looking too thin

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Since losing 30 lbs I have been told by numerous people (mainly coworkers) that I look sickly and too thin. I'm 5 lbs away from my goal weight but the comments make me want to stop, sick is not the look I'm going for. Anyone else have similar issues after losing the weight
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  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
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    I get that. I found that simply losing weight by diet alone made me look weedy and skinny. I started lifting heavy about a year ago and now I weigh only a little less than when I was at my top weight, but with a more muscular physique, I look trim and healthy.

    Try lifting weight to shape your new slim frame, it may help you look healthy trim rather than sickly trim.
  • proudarmywife06
    proudarmywife06 Posts: 213 Member
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    I've had people tell me that before I gained all this weight but come to find out they were jealous. If you think yourself that you are to skinny, try looking into weight lifting. It helps a ton!
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
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    I agree with Jayb0ne - as you get near your target weight (are you sure it's your correct target weight?) you can do some resistance work to shape and contour your physique.

    I am a long way off, but I attend a couple of yoga classes per week which includes a lot of torso core body work, pressup type postures (Plank) and many ways to sculpt the body behind the fat before I get there. I am also cycling and I run once a week on the beach nearby and go for a sea swim so I am blessed where I am.

    So weights or body resistance exercise - all good for not looking skinny when you hit your target.

    All good - go for it. Just a guess - your work colleagues - are they overweight I wonder? Fear? Envy?
  • CarmenSandiegoInVA
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    Go by how you feel and look. Do you strength train? If not, that may be your best bet. It will make you bulk a little and get rid of the skinny sickly look if you have it. Maybe post a before and after pic so that we can see what they are talking about. they may just be saying this because they saw your before and after. People at work tell me all the time that I am wasting away and trust me when I tell you I still have 67 pounds to go before I'm in normal BMI.
  • arcticfox04
    arcticfox04 Posts: 1,011 Member
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    Hit the gym and lift some weights or do something like P90X at home.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
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    Depending on how you lost the weight, you may have lost a good deal of muscle. That will make you look gaunt and a little sickly, but the weight isn't necessarily the issue, the loss of muscle is the issue. As others have said, refocusing your plans to build muscle may resolve the issue.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
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    I like using http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm to set a rational goal weight. Google women at different body fat percentages, try to look at a variety, because people don't all look the same, and see what bodyfat percentage you think you want to be. Find your body fat percentage by calipers if you have them, a scale or measuring (try a few calculators and average if you do a circumference based method).

    What I like about this is it can tell you what is realistic for you. Plenty of girls my height would think 116 lb is a reasonable goal weight for them, but that is how much lean mass I have, so realistically, I'd have to lose lean mass or go below essential fat stores to get below 130 lb!

    As others have said, lean mass is what makes you look "fit" versus "skinny" so if YOU and you alone think you look too skinny, you should try lifting weights and eating at least at maintenance to do a "recomp" (trying to lose fat while gaining muscle)
  • Jimmytreatingtons
    Jimmytreatingtons Posts: 128 Member
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    Since losing 30 lbs I have been told by numerous people (mainly coworkers) that I look sickly and too thin. I'm 5 lbs away from my goal weight but the comments make me want to stop, sick is not the look I'm going for. Anyone else have similar issues after losing the weight

    Been there lost a lot of weight, but was in the wrong shape so I have come back on here I've dropped a few pounds and i am ready for the weights to try and change the shape of my body! I thing weights are the way to go!
  • EdgyMcSterious
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    Some people feel so badly about themselves that they want every person around them to feel badly too. These people are seeing you make positive changes in your life and it makes them feel worse about themselves so they say **** like this to bring you down.

    Maybe they don't mean to do but I've had people do this to me. I enjoy running. I've had people say to me, "you're going to hurt your knees with all of that running", or "I only run when I'm being chased", or my favorite "what are you running from?". All of these sound like innocent responses or questions. But in reality, these questions or statements are designed to get me to stop running. Why would a friend want me to stop doing something that I love and makes me feel great? I"m not hurting anyone. The only logical answer is, it somehow makes them feel bad about themselves and guess what, THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, it's theirs.

