Poor self image...

I don't know why or how but I can't stop criticizing myself. I feel smaller but I hate the skin on my arms, legs, deflated butt and wonder if I should have left them puffy. I know this sounds ridicules but I want to know how to be happy with myself and let go of all the bs. It's easier said than done I guess. I am always wondering if my fat is hanging out, but when I was 220+ I didn't care and wore pj's all the time. I mean I cared that I was big but not as much as I critique myself now. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled I'm not big anymore. I just want to know how to like or be OK with myself. I feel more insecure now than before. Anyone else feel this way or do I need to see a shrink<--- no pun intended.Sorry I just feel down today.

Have you done any exercises to tighten up those muscles? You'll have to work 'em! I haven't had my surgery yet, but even though I'm overweight, I have a tight firm body. And I'm starting to put baby oil on my body after my shower, to put hydrate my skin. Hope this helps. Remember, God made you, and he doesn't make mistakes! You look pretty, you need to know that you're special, and it's all about how you feel, not how you look!

"God made me and he doesn't make mistakes" awesome quote I won't forget. I have been working out. I do need to hydrate my skin better. But thank you for your kind words.

Ever hear that even supermodels have parts of their bodies that they're self conscious of and hate? They do. It's something every single person goes through.

Once you're thinner, it's easier to notice smaller things. When you're fat, you're just FAT. Most of us just admitted defeat for a long time ****il the sleeve saved our lives)

I do think that seeing a therapist could help you. I'm a big advocate of therapy for everyone because therapists can always offer you a point of view that your brain wouldn't ever even consider without it being pointed out to you. We have to keep our minds healthy along with our new slimmer bodies.

Good luck to you sweetie! I happen to think you look fantastic!

You hit the nail on the head with everything you said. Supermodels do ***** huh? That really put that inperspective for me. Thank you so much.

 I know how you feel. I have lost 110 lbs and i still think like you. when i was 300 lbs I did not care now it is killing me i do not even want summer to come in the cold weather i can hide my arms and stomach and legs. 

I have no idea how to get my mind to change. I have asked this question at my support group and was told it is very hard to see the new you and not criticize your self. Let me know if you know the answer.

I'm still trying to figure out the answer myself. I guess I'm just gonna take it one day at a time. I still feel big even when I know I'm not. Istill feel like the old me. You should see me in a swimsuit it's a hoot- maybe I'll post those pics to lighten the mood LOL

get in the gym and blow off some of that stress! you will feel like a million bucks. if you put some muscle on in those areas, the skin will firm up and you'll feel better.

for some reason, getting a tan helps my skin firm too. might just be an optical illusion because the skin looks healthier with a tan... i think even a spray tan would work probably.

I do workout but i do cardio and weights. My friend told me I just need to tone up stop the cardio and hit the weights hard. So that's my new plan! I also tan and that does make a huge difference.Thank you

 I understand where you're coming from.  In some ways I think I'm more critical of myself now than I was preop.  I have a theory.  Preop I was just like ughh I'm fat.  Now it's more specific.  I can see every little detail.  Rather than having an innertube stomach, the (albeit smaller) stomach that I do have protudes and contrasts more.  It's droopy unlike my bloated stomach before.  My legs still seem every bit as fat now...though I know that's not the truth.  I noticed I was becoming more at ease with criticizing my body postop as backwards as that seems.  People warn you when you're fat to be nice to yourself, whether you heed that warning or not.  So my new thing is positive self talk.  I'm going to try it.