5 ways to love your body after weight loss

The moment is different for everyone. You might notice that the rings on your fingers feel a little looser. You might notice your jeans gaping when you sit down. Or you might need to tighten your belt a notch in the morning. Whatever signal you get that your body is changing, it can be thrilling - while you may be losing weight to improve your health, it's also really exciting to see your progress.

But don't be caught off guard if you experience other emotions as well. “When patients are focused on weight loss, they only think of positive aspects and assume it will solve all their problems,” explains Alexis Conason, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Manhattan and a researcher at the New York Obesity Research Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. “But it’s hard adjusting emotionally and physically to a new body.”

You might be nitpicking all the things you don't like about your body, or adjusting to newly loose skin. And even if you’re thinking, “Wow, I look great!” you might be overwhelmed when everyone from your bus driver to your sister-in-law tells you the same thing. And with your closet full of now-oversized clothes, the thought of shopping for new ones might leave you feeling panicked.

So how can you get over that “weight loss shock” and find comfort with your body image? Give your mind and body a chance to catch up to each other, using these expert ideas.

Regardless of where you’re at in your weight loss journey, it’s important to stop criticising your body. Instead, try accepting your body and celebrating how it shows up for you. “Recognise what your new body can do for you,” urges Conason. “Every morning, think about one thing you’re grateful to your body for. It can be ‘I love the way my body is strong’ or ‘I can lift a heavy weight’ or ‘I can walk up stairs without losing my breath.’”

Self-compassion is very different from just accepting yourself. Studies show that individuals with higher levels of self-compassion tend to have lower levels of body dissatisfaction. Research also shows that folks who treat themselves kindly have been linked to more successful long-term weight loss.

Say you gain back a few pounds and beat yourself up over it, but then your friend does the same and you build her back up. A word of advice: treat yourself like that friend. Studies say that being kind to yourself can actually help you respond to obstacles in ways that help you stay consistent with your goals.

Friends and family are likely to remark on your new body size, which, while probably well-intentioned, can grow tiresome. “If someone says you look better now, it can feel like they're saying you didn't look good before,” explains Janis Rosenberg, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Culver City, Calif. who specialises in body image. "Wow, you've lost a tonne of weight!" may sound more like a backhanded compliment than a sincere one, and regardless of the person's intentions, your feelings are fully valid. To shut down future awkward comments, you can respond with something like "Thanks, but I'd prefer to not talk about my body" or you can try shifting the conversation to a different topic you feel more comfortable discussing.

If shopping hasn’t been fun in a long while, you might be reluctant to head back to the dressing room. If that’s the case, go easy on yourself: as soon as you have the time and money, head to a store where you already feel comfortable and just grab a handful of smaller sizes. Try on everything and try not to worry about the numbers - clothes sizes often differ from shop to shop, meaning you could be a size 14 at one place and a size 10 at another.