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.

Originally Posted by cammieb:
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.

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 ;-)

Originally Posted by sunflowergirl68:
Man, when I was in high school, I was around 135-140 (My driver's license says 135!!)

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.