Have you always been overweight?

Jericha1992
Jericha1992 Posts: 80 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi all! :)

I've noticed that a lot of people on the site have been healthy at one time, but have gained weight. Other people have been overweight their whole lives, but most of these people seem to be at the relative beginning of their journey.

It seems like losing weight is more difficult for someone who has never been a healthy weight, than for someone who once was an athlete.

Is there anyone here who has ALWAYS been overweight (like me), but has reached and maintained their goal weight? I would love the motivation!

Thanks guys!
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Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    <---- lol. I slimmed down twice, once around 16 when I stopped eating meat (which means pretty much I stopped eating all the fatty meat my mom cooked for us, so I lost like 16 lbs, but gained most of it back in the next 4 years), then again at 21 when I went down to 130 lbs but it lasted maybe a month before I started gaining it all back (I lost fast, then couldn't stick to my diet as I was eating out every day).

    I had horrible eating habits though, snacking a lot on those delicious French pastries, croissants, puddings and cheese, pretty much (and salami and pates).
  • _jordy_
    _jordy_ Posts: 26 Member
    I was overweight for a bit on my teenage years (read: depression).
    I just stopped eating junk and moving around more and eventually lost weight. I've put more effort into weight loss since then in an effort to become more fit.
    So I guess, I have been overweight. but for a much shorter period than I've been healthy.
  • silmarilliane
    silmarilliane Posts: 133 Member
    i was considered fat at school by classmates at secondary school, and have always considered myself an overweight person because my mum is overweight (like, it's not my fault it's GENETICS!)
    my weight has fluctuated with an average of 175, but getting up to 208 and down to 162 (and going up and down a few times)
    but saying that, 208 was when i started, and all the bounce back ups have never been as high as that (208 - 162 - 192 - 168 - 182 - 173 currently and losing)

    my bounce back up issues are when people say i look good or i'm happy with how i look and i give up (i.e. binge). the main one was after the big weight loss, i had a normal christmas and put on 7lbs but my clothes still fit so i didn't bother going back to losing...
    i'm planning on losing another 7lbs or so by mid december and then i'm going to practice maintainence over christmas as that's the bit i have a problem with.
    feel free to add me for motivation or to be nosey at my diary!
  • marshxomellow
    marshxomellow Posts: 87
    I remember being overweight for at least since I was in elementary school. That being said it has been over 10 years.
  • ViktoryaC
    ViktoryaC Posts: 124 Member
    I was practically underweight at 5'6 110 pounds until 18 months ago. Now I'm 165. I think it can be hard to lose for both lifelong strugglers and we shocked ex-skinnies!
  • casy84
    casy84 Posts: 290 Member
    I was never overweight, but got very close to it. It wasn't easy at all to lose the weight, it took me about 1 year. I know I did it for vain reasons(not for health), but it was worth the struggle.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    This is a great thread. I would imagine that it could be a very different experience for someone who's always been heavy to lose weight and KEEP IT OFF than for someone who wasn't always overweight.

    Great thread.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I was practically underweight at 5'6 110 pounds until 18 months ago. Now I'm 165. I think it can be hard to lose for both lifelong strugglers and we shocked ex-skinnies!
    Wow. That's quite a bit in such a short time.

    I'm also 5'6". I graduated high school at 95. Finished college at 125 and then gained another 25 over about 10 years.

    Did you have a baby? College? Medication? wow. sorry to ask so many questions, but it seems like such a lot in such a short time.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I have felt overweight since I was 7, but have technically been overweight/obese since I was about 13. I was such a huge kid (5'6" and 125-130 lb at age 10!) but height-weight proportional until puberty hit and I really started to pack on the lb. I have been over 200 lb since I started high school. Right now I'm 36 yrs old and at my lowest adult weight, 218, from 307 (all-time high) in 2008.

    I was previously at 299 lb when I was in college, then I got down to 227 in 2000-2001 and then gained it all back over many years.
  • MelRC117
    MelRC117 Posts: 911 Member
    Yes. I loved food, didn't pay attention to portions, then once I moved out of my parents house I went crazy and got in the 300's. I lost 90 lbs a few years ago and felt great but then fell completely off when I got pregnant and here I am again with a 14 month old STILL trying to lose weight.
    I think now that I KNOW I can lose that much weight, I get frustrated with myself and my lack of commitment/motivation. I've proven to myself I CAN lose a lot of weight and I know I felt so great before, God knows why that isn't enough motivation for me now.
  • fairykelly13
    fairykelly13 Posts: 79 Member
    I was always heavy... Except for a brief time just out of high school when my friends and I were going dancing all the time, but that didn't last as soon as I got a "real" job at a desk in an office... haha And then the weight just PILED on.

