Why do you want to be thinner?

feegee

Recently iam trying so hard too loose weight, iam currently a size 8, but feel a lot bigger, i recently move to Canada the girls are thinner and prettier, i once thaught a size 8 was a good size now iam on a diet considering dying my hair blonde, wearing more make up.............just wish i was comfortable in my own skin, :eek:

CathyMoran

feegee wrote: »

Recently iam trying so hard too loose weight, iam currently a size 8, but feel a lot bigger, i recently move to Canada the girls are thinner and prettier, i once thaught a size 8 was a good size now iam on a diet considering dying my hair blonde, wearing more make up.............just wish i was comfortable in my own skin, :eek:

I can relate in so far as I am a size 8 and lots of people are skinnier than me and I have had comments some of them that I needed to loose weight but then I remember that I have an hourglass figure and that I would loose that if I lost weight.

Abi

Girls I can't believe what I'm reading here, unhappy with a size 8?! Most Irish women would be quite happy with a nice 10 or 12 figure. Going under an 8 most women start losing boobs and a curvy bum. Women are supposed to look like women. I went down to an 8 once , I thought I'd be delighted with my nice slim figure but the opposite happened. I became conscience of the fact that I no longer had any boobs and even my tush looked saggy. I went back to a twelve and was much happier.

Cathy, whoever is making these comments, steer well clear! It's frightening reading some comments here.

cynder

Abi wrote: »

Girls I can't believe what I'm reading here, unhappy with a size 8?! Most Irish women would be quite happy with a nice 10 or 12 figure. Going under an 8 most women start losing boobs and a curvy bum. Women are supposed to look like women. I went down to an 8 once , I thought I'd be delighted with my nice slim figure but the opposite happened. I became conscience of the fact that I no longer had any boobs and even my tush looked saggy. I went back to a twelve and was much happier.

Cathy, whoever is making these comments, steer well clear! It's frightening reading some comments here.

Is it a canadian or Ireland size 8? a canadian size 8 would be an Irish 12.

If the person is talking about an Irish size 8 then I must be an elephant at an Irish size 12....

Madam_X

feegee wrote: »

Recently iam trying so hard too loose weight, iam currently a size 8, but feel a lot bigger, i recently move to Canada the girls are thinner and prettier, i once thaught a size 8 was a good size now iam on a diet considering dying my hair blonde, wearing more make up.............just wish i was comfortable in my own skin, :eek:

Size 8 (UK) is slim - no matter what you think. Personally I would be underweight if I went down to size 8 - on my upper bod anyway, because I'm built to be bigger, having ample enough breasts. At my skinniest (and I looked miserable and my ribs were sticking out) I was a big size 10. And still had boobs and a bit of a sticky-out tum.

Acoshla

feegee wrote: »

Recently iam trying so hard too loose weight, iam currently a size 8, but feel a lot bigger, i recently move to Canada the girls are thinner and prettier, i once thaught a size 8 was a good size now iam on a diet considering dying my hair blonde, wearing more make up.............just wish i was comfortable in my own skin, :eek:

I lived in Canada too, at 5ft8 and 11 stone (size 12-14 here) with size 7/8 shoes I was huge compared to most of the girls I knew, but that is because many of them come from so many different ethnic backgrounds, Canada is full of tiny Asian girls who are just built differently, I will never be the same dimensions as them! There are so many different ethnicities there that you can't compare yourself to them. I worked in a clothes shop there (Costa Blanca if you know it) and I was in XL's in everything, most of the stock didn't fit me, I was also a head taller than all the other girls, who were Chinese, Indian, Mexican etc backgrounds and usually flat chested, unlike my fine ball of an Irish figure. Don't judge yourself by what size other people are, go by what's healthy for you.

Truley

I would imagine a lot of Canadian girls have French ancestry as well, ie small and thin.

Princess Peach

My Canadian friends aren't that slim oddly! I go to college here so they are from all over the country, only one girl I would call skinny, the rest are average weight or a little overweight.

Lots of Asian students, not a pick on them!

