Ms. Cappuccino I lost a lot of weight since the end of college. It was a combination of getting pneumonia, taking lots of long and lovely walks, and being really stressed out about not finding a job. (I wouldn't recommend the regimen, except for the middle part).
The thing is, now that I'm a lot thinner, I'm also a lot happier. I feel so much more confident, and I'm finally really comfortable with my body.
I was looking at old pictures of me and my friends on vacation, and I never smiled. Getting dressed wasn't fun either.
That's kind of sad, but I did feel self-conscious about the way I looked. Now, I'm like a beaming bunny.
I'm kind of disappointed in myself. Shouldn't confidence come from something other than how you look? It's kind of sad that looking better made me feel better, but it did.
Do you guys think I'm shallow for being happier now? Have you ever drastically changed the way you looked? How did you subsequently feel?
Comments (67)
I'm torn on this issue. I'm a big proponent of being happy with yourself and finding your own inner beauty.
But at the same time, I know how good it feels to lose weight. Plus it's been proven that, when people lose unnecessary weight/body fat, it really improves their lives in many aspects.
I don't think you're more shallow because you feel good that you've lost weight. I think that's pretty normal. If anyone else gives you crap, well... you are as beautiful as you think you are, eh?
<3
if you feel better because you lost weight, then who cares what others think. yeah, you're right, it seems awful to think that you couldn't gain your confidence from a love of your self and not your physical self, but with today's society, it seems weight and issues dealing with it are everything to everyone. if you're happy how you are, screw what other people think and more power to you!
i wish i could do the same. i lost about twenty pounds and have kept most of it off since 2006, and i'm not happy with myself...i should be, but i'm not. o_O
No, I don't think that makes you shallow. If you've become more comfortable in your skin, you have every right to be happy. Being healthier and feeling that you look better should will often make you feel better; there's nothing wrong with that. Congratulations!
I don't think you're shallow because you're happier now. When we achieve certain goals for ourselves, we should be happy. Doesn't matter if it's losing weight or getting a job we've been aiming for...all that matters in the end is that you're happier.
It doesn't make you anything but happy in your own skin. You didn't do ridiculous things in the hope that being thinner would automatically make you happier or better, did you?
I love being thinner than in college, too!
no way. if i woke up and looked at myself feeling like a bag of shit then i would probably end up either changing it or killing myself. the problem is within a society that tells you that losing is as okay as winning. don't settle for less than your best. win in your life!
you look better now.;)
You shouldn't feel bad at all. Perhaps you feel bad in someways because you lost weight in ways that are not totally healthy (some of it not your fault, and besides the long walks part) however being happy with how we look is directly associated with how we feel. How can we feel happy, or comfortably, if we do not feel good about the way we are portraying ourselves to the world? To ourselves?
I drastically changed myself over the last summer and even though it defies all my beliefs on being happy with who I am on the inside, I'm a whole lot more confident now that I've lost alot of weight, and I can finally dress up and be happy with what I look like. For me, it was a mixture between feeling rejected for what I looked like, since first impressions were what people judged you on, and just feeling so lazy and uninspired. I did it, so I could be more active and live a healthier, more active life, but a plus, was that I looked good at the same time.
I think it differs with everyone. Some people can be happy in their own skin, and I admire that, and some can't, like me. But every person is still beautiful on the inside, no matter what they look like. I would never judge a person that way. I think it's the people out there that do judge people on how they look, that intimidate and scare the ones who don't "look good", if you will. Many people say they don't care what others think of them, but on the inside it kills them, which was a huge issue for myself, and yes, losing weight, in the end it does make you happier, which makes you more confident to face those people up.
It's messed up, I'm sure, but that's how it works.
i don't think you're being shallow. while one should value who he/she is on the inside, everyone wants to look good on the outside too. it feels good to walk around knowing that you're putting your best self forward, on the outside and inside. also, healthy food and exercise are energy boosters! you have every reason to be very happy about the lifestyle change you made and how you look and feel as a result :)
I don't think it makes you shallow. When you feel good about yourself then you become happier with who you are and if losing the weight did that then hey that's a good thing. When people look good then (most of the time) their attitudes reflect positively and when people don't it reflects negatively. I have observe this.
when a person looks good then they feel good and they feel confident.
so, don't feel bad.
The pathetic thing is our shallow society. As your well aware, we're constantly judged by an attraction level, appearence. I have found that in order to stay attractive and strong I have to stay busy, constantly busy. When distressed feelings make me want to eat or smoke I go for a run, sounds simple but it keeps me alive. You should feel great about yourself, but this is a life style change and the battle of keeping thin could be just beginning. Stay strong when tragedies happen, and you as well as everyone else will stay proud!
i don't think your shallow. i want to be thin because i remember that feeling of being happier and more confident when i was thin.
You're not shallow. You are healthier now. There's nothing wrong with being proud of losing weight and being healthier!!!
good for you! i've currently jumped on the bandwagon to shed some weight and i've realized that as long as you're happier now, that's all that matters. you're definitely not shallow for feeling better about yourself
I dont think you should feel bad at all. It dosnt make you shallow. Who cares what people think? They should be happy that your happy and confident with yourself:)
Your losing weight is an accomplishment that you should be proud of as long as you didn't harm/lose yourself in the process. Other than that, there's no crime in being happy.
That's how I am too. Perhaps you are also happier because when you are thinner you are healthier?
as long as you're happy, who cares.
I also lost 30lbs and am much happier than i was. I was happy before just not as happy as i am know.Am less depressed, I look forward for summer and shopping.I love being skinny so sue me. ha ha ha
I don't really think you can help being happy about something. Besides, extra weight on one's body can sometimes be uncomfortable to carry, or make life in general more difficult. Life is easier for you now, clothes probably fit better, etc., so of course you're happy. :)
No. I don't blame you for feeling that way.
Personally, I wasn't very happy before I lost weight, was very happy when I was skinny, and now am not very happy again that I gained it all back (college food is very high in calories.) It is true that happiness should come from the inside, but you can't be happy with yourself until you like who you see in the mirror - inside and out. You are a multifaceted person, and until all of those parts meet your personal expectations, you won't be happy with yourself.
Oh gosh, I've been there, too, don't worry. Getting dressed sometimes sucks, sometimes rocks. I don't see the problem with feeling better because you're more physically fit. It's a healthy satisfaction, especially because this type of confidence is lengthening your life, quite possibly.