Women and Body Image...What is your input?

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  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I entered a goal weight when I joined this site because it made me. But honestly I don't know or care if I ever reach it or if I exceed it. I have settled on an exercise and eating plan that is healthy and workable for me so I'm just sticking with it and where I end up is where I'll end up. I figure as long as I'm living a healthy life that will be the weight I'm supposed to be.

    I'm 5' 5" and 154 right now and still losing very slowly (about 1 lb per month) so I figure I'll probably only lose another 5 - 10 before leveling out. But who knows?
  • beaner1st
    beaner1st Posts: 229 Member
    I am dealing with your issue also. Take a look at my weight ticker. I hit my (2nd) goal weight yesterday. I am considering setting another goal however I have had several people tell me that I shouldn't lose any more weight. Thing is I am at the middle of my BMI and at my lowest weight I weighed 15 pounds less than I do now. I also figure if I lose a little more now if I gain it back in the future it won't be all bad. :)
  • ledaweiss
    ledaweiss Posts: 8 Member
    I had a fanastic body in my teens at 150lbs (I'm 5'5) and everyone told me to lose weight (doctor, family, coaches etc). Causing many, many body issues and food issues, later in life I put on over 100lb. Now I'm only setting small goals, around one dress size at a time. When I feel confident about my body I will stop. Regardless of BMI or scale.
  • litlpineapple
    litlpineapple Posts: 63 Member
    Hey! Since starting MFP I've gone around a bit of what I want my goal weight to be (the smallest I've been, a little over, a little under...) and what I've concluded is to set it right now for my lowest weight and see how I feel when I get there. I'm halfway there now. I don't care about the number, if I have a flat belly and am "thin" looking I'll stop at whatever number.

    I think it should be about how you feel and how you look. Not what other people say about you. 20lbs may sound like a lot but sometimes it isn't. Good luck finding your "happy weight"!
  • ShoeDeahva
    ShoeDeahva Posts: 82 Member
    I know how you feel. I got the same responses when I lost my first 10 lbs. I am 6 feet tall and currently weigh 186 and many people think I shouldn't lose anymore. I was 30 lbs lighter when I met my Husband 9 years ago but I feel I was too thin then. I started out a 14 and am now a size 10 or 12 depending on if the fabric has spandex or pants vs skirts. At this point if I lose anymore weight, I really won't have much clothing to wear and I like what I see in the mirror. BMI indicates I should lose another 3 or 4 lbs to be at a healthy BMI but for now I like where I am at. We are planning to have another baby and losing weight in my case could be lowering my fertility, thus I have elected to maintain and have done so for the past two months.

    Do what makes you feel comfortable. :)
  • brnsgrsbody
    brnsgrsbody Posts: 254 Member
    I agree with Steve "I think most of the time when people say, "Oh, don't lose any more weight, you'll look to skinny!" they are simply trying to dissuade you from continuing to lose weight, because it shows them up. "

    I also think that most people in our familes aren't used to anyone being a healthy weight even though it might be on the leaner side. It's really all about them not having the guts to have discipline and determination.

    I really stopped having a weight goal and just want to be in some 6s and a 8 in every store. I also have measurement goals. I want to be 34-26-38. I have three inches in my waist and three inches in my hips to go so if I am consisered "skinny" by my peeps then oh well. It's your happiness right?
  • ygrad2001
    ygrad2001 Posts: 230
    You have to do what is best for you. Where are you most comfortable, you might get to a certain weight and realize that you are ready to mainitain. It shouldn't always, even though its hard, be about the number on the scale. How do you feel in your clothes? Are you healthy? Remember it is your body and only you have to live in it. What everyone else thinks doesn't matter.
  • Krys_T
    Krys_T Posts: 1,406 Member
    Everyone has some really great points.....it is about how I feel about my body and where I want to be personally. And I so feel brnsgr78 on the measurement thing. I need to think about this as well va va voom status LOL
  • MsKeelah919
    MsKeelah919 Posts: 332 Member
    I hear the same thing. I'm nearly 5'10 and 165 is my goal weight as well. People tell me all the time that its too skinny and that I will look FUNNY at that size. I'll see as I approach it. Maybe they are right, maybe they are not. The only way to KNOW is to try it. Thats STILL my aim until "I" CHOOSE otherwise.
  • roxyblack
    roxyblack Posts: 23 Member
    THIS WAS SO ME!!! I've dropped 45 pounds since last year and when I evaluate myself, I think I could do 5 or so more pounds. However, I get so much slack over being too skinny already... my friend (that is my height and weighs about 7 pounds LESS than me) is constantly posting upsetting comments on my facebook photos like "Eat something!!" or "Do I need to buy you a sandwich?" Since I've told her it really bothered me, she has stopped but I get it from other people too... What bothered me the most about her comments was that I have NEVER stopped eating...I lost weight slowly by working out and choosing a healthier lifestyle.

    People's comments just make me second guess myself or lead me to be believe I have become "obsessed". I talked to my doctor about it at my last appointment and he assured me that even if I did drop those extra 5 pounds, I would still be in "Normal weight" category.

    Moral of the story: Do what you want... if you reach you're goal and decide that maybe you are too skinny, gain some back....dont let your friends get in the way of reaching your goals!
  • Krys_T
    Krys_T Posts: 1,406 Member
    Thank you everyone!
  • Saffyra
    Saffyra Posts: 607 Member
    I think sometimes people have a hard time imagining what weight looks like. Everyone seems to carry it differently. So when you tell them I want to lose X amount of weight, they think about it in comparison to themselves and cant really imagine it.

    And sometimes when people who need to lose weight are confronted with someone who has been doing an awesome job LOSING it, they feel a little bad about themselves and try to justify how they feel about THEMSELF by telling you that you would be too skinny and you already look great.

    Honestly, my family is the same way. When I am fat they tell me I am fat. When I get to a healthy BMI they tell me I'm too skinny and am I eating and am I being healthy. Especially my mom (who is weighs more than I do now and she HATES that--she used to always tell me 'when I was your age I weighed 103, why dont you?'. I think she secretly wants me to stop losing weight because it makes HER feel better about herself.

    Anyway, I'm super proud of you and how well you've been doing! I say Go For It!!! You've got this far, why not see if you can get to that weight you want to be!
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