Why do you want to be thinner?

I'm am astounded that I haven't got any weight issues considering what my parents are like. My Mother was sick with anorexia for years. My Dad was bulimic when he was younger and constantly goes on about his weight. He used to brag that he fit into smaller jeans than me when I was 16 and going through a bit of a chubby puberty stage. He often asks us what we weigh. Actually all my Dad's family are OBSESSED with weight. My aunts and uncles used to call me "Mummy Long Legs" when I was a younger (and still do) because I was always tall and skinny :rolleyes: And if any family member puts on weight it's all they talk about. And at that I'd say out of my 30 cousins and aunts/uncles on my Dad's side about 2 are any bit overweight.

Again, I just find the weight thing bizarre. I'd rather people be insecure about intelligence or their personalities over weight any day...

It's just seems like such an irrelevant...thing!

Caraville

I want to be thinner purely because I've put on weight, I want to feel healthy and I'd find shopping more enjoyable-and I'd dare wearing stuff I couldn't wear now. I've been so busy in the last year that I never have much time to exercise anymore- and that's honestly not an excuse, I love going swimming and I actually don't mind the gym, I am just snowed under with stuff at the moment. But thankfully the stuff that I'm doing is finishing up soon so I'll be hitting the gym again in about 2 weeks time and I can't wait!

I love my food, but I put on weight far too easily to not exercise. That doesn't bother me, it's just something I have to do personally. But what really bothers me are women at work who sit around at lunch time discussing flipping Weight Watchers points ("ooh what are you eating, how many points are in that" or "you should try these, they've really low points" or "Oh my God I've gone way over my points today!" STFU. These women aren't even overweight, they obviously just keep an eye on their weight, which is commendable, but Jesus we don't all need to hear about it! The ridiculous thing is that most of them don't really exercise at all, so they'd be better off worrying less about points and getting out more.

I lost a few stone a few years ago and it was purely through exercise and smaller portions. I didn't weigh or measure anything, just ate less and worked out more. I'm really looking forward to the next few months so that I can start to feel like me again- just a healthier version of what I am now!

Acacia

I really want to lose some weight for health reasons but I'm trying to not get obsessional about it, just cutting out crap and exercising more. Replacing fizzy drinks/juice with water has really helped, I found. Keeping it simple.

It's hard not to keep being reminded of how I'm not supposed to be fat though. I can totally unsterstand how girls develop eating disorders, etc. Everyday you're bombarded with images of how women are meant to look, the ideal weight, how a celebrity lost her baby weight in just two weeks ( oh the crime of actually not being stick thin after giving birth :rolleyes:), etc,etc.

I find other girls are the worst though, especially at work. The girls I have breaks with are lovely but Every. Single. conversation revolves around looks, and particularly weight loss. They talk about chcolate as if it's a lethal, illegal drug of some sort, they don't eat carbs or sugar, and have teeny-tiny portions. Fair play to them for trying to be healthy, but they don't even seem to be happy. The funny thing is, they're all perfectly normal size , not fat or even slightly overweight by any stretch of the imagination. Sometimes I think it's boredom more than anything that keeps them latched onto the weight thing.

stripysocks85

Weight is a HUGE issue for me, pardon the pun. My entire family, bar my sister, are overweight, and not just by a couple of pounds. I remember comments about my weight being made even since my First Holy Communion. When I went to secondary school, I was probably the fattest in my class. I ate junk, didn't know anything about nutrition/food, things that I THOUGHT were healthy weren't etc etc, and I did little/no exercise. Through college, I was the same. I never 'dieted', but was always self conscious about my body. All my friends are size 8/10.

I'm 26 now, and have joined Weight Watchers. I need the discipline of someone else weighing me so that I can't lie to myself. I have changed my attitudes, knowledge etc. I have lost just less than 2 stone since September, and have another 2.5 stone to go. Considering I'm almost half way, I CAN totally do this. I've never been aware of a time that I weighed less than 12 stone, so when I break that in 4.5lbs more, I'm going to be thoroughly delighted.

I work with mostly female staff and it can be very frustrating as women ARE constantly talking about weight/calories/WW points etc. There are women who are size 10 and to them, they might be uncomfotable at being that size if they're generally used to being a size 8, whereas to me, jesus, if I got to a size 10, I would be over the moon.

