How long does it take to stop feeling fat?

[abigettinghealthy]

Since the beginning of 2017 I have been making a concerted effort to lose weight. It has been going well - through a combination of more sensible eating and taking up running so far I have lost nearly 4 stone and gone from a size 18-20 to a 12-14.

My friends/family/colleagues have commented on this and my old clothes are hanging off me - rationally I know I have lost weight. However, whenever I look in the mirror or at photos I can't stop seeing myself as huge even though I'm much smaller than I was - I'm starting to find it quite demoralising.

It's not helped by me not wanting to buy a lot of new clothes while I'm still losing weight so a lot of things don't fit me very well at the moment, but I don't feel I look good even in the clothes that DO fit me at the moment...

Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just a matter of time and my brain adjusting to being a new size? All I see in the mirror is the fat girl and I don't want to be stuck feeling like that forever after all my hard work!

[grannydoug Maintainer]

Hi abigettinghealthy. See the earlier post 'I was too scared to show this' by Tiggerr. It's one page1 of today's posts in this community. Think you'll find it quite relevant and interesting! There is a very useful link to an article which was posted by another member. Sorry can't be more specific as in a rush now. Good luck.

[grannydoug Maintainer in reply to grannydoug]

Oops page 2 - 15 hours ago (as @11pm Tues).

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to grannydoug]

This is the post grannydoug was referring to abigettinghealthy

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[abigettinghealthy in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks both - this is very interesting reading!

[Hidden]

This describes me too. I think as we get heavier we see ourselves smaller than we really are. It's denial that we are really getting bigger, so as we lose weight we think we are smaller than what we saw before which really wasn't accurate to begin with. I am still big. I just have to remind myself that I was really alot bigger than I thought. We will catch up and soon won't be able to believe we got so much smaller. It's just our mind protecting us from the truth. Just keep going and know you are getting healthier.

[jopo]

It takes time to get used to a new shape but you have done so well. I'd definitely suggest turning out your larger sizes now and your best investment will now be some really good underwear.

Enjoy your new body and health and celebrate your tremendous success.

Xx

[abigettinghealthy in reply to jopo]

I'm gradually clearing out the wardrobe and replacing with bits and pieces that do fit (and I have bought underwear that fits) - it'll just be a longer process of mental adjustment than I was imagining, I guess!

[gman1961 Restart April 2025]

Hi ,

I wear a suit for work and I don't like to see myself in a mirror.i always seems myself as larger than I am .I think certain clothes can make me look bigger.sometimes in more casual items of clothing I don't feel as bad.

That's the answer for me ,go casual for work.

Don't worry I'm sure many others feel the same .

Gary

[gman1961 Restart April 2025]

PS I'm going casual today .feel better already.

Thanks

Gary

[Hidden]

Go clothes shopping Just get a few key things. When I first lost my weight I was on benefits and job hunting, needed to look good for interviews, so I just got things like a series of long sleeve tops in primark, new tights in the right size, a new skirt very similar to my old one just two sizes smaller - I think I found it on ebay. Charity shops are good. Go to the market for end of line winter coats, or Sainsburys do very affordable clothes, get a couple of jumpers in the right size. Set yourself a budget of £20-30 and shop around. Over the subsequent two years I've gradually topped up that initial new wardrobe. Some of those first clothes are too big now but most are still fine. Wearing the right size clothes is so important, we need to reward ourselves along the way not just at the final destination

[abigettinghealthy in reply to Hidden]

That makes sense - I think I'm struggling because the clothes which used to be the ones I loved and felt I looked the best in now look dreadful so I feel I look worse than I did before which is not the result I wanted! I hate shopping for clothes (ingrained from years of not being able to find clothes I liked that fitted) so am stuck between a rock and a hard place and it's doing nothing at all for my self esteem.

[Hidden in reply to abigettinghealthy]

Start with with the easy things - accessories, cardigans, coats. A really good scarf can help a lot. Also remember to try different sorts of things, as it's not just about getting things in smaller sizes.

[Sailsalot]

Firstly congratulations on your weight loss, well done abigettinghealthy .

I tried to wear my bigger clothes for a while with belts etc. after losing weight but they didn't look good, Hidden is right, you might surprise yourself and find shopping for clothes more fun now, I certainly do!