In what way have you changed?

[TakingABreak 2,733]

Besides physical change of weight loss.... How have you changed since you started this journey?

[istytehcrawk 256]

I don't know if it's related to surgery directly or just because I wasn't happy with how I was before, but I've been making an effort to be as authentic as possible and not give a **** what people think about my habits/opinions/decisions.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

21 minutes ago, istytehcrawk said:

I don't know if it's related to surgery directly or just because I wasn't happy with how I was before, but I've been making an effort to be as authentic as possible and not give a **** what people think about my habits/opinions/decisions.

I like this a lot! I feel like true authenticity is so hard to achieve. Congrats!

[Matt Z 4,138]

For me, So much has changed during my going on 7 years of this whole process. Going from 370 lbs to (my current) 258, it's just night and day overall. My health, attitude, stamina, outlook have all improved greatly. I'm eating better (more now thanks to the bypass) than I have EVER. My family has reaped the rewards as well, all of them are thinner, healthier and happier than they have been. I'm in the Gym every day again, I've always loved the gym, but getting to be super fat made going to the gym pretty much impossible for all the reasons one can imagine.

I bought clothes at Kohl's yesterday, like... I didn't have to go to some specialty store for fat guy clothes. I almost cried.

[BostonWLKC 806]

Definitely more I third of and confident. I was pretty assertive and confident before but now I feel like others also respond more. Not sure if that makes anything. Just more self assured and not consumed with where I’m sitting, how I am sitting, whether or not people can see how heavy I really am…That is all gone. Like a weight lifted emotionally.

[BostonWLKC 806]

*at ease

[GreenTealael 24,864]

Im an introvert and often i have to pull extrovert behavior out of my adulting toolkit, now i can just be the quiet person i naturally am without anyone assuming its because im insecure

[TakingABreak 2,733]

31 minutes ago, BostonWLKC said:

I was pretty assertive and confident before but now I feel like others also respond more.

I feel like I'm taken more seriously.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

1 minute ago, Tealael said:

Im an introvert and often i have to pull extrovert behavior out of my adulting toolkit, now i can just be the quiet person i naturally am without anyone assuming its because im insecure

This is so insightful! A lot of people assume insecurity in overweight people. Weight doesn't dictate personality 100%, it may mold us to a degree, but an introvert is an introvert.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

34 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

I bought clothes at Kohl's yesterday, like... I didn't have to go to some specialty store for fat guy clothes. I almost cried.

I can't wait until I can shop anywhere. Regular women's sizing will be fantastic. It's so hard to find fashionable, reasonably priced, plus size women's clothing without shopping online. Sometimes you don't have time to order!

[groisamomma 5]

There are so many more available choices now and I don'tfeel like everyone's staring at me. I like shopping for the clothes rather than the clothes shopping for me.

Sad as it is, I also believe people judge others by their externals (most without even noticing it!) so I have no doubt that I am taken more seriously now that I am of average size.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

Just now, groisamomma said:

There are so many more available choices now and I don'tfeel like everyone's staring at me. I like shopping for the clothes rather than the clothes shopping for me.

Sad as it is, I also believe people judge others by their externals (most without even noticing it!) so I have no doubt that I am taken more seriously now that I am of average size.

Its crazy to say, but I get better customer service now that I'm thinner. Maybe that's people being less disgusted or maybe its them taking me more serious. Either way, its irritating and great at the same time.

[Czuck1983 114]

I've become much more comfortable in my own body these last few months. Even my therapist has been amazed at how much more positive and outgoing I have been, and in turn it's also helped my marriage a bit. There was a point where we were struggling a little, and I realized that my own personal unhappiness was weighing me down in many ways and effecting our relationship.

The loss of inches has also helped me a lot with some other issues, I've been very open on here about being transgender, I have noticed recently that my dysphoria has subsided a lot, although much of that is also from being on hormone replacement therapy as well.

My journey to surgery actually began because of my issues shopping for women's clothes. Back in October, I went out shopping with a good friend, and I couldn't find a single thing that fit and looked good on me. We went to Torrid, Lane Bryant, Avenue, all places that are made often for plus sized girls, but at 6'2" and 325lbs, there wasn't a single thing for me. I absolutely lost it, and cried out that I need a store called "Fat Fucks R Us." While I haven't been shopping for new women's clothes as of yet, I feel much more comfortable and positive about the idea of shopping.

[Orchids&Dragons 9,046]

I'm starting to do things without thinking about the weight implications. I'll park in a spot that I wouldn't've dared to before because I might have trouble getting out of the car if the door couldn't open wide enough. Next time I buy plane tickets, I won't worry about whether I'll fit in the seat.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

5 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I'm starting to do things without thinking about the weight implications. I'll park in a spot that I wouldn't've dared to before because I might have trouble getting out of the car if the door couldn't open wide enough. Next time I buy plane tickets, I won't worry about whether I'll fit in the seat.

Oh I feel ya there! I also don't worry about where they sit me at a restaurant. Booth or table, I know I'll fit now!