Weight can be SO problematic and stressful for some people. I wish it wasn't the case, but sadly, it is.

Edited to add; I do go to Weight Watchers each week and I know many people don't agree with it as they don't see it sustainable long term, or that we're not educated on food, but that's not true. I have to admit, I haven't actually 'tracked' my food for weeks/months now, and I'm still doing okay. I want to train myself into a healthier lifestyle without relying on POINTS values, although I do check things out to see what's 'good/bad'.

I am a friend

I want to lose weight because I am small and feel and look much better slim. Have a few lbs to lose since I had my baby and am doing my best

Princess Peach

Acacia wrote: »

I find other girls are the worst though, especially at work. The girls I have breaks with are lovely but Every. Single. conversation revolves around looks, and particularly weight loss. They talk about chcolate as if it's a lethal, illegal drug of some sort, they don't eat carbs or sugar, and have teeny-tiny portions. Fair play to them for trying to be healthy, but they don't even seem to be happy. The funny thing is, they're all perfectly normal size , not fat or even slightly overweight by any stretch of the imagination. Sometimes I think it's boredom more than anything that keeps them latched onto the weight thing.

stripysocks85 wrote: »

I never 'dieted', but was always self conscious about my body. All my friends are size 8/10.


I work with mostly female staff and it can be very frustrating as women ARE constantly talking about weight/calories/WW points etc. There are women who are size 10 and to them, they might be uncomfotable at being that size if they're generally used to being a size 8, whereas to me, jesus, if I got to a size 10, I would be over the moon.

What weight or size you are doesn't really matter when it comes to wanting to be thinner. While others might think, "she's a size 8 why is she dieting?" it's your perception of yourself that drives you. And that's what is most harmful. I mean someone who is actually overweight can be told by doctor's and dietitians, but its this warped image a lot of women have in their head of the thin ideal figure that causes unhealthy thoughts and habits. If a girl has problems with her self image, it does not matter what others think of her or say to her. I really don't boredom can be blamed on this at all, there are so many pressures that can account for this.

Stripysocks you say you never dieted, do you mean in the past? Because Weight Watchers definitely is a diet.

Pembily

Well said PP! I'm fitting into a size 10 but I still have 20lb to lose, I know I am happier at that weight and I don't care if others judge me / question why I want to lose more weight... It's my body and I know when I'm my ideal weight.

Boredom is not the only reason for this. The reasons are many, varied and difficult to fix.

saa

Pembily wrote: »

Well said PP! I'm fitting into a size 10 but I still have 20lb to lose, I know I am happier at that weight and I don't care if others judge me / question why I want to lose more weight... It's my body and I know when I'm my ideal weight.
.

You can't win no one should judge you I hear that a lot (not about me lol) "You don't need to loose any weight" if its okay for someone to want to be as educated as they can be whats wrong with striving to have the healthiest body, its a machine that works to serve you not for others gazes.

Its sad seeing the stories of parents who are weird about weight passing it on it us I remember from being about 3 or 4 and my sister was about 4 or 5 we had very different bodies, she was taller and like a bean poll naturally I was thick and short (not fat just wide ankles and wrists, short and all) but b/c my dad had a weight issue and my sister didn't he gave out about her being thin so from the age or 7 I thought I was doing something wrong by being a normal weight, I think I've reversed most of the bile I had been fed.

Weight is a funny thing, it shouldn't be a number on the scale or how you look but what you do everyday as a child, if you lead a healthy lifestyle your body will sort itself out going through all those changes.

HereticPrincess

I wouldn't want to be thinner at all, but I would like to eat healthier. Currently working on that one, eating much better. I'm just about 8 stone and a size 8 which I'm quite happy with.

Up until about a year ago I was 7 stone and it was simply because I'm naturally slim, my mother is the same. She's about the same weight/height as I am.

Being as slim as I was used to make me feel a little uncomfortable because people would say things like "Oh my god, do you eat anything" or "you're so teeny-tiny". They were joking but I found it a little annoying after a while. I actually have a great appetite! Even though I am small, I have hips, and my oh says that he loves that.

Everyone should be able to feel sexy and confident once they are happy with the size they are at.

