From371to184's Journal, 25 March 2019

It takes a looooooong time for the mind to catch up, for about seven months after my initial 50 pound loss I was still gravitating towards the size I used to wear in the store. It still amazes me that I feel so much smaller when I am driving my car or laying in bed. I've been making a point to notice and honor the changes I see and feel, I spend a few moments in the am just looking at my body in the morning and just looking for positive changes (I think that it is helping).  

I still haven’t fully adjusted. I see myself in the mirror and I go to straighten it up. It’s usually leaning which elongates my body making me look thinner but I’m still thinner when I stand it up. I have gotten use to picking out smaller clothes. I just grab the one that looks too small but not ridiculously small 😂😂😂😂 

That's a tough one. I think there's a saying or thought that goes something like this: It takes 10 positives to undo 1 negative. Maybe it's about not just accepting the compliment, but also believing the compliment. ❤So many aspects to work one while changing things up. 

I don't know that you can. I'm the opposite. I was skinny for years and health stuff happened and I gained 80 pounds in less than a year and another 10 since then. I'm trying to take it off and it has been 4 years. I'm finally healthy and I'm 13 pounds down. But the last four years I bump into walls and door frames because I don't think I'm as big as I am and I'm always embarrassed. I see pictures of myself and I don't recognize myself. I always assume I would be smaller. It is hard to mentally change your image of yourself. I can't really answer the other two because they don't really pertain to me. Good Luck though.  

I'm still stuck in a stall, I did lose a lb since. But six years ago, I lost 60 lbs. I had a blast buying the most adorable small sized clothes (got down to size 10 and some 8s). I basked in the compliments and "oh you're so skinny, you look great" comments. And I did actually reidentify myself as a smaller person. But there were times I had to check myself when I had those thoughts of "I'm fat." My size 14 pants right now are getting loose, even though my weight loss has stalled. I think you do get used to the new you. I might have been obnoxious about weight loss. I probably was. 

It takes a lot of time. I guess it begins to be real when you actually have to shop for smaller clothing like CrashtestDawnie said. The self image is fragile in any case. Just keep working on positive affirmations daily. 

I'm the opposite.. I was never really overweight until I was about 40 yrs old. Then I seemed to blossom... and grow and grow... I thought I was fat when I weighed 140 pounds. I was 5ft 4in at that time. Now I'm at 204 lbs and I know I'm obese , but when I don't see a mirror, I don't think my stomach is bigger than my boobs. Needless to say I try to avoid mirrors...  

I am like dboza -- objects in my mirror are fatter than they appear, lol! I have been in such denial about my size that my brain has only realized just recently how fat i am. Either way, i am not sure how much the things others say are internalized. 

Thought provoking! I struggle with this. I got down to 122lbs (from 160) and still felt like my body hadn’t changed that much. I’m now up to 135 😩 and feel totally as fat as I did at 160 even though I know I’m not. I need to figure out a way to feel good about myself and accept my efforts no matter what size I am. 

Honey, I've know you for a long time. You have conquered the world. You have a strong mental sense of reality....... If you put a before and now picture side by side, the reality will set in. And don't photoshop.....  

This is tough—like most of us it does take a whole hell of a lot to break down our perceptions they hey you! You’re doing a great job. I know it’s in my nature to always be glass is half full when it comes my body and how I view myself. I grew up being heavy. It’s taken me a long ass time to realize that I’m worth a lot more than my weight. And I agree with Chris. Staying humble is the way to go—had someone at the office call me vain the other day because I accepted a compliment from another co-worker. Most of the peripheral stuff doesn’t matter. It’s believing in yourself ❤️❤️❤️ 

it took me time to realize that I was fat, and vice versa  

Yeap, I agree with keilin 

Still I look around in a room and I don’t think I am the skinny one (or one of them) I still talk about me as if I’m one of the big people in the room. 

Had a semi-annual meeting today and got told repeatedly I looked fantastic. I still feel fat even though I’m told I’m not. Still on the journey I guess. 

me too rosio19 I look at someone and think I wish I was that skinny. I'm 4'8" 100 lbs been down to 92 and still feel like I'm the fat one in the room.  

It’s a mental thing LTHOM 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Funny...I was just thinking about this today with my photos. I still see me as I was. Side by side comparison proves I’m not as big as I started out...but it’s hard to get that into (at least) my perception of myself. If you figure out how we can believe it...clue me in?? 

I love the way I look in the mirror. I look for things to wear that will make me look thinner. I don't ever want to weigh over 200 again. 

I can cut and paste Momma6224's comment almost word for word!!! I got down to 122 lbs. (from 160) and had so much extra belly skin I freaked out and now I'm up to 135 😩 and feel as fat as I did at 160 even though I know I’m not. I need to figure out a way to quit sabotaging myself and get back down to 122. (At 122 my knee doesn't hurt.) To answer your questions: 1.- Slip on one of your starting weight garments and then wonder to who it belongs. 2.- No I don't fixate on how I used to look. 3.-No one needs to tell me that I know I am healthier than before and look better. My question is, why do people constantly push "trigger foods and beverages" at a person struggling with their emotional eating habits?