Is it all psychological?

[stephbob]

Ok, so I've lost a lot of weight - I've gone down from 170 to 144 since mid October according to the scales. I've gone down from a size 14 to a size 8 in clothes, so I've obviously lost weight.

But I look in the mirror and I see little difference! A few people have commented on my weight loss, which made me feel great at the time, but then other people have failed to notice that I'm 26 lbs lighter! Which has started me thinking that the people who HAVE commented, just know about me losing weight and are just being kind.

My clothes all fit me better/I've gone down sizes in the problem areas - hips, waist, butt, thighs...but I still feel big, and not much short of how I felt before I started on Atkins. My initial goal was 130 lbs, but now that's only 14lbs away, I feel that I'm still not going to be where I want after just 14 lbs loss, so I'm thinking of adjusting it so 120 instead. But I've not got a small frame, so I always thought that 120 was just too low.

I don't want to start becoming manic about weight loss, I'm scared of becoming anorexic or bullemic because I cant see the difference.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[dreamof145]

You know, when I first started Atkins, I read so many stories about people who had lost the weight and were still not happy. I did a lot of research and found that you have to change the way you feel about yourself, and try to resolve the underlying issues that caused you to become overweight.

For me it was a lot of baggage that I'd been carrying around with me. Insecurities from my childhood and that even followed me into my adulthood. I not only lost weight in the past year, but I've let go of a lot of things that I used to let bother me. I see the difference when I look at my before/now photos, I know I've lost the weight, but every once in a while, I feel like the fat woman I was. The only difference is that I don't let her rule my life anymore. I am in charge and although I think I will never forget that part of my life, I keep striving to make my new life-style better each day.

What I am saying is try to live a better life and be happier instead of trying to look perfect. Nobody is perfect, even models wish to change things about themselves. Be comfortable with who you are and how far you've come. You look great and you should let the new radiant you live and not worry.

[ttdriver]

Yeah, I can relate to that.

Its hard to believe how effective Atkins is. Our bodies change much faster than the image we have in our brains that still tells us we're fat. I wear a size zero and yet, there are days I feel fat. Sometimes I look at my clothes and think "no way can I fit into *that*!" but then I try it on and it fits perfectly.

Its really hard to get that "FAT" girl out of your mind. Even when you're thin.

Betty

[stephbob]

I'm glad to hear that perhaps I'm not going mad! lol Thank you both for your advice and kind words.

Dreamof145, you're spot on with what you've identified - I do have a lot of emotional baggage which I've been trying to sort out. I go through daily phases of feeling great about myself, and then being destructively unhappy with my progress.

For me, Atkins wasn't just about losing weight, but it stood for the change I was making to my life, in more than just the numbers on the scales or the labels on my clothes. I've tried my hardest to progress in my life, to acheive all the things I've wanted to, but never thought possible, and I'm overwhelmed with this list that's past my arm (literally!)

I'm just paranoid and scared more than anything, that this is going to become a case of never-thin-enough - that 130 is still too fat, then 120 is still too fat, and that I'll never be able to see the truth myself.

But again, thank you both for your advice!

[2big4mysize]

hey I turned around in the mall to see who the person reflected in the window glass was that was wearing my hat.

Rember we see the day to day changes so it is not a large difference for us when we are looking for the loss. You are comparing today's face to yesterdays face in your head as the beginning image has long been replaced every time you look in the mirror.

That is why Brook's monthly shots show the change on her melting blob so well. Get your before shot and your current shot and look at all the shrinking you have done. lay your old pants down with new fitting ones on top and see the difference.

Happy low carbing.

[qbu]

I have the same reaction when I look in a mirror. I didn't see the difference even though everyone was saying how much I lost and how different I looked. I went from a size 22-24W to a 12P and didn't see a difference until I took a pic of my jeans that I was wearing before and the jeans I had just bought. That's when I noticed the difference. It's still hard seeing the difference in the mirror. I feel I have more to loose and need to tone up more. It is somewhat psychological...it's an entirely different mindset.

In case you want to see how I finally saw a difference, here's the link to the gallery http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...05lr_thumb.jpg

By the way, you're doing great!

[stephbob]

Thank you 2big and qbu! I will do that

[Chris]

I'd just like to add that, having yo-yoed so much in my life, I've found in the past, after reaching goal, that I was still wearing my "fat goggles." I'd look in the mirror and think that the person I saw was still fat. Yet, I had several experiences similar to 2Big's where I'd catch an unexpected glimpse of myself in a store window or mirror, and wonder who that was -- because it wasn't fat me!

After a while you do adjust, and become comfortable in your new smaller skin. Also, don't forget that you are still 14 pounds from goal. As you get smaller, each pound you lose makes a greater difference in your appearance. By the time you get there, many, many folks will be commenting on it, I promise! I wouldn't even think about readjusting your goal until you get to the present one and live with it for a while.

You do look gorgeous, by the way.

[Swimmom]

Steph,

Am I right in understanding that all your pics at the bottom of your siggy are from BEFORE you started Atkins? How about your avatar? Is that one more recent? Because I can really see a difference in your beautiful face!!

It can be so difficult to divorce ourselves from the self-image we've carried around so long and not just with weight, but with any aspect of our appearance. Two years ago I started growing out my hair after wearing it short for 7 years. At that time, the longest hair on my head was probably 1 1/2-2" long. Now, all of it is down past my shoulders. And yet, I continue to be surprised that I have long hair every time I look in the mirror or see a picture of myself. I agree that you should take one of your before pictures and put it right next to a "now" picture and you will definitely see the difference!

[Chris]

To me, the young lady in the pretty dress on the right appears quite a bit thinner than the one seated to her left. According to her stats, she didn't start until October, but the two photos certainly look quite different.