Do OTHER people start to look different as you lose weight?

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Question:

@enews3.newsguy.com: I’ve noticed that as I lose weight other people start to look different. People who looked okay to me before start to look heavy. People who were thinner start to look closer to normal. Has anyone else had this experience?

Yes. I too noticed this. Its really wierd though. I seem to put myself in thier shoes again. I find myself wondering whats going on in thier head. I remember what it was like to stand in long lines while I was morbidly overweight. You catch people staring out of the corner of your eyes. Now I am one of those who stare. Now to be mean. Just remembering myself in thier shoes. Now I look back and wonder which of those many people who used to stare at me were overweight at one time and were just silently empathizing with me. — start 365 goal 200 maintaining 189-194 range current 190

Response:

You probably lost more than I did. My old 38 size pants look funny to me now, but the rest of my clothes experiences and perceptions is much more dull. Well, you know I lost more than you did! You lost a little over 20% of your bodyweight; I lost almost 50% of mine. You lost 48 lbs; I lost 128. And besides, women generally pay more attention to clothes .

Our body images are also very tied up in how we view ourselves and other people. I view myself as much smaller than I really am and it always has been a shock to see myself as others see me. Moira, the Faerie Godmother

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve noticed that as I lose weight other people start to look different. People who looked okay to me before start to look heavy. People who were thinner start to look closer to normal. Has anyone else had this experience? I had the same experience, yes. Fat people now look odd to me, whereas they looked quite normal when I was fat myself. Could be partly due to the rationalization of the effort to stay slim. I don’t think fat people look "odd" in any sense, but there are people whom I previously perceived as normal (i.e., a fair bit thinner than I was) whom I now perceive as overweight. Yes… Maybe, for me, my perception of normal tends to center around my own situation. So, as my situation changed, so did my perception of what is normal. What does strike me more is how, when I’m clothes shopping, clothes that used to look really small to me — the high end of the "normal" women’s size range, as opposed to the plus sizes I wore — now look huge . And the size 6s that I wear look bigger than those 16s used to. You probably lost more than I did. My old 38 size pants look funny to me now, but the rest of my clothes experiences and perceptions is much more dull.

Well, you know I lost more than you did! You lost a little over 20% of your bodyweight; I lost almost 50% of mine. You lost 48 lbs; I lost 128. And besides, women generally pay more attention to clothes . Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

Response:

I’ve noticed that as I lose weight other people start to look different. People who looked okay to me before start to look heavy. People who were thinner start to look closer to normal. Has anyone else had this experience? I had the same experience, yes. Fat people now look odd to me, whereas they looked quite normal when I was fat myself. Could be partly due to the rationalization of the effort to stay slim.

I don’t think fat people look "odd" in any sense, but there are people whom I previously perceived as normal (i.e., a fair bit thinner than I was) whom I now perceive as overweight. What does strike me more is how, when I’m clothes shopping, clothes that used to look really small to me — the high end of the "normal" women’s size range, as opposed to the plus sizes I wore — now look huge . And the size 6s that I wear look bigger than those 16s used to. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

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In a somewhat different way, yes. I frequently hear comments that I am thin yet I am at least 20 pounds overfat. — Matthew 185/178/160

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When I was heavier some people didn’t look fat to me. As I shrink, these people are starting to look fat, yet they are the same size.

One thing I notice, even with people who are less overweight than I am, is how badly most people’s clothes fit. Half the men in America, and a fair percentage of the women, are running around with their potbellies hanging way over their belts. Men in dress shirts and neckties are bursting our of their collars. That’s the way it is when you’re gaining, ’cause no one wants to face facts and buy bigger clothes, and it sure describes the way I was. If you’re losing, though, trousers are a bit loose, belts have work to do, and you can slip a finger between your neck and your collar. Even with a BMI still in the high 30s, I realize I have the look of someone on the way down, and what I suddenly notice in others is the appearance of being on the way up, with clothes playing catchup. — Paul Turner

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007. I would have assumed it would be a great morale booster to have a reminder of how you used to look and all of the work you successfully put in to changing yourself. You could look at it either way. It would be a great morale booster to have a DL with a new photo. Anyhow, I have a fat photo of me in my home office, quite awful looking, that is enough. I lost my old DL (for real, I thought that I lost a wallet which was merely misplaced) and the state reissued me a new copy of a driver’s license, with my old photo from their computer file. I then found my old driver’s license, so now I have two identical ones.

