I'm 128 pounds and I think I'm fat....

rainbows8722

Why do I feel "fat"?

I never used to feel this way. I have gone on my whole life eating what I want and not gaining much weight ever. I wasn't really over thinking food or trying to diet. Ever since I started seeing things about "thinspo" and super skinny girls I feel like I really am FAT.

Compared to them I seriously am fat. Now I cannot even look in the mirror without thinking, "wow I need to change". I am 5"8 and 128 pounds. My hips are 32" my waist is 29" and my bust is 34". I feel like this is terrible. I have chunky legs, a fat stomach and I can't even lose weight.

Help me please. I don't know what to do. I have toned up quite a bit and built some muscle. I do at least 45 minutes of cardio per day as well. The pounds are not coming off. My diet is not spectacular but I always eat around 1500 calories

getting_fit86

What? How.. just why?? Stay away from thinspo. It can make girls crazy just trying to look like that. It is unhealthy for your body and mind.

smae1980

You don't need to lose weight, you are at the lowest weight for a healthy BMI for your height. You're also probably not eating enough. My thoughts would be to bump up the calories by at least 300 per day and focus more on weight training than cardio to see the results you're looking for

HacheraTsarine

5'8 and 128lbs? You're at the lower end of the healthy BMI portion. And your measurements show that you have healthy proportions too.

I don't have a picture of you, but you seem thin. I have no idea what you mean by "chunky legs".

First off, thinspo is dangerously close to proana. I suggest you to keep away from thinspo blogs as they will skew your vision of a proper, healthy body composition. It reportedly made young girls go to extreme measures to attain false ideals such as hipbones showing, concave belly, the infamous thigh gap and so on.

Second, if you really feel fat, I suggest that you talk to someone close to you or seek professionnal help. I know I might sound extreme, but it's easy to let oneself think that they're inadequate and then fall in a downward spiral.

I don't think that anyone reasonable on MFP will tell you to do anything else but keeping to eat reasonably and doing exercise in a reasonable fashion, but nothing else.

You might want to switch from thinspo blogs to fitspo blogs. They are more healthy.

getting_fit86

You don't need to lose weight, you are at the lowest weight for a healthy BMI for your height. You're also probably not eating enough. My thoughts would be to bump up the calories by at least 300 per day and focus more on weight training than cardio to see the results you're looking for

Well put.

deedzzz

You don't need to lose weight! but maybe you could start toning some more. that might help with your self-esteem!
ditch the cardio, and start doing some weight/strength training!

jennibear22

These sorts of posts make me o depressed

rainbows8722

Don't know what to do still...

mbucchieri

I would say talk to a trainer, have them show you what excercises would be best to target the areas that you feel are trouble areas..and stop looking at the scale, throw it in the garbage!!!a number is a number, if you toned up and were happy with how you look, but the scale said you gained 10 lbs, then why would it matter what a scale said?? Continue to work on what you feel needs work,go by how you feel, and how your clothes fit..you will get to where you feel comfortable with yourself.

rowanwood

You need to consider help, if its interfering with your life and being happy. That's not a good way to feel, and maybe a therapist can help you work past it.

HacheraTsarine

Don't know what to do still...

1. Stir away from thinspo and never look back. THINSPO = EVIL
2. Eat reasonably, maybe up your calories. FOOD = YOUR FRIEND
3. Exercise. "Exercise releases endorphines, endorphines make you happy, happy people don't kill their husbands". More seriously, exercise will give you a lot of self-confidence and strength training will change your body composition. EXERCISE = ANOTHER FRIEND

Summary : No thinspo, Eat, Exercise. Also, breathe. I heard it's useful.

CeeRache

Hi

I am also 5ft8 and weigh 127/128 lbs - and I am not fat!

You are probably a size 10 (ish) - seriously, look in the mirror and I am sure you look great :-).

HOWEVER - it's what you think that counts the most, not other peoples opinions - so my advice is to get your body fat % tested and monitor this instead. The scales are meaningless as they don't tell you what is going on in there.

