So I've been rather single-mindedly working on reaching a mini goal to get my BMI under the "obese" range and actually achieved it this morning. Yay me, right? Except when I looked at the scale this morning it struck me that I've just reached my "oh $&@!" weight!!!

Up until 2 years ago, this is the weight that was always my "Uh oh - put down the Snickers and step away from the table" weight. That top weight you don't ever want to cross, so you immediately are motivated to start the diet you've been putting off. About 2 years ago I had some medical issues and obviously did cross that line, sadly by quite a bit. Once I recovered from my hysterectomy, I set out to take the weight off.

So now I'm stuck in this bizarre body warp where on the way up, this is my "ugh I look awful" weight, but on the way down I want to celebrate how much better I look. Then it hits me how big I must look to people who haven't seen me in a while and well, that reality check sucks. I need a sign that says "You should've seen me a few months ago"...

Do you guys know what I mean? The same weight on the way up felt so fat, but on the way down feels almost sorta kinda skinny.

I definitely know what you mean. I'm going through the same experience right now, and it really highlights just how relative things can be. Such a mind game sometimes, ain't it?

Focus on the positive feelings and let them motivate you to keep going!

Thanks belovedspirit. I'm glad someone else gets it.

I thought exactly the same this morning. I weight in at 100 kgs (around 220 pounds). While a few years before that would be "the weight I never want to come close to", this morning I felt like I was somehow getting skinny. I thought I must be the only person in the world who is feeling sort-of skinny way in the obesity range

It just goes to show you that weight is just a number. Sometimes I hear people crying that they're 132 and they wish they could be 126 and I wonder how silly they sound to someone like me who can't dare to dream of being 132. Which just means that if I complain about my 188lbs someone who is 253 is looking at me and thinking "quit your whining."

The best we can do is love ourselves for who we are and stop worrying about what others feel about us. You don't even know what others are thinking of you anyway.

When you exercise it adds a new level of complexity to the scale. You can look better, feel better, eat more and be healthier and yet heavier.

Transitioning away from the number has been a struggle of mine. I use the mirror more but that number still gets to me even so.

And what other people think of you is none of your business.