I've been getting very upset over my weight, anybody else?

[AmberG]

Last month I started the gym, I have lost 11pound although I can't see this when I look at myself and recently everytime I look at myself I just want to cry and a lot of the time I do. Its making me emotional all the time and people around me have noticed a change in my mood. What's wrong with me?:/

[notsobigmama]

AmberG,

I know exactly how you feel. I too cannot see a difference when I look at myself in a full length mirror. However, if I break it down - eg, look at my face, top half of my body, bottom half, arms etc - I can see differences in each part of me.

Looking at the whole me, I still just see the fat tummy and big bum! I know I have lost weight as I wear clothes that are smaller. It must just take time to adjust.

By the way - I have lost over five stone.

Just keep going, when you lose another few pounds you will probably find that you can get into clothes a size smaller and that is a great boost.

Best of luck - you have proven that you can do it by losing 11lbs so far - only another 3 to go and you've lost a stone!

[AmberG in reply to notsobigmama]

Since I posted this I weighed myself and found out I lost another 8pound which has made me feel so much better! Although I still can't tell and still can't fit into the smaller size jeans (which is really annoying!) I feel like I'm getting to the normal me now, thankfully!

Wow, losing 5stone is brilliant! Well done!

[wirralrunner]

II lbs is great and I expect that your family and friends will have noticed the difference. Before you have probabley ignored you body and its imperfections. But once you loose weight you look at it in a different way and want the perfection you see in the gym? I found trying on my old big clothes gave me a boost. (then send them to a charity shop). Have a hair cut and buy some new gym clothes. It all helps...

[Hidden]

I have lost 8lbs on the nhs choices diet (currently week 4) and another 4lbs in the couple weeks before I started the diet yet I look in the mirror and see no change. My family had not commented other than to say I look less bloated. However, yesterday I saw someone I have not seen for 6 weeks and she immediately gushed at how much weight I have lost. I was chuffed to bits. After her remark I realised that actually my jeans are a bit looser and my wedding ring is no longer uncomfortaby tight so I showed my family a photo of us all taken at christmas and they then commented that they could actually see a big difference. As we lose weight gradually, our friends and family, like us, dont notice at first, but it is happening so keep going. All the little changes add up.

[pnholt]

Hi Amber,

I'm currently preparing to start dieting again but I have some experience regarding your question. Last year I dieted very strictly and lost nearly 4 stone in weight. As I was losing the weight I couldn't see much difference either, however as time went on friends and family started to comment that I looked like I'd lost weight and was looking much better. I still couldn't really tell. I put it down to the fact I was looking at myself daily therefore was not seeing any dramatic differences. As days go on you get used to how you're now looking. Your brain is comparing yourself to how you looked yesterday or the day before, not a month ago.

The wonderful thing about losing weight is the subtle differences you wouldn't expect. Going into a changing room in a shop with clothing that is a size lower and being surprised that it fits you comfortably. Not getting out of breath walking up stairs. I remember turning over in bed one random night and jumping up because I'd discovered a big lump above my thigh. It was my thigh bone. I hadn't felt that in years!

Here are some tips if you haven't done so already:

Take a picture of yourself in the mirror in the morning when you are undressed.

Measure your waist and make a note.

After a couple of weeks remeasure your waist and note it down. You should continue this for as long as you need. After a month take a new photo and compare it to the old one. Continue this each month.

In terms of your mood if you have cut a lot of food types out of your diet it could be down to this. People don't realise your body is effectively addicted to some things because you're so used to consuming them. Sugar is the main one. If you stop or vastly reduce the amount of sugar in your diet your brain craves it.

What I heavily suggest is make a 2 week diary of what you are eating and your exercise regime, if your mood is still low book an appointment with your GP. He will look at what you are eating and give you instructions. He can also prescribe medication to help with your mood which I have taken on occasion and it really does work. It wouldn't be worth booking an appointment without making your diary as that will be what your GP asks you to do.

Anyway that's enough from me, I wish you the very best, I won't say luck because it isn't - it's motivation you need to keep up and I hope you are successful!

Paul

[maggie123]

Dieting can do funny things to your mental health, I know I've been there, about 15 years ago I was felling very down about myself, I cried a lot, I saw my doctor and he advised me, it helped me, maybe a visit to doctor might help you, talk to him or her, talking about how you feel can help.