This was a really bizarre thought I had today -- totally weird and non-scientific -- so please excuse me in advance!

I was wondering if anyone has had the experience of ... when losing weight (and expecially when losing a lot of weight) ... re-living or re-experiencing (in a very subtle way) emotional or mental states you had at those lower weights.

It might be purely psychological and not physical, but I wonder sometimes if stress or body chemicals from emotions can get stored in fat, then when you burn that fat and whatever was stored in that fat gets released into your bloodstream, if a part of you might have some subtle re-experience of that old state.

In a funny way, losing weight is almost like going back in time. I am at a weight now that I havent been at since 2002. So in a strange sort of way, I am experiencing what things felt like 13 years ago. Or maybe it's just that my new lower body weight is reminding me of what I felt like the last time I was at that lower weight.

I am not sure if this is just "crazy thoughts" that I sometimes get on my morning walks or if others have had similar experiences?

I guess our body chemistry is still kind of mysterious to me -- but I would like to study it more!

Alexandra - I can completely see how that is possible. After all, I'm sure you've experienced intense memories coming back from a particular smell or sound (like a song from your past) - why not having memories attached in your brain to a particular "feel" - i.e. the way your body feels at any point in time. Makes perfect sense! I haven't personally felt that way yet, but it's been probably 20 years since I've been this weight, and my weight is distributed quite differently than it was at that age, so for me the feeling is not the same.

BTW - congrats on reaching 100! That's amazing. You are an inspiration!

Fascinating concepts, Alexandra.... I know that as I work my way down thru my 'closet of many sizes,' I keep finding old favorites of clothing - including some pieces that I kept strictly for sentimental reasons. And when I put those items on, I re-live those times from the past. The fact that my body fits into those items and I re-experience the whole body sensation of that old fave.... it definitely takes me back to the stuff that was going on my life at the time that I acquired and wore that item. I am sure that happens. (and I have a few items from the 1980's and 90's....

Whether the stresses and the excruciating experiences of the past are manifested in the fat cells.... I don't know.... but it IS an interesting concept. Don't know why but it makes me think of tree rings....

Thank you AltK!

Good feedback and thoughts Alt and One.