I'm almost 7 months post-op. I've lost 78 lbs (326 at my heaviest) and yesterday tried on clothes at Lane Bryant. I brought a size 22 in the fitting room and it was too big - the sales associate brought me a 16 and it fit. I was in shock. I still see the big girl in the mirror. I haven't been a 16 in 20 years (since college). When does the mental catch up with the body?

This is so hard to wrap my brain around. When you figure it out, please let me know!

78 pounds in 7 months is fantastic! Great job!

Do you see a psych or counselor? (I won't be seeing one because I had my surgery done in Mexico - 4 days ago) It is really helpful to talk to a counselor/psych who has experience with body image issues. In 2006 I lost over 100 pounds on a medically supervised diet and saw a counselor for my body image issues. It was really helpful. In my own opinion (and I'm not an expert), I don't believe it's an automatic process for the mental to catch up with the physical. I needed counseling to help me understand and adjust to my new size AND to people's reactions to my new size as not all people's reactions were positive. Many blessings to you on your journey. Congratulations on your hard work to reach your goal.

I am starting my 20th week. I have lost 86 pounds. I wore a size 24 back at Christmas time. I went shopping at Macy's last week and squeezed into a size 10. I cried. My sister was with me and she did too. It was shocking. You need to stay out of Lane Bryant forever now. Other stores will carry clothes that fit you. Celebrate yourself. No more fat girl stores for you. The mental side will catch up to the physical side. That is what i have read a milllion times. Every day you have to focus on yourself. And only shop at regular stores. That is a big step in adjusting to your new size.

It does get better! How long it takes is very individual. And some people never see themselves as being as big as they are, so losing weight just means their body starts to match the image in their head. For others, it's the opposite...we lose weight and our body image says we're still big when we're not.

When I was banded in 2006, I went from a 26 to a 12. It definitely felt weird and in some ways, I felt too small...even though I really wasn't. Sometime in the last few years, the 12-14 became "normal" for me and now I think I could happily lose more weight...get to a size 6 or 8.

As with any other major change, it just takes time.

I am just about a year and a half out and holding around 185 sometimes I still find myself grunting and jerking myself out of a chair like I am still 350 and out of shape. I just laugh and thank god I'm half the man I used to be !!!

I am about a year and a half out, and tonight I am struggling mentally. I have been holding around the 172 mark for about 5-6 mos. with at least 20-25 lbs to go for my own personal goal. My appetite has increased and I have been falling back into some of my old habits. I feel scared that I will gain back the weight I've lost and guilty that I am letting the "mind" thing win. Really, I feel as tho I'm caught in a vicious cycle! I don't want to fail!