- HOME
- ARTICLES
- PHOTOS
-
FORUMS
- WEIGHT LOSS RELATED
- Main Forum
- Exercise & Fitness
- Diet & Nutrition
- WLS Graduates
- More
- MEDICAL CONDITIONS
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- More
- SURGERY DATES
- GO LOCAL
- Regional Forums
- GROUPS
- HEALTH TRACKER
-
COMMUNITY
- Newsletter
- OH Personal Newsletter
- More
- Member Q&A
- Chatroom
- Events
- MYJOURNEY
What do you see?
I was looking at some "before" pictures the other day and I thought "Wow, was that really me?" I didn't see myself that way - not that big anyway. I look at pictures of myself now (or in the mirror) and I don't see myself accurately there either. It's interesting that my mind saw me smaller when I was huge and bigger than I am now...somewhere in the middle...oh, how it can play tricks on us.
Just an observation I've been pondering for a few days...any thoughts?
Deb
Just an observation I've been pondering for a few days...any thoughts?
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
Not sure but I see things the same way you see them. I see my clothes come out of them laundry and think that can't be mine I don't fit in that. I have a friend at work who I think is totally skinny and she says I'm thinner so we weigh the same then we break out the tape measure and I am smaller in inches than her but when I look at me and look at her I look bigger even when someone takes a picture of us standing side by side I look bigger to me but not to others I don't know if I will ever get the fat girl out if my head
SW - 223 CW- 130 GW- 140 Start Sz 18 Current Sz 4 Ht. 5'6"
BA- LBL/TT 11/3/09
I know what you mean about the laundry...I keep thinking I'm pulling out my daughters pants out of the dryer and she doesn't even live here anymore...I guess it will just take time.
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
I do the same thing every time I do laundry. This may be oversharing, but I just had to gi buy a bunch of new underwear last night because the other stuff just wasn't doing its job anymore (well it was 6 sizes too large).
When I cleaned out the drawer and looked at the new stuff - I was like there is no way thats gonna fit! Surorise! It does.
The other thing I find myself doing unconciously is adding lbs to my weight when I say it or think it. Instead of 214, I'll say 244, or 254, etc.
When I cleaned out the drawer and looked at the new stuff - I was like there is no way thats gonna fit! Surorise! It does.
The other thing I find myself doing unconciously is adding lbs to my weight when I say it or think it. Instead of 214, I'll say 244, or 254, etc.
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: Planned for 2013
deactivated member
on 5/25/12 8:16 am
on 5/25/12 8:16 am
VSG on 10/18/12 with
I read an article about this last summer (in the midst of applying for surgery) and basically it said that it can take the mind up to 4 years to catch up with your body. That for people who drop weight fast, they almost always still see themselves as bigger, and for the people who got bigger fast, still see themselves somewhat slimmer. I guess it had a bit of truth to it huh? I have friends that ballooned up after pregnancy and I swear they still think they are skinny, and some of my other friends who are skinny now think they are still big. Vicious cycle, but good news is its supposed to get better in a couple years.
Then I will wait it out...interesting how there is a "catch up" factor...thanks for posting.
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
Ruggie usually posts that there is a 3 month lag. I don't know his source. I had a chance to suggest we do a body image clinic in my psychologist led support group. Its not until July. I can't wait for it!
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: Planned for 2013
Apparently this is gonna take some time...
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
It took me a good two years or more to finally see the real me. I never thought I was as big as I was, I just refused to see it. Then when I reached goal, I was not able to see how tiny I became, I couldn't see it then. Now, I see it. I am a tiny person, short and light but curvy, that's just who I am now. When I first realized just how tiny I am, I felt very vulnerable for some reason. It was a real head trip to accepts myself this way. I felt almost "inconsequential" on some level, like I was a bit ethereal. This thought played games in my head. I have now come to realize that small things can be powerful too. I can play with my size, using my voice and personality to feel "big".