    So keep doing what you're doing if it makes you feel good. Don't let someone else impact decisions that you make for yourself. Switch up your routine to incorporate more lifting if you want, but make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Good Luck!!!
  • btkkterry
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    I'm doing the weights I guess just not enough, probably need to do less cardio and more strength training
  • Voncreepy2
    Voncreepy2 Posts: 1,450 Member
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    People are asking my husband if he is sick or using drugs...lol. I think when people are used to seeing you look one way for so long and then you change so much outwardly, I wonder if it's just something they have to get used to. I have a ways to go before anyone says I look too thin.....but am looking forward to it!!!
  • 2hobbit1
    2hobbit1 Posts: 820 Member
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    Look at "starting strength" "stronglifts 5x5" and "the new rules of lifting" All are very good programs.
  • zoeluiisa
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    Are they just saying you look too thin or is it more than that? If I called someone "sickly" I would mean that their skin looked sallow, that they had shadows under their eyes, that in general they just didn't have that healthy glow. If that's the case it might be worth looking at your diet and checking you have enough protein and vitamins and so on.
  • btkkterry
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    Are they just saying you look too thin or is it more than that? If I called someone "sickly" I would mean that their skin looked sallow, that they had shadows under their eyes, that in general they just didn't have that healthy glow. If that's the case it might be worth looking at your diet and checking you have enough protein and vitamins and so on.
    I have a thin build anyway and carry my extra weight in my stomach. When I started at 185 my waist was 29" and now is 26", try finding men's jeans in that size. So the weight comes off places that I don't need, like my arms and legs. I'm only eating fruits and veges and lean protein and haven't any ( junk) for 2 months. I think that most people haven't seen me at this weight.
  • iluvco3
    iluvco3 Posts: 98 Member
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    This was true for me.... When I reached goal, my face was very thin. After about 6 months, it was like things readjusted and I didn't look as thin in the face. I have heard many other people says the same thing.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
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    Although it is hard for an individual to lose weight, it is hard for their friends to see the results and adjust to your new appearance. Maybe you lost a lot of weight in your face, when before you looked a little puffy, now your bone structure is more visible. This happens a lot to people who lose weight, it is happening to my husband, and people think he looks tired or are guessing his age as older than he is.

    It may be time to move into a muscle building mode, where you eat and exercise with the goal of putting on more muscle mass. This requires a different approach than weight loss, but will help you fill out in all the right places and lean out the problem areas even more. It will also increase your skin's elasticity so you will appear younger and more healthy.
  • NWCountryGal
    NWCountryGal Posts: 1,992 Member
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    I get that. I found that simply losing weight by diet alone made me look weedy and skinny. I started lifting heavy about a year ago and now I weigh only a little less than when I was at my top weight, but with a more muscular physique, I look trim and healthy.

    Try lifting weight to shape your new slim frame, it may help you look healthy trim rather than sickly trim.

    ^This unless you do lift, I can't tell by your photo but you might have muscles we can't see. I personally don't want to just lose fat, I want to gain muscle and have some firmness and good muscle tone. Like I said, I can't tell from you pic sweetie. denise
  • NWCountryGal
    NWCountryGal Posts: 1,992 Member
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    I see this a lot on before and afters. People are so happy they lost weight but at what price:( This may not be your case at all though. I'm just saying that eating well and building our bodies, not tearing them down all in the pursuit of a smaller number on the scale would not be a place I want to go.

    denise:drinker:
    Depending on how you lost the weight, you may have lost a good deal of muscle. That will make you look gaunt and a little sickly, but the weight isn't necessarily the issue, the loss of muscle is the issue. As others have said, refocusing your plans to build muscle may resolve the issue.
  • reneecgc
    reneecgc Posts: 179 Member
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    Since losing 30 lbs I have been told by numerous people (mainly coworkers) that I look sickly and too thin. I'm 5 lbs away from my goal weight but the comments make me want to stop, sick is not the look I'm going for. Anyone else have similar issues after losing the weight
    Here is what I posted about a month ago or less.
    I continue to get Oh my goodness you are so skinny is your health OK. I am starting to think there is some
    under lying health issues. I have a physical next month and I can't wait. I need to be able to tell people for
    sure that I have just worked hard and ate right with 100% assurance. Just to note I am losing weight with
    out really trying. Well I am eating good nutritional food and exercising
    Here is my question is it because I got my body to a point that my metabolism is high
    and burning fat naturally? I have good muscle tone and people are always commenting on my muscle tone.

    Some Facts: 5'7" around 150-155 depending on the day

    I can't wait until my physical.!!!!!!
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
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    None of the above. Your coworkers are all haters that can't stand to see you actually doing something about being overweight, while they continue to snack on chips and cookies all day, wondering why they need bigger pants every year.