I hear that!
 

What is it with the mind that can distort your body image so much? I swear when I was younger and weighed 135 I looked like I do now at over 200! The trick must be to train your mind to envision your perfect form so your body follows. But tell that to my brain when I catch a back shot of me in the mirror!

I don't know if I'll ever feel normal or skinny and that is kind of scary to me. I remember when I was skinny always thinking that I was fat. The pictures that made me cringe when I was 15 or so- I now have them hanging up as inspiration! So who knows?
I would like to think I'll at least feel normal when I can stop shopping at "fat" stores. As far as when I'll stop FEELING fat? I may never stop. Kind of a scary thought- but I'm going to keep going to find out.

Just a comment: your profile picture looks great! :)

I'm still oveweight. But I feel *good*. Not thin, not fit, not hot. But just good. I am healthy. (Other than my damned torn meniscus and calf strain - ugh!) I eat well. I do not binge eat. I am not the biggest person in the room. I eat snacks from a bowl, not a bag or box.

Some day, I will reach my goal weight. But I feel pretty good right now.

This is a really interesting thread. And, if you don't mind me saying, if that's you in your avvie, you are definitely not "fat". You look great and 80 pounds lost is simply amazing.

For me, "fat" and "normal" are two different things.With the exception of going to the beach, I usually feel normal, as in I feel like I blend in with other people, if that makes any sense. I always feel fat though. I self criticize automatically. For example, I looked in the mirror the other day and realized my love handles were gone. I celebrated for a minute before my brain was like, "what are you so happy about? You still have a gut and huge thighs." I don't know if I'll ever feel not fat, but I'm hoping that when I get to 130, I can tell myself that I am at an ideal weight for my height and not fat and the rest of my brain will listen.

in my adult life, i've been anywhere from 215 to 145 and have never felt "not fat" at any point. certainly, i felt a whole lot smaller at 145 (size 12), but i definitely still felt fat.

over the holidays, i saw an old friend from college whom i hadn't seen in years. she'd had a gastric bypass and was down to around 150 (and training for a half marathon). she looked amazing, but she said she didn't see it. conversely, she said that i looked like i was at a normal weight. so it's all relative, i suppose.

i've been working out five days a week for a few months now and have lost about 16 pounds. my clothes are much looser (as in, they actually button!), and i feel much healthier (which is my main objective this time around). but when i catch myself in the mirror without the benefit of clothes, i feel as if i haven't made a dent yet.

i think perhaps i will stop feeling fat when i wave goodbye to lane bryant for good.

gosh...exactly what goes through my mind also! Even if I get down to an 8 or even a 6, I will probably think, 'oh, this pair of jeans is mis-lableled'. I truly need the input of others, and to hear it alot, to make ME believe it.

Man, when I was in high school, I was around 135-140 (My driver's license says 135!!) and about a size 9 or 11 and I thought I was fat.

What I wouldn't give to be that weight again.

I think finally not being fat is just when you get to a healthy weight for your body and feel comfortable.

BTW, I have no idea what a "normal" size is ;-)

Heh, my driver's license still says "155" , because that's what I weighed when I was 16. The last time I went to get it renewed, the man says (rather doubtfully), "155 still correct?" I looked him in the eye and said, "Close enough." I knew, and HE knew, that I was not even in the neighborhood but I think I must have scared him because he didn't argue! LOL.

I still feel fat but I'm getting closer to not. The other day, some co-workers and I went to a restaurant that we like and they have these chairs that have a horse-shoe shaped back. The last couple of times, I've definitely felt like I had to wedge my butt into the chair but this time--my thighs didn't touch the sides and I didn't feel wedged in! I didn't feel SKINNY, but I didn't feel fat at that moment, either!

I felt "normal" when I went to try on clothes and could finally shop in the misses vs. the women's clothing section. I bought a "large" jacket and actually cried in the dressing room. It was a HUGE moment for me. I was about 180 lbs.

So when do we stop being "fat"?
 

True,it is a relative issue and if you are healthy and active again...have enough stamina and lead a happy life don't bother about anything else.