Weight Loss

[Gina23]

Hi everyone, since you are all athletic and active I thought I'd try to ask for some advice.

As some of you may or may not know by reading my posts, I went through a major life transformation about a year ago. With that, I began to exercise and lose weight. I have been very successful... I have lost around 50 pounds at this point.

A few things I'm having trouble with... I'm now a size 8-10... something I haven't been since high school. Looking in the mirror I can't see this, I'm blind. I still see myself at a weight at which I lived for almost 10 years, which is a size 12+. I am going to Las Vegas with a bunch of girls next weekend and I'll be in Chicago this coming weekend. In Vegas I'll be in a bikini for the first time in many, many years. I'm freaking out a bit... although my partner and friends tell me I look great, I am having trouble accepting it. Have any of you had this issue? Do any of you have any advice, especially those of you who have lost drastic amounts of weight.

In a few days, when I return to my hometown of Chicago, I'm preparing myself for the bombardment of weight-loss comments that I'll receive. None of them make me feel any better. In fact, I find myself shying away from any compliments as of lately. I don't know why. I guess because I am doing this for me, I've done it privately, I've done it on my own, and I surely haven't done it for people to comment on or notice.

I'm just a little cloudy on the emotional aspect of all of this right now. Do I enjoy the attention that I get from people that never used to notice me or does it make me angry that they didn't like me for who I was? Total confusion. Since I moved to Colorado a year ago, I'm surrounded by people who see me everyday so the change isn't as drastic as it will be to my friends and family who don't see me on the norm. Also, I'm getting sick of buying new clothes. I realize that most people would love to have this problem, to be able to buy new clothes and drop pant sizes, but it's really starting to take a monetary toll.

Advice? Thoughts? Anything?? I'm having a bit of a freak out. :D

 

[Ski Spirit]

I think it's great that you've lost the weight. But you're right, you did it for yourself, not to impress anyone else! The fact that you accomplished it for yourself is great! What other people think about it is sort of incidental...maybe try to take what works and let the rest slide off (like water off a duck's back...I say this to myself...). When I can manage it to pull it off (notice what other people are saying but not particularly react one way or another, I feel really good..some days are a lot easier than other days).

Personally, I'm in a weight gain stage at the moment. But I know I feel physically better when I'm in better shape and more active so I'm planning to get back to it.

All the best with your trip. It sounds like it could be great!

 

[Jilly]

Gina like you I lost a large amount of weight. And I went through exactly what you are talking about. Girl you worked hard to get that weight off and now to keep it off. Enjoy the comments and stares. You earned it because I know its not easy. As for your family and especially if some are large people, just smile and say thanks. If it gets too personal, tell them you'll take time to discuss it with them later. Jealously will be the biggest problem, so head it off early. You're still the same person, only 1/2 the size!!

 

[ski diva]

Kudos to you, Gina! That couldn't have been easy.

I can imagine the extra attention would be a bit unnerving, but I don't think it's because people didn't notice you before -- they probably just want you to know they think you look great! Enjoy the compliments! You deserve 'em!

 

[ski now work later]

I've actually learned a lot from "What Not to Wear" on TLC Friday nights (the only show I watch on tv). What I've seen is that women often try to hide their bodies, especially women who have been heavier and still see themselves as heavy and shapeless. Adding color to your wardrobe is good, jeans that fit well and flatter your legs, and fitted jackets to accentuate curves.

Now all you need is $$$ for a new wardrobe! Congrats and good luck. I'm off to the gym to try to take off a pound or two that slid on in the past week. The weight sure slides on fast at my age (47)! LOL

 

[liquidfeet]

I have lost around 50 pounds at this point.
I'm now a size 8-10... Looking in the mirror I can't see this, I'm blind. I still see myself at a weight at which I lived for almost 10 years, which is a size 12+.

About 13 years ago I lost about 40 lbs, and have kept it off more or less since then. It took me at least two years after I lost all those pounds to actually see myself as no longer large. Now I see myself as a size 8 person, even if my weight goes up and the clothes won't zip up any more. Keeping it off is a continual thing, but that's not nearly as difficult as what you've already done.

My point - if you are like me, your self image will change in time, but it may take a while. Congratulations on making such a big change. It's really hard to do, and you have won the biggest battle.

 

[num]

Also, I'm getting sick of buying new clothes. I realize that most people would love to have this problem, to be able to buy new clothes and drop pant sizes, but it's really starting to take a monetary toll.

I can relate to a few of the things you've mentioned, but one of the most major being the frustration at spending money buying new clothes. A shirt here, pants there, it adds up! And it sucks to know exactly what you want to wear, own it, and not be able to wear it because it's too big now.

My size has been more or less constant for a while, though you mightn't think so by looking at the labels on my clothes since my size can go up or down a lot depending on the brand, designer, fabric, and cut, and the fact that my body (very muscular and hourglass curvy with big boobs and hips and small waist) isn't what anyone seems to have in mind when they're designing clothes, but that's a whole different rant for a different time.

