Boy, there are a lot of misconceptions among overweight people who are starting to lose weight about how their life will change for the better after weightloss and 4 of those misconceptions were cropped up in last week’s post.

You found out about the psychological issues and wardrobe problems that will arise from getting from fat to fit (see Part 1) and this week you will find out that there are more issues that will freak you out when you hit that desired number on the scale.

Check out the remaining 6 drawbacks from the 2 part series of going from fat to fit that no one will tell you:

5. Cleaning and doing dishes more frequently

If you’ve lost weight the unhealthy way (extreme dieting, drugs and pills, laxatives, smoking, etc. – don’t want to continue the list of giving you bad ideas) then you are not experiencing this one. However, if you’ve lost weight the healthy way by sneaking veggies into your meals to trim fat and traded takeout menus for a cookbook, then chances are you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Cutting calories and fat with healthy home made meals means more dirty dishes. Let’s admit, it’s tough to want to cook when there is a pile of dishes or pans there already, so you will find yourself cleaning and doing dishes multiple times during the day.

6. Your ribcage freaks you out

Weight loss affects your body as a whole.

There is no such thing as losing fat only from

your hips or thighs. You can’t spot reduce fat with diet or exercise.
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Fat loss is systematic in your body – if you are female, first you loose fat in the top half of your body. It means that your ribcage will at some point become exposed. Your ribcage becomes smaller when you lose weight because you lose subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat directly below the skin.

It also means that your ribs, collarbones and hipbones will start to show, you’ll notice them in the mirror, and it will alarm you. You’ll be able to touch them, and when you do so, you will be freaked out about it. You are not used to being able to feel your bones like this, so like all the other psychological issues, you will need to face this one too, and it will take some time for you to accept that it is ok to be able to feel your ribs.

 7. Hands will shrink

Loosing weight means that your body will become smaller. You were prepared for getting rid of your excess belly fat when you started an active, healthy lifestyle. But you weren’t prepared that your hands will also shrink! As well as your fingers!

Fingers, just like most areas of your body, can store fat. When you lose weight, your hands and fingers become slimmer along with the rest of your body.  It means that you will have to get rid of all your old rings. However, everyone is different, so it’s impossible to predict in advance how much your ring size will decrease after you lose weight.

Tip: try rings on different fingers, maybe you’ll be able to wear your favorite ring on a different finger if it gets too big.

8. Feeling cold easily

Having body fat has its advantages: your own body fat helps to keep you warm – it’s like an extra layer of clothing under your skin. Scientists found that swimmers with a greater body mass index (BMI) appear to be at much lower risk of getting hypothermia. This means that when you lose fat, you become more vulnerable to the cold – you will feel cold more easily.

If you feel that your hands and feet are always cold, it may be due to the fact that your calorie intake is too low. You just have to raise your calorie intake by eating more healthy food (the healthy choice is fruits and vegetables) and problem solved! A faster and fashionable fix to this issue is to always take an extra sweater with you everywhere you go, unless it’s too hot outside. Building more muscles may also offer protection against the cold, because muscle tissue generates lots of heat. So basically all this means that people who handle cold easily are either fat or fit.

On the bright side, being fit makes summer weather more bearable.

9. Your weight loss will be all that people around you want to talk about

Be prepared that after you’ve accomplished the goal you thought was unattainable (yes, I mean changing your pudding body to sexy god body), it will draw attention of people around you. It was creeping me out that now after all this time of saying hello and insignificant small talk these people are giving me more attention and telling me how great I look. Makes me wonder if they thought that I was ugly obese before and why none of them ever bothered to bring that to my attention.

Becoming fit also can turn old friends into jealous frenemies. If you come from lalala pink fluffy rainbow land, then this may come as a surprise, but people can get bitter when you accomplish something that they haven’t or can’t. Family included!

So you can expect that everyone around you will be asking to share your weight loss success story whenever they get the opportunity to initiate a conversation with you. Basically, your weight and looks will be the only thing they really want to talk about. You will be asked about how much weight you have lost multiple times during the day. People will bring up their excuses of how they can’t change their bad habits. They will be suspicious of you sustaining your routine and results in the long run.