Acoshla

Princess Peach wrote: »

My Canadian friends aren't that slim oddly! I go to college here so they are from all over the country, only one girl I would call skinny, the rest are average weight or a little overweight.

Lots of Asian students, not a pick on them!

Depends where in Canada you are I guess, I was in downtown Toronto and seemed to work/socialise with all these groups of tiny girls!

beks101

Acoshla wrote: »

Depends where in Canada you are I guess, I was in downtown Toronto and seemed to work/socialise with all these groups of tiny girls!

Yeah I'm in Toronto - full of tiny, gorgeous Asian women.

Generally the women - and everyone actually - tend to be in great shape, there's a real exercise culture here. EVERYONE jogs/gyms/does yoga and eats healthily. But I wouldn't say 'skinny' - not in any Hollywood sense. Healthy, athletic, curvy, attractive figures.

One thing that amuses me about the women is they don't tend to have big boobs - sometimes I feel like a freak with my double Ds! I take a medium to large for most t-shirts, tops, jackets etc, even though I'm a small back home.

Princess Peach

Acoshla wrote: »

Depends where in Canada you are I guess, I was in downtown Toronto and seemed to work/socialise with all these groups of tiny girls!

Probably cause we are all lazy ass college students who drink beer at least twice a week!

KamiKazeKitten

Lord, I definitely don't want to be thinner! I'm quite like Lia_Lia from the sounds of things I think. I have a ridiculously fast metabolism which means I actually have to keep an eye on my weight to stop it from dropping too low. I don't even mean to do it, it just melts away. Right now, I'm 8 stone, and I can bounce from about 7 stone 9 up to 8 stone 2. I wouldn't mind an extra few pounds, as long as they went where I want them to go (wishful thinking ), but I'm happy enough now.

Having said all that, I have no patience with the people who say "you're so skinny! Yadda yadda.." Yes, I'm thin. I admit it. And? This perception that bigger women are somehow more real just irritates me. *pokes self* Yup, definitely all there (although some might question that mentally :pac: )

I am what I am. Petite? Yes. Healthy? Yes. Happy? Yes. And in the long run, only two outta those three matter. It sure as hell ain't numero uno on that little list.

Handsome Bob

KamiKazeKitten wrote: »

Right now, I'm 8 stone, and I can bounce from about 7 stone 9 up to 8 stone 2.

Going under 8 stone seems a bit excessive, you are in control of that.

Handsome Bob

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Going under 8 stone seems a bit excessive

Depends on her height & build really.

Handsome Bob

Deleted User wrote: »

Depends on her height & build really.

I would have thought that 9 stone was a kind of universal limit, regardless of height.

Dolbert

Handsome Bob wrote: »

I would have thought that 9 stone was a kind of universal limit, regardless of height.

Where did you get that from? 8 stone could be perfectly healthy on a petite woman. This is coming from someone who's never seen the 'single digits' in her adult life.

KamiKazeKitten

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Going under 8 stone seems a bit excessive, you are in control of that.

That's what people always say.

I'm 5'3 and have a small boned frame, so it's not that tiny. Usually if I hit under 8 stone or so I make an extra effort to try bring it back up.

That and all of my family are naturally thin, so it's genetic really. Still though, I wouldn't mind a little extra weight. MOAR PIZZA! :pac:

Handsome Bob wrote: »

I would have thought that 9 stone was a kind of universal limit, regardless of height.

Where on earth are you getting this from? There's a difference between a 4'11 woman of 9 stone and the same weight on a 5'7 woman, for example. Height and build has a lot to play in it.

LegacyUser

God!

Reading through this thread (and I haven't read all of it yet) really makes me realise how many of us have issues with weight and eating, and so much of what has been said before rings through.

I hate my body, even though I know in my head it's not so bad - but it's not what I want.