Anyway around 6 years ago I tried switching from the pill to depo. I gained around 40 pounds, in what seemed like seconds. I was only on the depo instead of the pill for 3 months, and I hadn't noticed the weight coming on, but I'd gained the majority of it by the second month. When I went back to the pill, I didn't change anything else, and soon the weight was gone, pretty much as quickly as it had come.

Something that struck me is that everyone else seems to be paying so much more attention to the changes in my weight than I am. Whenever I've lost a few pounds, I didn't find out on the scale, I found out because the cashier at the grocery store asks me what I've been doing to take off weight, or because the clerk at Blockbuster compliments me on slimming down. If they notice me being slimmer and mention it to me, they must notice me gaining weight (and keep it in their heads) when I do. It's weird to me how focused on (other people's) weight many people are.

If you find that you enjoy hearing the compliments, then soak them up. If they irk you, try to ignore them. Different people react differently to attention, compliments, and being eyeballed. Know that however it makes you feel, you're not weird for it. And in a close group of friends or with family, if you find that their comments are bothering you, there's no shame in asking them to lay off. Just try to keep in mind that people will notice and some people have a hard time keeping their mouths shut

In a few days, when I return to my hometown of Chicago...

Didn't know you're from Chicago! What part?

Drop me a line if you're ever in town and bored.

 

[SnowHot]

Okay, some words of wisdom from someone who's 40, wears a bikini, and believes advice only goes so far when it comes to image.

Getting comfortable with you and the image you see in the mirror is up to you, sorry, I wish I could give you some magical advice that will make it so you see what others see.

You got fit, healthy and gorgeous for you but your mind hasn't caught up with it yet.

Do what you can to embrace it. I can look at myself in the mirror or pictures of myself and pick out a ton of flaws, but after I pick out the flaws, I just smile and say, "But I'm soooooooo hawt for 40".
Doesn't matter if its true or not. What matters is that I believe it, and that makes it true in my heart and soul.

Don't get me wrong, outside compliments are nice, but if you believe compliments then you also have to believe criticism. So accept the compliments with a smile and be gracious, but don't let it effect you.
Be a bit selfish!

Its in you, really it is and you deserve to enjoy yourself!

 

[Gina23]

You guys rocks Thanks... I especially like to hear about how it took you 2 years for your mind to catch up with your body. You know, there is so much emphasis on being thin, etc... and when you set your mind to lose weight, at least from my perspective, I was like "ugh, it's going to take me a year to take it off and stay healthy." It seems like a huge task and a lot of time. But, now that that year has past (wow that went fast), I was prepared for the mirror and what I see in it. I guess you don't think about that when you lose weight. You don't think about how you're going to react to your own self, you know? I didn't... I wasn't prepared for it at all. I just knew I wanted to be healthy, in shape, be able to ski all day, be able to run half-marathons, etc... I didn't care about how I looked this time, I had other things in mind on why I wanted the weight to go away. It's just strange to me.

I logged back in here to read all of these replies after my boss at work just made a comment. Since a lot of my clothes don't fit, I think people tend to notice depending on what I'm wearing. Today I have on a sleeveless shirt, something I haven't worn until now because of the season... and people are barking compliments at me. Somedays I'm ok with them, but today was awkward. I feel as if I have to come up with some excuse for why I lost the weight... so my automated reply was "Yeah, it's because I've been training for a 10k." But, you know, I shouldn't have to feel that way. I shouldn't have to feel like I need to feel the uncomfortable gap between, "Have you lost weight?" and my minds reaction time to the comment. Eh, I don't know... today is another hard day.

Yes, Chicago I'll be in Naperville with my brother, but they are actually moving to Elmhurst in a couple months (word up! o'hare in the hooouze). I'll take you up on that offer next time I'm in town, and I still remember that you are coming out here to ride the ski train with me next winter... I won't forget Num!!! Hehehe.

Oh I'm so excited for my trip... that puts all of this at ease. You know, there's no feeling to make you feel comfort like your family.

Thanks again guys... I love this board.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

"But I'm soooooooo hawt for 40".

HEY! I can say this now! Just because I'm 40! :D

I agree completely! The beautiful thing about aging is that you begin to do more and more things for yourself! Call me crazy, but I like it when people notice my weight loss! 2 years ago, I lost 48 pounds in a 3 month period! (New seizure medications do amazing things for weight loss! :p ) I was sick as a dog....so I wasn't trying, but I needed to lose it anyway...I was a little big! ;)

I've kept most of it off (gained 6 pounds of it back), but I really learned alot about how much better I felt, how much more energy I had and how much I liked people telling me how "good" I looked. (HEY! Maybe they were just saying that because I was white as a sheet with big circles under my eyes! Maybe it wasn't the weight loss at all! Maybe they felt sorry for me!) (giggle!)

Who knows why people say what they do! Enjoy your accomplishment! You deserve it!!