So i am having difficulties with body image and not adjusting the way i see myself. I find that i am getting more attention than before and people get mad when i have troubles accepting compliments or viewing myself as "pretty". Do you guys have issues with always thinking of yourself as the old you? I am nervous around new people because of the way people used to treat me. And if someone "likes" me i second guess myself constantly because i am even more shy now compared to before surgery. But i guess i have to remember that people who meet me now don't know the old abby, just the current. Even when shopping i find myself looking for the plus sized section all the time even though i'm and L-XL. It's weird. Does this go away?

Edited December 31, 201312 yr by anesheim

Hi,

I've have been a bandster since 2009. I actually went up to 341 before my band started working, or I should say . me doing the right things lol. I am now 227. I dont see myself as fat, but I have a issue with how to get rid of my excess skin. I joined the gym to firm up that way. My main form of exercise is walking. I love it. I have concidered surgery also, but mentally not ready for anymore surgery. My final step was to have my knee replaced, so I could exercise, and I had that done May 2013. Everyday I look at myself and smile. Hey lets face it, have more money in the pockets, smaller clothes are cheaper lol. I can even joke that I need my fat insolation, because boy do I feel the weather more now. Just look at your before pictures, and really look at your self now, thats all the inspiration you will need. Keep up the great work.

Body self image. Boy I've been dealing with this since July 2009 when I was banded. I feel exactly the same way as you! I have lost 65lbs on my own with the gastric band and recently another 15lbs was taken off via plastic surgery (body lift and brachioplasty). Now I'm 80 lbs less and really, really having some major body issues.

We all have to deal with this and honestly, I still felt "fat" after 65lbs gone. I felt strange buying clothes in "regular" sizes instead of plus sized. Because I had a lot of flappy skin hanging everywhere, I saw myself as fat, but just deflated, physically. It wasnt' until plastic surgery removed all of this in one momentous day last month that I feel closer to "normal"? Whatever normal is. It is very hard to re-change all my self talk at clothing stores: "I can't wear that style, my muffin top will show. The sleeves on that shirt will accentuate my flappy arms. My fat ass will never fit into those jeans since they are too slim and straight cut."

I'm having to buy a whole new wardrobe and honestly it takes trying stuff on and physically looking at myself in the mirror (a LOT) to re-wire my brain. I am 43 and have been overweight since age 8. It's tough. My therapist helps, but she is not trained to deal with weight loss patients specifically.

My gastric surgeon does offer support groups, but I never seem to connect with anyone there (not at the same stage as me, not willing to let go of an unhealthy lifestyle, non-compliant, in-active, etc). From my before and after pics.....your transformation looks exactly like mine

We both look older when we were fatter, and younger when skinny. I was 263lbs on my LapBand day in 2009 and now I am 184 (with residual swelling from my body lift). I want to be 163-ish by July 9, 2014 which will be my 5-year anniversary of the band.

In ways, I see a corollary with how we feel about ourselves somehow 'not measuring up' to the compulsion to over eat until we gag and get the slimes....."I haven't suffered enough yet".

The ease with which we can feel guilt and depession today for the eating sins of last year, while assigning the unfulfilled expectations of a slim healthier tomorrow, remains a mystery.

The recipe for sucess requres ACTION!

Every day we take a step in the direction of our goal. There is no time to waste on distractions. We have energy to focus on that one step.

Cheer to all of us on our journey.

Edited January 23, 201412 yr by Jack