have lost almost 50 and still do not see much of a difference- when I look in the mirror, I am not happy with what I see. Every day it is a constant battle- every day I struggle with my self esteem. Every day I wonder if I am ever going to be happy with what I see in the mirror. I feel a tinge of envy when I read about individuals who "love themselves no matter what" and can express how much they believe they are beautiful, no matter what size. I wish I could get to that point. It is interesting how people always say, you need to love yourself. That is very hard for me to do. After reading this post, it makes me think, geez....I sound so pitiful. But, it is the truth...not trying to sound pitiful, but this is what I thought when I first read the question of what do you see when you look in the mirror. I hope one day to reach the point where I am truly satisfied with myself, and not so critical.

I see a board full of fantastic, loving, big hearted people who are supporting complete strangers and bonding in a journey together. I see a board full of gorgeous people who are changing their lives, becoming healthier and happier!!! I see amazing things happening here everyday and I'm inspired to keep on my journey!! Plus if i stop Wuvs coming up to Canada to give me a dose of whoop ***!!

Im coming east to hold ya down for wuv...

Great, fantastic post...we need to got together after this so i can buy you a beer. Or maybe root beer, im not sure i will remember how to drink after im done this.

I will hold you to that!!! DH grandmother lives in the Hat, so we may be making a trip out the with the kids this summer! :cool:

I am the opposite...I am thinking I am looking good!

There are some things that feel different, down a size in jeans and stuff, but what seems worse it's nobody else has said anything either. I am down 15lbs, but maybe that is just not enough to notice. My dad passes away this passed year, it will be 1 year on July 1st, and in this past year I have put on about 20lbs, so maybe that is also a reason why people haven't said anything. I was at least hoping family would say something. I do have a sister who I confide in and she has been nothing but supportive and loving and struggles to with weight.

I have noticed that I fit into smaller clothes then I feel good until I look in the mirror and realise yes I am getting better but do have a distance to go.. so must keep at it ~stilltryingtofindmymotivation~

Back in 2001 I had a gastric bypass and lost 150lbs. Even then I still couldn't see this thin person. I'm under what I was after my bypass and in picture I can see the thin person, but when I look in the mirror (usually naked LOL) I just see all this skin and YUCK, you know? Maybe one day I'll get a mommy makeover and get all this... YUCK lifted, because really, at 28 my boobs should NOT be at my belly button.

Oh you guys, I teared up reading all your posts! I don't see any change in my face in the mirror, but others say they do. Looking in the full-length mirror straight on I don't see any changes either, but if turn sideways I see some change. However, I did notice in my shadow the other night that I have a waist now.

For me, I've wondered if I "let" myself get fat because I was generally unhappy, or if the unhappiness is a result of being so heavy. Kind of the chicken & egg type of question... I have in recent years made some pretty drastic life changes and so feel better about myself and life in general. Might be why this is the right time to lose the excess and get healthier?????

Im seeing me shrink... I still see a tummy but much less of it... my ghetto booty is transforming into just a round da way girl booty lol .

I like what I see, and Im trusting what I see.... the process is a real mind trip,.

I see the same when I'm naked... a ton of loose skin. That is why I am getting a Mommy Makeover in October. Bye-bye tummy and hello boobs! ;)

A friend of mine lost a lot of weight on IP and she still wears baggy clothes/old sizes. She's not ready to embrace the "new her" yet I guess. When I told her she should try on some size 8's she looked at me like I was crazy.

I'm not there yet. :) But I think its normal. You have to get used to the "new you". I think taking photos is such a healthy way of reminding yourself how far you've come as numbers don't really have the same effect KWIM?

~Keira

I have to look at pictures to see the "new me" at 162lb/size 8, although I think I always saw the "usual me" at ~185lb/size 12, even when I was 220lb/size 16! I don't see the difference in the mirror in my face, especially when I focus on my stomach from the front but when I turn to the side I can definitely tell that my booty is gone and my stomach looks flatter in clothes (but again, I can see naked that I have a gut going I can tuck into my jeans!). Also my back fat is disappearing, so that's a plus!

Thanks for your words. You've hit it right on!!
"Trusting what I see" I have to keep putting my new view of myself on top
of my old view of myself. For many years I really never looked in the mirror, but now (especially in shop dressing rooms when trying on stuff) I really enjoy the mirror. It's 115 pounds gone for me, lots of extra skin hanging around, but a SOOOOO much better body and mind. It's been a year and I
am beginning to trust what I see.

thanks everyone, I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone...

Agreed.

It also depends on what I am wearing and what I ate and what number I saw on the scale. Sad but true, if I see I higher number than I like to see, I see "fat" in the mirror. If I like the number, I see "skinny". I also tend to "feel fat" on and after free days. I know I have not changed sizes, but it feels that way. Also, some times I wear an outfit and feel skinny, the next time I wear the same outfit and feel fat. It fluctuates, but I would say 75% of the time I like what I see in the mirror.

Okay i dont understand that??? How come we cant see it in the mirror in ourelves but others can??? After all, arent they seeing the same thing as what the mirror is showing us???

Ive lost 10 pounds..im only in the beginning of my journey...but my hubbers claims that my stomach looks noticibly different in size and same with my face but no matter how many times i look in the mirror, i just cant see it.