Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum, i have read many threads here, and everyone is great and supportive and I would love to join! I've been on a serious path to weight loss since the new year, and I've lost 20 lbs! I have about 15 more to go, and this summer my goal is to wear a bikini to a music festival in June, i just can't tell if i am going to scare people away or if I look ok. Is it normal to not know how you look yourself?!

By the way, I am 25, I started at 190 and i am now 169 with my goal as 155. I am about 5'6. I used to wear bikinis all the time and over the last 4 years I've gained about 30 lbs, so I feel pretty down on myself... Anyhow, just looking for tips on how to know when you can wear a bikini!

Hi and welcome! You can lose that last 15 lbs girl and we will be here to support you! I think we all don't have an exact perception of what we look like, sometimes good and sometimes bad. Sometimes we pick apart things that to other people, is very unnoticeable and not worth stressing over.

On the other hand, a lot of women (myself included) have said they did not feel like they were/looked as big as they really are/were. I knew I was big and at least 300 and knew I had a big tummy but never really thought I looked that big. Once I started seeing full body pics of myself and pictures where I popped up in the background, it was an eye opener.

So really, I rely on pictures before a mirror. So that's just my thoughts. Anyways you're gonna lose that 15 lbs and rock that bikini!

Welcome and good luck on your journey!!

Welcome and good luck! I hope you will be rockin' that bikini come summer!

-Melinda