Am I too thin?

Pam_1965
Pam_1965 Posts: 137 Member
edited October 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
How do you know? People tell me I look thin. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror, and think I look thin, but most of the time I do not. I can't tell what is age and what is fat, if that makes sense. All of a sudden I am a size 2 (old navy) when I started at a size 16, and the 2s are baggy, but I still see fat.

I was 220 pounds 3 years ago. I am now 140 pounds. I know that I could still lose more weight to get to my ideal weight (135). How do you know when you are too thin?
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Replies

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    How tall are you?
  • Pam_1965
    Pam_1965 Posts: 137 Member
    5'6. 51 years old, tomorrow.
  • Pam_1965
    Pam_1965 Posts: 137 Member
    edited October 2016
    My BMI is smack in the middle and everything I read says 135 is ideal for my height. It is so hard to tell because I am droopy! Lol!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Sounds perfect!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    No. You look fantastic. That is completely up to you whether you want to bring it down to 135 or not. Either weight is healthy. One might look better than the other but who knows?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Sounds fine to me.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    SusanMFindlay wrote: »
    Pam_1965 wrote: »
    My BMI is smack in the middle and everything I read says 135 is ideal for my height. It is so hard to tell because I am droopy! Lol!

    There's no such thing as one ideal weight for any height. BMI is a range for a reason. 135 will be perfect for some women of your height; 140 will be perfect for others; 145 for others and 130 for others. (And that doesn't even get into the fact that a person who is 140 and fit will look different from the same person at 140 but unfit.)

    I think it's very unlikely that you're "too thin". You're just in the process of having your brain catch up to your body. If you want to lose another 5 pounds, I see nothing wrong with that - but if you want to try "living in 140" for a while, that could be a good plan to. Personally, that's what I'd try - maintaining 140 and focusing on fitness/health instead of weight for a bit.

    That is literally what I'm doing now :) Maintaining at 140 and focusing on health and fitness!
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    You're not too thin. Try toning a bit to make yourself feel better maybe? And do you wear your shirts baggy? I know it's kind of weird but I think that can make someone looks really thin sometimes if they have thin arms and their shirts are too big. lol.
  • Mumu190672
    Mumu190672 Posts: 76 Member
    I think you are the only one that can tell.
    As long as you are in a healthy weight range you should be fine.
    According to your profile picture you look great.
    Well done!
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    You look fabulous.. Not too thin to me in the least. :)

    I am 48 and lift weights and work on body composition and all though that is not for everyone, I can tell you it will change everything you feel about yourself and your looks on the outside.

    Happy Birthday a day early!! :)

  • Pam_1965
    Pam_1965 Posts: 137 Member
    Thanks for the comments everyone! And
    @RoxieDawn, do I know you???
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    As long as the weight loss isn't sudden and for no reason (could be caused by a medical issue), have energy, feel good and your doc is not concerned then you are fine. If someone has the gall to say you look to thing you can either not respond or say that you have discussed it with your doc and you are perfectly healthy then change the subject.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Pam_1965 wrote: »
    Thanks for the comments everyone! And
    @RoxieDawn, do I know you???

    I am not sure? I don't think so.. (i did not say anything wrong did I?)
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    RoxieDawn wrote: »
    Pam_1965 wrote: »
    Thanks for the comments everyone! And
    @RoxieDawn, do I know you???

    I am not sure? I don't think so.. (i did not say anything wrong did I?)

    I think she forgot she told us all it was her birthday tomorrow! ;)
  • Ben_there_done_that
    Ben_there_done_that Posts: 732 Member
    @pam_1965 Happy birthday!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Happy birthday!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Don't stress too much about clothing sizes. I am a 0 at Gap and a 10 in other brands. Generally it's a big shock to see someone lose so much weight. Unless they're jealous, it's probably hard for them to compute the huge difference in the way you look. Give them time.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    I think you look wonderful.

    People are so used to seeing overweight and obese people that that they aren't accustomed to what a healthy, normal weight person looks like. People who know the formerly overweight you are so used to seeing that version of you that now they judge you by that standard. You can feel free to ignore them!
  • sydnisd183
    sydnisd183 Posts: 247 Member
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    I think you look wonderful.

    People are so used to seeing overweight and obese people that that they aren't accustomed to what a healthy, normal weight person looks like. People who know the formerly overweight you are so used to seeing that version of you that now they judge you by that standard. You can feel free to ignore them!

    I agree with the above. I started at 203 in June, now 183 and on my way to 160. People are telling me "don't get too skinny" and "If I were you i'd stay at what you are now"....I think people are used to seeing overweight/obese now (Houston, TX)
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    You look perfect!
  • JDixon852019
    JDixon852019 Posts: 312 Member
    They are trying to make themselves feel better about their weight. Ignore them.
  • clh72569
    clh72569 Posts: 280 Member
    Right after my weight loss my face looked really gaunt and saggy. This lends itself to looking too thin. At you height and weight you are right in the middle of BMI. If you give yourself some time and do some weight lifting your face and body will normalize. That has been my experience.
  • Wickedfaery73
    Wickedfaery73 Posts: 184 Member
    ~!~!~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ~!~!~

    I think I have seen people say that adding muscle will help with the droopy. I am 43, I am not at my goal yet, but I have been there before and I know that my tiger striped belly is going to droop.
  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
    jrulo16 wrote: »
    They are trying to make themselves feel better about their weight. Ignore them.

    Unlikely.

    Usually, they just have a mental image of "you" that is what they're used to. And "real you" doesn't match "mental image you" anymore. As you maintain the weight, they'll get more used to "real you" and the mental image will change. Also, I think we're wired to perceive fast weight loss as being due to poor health (since historically poor health would be the main reason for sudden weight loss). As you maintain the weight and people get used to seeing you at that weight, that subconscious worry gets allayed.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited October 2016
    You are the same height and weight as me, so you are a good size. Room to go a bit up or down depending on your preferences, but also just fine where you are!

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