u/Glittering-Raccoon15

I’m a 28-year-old man, and I’ve been on the heavier side for most of my life. When I was around 10 years old, I was significantly overweight for my age, and I developed an intestinal condition that completely changed my eating habits, which led to weight loss. Because of that, my parents were always commenting on my weight, telling me I needed to lose weight and exercise. I think I grew up with a certain level of paranoia about my weight.

As the years went by, I developed a fear of being fat. I would feel offended if people didn’t see me as thin.

Over time, those feelings became a little less intense, but I remained constantly hyperaware of how clothes fit me.

During college, I met my now-wife, and throughout our relationship I gained a lot of weight.

To summarize, because this is already getting long: about three years ago I got really overweight. At the beginning of this year, I decided I had to lose weight. I started dieting and exercising, and I’ve lost too much weight.

The problem is that I’m afraid of eating. I’m afraid of consuming calories and seeing the number on the scale go up. I’m capable of going an entire day without eating because I’m terrified of gaining weight.

My relationship with food has changed completely. It used to be something enjoyable; now it’s something I fear because I’m afraid my body will change.

It feels like I can sense every single change in my body—if my stomach gets bigger, if my face looks fuller, if my arms change. I can even feel when my intestines are full. I’ve also been dealing with fairly bothersome constipation, to the point that I need to take laxatives every week.

When I look in the mirror, I still see the same man I was before. I get anxious, I yell, I avoid certain clothes, I look at myself in the mirror 20 times before leaving the house, and every morning I check myself shirtless and mentally compare my body to the day before.

What should I do? My last resort is reaching out to colleagues who might understand what I’m going through.

Thank you in advance for any advice or help

I’m a 28-year-old man, and I’ve been on the heavier side for most of my life. When I was around 10 years old, I was significantly overweight for my age, and I developed an intestinal condition that completely changed my eating habits, which led to weight loss. Because of that, my parents were always commenting on my weight, telling me I needed to lose weight and exercise. I think I grew up with a certain level of paranoia about my weight.

As the years went by, I developed a fear of being fat. I would feel offended if people didn’t see me as thin.

Over time, those feelings became a little less intense, but I remained constantly hyperaware of how clothes fit me.

During college, I met my now-wife, and throughout our relationship I gained a lot of weight.

To summarize, because this is already getting long: about three years ago I got really overweight. At the beginning of this year, I decided I had to lose weight. I started dieting and exercising, and I’ve lost too much weight.

The problem is that I’m afraid of eating. I’m afraid of consuming calories and seeing the number on the scale go up. I’m capable of going an entire day without eating because I’m terrified of gaining weight.

My relationship with food has changed completely. It used to be something enjoyable; now it’s something I fear because I’m afraid my body will change.

It feels like I can sense every single change in my body—if my stomach gets bigger, if my face looks fuller, if my arms change. I can even feel when my intestines are full. I’ve also been dealing with fairly bothersome constipation, to the point that I need to take laxatives every week.

When I look in the mirror, I still see the same man I was before. I get anxious, I yell, I avoid certain clothes, I look at myself in the mirror 20 times before leaving the house, and every morning I check myself shirtless and mentally compare my body to the day before.

What should I do? My last resort is reaching out to colleagues who might understand what I’m going through.

Thank you in advance for any advice or help

I’m a 28-year-old man, and I’ve been on the heavier side for most of my life. When I was around 10 years old, I was significantly overweight for my age, and I developed an intestinal condition that completely changed my eating habits, which led to weight loss. Because of that, my parents were always commenting on my weight, telling me I needed to lose weight and exercise. I think I grew up with a certain level of paranoia about my weight.

As the years went by, I developed a fear of being fat. I would feel offended if people didn’t see me as thin.

Over time, those feelings became a little less intense, but I remained constantly hyperaware of how clothes fit me.

During college, I met my now-wife, and throughout our relationship I gained a lot of weight.

To summarize, because this is already getting long: about three years ago I got really overweight. At the beginning of this year, I decided I had to lose weight. I started dieting and exercising, and I’ve lost too much weight.

The problem is that I’m afraid of eating. I’m afraid of consuming calories and seeing the number on the scale go up. I’m capable of going an entire day without eating because I’m terrified of gaining weight.

My relationship with food has changed completely. It used to be something enjoyable; now it’s something I fear because I’m afraid my body will change.

It feels like I can sense every single change in my body—if my stomach gets bigger, if my face looks fuller, if my arms change. I can even feel when my intestines are full. I’ve also been dealing with fairly bothersome constipation, to the point that I need to take laxatives every week.

When I look in the mirror, I still see the same man I was before. I get anxious, I yell, I avoid certain clothes, I look at myself in the mirror 20 times before leaving the house, and every morning I check myself shirtless and mentally compare my body to the day before.

What should I do? My last resort is reaching out to colleagues who might understand what I’m going through.

Thank you in advance for any advice or help