You are sooooooo NOT inconsequential!!!! Well, it's good to know that my personality and voice can make me feel powerful - Lord knows there is no holding back on those two for me....Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
VSG on 03/07/12 with
such an interesting post today. i've been dealing with this very issue for a few weeks now. i'm 78lbs lighter than i have been in at least 8 years. i'm taller, 5'8", so i've always thought i carried my weight well. that's until i saw a few pictures of myself about 3 years ago and i was mortified at how swollen i had become - all over. since the weight has started coming off, my clothes are falling off my hips (was wearing a 24 - have no idea what i wear now because i'm too scared of being disappointed if my dress size hasn't materially changed). sometimes i look at my face in the mirror and i definitely see how much it has slimmed - but i have a very hard time seeing the change in my body overall.
it's weird - i know there is no way i can lose 78lbs and not be smaller, but for some reason i can't seem to see it. and it's not the faulse humility thing - i really can't see it. even when i look for a long time and really try to focus. so for now, the tape measurer (30" gone) and the scale are my most convincing evidence that i'm returning to a healthy size and weight.
i try not to wear my family out by constantly asking them,"...can you tell how much i've lost?" or "...do i look smaller?". they are always telling me i do - especially when i wear a familiar outfit that now looks like a tent on me. i'm hoping my head catches up soon - i'd really like to add the pleasure of seeing the changes in my body to this journey. but i'm glad to know this isn't just me and others are or have experienced the same thing. thanks for sharing.
It took a while before I went shopping too for the same reasons you stated. I was afraid my size had not changed and well, I'm cheap! I didn't want to blow right through the sizes and wear stuff for a short period of time so I wore my clothes until my funny little DH would "pants" me or my friend would say "Seriously Deb, I don't ever want to see those pants on you again" LOL! Keep at this and you will start to see the body changes, but I think it will take some time for your head to accept it kinda like me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
Isn't that a trip? I'm in a 4 and I still walk thru that damned department too...just browsing and then I feel thankful that I don't actually have to try that stuff on to see if it will hide everything. I too, will try to wait patiently...
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
It took me a good 15 years to finaly see the fat person I'd become. My husband never, ever said a word. My kids never ever said a word. It took a picture of myself in a black swim suit to finally make me go HOLY ****! I call it my Sumo Momma pic.
Even after that, I didn't see it in the mirror. One day I forced myself to stand in the mirror naked and finally saw it.
Now, I'm losing and I don't see the skinnier person. I look at the size 14's that are getting too big and think I'll never get those over my hips.
I'm glad I do a monthly picture journal and monthly measurements. They keep me sane-ish. At least I don't start old habits just because I can't see the changes in the mirror. I can definitely see them in the pictures and inches lost.
The head games are a killer.
Even after that, I didn't see it in the mirror. One day I forced myself to stand in the mirror naked and finally saw it.
Now, I'm losing and I don't see the skinnier person. I look at the size 14's that are getting too big and think I'll never get those over my hips.
I'm glad I do a monthly picture journal and monthly measurements. They keep me sane-ish. At least I don't start old habits just because I can't see the changes in the mirror. I can definitely see them in the pictures and inches lost.
The head games are a killer.
VSG 10/18/11 If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.-Dolly Parton
Sumo Mamma....
Good for you for measuring and taking monthly pix. Maybe that will help in the self concept...
Deb
Good for you for measuring and taking monthly pix. Maybe that will help in the self concept...Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
"Like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sleevedforlife to get daily inspiration and motivation.
I really wish that I had the strength to do that early on.
I always avoided the camera like a plague. I would not get dressed in front of the mirror. I had to search and search for a picture from before surgery to put on my blog.
I wouldn't measure either. Other than weight, I don't have any real record of how far I have come.
I always avoided the camera like a plague. I would not get dressed in front of the mirror. I had to search and search for a picture from before surgery to put on my blog.
I wouldn't measure either. Other than weight, I don't have any real record of how far I have come.
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: Planned for 2013
I had a weird experience (that I count as an NSV) when I was walking to my table in Brigs and saw a woman coming toward me and I thought "oh, that woman has on a dress a lot like mine" Now, I had just gotten into this dress and at some point, I realized I was walking toward a mirror . . . . For some reason, I look thinner in dresses and skirts, not bad in jeans and horrible in those oh so comfortable black stretch pants (that I haven't gotten rid of)
HW 369 SW 369 GW 199
© 2013 ObesityHelp, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
