Surprising Ways Life Changes When You Lose Weight - Page 4

If you are someone who has tried for years to lose a significant amount of weight, then there are probably ways you imagine your life will be once that weight is gone. There are obvious considerations, like how the opposite sex will perceive you, how active your dating life will become, how much fun it will be to go shopping, how your mother will get off your case about what you eat when you visit her and so on. And all of this can and probably will happen if you lose the weight! But losing a lot of weight is a true transformation, and true transformations can come with some unexpected changes (some of which can take some getting used to). Here are surprising ways your life can change after extreme weight loss (other than a smaller pant size).

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You have to re-introduce yourself

Some people you haven’t seen in a while will not recognize you at all. You’ll have to wave at them for a long time while they look at you, orienting their memory of you with the reality of you. Then they’ll feel a bit embarrassed that they didn’t recognize you.

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Your binging friends feel left behind

The friends who you used to binge eat with will feel a bit left behind. You may realize that unhealthy eating habits were all you had in common.

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You’re still confused in clothing stores

Your muscle memory tells you to walk to the XXL section, which causes other patrons of the store to look at you—with your cute little figure—quite confused.

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Foods you used to love can make you feel sick

Your body is no longer used to digesting fatty, greasy, carb-heavy foods, so it doesn’t respond well when you splurge on them.

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You get more hours in your day

You have so much more energy now—it’s as if the hours in the day have doubled! You wake up earlier, can stay awake later, and are generally more focused and alert throughout the day.

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Jewelry is bigger!

You forgot that your jewelry would become bigger, too! What once was a choker necklace now hangs down by your cleavage, and tight-fitting bracelets become bangles.

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You may need to change your hairstyle

Your previous hairstyle was designed to flatter a fuller face, but now you have cheekbones and all of these angles to account for—you may need to visit your stylist for a new look.

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You disappoint your old favorite restaurants

The server at your old favorite restaurant assumes you want “the usual” (clam chowder, onion rings, and pasta carbonara) but you have to say, “Actually, just the poached salmon.”

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People ask you how to lose weight

You used to go to slender people and ask them how to lose weight; now heavier women come to you and ask you how to lose weight. The student becomes the teacher.

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Chairs are more comfortable

Wow—you had no idea that your desk chair, stadium seats, and airplane seats didn’t have to dig into you so deeply that they left lines on your thighs for days.

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Hugs feel more intimate

There isn’t this padding between you and the other person anymore—hugs suddenly feel far more personal and intimate in a wonderful way.

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Mirrors can scare you

Sometimes, you forget how much weight you’ve lost, and you scream when you pass a mirror in your home because you think your reflection is an intruder.

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People talk to you about overweight people

People now talk to you about their concerns regarding their overweight family member or friend. They no longer worry about offending you with this topic.

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You totally love shopping for clothes

Shopping for clothes is no longer a dreadful experience! In fact, you’ve become something of a shopaholic…Uh oh. At least you’re spending less money on food?

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You get more attention on social media

Your gym selfies suddenly get a lot more attention than they usually do. In fact, you’re introduced to a curious group of individuals called Internet trolls.

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You can think about the future more

You can actually see yourself living to be 80 or 90 years old, so you can daydream about retirement, luxury condos in Palm Beach and seeing your grandchildren graduate from high school.

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Doctor visits aren’t daunting

Doctors visits stop being hour-long lectures about your eating habits, exercise habits, and the dangers of your weight. Now they are quick and easy! (Well, as easy as a doctor’s visit can be, anyways).

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You will sleep better

Your excess weight likely affected your breathing, made many positions uncomfortable, and caused indigestion that kept you up at night. Suddenly, you’re sleeping much better.

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Several medical conditions may go away

Many of your medical conditions may have been aggravated or even caused by your excess weight. You may find that once you ditch the weight, you can ditch the medications, too.