I feel big and I am only 143 lbs?

[Anonymous]

i'm 5' 5" and usually weigh around 135. people often tell me i look slim. seem to have put on about 5-10 lbs this year, don't look bad but clothes are tight. been working out more so i look better but having a really hard time taking off the weight. does that happen as you get older? i didn't use to....

[Anonymous]

Weight is definitely hard to balance especially if you are 40 and over. I have weighed between 110 and 120 for a long long time. Now after twins and turning 40; 130 is my wieight, I sometimes go down to 125, but it's all a matter of how you feel.

I'm 5'5"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While you ladies are not fat, your height/weight numbers are tending in the chunky category, IMO.
I am not trying to mean, snarky, or whatever, really. This is an anonymous forum, so I am able to tell you one person's objective opinion.
Now, you can have those H/W ratios and be really fit and muscular and look awesome, but if you are the average "soft" female like me, I think you'd look on the bigger side.
FWIW, I am 5'7" and between 130 and 135 and I feel big when I get up in the mid-130s.

Um, no, I'm not chunky (5'5" and 140). I have barely any fat below my knees or on my arms and upper body (waist and above), save for the little ol' stretchy tummy skin from having 2 kids. I gain in my butt/thighs, but that does not make me 'chunky' when I am still a size 8 jeans (and I'm not talking vanity size 8, either - bebe size 8 jeans fit fine).

Oh, I'm not skeletor like a hollywood actress, but I never claimed to be, nor do I want to be. I think you need to reassess your body image since it's obviously a bit unrealistic and unhealthy. You should be happy where you are and if you aren't, then just aim to be in shape and toned, but don't idealize protruding pelvic bones.

[Anonymous]

Anyone read the NYT magazine? There was this interesting article that had a little photo chart in it. It showed approximately what a female and a male body looks like at varying BMIs. It also said that people frequently think they are slimmer than they really are. I wish I could remember what it was, but it was very interesting.

Anyway, I'm 5'8" and about 135-140. I'm a size 4 and have size 10 feet. I am not very toned post-kids unfortunately, but if I get sick, people start telling me I look too skinny. That said, I feel like a large person. I am tall and I have big hands and feet and I am not stick thin. So OP, I definitely understand feeling big.

I definitely understand that how people carry weight varies, but I'm going to back up the one PP who said that the height/weight numbers people are quoting here are not from obese people, but definitely aren't from slim people either. OP's BMI is 23.1, which is on the high side of normal (defined as 18.5–24.9). I disagree with 12:44 that the PP is being unrealistic and unhealthy. Her BMI is actually right on target at 130/135.

The NYT article had you looking at the pictures to select which one you thought you looked like and then seeing if you chose correctly. I was kind of shocked that I chose a picture 1.5 points under my actual BMI (which is 20.5). Apparently I think I'm thinner than I actually am.

Anyway, just thought that was interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I'm the PP with the same stats as you. I'm so jealous you're cellulite free. I have it and I'm positive it's because I can't build muscle...sigh. My DH doesn't seem to notice but it def is visible this time a year at the pool.


Oh, and rock your small boobs...I do!

Hey, we all have our things we don't like, mine are the itty bitty titties.

I was not always cellulite free. Though I have stayed pratically the same weight (after losing 30lbs) I got rid of the cellulite with weight trianing and eating better. I don't build much visible muscle either...I like to proclaim that I come from aristocracy and it was never in my genes to have muscle since my heritage does not include any sort of phusical labor I had servants and serfs for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone read the NYT magazine? There was this interesting article that had a little photo chart in it. It showed approximately what a female and a male body looks like at varying BMIs. It also said that people frequently think they are slimmer than they really are. I wish I could remember what it was, but it was very interesting.

Anyway, I'm 5'8" and about 135-140. I'm a size 4 and have size 10 feet. I am not very toned post-kids unfortunately, but if I get sick, people start telling me I look too skinny. That said, I feel like a large person. I am tall and I have big hands and feet and I am not stick thin. So OP, I definitely understand feeling big.

I definitely understand that how people carry weight varies, but I'm going to back up the one PP who said that the height/weight numbers people are quoting here are not from obese people, but definitely aren't from slim people either. OP's BMI is 23.1, which is on the high side of normal (defined as 18.5–24.9). I disagree with 12:44 that the PP is being unrealistic and unhealthy. Her BMI is actually right on target at 130/135.

The NYT article had you looking at the pictures to select which one you thought you looked like and then seeing if you chose correctly. I was kind of shocked that I chose a picture 1.5 points under my actual BMI (which is 20.5). Apparently I think I'm thinner than I actually am.

Anyway, just thought that was interesting.

12:44 - I was actually mentioning that since the 'chunky' PP thought she was too heavy with her current weight/height, that her desire to lose weight and concept of normal, healthy weights/heights being 'chunky', is unhealthy. I agree that currently she's fine; but she said she wasn't happy with that. I think that's the basis of this whole discussion; weight means nothing, and we all shouldn't aim to be skinny. There is a wide range of normal that is NOT 'chunky' and as long as we are fairly fit, we shouldn't beat ourselves up over imperfection.

Again no one here is claiming to be 'slim' (which I think y'all mean 'skinny' and I take that as an insult and I correct people when they call me 'skinny'). I've got hips and a$$ and a small waist and I like it. I also look lighter than I actually am (almost gave DH a hernia the first time he tried to pick me up). I don't know why we fell into using BMI in this discussion because it doesn't take into account fat vs. muscle, and is therefore pretty useless when trying to 'visualize' people.

