What would you say to your pre-weight-gain self?

I was never "skinny" but as a teenager in the 1980's wearing a size 12 (probably an 8 today), I would've been nicer to myself. I would've had more positive self-talk. If you love something, you want to take good care of it, one's body is no exception.

Don't have another baby. Lol. Just kidding, she's so worth it.

Like you, when I was thin I thought I was fat. I wish I were as 'fat' as I used to be now!

I'm...actually the same way. I've always felt heavy even when I wasn't. I recently saw a pic of myself when I was a teenager and saw how thin I was and all I could think about was why I ever felt fat and insecure (feelings probably leftover from my pudgy pre-pubescent days). I would love to tell myself then to go try on a bikini and quit covering up so much. I'd also tell myself to exercise more and eat better food or I'd really find out what being overweight feels like.

toriraeh wrote: »

For me, that isn't the case at all. In fact, when I was 135lbs (my goal weight now), I thought I was fat and disgusting. I was a size 5 and thought it was huge. So when I came to the realization in my twenties that stupid high school me was actually skinny and beautiful, it made me really sad that I took all that for granted.

So, if there was one thing I could say to myself before I put on all this weight it would be "stop worrying about being fat! You're not! You're beautiful! Now go live your life, start flirting with some boys, and stop being so self conscious!!"

This was pretty much my experience. In fact, I actually see it as a good thing about getting fat (or quite possibly getting older). I thought I was fat at 125 in my teens and was generally dissatisfied with that weight (without bothering to change it) in my early 20s. When I hit 150 in my late 20s on my way up (which is overweight to be) I thought it was the end of the world it was so huge and I stopped weighing myself and kept gaining.

On the way down I started working out and even though I'd run and been active off and on as a younger person working out regularly and having fitness related goals seemed to make a huge difference in how I felt--I was focused on what my body could do, not how I looked. I realized when I hit 150 again (on the way down) and felt really quite confident about myself and what I could do that something about taking control and understanding that my weight/fitness was in a major way within my control made a difference.

So I would have told myself I looked pretty good, but I also would have told myself to start strength training and set some specific fitness goals to focus on, rather than just looks/what clothes I fit into.

You look better than you think you do but how about concentrating on weight training now.

"Stop doubting yourself. There is something wrong with you. Go see Dr. Smith."

If only.

toriraeh wrote: »

So how about you guys? Anything you would tell your skinny selves?

I would tell my lighter self, 4 years ago ... watch those weekends. Exercise more, eat less.

Enjoy eating whatever you want while you can, because that is going to change when you hit 20. And when you get a job working from 4:00 PM to Midnight; do NOT stop at Taco Bell after work each night with your boyfriend.

That's exactly how I felt. I was a size 3 coming into my 20s, then I went up to a size 5 and thought I was extremely huge. I think I would tell myself the same as you, that I was far from fat. I think in regards to gaining weight I would tell myself that as a female I CANNOT eat the same portion sizes as my fiance, who by the way doesn't gain no matter what kind of foods or portions he eats! That's actually been one of his own goals, after seeing my success, is to gain weight.

Drop the chalupa!

put the fork down and get up off your *kitten*

I would warn myself to believe the doctors next time.

folgers86 wrote: »

I'm...actually the same way. I've always felt heavy even when I wasn't. I recently saw a pic of myself when I was a teenager and saw how thin I was and all I could think about was why I ever felt fat and insecure (feelings probably leftover from my pudgy pre-pubescent days). I would love to tell myself then to go try on a bikini and quit covering up so much. I'd also tell myself to exercise more and eat better food or I'd really find out what being overweight feels like.

This sums up what i would say to myself perfectly.

I would also add on to myself, that if you are insecure now, wait until you have gained almost 30lbs (as i did); cue not leaving the house and bailing on social events because i didn't want people to see how fat i became.

I've lost almost half of that and am feeling so much better in myself, but i didn't realize how long it takes to lose the weight the healthy way....all that cake suddenly doesn't seem worth it

I've been up and down my entire life. There are a few different significant times in my life where I would love to say something to myself.

To teenage Julie: You used to love being active, don't lose that to depression. Get off of the couch and out of the fridge.

To 29 year old Julie: You have come so far and made so much progress. You are only 5 pounds from your goal weight. You busted your behind to get there. Don't allow yourself to drown your sorrows in food and get yourself to where you don't think that it doesn't matter anymore. You still matter.

To 34 year old Julie: You have worked so hard to get yourself back to where you were, not just physically but mentally. You are accomplishing so much. Losing weight, getting stronger, feeling more confident in yourself. Don't allow yourself to wipe all that out because of comments from family members. Remember that you can't control what others say but you can control how you react to it. The way you reacted to it has only hurt you, not anyone else.

It's been a bumpy road over the years but I'm not giving up.