Distorted Body Image

[I_WILL_Lose_Weight]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I just look at the newer picture and say "gawd my arms are so freaking fat."

Omg LOL ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Cept I look at my big gut after I get done being depressed about my arms and practically cry because it doesn't look as if it's changed an ounce =( But I know that I'm losing weight, simply because I used to not be able to fit my 14's around my fat legs and now I'm moving down to 10's and 14's would fall off if it weren't for my big hips =)

[2big4mysize]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I can't see your pics but very much understand what you are saying about not seeing it and still seeing "fat" body places. in my afterpic I was shown those pics by my little nephew and knew I had been to the event he was showing me and wondered why he was showing me pics of my cousin and not any of me. I finally ask him what happened to my pics and he looked at me and said those are the only ones I got of you maybe somebody else has some more for me to show you. Boy did I feel bad and stupid.

[Sagittarian]

Re: Distorted Body Image

yea..my pix arnt workin anymore So i guess I'll have to fix that.

anyways...I dont know how much weight I've lost since the orginal post. I'm down to a 3/4 in misses. Last time i went shoppin...I bought all my jeans in the Jr's section because the misses were too big. Last time I weighed..I was down to 127 but I still laugh at all the numbers. I dont have a specific size that I want to be nor do I have a specific weight goal. its a look and thats why I seriously think I have issues.
I've been reading alot about eating disorders and I dont know if I'm just strict on my carb consumption OR if I'm obsessed. You're supposed to know how many carbs and what kind u allow yourself to eat right? Does this mean I'm a healthy eater OR does this mean I'm obsessed?
I really dont understand how I can maintain my weight loss without being obsessed about it. If i dont think about what I'm putting into my body and how many carbs are in so many servings THEN I'll be a lard *** again and thats the last thing I want.
Funny thing is...I saw myself on video cam last week. I didnt even know it was me at first! wow i did look thin...I hate the mirror. It never gives me that kind of reflection

[sherice]

Re: Distorted Body Image

Wow! I totally feel you! I deal with this issue every second of the day! I know I am hard on myself but I cant help it! My natural waist is 26.8 , my measurments seem small..and I wear 5/6 sometimes 7....but boy do I feel and think I am fat! I even get to the point where I want to cry, I feel like all these months of hard work and I am still fat....and yes everyone tells you that you are thin but for some reason I always think they don't want to hurt my feelings....I understand also about not caring what size you are as long as you look lean to yourself! I am so with you on this!

[Qjakal]

Re: Distorted Body Image

Hey...no guys responded? We struggle with this too despite the popular misconceptions that guys just don't care about that beer gut on the beach!

I look in the mirror...and I see "flaws". Where's my abs? Aren't we supposed to look like those Chippendale dudes? I have a "2 pack"...what happened to the other ones? I'm only about 5 pounds from goal..why do I still have so much belly above my pants?

To make matters worse we don't really know how to dress either and end up wearing stuff that doesn't flatter any assets we may happen to have. Old habits die hard...loose baggy jeans and oversized shirts and jackets. I have finally noticed I'm much happier when I'm in gym togs. I double take a few times a week when I catch a reflection, especially if I've been lifting and the arms are *pumped*...weird. I even had someone who is at the beginning of the weight loss journey/w.o.l. tell me they want to look like me when they're done...mind blowing!

Guess that's why we come here though. To know we're not wigging out totally when these strange thoughts filter in and try to derail the process.

Q

[lifetastesbetter]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I have no advice for you on this subject but I'm definately afraid that I'll lose the weight I want to and I still won't be happy with myself. I remember at age 15 being 115 lbs and I thought I was "fat". What the heck!!

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I have the opposite problem. I think I look great in the mirror but than when I take pics of myself to show progress I look like a worn out blimp, my face looks alot older than I am.

[TwitterBean]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I'm the same way. I have been my whole life. Normally it's in the negative way withme thinking I'm bigger then I am. The last few years as I get older and more forgiving towards myself I have a hard time being able to see the fat as bad. Bottom line is that I have a weird self image that has nothing to do with reality and for the most part, in these last few years, that's fine with me. BUT.....I've totally allowed myself to gain too much weight! What I'm doing now is taking pictures every week as I lose weight so that I can "see" what the weight looks like at all the stages. I'm oddly grateful (and I just realized this) to have gained this weight again so that at least now I will have concrete information as to what all the different numbers actually mean for me. It's possible to get to the point where you no longer let your emotions mix with numbers on a scale and you no longer wrap up shame and your weight etc..... I've gotten through those things however the body dysmorphia is a brain thing I think. It's part of me and I don't think I can will it away. At least I don't beat myself up anymore. You have to sort of admit that you just have no idea if you're fat or thin. I can't trust my brain, it lies to me depending on my moods. I hope this helps.

Liz

[texasparalegal]

Re: Distorted Body Image

Ladies,

I think we are our worst critics and we need to teach ourselves to be kinder to ourselves and think positively of ourselves. The world is full of enough hateful "expert" critics that will gladly do that for us. We have but one life to live, so I say we choose to live it to the fullest and happiness is a choice. I have wallowed in the depths of depression and completely refuse to ever go back. When people are mean and nasty to me I have a choice to react or ignore. If you react the nastiness continues, if you ignore and continue doing great things in your life then that usually shuts the critic's voice in the outside world and the voice within. Have a very happy and safe low carb holiday!

[Boo1667]

Re: Distorted Body Image

I have the opposite problem. I think I look great in the mirror but than when I take pics of myself to show progress I look like a worn out blimp, my face looks alot older than I am.

I have the exact same problem! I don't think I look great or anything, but I tend to see myself the same way regardless of what size I am, and I always, always look waaaay bigger in pictures than I do in the mirror (or in my mind, I guess). It doesn't matter if I'm a size 8 or an 18, I see the exact same thing in the mirror.