Weight loss is both physical and mental- One can lose all the weight physically, but mentally, still beleive they are fat.That happned to me, several times. When I was a runner In the 1990s, i was 20 pounds underweight, but was CONVICED I was fat- It became a bit of a self fullfilling prophecy, in that im now 280 pounds.
How can a person not just lose weight, but accept the weight loss mentally? I have met people who have lost a great deal of weight and look great, but still retain a negative image of tier own bodies. HOW can one beat this, and be able to accept they are fit, after years of being fat? Its somthing i had a hard time doing...
My friend Nicole lost 60 pounds- she looks great- she still insists she's 'fat as a whale', She's not overweight at all- She lost all the weight, but her mind hasn't accepted that she lost the weight.
I saw a great documentary on cable, called 'Thin"- about women with eating disorders- Bulemia was the main problem, these women were very thin, but somehow were copnvinced they were obsese.....

I think when it comes to weight loss- there are 2 parts- losing the weight physically, and mentally accepting that the weight has been lost...
Anyone here ever lose weight, but somehow never accept it, and still see yourself as being overweight?

I think im pretty realistic when i look at myself.
I KNOW when i look good physically and mentally. Like some people are huge, yet they have the confidence to let it all hang out or wear clothes that are way too small, and still feel like gods gift to the opposite sex. I'll know when i'll be satisfied.

That experience rings true with me. The last time I lost weight, and looked good (I know I looked good, 'cause I can look at pictures of me during that time) I still felt fat. My clothes were smaller, my body was smaller, but I still felt fat. I've heard lots of people talk about it -- there's the physical loss, and the mental loss. Not for some, but definitely for others.

I went from 220+ lbs to 135 lbs. I was a size 6 jeans and still felt I could lose more. I was muscular and very physically fit. I can see that now in pictures, but back then all I would focus on was the minute layer of belly fat that I could not lose or that I felt my thighs were too big for my body, etc.

I can totally understand how people develop eating disorders. There is a very thin line between healthy, disciplined, consistent weight loss and going overboard.

As far as losing the weight mentally...I don't think I was able to do that then, but now giving it a second shot and realizing what happened in the past, I can now not only see myself more positively, but accept my body for the way it is...large or small.

I'm kind of that way. So far I've lost almost 25 pounds and two pants sizes... and I still have a looooong way to go, but I don't feel any skinnier. Many people have complimented on certain areas, but I still feel like I'm 25 pounds heavier.

Some days I'm like---wow, I look good and other days (today actually) I feel like I'm a fat cow. *shrug*

Lol Kaitie, this sounds like me. Some days I think I'm doing well, others I think how far I have to go. I think I'm quite realistic about my weight at the moment, but a few months ago before I started my weightloss I was certainly NOT being honest with myself -I was deluding myself that I wasn't as overweight as I was. I think I knew really, but because I didn't feel I had the strength to sort things out I looked in the mirror and told myself actually I look ok, I'm not that big.

Hopefully when I reach the weight I'm happy with I will keep a sensible attitude to it and be able to judge my weight properly if it rises or falls at all.

Hmm, I've been looking at my belly and thinking `look at all that!'. I seem to forget how much bigger it was a few months ago.

Amen tomble, you don't realize until you go back and see some old pictures of yourself. But then for me its different, like I still have 30 lbs more to lose at least, but im feeling so much healtheir and skinnier

Maybe this applies to me? I lost 48 pounds four months ago. I'm now a 148 pound male, and 5ft 8" - pretty spot on my BMI. Im USA jean size 10, pretty good for a modern bloke.

But I know that I still have excess body fat! After losing the weight and four months of strength training, my legs arms, back etc are lean and well defined. But I still carry some ugly fat on my stomach and chest - I can see it - it exists! It still makes me conscious of wearing tight tops, maybe in some ways I still dress fat, I don't know.

It does drive me to workout harder, so I don't see it as a problem. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a 44 year old post weight-loser, but the image that drives me to the gym through the week, is that of me taking my top off on some hot beach next year, and for once in my life, not feeling ashamed!