We don’t have photos on our driving licences here. I think I’m quite glad about that as my weight fluctuates so much the picture would for ever be out of date. janice

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007. — 223/174.0/180 What do they do if you lose it? Here they have the old photos in their computer system and can issue a license with one of those. But it’s up to the individual which they prefer. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

It’s the same here. I imagine most states are the same. After all, people lose their driver’s license every day. Beverly

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That part didn’t bother me, but it wasn’t fun going through airport security and being questioned every time about whether it was really my license, or having to discuss my weight loss with every store clerk who asked for a photo id. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

I also had an issue getting my fishing license a few weeks ago because they use your DL info. The poor guy doing our licenses was trying to be very careful in pointing out that he thought my weight was way off and wondering what he should fill in. Since fishing licenses don’t have a picture (here) it was more important for it to be right. I should get a new one before I fly again in March, but I didn’t have any problems flying last year. Jenn

Response:

Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007. — 223/174.0/180 What do they do if you lose it?

Here they have the old photos in their computer system and can issue a license with one of those. But it’s up to the individual which they prefer. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

Response:

Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007. I would have assumed it would be a great morale booster to have a reminder of how you used to look and all of the work you successfully put in to changing yourself.

Response:

Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007.

That’s too bad. My DMV was happy to give me a new one. It cost $10, but was well worth doing. I decided it was time after the old one was questioned by a policeman who’d stopped me (expired inspection sticker). I think I need to get a new gym membership card done too. The other day I left it at the gym in the evening by mistake, and when I went back the next day I asked at the desk where they have all the "found" ones. I told the gym my name and he leafed through the cards, asked me the spelling, then asked my first name again. I finally realized he was looking right at my card and just didn’t think it was me because the picture was so different. And it was taken part way through my weight loss. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

Response:

Mary, are you in one of those states who would not reissue you a driver’s license with a new photo? I am in one, infirtunately. Would love to get a new DL, but have to wait until 2007.

I would have assumed it would be a great morale booster to have a reminder of how you used to look and all of the work you successfully put in to changing yourself. — Steve Be A Healthy Vegan Or Vegetarian http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/Veg/healthyVeg.html Steve’s Home Page http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/ "The great American thought trap: It is not real unless it can be seen on television or bought in a shopping mall"

Response:

What do they do if you lose it?

Response:

I’m really aware of how different I look. I’ve gone from a size 16 to an 8 since last September, and I see myself in the mirror and hardly recognize myself, and am just tortured by the picture on my drivers license. I mean, how come I rationalized that to myself for so long? How could I not see it in my face, never mind the rest of me (I look like hell last summer in family pictures). Is it denial or what that lets us sort of pretend we aren’t the size we are? Now that I’m emerging from self created blimp-hell, I guess you are right, I’m noticing coworkers for example who are overweight – I’m much more aware of it than than I used to be. Not that they look bad, more that they look alarmingly unhealthy….plus I’m doing the mental calculation all the time now when I see other people…I’m thinking to myself….if I had 60 extra lbs on ME, then holy cow, so and so must have 80 or 100!! I was shocked when I realized my weight had crept as high as it had. I dunno, I kept thinking that I was 30 lb overweight or so and that wasn’t so bad, and was totally gobsmacked to realize it was really 60 (somehow, anything over 40 lbs seemed hugely alarming). It was really intimidating – it just seemed so daunting to have so much to loose…and then when it occurs to me that many of my friends and coworkers have that much and more, so no wonder they are "stuck" and can’t tackle it either. It certainly took me a long time to get to that mental space where I knew I HAD to do something – and I’m looking at other people and wondering when they will reach that point. My clerk did. She was approved for gastric bypass surgery which will happen in Feb. She’s REALLY in trouble with her weight – she’s at least 200 lb overweight at 5′ 3" and 51 years of age and its literally do or die time for her. Mary G.