I always say that I was cursed to be a very skinny kid. I was the skinniest in class all through primary school, even though I was always tall (I've finished growing at 5.8 now). Around age 15 I started putting on weight - but that was only through growing into a woman and developing hips and boobs! I'll always remember one girl in school when I was in 3rd year saying to me "you're too fat to be a model". I can't even remember the context, but it has always stuck with me - even though I was a size 8 at that stage! Sure, kids can be cruel and she's probably a lovely person now, but you never realise what can stick with a person and, to me, that comment meant I was fat unless I looked like a child with no curves at all.

Now I'm a size 10/12 (will they ever invent a size 11!?!), but, even though I know that's a good weight, I can't help comparing myself to all the really tiny friends and workmates I have. In fact, and this shows how stupid my ideal body image is, I keep looking at the 14 and 15 year old kids walking around in their tiny outfits and wishing I could look like them. I know my idea of how I should look is unrealistic and guys always say they would rather a woman than a girl, but I just don't believe it. I do want curves, but I want to be tiny. Was at the new Batman movie yesterday and Anne Hathaway looked so amazing - that's what I want to look like.

I've always been crap with diets 'cause I have no will power, and I do eat when I'm unhappy sometimes. However, myself and my boyfriend broke up a few weeks' ago and I've finally managed to lose my appetite completely. I've not been eating enough, and have had beans and soup and rice cakes every day since then. I'd say my intake is well under 500 cals a day. I know it's so unhealthy, and I'm trying to get food into me, but I just can't. At the same time, I'm hoping it will result in a large weight loss and it feels like I'm giving a virtual fcuk you to my ex. So self destructive! As well as that, I'm thinking, at least I can get something out of this break up 'cause if I lose a stone or two, I can achieve the body I want, so every cloud has a silver lining.

I know it's absolutely mental, and I've joined an exercise group that I'm starting tomorrow, so I know I'll need to feed myself well, otherwise I just won't have the energy to do anything.

I want to be healthy, and I know this is a destructive cycle, but it's flipping crazy the things we do to ourselves because of a low self image!

Thanks to everybody who has shared in this thread!!

(Apologies for the username! Going anon for this one and was listening to the weather forecast when I was trying to think up a name! )

Stheno

Abi wrote: »

Girls I can't believe what I'm reading here, unhappy with a size 8?! Most Irish women would be quite happy with a nice 10 or 12 figure. Going under an 8 most women start losing boobs and a curvy bum. Women are supposed to look like women. I went down to an 8 once , I thought I'd be delighted with my nice slim figure but the opposite happened. I became conscience of the fact that I no longer had any boobs and even my tush looked saggy. I went back to a twelve and was much happier.

Cathy, whoever is making these comments, steer well clear! It's frightening reading some comments here.

Cathy I've met you and I'd steer well clear of anyone with those comments, that's madness.

KamiKazeKitten wrote: »

Lord, I definitely don't want to be thinner! I'm quite like Lia_Lia from the sounds of things I think. I have a ridiculously fast metabolism which means I actually have to keep an eye on my weight to stop it from dropping too low. I don't even mean to do it, it just melts away. Right now, I'm 8 stone, and I can bounce from about 7 stone 9 up to 8 stone 2. I wouldn't mind an extra few pounds, as long as they went where I want them to go (wishful thinking ), but I'm happy enough now.

Having said all that, I have no patience with the people who say "you're so skinny! Yadda yadda.." Yes, I'm thin. I admit it. And?

.

This is me, I'm 5 foot eight and nine and a half stone, and get the "your so skinny" ****e all the time, I take after my Dad who at five eleven never exceeded 11 stone his whole life.

I at one point was eight stone, which was scarily thin, and I'd an enormous appetite could not put on weight to save myself.

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Going under 8 stone seems a bit excessive, you are in control of that.

Handsome Bob wrote: »

I would have thought that 9 stone was a kind of universal limit, regardless of height.

Rubbish, at 5 foot eight and 9 and a half stone, I've a bmi of 19.2, someone six inches shorter is probably around 23, someone at five foot, is close to being overweight if you take bmi as gospel

KamiKazeKitten wrote: »

That's what people always say.

I'm 5'3 and have a small boned frame, so it's not that tiny. Usually if I hit under 8 stone or so I make an extra effort to try bring it back up.

