I have a 25 inch waist. Why do I still feel like a whale?

intrepidelephant

I'm 28, 5'6 133 lbs 34-25-35. Everyone says I'm thin but I'm in the middle of my weight range (114-154 lbs). I feel as if I'd need to lose 10-15 lbs more to be thin. I started at 143 lbs 36-26.5-36.5. I look at women like Michelle Dockery on Downton Abbey and wish I could be that skinny ):

tabicatinthehat

Easy. You have self-image issues. That'll be $150.

ana3067

2nd body image issues. I have a 26 inch waist BTW (true waist) and I"m 5'7, 175lbs. Meaning that healthy weight ranges aren't universal. If I were within the "healthy range" for my height, I'd have to sacrifice muscle, which I don't even have a significant amount of yet.

I'd say look into therapy to help overcome your body image issues/BDD.

carolineat111

I agree, self image issues. Don't think that's a mean comment either, I'm right there with you in a lot of ways.

I took have a tiny, tiny waist. I carry all my weight in my hips and thighs.

To move past my "issues" I've been focusing on gaining strength and muscle and completely ignoring the number on the scale.

Bonus - the strength and weight training has given me some more muscle and made my bust bigger (haha yes!! lol).

I'm 5'10" 161lbs, bust is 36, waist is 24, hips...well...lol.

williams969

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

liznotyet

How's your core strength? Posture and self-confidence are interdependent. Size is irrelevant if you can't use your body the way you want.

tofufingers

I feel you!!! We are very similar in height and proportions; I'm 5'6" and I'm 34-23-36.

For a long time, I felt like a whale too even though people said otherwise.
I have struggled with body issues for years, and they don't go away even when you've reached your goal.

I hope that you see how beautiful and fit you already are! No one else can convince you but yourself

365andstillalive

I'm 28, 5'6 133 lbs 34-25-35. Everyone says I'm thin but I'm in the middle of my weight range (114-154 lbs). I feel as if I'd need to lose 10-15 lbs more to be thin. I started at 143 lbs 36-26.5-36.5. I look at women like Michelle Dockery on Downton Abbey and wish I could be that skinny ):

Really, it's all in your body image. You don't have a picture for us to really give you a judgment, but I will say that those sound like ideal measurements. I mean, you're the hourglass shape that only 2% of the population is and you're at a really healthy weight. If you're unhappy with your body, now I'd say is the time to look into strength training, not more weight loss (but again, I don't know what type of frame you have, your bf%, etc).

And if it helps, any time you feel like a whale, think of the pear shaped people like me with our 42 inch hips (I love mine, but the measurement does give me the heebie-jeebies some days).

mathjulz

Stop comparing yourself to women you see in the media. They have a whole team of people to make them look the way they do. Most magazine photos are airbrushed, and the women on t.v. and in the movies have wardrobe specialists, plus clever camera angles, to make them look skinnier than they do in real life (I haven't seen Downton Abbey, but it's very possible that the actresses wear corsets for the look and authenticity, that was a common wardrobe staple until around the 1920s.)

Also keep in mind that skinny =/= healthy. I agree that you may need to find someone to help you address body image issues. In my experience, until you learn to love yourself as you are (however it is that you are), no amount of skinny will help you feel better.

SandyBVTN

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

Thank you for this link! It was very enlightening!

I always get a jolt of sadness and anxiety when I hear women refer to themselves as "whales," especially women so much smaller than I. Language is so powerful.

LeonXC

I could sent you a full body picture of myself. Perhaps then you would come back to reality.

365andstillalive

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

This was actually really neat. I took the quiz and found out what I thought: I'm pretty spot on about my size. I'm 2.5% smaller than I think I am apparently haha.

Interesting and totally worth the two minutes.

bjg2993

Body dysmorphia.

I'm the same, people tell me I'm too thin and I think I'm still "fat", and the thing is, it seems to get worse with the more weight I lose. The only way I've genuinely got over it was when I stopped caring about my weight - and then I ended up gaining a lot, until I realised when I compared to everyone else I knew I was "fat" and my weight reflected that too.

I'm just trying to change my attitude towards myself and forcing myself to see the good rather than the bad, and then perhaps one day I won't constantly scrutinise myself. And stop comparing myself to everyone else. I think that's a good first step at least, and probably the hardest one to make.

melduf

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

Wow that quizz is great!!! I'm 7,5% smaller than I think! I was afraid of the oposit :laugh:

ana3067

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

Interesting link! I'm apparently 7.5% smaller than I think I am haha.

williams969

Try this "Get wise about your size" little quiz: http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/freeformat/page.action?pageId=7758

Hint: I did it for you already, with your measurements. You're already smaller than the smallest person in that lineup. You're already very slim, we "see" it, without even looking at you.

You'll have to get your mind to catch up to your body. If that means talking to a professional about it, please do so. That's what help is for.

Wow that quizz is great!!! I'm 7,5% smaller than I think! I was afraid of the oposit :laugh:

True story, I'm "bigger" than I think (5%). :indifferent: :laugh: No worries--just means I have a fit and healthy mentality (body will catch up, eventually). I just keep working on being the best *me*.

And to all of you--working on being a better version of you is what makes us ALL beautiful and awesome!

afortunatedragon

This is great.
I am 10% smaller than I think I am and have the perfect hourglass figure.

Day saved. :bigsmile:

katkins73

OMG It said I am 17½% smaller than I think I am :noway: Wow I hope it is true :laugh:

tabicatinthehat

Wow 22.5% smaller thank I think I am. lol. See. Body image issues everywhere! It also called me hourglass and I am DEF an apple.

F00LofaT00K

Often times people reach their goal weight but are unsatisfied with their body composition. The term "skinny-fat" is often used to describe what I'm talking about. Maybe somebody only weighs 120 and they're 5'3", but they have minimal muscle, therefor much of their weight is still from fat. Have you considered doing some research on body composition and lifting some weights? I'm not super familiar with what you would need to do, but if "skinny-fat" is your issue, perhaps this would help.

Another issue I see is people who think once they lose the weight, their body shape will change. If you store weight in certain areas of your body, that's where you store it. You may be a healthy weight but still have a small tummy because that's where your body stores weight. Have you ever seen obese people who have slim legs and carry all of their weight in their stomach and arms? Once they reach a healthy weight, they will still have very thin legs compared to the rest of their body. Perhaps you are unsatisfied with your body shape, in which case there's not much you can do to change that short of building some muscle in the smaller areas to "even it out" so to speak.

HeidiGrrrl

I just took that little quiz (had to make up a place in the UK to be from, though), and it turns out I think I'm thinner than I actually am! Now, there's MY bummer for the day! :-(