It does do wonders for self-image. Though, I have to admit, I look in the mirror and to me I look exactly the same as I did before, truth be told. Friends are starting to mention that they can see differences, though. That helps. I'm trying to look at it like this: one size at a time. If I look at just the end goal, it seems terribly far, but it's much, much easier to focus on the much-smaller difference between one size and the next size down.