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Why do I still see myself as very heavy?

After your stomach reduction, you've undoubtedly lost weight. Yet, you might still see yourself as very heavy when you look in the mirror. Why is that? And do others experience the same thing? You'll find out in this blog.

Your self-image is the way you see yourself. It gives you an idea of how positively or negatively you feel about yourself and what emotions you experience, such as when you look in the mirror. Do you feel happy or sad? Your stomach reduction can completely turn that self-image upside down. You might feel proud of what you've achieved or feel a bit insecure.

 

Negative Thoughts

Before the stomach reduction, you may have spent years looking in the mirror and experiencing negative thoughts and feelings—perhaps feeling ashamed of your weight or wondering why losing weight never seemed to work despite your best efforts.

 

Why do I still see myself as very heavy?

And then, finally, you had the stomach reduction to help you lose weight. Your body has undoubtedly changed, and it can take some getting used to when you look in the mirror. Is that really you?

It's tough to grasp. In fact, many people still feel very overweight when they look in the mirror. Because you had excess weight for so many years, you likely carried negative thoughts along with it for just as long. Now, in just a few months, your body is changing drastically. You're becoming slimmer!

This transformation happens much faster than your brain can process. Fortunately, this is completely normal. Those negative, insecure thoughts have been so strong. They won’t disappear that easily. As a result, your self-image doesn't fully align with reality.

A customer's story:

"It took me a long time to get used to my new body. When I walked into a clothing store, I automatically went to size 48. The shop assistant kindly pointed out that I was in the wrong section and that size 42 would fit me better. That's when I realized just how much I'd changed."

What can I do about this feeling?

Give yourself time to adjust. It's perfectly okay to feel insecure. You will gradually get used to your new body and self-image. There are several things you can do to make your self-image less insecure and negative:

  • Give yourself compliments in the mirror. Say things like, "You're doing really well!" or "You look beautiful today!" This way, your negative, insecure thoughts will gradually make more room for positive ones, helping you develop a more positive self-image.
  • Focus on the positive aspects of having less weight. What can you do now that you couldn't do before? This will help you better realize how much you've already changed.
  • Take a photo of yourself every week. By capturing your transformation on camera, you make it more real. That makes it a bit easier for your brain to process. If you don't like photos, you can also measure your waist every week and track your progress that way.
  • Write about your insecure feelings and thoughts. By writing them down, you can better let them go. Additionally, make sure to write down at least one positive thought. This will undoubtedly boost your self-image!

 

You're not alone

It's normal to need time to accept your new self-image. A stomach reduction is a life-changer! You'll need to get used to your slimmer version. But hey, it's all worth it.

Validated