Is it bad to lose weight just cause I don't like the number

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

If your scale sets your whole mood and if you're obsessed with the number, then get rid of your scale for awhile. Focus on eating healthy and exercising. I'm really skittish about throwing the ED term around, but it doesn't sound like a healthy relationship that you're developing with your body. My body is big boned, and my doctor told me that the low 140s were as low as I should go weight wise, so when I got there I stopped weighing in regularly. I weigh in every month or so and that works for me-- mostly I just pay attention to the way my clothes fit. It's all about balance.

speedycakes

I know how you feel. Its not really a good way to think, a number can't tell your health status. I want to see 125 on the scale. When i was 135 i was a size 4, pretty firm too. my mom thought i wasn't eating, some people would even say i was thin. I never felt like it was good enough. I still felt fat and disgusting, when i know 135 at 5'8 wasn't fat. i'm 151 right now hoping to see 125 by summer.

ConsciousGirl

If your scale sets your whole mood and if you're obsessed with the number, then get rid of your scale for awhile. Focus on eating healthy and exercising. I'm really skittish about throwing the ED term around, but it doesn't sound like a healthy relationship that you're developing with your body. My body is big boned, and my doctor told me that the low 140s were as low as I should go weight wise, so when I got there I stopped weighing in regularly. I weigh in every month or so and that works for me-- mostly I just pay attention to the way my clothes fit. It's all about balance.

I'm big boned myself and I guess that's what makes me hate my weight. I love your confidence. Sometimes I just wish I wasn't big boned so I can weigh less.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I really don't like the number 7. I don't know why, I just think it looks weird. Not what you were looking for, though.

deadstarsunburn

Don't worry about the number, but I know what you mean. My little sister is the same, she's at the higher end of the healthy range and as long as you stay within that range there's nothing wrong with you wanting to be lower than the highest. This being said you WILL gain weight if you decide to put on muscle, it will be muscle weight depending on how much you build. It takes a very long time and hard work along with a calorie surplus.

Good luck =]

hollyeverhart

Don't worry about the number, but I know what you mean. My little sister is the same, she's at the higher end of the healthy range and as long as you stay within that range there's nothing wrong with you wanting to be lower than the highest. This being said you WILL gain weight if you decide to put on muscle, it will be muscle weight depending on how much you build. It takes a very long time and hard work along with a calorie surplus.

Good luck =]

I think if if I toned up more, and gained muscle maybe my opinion on the number on the scale would change but at the same time I like having a curvy 'soft' not fat/flabby but smooth firm look. I don't want abs or muscly arms/legs lol

ConsciousGirl

I already have muscle, I'm stronger than I look (according to people I look weak haha). But yeah, I would love to be very firm and have not a single fat on my body

SheilaSisco

In reply to hollyeverhart... I learned the hard way that sometimes you have to eat more to lose more... I wasn't losing ANYTHING when I was eating at 1200, but when I bumped my calories up to 1350 and ate my exercise calories back the weight started melting away... Something for you to think about....

cheshirequeen

I know how you feel. Its not really a good way to think, a number can't tell your health status. I want to see 125 on the scale. When i was 135 i was a size 4, pretty firm too. my mom thought i wasn't eating, some people would even say i was thin. I never felt like it was good enough. I still felt fat and disgusting, when i know 135 at 5'8 wasn't fat. i'm 151 right now hoping to see 125 by summer.

I have a love/hate relationship with my scale. im glad i read this tonight, because i really needed it. im working on losing weight but i notice im getting more muscular and thats probably why, at 5 ft 5 and 148(up a couple of pounds since I've started working on gaining muscle) can fit into a size 4 jeans. i have to keep reminding myself that. everybody has different bone structure, height, weight, body issues, etc. personally, me and the bmi have a huge hate relationship. :laugh: something with that big of a difference, and is stating im barely in the healthy range with muscles and wear a size 4, is just plain idiotic and stupid to me. good luck, and remember, your health is what is important here, not that number.

cheshirequeen

:laugh:

Don't worry about the number, but I know what you mean. My little sister is the same, she's at the higher end of the healthy range and as long as you stay within that range there's nothing wrong with you wanting to be lower than the highest. This being said you WILL gain weight if you decide to put on muscle, it will be muscle weight depending on how much you build. It takes a very long time and hard work along with a calorie surplus.

