3 numbers are ruining my self esteem. Please help.

HaleighBaker
HaleighBaker Posts: 2 Member
edited November 22 in Motivation and Support
My weight depresses me. It always has and I'm afraid it always will. I'm 19 years old and my biggest fear going into college was the freshman 15. Well it hit me hard. Extremely hard. I'm always told that, "Youre fine. Stop worrying about how much you weigh." Well when I get on the scale and I see 162 I start balling. This really hit me when I took a walking class for a PE and I had to get my BMI and body fat percentage measured. My BMI says I'm overweight at 5'6, 162 pounds. My body fat percentage is 25.9%, which I was told is good. I couldn't overlook the fact that I am overweight though. I have never been this big in my entire life. The sad thing is, I'm a competitive contemporary clogger, which means I have a lot of muscle in my legs. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but my legs aren't growing...my stomach is. I was picked on in elementary school about my weight, and I guess I have a fear of people looking at me and thinking the same thing. My self esteem SUCKS. I constantly tell myself that I would be prettier if I were 30 or 40 pounds lighter. I have tried numerous things. I walk 30 minutes a day, I have cut out all cokes, and I eat in smaller portions. I've started snacking on fruits instead of junk food, and I've limited myself on fast food - if any. I also do 20 minute core workouts to help tone it. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I keep gaining weight. And I keep growing. At the beginning of the summer I was a 9. Now I'm an 11. I worry myself about this all the time. I used to wear clothes that were fitted and cute. Now I wear larger t shirts and longer shorts because I'm embarrassed of my body. I'm tired of looking in the mirror and not liking the person a see looking back at me. I just want help and answers. Please and thank you in advance. ❤️

Replies

  • debubbie
    debubbie Posts: 767 Member
    Buy a digital food scale to weigh out your food and to help you accurately log your foods. If you are gaining weight you are probably eating more calories than you think and you can do this even if you are eating healthier foods. Your body fat% is good and shows that you are more muscular than fat and I am jealous! My BF% is almost twice yours! I don't think you need to lose 40 pounds at your height, maybe half that.

    You can't spot reduce to tone an area of your body (the core workouts) and have to be at a calorie deficit to lose weight for the underlying muscle to "show" (then your ab work would be visible). You may need to try to consistently workout for 8-12 weeks to see what is working for you and then make minor changes to your diet and exercise plan. Also, track your measurements in inches (bust, waist, hips, thighs, and biceps) to get a better idea of what your body is doing. You may be slimming down, but the scale says you are gaining weight.

    Good luck to you!
  • Sirius_12
    Sirius_12 Posts: 54 Member
    I'm just starting myself. Please use the diaries. Enter every single thing you eat. Weigh your food or measure it carefully. It seems accuracy is even more important when you have less weight to lose. Did you enter your stats and did MFP give you a calorie level? Did I mention log everything you eat? Also log your exercise, this gives you extra calories in your food diary. Hope this helps a little. Wishing you great success.
  • sarah0985
    sarah0985 Posts: 1 Member
    When I was your age (I'm 29 now) I was also unhappy with my size, but please know that you are NOT overweight! BMI is a pretty worthless tool for determining someone's body fat, so don't read too much into that "overweight" status you were given.

    I think you would benefit the most from talking to a therapist. I hope that doesn't sound harsh or rude, but working through your feelings about your size will likely have a very positive impact on your body image. I also think it's nearly impossible for anyone to lose weight and keep it off without starting in that positive frame of mind. That said, it sounds like you are introducing some positive exercise and eating habits and are already doing great things for your body. Increased self esteem will not come from losing weight (trust me), it will come from working from the inside out. Good luck and I wish you the best!
  • HaleighBaker
    HaleighBaker Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you so much! Your kind words are what I needed tonight! It's been one of those nights!
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    HaleighBaker wrote: »
    My weight depresses me. It always has and I'm afraid it always will. I'm 19 years old and my biggest fear going into college was the freshman 15. Well it hit me hard. Extremely hard. I'm always told that, "Youre fine. Stop worrying about how much you weigh." Well when I get on the scale and I see 162 I start balling. This really hit me when I took a walking class for a PE and I had to get my BMI and body fat percentage measured. My BMI says I'm overweight at 5'6, 162 pounds. My body fat percentage is 25.9%, which I was told is good. I couldn't overlook the fact that I am overweight though. I have never been this big in my entire life. The sad thing is, I'm a competitive contemporary clogger, which means I have a lot of muscle in my legs. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but my legs aren't growing...my stomach is. I was picked on in elementary school about my weight, and I guess I have a fear of people looking at me and thinking the same thing. My self esteem SUCKS. I constantly tell myself that I would be prettier if I were 30 or 40 pounds lighter. I have tried numerous things. I walk 30 minutes a day, I have cut out all cokes, and I eat in smaller portions. I've started snacking on fruits instead of junk food, and I've limited myself on fast food - if any. I also do 20 minute core workouts to help tone it. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I keep gaining weight. And I keep growing. At the beginning of the summer I was a 9. Now I'm an 11. I worry myself about this all the time. I used to wear clothes that were fitted and cute. Now I wear larger t shirts and longer shorts because I'm embarrassed of my body. I'm tired of looking in the mirror and not liking the person a see looking back at me. I just want help and answers. Please and thank you in advance. ❤️

    It's going to be hard to do, but forget the ##on the scale! When you go back to school, find a friend who knows what they are doing in the weight room and have them help you. Squats and deadlifts for sure!

    About 2 years ago I was working with a trainer. He asked me one day if I had ever thought about powerlifting. About 18 months ago I tried it, and fell in love! The scale has barely moved, but I have lost 4 inches on my belly alone. I've dropped 2 pants sizes.

    I'm 40 years old, 5'2" tall, 186lbs ,39% body fat...I wear a size medium shirt and 10/12 pants. I can squat 250lbs, deadlift 210lbs, and leg press over 550lbs.

    As for BMI, ignore it. My friend is a bodybuilder. He's 6' tall, 215lbs, under 10% bodyfat. He's "overweight". Ummm, NO. When he's at a 'healthy weight' (for competition) he looks anorexic.
  • 5krissy
    5krissy Posts: 9 Member
    its a simple matter of calories in vs. calories out. you eat to much. no matter the portion size or snacking on fruits instead on junk. log calories, every day eat 500calories less that your eating now.
    stick to it.
    good luck.
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