There's nothing more satisfying than stepping on the scale and seeing that you've reached your target weight. Maybe you've lost 40, 60, or 100 pounds or more. It's been a long time coming. But still, there are some things no one tells you about losing weight - things you may not completely expect.

1. People doubt your success.

There's only one way to lose weight, and that is through proper diet and physical activity. Eating the right foods, lifting weights, getting your cardio in, and making sure that you're burning more calories than you take in is how it's done. Many people fail at losing weight, so when you're successful, some will accuse you of taking pills and doing it the wrong way. Ignore them.

2. All the extra skin.

It's not uncommon to see these before and after shots that are just amazing. The person went from being hugely overweight to being tight and skinny and just downright beautiful. Your experience may vary, however. When you gain weight, your skin grows with it. When you lose weight, it can take years for your skin to tighten back up.

3. You have to train yourself to shop a different way.

I used to be a size 18/20. Today, I'm a size 8/10. But still, sometimes when I hit the store, I gravitate toward the bigger clothing section. I knew I'd lost the weight, but my mind was still stuck with my old self. It takes some time to get used to the fact that you have a totally different body.