Body Image

[sbb1222 112]

I don't know how to eloquently word this, as I do not want anyone to think that I am unhappy with my Lapland decision, with the weight loss that I have worked for or that I have self esteem issues. I am fairly comfortable in my skin, am happily married, have a phenomenal child and amazing friends. I have never been made to feel bad about myself or my appearance by anyone in my life, even at my heaviest when I hated to look in the mirror. Here is the issue, I find the more weight I lose, the more critical of myself I become. I have never been crazy about being in a bathing suit in public, but have always done it as we travel a lot with friends and friends are over every summer weekend in our pool. However, we leave for a vacation on Saturday, where we will spend a week pretty much in bathing suits. My goal for this vacation was to fit into a size 14 J Crew bathing suit that I bought as my goal. It fits!!!! BUT I find myself now disgusted by how my legs look in a bathing suit, 55+ pounds ago, I had zero problem with how my legs looked!!! I find myself zeroing in on "problem areas" such as my legs or the area between your arm and armpits that I never thought twice about when I was heavier. I am terrified that after hitting my long sought after goal, that I have become too critical of myself to even enjoy it! Has anyone else experienced this? I mean, shouldn't I be ecstatic going on my first vacation in years in Onederland! Shouldn't I be amazed that all of the things that I couldn't do on vacations in years past due to being overweight, I can do with no problem now? Did anyone else find themselves getting MORE self conscious with weight loss, or am I nuts? Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated!

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[dylanmiles23 2,198]

I totally understand. I live in a condo and the pool opens Friday for the summer. I need a new swim suit and don't know what size yet. I plan on buying a 2 piece with shorts and a blouse type top.

:rolleyes:Just wear your new suit and enjoy and tough Cookies for what others think. You lost a lot of weight and it's their problem not yours!

[gigglypug 77]

That's happened to me with every weight loss campaign ever (and likely will with this one). For me it makes sense...any kind of weight loss requires me to pay attention/be conscious about food and it's effects, self-consciousness is just another facet of it. For most of my life, I wasn't actually miserable about my weight, I just completely ignored it! Once a year or so, usually after seeing a particularly unflattering photograph, I resolved to "do something", with varying successes but it wouldn't be too long until I got distracted by life. You, of course, know on your head that you look better in a swimsuit than all those pounds ago...your heart just needs to catch up. When in doubt fake it 'til you make it!