Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Has anyone else noticed that as you lose weight, you hit these stages where you suddenly feel like you're living in a stranger's body?

All day today I've felt out of sorts and I finally realized it's because I feel like I'm living in a stranger's body. My sense of balance is off and I feel awkward. The simple act of sitting down or standing up is sort of 'off' and just a bit clumsy. I know in a day or so, this will go away but it's almost like my inner ear is having difficulty adjusting to the weight loss and sometimes just needs to catch up.

I'm hoping this means another whoosh on the scales...although with my luck, I probably inhaled the carbs from the baked ziti and garlic bread I made my husband and son. :blink:

.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't reall felt like that, but I am about where I need to be weight wise, and I still "feel" fat. Everyone tells me I am so skinny, and I look like a beanpole, but I look at pictures, etc., and I still don't like what I see.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't reall felt like that, but I am about where I need to be weight wise, and I still "feel" fat. Everyone tells me I am so skinny, and I look like a beanpole, but I look at pictures, etc., and I still don't like what I see.

OK...please don't take this wrong, but maybe therapy might help? I know anorexics have this issue of body image and seeing themselves as fat when they aren't. I'm not suggesting you're anorexic but you might still benefit from therapy to adjust your body image? :)

.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

OK...please don't take this wrong, but maybe therapy might help? I know anorexics have this issue of body image and seeing themselves as fat when they aren't. I'm not suggesting you're anorexic but you might still benefit from therapy to adjust your body image? :)

.

I hadn't really thought about that, but it may be a good idea. I still have a belly, but that is because I don't work it that often, and I think that is why I don't feel right or good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't reall felt like that, but I am about where I need to be weight wise, and I still "feel" fat. Everyone tells me I am so skinny, and I look like a beanpole, but I look at pictures, etc., and I still don't like what I see.

Same. And I hate it :( I'm not sure if I feel like I'm not in "my" body, I'm just not used to how I look now. I've been heavy since 5th grade so I really never knew my frame was so small; I guess it'll take some getting used to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think there is actually a disorder called Body Dysmorphic Disorder or maybe Body Dysmorphia.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor said as you lose weight your center of gravity changes causing temporary balance issues unti you adjust - so it might be more physical than you think.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't have the same feeling you are talking about but there have been times when I feel like I am wearing someone else's skin. I guess in a way I am. I'm a 153 pound woman wearing a 264 pound woman's skin. Sometimes I also have the feeling that others are talking about and still feel fat. I think my brain is catching up slowly, but not sure it will ever catch up all the way.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't reall felt like that, but I am about where I need to be weight wise, and I still "feel" fat. Everyone tells me I am so skinny, and I look like a beanpole, but I look at pictures, etc., and I still don't like what I see.

I have felt this way when I've lost weight previously. In fact I still felt so fat that I gave up and started eating junk again and actually became fat! I think it might help to look at your before and after pictures. You might be seeing your after pictures as not good enough, but when you compare them to your before pictures I bet you'll be amazed. That happens to me when I look at my skinny pictures. I think, "I cannot believe I thought I was still fat." Once I get banded (This Wednesday!) I plan on keeping that before picture on hand to remind myself how far I've gone.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I still feel fat myself. I still need to lose at least 15 more pounds. But I am wearing a size 10 pants and I am 167 lbs down from 251 lbs. but it seems I got smaller but my body is still the same shape as before. The fatter places are still fatter. I take a bath and still see rolls of fat only smaller. I want my body shape to change. In clothes I feel thinner but without clothes it is like nothing changed.

Cheri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Has anyone else noticed that as you lose weight, you hit these stages where you suddenly feel like you're living in a stranger's body?

All day today I've felt out of sorts and I finally realized it's because I feel like I'm living in a stranger's body. My sense of balance is off and I feel awkward. The simple act of sitting down or standing up is sort of 'off' and just a bit clumsy. I know in a day or so, this will go away but it's almost like my inner ear is having difficulty adjusting to the weight loss and sometimes just needs to catch up.

I'm hoping this means another whoosh on the scales...although with my luck, I probably inhaled the carbs from the baked ziti and garlic bread I made my husband and son. :blink:

.

I feel like this some times. I feel like i might fall as i walk. And for some reason, some times i feel taller, it is an odd feeling. But it is a better feeling than putting weight on. Some years ago i lost weight and then gained it back again quite quickly (20kg, which is 40 odd lbs) and one day i laid on my back on the bed and closed my eyes and it felt like someone was lying on top of me, but it was my stomach, it was a horrible feeling and i don't ever want to feel it again.

I hope yours scales whoosh for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But it is a better feeling than putting weight on. Some years ago i lost weight and then gained it back again quite quickly (20kg, which is 40 odd lbs) and one day i laid on my back on the bed and closed my eyes and it felt like someone was lying on top of me, but it was my stomach, it was a horrible feeling and i don't ever want to feel it again.

I hope yours scales whoosh for you.

Oh yeah...over this last 16 months there was one month were I put on 10 pounds. I'm sure most of it was Water but since it rapidly came right back off when I finally got my act together, but wow...my joints ached, had a hard time breathing lying down and moving was a major effort. Amazing since I once carried 100 pounds more and had forgotten how awful it was.

And yes they did 'whoosh' but shhhh...I'm not saying anything because my official weigh day is Monday and I don't want to jinx it. :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A friend and I talked about this and brought it up in support group. I like the way I look in the mirror but sometimes it doesn't look/feel like me and I wonder who the stranger is and if I know her.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×