Thin Women: How Do You Do It

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was thin until motherhood and then gained 50 pounds and PCOS, an endocrine disorder that makes it very hard to lose weight, came to light. It felt like my previous skinny yoga type body had been swapped out for a completely different body.

But my DH was into low carb and got into intermittent fasting. When it was discovered I had PCOS, the prescription was - go low carb, which DH was already doing. So basically I hacked by body, using an understanding of my disorder. Now I eat low carb and practice IF. As my kids got older I was able to add cardio back and soon weight training. Now I can fit into my old sizes pre-pregnancy. I also eat a lot of healthy fats and stay hydrated.

Metformin was also prescribed and I lot additional weight after starting it. Higher blood glucose impedes weight loss.

DId the metformin make you sick? I couldn't stomach it, I felt awful every time I took it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of it is genetics. My mil eats like a horse, mostly carbs and meat, she never works out and she is thin. The young women on her side of the family are all toothpicks.

Oh and I forgot to mention that she loves to make fun of overweight people. Yep, she's a peach!

[Anonymous]

My parents are both still slim. I've always been slim but admit I enjoy the very thin look so aim for about 130lbs at 5'11". It's not very hard to achieve though as long as I stick with intermittent fasting (an 8 hour eating window) and low carb high fat. I love beef, butter with everything, dark chocolate and tons if macadamias. Berries with heavy cream are another staple. I don't exercise but stay active with two small kids. 34 yrs old.

[Anonymous]

I run every day. Usually this is on my treadmill: it is my "me" time, and my household knows that when I am on my treadmill, I am to be left alone. Running makes me happy, gives me energy, and allows me to eat treats when I want them (I eat healthily for the most part, but don't ever deny myself a treat if I want it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm probably skinny fat - as in not very toned - but I was an overweight teen so I understand the differences in my behavior now versus then.

I watch what I eat in the sense that I don't eat until overstuffed very often, I don't eat meat or drink alcohol to excess, and I don't eat dessert every night. I drink soda and juices but try not to have too many of them…when I was overweight I drank way way way too many calories.

I eat what I want in the sense that I don't deprive myself of cookies or Potbelly or pasta or sriracha mayo when I feel like it, but I try to stop at 3 cookies or a "skinny" sandwich and I don't do it 3 meals a day. I probably eat 2 servings of pasta, because who eats just one?

I find myself craving veggies or lighter food after two days of less healthy food. I think that means my body is calibrated to eat this way. It turns me off to eat to excess or to eat too many rich things in a row.

I often skip breakfast because I am just not hungry then. I probably get about 150 calories in my morning coffee via milk and sugar though.

I don't formally exercise. I should for health, but I only walk occasionally. I guess I'm pretty active during the day. For what it's worth, I am maybe 5 lbs more than when I exercised to excess, and that was pre-kids.

My BMI is about 19.5 and I am 35.

what the? I eat the same as you and excercise the same but I still need to lose weight! How tall are you? I think shorter people need to eat much less. A 5 foot woman will need to eat much much less than a 5 foot 10 woman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents are both still slim. I've always been slim but admit I enjoy the very thin look so aim for about 130lbs at 5'11". It's not very hard to achieve though as long as I stick with intermittent fasting (an 8 hour eating window) and low carb high fat. I love beef, butter with everything, dark chocolate and tons if macadamias. Berries with heavy cream are another staple. I don't exercise but stay active with two small kids. 34 yrs old.

I eat the same but feel like a fat ass if I have more than 1 cookie or indulge in dark chocolate! I think weight has a lot to do with it as well as genetics. Although both parents have been very very thin up until their 40s when nature lowered metabolism

[Anonymous]

pp here not weight i mean height!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you're asking the wrong question. Why don't you tell us a little more about yourself, what you typically eat and drink in a day, and we'll try to give some help.

I skip breakfast because it makes me sick eating that early in the morning. A few years ago, I did try eating it everyday but it seemed to make me hungrier for the rest of the day.

