When I hit a new level and can wear something I couldn't wear before, I feel great about it for a day or two--then revert to thinking about how far I still have to go.

One thing that does help me is to keep a before picture handy. When I compare the two, I can't deny how far I've come. Putting on the weight took so long that I'm sure there was time to adjust to each new pound. Taking it off more quickly (although still too slowly for what any of us would like) is bound to cause some body image problems.

Hang in there, your thought process will eventually catch up with your new body.

I can relate, Marchstart. It's strange how you are just as critical, or even more so now, than before, so it's almost like the weight loss didn't make much of a difference. On the one hand I like how I look better than I did before and I am proud of myself for losing the weight and not giving up like so many times before. On the other hand, I still see myself as fat and sometimes even ugly and the way I feel inside about myself isn't THAT different. But I haven't achieved my goal yet. Maybe that will change me. I just want to be able to look in the mirror at my naked body and love what I see and feel like other people think the same thing of me.

Gee you guys, I am almost tearful as I re-read the thread- we are all so wonderful and deserving of our success- and when we have difficulty taking that pride to heart, we are there for each other. I am so happy we found each other, and I thank you for your support and encouragement and all the warm fuzzies that are in this thread for fishfish and the rest of us too!

I've only been on Atkins a week, so I don't have any major losses yet. Only once before in my life did I lose a significant amount of weight, and I had the exact same problem. It was really hard for my mind to adjust to the fact that I was thin. I still looked in the mirror and saw a fat me. At the time I spoke to a friend who is a psychologist. She said in her experience it takes about 2 years for the mind to adjust to the body's change. She was right. About two years after I lost that weight I finally accepted the way I looked. Then a few months later I got pregnant and gained most of it back. Oh well, I can do this again!

By the way, AWESOME job on losing 100 lbs. That's truly AMAZING!!!! Good for you!