when are you "skinny"

[mandyjo 1]

I have had a pretty good spell here for a while. I have been losing and am almost to my goal. Or what I thought was may goal. I am starting to get the comments about not getting too thin. I don't know if I am thin.... I know that sounds silly. I know what I look like in the mirror and I don't see thin. I see someone normal. What do you consider signs of being thin or even too thin?

[Erink 0]

BMI is a good start. They actually say bandsters have a higher MBI than others. I would start there and see how you feel. Re you finding it difficualt to maintaint the lower weight, if so you may be trying to be thinner then you should be.

Can't wait until I have this problem!

[mandyjo 1]

This may sound silly to people but I have not been this weight since I was 13. I know have a woman's body and don't know how to feel about what I look like. Maybe my problem is I didn't ever think I would get here. I don't want to look old and sick. I am close to 25 BMI. I just need an honest opinion and no one will tell me. Big problems I know. I am just really happy things are on this end at this point.

[snowbird 2]

For some reason people like to give us former fatsos the "don't get too thin!!" line all the time. As if most of us are in danger of that! I think it's because they are so used to seeing us heavier that we look thinner than we are to them. My reply lately has been, "I weigh 160. Do you weigh anywhere near that much?" Of course, that only works on the people who do NOT weigh anywhere near that much.

When your weight has changed drastically, you often suffer from an inability to really gauge what you look like. I still look the same in the mirror to myself as I did when I was 70 lb heavier. I thought I looked okay then (I didn't) and now I don't think I look okay (but I probably do.) So you certainly don't sound silly to me. Like others said, BMI is probably a decent indicator, although my doctor told me that since I had been heavy since childhood, my bones were probably heavier than average and I should make my goal the high end of the BMI "normal" scale.

[MaidMarion 1]

Mandyjo you look wonderful in your photo. I wouldn't say you looked ill or haggard or anything. You look lovely and normal. I think people are just always a bit freaked out about change in general.

[KelinTx 1]

I also think you look SUPER in your photo! I think its all about feeling good about yourself no matter what other folks say!

[Ariel 1]

I go by clothing size. For me size 6 and under is skinny. Size 8-12 normal and 14+ is heavy. But for different people those ranges are different.

[Marimaru 7]

I think it rather scares people when fat people become normal or thin. It's like... because you were able to do it, they are somehow going to be required to do something equally grand... or something... so it scares them. Have someone take some pictures of you, and look at those and see what you think. Pictures work better for me than mirrors.

[Jachut 487]

OK, this is my experience.

I'm 5ft 10, 155lb, size 12 Australian (8 to 10 US). Nice size for my height right? Well, I think I have a fat bum and fat thighs and I would like to lose another 10lb. 145lb is STILL a healthy weight for 5ft 10, despite many here being exceedingly rude about it. It IS a healthy weight.

BUT - my upper body is getting bony, and it will be very thin if I get to 145lb. I will lose what's left of my boobs, definitely and I now have this thing where there's so little fat on my upper chest, that when I dont have a bra on, my rib cage actually almost bulges out past my boobs. I dont want to lose anymore weight there, that's for sure, I will start looking scrawny. Having your chest bigger than your boobs is maybe too thin?

But its not like my ribs stick out a mile, or my hip bones are so sharp you could cut yourself on them. I have cellulite on my bum, and its wobbly. I really DO still need to lose weight on my lower body.

I also think its a matter of where you settle with eating and exercise habits that are easy for you to maintain. If I settle at even 135 without extreme measures, then that's right for me I think. I've been surprised to see quite a fine boned frame emerge from underneath, I would always have called myself big boned and I am not at all. And its debatable to me whether having a BMI of say 27 is "curvy" or just plain still overweight, it depends on the person's build entirely.

But if your periods stop, or to maintain your weight you have to continue to "diet" day in day out and exercise excessively then you're probably too thin. Maintaining should be easier than losing.

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

I think it rather scares people when fat people become normal or thin. It's like... because you were able to do it, they are somehow going to be required to do something equally grand... or something... so it scares them. Have someone take some pictures of you, and look at those and see what you think. Pictures work better for me than mirrors.

I agree. I am no longer fat and now scared shitless.

But I don't think pictures work for me. I think you have to go by how you feel. Those too skinny comments tick me off!!:blushing:

[Kat817 19]

I have no real answer for Mandyjo----but I do think that Jachut and I need to exchange metabolism or something, and we would even out!!!

My butt is no longer rounded, it is bordering on concave!!! My legs look like chicken legs---srawny/skinny!!! My ankle I can circle with my fingers!!!

BUT----if we move up, where your ribs are showing--I still have a healthy layer to lose.....my arms, still wave in the wind.....and the girls, have not lost a bit! I have lost several band sizes in my bra, but cup size has increased if anything!

And I am just the opposite, when I lose any weight now-----it continues to come off the lower part of my body, where I cannot afford to lose more.

I believe if it were me, I would discuss it with someone I trust implicitly. My DH or my best friend, or my DD. Maybe look around at those people you know, find one you think looks good at her size, then do an honest comparison of yourself to her. If you find you are her size or smaller, then call it good if you would feel happy looking like that person. If you find that the person you admire is 10 pounds less or a size smaller, then you get an idea of what appeals to you, and have an idea what to work for.

I think it is an issue for all of us.....it took many of us a long time to admit to ourselves we were Fat! It might take just as long to accept that we are not any longer.

You have done a great job!!

Kat

[plain 12]

MandyJo, I looked at the pic you have up on your profile. You do not appear to be too skinny. Don't give any credence to internet posters that say you are.

[mandyjo 1]

This has been great advice. I didn't realize I was the only one with this notion in my head. Just to clarify I don't think I am skinny! I just got into a size 8 and I didn't think I would get there at all much less before my goal. At 5'6 I feel normal now. I just want to give myself the room for error. Seven or eight pounds is a nice range for me. I guess I am just starting to hear all the comments about getting too small and it is getting to me. But you are right, all of you it is my journy and my body's choice where my "ideal" weight is at. I have enjoyed this topic.

[wombat712 2]

I too wonder when enough is enough. I'm in a size 8 but still have plenty of fat on me. I've discovered that I am apparently small boned - who knew :redface: I can still grab a handfull of fat (big handful - not one of those pesky pinch a 1/2 inch kind of things).

Maybe a size 6 is perfection - maybe it's a 4. I can't comprehend being a size 4 but I think a 6 is doable for my size. Losing my additional pounds should take me down at least one size.

I'm getting lots of skinny comments - but in reality I'm not.

Good luck Mandyjo on finding your perfect spot!!

Gen (wombat)