a question & warm fuzzies :-)

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Alex - 08 Jun 2004 16:18 GMT

Hi All,

Does anyone else have this -- I am down a little over 30lbs, but I
don't see any difference when I look in the mirror. I mean, I do
notice my face is thinner, but I notice more in my clothes than in the
mirror. I think part of the problem is that I never really looked at
myself when heavy, so I think I didn't ever have a "real" idea of how
I looked.

Now for the warm fuzzies, I started my new WOL when I had an epiphany
in the middle of the night that I was following in my mother's
footsteps and that if I want my life to be different I need to take
care of my health, which involved losing weight forever. I started my
new WOL immediately and have never looked back and honestly don't
consider it difficult. Last friday, a neighbor asked if I lost weight
and then told me how great I look and yesterday another friend and
today another neighbor. They all ask me my secret, I say I'm not
following a diet, I just exercise, eat smart and track my calories.
They are all amazed. LOL. I think it's obvious this society
underestimates caloric intake. I know I did! LOL.

I also went swimming yesterday after work and did 35 laps for the
first time in 10 years. I was a swimmer for most of my life and
avoided going back to it. Man, it felt like going home! :-)

Ally
212/181/160

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Dally - 08 Jun 2004 16:18 GMT

> Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> myself when heavy, so I think I didn't ever have a "real" idea of how
> I looked.

The Body for Life program requires that you take pictures before and
after. I've got a whole series of pictures going over about 80 weeks
time at http://www.body-for-life-tracker.com/searchprofile.cfm?id=34

The progress is slow and not noticeable from my own skin, but is clear
and progressive when you look at it from outside my own skin, if you
know what I mean.

> Now for the warm fuzzies, I started my new WOL when I had an epiphany
> in the middle of the night that I was following in my mother's
> footsteps and that if I want my life to be different I need to take
> care of my health, which involved losing weight forever. I started my
> new WOL immediately and have never looked back and honestly don't
> consider it difficult.

I used to write a lot about not needing willpower if I was wholely
onboard with my decision. This is exactly what I meant. Bill Phillips
(who wrote Body for Life) calls it "crossing the abyss" and Bob Greene
(Oprah's trainer) calls it "making the connection". I call it an
epiphany, like you do.

Sadly, the binge eaters among us don't seem to get to just change their
minds the way we do. But at least it works for some of us, so it seems
worth mentioning. (I've never known how to teach people to have
epiphanies, though, so I just settle for saying, "when you decide to do
it then you can do it.")

> Last friday, a neighbor asked if I lost weight
> and then told me how great I look and yesterday another friend and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> first time in 10 years. I was a swimmer for most of my life and
> avoided going back to it. Man, it felt like going home! :-)

Congratulations. I know this feeling, too. It's great, isn't it?

> Ally
> 212/181/160

Dally
244/179/169

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Alex - 08 Jun 2004 18:19 GMT

>The Body for Life program requires that you take pictures before and
>after. I've got a whole series of pictures going over about 80 weeks
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>Dally
>244/179/169

Wow Dally! HUGE difference! You look incredible! :-) Congratulations!

I didn't mean to offend any binge eaters out there -- if I did I
apologize, and I do get it. We all have different challenges, mine was
being blind to portion control, plain and simple. Luckily. An I do
consider myself lucky in that respect.

OMG, the feeling is totally amazing -- gliding through the water, and
feeling like a panther stepping out of the pool, muscles worked,
feeling long and lean and the sense of accomplishment. It is great to
feel like a part of myself is back!

Ally
212/181/160

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Cp - 08 Jun 2004 21:08 GMT

You know what first hit me with your most recent picture... You now have a
BEAUTIFUL!!! new collar bone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Congrats.

Cp

> > Hi All,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> Dally
> 244/179/169

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Jim Bard - 08 Jun 2004 16:23 GMT

> Hi All,
>
> Does anyone else have this -- I am down a little over 30lbs, but I
> don't see any difference when I look in the mirror. I mean, I do
> notice my face is thinner, but I notice more in my clothes than in the
> mirror.

This is one of the great mysteries in life, ranking right up there with the
odd sock out of the dryer. I have heard of this happening often, especially
with women...

