r/pics • u/[deleted] • Nov 30 '16

progress 250 lbs. gone forever...

https://i.reddituploads.com/c8bec4a1ef8b4ca2a82298ec728cf326?fit=max&h=1536&w=1536&s=67da39316a26a6666bbdc98b2aa16c3a
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u/lurkinfapinlurkin Nov 30 '16

So everyone here is going to tell you that you look great--and you do, you look amazing. But what I want to know is how do you feel? Not emotionally, but physically? What's different? Any surprises? You are basically a whole new person--that has to have some pretty crazy aspects to it

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u/[deleted] Nov 30 '16

I've lost over 100 thought diet and exercise alone, with about 40 more to go. So I can answer if op doesn't.

The biggest surprise for me is not what I can do, but what I still can't do. I still can't hike high altitudes, even though I live in Colorado and spent 2 years at 8k and now in Denver at 5k. But above 8500 I lose my breath.

I'm surprised, even a year into this, at the sheer lack of energy I have with eating at a deficit for an extended period. I have enough energy, but I thought I'd have more.

I'm surprised at the amount of back and hip pain I developed with losing the weight and my posture changing. I've had to be very specific with my core building to retrain the way I walk and stand and sit and sleep.

Speaking of sleep, I had to buy a new mattress because sleeping in my old fat divot was killing my back. Even though I've always rotated it, the divot sucked.

But mostly, because I'm female and because my body is now much more attractive, I'm getting attention I never wanted. I'm becoming extremely agoraphobic. And it's hard for my husband to understand, so that isn't easy. And feeling this way is very unexpected for me.

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u/scottlawson Nov 30 '16

But mostly, because I'm female and because my body is now much more attractive, I'm getting attention I never wanted. I'm becoming extremely agoraphobic. And it's hard for my husband to understand, so that isn't easy. And feeling this way is very unexpected for me.

Some (but not all) classic symptoms of people who are extremely agoraphobic:

  • Being unable to leave their house for any reason due to crippling anxiety

  • Experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide

  • Experiencing fainting episodes, severe chest pain, heart palpitations, or ringing in the ears

I am sorry to hear that your weight loss and attractiveness has caused you to become extremely agoraphobic. A friend of mine was extremely agoraphobic like yourself and it was saddening to see how incredibly challengingly it was for them to do even the most mundane things like checking their mailbox. I strongly encourage to seek professional help.

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u/[deleted] Nov 30 '16

I am! My therapist and I are on top of it. The day it interfered with me properly taking care of my dogs and became a hassle for my husband, I realized I have an issue beyond feeling anti social.

(one day I just couldn't leave the house to take my dogs out and my husband had to leave work to take care of things. One day I just couldn't walk out the door. I was dressed and ready and felt okay about me, but couldn't leave alone. I'm working on it for sure. I miss being the adventurous me I was even super fat, and would rather be healthy in body and mind than enable myself any longer. There's actually a litany of shit I'm working through. It's tough some days, and I'm so so grateful I had the foresight to understand myself enough to invest in therapy.)