Response:

I have had this experience. Unfortunately, I’ve caught myself a couple of times looking at fat people and thinking things like ,"Oh my God! They must be so lazy!"

I wasn’t thinking in terms of judgement, just how they seem to me. When I was heavier some people didn’t look fat to me. As I shrink, these people are starting to look fat, yet they are the same size. — Steve Be A Healthy Vegan Or Vegetarian http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/Veg/healthyVeg.html Steve’s Home Page http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/ "The great American thought trap: It is not real unless it can be seen on television or bought in a shopping mall"

Response:

Man, you really did lose a lot! Good job, dude.

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I have had this experience. Unfortunately, I’ve caught myself a couple of times looking at fat people and thinking things like ,"Oh my God! They must be so lazy!" But, then I remember how tough it was until I was finally able to break through and lose all weight. It’s not an easy thing to do, and we should all keep that in mind. Just because I was able to do it, it doesn’t mean that others can or will.

Response:

I’ve noticed that as I lose weight other people start to look different.

Yes, yes, yes. They look heavier and why do we feel we are the same? — Diva ***** "Fang Shoe" is the art of putting your foot in your mouth.

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I saved a favorite old sweatshirt. When I started to lose weight it was too tight to wear. Now I could use it for a sleeping bag if it was a little longer. I’m really surprised to look at size 4 jeans and not think they look like they’re for children. They look *normal* to

me now. When Mark starting sharing my home I was, and I suppose I still am, stunned at how small his clothes are. Moira, the Faerie Godmother Day eleven of my new WOL 136.8kg/133kg/90kg

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve noticed that as I lose weight other people start to look different. People who looked okay to me before start to look heavy. People who were thinner start to look closer to normal. Has anyone else had this experience? I had the same experience, yes. Fat people now look odd to me, whereas they looked quite normal when I was fat myself. Could be partly due to the rationalization of the effort to stay slim. I don’t think fat people look "odd" in any sense, but there are people whom I previously perceived as normal (i.e., a fair bit thinner than I was) whom I now perceive as overweight. What does strike me more is how, when I’m clothes shopping, clothes that used to look really small to me — the high end of the "normal" women’s size range, as opposed to the plus sizes I wore — now look huge . And the size 6s that I wear look bigger than those 16s used to. Chris 262/134/ (130-140)

Isn’t it odd though, whatever dress size you are, the shops never have any of them? I think it’s a conspiracy! ) Rachael 176/133/124

Response:

What does strike me more is how, when I’m clothes shopping, clothes that used to look really small to me — the high end of the "normal" women’s size range, as opposed to the plus sizes I wore — now look huge . And the size 6s that I wear look bigger than those 16s used to.

Response:

Yes, losing weight can often make one judgemental of others. I try not to do that but sometimes you can’t help but think "How can you eat a triple cheeseburger, super size fries and drink and then complain about being overweight?" And the opposite of what you say is true too: people who are overweight, think you are too skinny, when oftentimes technically you are still slightly overweight. I have had ppl try to put me down simply because I lost weight. Funny that back in the day the opposite was true It just shows that how society has changed in the last 10 years about being overweight or obese. One point of time it was considered embarrasing almost, but now its no big deal. Cygnus The Bringer of Balance

Response:

In a somewhat different way, yes. I frequently hear comments that I am thin yet I am at least 20 pounds overfat.

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