In losing weight, what have you learned about yourself (so far)?

[threeeggsontoast]

I’ve been overweight for most of my adult life - anything ranging from 2 stone to 6 stone (and everywhere in-between).

I was at the point of total hopelessness, figuring I’d never successfully lose weight and then Mounjaro changed everything. I’m only half way through my journey (another 2.5 stone yet to go) but so far, things I’ve discovered about myself;

1. I’m not as introverted as I thought I was! It was just that at 3 stone heavier, I didn’t want to be ‘seen’ and thought that people would judge me. All of a sudden, I’m coming out of my shell more.
2. I do actually have a fashion sense now that I no longer feel the need to hide my body quite as much as I did. I like fitted tops, short skirts with tights and oh, turns out the colour red really suits me.

Just wondering what others are discovering about themselves?

What it’s like to live without a constant feeling of shame about what I have eaten that I shouldn’t or what I’m thinking about eating that I shouldn’t! Life is much nicer without shame, funnily enough….

That you don't have to buy everything in black.

The difference the weight change has made to my posture and how this in turn has changed my appearance.

that I don’t need a cushion on my tummy when sitting on the sofa for comfort. It was to try to hide!

that bus/train/plane seats can be quite spacious now that there is les of me taking up space

that being fit and strong is actually more important to me that being visually slim

That I don’t have to dress to disappear

that people - all sorts of people - are MUCH nicer to me now I’m a normal size. It’s eye opening. Or maybe I’m friendlier and more relaxed.

This!! I just had a clearout this morning and found 5 black stretchy dresses and endless black tops and cardigans - most of which were bought as panic buys while trying to hide at some event or other.

@Buscake”that I don’t need a cushion on my tummy when sitting on the sofa for comfort. It was to try to hide!”

I remember one time being so uncomfortable at a friend’s house, I picked up the dog and put him on my lap - all in a weird attempt to hide my stomach. Poor dog.

In contrast to some other of the posters here, I’ve found that I’ve really changed my style from v quirky to much more neutral since losing 11 stone. It’s like I don’t feel like I have to be in character any more, in a way

This might be side effects not weight loss but the absolute joy of not being hotter than the sun at every possible point means that I can get my nice scarves and pashminas out again. I can wear layers! A tucked-in top and a longer line cardigan! I’m neither so fat I can’t bear to tuck anything in, nor so bloody overheated I can’t wear a cardigan over anything ever. I love swishing about (I probably look like a total twit 😂).

That I actually really like clothes. Like so many of us, I used to use clothes to hide, and just bought whatever was available in my size that would cover me up. I never went on the style and beauty threads, I would have found that so intimidating. Now I’ve got some lovely stuff and really enjoy deciding what to wear every day.

Also that I love how exercise makes me feel and miss it when I don’t do it.

And that I’m prepared to have a go at things I never would have before, I would have been worried people would laugh at me. Things like stand up paddle boarding (would never have worn a wetsuit in public) and tap dance lessons.

I lost 10kg 2 years ago.

I learned that a lot of eating is habit and when you break the habit it's difficult for the first week or two then new, healthier habits form after which it is easier

I’ve discovered that people are nice to me now I’m thin. And that every person has an opinion on my size.

Oh and that tights in a large are about three foot too long for me.

I'm 1st 9lb down on Wegovy.

My posture has changed, I never realised how hunched over I was (thanks to my 38G boobs!)
I walk 'lighter' and have a spring in my step
I can walk easier, longer and hold a conversation whilst doing so
Driving - I'm only 5'3 and sit quite close to steering wheel so I can reach the pedals - now the steering wheel doesn't rest on my belly

Others have noticed and have commented on

I can run after kids easier at work
I don't look as tired, the dark circles under my eyes have gone, I don't feel as tired and drained either.
I'm happier
I walk differently and more confidently
My mood has lifted
I sleep 'quieter' and apparently my DH has woken up a few times and checked I'm still alive as my breathing has completely changed 🙈

I still have around 6 stone to go, and it's coming off slowly, but that's okay. I've completely changed my lifestyle, my attitude to food has changed

It's a pleasure to buy clothes and wearing a bra isn't uncomfortable

That chocolate will always be a problem for me! (On Mounjaro and could still eat kilos of it if I let myself 😆)

1. that being slim and looking good IS important to me and I get a big buzz out of it. I used to pretend it didn't matter.
2. that I can only eat half of what I used to in my 20s/30s if I want to maintain a healthy weight. I'm worried about this, and working out my tapering off/maintenance plan now.