Tip: when you receive a positive comment about your body, say “Thanks!” and move on to other things. Don’t forget to return the compliment later.  Some people like to compliment straight away, but be very careful that you’re doing this for genuine reasons and not simply as a way of discounting the original compliment made to you.

10. You won’t see your new thin body

People who used to be fat still carry that fat body image in their minds even after they loose the excess weight. Their perception of themselves does not change, and it takes time for their brain to adjust to the new, smaller body size. So basically it means that when you look in the mirror, you’ll see a fit body, but your mind will be unable to connect to it, it will feel unfamiliar, outlandish. For you, that image can’t match you, because you are fat. So when everyone around you starts to notice that you’ve become a smaller sized person, you just stand there, and rationally know that you are smaller, but you won’t see yourself small. You are, and always have been a fatso.

I already addressed this issue in my previous post about the struggles with body image distortion after weight loss, I will just say that nothing can prepare you for the psychological battle that you will need to fight with yourself about self body image in order to accept your new fit body.

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If you are anything like me, you assume that when you finally lose weight everything will change for the better, life will become magical! You will look like a fit model, your life will be rainbows and butterflies, and you’ll find happiness in all areas of your life at the end of your journey.

Never would you think that there are drawbacks of going from fat to fit – but there are. Check out the first 4 drawbacks from the 2 part series of going from fat to fit that no one is telling you:

1. Psychological issues will arise

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Experiencing significant fat loss is psychologically complex. Emotional problems you had in your life won’t just disappear when you become thin. If you haven’t dealt with them before, now you will certainly have to face most of your emotional issues.

Any discomfort you may have felt with your body before weight loss is now accompanied by feeling a bit shamed for not being proud that you finally reached your goal – lost weight and became fit. [Tweet this]

This is because you promised yourself a new life, full of instant happiness. Weight loss is a journey, it changes you from the outside, as well as from the inside. Deal with the arising issues by talking to your friends and family, or seek professional help to get the support you need.

2. Purging all your wardrobe

This might seem obvious: losing significant weight means that all of your old plus size clothes will be huge and you won’t be able to wear any of them. You get to keep only your oversize sweater, which is quite fashionable with stretchy jeans at the moment! Everything else will have to be thrown out or donated away.

Also it may come as a surprise for you that you will need several new sizes before settling for a final wardrobe. If you don’t like shopping, this period will be a nightmare. A big problem with getting a fully new wardrobe, besides it being time consuming, is that it’s quite an expensive activity. Not every one of us can afford shopping for new clothes on a weekly basis, especially if it wasn’t planned in the monthly budget in advance.

However, you could shop at thrift stores and browse sales – it will be way cheaper than buying brand new clothes. On the bright side, with the fit body you will be able to shop in new places which you were too fat to try before! You should also see it as an opportunity to reinvent your wardrobe, find your new style and build the perfect wardrobe you always wanted that reflects your personality!

3. New bra

Bad news for women with small breasts: breast tissue is made up of fatty tissue so as you lose fat your breast size decreases. It means that your breast size decreases with weight loss. The bigger issue is the frustrating search for a new bra that will fit your new size. You invest in clothes, hair and makeup, but underwear is always last on your list. However, a properly fitting bra is essential for every woman! When your bra fits, you will instantly look more attractive in all your clothes! Even if you are not at your ideal weight yet, the fastest way to weight loss is to find a bra that fits, because wearing the wrong size or style bra makes you look fatter.

For determining your new bra size you could go to a department store or a lingerie shop to get fitted by a professional bra-fit specialist. Or you can measure yourself at home and calculate your bra size using an online sizing guide.

4. Shoes won’t fit

When you lose weight, the pounds come off not just from your hips, thighs, tummy, but from your feet as well! It means that your old shoes won’t fit you anymore. So you will need to invest in new, smaller size footwear for yourself. It was a surprise to me when I realized that I need to get smaller shoes for myself after my body hit the normal weight on the body mass index (BMI) chart. This meant getting new sneakers, sandals, flats, pumps, and boots. Yet, again, you should look on the bright side – this is a chance to rethink your shoe choices and get a new pair of comfy shoes that will fit your lifestyle and boost your confidence!

Continue reading tips 5-10 >>>

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