From the other side of the consultation, briefly.

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 67 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.

roxy_nash said:

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 67 lbs but when I look in the mirror, I still see my old self sometimes.

Mine went the same way, slower. Posting only so the count is not one.

roxy_nash said:

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 67 lbs but when I look in the mirror, I still see my old self sometimes.

One year anniversary on mental health — reflections:

What I wish I'd known: the side effects are temporary, the benefits compound over time, protein is more important than I thought, and the mental health aspect needs as much attention as the physical.

What surprised me: how much my relationship with food changed, the cascade of health improvements beyond weight, and how supportive this community is.

What I'd do differently: start therapy earlier, prioritize resistance training from day 1, and stop comparing my progress to others. Everyone's journey is unique.

One concrete data point for the thread. If you are going to change something, change one thing and give it long enough to express itself. Four weeks is the usual minimum for anything pharmacological on this board, and two weeks of data has told you almost nothing.

Moderator note: reminder that nothing in this thread is medical advice, and that clinical claims need a source.