That and all of my family are naturally thin, so it's genetic really. Still though, I wouldn't mind a little extra weight. MOAR PIZZA! :pac:



Where on earth are you getting this from? There's a difference between a 4'11 woman of 9 stone and the same weight on a 5'7 woman, for example. Height and build has a lot to play in it.

Agreed, I'm tall and have a small frame.

I'd also argue that weight is more easily "hidden" the taller you are as it is distributed more.

Like another poster said, I'd like to be fitter and healthier more so than thinner.

CillianL

I was on the home page and I saw this thread but it's sad to see that weight is such an emotional topic for so many women.

It seems though that because weight is approached from an emotional perspective in the media, its great for damaging women's confidence which puts them in a position marketing companies relish, i.e consumers who'll buy any new snake oil diet or weight loss product in the hope of losing a few more pounds.

The fact is that our modern lifestyles make low physical demands on the body, and couple this with our energy rich diets, the body will bank this excess intake as fat, as an evolutionary throwback to the days when food supplies fluctuated and you never knew when the next famine would visit the land!

The problem is that diet and exercise has to be a way of life rather than this crash and yo-yo culture that's came about. The reason people where less obese and overweight years ago was because they had to use their bodies for displacement (which is what exercise fundamentally is) through walking , cycling and physical work which has receded from the norms today.
For this reason weight loss dieting will never work because your body can't sustain it long term and the boredom, self-denial and guilt for deviating that goes with them can't be mentally sustained either.


As well as this its natural for one's body weight to fluctuate over the year, so it shouldn't be seen as shameful like its made out to be. The media simply bombard everyone with images but no real education that deals with the root of the problems they have.

I know these comments may appear blunt and insensitive as I'm a fella myself so obviously I've never been in the shoes of a girl with weight issues.
My sport is cycling and running competitively where you have to look after your diet as a matter of course and these sports are 'lean' where weight has a huge effect on performance. I weigh 71kg and I'm 6 foot one so I've a low BMI which is the goal of weight loss programmes. The fact is that being involved in this teaches you things the hard way, unlike these well marketed diets that fool you into thinking that drinking a milkshake 3 times is the way to good health.

Handsome Bob

Apologies ladies, will accept that I am ill informed on the subject when it comes to women.

Eve_Dublin

CillianL wrote: »

I was on the home page and I saw this thread but it's sad to see that weight is such an emotional topic for so many women.

It seems though that because weight is approached from an emotional perspective in the media, its great for damaging women's confidence which puts them in a position marketing companies relish, i.e consumers who'll buy any new snake oil diet or weight loss product in the hope of losing a few more pounds.

The fact is that our modern lifestyles make low physical demands on the body, and couple this with our energy rich diets, the body will bank this excess intake as fat, as an evolutionary throwback to the days when food supplies fluctuated and you never knew when the next famine would visit the land!

The problem is that diet and exercise has to be a way of life rather than this crash and yo-yo culture that's came about. The reason people where less obese and overweight years ago was because they had to use their bodies for displacement (which is what exercise fundamentally is) through walking , cycling and physical work which has receded from the norms today.
For this reason weight loss dieting will never work because your body can't sustain it long term and the boredom, self-denial and guilt for deviating that goes with them can't be mentally sustained either.


As well as this its natural for one's body weight to fluctuate over the year, so it shouldn't be seen as shameful like its made out to be. The media simply bombard everyone with images but no real education that deals with the root of the problems they have.

I know these comments may appear blunt and insensitive as I'm a fella myself so obviously I've never been in the shoes of a girl with weight issues.
My sport is cycling and running competitively where you have to look after your diet as a matter of course and these sports are 'lean' where weight has a huge effect on performance. I weigh 71kg and I'm 6 foot one so I've a low BMI which is the goal of weight loss programmes. The fact is that being involved in this teaches you things the hard way, unlike these well marketed diets that fool you into thinking that drinking a milkshake 3 times is the way to good health.

This might be one of the most sensible posts I've ever read on Boards. Thank you.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Madam_X

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Apologies ladies, will accept that I am ill informed on the subject when it comes to women.

