How did your life change after significant weight loss?

[Cardboardf0x]

I've recently lost 2.5 stone, I'm down to 10 stone. I feel much happier and healthier.
Aside from the usual healthy benefits and the fact I can buy smaller clothes, I've noticed people now have more time for me.. People I never used to speak to at work now seem to have time for me. I also find I'm getting a lot more attention from men.. I feel like i will always have the mindset of an overweight person so really try hard to stick to the regime that resulted in my weight loss.
What has changed in your life since you've lost weight? Aside from the usual things.

Yep this is definitely a thing and people start to notice you more when you lose weight I’ve experienced the same although I am fat again now and invisible again!

I’ve lost 23kg so far and still going.
I have a problem buying clothes as I still buy the same size as before so that’s taken a while to get used to. I’ve gone from a xxl to a m. Which is still very strange.

I take more risks. I’m still not a confident person, but I definitely have more of a “fuck it” attitude, especially to what others might think of me doing something.

The biggest change for me though has been starting MMA, in particular boxing and bjj. I feel like a total badass. I have NEVER felt like this before and would NEVER have done this without loosing weight.

I love feeling like a badass! People at work have commented on how I seem ‘brighter’ and this has impacted in my job as I feel more “seen”.

I haven’t had more attention from men, but I never had any before so I’ve come to the conclusion that I am in fact hideous. But then it won’t matter so much if I get caught during an MMA match

I lost 8.5 stone. people are friendlier but I'm also nicer to myself. I've put a bit back on but I'll never go back to obese. I'm an active person at heart and being obese was very restricting and depressing for that reason. I miscarried twins and the weight piled on after that so the weight was also a reminder of the trauma.

@Lubeyboobyalt

I lost 8.5 stone. people are friendlier but I'm also nicer to myself. I've put a bit back on but I'll never go back to obese. I'm an active person at heart and being obese was very restricting and depressing for that reason. I miscarried twins and the weight piled on after that so the weight was also a reminder of the trauma.

I used to be over 21 stone and size 18, I’m now 13 stone and a size 13. I lost the weight 5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did! I was in denial at how miserable I was being fat. I even had a baby, put 20lbs on and lost it all after 9 weeks of having the baby, my whole outlook on life has changed!

I was over 16 stone at my heaviest, I'm now a toned, muscular 10.5 stone. I dress differently now, no more floaty tops a size too big to hide my stomach! Most of my clothes are now fitted. I get chatted up a lot more now than I did even as a young adult. And my confidence has gone through the roof!

I feel I'm taken more seriously now in work, than I was before. But that's maybe more due to my increased confidence changing the way I interact with people. Definitely prefer the new me!

I found the first thing I wanted to do after hitting my goal weight was have a full on makeover. I got my nose pieced, went full on kat slater leopard and leather with my wardrobe and got my hair cut and coloured.

I agree- People treated me very differently including random strangers. At 5'10 and just under 8 stone I was super thin and I think it made me look younger. I felt more confident so people possibly treated me differently as a result.
Weight stayed off for 5-7 years and now I am a size 12 - it back to as it was when I was a size 20.

I'm interested to know too. Im invisible

@JimLaheysWhiskeyBottle

I’ve lost 23kg so far and still going. I have a problem buying clothes as I still buy the same size as before so that’s taken a while to get used to. I’ve gone from a xxl to a m. Which is still very strange.

I take more risks. I’m still not a confident person, but I definitely have more of a “fuck it” attitude, especially to what others might think of me doing something.

The biggest change for me though has been starting MMA, in particular boxing and bjj. I feel like a total badass. I have NEVER felt like this before and would NEVER have done this without loosing weight.

I love feeling like a badass! People at work have commented on how I seem ‘brighter’ and this has impacted in my job as I feel more “seen”.

I haven’t had more attention from men, but I never had any before so I’ve come to the conclusion that I am in fact hideous. But then it won’t matter so much if I get caught during an MMA match

Loving the badass - well done on your transformation!

It's true people notice you more when you're slimmer, especially men. I joined a gym a few years ago when I was a bit tubby; it was fine as I wanted to blend into the background in the classes. There was a particularly sleazy man in his 40s policeman who would sniff around the young, fit women in the classes and completely ignore me. I lost two stone and lo and behold he sent me a friend request on FB

3 stone down.

The only difference I’ve found is that the women in work who are always moaning about their size and constantly talking about dieting-whilst posting FB photos featuring sickly cocktails the size of a bucket - now keep telling me I’m too thin.

@Cardboardf0x

I found the first thing I wanted to do after hitting my goal weight was have a full on makeover. I got my nose pieced, went full on kat slater leopard and leather with my wardrobe and got my hair cut and coloured.

I did the nose piercing thing too! 😆 wanted to do it for years but only recently had the courage to do it!

How did u all loose the weight? I can’t find the diet that clicks with me so I never succeed!

