Do you care more about what you look like than how you physically feel?

[tpt]

I have been on here for a few weeks now and there is such a diversity of attitude.

So here is the deal with me - very very sporty & competed, had bad accident, rendered me laid up for nearly 2 years, lots of drugs, steroids etc, long term result is arthritic hip, damaged pelvis & sciatic damage.

Oh - and the 5 stone I put on through the process..lost some, put some more on - you know the deal. I ate what I liked previously (and I never ate healthily!) but I burnt it all off.

I don't actually care what I look like, I care about the pain my weight causes, my lack of mobility and the long term outlook.

So I opted for surgery, paid for it, end of story. I just want my health back and to not hurt. And I will. Personally, I don't care what shape my body is as I prefer curvy to skinny every time.

What about you?

Where are you going to stop? When you are fit & healthy but still want to 'conform' to society's norm or will you stop when you are healthy and damn what the scales or jeans size says?

 

[rybens]

Im doing it so i can be healthy iv always been happy being bigger never had any problems on any front of the feeling good about myself but over the last 12 mths the weight is afecting me slowly and i have 3 kids and a job i stand up all day doing ,and without being able to do my best at both these things the cosmetic side means nothing .

 

[The Rose]

Hi tpt

I think you definitely have the right attitude and we should all be looking at the health benefits of losing weight, instead of the numbers on the weighing scales.

I too, wish my health to improve, would like to play tennis, and run around with my daughter more!! I have not, and do not intend to weigh myself, for the next two weeks at least. I want to gauge how I feel in my clothes, how I feel mentally and not get so tied up with numbers and statistics.

The theory is great and it is working for me at the moment, but I am not holding my breath!!

Very best of luck
Rosie x

 

[zetacatty]

Although I am doing this for my health I have found, in the past, that when I feel fit and healthy how I feel gets taken for granted - its how we're supposed to feel. Good health and good looks often go hand-in-hand so yes, I will keep watching the scales and aim for a size 10 safe in the knowledge that I will try to keep toned and fit and not become underweight. I suppose it's more difficult for those who have been overweight all their adult lives but I know what my 'fighting weight' is and I intend to get back to it even though being a bit heavier would still be in the healthy range. Mxx

 

[ladybird_gal]

For me it's a balance. How I look effects how I feel. Aches and pains have improved, but the self esteem I have gained is also a feeling that effects my health.
So 50/50 for me. x x

 

[elffie01]

well I put 10st as my goals weight more for the fact that it gets my bmi into healthy and its a rounded number. But if i was to get to say 12st and feel healthy then so be it. Im all about how I feel not what I look like on the outside, thats just a secondary factor thats a nice addition. So long as i can go horse riding with daughter biking and be able to run around with her then Im happy. I have already got it in my head that if the surgeon says yes on thursday( im still thinking he might say no) then my christmas list is a wii fit and a bike that will be the first bike Ive had since i was a teen, but new life change means new bike and a new attitude me !

 

[tpt]

Loving all this honesty ladies!!

 

[Silversurfer]

Hi tpt

Interesting thread !

I started my journey just under a year ago and to start i was and had the same attitude as you and most of the others, i wanted not to hurt when i walked, be able to run around and do normal things, from just buying clothes in high street shops to fitting in an aircraft seat, but really the most important thing for me was to continue living.

A year on and a lot of weight down my end goals have changed, it no longer enough for me to just lose weight, i now need/want to be fit, and i'm afraid body image and how i see myself has come into it to an extent.

I think the key thing is to remember that how you feel about this now might not be how you feel in a years time when you've got your life back and things have considerably changed for you !

 

[KD]

I definitely go by how I feel, rather than how I look (not saying I look a wreck or anything )

I just love being able to move around easily, get through small spaces (love that ), cross my legs on the sofa etc. These are the things that are important to me, even more than long term health. It's the day to day feeling of being flexible and more energetic.

Personally, I find that helps me much more in maintenance.

 

[Bad Jar]

Hi, I'm losing mine to look good and feel good. I am about 5 stone overweight and have early onset osteoarthritis in my spine. I need to lose weight so I'm not putting as much strain on my back. Plus, it's always good to keep the OH on his toes!

 

[phatgirl]

I know that I had surgery for health reasons, it was the only reason I would risk my life and I just hoped that all would go well. That said, I set my personal/private goals kind of low because I was fearful that I would be in that tiny percentage who can't lose more than 70% of their excess weight. I honestly did not care what size I would get to I just wanted a reasonable BMI so my health would improve.

