Please can you tell me how your life improved once you finally got round to losing weight .

[spad]

Tia

In every way possible!
Confidence
Wear what I want
Happy to have photo taken
Not hot all the time
Not constantly adjusting clothes
Feel attractive
Can move about quicker
The bed feels bigger
People react to me differently, treat me with more respect (I was hardly massive either, 5ft7 size 18)
Clothes shopping is fun
Say yes to more social occasions
Feeling in control of myself
Don't sweat much

So many things!

It feels good to be in control.
You appreciate how healthy and strong and amazing our bodies actually are.
Clothes shopping is fun.
People treat me better.
I don't have that sinking feeling when trying to decide what to wear.

I can zip boots all the way up and wear thigh length boots too.
Don't mind trying on clothes and finding they are too small.
Health has improved.
Definitely more confidence.

A spring in my step, it's just easier to move around!

Can I ask how you all lost weight?sorry if I'm hijacking OP! I really don't mean to, but I'm at a bit of a loss how to lose weight!

Low carb for me! It melted off

How much did you lose OP? If you don't mind me asking.

5:2 (nothing until lunchtime twice a week; about 700 cals on those days + loads of water every day, 2l min).

Still in the process of losing weight myself, (20lbs off my goal), but I feel great. Strong, more confident, sexy.

However I should say that I was anorexic and extremely thin in my 20's and went to obese in my 30's through binge eating (replaced one ED with another), so right now is the first time in my life that I've really felt at a good place with eating and exercise, and in control.

Do you know what's fantastic? Being able to wear a skirt in the summer without my thighs chafing

I so needed this thread. I'm huge after my third baby :( We had Christmas with my in laws today and I did that thing where you double take your photos like "who is that fat person" and then realize it's you.

It's so hard, I'm such an emotional eater. But all these reasons hit home.

Just de-lurking to say I am shocked that several of you are treated differently now that you've lost weight!

I am lucky to have never been overweight, and I don't know if it's me being naive but it just seems so unfair if thinner people are treated better

I got pregnant. Genuinely don't think I'd have been able to have such an uneventful pregnancy at my starting weight (over 18stone). I lost nearly seven stone and felt great and had loads of energy.

Have gained 4 bloody stone back after having two kids but am in the process of losing it again.

I didn't realise how much I loved clothes until I lost weight. I really enjoyed fashion but realise when I'm overweight it's basically just a tent so people don't have to look at me naked.

I haven't lost weight. Yet. But have completed my family and am horrified how fat I've become .

Do people really treat us fatties differently or do we behave differently ?

Yes Barbara people really do treat thin people differently. I was really, really shocked.

I lost 5 stone quite quickly and was appalled at the difference, never having realised quite how badly fat people are thought of by some.

Interestingly it was women who treated me differently - not men.

I'm considerably better looking thinner so that make make a difference in its own - I know that there are studies showing that people respond better the prettier you are.

shutthefuckupbarbara I know, it's shocking. I expected men to do it as obviously they flirt more when attracted to someone but the biggest surprise has been women. Women are so chatty with me now! This is before I've opened my mouth so nothing to do with them reacting to my confidence. Wherever I am they stop me and start chatting, compliment me, befriend me.. when I used to be invisible. I naively thought women wouldn't treat me differently but they seem to flock.
Also people opening doors more, smiling more, being kinder, shop owners going out of their way for me. I guess some people genuinely do think fat people are below them and they can't hide it..

I stopped constantly thinking about how I needed to lose weight. Quite a weight of my mind

spad in my case I don't think it was due to a change in behaviour, I'm extremely self confident, out going and chatty regardless of my size.

My personality didn't change when I lost weight, I just find clothes shopping easier.

I'm losing weight. 17lbs so far in 8 weeks. About a stone to go. Feel so much better. Can run upstairs, feel healthier, run around without getting out of breath etc.

I do two gym classes a week, walk more and simply watch what I eat. I've changed my food habits (whole meal bread etc) and avoid too much carbs. No snacking etc. I've found myfitnesspal app really helps. Have to be really prepared food wise though (always do a packed lunch etc for work).

Also just a general feeling of now they think you are equal to them so they have time for you.. whereas before you weren't worth bothering with.

Do people really treat us fatties differently or do we behave differently?

I think it's a bit of both. I'm less "apologetic" and more "out there" as a thin person because I feel confident. And I dress in a more attracting way - so bright vest rather than black cardigan.
But I don't think that explains everything. I think overweight people, especially women, get treated with less respect.

Looking in the mirror and looking like me again

Everything changed! I don't ache, I'm not scared to try things out, I don't have to shop in Evans, I can do boots up, im confident, im fitter. I became a slimming world consultant and get such joy seeing others achieve their goals

I have lost 4 stone so far and am half way to my target. Most of the changes are physical rather than emotional as I never used to let my weight hold me back in my career or relationships. (TMI alert for some of the below).

I can now:

put on socks without help
wear tights
cut my own toe nails
get on the floor and up again
walk up stairs rather than hobble up
wipe my bum without being a contortionist (and use a regular sized loo rather than the assessable ones)
be confident that skin creases don't smell
walk a mile in half the time I used to
fit in the bath comfortably
buy clothes from "normal" shops
stop taking acid reflux meds
stop wearing support bandages on ankles and knees
stop having to sit down every five minutes when I am out
stop worrying about fitting into chairs in cafes and of breaking them

It has been so worth it so far OP. Go for it!

I've been a size 16 and a size 8 - suffice to say I got a lot more attention and flattery when I was thin was in my 20's and single at both these sizes

Am now creeping back up to size 16 again (I'm 2 DC and a decade down the line) and I certainly don't intend to lose weight for anything other than the fact I feel better in every single way when I'm a few sizes smaller.