Please tell me my mom is wrong!

Ah my mom tells me the same thing! I always say "ugh I wish I looked like I did when I was 17 again" and she always says "you're getting older, your body changes" and I hate that- because I am determined to get back down! I don't think she meant it to bash you, I think they are just saying as you get older, it might be harder, and our bodies just don't work the same way... but you can get down to those 10/12 jeans again if you work hard enough! It can be done.. might be more difficult to get to, or you might see the weight sit differently in different areas now that you're older, but you can definitely do it and prove her wrong! Good luck girl!

So, I am 24 years old. When I started college at age 18, I weighed a healthy 165 lbs (I'm 5'10"). I should also add that during high school, I lost about 50 pounds to get down to that 165. Now, as a medical student, I've gotten up to 230 lbs due to inactivity and excessive eating. To make a long story short, I offered a pair of my smaller jeans to my younger sister (these jeans fit me when I was about 190 lbs) and they didn't fit her, so my mom suggested she give them to a friend. I said, "Oh, don't do that... I'm planning to be able to fit back into those soon." She replied, "Honey, we can't all be the same size as we were in college. Your body has changed." Basically, her theory is that women shouldn't aspire to be the size they were in college (for me, that was a size 10/12... nothing crazy) because as they age, their bodies somehow magically morph into something unrecognizable. I mean... I don't see any truth in her logic, but it still is really discouraging to hear.

I know that a lot of members have commented about hurtful things their moms have said to them regarding weight (either loss or gain). Is it just a mom thing? Has anyone figured out how to filter and disregard this sort of jealous, discouraging mom talk? It really gets to me.

shes wrong babe

I'm a mom and I say your mom is wrong. I have two daughters and if they go through university (I am in the UK) and add a little weight, I would always encourage them if they wanted to drop it. I love my girls regardless and if they set out to do something I will always support them. Not all moms say dopey things :-)

I had lost a bunch of weight and was smaller than I was in college before I was pregnant with my little man. Trying to get back there and sure that I can.

Your mom is wrong.

I was a 14-16 in high school, and by the time I was 28, I was a 24-26. I made my lifestyle change on 1/1/11 (not as a new year's resolution, just thought I wanted to try to lose some weight)..... almost two years later, I am at 187lbs, a size 12-14, pushing a size 10, and about to complete my second half marathon. I am now 30 y/o and in the best shape OF MY LIFE!

I weighed 20+ pounds more in high school (30 years ago). I weighed 7lb less than I do now at my lowest, my junior year of college. I may not get back to my junior year of college, but I am sure as hell not going back to my high school weight!

It does get harder as you get older -- hormones conspire against you -- but you are no where near pre-menopause, when the hormone excuse becomes valid. And the better shape you are going into it, the better you will be going through it.

hahahahah Mothers say the darnest things! I've gotten down to a size smaller than I was in JR HIGH! So of course your mom is wrong. Also there are A LOT of older people here who are now smaller than they ever were in their younger years. Your body can do whatever you set your mind to!

I'm smaller than I was in college, and I am 30. However, I am 15lbs heavier than I was in HS.

Ugh! Why can't people just be HAPPY and encouraging ESPECIALLY to the ones they say they love? *sigh*

Of COURSE you can be any size that you want to be! I was a size 18 in college, have been as high as a size 26, and I am a size 12 now, smaller than I EVER have been in my adult life (I am 40 now).

I am 44 and sttill have a pair of jeans from high school. Those jeans are now too big by about a size or two. I love trying them on. My Mom thinks i am too small, but I just don't care. I am normal.

Your mom is both wrong and right. Being that you're 24 years old, it shouldn't be a tremendous problem...hard work and dedication yes, but it's absolutely doable...you're only a handful of years removed from your previous weight and clothing size; to boot, at your age, you're really in your prime so it would be a good time to get started on your quest.

I'm sure what your mom is refering to is that it gets harder the older you get and it takes a lot more time and dedication. The older you get, the more work you have to do to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. If you were in your 40s or 50s, I'd proably tell you, "good luck" and be on my way...probably wouldn't happen. People's bodies change a lot over time, even when they're fit and at healthy weights. I'm 38 and I seriously doubt that I could ever have the same body or same level of fitness that I had when I was 20. For one thing, when I was 20 I was a U.S. Marine; I was basically paid to train and work out 24/7...my goal is to get down to around 175Lb (only 23.8 Lbs to go) which was my "happiest" weight, but still 10-15 Lbs more than I weighed when I was a Marine. At my age, and given that I also can't dedicate hours on end to exercise, reaching my weight and level of fitness at 20 would be a completely unreasonable goal.

Now, something you should think about...if you're serious, now is a great time to start. As I stated earlier, you're pretty much in your "prime" right now in regards to your body's natural abilities. It will be much easier to start now than to wait...you'll have to work that much harder later on to achieve the same goals. I noticed a serious decline in my metabolism, etc after 30...then again after 35...now I'm busting my *kitten*!

Like most people, I was always "too busy"..."not a good time"...and any number of other excuses. It was always a, "I'll cross that bridge when I get there" kind of thing...but that bridge never got there, I had to go to it. In RE to finding the time to exercise and the motivation to make good decisions in RE to what you're putting in your body...there is no magic that happens...nobody wakes up one day and says, "hey...I have all this time on my hands, think I'll start working out." The fact is that nobody has the time...life only gets busier and busier which is why diet and exercise require substantial dedication and hard work. Just remember that all of that time you're spending getting fit is just one step closer to your goal...every sack lunch and healthy snack you pack is another step closer...step by step, one day at a time.