Add some weights to your training and perhaps target your body fat % instead of your weight. Your weight on the scales may go up this way but it will be muscle - your body will become more toned and it sounds like this is what you are after. Who cares about the scales if you look lean and toned and feel great!!!

You may need to increase calories too (clean diet!) as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Can I ask what your goals are?

C.

getting_fit86

c

c_tap77

I'm 5' 8' and I'm not entirely convinced it would even be possible for me to weigh 128 pounds. Granted I don't have a small lanky frame either so there's that.

Personally, I didn't even know what Thinspo was until I googled it just now, but honestly I would never want to look that skinny. Those girls look like they have absolutely no muscle?!

I would much rather be strong and healthy than look like that...

CeeRache

Oh yes - I forgot to say - have at least one rest day a week - let your body recover......

rainbows8722

Hi

I am also 5ft8 and weigh 127/128 lbs - and I am not fat!

You are probably a size 10 (ish) - seriously, look in the mirror and I am sure you look great :-).

HOWEVER - it's what you think that counts the most, not other peoples opinions - so my advice is to get your body fat % tested and monitor this instead. The scales are meaningless as they don't tell you what is going on in there.

Add some weights to your training and perhaps target your body fat % instead of your weight. Your weight on the scales may go up this way but it will be muscle - your body will become more toned and it sounds like this is what you are after. Who cares about the scales if you look lean and toned and feel great!!!

You may need to increase calories too (clean diet!) as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Can I ask what your goals are?

C.

UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??

HacheraTsarine

Hi

I am also 5ft8 and weigh 127/128 lbs - and I am not fat!

You are probably a size 10 (ish) - seriously, look in the mirror and I am sure you look great :-).

HOWEVER - it's what you think that counts the most, not other peoples opinions - so my advice is to get your body fat % tested and monitor this instead. The scales are meaningless as they don't tell you what is going on in there.

Add some weights to your training and perhaps target your body fat % instead of your weight. Your weight on the scales may go up this way but it will be muscle - your body will become more toned and it sounds like this is what you are after. Who cares about the scales if you look lean and toned and feel great!!!

You may need to increase calories too (clean diet!) as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Can I ask what your goals are?

C.

UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??

Size depends on the clothing brand. There are store where I'm a size 6 and there are store where I'm too fat to buy clothing there.

That being said, I think that Cee made a really valid point and you should have focused on it.

CeeRache

Hi

I am also 5ft8 and weigh 127/128 lbs - and I am not fat!

You are probably a size 10 (ish) - seriously, look in the mirror and I am sure you look great :-).

HOWEVER - it's what you think that counts the most, not other peoples opinions - so my advice is to get your body fat % tested and monitor this instead. The scales are meaningless as they don't tell you what is going on in there.

Add some weights to your training and perhaps target your body fat % instead of your weight. Your weight on the scales may go up this way but it will be muscle - your body will become more toned and it sounds like this is what you are after. Who cares about the scales if you look lean and toned and feel great!!!

You may need to increase calories too (clean diet!) as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Can I ask what your goals are?

C.

UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??

Sorry - I am talking about UK sizes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I_Will_End_You

UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??

Holy crap, calm down. It's not like she saw a picture of you and thought you were 6 sizes bigger than you are! You should go back and read the rest of her post, because it has lots of good advise. Lift, do strength training, focus on body composition & not weight.

CeeRache

Apologies - no offence meant - I am from the UK, sizing here is totally different, I will have to remember that US sizes are much lower than ours next time I post....... it was actually a compliment!

C.

MrBecky

Hi

I am also 5ft8 and weigh 127/128 lbs - and I am not fat!

You are probably a size 10 (ish) - seriously, look in the mirror and I am sure you look great :-).

HOWEVER - it's what you think that counts the most, not other peoples opinions - so my advice is to get your body fat % tested and monitor this instead. The scales are meaningless as they don't tell you what is going on in there.

Add some weights to your training and perhaps target your body fat % instead of your weight. Your weight on the scales may go up this way but it will be muscle - your body will become more toned and it sounds like this is what you are after. Who cares about the scales if you look lean and toned and feel great!!!