Good luck =]

I think if if I toned up more, and gained muscle maybe my opinion on the number on the scale would change but at the same time I like having a curvy 'soft' not fat/flabby but smooth firm look. I don't want abs or muscly arms/legs lol

it kind of sounds like you just want to be skinny no matter what, not healthy. i would much rather have muscle, of course, id love to get that fat off of my abs, because im pretty sure i have killer abs underneath

CharityEaton

You don't have to be thin to have an eating disorder just like you don't have to drink alcohol every day to be an alcoholic. Why'd you post this topic if you knew deep down that you already know the answer to your question?

I don't think I have an eating disorder

I probably just want to tone up but I'm scared it'll make me gain weight so I'd rather lose weight than tone up.

pick one.

What do you mean? I know I don't have an eating disorder. I'm not thin or anything.

I think that every person on this site has an eating disorder of some sort....that's why we are all here! either we eat to much, or not enough or all the wrong things, or we have no sense of moderation! Some of us are here to maintain a weight that we think is the magic number but I have found that some of us also have a scale disorder!!! We allow the scale to rule every part of our day! Really, you let a number on the scale determine your mood for the day...do you hear what you are saying! How bout the fact that you woke up ALIVE this morning??? Isn't that something! Put your hand on your chest and feel that thumping...that is magic! the number on the scale has nothing to do with your happiness and if you are letting a scale rule your day you need to step away from the scale and take a look around you...you are missing out on LIFE!!!! I learned that once I stopped stressing over the number on the scale and just focused on fueling my body with the things it needs I magically dropped 2 pounds that week! I also ate like a crazy woman over the Holidays and didn't even gain half a pound...because I didn't let the number on the scale rule my day! I weighed evey day but I told myself it was NOT going to ruin my time with family and all the yummy food...it worked. I ate EVERYTHING I want NOT in moderation, I enjoyed EVERY minute of it and did not give a flip about my number on the scale. I think my positive attitude made a bigger difference then my disgust over not be disciplined or having any self control will ever do!

cheshirequeen

OMG I love this photo!!! Have just saved it as my desktop background to remind myself that it's not about the number... it's about the body. I still have a long way to go - and many more kgs to lose before the muscle begins to show - but I want the muscle to show. I don't want to be a body builder, but I want my body to be strong and healthy.

It's a great reminder how the "number" doesn't always mean what we think it means, eh? I want her abs

this is my new inspiration. im not getting on that scale after jan 1st and im going to make sure about those jeans, not about that damn number. if i gain some weight and my pants are loose, thats what matters. thanks so much for posting this. i want those abs too:)

forest0spirit555

Well tons of people tell me that I dont really look like i need to lose weight but i personally felt that being 160 was ridiculous for my age and height (18 years old, 5 feet 3 inches). I started working out and trying to lose weight and I think I have a healthy balance on things. Maybe you could try using a tap measure in addition to your scale? And toning is what will make you appear thinner and tighter, but it could cause slight weight gain (not a big deal when you look in the mirror and are happy seeing that you look healthy, slim and toned)

Bentley2718

I totally get it. I want to weigh 110. I don't care if I am sometimes happy now at 118 or happy at my first goal weight of 115, I WANT to see 110. Every day when I weigh myself the scale always says 117-119 its super annoying. I'm 5'4, I only eat 1200 cal a day, sometimes my exercise calories. I'm vegetarian, pretty much vegan 90% of the time, I don't eat fast food/fried food, I have a sweet tooth but I keep in under control. I never gain weight, but I never lose it either, I went from 132 to 118 in 2-3 months, now I'm stuck! I just want to be skinnier and see 110 on my scale Ugh.

I was like that at one point, I was at 135, I wanted to be 125-130. I did a ton of light cardio (like 90+ minutes a day), ate a steady diet of celery, diet food, and coffee with diet sweetener. I got to 130, but you know what, I was cold all the time, physically weak (I couldn't do push-ups or sit-ups), tired all the time, and just generally felt crappy. Now I'm 160, I've put on some muscle weight, I know this because I'm way stronger than I was back then. I've also put on some fat, I'd like to lose the fat, but I'd rather be strong, and feel healthy, than see 130 on the scale.

