Want your honest opinions, please

It's important to strive for what makes YOU most comfortable, at the end of the day that is what matters most. BUT, I would recommend staying within the healthy BMI range for your height for the sake of your overall well-being... Especially being that you said it's really hard to get below a certain weight. I'd imagine that's your body's way of telling you that you're not meant to be that small because it can potentially be just as harmful towards your health to be underweight as it is to be overweight (which you're not even classified as "overweight" on the BMI scale right now). If you're happier at a teeny tiny weight, so be it, it is your body. However don't be surprised if health or menstrual cycle issues start showing up if you're underweight for a long run.

sounds like body dysmorphia. have you had counseling?

Agreed.

PS: Just had a look at your pics. You look really thin, don't know why you think you need to lose weight.

Based on the photo, body dysmorphia sounds about right.

Agree.

I'm 5'9", and a few months before I got married, I was about 135 lbs. A lot of people said that I looked too thin. I was happy about the number on the scale, but not about how I looked or felt. I was 145 when I got married and felt better then. Fast forward a few years and I'm now trying to get back to 145 from 183. My husband told me earlier this summer that I look better now than I did when we got married, and I still have 10ish pounds to go.

The difference is that I've been exercising, including lifting some weights, and eating better. I feel better now than I ever have. If you want to change the way your body looks, focus on the weights and taking good care of yourself. I personally don't think you need to lose any more weight.

Without getting into the unpleasantries in my past, I understand the desire to have the scale read a certain number. There's still a part of me who would love to see something in the 130's just because that's a low weight for someone my height. In the past, being skinny is who I was (so I thought), so I wanted to maintain that. That part of me, along with the rest, is in therapy working through some issues. I know now that the number on the scale doesn't mean a whole lot... the important results of weight loss are how you feel and look.

If this is really weighing on your mind, it might be worth it to talk to a doctor and perhaps look into some therapy. Just based on your picture, you could be starting down a dangerous road if you want to keep dropping the weight just for the sake of the number on the scale.

Good luck.

You look FABULOUS! Lose a few more if you want and ignore the negative comments.

I've just come back from Paris. Those Parisian ladies know how to stay slim and they look amazing.

It's all relative - on here, you probably look thin or too thin to some people. For Paris you'd be about right! :-)

Best wishes

Jenny x

I'm about the same as you girl. Maybe an inch shorter and my goal weight is 125. When I go above 130, I feel fat. When I was below 120, I was way too skinny. You could see it in my face even. I had a eating disorder though and had a complete lack of appetite. So all and all I say strive for what makes you comfortable. For me, that's 125!!!

Yeah... I exercise kind of a lot I guess... Couple of strength session per week plus minimum 35kms running ( broken up over 3 sessions)
I just think I look better skiinny. Annoyingly, I look better a few pounds heavier in a bathing suit. But dressed I look better skinny. And you spend most of your time dressed... So.....
But it's hard work to get the numbers low. Not much food. I wonder if life's too short to be hungry, or if life's too short to feel heavy..

OP I was mostly struck by the last sentences. If you're having to restrict that much to attain a certain weight then yes that weight is too low. I'm 5'6" and 132. In the throes of my ED when I was younger I'd get down to mid 120s but only on maybe 500-700 calories a day. Having to starve is a sure sign one is well outside her wheelhouse with regard to weight. Best of luck to you, take care of yourself!

I am 5'9 as well and ideal weight for our height is about 145. I would like to be 150 one day. I saw someone mention doing strength training, maybe try that to tone up. You may not lose lbs, but you will tone and look more fit.

My honest opinion is that 120 is waaaay too low. I'm 5"5 and I wouldn't want to go lower than 125 and you have four inches on me. Even if 120 would be healthy for you (which I don't think it is) I believe that your body will fight you every step of the way to stay at that weight. Looking at your photo I think that you should not lose any weight more weight. You can try lifting more weights even though the scale might creep up a bit but you will look sleeker. And to your question, life is too short to feel hungry.

It sounds to me like you need to go spend some time with a puppy they give loads of unconditional love to remind you that the only place that it really matters if you're big or small is the heart

If you feel fat dressed. Try having your clothes tailored to you. It can make a big difference in how you look in them. I personally would love to be your height and weight :flowerforyou:

It's amazing how reading threads can sometimes give you a moment of clarity. In reading this thread I am starting to think that perhaps my weight is where is should be and the work I need to do is not so much on the scale but with weights. I can see that I am in the lower range of my "weight category" and my bmi is about 21 (according to websites). I am 5.8" and 142 pounds. I seem to be having a lot of difficulty getting below this and perhaps it's because I'm not supposed to? I am in the process of looking for a personal trainer to support me with this. Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone who uses mfp for being so honest and sharing their knoweldge. Cheers to a great weekend everyone!