I learned that no matter how well I eat, if I don’t take MJ my brain becomes obsessed with eating even when I’m not hungry. WLI made me realise I didn’t have and never really had a bad diet but I have a brain that just cannot shut off without help. I don’t need the slow movement of food, I need my brain to shut up. It’s quite painful to think of returning to that but cost means I have no choice and it’s gutting

I have a very different dress style to what I ever imagined, I love wide leg trousers, midi dresses that are form fitting but not tight, soft cashmere slouchy jumpers, sleeveless silk shell tops. I like pale colours, all the sludges, bring it to me. And a lot of cream. I dislike wearing black.

bizzarelh when I was fat, everything was tight, leggings, skinny jeans, long sleeve t shirts, long stretchy skirts, all black or navy, as I thought it held me in and streamlined me. It didn’t. I just looked like a big sausage.

now nothing is tight, nothing is black. My dress sense as a slim woman is very very different to anything I’d ever have even considered as a fat one.

That’s amazing you are getting you confidence back 👏🏻

I am in the middle of my journey also and lost 5 stone so far and I feel my confidence I coming back. I feel I can challenge decision more confidently at work…I had the knowledge before but clearly not the confidence!

I am not as irritable…I actually can be the fun mum that plays and runs and gets down on the floor to play with them…that’s exactly why I started this journey. For my kids and they are getting a much happier mummy too 🥹

Also!!! How much more choice is there in clothes??? I don’t have to go to the ‘curve’ section and have a bigger variety of choice/shops!!

I dont have a pretty face!
Just kidding, i never did. 😂
One good thing is that i dont have to choose clothes just because they fit, i can buy stuff i actually like. I have also realised that because I am short and have a slow metabolism, I am never going to be able to eat big meals, no matter how hungry I am because I will get fat again. I can only eat about half of what my dh and dc eat, that's just the way it is.

More choice in clothes I don't have to order

DH commented that my mood was definitely better, less tired and more energetic.

I learnt that if I read properly I don't need constant food as my blood sugar is not spiking and crashing.

My "reward" system went from chocolate to books, the chocolates were cheaper but the books last longer.

Same with the cushion on the tummy! But am thinking I maybe find it kind of snuggly now it’s winter? 🤔

I found that I have no idea what to wear and how to dress. I genuinely don't know how to find clothes that suit me now!

A bunch of things I put down to getting older turned out to be weight related. I say "oof" a lot less when I move these days.

Strangers are friendlier. Equally, other fat people aren't, anymore. (Not that they're unfriendly, but there's no longer that immediate shared sense of being, and that's weird, as I'm still a fat person in my head).

I remain terribly self critical; before I hated my fat bits, now I dislike my saggy bits. Still, I'll take being healthy over unhealthy any day.

Absolutely this. I no longer feel the need to be the ‘fat and jolly’ person in Vicar of Dibley knitwear.

Congrats on losing 11 stone. That’s amazing.

It can be such a huge change, it’s important to me too now, where as it never really used to be, but going from an 18 to an 8 in a year, is a very fast change, where as when I gained the weight, and went the other way, it was slow, over a number of years, so less noticeable in my brain, I kind of slipped up the sizes slowly.

before I just bought all black stuff , stuff to hide and that fit, now I just don’t dress in black.

my appearance still surprises me. I get dressed and like how I look, and am usually a bit stunned I’m slim. Plus all the fat and puffiness went from my face, my skin is clear and eyes are bright, which makes me look younger, so it’s not become important to me, likely as it is still so new.