If you’ve lost a large amount of weight... what does it feel like to be a normal weight?

[minniemummy0]

I’m finally starting to lose a bit of weight. I’ve given up the diet clubs and am doing better on my own now I’ve got some motivation.

I just can’t imagine what it will (hopefully) be like to be thin/a normal weight though. I can’t picture myself ever getting there. For perspective, I have nearly 10 stone to lose to be in a healthy weight range.

I realise it’s unlikely they’ll be many people around who’ve had that much weight to lose. But I’m hoping they’ll be some people who’ve lost a fair amount!!

So if you have please help me imagine what it will be like if I succeed! Are you happier? Do you feel healthier? Does it make it any easier shopping for clothes? Please share!!

Oh and I also notice how differently people treat me. People in general are much nicer, like I'm more socially acceptable now I'm thin. I dislike that immensely.

I lost six stone. I'm a titch, so I went from a size 16 (well, more like an 18 in reality I think!) to an 8.

I found I sleep better, have more general day-to-day energy and DP says that I even walk differently! Even though I'm eight months pregnant at the moment (so a bit heavier!) I still feel an awful lot better than I did when I was obese.

Totally shallow, but also, clothes shopping is a joy now. I feel that I can choose clothes rather than just buying 'whatever doesn't look utterly horrific'.

There is a great app called ‘my model’. It was great keeping me on track when I was losing. You design an avatar (which is surprisingly accurate) and then plot your current weight and your target weight. As you lose weight your avatar changes and you can compare it to how you looked where you started and how you will look when you reach target.

I lost 2.5 stone eleven years ago and have largely kept it off.

It feels normal now but I don’t think I will ever lose the feeling that among my friends I’m the little fat one.

Good luck, it’s so, so worth it.

I’ve gone from 15 stone to 11 stone recently (want to lose 1 more stone) and I feel a lot better about myself. I no longer get out of breath walking up a flight of stairs and I can wear nice things in the summer without feeling self conscious or like I’m a big sweaty mess. My sex life has improved and I’m also sleeping better.

You have to make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and let every step of the way you working on yourself too because if you're really don't like yourself before being thin won't heal that automatically won't make you become that confident person.are there emotional things involved as well. and if so you really got to work on that because you might be smaller but you've got to love you .you've got to want to be everything you can and that doesn't have to be slim it it has to be just able to do what you want to do be who you want to be and that can differ with many people and you might naturally be any size on the spectrum of healthy because you can't just expect to Love Yourself once you're slimmed if you haven't when you're big. because I guarantee you being big you will tell yourself it's a reason you don't like you or don't like certain aspects of you. but you will soon realise when your smaller those feelings are often still there there's more to it than that and you have to have to have to work on your emotional health.

I’ve lost 60lbs this year. A tight 16 to a 10. I still have wobbly bits on my stomach but my legs have never looked so good. I have way more energy, my skin looks great, I can exercise without getting all sweaty and I’m flexible. I would like to tone up and lose another stone to be closer to 9 & half stone but I’m pretty impressed with myself.

No diet pills or shakes. No weightloss groups. No low fat processed food. Just actually eating proper food and working out what bloats me - refined carbs! 9 months later and I am mentally and physically a much better person. I didn’t realise how much what I was eating was effecting my moods.

I lost four stone this year and tbh it’s wierd because I still feel fat even tho I’m now in the middle of the healthy range for bmi. It’s like my brain hasn’t caught up with my body and I actually feel really uncomfortable some days. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t regret the weight loss as I have tons of energy, most days I feel a lot more confident and clothes shopping is a lot more fun becasue I don’t just have to pick whatever will fit so I have opened up a whole new range of options but... I just have this odd discomfort hanging over me and I’m hoping in time as I get used to being this size it’ll pass. I still have 7lbs to lose until I reach my goal weight and I’m hoping achieving that milestone will also help but I have a feeling that this is just all in my head. I don’t want to reach my goal weight and then feel like I have to lose more as I still feel fat. It’s like I can’t picture myself at my target weight even tho I’m nearly there and realistically won’t look that much different? In my head I’m still big. I don’t know. I guess I’ll just see what happens.

I lost 6 stone a few years ago. I went from a size 20/22 to a 12.

Looking back, I looked great but I just wanted to lose more. I had a lot of saggy skin, and the "pouch of doom" after having DS1 which never went away.

I was able to buy nice clothes, but I generally wear jeans and hoodies anyway, so it's not like I went out and bought slinky dresses.

I put 3.5 stone back on having DS2 and some stress and depression after that, and I am still trying to get that off. I am 2 stone away from my original target, but I suspect it will never feel like enough. I hate clothes shopping so I just wear what I have until it falls apart. I am currently wearing size 16 or above, all of which are really, far too big for me, but I don't dare try anything smaller on because if it doesn't fit... well, I just don't try. Size 16 is fine. Maybe when I get down into the next stone bracket I'll think about trying a size 14, but I have two pairs of jeans, I don't need anymore, and I can't afford any anyway.

I've lost 4 1/2 stone, gone from a size 20 to a size 12, and just within the normal BMI range. It feels absolutely fantastic. Recently I tried on a size 12, slightly clingy party type dress, I actually looked really good in it, for the first time in as long as I can remember (probably about 20 years) I felt good when I looked in the mirror. I actually got a natural high that lasted for a few days.
Equally, I feel so fit and healthy now, I enjoy moving around. My advice is to do as much exercise as you can, not only does it maximise improvement to your body it also improves your mental and physical health.
Good luck, OP, and anyone else in the process of losing weight. It's really worth all the effort.

Bloody amazing. I can ship in normal shops! Bought some 16 knickers yesterday and they are falling off. So pleased even though I wanted a tenner!

Kateandme I think your post is excellent.

Hello everyone!

I found this thread by googling and you've all inspired me. I'd love to hear how you are getting on?

I'm 12 pounds into a 120 needed weight loss so still near the beginning but would love to hear some inspiration.

More importantly I'd love to hear how you kept it off and what helped!

I lost 8 stones.

Buckets more energy, no aches and pains, and the joy of being able to wear anything I want because it actually fits. I can’t believe I tolerated being fat for so long, I cringe at old photos of myself, such a waste for so many years.

Oh wow cheating g that's amazing! I need to lose 10 stone but I'd be happy with 8.

How did you do it? How long has it been off and has it been hard to maintain it??? And did you have lose skin!?

Thankyou 😊

I lost 5.5 stone, down from 18-20 to size 8. The best bit was giving away all my old clothes (mostly smart workwear) and replacing my wardrobe from Zara, with a couple of high end tailored dresses. The down side is that my boobs are pretty floppy so getting bras that work took a lot of trial and error. And there’s a lot of spare skin now 😩

Wow well done Loser! How long did it take? How are you maintaining it?

I'm aware I will have lose skin. I'm trying to prime myself that it will be better than carrying the weight.

Some things I've read have said it will always be a battle for people that have been obese as metabolism/hormones have changed . Eek.

It took a year, almost to the day. Maintaining it is easy because I didn’t diet, I changed my whole relationship with food. I now eat what I enjoy in modest quantities, when I am hungry, at regular mealtimes. I have the odd meal out and occasional treats, and am just a bit careful the following day. I prepare all meals from scratch, batch-cooking a lot, so I know exactly what the nutritional value of every meal is, and it also cuts out almost all UPFs and hidden sugars. The thing is, I still really enjoy food, I just enjoy it healthily.