Monife

I almost wish I never started on the journey of trying to lose weight. I was in the severely obese category (18 stone 3lb) and still am obese (at 15 stone 4lb) but I have been teetering at the same weight for over 9 months now, gaining and losing. The reason I wish I had never started, is all I think about is food and weight loss/gain.

Can I eat this?
I want to eat this?
I have eaten this, oh sh*t!
I may aswell eat more, I have already f*cked up!

The reasons for wanting to lose weight are to be able to wear normal sized clothes and shop in normal shops (not Evans, New Look Plus Size etc), to be healthier and fitter and to like others, to be desired (sounds a bit strange, not desired as lusted after but admired more like).

So for the reasons above, I am glad I started this journey, but loathe it at the same time as it has almost consumed my life and there are some aspects I can't enjoy anymore without guilt attached.

Babybuff

Almost all of my sisters are overweight witht the exception of one who is the total opposite, at 5'10 she is tall and svelte. She jogs every other day and maintains a healthy diet.
My mother is overweight and has been for as long as I remember. There is never ending critcism in my family of those who watch what they eat. They bitched endlessly about the tall sister for being obsessive and narcissistic for jogging after her most recent kid was born. They constantly justify their own size by claiming that people who are not fat are undereating, unhealthy, suffer from an eating disorder or just plain old narcissistic. I'm tired of listening to their bull****ology.

(My father while overweight in his later years ran a gym and worked out everyday and for the men in the family it's perfectly ok to go and get ripped. )

cynder

My husbands doing weight watchers he lost 3 stone with them left them and put on 2, his back to them again and is the same weight as when he left. It's hard to maintain the weight after losing it.

I've never done weight watchers and hopefully never will, I'm doing my own thing which is working for me. I tried on my daughters size 8 jog pants today and they fitted me, however her size 6 jeans only fit to my knees.... Lol... I didnt go near her size 4 jeans.... I fitted into her age 10/12 shorts and her size 10 running pants (they were tight but I fitted into them). Looks like my small hips are for once paying off. I would be very happy with my current size if I could tone my belly, after two 4 kg babies and a premature 3.5kg baby I think I have to accept my belly is always going to be a bit flabby at whatever size I am...

I have more energy and can walk 16k without a break, couldn't have done that last year,

elsewhere

I want to be thinner simply so that I can look in the mirror and be happy about how I look.

I'm 5ft 2 and 9st exactly which technically isn't overweight but considering that 6 months ago I was a stone lighter I really want to lose that stone. I don't want to be super skinny but I want to be slim enough... but basically I want to be healthy. This year has been very stressful with my leaving cert and I have steadily gained weight since about october/ november and my self confidence has plummeted as a result.

I want to feel good and look good. For me it's not about being 'thinner' as such, it's really just about health and happiness.

stripysocks85

Princess Peach wrote: »

Stripysocks you say you never dieted, do you mean in the past? Because Weight Watchers definitely is a diet.

For me, it's not a diet. It's about learning to be healthier, and to be aware of what food is made up of and what I need/don't need. It's about making healthier choices.

And as for not being focused on a weight, I'm not. But, I want to get to a 'healthy' weight for my height. At the same time, I will gauge how I'm feeling wearing clothes.

Stench Blossoms

stripysocks85 wrote: »

For me, it's not a diet. It's about learning to be healthier, and to be aware of what food is made up of and what I need/don't need. It's about making healthier choices.

And as for not being focused on a weight, I'm not. But, I want to get to a 'healthy' weight for my height. At the same time, I will gauge how I'm feeling wearing clothes.

The stickies in the health and nutrition forum would help you be healthier and they are free.

tatabubbly

I did the slimming world diet there for a while. brill because it made you understand the value of fresh fruit and veg. of course i got a stone off and now after falling off the wagon, i'm the same weight i was before!

i'm not sure exactly where my obsession with food came from. i know i'm an emotional overeater. i can binge really bad when my oh is away or i'm feeling down. in my eyes, i want to lose weight to go from overweight to normal. i'm never goibg to be skin and bones but i want to be happy with the person i see in the mirror

Logical Fallacy

stripysocks85 wrote: »

For me, it's not a diet. It's about learning to be healthier, and to be aware of what food is made up of and what I need/don't need. It's about making healthier choices.