    Now I've lost almost 90 pounds and have maintained for a year. Some weeks/months are better than others, but if I am "bad" - I keep making sure to get it back in line before it gets out of control. Meaning - don't let a 5 pound gain become 15... It's kept me in my size 4's (which is SHOCKING after being in size 18 for far too long and NEVER having been that small before) and I feel great!
  • ninjakitty419
    ninjakitty419 Posts: 349 Member
    I have been overweight since I was 4 or 5. I have no idea what it feels like to be a healthy weight or what I would look like, but I am excited to find out.
  • UnoDrea3732
    UnoDrea3732 Posts: 342 Member
    I have been overweight since I was 10yrs old and basically grew tall and wide from then on.

    It is difficult to lose weight and think of what the outcome may be because I have never been truly happy with myself since the day I started really caring. The last time I was a size 8 was when I was 8. lol. Also it doesn't help with the fact that when I go to the doctor they always tell me that I'm healthy (LDL, Blood pressure, etc etc). Thus the second reason it is hard to get motivated.

    But I now know that I have to do it for me and hope that one day I'll be happy with who I see in the mirror.
  • shaydon80
    shaydon80 Posts: 138 Member
    I have been overweight for as long as I can remember... with the exception of a few months last year when I reached my goal weight.
    Even in elementary school I was called a whale by some boys on my bus, but when I look at pictures I really wasn't all that chubby. There was also the "chubby thighs" comments that I can remember from early childhood, but I think that was in comparison to my sister whose knees knocked together because she was skin and bones.
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    I haven't made it to my goal yet, but I have always been overweight. I don't remember very well what I was at certain ages, but I know that when I graduated high school I was 300 pounds. And I did NOT put that weight on all of a sudden. When I was little I'd always tell myself that I'd be skinnier if I could just stay the same weight as I grew taller. Yeah, didn't happen, though I am 5'9". I'm almost back to my high school weight though, 311.

    I'll let you know when I make it and keep it, because I definitely intend to :smile: I'm already excited to see what it feels like to shop in a normal store without worrying if their sizes will be big enough. I don't remember the last time I could shop out of the plus size section.
  • Restlessme
    Restlessme Posts: 191 Member
    I've been overweight since...about age 5.

    Every time I went to the doctor, I was just slightly over the line for my height and age, thankfully she never made me feel bad about it, just told my mom and I that I should play outside more. I do think it's harder for someone who's always been overweight to lose weight because I've spent almost 16 years of my life using food as my best friend, that person to console me when there's no one else around or to keep me entertained when I'm just too bored.
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    I was 116 lbs at 15 years old, then by 23 I had ballooned to 210. So I went from underweight to overweight. Now, two years later I'm at a more reasonable weight of 134 (although I'd like to be around 125).

    Mind you, I'm 5'0" (with shoes on...)
  • ViktoryaC
    ViktoryaC Posts: 124 Member
    I was practically underweight at 5'6 110 pounds until 18 months ago. Now I'm 165. I think it can be hard to lose for both lifelong strugglers and we shocked ex-skinnies!
    Wow. That's quite a bit in such a short time.

    I'm also 5'6". I graduated high school at 95. Finished college at 125 and then gained another 25 over about 10 years.

    Did you have a baby? College? Medication? wow. sorry to ask so many questions, but it seems like such a lot in such a short time.
    It sure is a lot in such a short time....I'm still in shock!:sad: And it's almost all belly fat....from a 24 inch waist to a 37 inch one. No baby, college was 9 years ago, no medication. As far as I can tell, I turned 30, started a sedentary job, and started really enjoying snacks! My thyroid checks normal.....I've just really hit the food lately!
  • Ladydrake12
    Ladydrake12 Posts: 45 Member
    I was a size 12 since early high school - as in I could wear the same pants in high school, college, and the "real world". I went through eating disorders, addiction to cardio (worked out at least 4 hours a day, pure cardio - and yes I think you can be addicted to cardio) and never moved out of that darn 12. I am now 27 and just zipped a size 6. Working out a reasonable amount and using MFP to watch my food intake and macros is the ONLY thing that has given me progress.

