The Downside of Getting Skinny: 7 Unexpected Consequences of Losing Weight

I used to dream about what it would feel like to be skinny.

Like many women, I don’t think there’s been a time in my adult life that I haven’t struggled with losing weight, even if I didn’t always have time to make it a priority.

I avoided looking in the mirror, or having photos taken, or letting my husband see me naked. I dreaded running into people I hadn’t seen in a while. I refused to wear a swimsuit in public.

But my turning point happened when a neighbor shared a photo they had taken of me on the Fourth of July. It was the heaviest I had ever been. I weighed more than I did at 9 months pregnant. Even worse, I weighed more than my husband. 

I didn’t even recognize myself. 

It was the moment I realized something needed to give, and I decided to get serious.

I took a deep dive into the science of sustainable weight loss, and I learned how to reset my metabolism and change the way my body burns fuel.

Within 6 months, I lost 40 pounds and completely transformed my body.

It’s been incredible.

I’ve never felt more confident about my body, or more healthy, happy and full of life.

In fact, it’s a transformation that has been so impactful that I knew I had to share it, which is how Thinlicious™ and the 28-Day Metabolism Reset were born.

But losing 40 pounds—in my case, 20% of my body weight—isn’t ALL sunshine and roses. There have actually been a few downsides and some unexpected consequences of losing this much weight.

And so, if you’re thinking of starting a weight loss journey of your own, I thought it might be helpful to fully understand what you’re in for by sharing the 7 non-so-awesome things about losing weight.

You have to buy all new clothes

This may sound like a first-world problem, but it’s true! As your body shrinks, your clothes will start to feel increasingly baggy and shapeless. If you lose a significant amount of weight, you’ll likely end up having to replace your entire wardrobe—which can be both costly and time-consuming.

In my case, I had spent a lot of time and money building up a beautiful wardrobe of stylish (and expensive) size 12 and 14 clothes. I had carefully curated a closet full of “investment” pieces that would hide my body. I think I figured that if I couldn’t be skinny, then at least I would have the best clothes.

As I lost the weight and dropped down several dress sizes, it became increasingly obvious that there were many things in my closet I could no longer wear. At first, I tried just putting the “fat” clothes away, in case I’d need them again. But ultimately, that felt like self-sabotage, like I was setting myself up for failure.

Eventually, it almost all had to go, and I sucked it up and bought new clothes in the right size. And even though it was an expensive process, I’m not gonna lie—it feels pretty amazing to see all those size S’s where XLs used to be.

Your female friends may get jealous

Women can be funny about weight. If you’ve been the “bigger” friend for a while, you may find that your female friends start to get jealous as you lose weight and they don’t.

In some cases, this may manifest itself in subtle ways—like a friend making a snarky comment about how “lucky” you are to be able to eat whatever you want and not gain weight. In other cases, it may be more overt—like a friend who is suddenly less interested in hanging out, or who starts trying to undermine your efforts.

If you’re losing weight and notice a change in how your female friends treat you, it’s important to be understanding and sensitive. Remember that they may be going through a tough time themselves, and try to be supportive rather than judgmental.

But if you find that the jealousy is really affecting your friendship, it may be time to have a honest conversation about what’s going on. In some cases, it may be helpful to involve a third party, like a mutual friend or therapist, to help facilitate the conversation.

It may change your intimate relationship

Even if your partner is supportive, losing weight can also have a pretty big impact on your intimate relationships. If you’re in a relationship with someone who has always seen you as “the bigger one,” they may have trouble adjusting to your new body.

In some cases, this can lead to feelings of insecurity or even resentment. If your partner is having a hard time accepting your new body, it may be helpful to talk about their concerns and try to find ways to make them feel more comfortable.

You may also find that your sex life changes after you lose weight. In some cases, this can be a good thing—you may feel more confident and sexy, and your partner may be more attracted to you than ever before. However, in other cases, it can be a source of tension. If you’re not sure how to handle this new dynamic, it may be helpful to talk to a therapist or sexologist who can help you navigate the changes.

You may experience hair loss

We all know that losing weight can lead to changes in our hair—we may find that it’s thinner, drier, or even starting to fall out. While this is totally normal (and usually temporary), it can still be pretty distressing, especially if you’re not expecting it.

If you start to notice hair loss after losing weight, the first thing you may want to do is talk to a specialist. They can determine if the hair loss is due to weight loss or another underlying condition, and they can also provide you with tips on how to deal with it.

In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help reduce hair loss. First, make sure you’re eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin that includes biotin. You may also want to try using a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and avoiding heat styling tools.

You could face peer pressure to rebound

Once you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, you may find that people start to pressure you to “rebound.” This is when people who have been supportive of your weight loss suddenly start encouraging you to eat more and gain back some of the weight.

Of course, this can be really confusing and frustrating. On the one hand, you may feel like you’ve finally accomplished something and people are just trying to sabotage your success. On the other hand, you may feel like they’re just trying to help you avoid “getting too skinny.”

If you face peer pressure after losing weight, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You can politely decline when people offer you food, and you can explain that you’re happy with your new body. If necessary, you can also distance yourself from people who are pressuring you to rebound.

Ultimately, losing weight is a personal decision, and it’s important to do what’s best for you. If you’re happy with your new body, then don’t let anyone else tell you what to do.

You may have to deal with baggy skin or stretch marks

If you lose a significant amount of weight, you may be left with loose skin or stretch marks. This is especially true if you’ve lost weight quickly or if you have a lot of excess weight to lose.

While some people find that their skin tightens up after they lose weight, others are left with sagging skin or stretch marks. If this is the case, there are a few things you can do to help improve the appearance of your skin.

First, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet. This will help to hydrate your skin and promote collagen production. You may also want to try using topical treatments like retinol or vitamin C serum. And finally, don’t forget to exfoliate regularly!

If you’re not happy with the appearance of your skin after losing weight, talk to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. They may be able to recommend treatments that can help improve the appearance of your skin.

You may be embarrassed by reminders of how you used to look

Even if you’re totally happy with your new body, you may still feel embarrassed by reminders of how you used to look. This can be especially true if you’ve lost a lot of weight.

You may find that old photos or videos are difficult to look at, or you may feel self-conscious when you see yourself in them. You may also feel awkward when you run into people who haven’t seen you in a while and they comment on how much weight you’ve lost.

If you’re feeling embarrassed by reminders of your former self, try to remember that you’re not the same person anymore. You’ve made incredible progress, and you should be proud of yourself!

In the end, losing a significant amount of weight can be a life-changing experience. While most of those changes will be overwhelmingly positive, there are definitely a few downsides you should be ready for.

And while they may seem daunting, it’s important to remember that they don’t have to stop you from reaching your goals. If you’re prepared for the challenges you may face, you’ll be more likely to succeed in your weight loss journey.

So, if you’re thinking about losing weight, don’t let the potential downsides deter you. Just keep them in mind and be ready to face them head on! You’ve got this!

So what’s the best way to get started?

We recommend starting with our Thinlicious™ 28-Day Metabolism Reset, which is designed to introduce you to the Thin-Adapted System and help you retrain the way your body burns fuel in just four weeks. Get it HERE.