Okay, so here's a question for everyone pre and post op...

Do you have any fears about not recognizing yourself in the mirror after you've gotten to your goal weight?

I know that I have that fear. I've never been skinny. Went on my first diet at age 9. So I have absolutely no clue as to what to expect and it scares me. I know this is a totally irrational fear and I'm talking to a therapist tomorrow about it, but I was wondering if this is a common fear?

I haven't had surgery yet. I'm 5'2" and 265. Scheduled for 2/18 in Tijuana.

I've always made light of having the opposite of anorexia... I do NOT see a fat person in the mirror! I see an average sized woman and no double chin, and I love myself! It's not until I see pictures of me that I'm like "whoaaaaaa who IS that?!" I do NOT recognize myself, it's depressing as all hell! I'm hoping the weight loss brings me back to "normal"!

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I'm 5'2" an I was 265 at the start of the journey. I lost a bunch of weight before the surgery so now, just over 4 weeks out, I'm 192. I feel the same way you describe yourself! I look in the mirror and I think I look fine. When I see a picture of me I want to cry. Now that I'm down nearly 70lbs I am afraid to see a picture...what if I still hate the way I look? It's scary to think that I could work so hard and still not be happy with it:(

don't be scared! I'm sure you look fantastic. But if you're that worried, waiting may be the best thing. It's why I hate weighing myself, the scale is soooo mean to me lol. If the numbers don't move quick enough I give up easily. After surgery I'm not getting on the scale more than once a month.

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Yes I feel it all the time. I've been the fat girl all my life, so I'm scared what if I'm still not satisfied, what if I'm still not happy, it keeps me up at night and I'm seeing a therapist to help me sort out those feelings

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I haven't had surgery yet. I'm 5'2" and 265. Scheduled for 2/18 in Tijuana.

I've always made light of having the opposite of anorexia... I do NOT see a fat person in the mirror! I see an average sized woman and no double chin, and I love myself! It's not until I see pictures of me that I'm like "whoaaaaaa who IS that?!" I do NOT recognize myself, it's depressing as all hell! I'm hoping the weight loss brings me back to "normal"!

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm 5'2" an I was 265 at the start of the journey. I lost a bunch of weight before the surgery so now, just over 4 weeks out, I'm 192. I feel the same way you describe yourself! I look in the mirror and I think I look fine. When I see a picture of me I want to cry. Now that I'm down nearly 70lbs I am afraid to see a picture...what if I still hate the way I look? It's scary to think that I could work so hard and still not be happy with it:(

I'm scared I won't be happy with how I look either. I will be happy to be off a lot of the medicines I take and all and I can't wait for the clothes ( love clothes and shoes but currently hate shopping because none of the cute stuff I want to wear fits me) As for pictures...I very rarely let anyone take a picture of me unless it's from the shoulders up. I don't want to look at myself at all - mirror or otherwise.

I think my biggest reality is that my goal weight is less than half of my current weight. I have to lose over half of me.

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so much this !!! But this is also why I love seeing the success stories on here. Right now I can't imagine losing over half of my body weight. It just seems so daunting that I get to wondering if such a thing is even possible. Then I see some of these success stories (like the lady who started at 450 pounds and actually ran a marathon in NYC last year!) and see that it really is possible. I just have to get off my bloomin arse and get busy losing!

I think my biggest reality is that my goal weight is less than half of my current weight. I have to lose over half of me.

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so much this !!! But this is also why I love seeing the success stories on here. Right now I can't imagine losing over half of my body weight. It just seems so daunting that I get to wondering if such a thing is even possible. Then I see some of these success stories (like the lady who started at 450 pounds and actually ran a marathon in NYC last year!) and see that it really is possible. I just have to get off my bloomin arse and get busy losing!

Not only is it possible, but you can do it!

@@MowryRocks - Thank you. I sure hope so.

I'm scared I won't be happy with how I look either. I will be happy to be off a lot of the medicines I take and all and I can't wait for the clothes ( love clothes and shoes but currently hate shopping because none of the cute stuff I want to wear fits me) As for pictures...I very rarely let anyone take a picture of me unless it's from the shoulders up. I don't want to look at myself at all - mirror or otherwise.

Me too, but I'm also excited to see what I'll look like. I've been overweight my whole adult live and can't remember being under 200 lbs. I'm 280 now and very excited to get my surgery date!

Not only is it possible, but you can do it!

Thanks for your encouragement, it means a lot!

On 1/31/2017 at 5:17 AM, Berry78 said:

Huh.. when I put weight on my elbows, my hands go to sleep too!

@@Hoping052017 . I am 5'8, (currently 307lbs... heaviest weight ever). I once was 145lbs (size 10 jean), for all of a couple of months. My "normal" weight should be 140lbs, which I haven't been since elementary school.

Anyway, my mental self-image is of someone that carries an extra 50lbs.(not 150!) If I were to lose that last 50, I would have some identity restructuring work to do...

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It is a weird feeling for sure. Our minds just don't catch up with our Weight Loss. I'm 3 years out and my mind still hasn't caught up. If I look at my face most days I am ok. But my body is so different. Hang in there!! Nothing is better than making and meeting your goals!!

If this 61 year old former 497 pounder who can't walk but for only 4 to 5 minutes can lose it, You can too! After losing 280 I did a 6 mile bike ride last week to raise money for literacy.

I was like you, gained weight in childhood. I was very curious about the changes because, while I hated the weight, I have always felt pretty.

Once I lost the weight I no longer saw THAT me...but I saw my mom, and my sisters. I realized I really do look like them. I love looking in the mirror and seeing them, and it makes me feel even more beautiful, because I have always thought they were beautiful! They always will be...and so will I!

And so will YOU!