Showgirlbody

I think being hung up on a number is a hard way to live. Many people go into a regime with the "ideal" weight or size but in reality, that may not be what is sustainable for your body. Oprah had a show about people who lost weight and had to let go of the number and not be hung up on it because it makes the process a chore and you might be more likely to backslide since you will "never" reach that unattainable goal. I would go by how you feel. It's hard, we all have a vanity number but in reality, I'd rather be happy and be able to enjoy a cheeseburger once in a while. Life is for living and spending it trying to reach a number that your body doesn't want to be just because it's stuck in your head sounds miserable to me. Self magazine also talks about finding your "happy weight", the weight that is healthy for you and also maintainable. A difference of a few to 10 lbs is only worth it if you can maintain with minimal effort. If you had to work out 3 hours a day to be 125 but not have to work half as hard to be comfortably 130, then that is a better happy weight. How your body feels and fits in clothes is more important. A life spent obsessing over an elusive number is going to make you an unhappy person. Striving to be better is a good goal, but a number will not make you better. The healthiest and fittest you can be may have nothing to do with that number. The scale is not indicative of your value.

hollyeverhart

In reply to hollyeverhart... I learned the hard way that sometimes you have to eat more to lose more... I wasn't losing ANYTHING when I was eating at 1200, but when I bumped my calories up to 1350 and ate my exercise calories back the weight started melting away... Something for you to think about....

Really?! That sounds scary to me. What did you weigh then, and what's your height? its okay if you don't want to give it out, Its just ever since getting to a lower weight, I can't lose weight, at a higher weight I easily could at first.

hollyeverhart

:laugh:

Don't worry about the number, but I know what you mean. My little sister is the same, she's at the higher end of the healthy range and as long as you stay within that range there's nothing wrong with you wanting to be lower than the highest. This being said you WILL gain weight if you decide to put on muscle, it will be muscle weight depending on how much you build. It takes a very long time and hard work along with a calorie surplus.

Good luck =]

I think if if I toned up more, and gained muscle maybe my opinion on the number on the scale would change but at the same time I like having a curvy 'soft' not fat/flabby but smooth firm look. I don't want abs or muscly arms/legs lol

it kind of sounds like you just want to be skinny no matter what, not healthy. i would much rather have muscle, of course, id love to get that fat off of my abs, because im pretty sure i have killer abs underneath

I don't know where you get that thought from, I have already said a few times, I eat super healthy, lots of fruits/veggies. I just like the skinny body type, So thats what I want. I don't want abs, to me it looks manly. I have a very flat stomach, my issue are my thighs.. My mom cursed me with hips/thighs/butt. in clothes I like my figure, out of clothes not so much.

KayteeBear

It can be. I think being obsessive over a number can become a very bad obsessive. It's why I don't count calories. It's okay to not like your body and want to change it, BUT it's better to go by how your body looks. What if you lose 20 pounds and you don't like the number still so you try to lose more and more and eventually you look like a skeleton just because you don't like the number on the scale?

I have a number in mind on the scale for me BUT I don't really care what it ends up being if I can see a difference in my body and if I'm happy with my body. Obsessing over the number on the scale can end up VERY VERY bad especially if you're already scared of gaining weight even if it comes from muscle.

KayteeBear

I think that every person on this site has an eating disorder of some sort....that's why we are all here! either we eat to much, or not enough or all the wrong things, or we have no sense of moderation! ...

I don't agree with that. An eating disorder is an obsessive mindset. It's eating so much that you get physically sick all the time, it's MAKING yourself throw up after eating or deliberately not eating anything or working out so much that you pass out and don't eat enough to make up for all those burnt calories.

Not enough calories by a few hundreds or too many calories by a few hundreds is NOT an eating disorder. However I do think that if you're calorie counting to the point that if you're over your calorie limit by 100 calories that you freak out and start working out like a maniac and stop eating the next day...that's an eating disorder.