Shur twas only a mistake.

Yeh even seven and a half stone can be healthy for some women - but obviously only very slenderly built, diminutive ones.

Ilyana

Tbh even the BMI scale can sorta get things wrong. Ideally I should be around 8.5st as I am only 5ft 1". But when I was dieting severely last year I struggled to get down to 9st - I literally could only eat about 700cals a day to maintain it. And at that, my legs got very skinny, my collarbone and hipbones were sticking out and I was losing my boobs and bum fast. The belly never shifted though :rolleyes:

Right now I'm borderline overweight according to BMI, at roughly 9.5st. Yes I could stand to lose a stone, and in many ways I'd love to. But I honestly think I'd look unwell. I have a coveted hourglass frame, and I'd hate to lose it.

Hersheys

I don't mean to make excuses but I'm on medication that has weight gain as a side effect.

I'm a size 18, nearing 20. I exercise regularly, eat healthily, but medical conditions suck

Why do I want to be thinner? Society is a bitch.

smeal

I'm inbetween a size 8/10, gearing more towards a 10 but that's often because of my 34D bust and stand at 5ft 6 with a slim build. Like many people who headed for college the irregular eating patterns and drinking caught up on me! The weight went straight to my waist, giving me love handles that are proving impossible to budge despite watching what I eat, gyming and Zumba classes and my love handles make me look disproportionate because of my slim legs and arms.

I would have never cared about weight before college but because I had never put on the pounds before in my life, when they did pile on I was quick to notice. I've learned that everybody's bodies are different and I believe that BMI's have to be inaccurate depending on your bust size (which I assume definitely has to add some degree of weight to your body, especially if it's large?) and muscle sizes.

I understand though that if I lost a stone I'd be unhealthy so I'm not saying I'd want to be "skinnier". For me, it's a matter of losing a small amount of weight, maintaining it and toning up (which is hard work!!!)..If I achieve that, I'll be delighted.

The important thing is feeling good about yourself, in your own body, no matter how anyone else sees you or tells you. Everyones different and everyone has different goals and aspirations:)

Wibbs

Handsome Bob wrote: »

Apologies ladies, will accept that I am ill informed on the subject when it comes to women.

To be fair IMHO it's a very hard subject for men to get a handle on. Because of culture/media/maybe even a gender diff? the two genders can approach the fat word quite differently. While men are also exposed to a male ideal, it's not to nearly the same degree as the bombardment women are exposed to. Male ideals also tend to be more variable, from your beanpole Jarvis Cocker types to steroid puffed muscle men, even blokes sporting "love handles". The ideal woman is a narrower set of variables and more outside the norm/average. Then add in how nature has designed women to put on weight more than men(testosterone among other things burns fat even if you just sit there), hormonal weight fluctuations and an overall change in body shape that occurs in women from 15 to 25(yet the ideal is more the 15 year old).

Of the women I've known, exes and mates, who were approaching the "ideal" I found there were consistencies to them. 1) they were naturally small in frame(small wrists etc). 2) they had the appetite of a sparrow*, or exercised like mad, usually both. 3) and a biggie IMH, if stressed they went off their food. They didn't "comfort eat". 4) most were a little paranoid about any weight gain, some more than a little and they worked at it. Hard. One I knew would take two spin classes in a row and do a circuit on weights. Six nights a week.




*one mate claimed she ate like a horse(her much heavier mate reckoned she had hollow legs), but due to a personal emergency she moved in with me for a month and I saw what she actually ate. One decent evening meal, real hearty meat and two veg thang, which would make you think she had a big appetite. However if she had a breakfast it was a tiny one and lived on coffee and fags the rest of the day.

Sappa

Watch the food you eat and you will be fine,no man wants a stick insect or a beached whale but something in the middle,

Sea Filly

Sappa wrote: »

Watch the food you eat and you will be fine,no man wants a stick insect or a beached whale but something in the middle,

Dunno, some men like waifs and some like larger women. It's irrelevant anyway. Did you read the thread?