changing from the inside out
Losing weight brings many changes, one of which is getting adjusted to a new body image. Unveiling the one once hidden under oversized clothing and low self-esteem doesn't happen automatically. Neither is it as simple as looking in a mirror.
Seeing yourself in a new body is not just about wearing a new physical body, but reclaiming a healthy mental image as well. I call this part of the “emotional weight” that has to be lost in order to succeed in this new lifestyle.
Being overweight most of my adult years, I came to accept my body image as overweight and believed things would never change. After losing 164 pounds, I had changed on the outside but my mind still said I weighted 300 pounds.
I came to realize that I had to change what I believed about myself as radically as I had changed my outside appearance and physically anatomy. It started with retraining my mind to match my new body. I had to identify the former truth that was no longer relevant and replace it with the new truth—I had changed, I was different. Mindset changes are as necessary as physical ones! Cheers to the new you.
Julia Holloman
in After Surgery Transitions, Mind Body Connection
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I totally agree with everything you said in this post. Retraining the brain seems to be one of the biggest things I have to work out. I started going to see a counselor who specializes in working with bariatric patients which has been pretty helpful but it's so true. When you lose the amount of weight that you have lost it is a huge life changing thing. You really do have to work on the inside too so that it will match up. Sometimes it's hard for me to grasp that things are changing!
Thank for your post,Holly, and your support for Miles to Go Blog. Much success, you're wise to get help, I'm sure you will be "on track" in no time. julia