Hi guys, so I'm around 8st 10 (depending on scales) down from 10st 2 at 5ft 6.
However, I still feel HUGE. As in, bigger than all than other women in the street, and noticeably chubby. Which I shouldn't, as my weight is pretty standard for my height: I wear a size 8.
I'm not over eating (almost the opposite) but I have no idea how much smaller I'll have to get to feel 'normal'.
I actually feel fatter than I did at 9st 5!
Any ideas?
I don’t know how you get your head around this, and I know others feel the same, I’m not a size 8 but I’m considerably smaller than I was but still forget and buy clothes in the wrong size.
My take on it is you are fit, slim and healthy and nothing looks more attractive.
And don’t forget, there are people who are slim but not healthy on the inside.
Maybe you need to work on your self esteem, have a look at HealthyTanjas Happiness Challenge in Pinned Posts 😊
I am sure you look gorgeous.
¿Perhaps you could get a T shirt printed, reading:
"Give me a hug if you think I look sexy"
The BMI numbers are not magic, and you could estimate your body-fat using the U S Navy body fat website, or get a body-fat calliper.
You could make all the other girls jealous by posting a picture (you could add it to this post).
Hello,
I can identify with how you are feeling but at a quick guess your BMI must be on the lower side of healthy now - congratulations on all your hard work but now you must definitely stop dieting. I know you will really hate me to say this but you may even have got carried away and gone too far.
I had the same problems and whilst it was not to the extreme of anorexia now I look back at the pictures I realise I was anything but fat. It is easy to get caught up in the skinnier the better thought cycle but it really is not true. If these thoughts continue to bother you and you still can't rationalise how you feel and see yourself then it might be worthwhile seeking out a health professional.
I promise you that you must either live in Britain's (or even the 'Western world's) slimmest town or you are not perceiving yourself in the same way as others would. In the meantime maybe working on increasing your muscle mass a little might help you to feel more toned, and proud of your body and what it can achieve.
Remember you are most certainly not fat and nor would you have been at 9 stone 5lb (that is certainly way within the healthy range).
Hello and welcome SugaredLemons, and thank you for such a lovely response 😊
In case you haven’t already seen it please read the Welcome Newbies Post here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
Best wishes
Indigo 😊
With a BMI under 20 you are not fat - but maybe your skin is a little saggy or your waist feels out of proportion?
The answer to both of those is exercises not dieting. Especially shifting from any remaining fat to muscle. Try the waist and tum exercises?
My weight accidentally plummeted to 7st 7lb and yet I still felt 'fat'. I knew it was too low for my height at 5'6'' I had to pile on the pounds back on as my periods stopped and my clothes were hanging of me. Think it's our own perceptions and self esteem that are the problem. Ditch the full length mirror. Get back up to 9st 5lb if that's where you felt the least 'fat'. You are not going to 'thank me' but is your stomach now becoming distended due to starvation? Or have you lost inches on your bust so you can now see your stomach?
I understand how you feel. Even losing the amount of weight I have and being much more healthier I still feel like an elephant and the largest person around.
What seems to work for me are pictures two in particular. The first is a picture I had taken next to a friend who is a size 10 (I'm now size 12 down from size 24) and there was not a lot of difference between us size wise, which is amazing as the last time I had a picture taken with her I was twice her size. It really helped bring it all into perspective. The second is my before and after picture on my phone which shows the stark difference between how I was and how I am now, it is a good reminder to myself of how far I've come.
I hope you find something to help you.
Hi, FinalFewPounds, I think all the previous postings replying to your conundrum have been spot on. We have to love ourselves whatever size we are. Just wish I could aspire to a size 8!
It's an interesting phenomenon for researchers, but probably not so interesting when you're experiencing it!
Malfunctions in body image and proprioception weren't even studied until comparatively recently (1980s). A. R. Luria did some pioneering work on it but didn't really make much impact on Western thought. Even now it's not really taken seriously, so there's not much data on how to treat it.
One thing that does seem to work is activity. Try to think of something that you used to do, long ago, that you enjoyed and then gave up because you felt or looked fat. Doesn't matter what it was - swimming, dancing, whatever. Do it again. Don't force yourself to do it, but should you find yourself thinking about it, just go with it, however embarrassed or clumsy you might find initially. What appears to be happening here is that your brain needs dynamic feedback from your peripheral nervous system to update its image of where your "boundary surface" is. Give it a try and let us know what happens!
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