20 pounds is a lot of weight to lose. I'd have to wonder how long you were at the 'larger' size. It could just be that you haven't adjusted to the way your body looks now and are still envisioning yourself as you were. I'll bet that with a little more time and a wardrobe that reflects your lighter reality the thinner Julie will be norm not only in the changing room (or bedroom) but in your mind as well.

I agree with K&J. It'll just take a lil time for you to get used to the 'new you'. Congrates on the weight loss btw.

I was the heavier weight (or an even heavier than that weight) for close to 10 years. I am currently the smallest I've been in at least 10 years... so yes I guess it will take some getting used to.

Thank you both for your kind words.

I'll vouch for the "not seeing the change".

I lost a total 80 lbs on Atkins, and I've kept it off for the last 5 years, and took off another 8 lbs this summer.

It took about 3 years before I stopped seeing myself as I was even part time. I think I've finally accepted my current size and see that size just in the last year.

I always think of "The Matrix" with all the mumbo-jumbo about "residual selves". But I think it has a ring of truth. In this case, the longer you had the weight, the harder it is for your brain to recognize and accept the new image and subsequently swap it out for the old image.

I think you hit the nail on the head, Julie, when you said that you don't see the change because you saw it every day. It's much the same as when we notice our hair changing color. We know it didn't happen overnight, we just don't notice the gradual change because we see it in the mirror every day, and to our perception, nothing is changing. About 12 years ago, I lost a dramatic amount of weight (50lbs in 7 months,) and even though I saw that I was a smaller size, I kept seeing that 'spare tire' around my middle. I haven't varied more than 6 or 7 lbs since then, and I still have that little bit of a gut, but I can live with it.

Congratulations, by the way. I can tell you that it's never easy to lose and keep it off. Good job!