I was banded on 2/19/13 and I've lost 40lbs so far. Before banding, I thought 40lbs was a LOT of weight. I thought 40lbs would be a couple sizes in clothes. I thought 40lbs would be a lean body frame. I thought 40lbs would be shorts and dresses.

The thing is--- when I look into the mirror, I don't see a woman who weighs 40lbs less. I see the same person I have seen for years.

My face has thinned out, I can see that, but my body looks the same( even my boobs stayed the same

I am 5'8" and have a true hourglass shape. So I gain all-over and apparently lose all-over.

At what weight loss point did you start to see the changes? Will I always see the "big-boned, thick girl" when I look in the mirror?

Well I can't wait to loose 40 lbs I also have the whole packages boobs & all it's this fatty patty waist that I want to see Gone!!!!

I guess that the weight, while falling away from bodies, remains in our heads.

I went into this with a realistic expectation ( I think,) but now realize that my vision of weight loss was skewed. I thought that I would be wearing normal sized clothes, I thought my boobs would be smaller, I thought I would be able to run a marathon( lol!)

I'm still overweight. I still need major toning.

Today I will focus on the good stuff instead of what is stuck in my head. I finally have cheekbones, my double chin has disappeared, I no longer need wide width shoes, I can swim as fast and as far as I did when I swam competitively, I can walk up several flights of stairs, I have a bit of a waist....

And I bought myself a waterproof iPod and headphones for my birthday--- now I will be able to swim laps for HOURS!!

I appreciate each of you who responded. It helps to know that I'm not the only one stuck in my 263lb body image.

I was banded on 2/19/13 and I've lost 40lbs so far. Before banding, I thought 40lbs was a LOT of weight. I thought 40lbs would be a couple sizes in clothes. I thought 40lbs would be a lean body frame. I thought 40lbs would be shorts and dresses.

The thing is--- when I look into the mirror, I don't see a woman who weighs 40lbs less. I see the same person I have seen for years.

My face has thinned out, I can see that, but my body looks the same( even my boobs stayed the same

I am 5'8" and have a true hourglass shape. So I gain all-over and apparently lose all-over.

At what weight loss point did you start to see the changes? Will I always see the "big-boned, thick girl" when I look in the mirror?

got my band the same day have lost 40 pounds post op. I too feel there is no change, but people tell me there is and my clothes are getting larger so I cloths shop in my closet yesterday and got some pants a size smaller. Yippiiee. I wonder if it is my psychological that we can't see the change. My shirt size has gone from 17.5 to 16.5 and pants from 42 to 38 so I know something is working. Keep up the good work.