When will I no longer feel like a fat person?

[rox63]

It's been about 7 months since my gastric band surgery, and I've lost 77 pounds so far. I'm still technically considered 'obese', although I am no longer in the 'morbidly obese' category. Once I lose another 15 pounds, I will drop down to the simply 'overweight' category. I can now shop for clothes in the upper end of the regular sizes (16 for bottoms, XL for tops), rather than having to go to the plus-size store or the plus-size dept in regular stores. I've got a long way still to go, but I am well over half-way to my goal weight.

I feel much better, and I know these are all positive developments. But mentally, I still see myself as huge - some sort of big, balloon-y person. I'm told that it just takes time for the brain to catch up changes in the body. But this disconnect feels very strange. It's a bit overwhelming to know that I am no longer restricted to a corner of the clothing store (the fat-girl ghetto), but can have the same choices as 'regular' people.

Does this resonate with others who have lost a lot of weight? If so, how did you deal with it?

[annabanana]

1. In the aftermath of my

verticle gastrectomy I tried not to self-identify and concentrated instead on "new things that I could do". . Like cross my legs, climb stairs, and (omg!) ride a bike.. reach my feet to tie my shoes etc etc

I put off clothes shopping until things were literally falling off me. (And I remember when I could go from "women's" to misses aisles of the department store.. kind of like entering some kind of magic kingdom of "clothes that fit&quot

Even after 3 years and almost 200 lbs, the wonder of being "normal" still catches me unawares.

[rox63]

2. The image I see in the mirror doesn't feel like it's me

I am mostly shopping for clothes that are on clearance or deep discount, since I know they are transitional. As I have shrunk out of my old clothes, I have been giving them to my Mom and to second-hand stores. But realizing that I could shop in the entire store felt really strange and kind of overwhelming. All those choices, much more than I was used to having.

[annabanana]

3. It is a pretty good

problem to have though, no? I know I enjoyed it.

[auntAgonist]

4. Surgery was in 2005 and I still can't reconcile

the person in the mirror to me.

I still feel like a 'fat' person and often find myself in the wrong department in a clothing store looking at the wrong size.

I'm always amazed when I do laundry and pull my jeans out of the dryer and for a very split second wonder who's jeans they are. LOL

When I dress to go out with my husband I'm sure he's tired of my exclaiming "I LOOK so skinny!" I'm still amazed and need reassurance at times that it's not just my imagination.

I too marvel at the fact that I can cross my legs, tie my shoes, bend over, get up off the floor without help and walk the dog without getting fatigued.

The disconnect is odd and I guess it just takes time.

I look at photos of me from years gone by and I'm amazed at the difference.

People from my past don't recognize me. That in itself is really weird.


At a gathering about 4 years ago I saw my ex husband for the first time and he introduced himself to me, he didn't recognize me!! He was so embarrassed and the look on his wife's face was priceless.
He apologized profusely ... I felt bad for him.

aA
kesha

[rox63]

5. I've got nearly 50 years of fat-girl history

So I guess I'm not going to get past it in just one year. I certainly don't want to forget what got me there, lest I take up bad habits again.

[auntAgonist]

7. Me too Rox, I am 57 now so a lifetime of fatty fatty two by four in my life.

It's ok to pick on fat people. After all we aren't really all that smart are we?




You're doing great!!!!!

aA
kesha

[Broken_Hero]

6. Not sure...

My only experience with this is when I went from 425, to 235 during my junior/senior year of high school. I never felt skinny, every time I looked in the mirror I looked the same. The only way I knew I was getting smaller was that clothing sizes were smaller. Outside of my clothes being smaller sizes, I still felt fat.

[auntAgonist]

8. I think we can all relate by the sound of it.

aA
kesha

[spinbaby]

9. No idea

I've lost 35 pounds in less than two months and don't feel different at all except my clothes are looser.