Brain catching up to new you?

ShrinkDone191

ShrinkDone191

Member
Does anyone else find themselves cycling through outfits because they feel "too big" for certain looks, even though it's not true? How long did it take your brain to align with your new size?
 
I dread looking at myself in the mirror after showering. I still see the 200+ pound me, not the 140-ish me I am now. It's like my brain is stuck. All I see is extra skin and flab. Feels like I'm still a large size.
 
It's taken several months to actually *believe* I'm this size. When I buy clothes, I still have that imposter syndrome feeling, like they won't fit. I'm finally starting to accept it and enjoy it. I still instinctively head to the larger sizes before remembering.
 
I haven't experienced that mental shift yet. Body image issues are a serious thing. Congrats on your progress!
 
For a while, I felt much thinner, but lately, I feel like I've gained some back, even though the scale hasn't changed, and my BMI is fine. I'm hoping when I can get back to regular exercise (spinal issues delayed things), it will help mentally. It's all in my head, though; I still look slim in my clothes. It's strange.
 
Honestly, I think I've lost the ability to accurately see myself. Maybe permanently. I was slender most of my life, then gained about 50 pounds, which I carried for about 10 years. During that time, I just lost my sense of self-perception. I couldn't tell if I was overweight, okay, or what. Now I'm back to a size S again, so logically I know I'm not overweight... but sometimes I still can't see it. It's been over six months now. It's a really bizarre feeling.
 
Thanks everyone, it sounds like it's a common thing. I'll try the collage idea
Brave_Bison_420 said:
It took me about a year. Creating before-and-after picture collages really helped me process the change.
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and see if that helps. I keep buying clothes that are too big!
 
I have a dachshund like the one on your shelf! Actually have two of the regular ones.

I'm losing weight gradually, so it hasn't been a huge shock to my system. I just replace clothes as they become too big. 😉
 
I can relate.

It's been almost 3 years and around 90 pounds gone, with the final 30 going very slowly. I was packing to move and kept thinking the medium-sized clothes looked tiny. But that *is* my size now. The distorted self-perception is real some days. I try to stay neutral about my body. Just acknowledging it's a new size and different. No point in getting down about loose skin, because that helps no one.
 
It's different for everyone. It might be easier for me as a guy, but it's still challenging. I've lost weight before without medication, but this feels different. I'm finally understanding who I am. I strongly suggest talking to a therapist, social worker, or your prescriber. It's normal to feel this way, and good for you for talking about it.
 
It's wild how much your mental state changes, too. I'm calmer and less anxious now, which makes it easier to get stuff done. The drop in cravings helped quiet my mind. Anyone else notice this?
 
Inject-FTW said:
It's wild how much your mental state changes, too. I'm calmer and less anxious now, which makes it easier to get stuff done. The drop in cravings helped quiet my mind. Anyone else notice this?
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That's interesting! I haven't really noticed a change in anxiety levels, but the food noise is definitely quieter.
 
I'm only two months in and down about 15 pounds on the lowest dose. Seeing people lose like 80 pounds in 8 months is seriously inspiring! What dose did you get to before seeing faster results?
 
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