Hey everyone....I am still pre op and doing obsessive research about health eating and all that jazz. One thought kinda goes unanswered. I've been overweight my entire life so I don't know what a thin me looks like or feels like. For others who had never been thin before surgery is it a big adjustment looking at the new body that starts to appear and do you still physically feel big or do you just all of a sudden feel different. I don't know if this question makes sense...but I'm trying to imagine being thin and with no previous experience I don't know...

Thanks for any answers if you understand what I'm asking!

@Ethomas15 I think there are some online sites that let you put in your measurements and such and then will "shrink" you but I don't know where they are. Maybe someone else can help with that.

I'm 4-1/2 months out and 8 pounds from my goal. I was this weight when I was about 23 (48 now) but I still didn't feel like I would know what I would look like after surgery because it's 25 years and 3 children later.

I still don't feel as small as I apparently am. Other people comment on how sexy and great I look and I look in the mirror and don't see it. I can definitely see it in pictures but it just doesn't happen when I look in the mirror. So, there is a little disconnect that takes some time to adjust to.

As far as how I FEEL goes -- huge, tremendous change! I feel bones in places I haven't (like hip bones in front). And my butt gets sore sitting on a hard chair too long -- not as much padding there as before. I can put my fingers. My FOREARMS feel so bony now -- the used to have a huge cushion of fat. Of all things to notice -- forearms and wrists! My wrists are much smaller as evidences by bracelets that used to be too short/tight.

It's probably different for everyone, but even if you can't imagine yourself at the smaller size, you'll LOVE it when you get there!

I can honestly say that everyone handles this different. I have lost almost 210lbs in the last year and am doing some absolutely incredible things. To this day there are times that I still feel like the fat dude from a year ago. There are times I look in the mirror and just don't see it. Don't get me wrong, physically I feel amazing, like I could take on the whole world. It is something that we all struggle with.

To help you along your way I highly recommend taking a full set of clothed and optionally for fitting clothing pictures of yourself as well as a full set of measurements. I know this is embarrassing and it really sucks. I hated getting my pictures taken, but it will help you. On those days when your just not feeling it and having a rough self image day, just pull out those pictures and you can see just how far you have come. I also recommend keeping a full set of your largest clothing to keep around as a comparison and a reminder.

There are a lot of tips and tricks to getting past those feelings, but I am pretty positive they happen for all of us. You are about to embark on an amazing journey that very few get to experience. You have the opportunity to discover your body and what it is fully capable of at a time when you can understand and enjoy the learning process. The last time you went through this when you were a child, you probably do not remember. I feel sorry for those not going through this process that don't get to experience this amazing gift.

Congratulations on your decision to take your life back. I am so happy for you. Feel free to check out my blog for lots of stories and articles about my process and topics such as the one you are asking about. Also feel free to contact me at the links below if you have any other questions or if there is anything at all I can do for you.