An eating disorder is a VERY VERY serious thing and it's something you can die because of. So I disagree that everybody here has some sort of eating disorder.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I know this wasn't directed at me but here was my experience. When I joined I wasn't counting calories, but when I started I realized I was only eating 900 cals per day and barely maintaining. Everyone told me to up them to at least 1200 so I took the leap of faith. It was scary and I did gain a couple of pounds at first. Then I lost quite a bit. Then I plateaued and upped my calories to 1470. I haven't gained or lost at that number but I feel much more satisfied. I'm sure if I got my butt in gear, ate cleaner and exercised more I would start losing again but I think my body is happy where it is so for now I'm good. It seems like it would be as simple as eat less to lose more, and usually it is, but there comes a point where eating more can actually help you lose more because it helps you build lean muscle, which boosts your metabolism. Also lean muscle doesn't have to look like body building. I don't like that look either, but muscles will help you burn more fat.

In reply to hollyeverhart... I learned the hard way that sometimes you have to eat more to lose more... I wasn't losing ANYTHING when I was eating at 1200, but when I bumped my calories up to 1350 and ate my exercise calories back the weight started melting away... Something for you to think about....

Really?! That sounds scary to me. What did you weigh then, and what's your height? its okay if you don't want to give it out, Its just ever since getting to a lower weight, I can't lose weight, at a higher weight I easily could at first.

12skipafew99100

You need to not like the fat. If there is no more fat, then get over the number.:noway:

ConsciousGirl

It can be. I think being obsessive over a number can become a very bad obsessive. It's why I don't count calories. It's okay to not like your body and want to change it, BUT it's better to go by how your body looks. What if you lose 20 pounds and you don't like the number still so you try to lose more and more and eventually you look like a skeleton just because you don't like the number on the scale?

I have a number in mind on the scale for me BUT I don't really care what it ends up being if I can see a difference in my body and if I'm happy with my body. Obsessing over the number on the scale can end up VERY VERY bad especially if you're already scared of gaining weight even if it comes from muscle.

I know no matter how much I lose I won't be a fragile skeleton because I have big bones and muscles as well. This is why I wouldn't mind going as skinny as I can go. Plus I'm not that tall.

blueandigo

I don't like odd numbers so when I saw 167 on the scale I would tell people 168 until I got down to 166.

12skipafew99100

I know how you feel. Its not really a good way to think, a number can't tell your health status. I want to see 125 on the scale. When i was 135 i was a size 4, pretty firm too. my mom thought i wasn't eating, some people would even say i was thin. I never felt like it was good enough. I still felt fat and disgusting, when i know 135 at 5'8 wasn't fat. i'm 151 right now hoping to see 125 by summer.

I'm 5'5" and when I was 125pounds I was a size 9. Of course that was 30 years ago. Also, I was an athlete with much muscle.

Try looking at the scale and seeing 195. THAT would put you in a mood.:huh:

Sounds like a self esteme issue to me. Not a weight problem.

adjones5

I know how it feels to be obsessed with the number on the scale. When I recognize that it is going to unhealthily interfere with my life then I put the scale away and don't let myself use it for a couple of weeks. If I were you I would stick with measuring tape instead of the scale, that is what has helped me to avoid severely disordered thinking about my body/weight.

WWH_AJ

I'm 5'2 and currently 160. My ultimate ideal weight is 135, but I am also big boned. If I never reach 135 and get stuck at like 150 or something like that, I wont care at all. I know I have tried my best and maybe my body wasn't made to be that skinny. I will know that if I get below 160 it'll be the skinniest I've ever been my adult life and I'm happy with that. I also started having issues with the scale awhile back and it is currently in my closet under some clothes. It will come out at the beginning of the year for the challenges I'm signed up for and then it will only be taken out on weigh-in days. I know I'm far from where I was a year ago and thar I am making healthier choices, so if I never see 135 I'll know at least I tried. As long as I feel good about myself and get a little muscle then it'll be a great journey I've completed.

KayteeBear

It can be. I think being obsessive over a number can become a very bad obsessive. It's why I don't count calories. It's okay to not like your body and want to change it, BUT it's better to go by how your body looks. What if you lose 20 pounds and you don't like the number still so you try to lose more and more and eventually you look like a skeleton just because you don't like the number on the scale?

I have a number in mind on the scale for me BUT I don't really care what it ends up being if I can see a difference in my body and if I'm happy with my body. Obsessing over the number on the scale can end up VERY VERY bad especially if you're already scared of gaining weight even if it comes from muscle.

I know no matter how much I lose I won't be a fragile skeleton because I have big bones and muscles as well. This is why I wouldn't mind going as skinny as I can go. Plus I'm not that tall.

