People whom have lost a significant amount of weight (30+): ever feel ashamed to tell people how much you lost?

Question

I've lost 60lbs, and now am no longer overweight. I'd still like to lose an additional 20 pounds, however, even though I'm no longer overweight.

Whenever people who knew me BEFORE I lost the weight remark on my weight loss, and ask how much I lost, I always feel a big twinge of guilt telling them at it was 60 pounds. It's even worse when I'm asked about whether or not I lost weight/how much when I mention something offhandedly (e.g., "Oh you need a belt? I'd offer you one but all mine are XL and if they don't fit me, they'll never fit you!") to someone who DID NOT know me when I was 60lbs heavier. I just feel so ashamed that I ever WAS 60lbs heavier, and am afraid that either person (the one who knew me when I was 60lbs heavier, and the one who did not) will somehow like me less / respect me less / think less of me as a person / start to assign negative personality characteristics upon me based on my former weight.

Has this happened to anyone else whom has lost a large (30+) amount of weight? Have you felt guilty to tell people because you were ashamed of that number, or that you ever were that weight? I'M NOT saying you "should" feel that way, just asking if you DO.

Answer 1

I would like to advise you to consult with your doctor as this is critical issue.

Answer 2

I've seen my 40lbs weight loss as a huge huge huge success and due to this I almost like to flaunt it. You know half like: "I lost 40lbs, yeah. Do you have that kind of endurance...I don't think so....".



It's a fantastic achievement, be proud of the fact that you recognized your mistakes and conquered it.

Being this aware probably means that you will work very hard towards never being that overweight ever again so you have no reason to be ashamed.

Answer 3

You need to forgive yourself. A sense of guilt is because you think you did something wrong (in your case...getting overweight). Maybe you ate too much or did not exercise enough or both...but really, again, you need to forgive yourself. Especially since you did something right (you lost 60lbs, I’m glad you did it the healthy way) and that should redress your situation.

You’ll always feel ashamed if you think that you should feel that way, but really, you don’t. In fact, most people who lose a lot of weight (or even just 10lbs) are more likely to focus on their achievements of losing the weight than on their past shame of gaining it. Obviously, losing 60 pounds must be harder than only having to lose 10lbs, so the achievement is greater and you should be proud, not feel ashamed. But “that number” does not really matter in your case because the more weight you had (and still have) to lose, the more weight you gained in the first place and that is the past that is keeping you down.



If someone is negatively judging you now according to what you used to look like, that person is a moron, and her/his opinion should not matter to you.



One of my friends used to be obese, before I knew her. Now she’s thin and a ballet instructor. When she told me, I did not think less of her but I got a different understanding of her situation in the present because she told me about her past. Now I could understand why she had to nimble on food all the time but not eat meals and why she would have to go for a jog after work (you would think a ballet instructor would be active enough all day long). Basically, she sent her metabolism down the drain when losing weight too fast so now she has to exercise all day long or she would regain the weight. Also, she has body image issues, and like Marylyn Monroe, she needs 2 hours to become herself, locked in the bathroom, and then coming down the stairs looking like a movie star.

I used to be worried about her, thinking she was an exercise addict or having an ED or BDD...I probably tried to intervene which is why she told me of her past so now I understand that she’s only dealing with the consequences...not getting worse.

Answer 4

First off. You'll more then likely gain it back eventually.



However. If you actually lost the weight through an actual sustainable lifestyle change then you should be proud about it.



Only people who would be embarrassed about losing weight are people that did it in-naturally. Like surgery, or starving themselves.

Answer 5

eat 5 6 small meals a day instead of 3

Answer 6

To know how much calories you have to eat just add zero to your weight

Answer 7

drink plenty of water

Answer 8

eat four meals with chopsticks instead of a fork slowing down can help you consume about 25 fewer calories per meal

Answer 9

Walk in the morning and eat breakfast within an hour of waking

Answer 10

set your computer alarm to ring hourly stand up for 1 to 5 minutes each time it goes off

Answer 11

do your best to ensure you re not eating after 7 o clock at night you re more likely to make unhealthy choices and less likely to sleep as well after a late meal

Answer 12

Set new goals even you lose 10 pounds

Answer 13

get familiar with quinoa a wonderful grain thats easy to cook and goes great with sauteed vegetables or mushrooms

Answer 14

Add extra few minutes to a workout

Answer 15

silken tofu makes a wonderful replacement for cream in some recipes

Answer 16

strap on your 4 inch stilettos and you only have to climb 25 flights

Answer 17

walk up and down 33 flights of stairs

Answer 18

Skipping meals will make you more hungry so avoid skip meals

Answer 19

eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juice

Answer 20

put your fork or spoon down between every bite

Answer 21

rest your cutlery between bites

Answer 22

help your kids clean their rooms

Answer 23

dont let your desk job keep you down at work

Answer 24

bag your own groceries

Answer 25

skip the people movers

Answer 26

whatever you do don t starve yourself