When, if ever, do you stop feeling like a fat person?

[ryan_86 335]

Granted, the remaining flab and skin don't help, even though I'm a svelte and fit 158 pounds, but I still feel like a fat person. Without a shirt on I still think I look like a fat person. And when people say I look great, I think could and should look better. When they say I've lost enough, I tell them I want to lose more. When they say I'm skinny, I say I'm fat.

I'm on this first date last night, and I've never done any serious dating, and I just felt....dishonest. Like I was telling her I was this person I'm not. Because just a year ago I was morbidly obese. And I still think I'm that person.

[hdw85 48]

I can relate.. nearly one year out and 95 lbs gone. People say you look great, you don't need to lose anymore. Someone told me the other day, "wow you are really skinny now", I don't even know how to reply, I just say thanks but still think I'm the fat girl. My mom told me that I don't see myself like I am now Bc I saw myself much bigger for so long.

[Introversion 1,876]

It's called body dysmorphia...

Yes, I still often see a fat person staring back at me in the mirror although I'm 100+ lbs lighter and have been weighing 118 lbs since entering the maintenance phase nearly a year ago.

Evidence that contradicts my perceived 'fatness: *the size 2 and 4 clothes I easily fit; *comments such as "I can tell you stay in the gym" or "You're in such great shape" or "You're so tiny!"

Don't get me wrong...I regularly see the progress I've made over the past two years. However, I still do see the big girl in the mirror on occasion.

Thanks for bringing up this timely topic.

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

1 hour ago, Introversion said:

It's called body dysmorphia...

Yes, I still often see a fat person staring back at me in the mirror although I'm 100+ lbs lighter and have been weighing 118 lbs since entering the maintenance phase nearly a year ago.

Evidence that contradicts my perceived 'fatness: *the size 2 and 4 clothes I easily fit; *comments such as "I can tell you stay in the gym" or "You're in such great shape" or "You're so tiny!"

Don't get me wrong...I regularly see the progress I've made over the past two years. However, I still do see the big girl in the mirror on occasion.

Thanks for bringing up this timely topic.

I really had no understanding of this.. was trying to wrap my head around what OP was talking about, thanks for the info.

[Joann454 1,329]

When I lost 70 lbs and was a size 10 I still looked for clothes on the plus size racks. In my head I was still a size 22. It took a while to feel like a regular size person. I maintained that weight loss for over three years and then my thyroid died and the weight piled on again. I wonder how long it'll take me to not feel like a fat girl when I lose the weight this time.
Maybe you could talk to someone about it. You've been through a huge change.

[Thucydides 250]

This is something that I have been dealing with in a major way. Despite losing over 300 lbs, I feel exactly the way that you do. I still routinely worry about fitting in theater seats, airplane seats, etc. in the same way that I did at 518 lbs. It is still a surprise when I fit in places. When a family member bought me some clothes as a gift, I was surprised to find that I was routinely buying clothes that were 2 sizes too large.

My surgeon told me that he did not think that I should go below 220 lbs. I am currently 6 lbs below that and still see myself as having a large belly and having more weight to lose.

[Berry78 4,261]

I didn't realize how huge I was at 300lbs until I saw myself on video.

I bet getting someone to video you while doing normal activities with other people will help.

Clothing numbers are.. just numbers, and so is the scale. The mirror lies. Video is where it's at.

[Joann454 1,329]

I didn't realize how huge I was at 300lbs until I saw myself on video.
I bet getting someone to video you while doing normal activities with other people will help.
Clothing numbers are.. just numbers, and so is the scale. The mirror lies. Video is where it's at.

I've spent so much of my life hiding from video and cameras. I used to rip up photos and delete them off my phone. It's pretty sad really. Like I erased myself from memories. No more!

[teacupnosaucer 445]

I feel this too. I've lost more than sixty pounds and have gone from a size 18-20 to a size 10-12 but I still think I look the exact same when I look in the mirror. I pick up clothes and think "there's no way this will fit" and then it does... easily.

Part of my problem as well is that when I was at my largest, I didn't SEE myself as big as I was. Like I'd see a photo or catch myself in a mirror and be SHOCKED by my own body. It's a very weird sensation.

I don't know when my brain and body will be in sync again.

[LadyDarkness415 41]

I feel the same way. I went from a 22/24 to a 12/14 but I still feel like I'm fat. I feel like the loose skin doesn't help my skewed view of myself and I almost feel like I'm never going to see myself how I really look. I didn't think I was that fat when I was at my highest but I almost NEVER took pics or looked in the mirror either so I was ignorant and oblivious to my size. The one I have on my profile was taken at my sister's wedding and I didn't have a choice. But now I feel the opposite; like I'll never see myself thin even when I am.

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