Grief over lost years — 6 month update

Dr.Martinez said:

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.

Mine went the same way, slower.

kate.chem said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (264 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 86 lbs but when I look in the mirror, I still see my old self sometimes. "Phantom fat" is a real phenomenon.

My therapist specializes in body image issues with weight loss patients. She says it can take 12-18 months for your brain's body map to update. In the meantime: take progress photos (your eyes lie but cameras don't), try on old clothes, and be patient with yourself.

kate.chem said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (264 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

Therapy insights from my mental health journey: my therapist introduced me to the concept of "identity updating" — the psychological work of becoming a new version of yourself.

Key realizations: I used food to manage emotions, I had internalized fatphobia that I'm still unpacking, my social identity was partly built around being "the big guy/girl," and learning to accept compliments is surprisingly hard when you've been invisible for years.

Physical transformation without emotional processing is unstable. Do both.

kate.chem said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (264 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

Saving this. It is the first explanation that did not require me to already understand it. Taking it to my next appointment.

Moderator note: reminder that nothing in this thread is medical advice, and that clinical claims need a source. Tagging this one for the weekly digest.