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This week I lost three pounds and my therapist asked me how I felt about it. Anytime I lose a significant amount of weight I tend to get very anxious because I don’t know how to act. My body may have lost the weight but emotionally and mentally, I haven’t adjusted my way of thinking to this new, thinner person. I know a lot of people say, “Well, just because you lose weight doesn’t mean you’re a different person. You’re still the same person.” I actually beg to differ on that. I’ve transformed from a person who weighed 330 pounds to a 240 pound person. Before the weight loss I went to work, came home, sat on the couch, watched TV, ate dinner, played on the internet, and went to bed. That was the sum of my life. I could barely breathe sitting down, or even get dressed in the mornings. Now I’m participating in things I’d never be able to do if I was 330 lbs. I’ve been very active with my photography which requires a lot of energy to walk around for hours at a time. I’ve started weightlifting, kayaking, bicycling, and in general being very energetic. I have not only changed physically and have a lot more energy, but going from a sedentary life to an active one in just a matter of a few months requires a huge mental shift in the brain. Therefore, I am not the same person I was before. In my hermit like existence I was not social at all. I didn’t like talking to people and I kept to myself. Because of all this activity, I’m being forced out into situations beyond my comfort zone where I have to interact with people. Because of this weight loss I feel like I have broken out of a prison and like a freed prisoner, I want to experience everything life has to offer and everything I have missed out on all my life. This is why I am making an effort to become more active and even reach out to people for some social interaction. The problem is that psychologically, my brain has not caught up with all of this and that’s what’s really causing the anxiety. I am very socially awkward. I don’t know how to talk to people because I’ve never had to do it. I don’t know how to act or react when people talk to me. I feel as if I have no social skills whatsoever. I’m extremely shy and unable to hold a conversation or talk to someone in a social setting. I’m so shy and terrified that I wouldn’t go up to someone and start a conversation with them. When I meet people I am paralyzed to open my mouth for fear of saying something stupid, dumb, or uninteresting. I’m constantly wondering what negative thoughts the other person must be thinking of me. There are times I can be intelligent, interesting, and funny, but most of the time I think of myself as very dull. I guess all I can do is practice social skills by getting out there, into social situations. Meeting different people, meeting new people, and seeing how things go. Hence, it is torture to try to break out of my shell and venture out into the brave new world of humans.

I am still very swollen so I was hesitant to get on the scale, but I couldn't resist the temptation and I have lost 10lbs since Tuesday. I couldn't stop smiling. That is just so amazing to me. I can't wait until I'm able to start working out and building muscle and working on toning as I go. This is just such a blessing!

Sounds like you are on your way! Congratulations! Take it one day at a time. I will participate in the second of six nutritional classes on Tues. (11th). I am so anxious to have the surgery and get on my way as well. I live in CO as well.

Thank you for posting this. Many people do not talk about some of the struggles you can have after losing weight. Me, for example, I have really struggled to realize that I am not big anymore. So many times, if I see someone looking at me, I feel that they are judging me still, looking at my flabby arms or thinking that "she shouldn't be wearing that". I am not as shy as I used to be either, but I too find it difficult. I still feel sometimes like the biggest one in the group, or that people won't want to be friends with me. Our bodies might lose the weight, but our brains don't lose the baggage. I really don't have great advice. The only thing is to say that congratulations on embracing your new life and making an effort to put yourself out of your comfort zone. It takes a lot of courage to try new things! Like the old saying goes, "fake it until you make it". Just keep going and it will get easier! And congratulations on your weight loss too!

It’s been a month and I’m finally feeling better. I’m feeling more secure, sleeping better and taking the complements in stride. This week a lot of my co-workers have finally noticed that there is something different. A lot of them think it’s different makeup or hair LOL. I want to say no it’s the 25 lbs. + I lost, but I’m not ready to tell them what I had done. I’m just about ready to officially drop a size because my pants are falling off of me; unfortunately the next size down is still too tight in my tummy. I’m losing in my legs and bottom first. I go in for another fill on Tuesday… I hope I hit my green zone soon.

If you figure this out, will you enlighten me? I play much of the same things in my head that you said. We should TALK!

I feel the same way, glad to hear that Im not the only one struggling with this.

Congratulations, that is very exciting news!!! You should be very proud of yourself!!! You can keep your co workers in the dark even when they start to realize that you are losing weight. One thing my girlfriend told me is that once she told her co workers they started to watch whatever she ate. I am 4 days away from my surgery and you are an inspiration, thanks for sharing!

I haven't had my first fill yet, so I'm not sure what that feels like. I don't think it would hurt to call your Dr just to see what he says. He's there to help! Have fun in Disney!

kdp, boy nothing bums us out faster than problems with our children, huh? In early June, my son moved to PA to be with his dad and I cried for 2 days. I'm sure the move was difficult on everyone, but at 19, boyfriends and friends are your entire world and moving from a place you have spent your life in to a new place had to be hard for her. I'm sure she's a good girl and it might be hard for her to see you only want the best for her right now, but she'll get it eventually. I'm sorry you have the gloomies, but hey....CONGRATS on the 15 lb loss!!! Thats TERRIFIC!!!!! You are in a fairly difficult part of the process. Not impossible, just difficult but you will get through it. I am sure you are doing the right things as far as eating. Just follow the Dr's orders NO MATTER WHAT. It's critical that you give your stomach this time to heal, by following the post-op diet. You will be fine, and honestly if you do screw up, your band will let you know and you will learn the HEED THE BAND. LOL LOL Everyone screws up. Everyone eats things they shouldn't. Some learn,some don't. I told my doctor about eating something that didn't agree with me and marking it off my list and he said he wished more of his patients would do that. So I asked him if people really ate things knowing they would end up throwing them up and he said "YES" I was floored. Nothing tastes good enough to have it come back up as far as I'm concerned. Have you looked on here for any local band support groups? That would be a great place to meet some new people, going thru the same things you are. They are listed by state I think in the forums section. Not sure. Click around and you'll find it. Good luck dear....and hang in there. You don't sound like a cry baby. You sound like a mother who loves her children. Kelly