I meant it as an extreme, not that it will happen for sure. But if you do end up continuously losing weight and losing so much weight that you're very underweight you WILL look like a skeleton...with big bones. But you will look like a skeleton.

I'm 5 feet tall...I weight 142 pounds currently. I have big bones and a lot of muscle. I would ideally LOVE to get down to 120...do I think it will happen? I don't know...I kind of don't think so because I don't *look* that big because of all the muscle I have and because I do want to KEEP that muscle and build more. I for sure want to change my appearance because I know have some extra fat that can disappear and I'll still be healthy and look healthy. But if I were to be obsessive about weighing 120 pounds I bet I would have to lose some muscle or not gain anything.....then maybe I'll be skinny but I'll be weak. And I'd rather be heavier but strong and healthy and look skinny (or rather slender or something? I think of skinny as having negative connotations and don't like using that work)...

But keep in mind if you don't work to maintain those muscles you WILL lose them. That's what happen with anorexic people...they starve themselves and at first, yes you get skinny because your body eats away at the fat BUT it also eat away all your muscle because it has nothing else and that's why they look like skeletons.

And it's possible that the number YOU have in mind might not be healthy for you. Especially if you have big bones and are more muscular. Most people my height are around 100 pounds. I would look like a dying person at that weight because I am not built to be that weight.

lisaelainee

I dislike odd numbers too! :grumble:

I don't like odd numbers so when I saw 167 on the scale I would tell people 168 until I got down to 166.

Longbowgilly

Just grab your scales, head to the nearest bin and chuck them in it!!
They will make you feel bad about yourself when its really all about body composition, try and concentrate on measurements rather than numbers as they can change so much so soon, but taking measurements is much more accurate, you can even measure your bodyfat by using a tape measure which has got to be a better way of tracking things.
Please don't beat yourself up over a number, I have done that for many years and it really screwed me up, I now just concentrate on my bodyfat %, its tragic at the moment but I know when I see THAT changing I am REALLY making progress!
Hang in there!

ConsciousGirl

It can be. I think being obsessive over a number can become a very bad obsessive. It's why I don't count calories. It's okay to not like your body and want to change it, BUT it's better to go by how your body looks. What if you lose 20 pounds and you don't like the number still so you try to lose more and more and eventually you look like a skeleton just because you don't like the number on the scale?

I have a number in mind on the scale for me BUT I don't really care what it ends up being if I can see a difference in my body and if I'm happy with my body. Obsessing over the number on the scale can end up VERY VERY bad especially if you're already scared of gaining weight even if it comes from muscle.

I know no matter how much I lose I won't be a fragile skeleton because I have big bones and muscles as well. This is why I wouldn't mind going as skinny as I can go. Plus I'm not that tall.

I meant it as an extreme, not that it will happen for sure. But if you do end up continuously losing weight and losing so much weight that you're very underweight you WILL look like a skeleton...with big bones. But you will look like a skeleton.

I'm 5 feet tall...I weight 142 pounds currently. I have big bones and a lot of muscle. I would ideally LOVE to get down to 120...do I think it will happen? I don't know...I kind of don't think so because I don't *look* that big because of all the muscle I have and because I do want to KEEP that muscle and build more. I for sure want to change my appearance because I know have some extra fat that can disappear and I'll still be healthy and look healthy. But if I were to be obsessive about weighing 120 pounds I bet I would have to lose some muscle or not gain anything.....then maybe I'll be skinny but I'll be weak. And I'd rather be heavier but strong and healthy and look skinny (or rather slender or something? I think of skinny as having negative connotations and don't like using that work)...

But keep in mind if you don't work to maintain those muscles you WILL lose them. That's what happen with anorexic people...they starve themselves and at first, yes you get skinny because your body eats away at the fat BUT it also eat away all your muscle because it has nothing else and that's why they look like skeletons.

And it's possible that the number YOU have in mind might not be healthy for you. Especially if you have big bones and are more muscular. Most people my height are around 100 pounds. I would look like a dying person at that weight because I am not built to be that weight.

I totally get what you are saying. I would look weird at a certain weight when for others it is normal but that's what annoys me - why can't I be light like others my height even if I look skinnier.
I guess that was what my question was about all along, is it okay to lose weight for the sake of being lighter. I am also under the impression that guys do not like heavy girls (heavy being different to fat).