Now that so much weight has come off in a short time I have decided to push myself and try to lose the most weight I can before my golden period is over and I no longer lose weight easily. I have never been the size I am now since before puberty, I have never worn clothes this small as an adult and I have to admit it has its appeal being 'normal size' for once in my life. Yes I do focus now on my clothing size and my weight because I am focused on a goal, not because society tells me to be thin. I want to get my body in the top physical condition I can and then learn how to maintain that health, looking good is an important part of that. I think maybe since I have always been very fat I see it differently than someone who has always been fit, I have had to reinvent myself because I was never thin or fit. And with my re-invention I have concentrated on how I look on the outside but I don't think that is bad, just part of the process of getting comfortable with the new me.

Nic

 

[Kayb]

Hi tpt

At the moment I want to loose weight because of the way I feel physically. I've put on that much weight it's now seriously affecting my health I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, borderline diabetic. I only have to walk up a flight of stairs and I'm out of breath, walk a mile or so and my ankles are killing me so for me at the moment its definately how I feel, but in saying that I'm certainly not happy with the way I look either. Hopefully that will improve after surgery - when I start losing weight and can shop in normal high street stores and not be so conscious of the weight.

 

[Bonita]

I'm being truthfull when I say that I loved my big curvy body, so for me the surgery was definately for health benefits.

I'm five stone lighter now, still got a fair way to go, but already I'm getting dismayed because my lovely ample bussom is deflating. On the upside though I'm enjoying being able to get in and out of the bath without help.

 

[Mixman]

I know, being male, I'm in the minority here, but I'd just like to add my thoughts!

I think I've said before, it's the thought of being able to play football with the kids, go out on the bikes etc etc and be around for them when they need me when they are growing up where the main drive for my 'change' in lifestyle stems!

I dare say that if it wasn't for them, I'd be a hermit in my own home going to and from work, eating when I feel down!!

I'm not that bothered what I am gong to look like, but I dare say that (Please don't take this as sexist) men aren't as bothered about what they look like. Don't get me wrong, I still want to feel as though the opposite sex are attracted to me, although I am perfectly happy with my girlfriend and want to live the rest of my, hopefully, long life with her! But it's just nice sometimes to have an admiring glance! But the looks come second to the quality of life I'm looking forward to!

 

[thinkbethin]

I want to lose the weight so my BP will lower, my asthma will ease a little,my diebetes will be better controlled or even go altogether and to feel better in myself and reduce the anti-depressants. If I could get to a size 20 I'd be happy but a smaller size would be great.

 

[hayley1983]

I'm doing this mainly for health reasons. I can't bare to have back ache, hip ache, heel ache, the list goes on.

I also want to have children in the future

I have a GREAT husband and a lush set of friends and family, so I don't really have an issue with how I look. But being told "you have a pretty face" is wearing a bit thin now, because I always twist that to really mean "your body is a wreck" (dont no why though)

xxx

 

[Fashionably Late]

I am doing this so that I can be around for my kids. I want to be able to truly play with them and enjoy their childhood. Yes, I will want to see a certain size or certain number on the scale. But to be healthier is my main goal.

 

[candie]

I've had the op to lose weight which will primarily help me feel better, but i'd be lying if I didn't admit I do want to look better too
I can't wait to have more energy, and the get up and go I used to have before I piled all the blubber on

 

[mells]

For me its definately how I feel, which in turn for me anyway is health related.

I was diagnosed with a condition 3 years ago that means I get chronic fatigue and other probs, so that doesnt help my non existent exercise.

I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, daily life home and work just seems one long struggle. I have a young child and I decided if I dont do something and now.... well lets just say I scares the hell out of me.

Relatives have said oh what about the loose skin it will look awful and you wont be able to afford surgery. Well does it really look any better now when its full of fat.

If the way I look improves then thats great. But to me being around for my child means far more, and hopefully if my energy levels get better then I can do more with my child, so that she doesnt end up like me in the first place.

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

For me It was Definatley about the way I looked and felt about myself.
I went through a bad patch with Divorce, Families, & other stuff along the way, and suffered with depression & anxiety through all of this.
I gradually put on weight and then it caused me to be bulimic and hate myself even more, so in the begining it was because I would never leave the house or socialise, because i felt so fat and ugly and i was disgusted with myself for letting myself get this way, No matter what i did i couldn't get rid of the weight and keep it off, I also have PCOS which didn't help.
Now However I have realised its more about my health, which i guess was a big part of it before the op, health and mental well bieng, so now I want to be fit & healthy and live a long life.
I am slowly and surely getting there, I don't love myself as in being vain, but I do like the new me & feel so much better.