[DocSanae]

This is about an experiment I saw done on TV some years back.
It was on anorexia, so you may think that it doesn't have anything to do with you, but anorexia is on the other end of the scale of unhealthy eating, so you might find the results interesting.

In this experiment, people--anorexia nervosa patients and normal weigh range persons--were video taped, standing still in the front of the camera. Then the footage was shown to that person, and told to adjust the moniter to what they thought was their correct size. The replay shown was always true to their measurements, but those in the experiment didn't know.
The result was that the anorexics invariably pictured themselves fatter than they actually were. Normal weight persons saw themselves thinner than they actually were.
This goes to show how warped our senses are when we see ourselves in the mirror. No, this particular experiment did not include overweight/obese people, but no doubt there is a discrepancy the same way. Whether we are overweight/obese, normal, or skinny, we have to be aware that we see ourselves in the mirror as we want to, not what we in reality are.

Probably many of you post ops out there have at one time or another, difficulty in catching up with your new image, and only see the old you in the glass. When you stall, when you have your weight loss blues, keep in mind that the person you think is looking back at you from the mirror is not the present you, but the past you. Take stock of what you have been able to achieve up to now, and take a good look at you again. You are sure to notice the change, slimmer neck, less plump cheeks, lighter chin, etc etc. You have before you, the living proof that you are succeeding, so there is no need to worry, just stick to the basics, and be patient. Your day is sure to come.

Good luck, and may your journey always be full of blessings.

[Pillows]

I am really glad that you brought that up. I will admit that when I was in High School I always thought that I was so fat and huge, yet when I look back at my pictures I realize that I was really pretty for the most part and yeah I was overweight, but I wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. On the flipside now, there are times when I think I don't look that bad and then I see a picture and think, oh my gosh, am I really that fat? Our perceptions also help control what other people think too. Thanks for sharing that study, I think it is very relevant.
Janae

[fr1endly2]

OH DOC!!!thank you for a face to your posts!
NOW i feel i know you more.

thanks for that post, I am going the the blues
with a stall!
YOUR soo great
thanks for all you do for the site.....

lisa

[Pillows]

Yeah, I am digging the whole pic feature, I will have to find out how to do it too.
Janae

[Catapillar]

I know when I was at my heavyest I didnt see the real me. I always saw someone thinner (not thin just thinner). It took pictures to show me the reality and my cloths.

The mind is a funny thing.

Thanks for the reminder.

[RubyRed]

Thats such a valid discussion - and so true. I look back on pictures of myself from years gone by, and think to myself - I dunno why I thought I was fat there ????????? What I wouldnt give to look like that now.

I must say that I cannot reconcile myself with the person I see in the mirror now. I have put on 40 lbs since I had my daughter last year, but was overweight before that anyhow. If I catch sight of myself by "mistake" - shop window or such like, my first unconcious thought is - Who the hells the fat chick ? - Then when I realise its me, I cant recognise myself at all.

I think it was Dr phil or perhaps Oprah that said take off your clothes and stand naked infront of the mirror for 10 mins, and take a long cold hard look at yourself. Cant say that I am brave enough for that - for the most part I avoid the mirror all together - but I guess thats how I got this big.

Wonderful to see your face docsanae - dunno why but for some reason it thought you were a guy

[Pillows]

Hey Ruby it is great to see you back. You kinda dissapeared for a little while. Glad to see you again.
Janae

[RubyRed]

usually pop in once a week or so, but maynot always post - have had family staying, birthday partys etc - and i have a one year old who keeps me pretty busy. she has gone from one sickness to another pretty continuously for the last 4 weeks ! think we may be outta the woods now - but dont wanna speak too soon

[swtpeach]

I think you are very right Doc.. our mind DOES play tricks on us.. Like many here, when I was younger, and slimmer (healthy weight), I had the mistaken view that I was fat. I never took into consideration that I was taller and larger framed than the other people I was comparing myself to.

Perhaps if I had seen myself for the size I was, I might never have gotten to the point I am at now. Perhaps I would have been happy/satisfied, and not begun the yo-yo weight loss. Who knows?

It does show me one thing however... that my vision of myself is definitely skewed, and as I lose weight, I will need to keep that in mind, and rather than depend on the scale or the mirror as the judge of my success, I should rather be looking at how much energy I have, and how good I feel.

peach

[christyblue]

i find i have that issue NOW.when i look in the mirror i do not see the thinner face or size 18 body...i still see the three x body.my husband said last week...your gettin so tiny...i laffed at him becuase i don't see it.it will take a while i spose for my brain to catch up .
huggs
christy