And as for not being focused on a weight, I'm not. But, I want to get to a 'healthy' weight for my height. At the same time, I will gauge how I'm feeling wearing clothes.

Everyone diets. A diet is simply what you eat, there is no point in worrying about any attached connotation to a word. Weight Watchers is a diet the same way that eating whatever you see in front of you is a diet. Any differential in meaning comes when the word is applied as a verb.

So yeah, Weight Watchers is a diet.

ziggy23

I need to lose at least 3 stone to be ideal for my height. Tbh it's not affecting my health much as my cholesterol and blood pressure is fine but still it's not great and certainly doesn't look good:( I never want to be skinny or thin though I love a big ass and boobies:P

sandra_b

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Everyone diets. A diet is simply what you eat, there is no point in worrying about any attached connotation to a word. Weight Watchers is a diet the same way that eating whatever you see in front of you is a diet. Any differential in meaning comes when the word is applied as a verb.

So yeah, Weight Watchers is a diet.

Interesting.
For me “diet” – Weight Watchers or any other means restricting and limiting yourself, be in constant control, pain and be hungry.
“Eating whatever you see” once you enjoy it and stop when you are full is not a “diet”. It is healthy eating. I would love to be able to eat healthy in this way.

stripysocks85

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

The stickies in the health and nutrition forum would help you be healthier and they are free.

Thanks, aware of them, and have read them & informed myself too. Sometimes find it's a bit convoluted though. Also, need the weekly discipline of someone weighing me, for the time being. Plus my leader is very funny

stripysocks85

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Everyone diets. A diet is simply what you eat, there is no point in worrying about any attached connotation to a word. Weight Watchers is a diet the same way that eating whatever you see in front of you is a diet. Any differential in meaning comes when the word is applied as a verb.

So yeah, Weight Watchers is a diet.

Incorrect. Your 'diet' in general is the type of food you eat.

Generally when people refer to 'going on a diet' they refer to restriction/cutting out things, or the likes of a 'shake diet' or 'cabbage soup diet'. That's not what I'm referring to.

I view WW as something to be incorporated long term into my life. I don't 'count points' like WW recommends. Instead, I choose healthier foods. So perhaps I'm incorrect to say I follow WW as I don't really, but I take things that I've learned to use in my life, and I cook some of their recipes.

I just find WW a bit silly because there are so many unhealthy foods (most of these that are made by WW themselves) that are low in "points" that people eat. Like biscuits/cakes etc. And you must pay to go to meetings It's like a big money making scheme.

Surely if you just follow a healthy diet weight will be lost? I guess the meetings give people motivation. I just think the points thing is a bit silly. It seems to be all about calorie counting and not healthy eating. Do people on WW plan to count points all their lives?

That being said I have seen 1 or 2 people lose LOADS of weight on Weight Watchers. So they must be doing something right!

Susie_Q

Yeah I definitely wouldn't trust any 'diet group' that actively market biscuits and cakes. Wtf?? All you need to know for losing weight is to eat fresh, natural food (nothing out of a box) and to get some exercise. It's not always easy - but it genuinely is very simple.

fatmammycat

I wouldn't be a fan of WW ( it doesn't make any sense to me to eat badly for the sake of points) either, but I will say this: following WW was the ONLY time I ever saw my mother lose weight. Of course she stopped going and the weight piled back on, but then my mother insists on eating all the worst foods in the world for her: white bread, cornflakes with a ton of sugar, jelly babies every day, just pure junk. Then she complains about her weight.

Susie_Q

Yeah but that's kind of the point - WW doesn't teach you how to eat healthily AT ALL. Most people who come off it just put the weight back on because they haven't properly changed how they eat.

fatmammycat

Susie_Q wrote: »

Yeah but that's kind of the point - WW doesn't teach you how to eat healthily AT ALL. Most people who come off it just put the weight back on because they haven't properly changed how they eat.

No no, I agree with you, as I said it wouldn't be my idea of a practical diet at all. I just thinking back more than anything.

Das Kitty

Susie_Q wrote: »

Yeah but that's kind of the point - WW doesn't teach you how to eat healthily AT ALL. Most people who come off it just put the weight back on because they haven't properly changed how they eat.

fatmammycat wrote: »

No no, I agree with you, as I said it wouldn't be my idea of a practical diet at all. I just thinking back more than anything.

