Self image

[andju]

Hi serena,I hope everyone has talked some sense into you on this one....hey girl what you see in the mirror is definatley not what we see you look fantastic..blimey I made you get up and twirl for us last week as I couldnt believe what I was seeing,now you wear your figure hugging clothes which look blinking fab...see ya later
xx

[Snowbaby]

I know how it feels - I am approaching the midway point (have about 3 stone to lose after losing 2st 7lb). I felt like I was happier/better grounded and stronger at my fattest weight, prolly because I had been that weight for about a decade and had bought into the 'big beautiful doll' image - which is ok.

However I came off track for a day - ate some food from hubby's 45th b'day and boy did I regret it!!! My stomach ballooned and I was uncomfortable and I felt that I had put 2 stone back on, whereas the scales the next day hadnt budged an inch. But it made me realise that actually I WAS happier at my new weight and I was super keen to get back on track. I also started to wear a bit of make up to stop myself looking pale and moisturised more - bingo, I felt, for the first time, like a million dollars.

I think part of it is the season too - more temptations etc. The plus side is, we are all in this together and lets look towards looking fab this crimbletide :-D

[tara66]

Hi Serena, I hope you don't mind my chipping in. I felt similar to you as I have always hated my stomach but when I got really large it was the least of my problems! As I moved down through the dress sizes I went from feeling pretty chuffed with myself at 16 to starting to fret about my stomach again when in a 14.

It seemed nuts to be more negative at a smaller size but thats how I felt. Then I started thinking about how I had always been too critical about myself when I was slim and I felt a bit panicky that I would end up not being satisfied with myself and pile the weight back on again.

I carried on with LT anyway, and I have gradually calmed down. As you get nearer to your goal the difference does get a lot more noticeable as peeps have said. As I have adjusted to that I have started to feel that it is ok to just be the best me, and that I don't have to be perfect cos nobody is. I've even started to accept my stomach is always gonna be there, a bit bigger than I like, no matter how much I fret about it.

I think these are normal feelings as it takes time to adjust to such big changes, and it is clear from the posts that even if you are crazy, you are not on your own x

[x-Katie-x]

Tara you're stats are amazing - well done You must be overjoyed

[tara66]

Thanks Katie, I am pretty chuffed but wouldn't have managed it without minis x

[Gunna-make-it]

It's strange because I thought I was the only person to think like this. Back in 2004 I went from a size 18 to a size 8 / 10 in a year doing weight watchers. It was the photos from a holiday that made me realise that I needed to do something about my weight as I am only 5 ft 3 so I did look big. I lost 4 stone during this time, and although it took me a year, I still felt like I was a big person. I remember going on holiday and feeling as though everyone was looking at me because I was wearing shorts that were above the knee for the first time.
When I got back from that holiday, I had a few misfortunes such as being made redundant and a close friend passing away - this made me feel bigger than ever and I started to comfort eat. I put on 3 stone over 2 years. It wasnt until recently when I looked back at pictures of myself when I was a size 8 / 10 when I thought wow - was I that thin??? I seriously cannot remember because that is now how I thought I looked!!! I know it sounds strange but we forget that we have to try to adjust our minds too..

[Serena A]

Hey everyone, thanks for all your comments. I am still struggling big time (only mentally - have not cheated) but the support on this forum helps so much.

Gunna-make-it, sorry you have had a tough time and good luck with your restart on Cambridge. You did it once so you can do it again, and hopefully this time outside events won't conspire against you xx

[x-Katie-x]

Hope the mental challenges soon ease away, you're doing so well --- and well done for being so strong and not giving in to any of those bad thoughts.