    I promise you can do it...no matter what you have been your "whole life". That is the past, make the future better.
  • jodynolte
    jodynolte Posts: 243 Member
    I have been overweight for what seems like forever. Was always the biggest girl in high school, did the yo-yo diets, lost, then gained, then had baby... Currently, I am on a journey to be healthy and probably the healthiest of my life (I am 44). I'm about 20ish pounds away from being at my lowest adult weight and super excited about it. Good luck with your journey!
  • nlespier
    nlespier Posts: 47 Member
    Growing up I was always the thin one if my family. I watched my mom and sister battle with their weight and honestly never thought anything of it. When I was in high school I gained like 30lbs while I was dating my "first love" because he always ate (he was a football player) so I felt like I needed to eat too. But after we broke up I lost that weight plus more pretty fast. It wasn't until I hit my 20's that I started packing on the pounds. I went from 150 to 250 in about 18month to 2 years. Honestly it wasn't until after I had my first baby (at 28) that I realized that I had gotten SO heavy. I've been struggling ever since to get the wight off. The smallest I've gotten is 205. But I seem to gain REALLY easy. I just had my 2nd baby (she's 7 months today) and I'm back up into the 250's and I can't seem to lose anything even with healthy eating and exercise.
  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    I was skinny until 30 ... in my late teens I made efforts to put weight on !! When I got to 35 , with lack of exercise the weight started to pile on. Top weight was about 195 , but for a naturally tall and thin person suddenly having a 39" waist it was a bit of a suprise

    Nowadays I am working on my fitness , belly is down to 33 and fitness is improving

    but I think as we age, if we're not careful it can sneak up on you.

    So no, bulk of my life has probably been nearer underweight than over. 2 years of being an overweight big belly was enough and steps were taken. Now it's more aiming at maintenance as soon as I work out my bf% and see how close I can get to a healthy range
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I was practically underweight at 5'6 110 pounds until 18 months ago. Now I'm 165. I think it can be hard to lose for both lifelong strugglers and we shocked ex-skinnies!
    Wow. That's quite a bit in such a short time.

    I'm also 5'6". I graduated high school at 95. Finished college at 125 and then gained another 25 over about 10 years.

    Did you have a baby? College? Medication? wow. sorry to ask so many questions, but it seems like such a lot in such a short time.
    It sure is a lot in such a short time....I'm still in shock!:sad: And it's almost all belly fat....from a 24 inch waist to a 37 inch one. No baby, college was 9 years ago, no medication. As far as I can tell, I turned 30, started a sedentary job, and started really enjoying snacks! My thyroid checks normal.....I've just really hit the food lately!
    30...ahh... yeah, it seems for some of us women we see these metabolism drops every ten years or so. I had one around 30 too.
    Bummer! What's your goal weight? I ultimately got up to 156, and then said enough was enough and got to 132 and have stayed basically there for the last decade or so. (But at 45 it got harder again lol).
    You can do this! Walk more, move more, cut back on the snacks. You can do it!:drinker:
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    Also it doesn't help with the fact that when I go to the doctor they always tell me that I'm healthy (LDL, Blood pressure, etc etc). Thus the second reason it is hard to get motivated.

    I have this exact same issue with the doctor. I'm perfectly normal for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, etc. So when people are like "Just be motivated to lose weight for your health" I always want to mention that I AM healthy. I'm just also fat, which comes with a whole host of other mental concerns and embarrassments.
  • plsgtfit
    plsgtfit Posts: 5
    I was extremely scrawny until I was about 17...mostly because my Mum didn't feed me very well and I was malnourished. When I left home for Uni when I was 18 I slowly gained weight as was drinking a lot and eating take aways all the time I had no idea about nutrition!!! When I got to graduation year when I was 21 I had reached 180lbs but I didn't care too much as I had a partner (who I'm still with) who loved me for who I was. Since having my Son when I was 24 I went up to 223lbs :( I have now though lost 36 pounds (22lbs on my own and another 14lbs thanks to MFP) I don't want to be obese let alone overweight anymore!!! I have another 8lbs until "overweight" and then it's a long road to ahead to "normal" BMI.....another 39lbs to go eeeek
  • ViktoryaC
    ViktoryaC Posts: 124 Member
    I was practically underweight at 5'6 110 pounds until 18 months ago. Now I'm 165. I think it can be hard to lose for both lifelong strugglers and we shocked ex-skinnies!
    Wow. That's quite a bit in such a short time.

