Anonymous wrote:Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

My mother started saying that to me when I was around 10.

5' 8" and between 122-125# in my early 40's after two kids. I was heavier in my early to mid 20's before revamping my diet (between 130-148#). My mom was not thin so it's just not genetics.
The key to my success is eating very healthfully but not obsessing about low calorie or low fat foods. I don't keep track of what I eat. I do eat a lot of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and no meat except fish. I eat very little dairy. I eat sweets in moderation so I don't feel deprived. If I get a craving that doesn't pass, I eat one serving of it. I may have a glass of wine here and there. I don't like to drink my calories so no juices. I do water down lemonade or drink unsweetened ice tea.
I have found that diet plays a much bigger role than exercise. I was an avid runner before but since having my second child, I can't really run. I walk 2-3x/ week and that's it. I am planning on adding weight training soon for health reasons.
I have found that my shift to being healthy instead of being thin combined with my dropping the dairy and the meat except fish naturally led to the weight loss.

I am not overweight, 120 lb at 5'2. But I do often feel fat compared to other naturally skinny woman.

I am thin and recently spent the week with a group of friends who are over weight. I was astonished at how much they eat. It makes me wonder if people who are overweight have no idea how much more they eat than people who are thin to average.
In addition, I exercise and more importantly, I'm rarely sedentary. Don't get me wrong, I will binge on Netflix like i'ts nobody's business, but my friends who are overweight sit all the time. They ask their kids to grab them something from the kitchen instead of getting up to get it. They move from the couch to the chair and wait for someone to go upstairs and ask them to bring something down to them instead of getting up and running up the stairs themselves. I think it's just a different lifestyle.

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

I know many. In fact, most of my friends are thin, happy, healthy women.

I don't snack and mostly eat healthy, small to normal sized portions for meals. I don't drink anything other than water, tea and wine (or an occasional cocktail) but definitely not soda. I will indulge occasionally, but I try not to overdo it. For example, today I went out to lunch with a friend and ordered a croque monsieur with pommes frites. I only ate half of the croque moonseur and about a third of the fries. I'll typically have one meal a week like this that I consider a "splurge" but otherwise, eat a lot of healthy, non-processed, natural lowfat foods. There is a lot of junk food at my office (it's always someone's birthday), but I avoid it. For me, it's easier saying no than limiting myself to a bite or two.

I also try to jog 3 times a week or so- I could do better exercise-wise.

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

Puh-lease.

I'm one of those naturally thin people. 39 years old, 119lbs, 5,3. 2 kids. I look great AND am happy and healthy.

I workout but not a lot. 3 times a week (used to be 4 maybe 5 times but young kids keep you busy). I do eat and drink whatever I want, but I choose to eat pretty healthy. By healthy I mean little processed/fast foods/no soda or artificial crap. I have no problem eating rich/creamy foods. I eat full fat dairy. Portion sizes are on the bigger side. I do eat ice cream a few times a week. I just have a fast metabolism. If it starts to slow down, I'll have to cut out some ice cream or something.

I have never in my life been overweight. I've been thin/athletic and a little too thin, and pregnant. But never overweight. For me, it's more about maintaining. You know how Bethenny Frankel says "Eat nothing, but taste everything"? I don't think THAT is healthy, but it's definitely how I approach desserts. I order dessert maybe once a year. At home if I'm hungry after dinner I eat an apple. If I'm out, I might ask to taste someone else's dessert but never get my own. With dinner we sometimes do two vegetables rather than one and a carb with our protein.

I do yoga because I like it, and a dance class because it's fun with my friends. We walk everywhere close because it's a habit I got into since I became a driver about a dozen years ago, right when gas prices started going up. I don't drive if I'm going less than a mile.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

Yeah, this is BS.

My kneejerk thought when people say shit like that is "uh, yeah, obviously you're not as good a cook as I am."