You may need to increase calories too (clean diet!) as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Can I ask what your goals are?

C.

UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??

Sorry - I am talking about UK sizes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow - OP you are very easily offended! Yep, your measurements would indeed make you about a UK size 10, which at 5' 8" is a really nice size to be.

I would agree with what everyone else has said, concentrate on toning up rather than just getting lighter. If you are worried about how you feel - which I think from the tone of your post you do seem to be - then it might be worth looking into getting some help maybe in the form of therapy or something like that. Life is for living, and enjoying and if you are worried about being 'fat' when you are at the low end of your acceptable BMI there is other stuff going on somewhere that you might need to deal with.

dmpizza

You sound fine, but you don't feel fine.
Start serious exercise(jogging, etc..) and then see how you feel after 1 month of regular, 5 days per week workouts.

trogalicious

Projected self image is a beast to deal with. If you want to change how you look, lifting may be a great help for you. That, or perhaps finding someone to talk to about your body image issues.

silvergurl518

Projected self image is a beast to deal with. If you want to change how you look, lifting may be a great help for you. That, or perhaps finding someone to talk to about your body image issues.

QFT.

you arethe furthest thing from fat...focus on working out your mind....so that it sees whats the rest of the world sees. appreciate your body. i'm sure it's beautiful and capable. "thinspo" is devil's spawn.

michellechawner

so get serious counseling. Honestly.

I'm 3 inches shorter than you and weigh about 125. I see myself as a good weight for my size. I used to be 167 - now THAT is heavy for my 5'5 frame.

Lifting is good to help, but also, as with any exercise, check with your doctor as well. I'm not trying to say you have an ED - but if you are that little and think you are fat, there is some possibly BDD (body dysmorphic disorder).

autumn26

Projected self image is a beast to deal with. If you want to change how you look, lifting may be a great help for you. That, or perhaps finding someone to talk to about your body image issues.

QFT.

you arethe furthest thing from fat...focus on working out your mind....so that it sees whats the rest of the world sees. appreciate your body. i'm sure it's beautiful and capable. "thinspo" is devil's spawn.

What they said.

Lady_Bane

"UMM Size 10?? Excuse me? I don't know where you come from but I am a size 2-4. Thanks for guessing that I am 6 sizes bigger than I really am??"

Woah. Calm down. You have a lot of growing up to do, thats clear.

TR0berts

Projected self image is a beast to deal with. If you want to change how you look, lifting may be a great help for you. That, or perhaps finding someone to talk to about your body image issues.

Yeah, this. You're thin, but have awesome measurements. Many women would absolutely love to be your size.

schnarfo

I'm 5'5 and 116 and think I'm fat - but I know that I'm not! It's a daily battle to make sure I eat enough and to work hard in the gym to get the results I want! Start lifting it really helps changing your body! I've lost a lot from my hips and waist in recent months using kettlebells

iamdominique

You are not "fat" you may HAVE fat but you are not fat. These are two very different things. I would suggest maybe instead of looking at thinspo, look at fitspo instead. I think it's probably more what you're going for. The basic principle is eat clean, strength train, run just do anything active. It is a lifestyle choice to help gain muscle and lose fat in a HEALTHY way. There is a huge fitspo community full of positive support and encouragment, advice on how to start, or even just people who are willing to talk about anything (doesn't have to be fitness related). It is amazing for helping increase body acceptance and self-confidence. If you want you can message me anytime (anybody can). I'm willing to talk, help you through any insecurities or body issues. I went through the same thing and I had so many wonderful people supporting me and now I'm on a good path to body acceptance.

Good luck on your journey, and remember: you've only got one body, so love it, respect it, treat it well.

Ladina1990

You feel fat??? Honey you don't know what fat is...you need to seek some therapy because you are in a healthy BMI and like everyone is saying you need to stay away from those blogs that say you need to look a certain way to be pretty, its always good to do cardio to stay healthy but life is to short and you need to stop over obsessing about you being fat when in reality I would KILL to be your size.