Body Dysmorphia

[Angie's_Ocean 213]

Hey everyone! I don’t post in here often but there’s been something I’m dying to get off my chest.

Body dysmorphia.

I would read about it in this forum before my WLS and wonder “How the heck are these people not seeing their progress?” Well, I can honestly relate to this now.

I’m not at my goal weight yet. I’m only 4 mo. post-op. I’m down 50 lbs from my starting weight of 218. I’m hoping to reach 135. Everyone keeps telling me they see such a huge difference, but me... I don’t see it. I just feel the same.

Even when I look in the mirror or at before and after photos. Especially when I look in the mirror! It’s weird to explain. I feel 100x better, my original clothes literally were falling off weeks ago, I can do things I never could before, like not struggle to wear pantyhose to get ready for work or wear heels more often. I cross my legs without even thinking about it and I can do 45 mins on the treadmill easy!

I’m at my lowest ever adult weight, but... I still feel like the big girl I always was. I still look at myself in the mirror and pick apart every roll and dimple. I went into a high end clothes shop the other day which I never would have dared walk into pre-op. I could fit their XL but not their large and I thought to myself “See, you’re right. You haven’t made progress. What the heck are you even doing in this place?” The snooty sales lady didn’t help either.

Anyway, I’m sorry for ranting, I just needed to get all this off my chest. I don’t really have anyone I can talk to in my life about this stuff that will actually get it.

[James Marusek 5,244]

Before surgery, I never really looked at myself - so I didn't even see how obese I really was. Since I was the photographer in the family, I rarely occurred in photographs. So it can be hard to see the result. For me the greatest feeling was the drop in clothes sizes. In shirts I went from a size 3X down to a size small. So I predict that very very soon you will be able to go into high end clothes shops and buy, buy, buy. You will need to anyways because you will have to totally replace your wardrobe.

[336Mike 554]

I can relate. I was wearing a tight 3x tall shirt and I'm down to a large tall...hard to believe for me. Hoping it goes away so I can fully appreciate my progress and healthier life.

VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 CW = 225.6 GW = 220 (6'5")

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

@Angie's_Ocean yep, feel the same way. And I think we do ignore how fat we looked prior to surgery because when I would see a picture I would be shocked at how gross I looked.

The other day my granddaughter said, 'I can hug you all the way around now.' But I don't see it as much when I look in the mirror. Pictures - that I can see, but staring back at myself, doesn't sink in for some reason.

I did go a little shopping crazy because I went on vacation and it still isn't really sinking in. I hope it does soon, so I can start to appreciate it.

[GreenTealael 25,483]

Hey everyone! I don’t post in here often but there’s been something I’m dying to get off my chest.

Body dysmorphia.

I would read about it in this forum before my WLS and wonder “How the heck are these people not seeing their progress?” Well, I can honestly relate to this now.

I’m not at my goal weight yet. I’m only 4 mo. post-op. I’m down 50 lbs from my starting weight of 218. I’m hoping to reach 135. Everyone keeps telling me they see such a huge difference, but me... I don’t see it. I just feel the same.

Even when I look in the mirror or at before and after photos. Especially when I look in the mirror! It’s weird to explain. I feel 100x better, my original clothes literally were falling off weeks ago, I can do things I never could before, like not struggle to wear pantyhose to get ready for work or wear heels more often. I cross my legs without even thinking about it and I can do 45 mins on the treadmill easy!

I’m at my lowest ever adult weight, but... I still feel like the big girl I always was. I qstill look at myself in the mirror and pick apart every roll and dimple. I went into a high end clothes shop the other day which I never would have dared walk into pre-op. I could fit their XL but not their large and I thought to myself “See, you’re right. You haven’t made progress. What the heck are you even doing in this place?” The snooty sales lady didn’t help either.

Anyway, I’m sorry for ranting, I just needed to get all this off my chest. I don’t really have anyone I can talk to in my life about this stuff that will actually get it.

[frust8 963]

Has anyone ever heard of a reverse problem or was it denial? My late husband was 3 inches taller and 25-30 lbs heavier than I the entire 44 years of marriage. He never regarded himself as being obese although undeniably he always was. You hear often someone say "I still feel fat inside" well he never did. Please comment! Won't hurt my feelings and he's not able to be listening.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

[GreenTealael 25,483]

Has anyone ever heard of a reverse problem or was it denial? My late husband was 3 inches taller and 25-30 lbs heavier than I the entire 44 years of marriage. He never regarded himself as being obese although undeniably he always was. You hear often someone say "I still feel fat inside" well he never did. Please comment! Won't hurt my feelings and he's not able to be listening.
Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I never felt fat either
I was completely comfortable even at my highest weight. In fact I still pretty much feel the same except I don't get tired from walking fast or upstairs etc
Strangest things ... our brains