OP, I'm 53 years old, 5'2 and an athletic 120ish. Wear a size 0 or 2. Not skinny, but fit and fairly lean. I lift heavy weights 4x a week and do a bit of cardio after 2 or of those days. Usually get in 10-12k steps every day whether I work out or not. Today I ate a Quest bar and two cups of coffee when I first woke up, some grapes and blackberries and an english muffin with a smear of peanut butter before the gym, a giant Reeses cup cookie from Barnes & Noble and an iced coffee while out shopping, and steak, a baked sweet potato, and asparagus for dinner (Kerrygold butter on both veggies). And soon I'll be making myself a dark n' stormy (with diet Goslings ginger beer, lol). I generally eat fewer calories on weekdays (but do not starve or restrict by any means) so I can indulge more on weekends. I've been a normal BMI my entire adult life except for one short period right before I turned 40, but never "skinny." My mom was obese, my dad was always thin-to-average. Dad loved to eat and loved to eat crap, but he was an active guy with a physical job who never drove places he could walk. I take after him, but it's debatable whether that's genetics or just example.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

Yeah, this is BS.

I am thin like my mother and grandmother. It is genetics. There are some family members who have struggled with their weight but they were just born with different body types and gain weight very easily.

Naturally Thin by Bethenny Frankel is legit

Anonymous wrote:I do a really demanding, intense sport 2-3x per week and usually lift weights or run a little bit on the other days. I don't count calories, but I don't eat fast food or much processed stuff, drink alcohol pretty sparingly (a glass of wine or a margarita in summer once or twice a month usually), and drink ~100 oz of water every day.

Same about the sport - it's an intense 60 minute to 90 minute affair so a great workout. 2-3 times/week.
On the off days I swim or jog for an hour - often late at night so it fits in.
The sport is crazy fun so its not like it's work. I exercise every day because it makes me feel good.

If you don't play a sport you could try a class - kick boxing? Aerobics/step? It can be social too.

As for eating now that I'm nearing 50 I've put on a few lbs so should watch what I eat but I just don't.
Life is short.
Back in the day when I was crazy thin I didn't really watch what I ate but most of my eating was probably different than most people's.
I don't eat meat. No soda or diet soda. No fast food really. Not many high fat snacks or desserts.
Yes chocolate, yes cream in coffee and yes ice cream. Bread, pasta, cheese eggs - yup.
Not a lot of diet products (yuck) but yes lots of fresh, natural food?
I've never weighed myself - just once a year at the doctor. I mean you can tell if your clothes aren't fitting right?

I've known sorority girls who only eat boiled chicken and veggies and that's it - apparently that's a good way to keep your weight down. I just could never do that (and was shocked when I heard that. I put food out at a mommy and baby party and no one would eat anything!).

*Not 'lot' but 'lost.'

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.

Anonymous wrote:I do a really demanding, intense sport 2-3x per week and usually lift weights or run a little bit on the other days. I don't count calories, but I don't eat fast food or much processed stuff, drink alcohol pretty sparingly (a glass of wine or a margarita in summer once or twice a month usually), and drink ~100 oz of water every day.

Same about the sport - it's an intense 60 minute to 90 minute affair so a great workout. 2-3 times/week.
On the off days I swim or jog for an hour - often late at night do it fits in.
The sport is crazy fun do its not like it's work. I exercise every day because it makes me feel good.

If you don't play a sport you could try a class - kick boxing? Aerobics/step? It can be social too.

As for eating now that I'm nearing 50 I've put on a few lbs so should watch what I eat but I just don't.
Life is short.
Back in the day when I was crazy thin I didn't really watch what I ate but most of my eating was probably different than most people's.
I don't eat meat. No soda or diet soda. No fast food really. Not many high fat snacks or desserts.
Yes chocolate, yes cream in coffee and yes ice cream. Bread, pasta, cheese - yup.
Not a lot of diet products (yuck) but yes lots of fresh, natural food?
I've never weighed myself - just once a year at the doctor. I mean you can tell if your clothes aren't fitting right?

I've known sorority girls who only eat boiled chicken and veggies and that's it - apparently that's a good way to keep your weight down. I just could never do that (and was shocked when I heard that. I put food out at a mommy and baby party and no one would eat anything!).