Slimming world! Works for me as you can actually eat. Lost 2.5 stone in 3 months..

How have you all done it?

@Selfcarequeereyestyle

How did u all loose the weight? I can’t find the diet that clicks with me so I never succeed!

My Fitness Pal.

I never cut anything out but kept to a certain amount of calories and MFP has educated me to make better choices.

Some sandwiches can have more calorie than a well portioned roast dinner! That ‘little cake’ you think is harmless can push you over a calorie target by hundreds of calories.

I wish MFP existed years ago.

I’ve lost over seven stone and honestly don’t days I feel more miserable than when I was morbidly obese. I even considered starting a thread in AIBU about whether I should intentionally regain my weight.
I am constantly thinking or worrying about food and weight. It’s always on my mind. When I was obese I could eat what I wanted without worrying about it. Of course I had no self confidence and hated looking in the mirror or having photographs taken. But I feel I’ve swapped one bunch of insecurities and worries for another.
I do feel that for me weight loss isn’t just about the act of losing weight but the mental process and I haven’t got there yet. I am considering some form of Counselling or therapy regarding my eating though! Sorry if that’s a little too negative, and certainly weight loss has significant positives too

Positives and negatives all welcome in this thread.
I always think I'll be a person who is overweight on the inside, my mindset won't change quickly.

I walk differently! I feel so much more confident, I stride through town with my head high, rather than trying not to draw any attention to myself.

@UnicornsReal I did it using the 16:8 method. Worked for me, but I think it’s just experimental finding out what works for you and your lifestyle.

Low carbs, no snacks, mnot using the office canteen (thank you, lockdown,) and daily yoga here, 3st down.

Men notice me more. I wear more skirts, because my thighs rub less. I can run without my knees hurting within 5 seconds. I have no idea what size clothes I should be buying any more, and I need to buy them because my old ones literally fall off.

@UnicornsReal I’m using Mysimba which was prescribed by my doctor, but I went to see my GP specifically for help and I train every other day. The days I don’t train I stay active, so a walk, lots of stairs at work, stay on my feet. I also use a tabata timer for doing rounds of cardio which help it seem more manageable.
I see a PT for 90 mins every Friday night, he works me very hard, first we box, then bjj technique and then we spar mostly for about 45 minutes. He then gives me a program to follow for the week. He’s my angel.

It also helps me seeing him on a Friday night as it has stopped me having those end of the week binges. No glass of wine or takeout after work. I set up a pizza and popcorn night for my kids with a film, then off I go.

Also where I live there are no takeaways and no deliveries so that helps me to make better choices.

Little things too, like I can’t drink a cup of tea without sugar and milk, so I have black coffee instead. I love hot toast with butter, so I have a protein shake for breakfast, but I do have whole milk as I don’t have a high calcium intake. My hair and nails are fabulous since this and I’m getting far less pulled muscles and strains.

I’ve just turned 38 and have 2 children and a husband who is quite I’ll, I’ve realised that the best thing I can be is healthy and happy for myself and for my family.

It’s true and I felt mikes better. I’ve put back on what I lost now and I’m at home so not in the office but I felt completely different. I felt people treated me different and yes more attention. Same from my other half but I did dress different, wear nicer underwear and bed clothes so that’s understandable. I need some motivation to get fit again and you would think what I just said would be enough 🙈

@UnicornsReal

How have you all done it?

I started with Slimming World, lost 3 stone. Then I took up weight lifting and the diet no longer 'fitted'. I put on half a stone in muscle, dropped a dress size, but as the scales were going up SW were telling me I was obviously not following the diet properly.

So I switched to calorie counting for a while. Did Joe Wicks 90 day plan for a while. Found that a little restrictive as I don't like most of the meals! So now I do a mix of Joe Wicks and Slimming World recipes, and just generally try to eat healthier.

I've cut out most of my alcohol intake as we were drinking way too much. Same for chocolate and crisps.

I no longer weight lift (cancelled gym membership when lockdown started) but I do run alot as well as do workouts on YouTube. Bought a mini trampoline last week too!

Only got a few lbs left to go but I'm in no rush. Trying to make life-long changes rather than rush to get it off then struggle too keep it off.

I have a question. Do people notice us more and are nicer because we lost weight or because we are happier? Because I think it is my mindset, I feel proud of myself, happy, so I engage more in everyday things and I have a positive mind about things. I think this is what makes people nicer. Not how I look physically, but the vibes I give.

"Invisible"

It's true people notice you more when you're slimmer, especially men

"yes more attention"

I feel more “seen”.

It would be super good to speak up with these comments the next time someone on MN says they are afraid to do something because people will notice them too much due to their obesity -- ie, swim, walk outside, exercise class etc.

Then again you might put them off ever losing weight -- if getting thinner gets more attention and attention is exactly what they don't want. Hmmm.. Bit of a trap that !