Lunches normally are salads or chicken & veggies or sandwich w/ a piece of fruit or soup

Dinner is my biggest meal and most days it's meat w/ veggies and a potato or some variation

Snacks are usually fruit, celery w/ ranch dip, protein bars, protein shakes, chips, crackers, deli meat, candy on a rare occasion (not really a big candy eater)

Drinks are water and tea; not a big fan of soda but will have it every once in awhile

I will eat fast food a couple times a week; for example, if I eat it for lunch on Mon, I won't eat it again until dinner on Tues or lunch again on Weds (I do know this needs to stop and it was a habit I picked up in college; growing up my parents didn't allow us to eat it except for special occasions)

Well good news OP - you don't eat very well and a few changes will make a huge difference.

Stop with the chips, crackers, ranch dressing, candy for snacks. In general, don't snack.

Stop eating fast food except very special occasions. Not weekly, not monthly...a few times a year.

How do you do this when there is a plethora of exotic and delicious cuisine in the DC area and being social here usually means eating out?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone only gain weight on certain parts of their body but no where else? I have this problem and my main problem is my stomach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone only gain weight on certain parts of their body but no where else? I have this problem and my main problem is my stomach

Of course. Some people only gain in their thighs/butts- they are pears. You sound like an apple. I've seen lots of women with skinny little chicken legs and giant round midsections- classic apples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never known a thin, happy, healthy woman.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

[Anonymous]

I work out about 10 times a week. I'm 46, 5'4, 140 and a size 6. My BMI is 24 which really pisses me off. I look slimmer than I am b/c I am very slender up top. AA cup, buff arms and no stomach. I have a butt and thighs, but they are not huge.

My mom is 5'2 and 100 pounds. She is 71 and has been thin forever. She is obsessed with her weight. Now that she's older, I wish she would gain a few pounds. Thin older women can look old. The only thing saving her is that we are black so she doesn't have any wrinkles. She could use some fat in her face though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you're asking the wrong question. Why don't you tell us a little more about yourself, what you typically eat and drink in a day, and we'll try to give some help.

I skip breakfast because it makes me sick eating that early in the morning. A few years ago, I did try eating it everyday but it seemed to make me hungrier for the rest of the day.

Lunches normally are salads or chicken & veggies or sandwich w/ a piece of fruit or soup

Dinner is my biggest meal and most days it's meat w/ veggies and a potato or some variation

Snacks are usually fruit, celery w/ ranch dip, protein bars, protein shakes, chips, crackers, deli meat, candy on a rare occasion (not really a big candy eater)

Drinks are water and tea; not a big fan of soda but will have it every once in awhile

I will eat fast food a couple times a week; for example, if I eat it for lunch on Mon, I won't eat it again until dinner on Tues or lunch again on Weds (I do know this needs to stop and it was a habit I picked up in college; growing up my parents didn't allow us to eat it except for special occasions)

Well good news OP - you don't eat very well and a few changes will make a huge difference.

Stop with the chips, crackers, ranch dressing, candy for snacks. In general, don't snack.

Stop eating fast food except very special occasions. Not weekly, not monthly...a few times a year.

How do you do this when there is a plethora of exotic and delicious cuisine in the DC area and being social here usually means eating out?

What does that have to do with fast food? When you eat out, order carefully off the menu and eat small portions.

Don't go to McDonalds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents are both still slim. I've always been slim but admit I enjoy the very thin look so aim for about 130lbs at 5'11". It's not very hard to achieve though as long as I stick with intermittent fasting (an 8 hour eating window) and low carb high fat. I love beef, butter with everything, dark chocolate and tons if macadamias. Berries with heavy cream are another staple. I don't exercise but stay active with two small kids. 34 yrs old.

I'm also 5-11 and quite thin. You probably look pretty close to verging on not well at 130. And if you're fasting and doing disordered eating to get there, it's clearly not just your body type.

Just a reality check for you.

[Anonymous]

If this is just about looks, not about weight for health, you could try going about it another way.

Are you pretty? Pretty women can be attractive without being super thin. I know lots of thin women that don't look as good as my heavier friends that have a pretty face/smile.

Are you pulled together? Stylish? Again, you don't have to be super thin to look good if you do this.