the closer i get, the fatter i feel

why can't i be happy with myself and my body and my progress.

i've lost roughly 100lbs and i just saw a picture of myself from last weekend... and i feel that i look like a fat cow!

WTF??!!!

all i noticed in the picture is that i don't have skinny "runners" legs and that i'm short and that i have a tummy and that i have love handles

my goodness, what is wrong with me!!!

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

NEWSFLASH.

Running pictures are the worst out there. I ALWAYS feel like I look fat in them. Not to mention ugly as hell. But seriously, everyone in the running community knows (you are a newbie so I'll give you a pass) that no body looks good in running pictures, except maybe for elites. My boyfriend who has a size 28 waist and chicken legs suddenly has thunder thighs in race pics and we can't stop laughing about it.

It's just the way it is.

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Posted by racheK

NEWSFLASH.

Running pictures are the worst out there. I ALWAYS feel like I look fat in them. Not to mention ugly as hell. But seriously, everyone in the running community knows (you are a newbie so I'll give you a pass) that no body looks good in running pictures, except maybe for elites. My boyfriend who has a size 28 waist and chicken legs suddenly has thunder thighs in race pics and we can't stop laughing about it.

It's just the way it is.

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Posted by libby2595

Posted by racheK

NEWSFLASH.

Running pictures are the worst out there. I ALWAYS feel like I look fat in them. Not to mention ugly as hell. But seriously, everyone in the running community knows (you are a newbie so I'll give you a pass) that no body looks good in running pictures, except maybe for elites. My boyfriend who has a size 28 waist and chicken legs suddenly has thunder thighs in race pics and we can't stop laughing about it.

It's just the way it is.

how do you know i was looking at a running picture??!!!

oh my goodness... it was BAD

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

You are doing amazing and should be so proud of yourself!!

However, I have to admit I know how you feel. I lost 60lbs (4 years ago- kept it off) then got pregnant and gained 60lbs yet again. I'm now below my pre-pregnancy weight for a total loss of 67lbs. It took me about 5 years to be happy with my body. It wasn't until AFTER I had the baby I finally felt good. It's was just a mental block that I had for a really long time. I have no real good advice because for me it just happened naturally. I had a baby which made me realize the amazing things my body is capable of. My hips spread and I still have a little belly from the baby. I love my body even more knowing it gave me my baby boy.
I think its just about the acceptance. Looking beyond what you look like and realizing what your body can do. For me, it was a baby. For you- YOU RAN A HALF MARATHON!! And maybe next a full one?? How many people can say they did that? It might be a gradual acceptance, it might be a revelation, but it takes time.

I think also comparing yourself to others isn't good (but sooo natural and so hard not to!). Try to remember that most women (and men) do this! We all want what we can't have. I've heard skinny people say they are having trouble gaining weight. I've heard thin people upset because they don't have curves, but are just "flat". So your feelings (although frustrating) are normal.

And I agree with Rachel about the pics- some can be SO unflattering. not even just race pics but one bad angle can make even someone skinny look bad!

Anyway, you are doing great!! And it will come to you and you will realize how awesome you are! Even if it takes time.

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Posted by missfabulous

You are doing amazing and should be so proud of yourself!!

However, I have to admit I know how you feel. I lost 60lbs (4 years ago- kept it off) then got pregnant and gained 60lbs yet again. I'm now below my pre-pregnancy weight for a total loss of 67lbs. It took me about 5 years to be happy with my body. It wasn't until AFTER I had the baby I finally felt good. It's was just a mental block that I had for a really long time. I have no real good advice because for me it just happened naturally. I had a baby which made me realize the amazing things my body is capable of. My hips spread and I still have a little belly from the baby. I love my body even more knowing it gave me my baby boy.
I think its just about the acceptance. Looking beyond what you look like and realizing what your body can do. For me, it was a baby. For you- YOU RAN A HALF MARATHON!! And maybe next a full one?? How many people can say they did that? It might be a gradual acceptance, it might be a revelation, but it takes time.

I think also comparing yourself to others isn't good (but sooo natural and so hard not to!). Try to remember that most women (and men) do this! We all want what we can't have. I've heard skinny people say they are having trouble gaining weight. I've heard thin people upset because they don't have curves, but are just "flat". So your feelings (although frustrating) are normal.

And I agree with Rachel about the pics- some can be SO unflattering. not even just race pics but one bad angle can make even someone skinny look bad!

Anyway, you are doing great!! And it will come to you and you will realize how awesome you are! Even if it takes time.

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Posted by missfabulous

You are doing amazing and should be so proud of yourself!!

However, I have to admit I know how you feel. I lost 60lbs (4 years ago- kept it off) then got pregnant and gained 60lbs yet again. I'm now below my pre-pregnancy weight for a total loss of 67lbs. It took me about 5 years to be happy with my body. It wasn't until AFTER I had the baby I finally felt good. It's was just a mental block that I had for a really long time. I have no real good advice because for me it just happened naturally. I had a baby which made me realize the amazing things my body is capable of. My hips spread and I still have a little belly from the baby. I love my body even more knowing it gave me my baby boy.
I think its just about the acceptance. Looking beyond what you look like and realizing what your body can do. For me, it was a baby. For you- YOU RAN A HALF MARATHON!! And maybe next a full one?? How many people can say they did that? It might be a gradual acceptance, it might be a revelation, but it takes time.

I think also comparing yourself to others isn't good (but sooo natural and so hard not to!). Try to remember that most women (and men) do this! We all want what we can't have. I've heard skinny people say they are having trouble gaining weight. I've heard thin people upset because they don't have curves, but are just "flat". So your feelings (although frustrating) are normal.

And I agree with Rachel about the pics- some can be SO unflattering. not even just race pics but one bad angle can make even someone skinny look bad!

Anyway, you are doing great!! And it will come to you and you will realize how awesome you are! Even if it takes time.

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

Re: the closer i get, the fatter i feel

It took me a long time to love my body. I still don't see a woman who looks like she works out as much as she does in the mirror... Now I'm almost 40, so the face and hair I could count on when my body wasn't up to par is now crapping out on me too.

What helps is.... Looking at old pics of myself. Pics of me at a time I thought I looked awful and fat. And looked amazing. So I made a discovery: I don't look as bad as I think. Sort of like that Dove commercial with the sketch artist.