Looking back I don't actually think I was that fat.

Squatcleananddeadlift

When I was in my teens and early twenties my dad/brothers/friend was a bit off an an *kitten* and told me I was fat. In my early twenties I weighed in the region of 10 stone 4lb to 10 stone 7lb. I tried everything to drop 10lb and I could never really manage it. When I was 25 I met my now wife (I am female) and we often discussed my desire to lose weight. I think because I was so adamant I needed to lose it she adopted that thought process as well. One day I asked her if she thought I was fat because she kept doing that thing that people do "Let's lose weight together" etc etc. She said she felt I was overweight and that I could do with losing some. 7 years later low and behold I am now in the region of 13 stone 10lb to 14 stone. I look back at photos of myself and just wish I could go back there and realise I wasn't fat. I wish I had the confidence to say to people no I am fine leave me alone. I didn't and now I do need to lose the pounds. I am so frustrated when I think that I let people talk to me like that or let me believe I was enormous.

I realise this is all my doing and I can't blame everyone else. But I did honestly believe as a child that I was huge and I wasn't - I was so so so normal sized. As a young adult I did need to lose 10lb but it was nothing like now.

springlering62

I understand. When I was 32 and my weight was 145 after having two kids, I felt fat, unattractive and gross.

I wish I’d had the clear sightedness to look at myself objectively then and realize I was quite normal and not to become disinterested and let myself go.

However, at this advanced age, I now realize that what Momma used to say about “sticks and stones” was right. We beat ourselves up far worse than anyone else ever could.

If it’s any comfort, losing weight and coming out the other side now feels terrific. You will feel like a conqueror, so get to it! Don’t let your biggest regret be “I wish I’d done it sooner”.

amart4224

I can relate. I had always been skinny throughout my childhood and teenage years. When I went to college I gained some weight and at age 20 I ended up 7 pounds above the "healthy" range for my height. That year, for my birthday, my dad got me a bathroom scale and my step-grandmother got me a gym membership. Subtle, right? So I thought I was embarrassingly fat. 8 years later I am just dreaming of being that weight again. Sometimes you don't appreciate what a good thing you have until it's gone, and other people's opinions can definitely contribute to that.