Of course, I definitely think that vanity sizing is not doing anyone any favors, and I also think that large people should pay for bigger/more airline seats if their girth overflows the armrest, but that's just me...

[Anonymous]

14:03, I think I love you! I say the same thing about myself and my inability to make muscle--clearly I'm an aristocrat

I don't know if I can get rid of the cellulite. I'm turning 40 this summer and I've always worked out, done weights etc. Oh well, I guess!

[Anonymous]

It really depends on bone structure. I'm 5'6" and weigh about 145 at 6 months post-partum. Am probably medium (upper body) to larger-boned (legs). I'd love to lose another 10lbs or so but, honestly, most people seem to think I look pretty thin as is. If I was carrying the same weight on a smaller frame, I suspect I'd look at lot bigger. For now, I'm a pretty consistent size 8 and if I don't lose that extra 10, I'm OK with it. Am pretty sure no one would describe me as "chunky".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel big and weigh 143 as well, although I'm a little taller (5'9"). People probably think I look fine, but I'm just flabby and out of shape, and my belly protrudes (I had 3 kids). Last year when I managed to do the 30-day shred 5x/week for 5 weeks (only 20 minutes/day), or during periods when I'm able to go jogging at least 2x week, I felt much, much better about myself. My weight doesn't change during periods where I'm exercising (actually it went up a little bit), but I felt more toned and less flabby and stronger.

PP, you are A LOT taller.

apples and oranges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5' 8" and 148 and I'm okay with that. I look great in clothes and I look fine in a bathing suit. My problem is that my body will never be muscular. I do cardio and weights and have for years but my legs are still flabby. Honestly, though, I get compliments all the time about how I look so I'm not sweatin' it! I bet you look great, OP. Life is too short to obsess over 5 pounds. I'm pretty sure that's not what I'm going to be thinking about in my twighlight years: "I wish I had lost those last 5 pounds" LOL

Ha, I'm the exact same stats. I work out like crazy and am a pretty toned 5'8" without a single speck of cellulite. I'm not skinny, but know that i look pretty damn good for a mom of 2. I have small breasts and that I'd like to fix because I think I can carry larger ones. Once that happens...hide your husbands

I really liked your post until the last sentence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5' 8" and 148 and I'm okay with that. I look great in clothes and I look fine in a bathing suit. My problem is that my body will never be muscular. I do cardio and weights and have for years but my legs are still flabby. Honestly, though, I get compliments all the time about how I look so I'm not sweatin' it! I bet you look great, OP. Life is too short to obsess over 5 pounds. I'm pretty sure that's not what I'm going to be thinking about in my twighlight years: "I wish I had lost those last 5 pounds" LOL

Ha, I'm the exact same stats. I work out like crazy and am a pretty toned 5'8" without a single speck of cellulite. I'm not skinny, but know that i look pretty damn good for a mom of 2. I have small breasts and that I'd like to fix because I think I can carry larger ones. Once that happens...hide your husbands

I really liked your post until the last sentence.

Gotta agree, that was kind of creepy. It's great to have self-esteem, but that's pushing it a bit too far. Those implants will probably age you about 10 years and make you look a lot more matronly, too.

[Anonymous]

I don't go by numbers, I go by how it looks & feels. I'm 5'4" and have been 140 and super muscular and looked awesome and have been 140 and super flabby and soft with extra dough in my face and felt bad.

[Anonymous]

It depends on your body structure (e.g. Are u 143 with 34 A cup or 36 C), is your fat in your hips or your belly, are you apple or pear shaped, level of activity and how fit you are and on your muscle tone. It's tough to say just from your height and weight. I'm 5 7 and 135 lbs, so theoretically, I am thinner than you are. But in reality, it doesn't mean that you are 'big' compared to me, but different.

[Anonymous]

Totally depends on frame size. I am 5'9 with a teeny tiny frame and currently 125-128lb, but I was up to 135-140lb (not even that much more!) about 10 years ago. I was called "fat" more than once (yes, mean and hurtful). This was with working out every day, too- I had muscle, but it was hidden by just a little extra fat. I know this weight looks great on many (probably most!) women shorter than me, though. I'm a 32A, which just went up to a 34A with the extra weight, too (bummer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5' 8" and 148 and I'm okay with that. I look great in clothes and I look fine in a bathing suit. My problem is that my body will never be muscular. I do cardio and weights and have for years but my legs are still flabby. Honestly, though, I get compliments all the time about how I look so I'm not sweatin' it! I bet you look great, OP. Life is too short to obsess over 5 pounds. I'm pretty sure that's not what I'm going to be thinking about in my twighlight years: "I wish I had lost those last 5 pounds" LOL

Ha, I'm the exact same stats. I work out like crazy and am a pretty toned 5'8" without a single speck of cellulite. I'm not skinny, but know that i look pretty damn good for a mom of 2. I have small breasts and that I'd like to fix because I think I can carry larger ones. Once that happens...hide your husbands

I really liked your post until the last sentence.

Gotta agree, that was kind of creepy. It's great to have self-esteem, but that's pushing it a bit too far. Those implants will probably age you about 10 years and make you look a lot more matronly, too.

Matronly?