Did I lose too much weight?

maribeth721

Does anyone ever feel weird about their weight loss or am I just completely insane? I've lost 38 lbs so far. My original goal was to lose 28 lbs, but when I hit that goal I still wasn't satisfied so I moved on to a new goal to lose 43 lbs or to be about a size 6. I was inbetween a size 14 and size 12 when I started out. I went  shopping with my best friend this weekend and discovered I am way smaller than I thought I would ever get or even realized that I was. I'm clocking in between a size 2 and a size 4! While I am super happy and proud of my accomplishment I feel sort of weird about it. I don't feel curvy anymore, which was something I always liked about myself (I got my bra measurements done and I dropped 2 cup sizes)! At the same time, I also feel like when I look at myself I don't see the change. I still see myself as the bigger person I was before when I look in the mirror. Like when I go to try on clothes I'm still grabbing size 10s because I'm convinced by looking at myself that smaller sizes won't fit me. I feel like I'm kind of struggling with accepting my new body and sort of mourning my old body (the old, more curvy me). I feel proud of what I accomplished but I also feel strange about it at the same time; I don't even feel like I've reached my goal because I don't necessarily feel like I'm smaller when I see myself in the mirror, though my clothes say a lot different and  especially because in terms of the number on the scale - I still feel like it's high (I'm short, 5' 3, so I always felt like the number should be lower). Anyone else ever have these feelings??

entropicbeauty

I'm sure you're not alone, and you'll probably always have twinges of these feelings...the important thing is that you're healthier now and that's important!

Kudos on meeting your original goal and exceeding it! You've accomplished something great, and hopefully soon you'll start to feel that

Lobsters25

It takes awhile to learn to shop in the right section!  I still sometimes find myself heading to the wrong rack, over a year later.

I don't think there's such thing as too much weight as long as you're healthy and eating enough - it all depends on how your body responds.  Do what you need to to stay healthy and have the shape you like, whatever that may be!

Scheff725

I've been doing the same thing. Its not so much that I feel like I've lost too much weight, its only 21lbs, but I don't necessarily see the changes everyone else sees. I can definitely relate to that feeling.

On the other hand, congrats on making your goal!!! Maybe if you take some time and look at before and after pictures next to each other you will be able to see it more? I've taken before pics at the same time of day, same spot, same bathing suit, etc every month so I can see the difference. Do you have any pictures you can do that with?

AndreaCata

Maribeth...this is the story of my life! (well almost)

I recently wrote a post with the same sort of issue...just that I haven't reached my final goal yet (but I have lost 50lbs.) It's hard...because since its been such a slow process and YOU are in YOUR body every single day, you can't really see it the way others can.

I agree that looking at pictures is a good idea...take a picture of yourself now and then compare it to one from before. You should be able to tell a difference and the might make you feel better.

Also...try to base it on how you FEEL...do you feel good at the weight/size you are now? Do you feel healthy and energetic and good about yourself? I think in the end, that is the most important thing! And it will take some getting used to your new body...just give yourself some time!!

And last but certainly NOT least...CONGRATS!! Loosing that weight and keeping it off is a huge accomplishment!!

Fluffernut

I totally understand that!  Not right now, but I had been thinner in the past and I just didn't see myself that way.  And I also get happy and sad when I really start seeing results because my chest is a place where fat leaves, meaning that it's not as full.  Congratulations on your loss, and it will just take time to get used to it.  Like PP said, just make sure you're healthy and eating what you need to, and all is good :-)

Sunrise1028

4 years and 60 pounds later I still see that fat girl in the mirror ... I've never been entirely sure how to eliminate that view of myself.  Let me know if someone finds the secret

dawnp917

First off congrats on the achievement.  While I think it is normal in the beginning to have to get used to being a different size you need to be careful not to take things to an extreme.   I'm not sure if this is going to come out wrong so please don't take this wrong way.  It is so easy for people to develop eating disorders based on the unreasonable expectations of how they look or how they think they look.   I have known many people of the years that consider themselves fat and are always trying to lose another 5 or 10 pounds, to the extent that they aren't healthy and obsess over it.   We have a tendency to be too hard on ourselves and don't see all the progress we have made.   

eyes2theocean

Something that works for me as part of the fat-loss process (notice how I didn't say "Weight Loss?" I HATE the weight loss phenomenon, because I don't WANT to lose the muscle I have, it keeps my metabolism going and makes me capable and strong) is taking photos every couple of weeks. I do the same three or four poses, and wear the same thing (for me it's a very revealing bikini) so that I can compare the photos and notice the subtle differences my mind misses on a day to day basis. It also helps because I often don't see major changes on the scale with the program I follow, but I'm dropping sizes and increasing my strength, which is drastically changing how I look.
Also...find better lighting and mirrors! I'm not allowed to shop at or see myself in "cheap mirrors" until after the wedding. Gym mirrors are fine. Bridal shop mirrors are fine. Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, etc, fine. Macys, juniors areas, forever 21 or Target? Stay the hell away. Those mirrors and lighting will kill ANYONE's ego. I don't care if you're a fitness model or Giselle, they're hideous.

maribeth721

Thanks guys! I'm glad to know I'm not totally crazy and the only person who feels this way!

DakotaG

I had these same feelings last summer/fall.  I wasn't even trying to get in shape for a wedding at the time (wasn't engaged yet), but I just started eating a lot healthier and working out more. I really didn't have a goal in mind and didn't have a scale, so I would only weigh myself when I was visiting my parents or at someone's house who had a scale in the bathroom. Ha. Anyway, one day I got on a scale and was down to 122 (from around 155/160).  Instead of being like, "WOO! Awesome!"  I was more like, "Uhh... what? That's just weird."   I never felt like my weight loss was unhealthy, especially since I was never obsessed with the actual number on the scale, but I still started to wonder if I had lost too much weight. Since then I've gotten back up to about 135-140 (seems to fluctuate all the time and I'm okay with that). I actually like this weight best!  It seems obvious that I would like it more than the 155, but I was surprised that I like it more than my lowest amount.  

Sjmiller418

I can definitely relate I'm only 5'1" and that number on the scale always seems way higher then I think it should be for how I am. Or just everyone I know who I'm comparable to as in same size is just lying about how much they weigh lol. For me on the image part after losing some weight I can acknowledge things about me that have improved and gotten smaller but now I can't help but notice more then before the "problem" spots. It makes me forget about how much I have achieved and stuck on what needs to be better.