Anyone else struggling with this?

[arcticmoonx129 1]

I am 1 year and two months since I've had my gastric sleeve surgery. I am only 21 and needed to change my lifestyle while I was still young. So far, I've lost 151 pounds. My starting weight was 305. I definitely do not regret getting the surgery. Since surgery, my entire life has changed in a positive way. Even though I have accomplished a lot so far...I have this feeling I am still not good enough. I look at myself in the mirror and I don't see myself being the beautiful girl people tell me I am. The only other person I've told about this is my boyfriend. He says he loves my body and all of me exactly the way I am. But I absolutely hate my body. I don't have trouble with a lot of loose skin, but I have stretch marks. It's embarrassing to have these as a 21 year old young girl. It's very depressing and disappointing to me because I've worked so hard to lose the weight, yet my self esteem hasn't changed. I still feel shameful of my body. I wasn't expecting to still feel the same way emotionally after losing the weight. Is anyone else feeling this way?

[Healthy_life2 8,322]

@@arcticmoonx129

Amazing job by the way!

From having body issues from being morbidly obese to having body issues at a healthy weight I can relate. I am working with a therapist to try to get in a better place with my body. I am beyond thrilled with the weight loss. I also did not expect to still feel this way.

[samuelsmom 670]

As has been stated on several posts on this site, the surgeon operated on your stomach, not your brain! Those feelings and insecurities don't go away just because you lose weight. Take time to get to know and love that person in the mirror. If you can afford it, counseling may help.

I have been a nurse for a long time and I have seen one illness destroy peoples appearance, whether from cancer or some other terrible disease or surgery. After observing this over a number of years, I realized that our appearance just doesn't matter all that much. A cancer patient with no hair and 90 pounds was still an attractive human being. why? Because she was a caring and loving person. Looks fade, skin sags, and stretch marks linger. But they have nothing to do with how beautiful someone is. That comes from WITHIN.

Good luck on this journey...

[mrs kaje 347]

I got stretchmarks when I was a teenager (just from growing), and I know lots of people who did, too. It's not just a weight gain or pregnancy thing.

[Healthy_life2 8,322]

@@samuelsmom

Wow a great perspective on this thanks

[mbrinmn 105]

Take it from someone who is almost 51. Get your head around the fact that your body is beautiful at any age. You're going to have stretch marks and cellulite and scars and bruises. If you're worried about how men will see you when you're naked, don't. Just remember that they don't have "perfect" bodies either. Find someone who loves your courage, spirit, resilience, intellect, and strength. You have a lot of years ahead of you to start hating your body now. You should see it when you're 50! It doesn't get any better unless you have a disposable income for all the plastic surgery in the world...and even then, you won't be happy with the outside unless you've come to terms with yourself on the inside.

It will get better. You're only 21 and I remember how hard that age was for body image. I stopped looking in the mirror so often when I was about 30. You are not the whole of what you see in that mirror!!

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I was a skinny teen. Size 2, typical cheerleader, big boobs, skinny waist, big hair. I swam and played soccer so I was fit.
I had stretch marks on my breasts, hips, thighs, and stomach despite never being fat.

My 16yo is 5'6", has never weighed more than 110 pounds, wears a size 00/0 in teen sizes and is very active. She is a martial arts instructor and goes to the gym daily. Guess what? Stretch marks.

Don't fret it. Be proud of your success. You've done great! I know it's easier said than done, but learn to love the body you have, the body that can do all sorts of fun and healthy things that it couldn't do at it's highest weight. You are a true success story and a few battle scars to prove it aren't the worst thing in the world.