Question:
Does our body Image ever catch up to reality ?
I have lost 94 lbs in 6 and a half months and have gone from size 20 jeans to size 8 jeans. The problem is this ..I still feel so fat :( I take me jeans out of the dryer and wonder what kid left their jeans here , each time I swear they have shrunk and I know I will never zip them ..I am always shocked when they fit . When will my brain catch up to my weight loss ? Will I ever adjust , or will I forever feel like a smaller fat person ? This scares me as I am afraid I will never be content to just maintain . Thanks in advance for your replies :) — ruthie (posted on October 11, 2003)
October 11, 2003
<i>They</i> say that it takes about 2 years for our brains and
eyes to catch up with reality. Since I'm only 14 months out and still feel
like I'm huge (and I've lost 200 pounds with about 50 more to go max), I
really don't know if they are right or not lol. Congrats on the great
losses!
— [Deactivated Member]
October 11, 2003
I was thinking the exact same thing! My pants look way too small... well
I'm used to looking at size 54-56 pants and now I'm comfortably fitting
into size 44. The other times where the disparity between reality and
concept are most present is when I sit at a restuarant booth and look in
the mirror (only some of the times). I approach a restuarant booth and
automatically start mentally measuring the space, thinking I won't fit and
suddenly do with room to spare. Every once in a while I'll see my self in
the mirror and go "wow! What a hansome guy!" My double chin is
almost gone. My face is a bit more chiseled instead of round and soft.
<p> I actually enjoy it. Not too often do we get to marvel at
ourselves and accomplishments.
<p> Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
— John T.
October 11, 2003
Ruthie, I'm almost 11 months out and down 128LBS, from size 24-26 to 10's
and will STILL turn sideways to go through a place I think that I can't
squeeze through. I have NOT caught up with my body or my head. Everyone
else says that I'm tiny, but I still fill 270 lbs. I was heavy for 20
years and I think it'll take a while to adjust. Our brain's like to play
tricks on us too!!!
— Leigh G.
October 11, 2003
At almost 2 years out, I am still HUGE in my eyes! Even though I have gone
from 288 pounds to 166 pounds, and am still losing about 1-2 pounds per
month, I look down at my stomach when I am sitting, and it looks big to me.
When people are talking about fat people, I tend to want to fade out
because I automatically think they are talking about me!
Even the size 10 dress my husband bought me didn't change the way I see
myself. I just thought "well it fits because it's made of stretchy
material".
Best of luck to you, and hopefully we will all realize how good we look
someday soon!
— T. 263
October 11, 2003
Our surgeon tells his patients that it takes about three years for your
"mind" to catch up to your "body". My younger daughter
(-220 lbs.) and I (-150 lbs) are 3 1/2 years post-op and that was true for
us. It has only been in the last six months or so that I have stopped
trying to wear clothes that are sized a little too large, or have stopped
wondering if I needed to "lose a few more pounds". On the other
hand, my older daughter is only one year post-op....has gone from a size 28
to a size 8....and still thinks she needs to lose "at least 30 more
pounds" from her now tiny frame! Give it some time and enjoy the
journey. Before you know it, you will be tossing our those over-sized
clothes and be able to sincerely accept all the compliments coming your
way. Best wishes!
— Diana T.
October 11, 2003
Gotta tell you its the same for me. Over 2 yrs post op (size 24 to 6/8s)
and things like reflections in store windows still catch me off guard. Was
at school the other day and a teacher told a student to give that tiny lady
over there the keys she was holding....I turned around to look for who she
was talking about too! I hear 3 years maybe???
— Denise W.
October 11, 2003
My only comment for everyone who has responded so far - TRY COUNSELING.
Yes this is a very normal reaction by why not work through it sooner rather
than later? There are many things that factor into our images of
ourselves. Counseling can help you figure those things out. I have the
opposite problem in that I see myself smaller 99% of the time. I am okay
with seeing some lumps and bumps, but I did go through what you are talking
about when I lost a whole person (about 200 lbs) 8 years ago. Along the
way I learned to deal with my body and accept it as it is. It does make
the journey this time much more enjoyable as I can really revel in the
changing me. Yes I amy have been able to do it alone but counseling was
helpful for many many reasons. Good Luck! When your brain finally catches
up with reality you truly will be shocked! Keep up the great work and
getting to a size 8 is wonderful. I'm now to the size you started at and I
am thrilled, because I started at 36W and 4X-6X. I doubt a size 8 is even
in my future - 12 would be awesome!
— zoedogcbr
October 12, 2003
I am 6 years post. There are still some times that I think that I am fat.
Then I look in the mirror and see a thin person. It is fewer and far
between now. I don't go straight to the plus size anymore. That took about
a couple of years before that stopped. I went from a 26 to a 10. I lost
115. I also had a breast reduction and a panic. You will feel like a thin
person.
— christine M.
October 12, 2003
Okay, now this may sound really weird, but here it goes.....I was never
mentally caught up to the HUGE person in the mirror...I was ALWAYS shocked
and dismayed when I saw myself at 350 lbs! For TWENTY years it WASN'T ME
looking back in the mirror! Has anyone else felt this way? I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN THE THIN PERSON INSIDE MY BODY!!!!!!!! Now, at a size 12, when I look
in the mirror, it IS ME! and instead of shocked and dismayed, I'm
re-assured and relieved! It's like, "Wow, I'm glad I woke up from THAT
bad dream....."
— Debby M.
October 12, 2003
I am 50 yrs young and I went from Size 22 to size 4/6. I always thought I
looked like a size 12 or so until I actually saw my pre-op pix I realized I
did look like a size 22. Now I look at myself in the mirror and see a size
14 instead of a 4. Yesterday in the support meeting (20 months post op) the
lady next to me asked me why I was there. I told her and her jaw dropped
and she said "But You are SO tiny". I started to cry as I am now
as I type this...I am still so overwhelmed by this NEW tiny me.
— Connie M.
October 12, 2003
It didn't really hit me until after I had my tt. Before that, all I could
see was FAT!!! After the tt, my body image got better. Then I had my arms
done and I could see a HUGE difference in the way I felt about myself. I'm
almost 2 years post-op and I still sometimes see myself as fat but not as
much as a year ago. I think we will always struggle with it.
— Patty H.
October 13, 2003
I am 7 months out and down approx 120#. I've gone from a 22 to an almost
12. My co-workers and family tell me almost daily how tiny I am and most
times I don't see it. One day last week, I was walking into a store and
looked down and saw my shadow. Wow! did it hit me. I could actually see a
small person. I remembered two summers ago when I was helping out with
girlscouts and they drew my chalk shadow and how BIG that was. I still
don't see it everyday or everytime I look in the mirrow, but holding that
image of that tiny shadow helps remind me!
— Jaime H.
October 13, 2003
Hi..I always felt the same way :o) I'm alittle past 2 years postop and I'm
noticing that I'm seeing myself more like I am now that I was before. It's
getting better. I still have the occasional "no way that's gonna
fit" episode, and like you, it still amazes me that it does, but my
judgement's getting better. This past weekend, tho, I startled myself. I
was at a friends house, playing with her baby. I put the baby on my
shoulders and walked over to the mirror on the wall so she could look at
herself, and I didn't recognize MYSELF. I saw my mother. When I was
heavy, everyone said we 'favored' each other. Now, I believe we look just
like each other (except I look younger heehee)..So, that's my
perspective..hope it helps. Denise 316/155
— lily1968
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