Question:
Why is it that when I look in the mirror, I still look really fat?
Why is it that when I look in the mirror I still look really really fat. I can't see that I have lost that much weight, but others can see it. I can tell because of my clothes, But I can't see it I am 4 months post-op and down 54pds. Is this just a mind thing or what? Is it just me HELP!!!!!!I started out at over 326 by my doctors scales and now I'm 272. Is this a good weight loss? — Antoinette P. (posted on March 1, 2001)
February 28, 2001
HI - 2 1/2 years ago I lost 70 pounds...then regained 85. Funny thing is I
could NOT see the difference on me..until my daughter should me a picture
without the 70 pounds. YOu know what my first question was? Who is that?
and then I said OH MY GOD!! So yes, I believe it is in the head!! Start
taking pictures....as you loose....then start comparing them...you should
be able to see the difference. I am again dieting...started this past
Sunday am down 9 pounds...hope to loose 40 before my surgery May 29th!!
You are doing GREAT!! Good Luck!! Karan
— chance2lv
February 28, 2001
I AM GOING THROUGH THIS SAME THING 9/15/00 317LBS
NOW AT 241LBS (DOWN 76LBS)BIG DIFFERENCE!!! BUT I STILL SEE THE SAME
PERSON IN THE MIRROR. NAKED I STILL HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME BODY SHAPE WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF MY BOOBS BEING LOWER. PEOPLE FIRST NOTICED MY WEIGHT LOSS
IN MY SHOLDERS OF ALL PLACES AND FOR 5 MONTHS TOLD ME SO. SO NOW I CAN SEE
THAT MY SHOLDERS LOOK SLIMMER BUT THATS ABOUT IT. I SWEAR SOMEONE IS
SNEEKING INTO MY CLOSET AND MAKING MY CLOTHES BIGGER BECAUSE I CAN NOT
POSSIBLY BE SHRINKING.
SO DON'T FEEL ALONE... OUR MINDS KEPT US IN DENIAL WHILE GAINING THE
WEIGHT.. I STILL LOOK FINE... AT LEAST I DON'T LOOK LIKE HER... THESE
DON'T FIT BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD... ETC... OUR MINDS ARE SO USE TO KEEPING US
IN DENIAL ABOUT GAINING THE WEIGHT THAT THEY DONT KNOW ANY OTHER WAY. I
JUDGE MY PROGRESS BY MY WEIGHINS AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE EVERY FEW MONTHS AND
BY THE OOHS AND AHHS OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.. AND BY THE RUBBERNECKING OF
MALE DRIVERS WHEN I AM OUT AND ABOUT IN MY TRUCK. THIS IS PROBABLY THE
BEST SIGN FOR ME. IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO I HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH ATTENTION
IN MY CAR OF ALL PLACES. I GUESS I LOOK DAMN GOOD FROM THE SITTING
POSITION. LOL! :)
KEEP THE FAITH... I KNOW THAT OUR PERSPECTIVES WILL CHANGE.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY,
SYDNIE
— sydnieb
February 28, 2001
I've seen similar posts in the archives here, about weight loss starting in
the face, neck, etc. Women tend to lose from the top to the bottom. It
makes it harder to see the weight coming off of the other parts of the
body, hips, butt, etc. Try not to focus on the negative, but realize that
even though surgery helps, it's going to take time. Give yourselves a
break, and try not to expect perfection. After all, this is supposed to be
freeing, not further the obsession with body image and food. If you want to
keep track, try taking weekly snapshots, trying on a "goal" pair
of jeans, or taking measurements. That way, you aren't so focused on the
mirror image and numbers on the scale. Wishing you much success!
— Amy K.
February 28, 2001
I am down 85 lbs. and when I look in the mirror, I see the same body I saw
before. I *know* I have lost the weight, because my clothes are smaller -
I've gone from a size 24/26 to a 12/14; and if I really pay attention and
examine my body meticulously, I can see the changes. But when I just look
at myself, without studying, I would say I look just the same way. For the
first time, I can understand how people with body image disorders can look
at themselves at 90 lbs. and think they are fat. - Kate -
— kateseidel
February 28, 2001
Antoinette ... I hate to break it to you, hon, but you're completely
normal. I'd bet ALL of us suffer from this post-op. I think the
psychological term for it is "dysmorphia", or being unable to see
our body as it really is. I'm still amazed when I can fit into clothes
seven sizes smaller than they were before I had my surgery last April.
Strangely, it's the exact opposite of what I was before surgery -- pre-op,
I was always AMAZED at how HUGE I was. It was quite startling to realize I
didn't fit through a turnstile or into a chair or barely into size 32
clothes. It's a head thing -- and I'm sure that eventually we'll be able
see ourselves as we are. And 54 pounds in four months is amazing ... when
was the last time you lost that much weight in that little time and kept it
off for more than five minutes? You go, girl -- and don't sweat it.
Eventually the head and the mirror will come together.
Warm skinny supportive thoughts,
— Cheryl Denomy
February 28, 2001
I think this must be one of those phases that many of us go through. I
updated my profile yesterday and as I was reading through the old notes I
noticed I had posted a similar statement. You will notice a big change very
soon. I don't know about you, but I avoided looking at myself in the mirror
before I got in the shower. Not to be vain or anything, but now there are
times that I look at myself and am totaly amazed at the change. (Of course
there are times that I would swear that it is my Grandmother I'm looking at
with the way things sag now! I see a tummy tuck and breast lift in my
future!!!)If you haven't done it in a while check your measurements - it's
a way to prove to yourself that you really are losing. Keep up the good
work and congratulations on the 54 lbs. you have already lost.
— georgiacarol
March 1, 2001
When I look in the mirror, the only difference I can "see" is my
collarbones, slimmer face, and loose skin everywhere. Without my progress
pictures I'd be lost. The funny thing is, I have a coworker who can tell
when I've lost another 5 lbs. She has been so accurate, she'd bet her
paycheck on it! Dysmorphia is the correct psychological term.
— [Deactivated Member]
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