Myself, I lost over 20 pounds with no real observable effect, other than a
definite tightening of the belt, and nobody noticed. Then, one week where I
had scarcely lost a single pound, people suddenly asked me if I was losing
weight. Go figure.

For me, the difference is more definite from a profile view than from a
frontal view. I don't know how this compares with others.

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cooper - 08 Jun 2004 21:55 GMT

> This is one of the great mysteries in life, ranking right up there with the
> odd sock out of the dryer. I have heard of this happening often, especially
> with women...

Same here. I'm going on 20 pounds- I should be there in the next week or
two. I have mixed feelings, I'm finding. I started at 154 though, so 20
pounds is noticable, and people have been asking me about it for about a
couple weeks.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not really thin; it's hard to explain, but I feel
like I'm just pretending to be thin, but inside I know I'm still a chubby
size 12-14 that I had been for years. I'm an 8 now- 6 is my goal. It just
doesn't seem real yet, to not have the 'cottage cheese' behind my legs or
that roll of flab hanging over the belt of my jeans.

My perception changes from day to day. I still have bad days where I feel
like a fat slob- I just went to go buy new bras because sadly, when you lose
weight, you lose it everywhere. :( :( I had a very difficult time looking at
myself in the harsh lighting in the dressing room trying on ill fitting
bras. Of course, walking into Old Navy and FINALLY buying those size 8 jeans
were very rewarding, and I had a good day, that day. :) (Friday, it was.)

I get angry too- I'm angry I have not much that fits me properly anymore in
my closet ($$$), and I get mad at the extra attention guys are paying me.
Why didn't they look before? I know I'm sounding like a spoiled brat here,
but for some reason I'm angry about it. I'm the same person I was before my
weight loss- and it isn't even ALOT of weight! Even guys I've worked with
for 3 years are acting... different.

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant, guys. I've been lurking for a long time,
and even though I don't post much the support I've found here is invaluable.

ps- please don't tell me I need therapy LOL. Some of these feelings are
normal, aren't they? ::paranoid:: ;)

-coop

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Alex - 08 Jun 2004 22:53 GMT

>Same here. I'm going on 20 pounds- I should be there in the next week or
>two. I have mixed feelings, I'm finding. I started at 154 though, so 20
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
>-coop

Hi Coop,

Congratulations on the 20lbs! That's awesome! Going shopping is fun on
the one hand when you can wear all the cute clothes, on the other hand
tough on the pocketbook.

Do what I do -- go to the local thrift stores often, especially the
ones like Salvation Army, who tend to carry more current clothes. I
have been buying Gap, BR, Old Navy for pennies. Literally. And in this
transitional stage it's important to have clothes that make you feel
good right now. Example: I bought a Limited skirt/shorts thing for
like 90 cents a couple of weeks ago. Still look brand new. So that's
one way to pad the wardrobe without going broke.

As for the guys paying attention, well they're guys. My mom used to
say if you crack a guy's head open (look away if squeamish) little
p*ssies come running out of it. My mom was dutch, perhaps that
accounts for the bold talk, lol.

You don't need therapy, it takes a while to adjust to your new body.
If people perceive the weight loss as a new you, look on it in a
positive light, if you can. Maybe you'll meet your new best friend or
something.

I know it's shallow, but I'm just trying to make you smile! :-)

Ally
212/181/160

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JMA - 09 Jun 2004 00:46 GMT

> I get angry too- I'm angry I have not much that fits me properly anymore in
> my closet ($$$), and I get mad at the extra attention guys are paying me.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> -coop

From what I've experienced and read here, I think you're normal. :) It
still pisses me off that people think I've changed so much for the better
only because I take up less space. I get away with being a complete bitch
most of the time probably because I'm not a *fat* bitch. One of the main
reasons I love my gym is that almost none of the regulars there knew me
pre-weight loss.

Jenn

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Chris Braun - 09 Jun 2004 02:54 GMT

>Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>Ally
>212/181/160

Hey Ally -- you're doing great!

I sometimes still think I look the same in the mirror. But other
times -- particularly with an unplanned glance -- I'll barely
recognize myself. I think it takes a while for one's self-image to
adapt to one's actual appearance.

Chris
262/151/ (145-150)

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