    I'm also 5'6". I graduated high school at 95. Finished college at 125 and then gained another 25 over about 10 years.

    Did you have a baby? College? Medication? wow. sorry to ask so many questions, but it seems like such a lot in such a short time.
    It sure is a lot in such a short time....I'm still in shock!:sad: And it's almost all belly fat....from a 24 inch waist to a 37 inch one. No baby, college was 9 years ago, no medication. As far as I can tell, I turned 30, started a sedentary job, and started really enjoying snacks! My thyroid checks normal.....I've just really hit the food lately!
    30...ahh... yeah, it seems for some of us women we see these metabolism drops every ten years or so. I had one around 30 too.
    Bummer! What's your goal weight? I ultimately got up to 156, and then said enough was enough and got to 132 and have stayed basically there for the last decade or so. (But at 45 it got harder again lol).
    You can do this! Walk more, move more, cut back on the snacks. You can do it!:drinker:
    When I first started, my goal weight was 110, where I started. However, I'm getting older, I think my metabolism really dropped, and I just like food too much! I've switched my goal to 140-145, which seems more reasonable for a 31 year old.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    Not yet, but getting close to my goal! I think it is hard going from being overweight to healthy, but the way I started to view it is that each lifestyle change and day that goes by is a surprise - you don't have any idea how you're going to look at your goal weight, and that is exciting! The day I bought a size 8 skirt at Express, I cried... never thought I'd get there.

    You'll see small victories every day - being able to cross your legs, seeing your collarbone for the first time, wearing a size 7 ring (instead of a 10), buying a size 18 instead of a 20, not being plus-sized anymore, even wearing a smaller shoe size. I jumped for joy the day I unsubscribed from the Lane Bryant email list - clothes were too big! I never thought I'd take for granted buying size M/L clothes, but it's a way of life now (I even bought a XS dress at Gap last year - it was a little small and the dress ran big, but I couldn't resist it!).

    So take it day by day. You'll have good days and bad days, days when you splurge, and days you don't exercise. But if most of them are solid, you're in good shape and you'll feel a million times better. Good luck! :)
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member

    When I first started, my goal weight was 110, where I started. However, I'm getting older, I think my metabolism really dropped, and I just like food too much! I've switched my goal to 140-145, which seems more reasonable for a 31 year old.
    Yeah 110 might be tough. I settled at 130-135. 140ish seems totally do-able.
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    I was overweight or obese from the age of 17-18 to 28. I was in the 200s and obese for most of that time. Almost every one in my family is obese and I honestly had gotten to the point where I thought I was just always going to be obese and that I should just accept it. But then I changed my mind and committed to losing weight so I'd feel better physically and mentally. Good luck :flowerforyou:

    ETA I've been at my goal weight (130s) for 11 months.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    I'm not quite at my goal weight (10-15 pounds to go) but I have been overweight all of my life and am currently smaller than I've ever been at my adult height. It hasn't been too terribly hard for me. I had to make some adjustments to my lifestyle by adding exercise and moderating what I eat but once I set my mind to it, the pounds came off pretty easily.

    Some things that helped me:

    Stop making excuses, especially the one about having always been overweight. I saw a quote earlier this year that really opened my eyes to the number of excuses I had in my brain, "If it's important you'll find a way, if it's not you'll find an excuse." Very, very true statement.

    Challenge yourself. Don't say you can't do something. Try it first and see if you can. I hadn't run since I was in middle school. I thought I hated running. In February of this year I tried it. I've since done three 5K's and run about 5 miles a week. It's one of the most freeing activities I've ever done.

    Let yourself be hungry from time to time. I had a fear of being hungry so I ate continually and always thought about what I would be eating next. I started this journey with a juice fast (I don't recommend this for everyone, it was what I felt I had to do) and felt hunger for the first time and realized that it wasn't anything to be afraid of.

    Do not let the scale be your only measure of success. I have had periods of up to 6 weeks with no weight loss but because I was also measuring inches, body fat, time I could run without stopping, clothing size, etc. I always felt successful and it motivated me to keep going.

    If I can do this so can you!

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