That's not my experience with it at all.

It's all about which foods will keep you fuller, what mix of food groups you need etc. The points are calculated on proteins carbs and fat, not calories. It gets you looking at nutritional information and lets you parse it into something easier to track IMO.

Anyone who's actually followed it (and I mean really followed it not just hopped up on the scales and trotted off home) can't do so and eat unhealthily.

The only issue I have with it is that they want you to think that you have an addiction and that the only thing you can do is control it, you can't be cured of it. Which is bollocks. Like anything, it's all in having the correct frame of mind and not thinking you're just someone who lives to eat.

BTW, you pay for the meeting, it is a bit steep but IMO well worth it.

LenaClaire

Das Kitty wrote: »

That's not my experience with it at all.


BTW, you pay for the meeting, it is a bit steep but IMO well worth it.

Also, if you hit goal weight and maintain it for a set amount of time the meetings become free as long as you stay in your healthy weight range.

jaja321

I try to eat as healthily as I can. Sometimes I’m more successful than others I always think I could do with losing a few more pounds, but overall I’m happy enough. My main reason for watching what I eat is to be healthy, but I'm not gonna lie, it’s also so I can try to feel better in my clothes!

Orla K

Edit: crap I didn't think it was going to be this long! Good luck if your reading it, I wasn't very coherent earlier!

I've been reading this, I didn't really want to post because I wanted to see peoples opinions without inadvertently influencing peoples viewpoints but 120posts in I think I'll post now.

I should probably start with me, I have hypothyroidism, for years but didn't know it and don't know how long I've had it but I've kept my weight between 60kg-70kg but it was slowly creeping up. I learned that health matters more than weight and after seeing two people (on what would be low fat/cal diets) who are very unhealthy lots of time spent in hospital, comas, going blind! It further ingrained the thought in me what's the point in being skinny if your slowly killing yourself. So I set about getting good nutritional info ate lots more fat(my brain needs it) wasn't worried about my weight them found out about the thyroid and set about learning about that one. Lost a little weight without much effort but it took a while to go.
Over this time I formed a new connection with food, I learned some where slowly killing me, and I learned that some would heal the damage caused. This isn't all I did, I reacted to situations differently, I learned how to exercise right, I listened to how my body and mind reacted to different things and learned from them.
So in short, yeah being thinner would be nice but what I really want is to be better, well no I used to want to be better now I just want to be f*cking brilliant! Being thinner will probably eventually come but for now it's my thyroid numbers that matter rather than what weight I am(which I don't actually know, I guess around 10 1/2 stone)

As for other women, dear god, I wish they would shut up and do something rather than complain(talking about real life not this thread) I was talking to someone and yeah she was complaining and then said exactly what she was doing wrong, I told her the answer was simple and she what it was all she had to do was stop doing one thing(her diet was utter crap but if she stopped doing this one thing it would have been a huge help) but she looked at me as if I was mad:rolleyes: She wanted something to magic away her fat. I had to change the subject because I was getting really annoyed.


As for weightwatchers, the more I hear about it the more I am against it, it is not a healthy diet, it never teaches what a healthy diet is because it's very anti-fat, and in the past year fat is the healthiest thing anyone can eat as long as it's from a natural source (meat,cold pressed olive oil-not heated, coconut oil, palm oil, butter, most importantly fish oil!) people on ww and other low fat diets exclude these, most people if they're on a diet or not exclude these!

The best thing to do is to eat real food and not things that have ingredients. I wouldn't consider wheat a real food too, it's been altered far too much.

Well that's my little rant in short I care about health rather than size/weight, I'm getting sick of people complaining(real life) and not taking responsibly for their unhealthy actions and weightwatchers is an unhealthy diet.

Also can't let this one go by me:o

Lia_lia wrote: »

Can't go too long without eating either because I would just faint. Could never do a fast for charity or anything like that...

This isn't normal! You should be able to go a good few hours without eating. I would guess your blood sugars could be all over the place but you should ask your doctor about it and get a blood test to make sure. Or you could be not eating nearly enough for your body to funtion Just complete guesses but it would be a good idea just to make sure it's not your blood sugar or if it's something else entirely.