Question for thick-skinned, overweight men and women

[Anonymous]

Was there not some point you looked in the mirror and realized something was horribly wrong with your body?

Looking at people at the beach in their suits makes it so clear the way the human body was meant to be shaped and the way the majority of people actually are. Do you really miss the early stages when you can just scale back and drop 5 pounds? Do you just reach a point where you don't care? I don't mean this in a snarky, judgemental way. I am truly curious.

[Anonymous]

In my experience some people at the beach have too perfect of a body, if you know what I mean. If they are buying their looks, does it really count?

I'm about 10 pounds overweight. I've lost 20 pounds since December. Ideally I'd like to lose another 10-15 but I've been at a plateau for almost 2 months.

I used to run and was not overweight at all but stopped running due to chronic bronchitis then being really really insanely busy. The weight gain was so gradual I didn't even notice how out of control it had gotten until I stepped on a scale in December.

But do I care about having a perfect body? No. I just want to be healthy and feel good about myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there not some point you looked in the mirror and realized something was horribly wrong with your body?

Looking at people at the beach in their suits makes it so clear the way the human body was meant to be shaped and the way the majority of people actually are. Do you really miss the early stages when you can just scale back and drop 5 pounds? Do you just reach a point where you don't care? I don't mean this in a snarky, judgemental way. I am truly curious.

You are pathetic.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP is talking about the "perfect" body, or someone who is a bit overweight. I think she means people who are extremely overweight...

[Anonymous]

I feel as if I got depressed at some point and my vanity flew out the window. I can't afford a trainer or a nanny and am a person who needs to go to gym classes to stay motivated. I have a history of abuse and low self esteem, which I think adds to it. Just my experience. My BMI is 27.

OP, what drives you to stay thin beyond just general aesthetic disgust?

[Anonymous]

21:17 here -- my comments was meant for OP not the 2nd poster.

[Anonymous]

As a kid I was very active. I have ALWAYS been overweight. So has my mother. When I look at pics of her mother (who died before I was born) she is what one would call "big-boned."

I am female, about 5'5" and about 230lbs. I could spend all day working out and eating nothing but fish and veggies and fruit and if I got down to 130 I'd have passed out. If I got down to 170 I'd be THRILLED.

Haven't owned a bathing suit in about 15 or more years. So to answer your question, if I lost a shit-ton of weight THAT would make me know something was horribly wrong.

[Anonymous]

Was there not some point you looked in the mirror and realized something was horribly wrong with your body?
no - realize it every day

Do you really miss the early stages when you can just scale back and drop 5 pounds?
yes

Do you just reach a point where you don't care?
no

For me, I just can't control my emotional eating. I am incredibly successful in all other aspects of my life -- career, relationships, etc. Really anything at all that I try. Just not this one area where I fail miserably. I had a couple health issues several years ago and dealt with them by eating comfort foods. Way too much comfort foods. And haven't had the emotional strength to give up food and not really sure how to do it.

[Anonymous]

I was morbidly obese and I know that on the climb to get there I stopped weighing myself because it was so depressing. I would guess that many overweight and obese people do in fact stop getting on the scale. Without actually seeing the number, one can hold out hope that they aren't really that heavy.

Also, once you pass the 50lbs overweight mark, I think the odds of losing weight become much, much harder.

[Anonymous]

I have struggled with my weight my entire life but was never more than 10-15 lbs overweight, and I fluctuate a lot. I have always worked out regularly and always ate relatively well (no fast food, fried food, cooked my own meals) but still indulged in too-large portions or baked goods.

During my first pregnancy, I had some complications, including pre-eclampsia, and I gained approx 70lbs (including 20 lbs of water weight due to swelling over the course of 13 days). After giving birth, I lost approx 35lbs, but quickly got preg with #2, and I gained another 35lbs. I am now stuck at 25lbs overweight and cant get the scale to budge, no matter what I do.

I obsess about my weight daily, always care, and wish I could have prevented the huge weight gain during my pregnancy.

However, I still am proud of my body (I recently completed a triathalon) and how strong I am. I wear a (flattering) bathing suit. My body might be larger and wider than I want, but it is relatively firm, not saggy, and no rolls and my boobs are awesome

I have 2 children who I want to grow up happy with their bodies and able to balance food, exercise, and self-confidence. Its not always so simple and just preventing the initial 5 lbs weight gain.

[Anonymous]

I'm fat. I wasn't always fat, i was a college athlete and exercised 4-6 hours a day. I developed my eating habits diring that time. I know I'm not health, but struggle with the willpower not to eat the food I'm comfortable with when I'm hungry.

[Anonymous]

I wish I were 50 lbs lighter but I honestly don't care what random people think about my body. I have a husband that finds me sexy, kids and lots of other family that love me. When I'm at the beach, I'm having fun swimming with my family, building sand castles, or just reading a book. I'm not spending time looking at other people's bodies and comparing them.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I was a college athlete from a family of athletes with a dietician mother. I was never really around overweight people until I began my career and my job is to help people lose weight and get in shape. I understand that once you're at a certain point it is difficult to lose the weight and I also understand how much the extra weight can inhibit your life. That is my greatest motivation to keep myself lean and healthy. I don't want to lose my breath walking up stairs or chasing the kids. I don't want to stress about my dress for my sisters wedding. I don't want to stress about heart attacks, heart disease, or anything else that would take me away from my kids early. By the time I begin interacting with overweight and obese people we have a huge journey ahead of us. I'm just wondering how it gets that far before someone tries to catch it. It's truly not a judgement thing. It's about understanding so I can help my clients better.

[Anonymous]

Why do you think there is something horribly wrong with other people's bodies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there not some point you looked in the mirror and realized something was horribly wrong with your body?

Looking at people at the beach in their suits makes it so clear the way the human body was meant to be shaped and the way the majority of people actually are. Do you really miss the early stages when you can just scale back and drop 5 pounds? Do you just reach a point where you don't care? I don't mean this in a snarky, judgemental way. I am truly curious.

I stress ate myself into 35 additional pounds after my mother died in a horrible, DUI related car accident. She was the intoxicated driver. She killed an old lady in the accident. I'd been arguing bitterly with her about her drug and alcohol use the week before.

No, I didn't notice the weight gain. I was very depressed. I'm currently on an anti-depressant that makes it very hard to lose weight. I'd rather be calm and able to parent than skinny.