Two stone overweight! I thought I was a healthy weight (pics included)

[user1493797837]

I'm 5ft6 and should be 11 stone. 10 stone to be slim.

I've never weighed myself.

I stepped on the scales at the doctors today and it says I'm 12st 11lbs!!!!

That's almost two stone overweight.

I am very physically active and have a high protein diet.

I have a podgy tummy from loose skin and weak muscles but my arms and legs are fairly toned I thought.

I'm quite shocked and I've decided to diet to get within a normal healthy range.

I've included a picture. How overweight do you think I look? Do you think the scales could be wrong?

Clothes wise I'm a size 12 but on the odd occasion I'm a 14.

Never a 10 or 16 though.

[ssd]

I wouldnt say you look overweight at all, you look perfectly fine to me.

[user1493797837]

I'm two stone overweight. I think it's my stomach. It's Quite podgy. The skin and fat on that must weigh a lot. Two stone overweight has shocked me though.

[FeedMeAndTellMeImPretty]

you look lovely. Ditch the scales, keep on eating well and being active and your body will stay at the size it is happiest.

Please don't start on the merry go round of dieting, it throws your metabolism out and makes you miserable.

Do some reading about HAES health at every size - it is aimed at actual fat people so not relevant in a lot of ways as you are clearly not fat - but it explains how diets can be damaging and how our bodies will naturally gravitate to a certain size and shape when we eat mindfully and do activities we enjoy.

[crumpet]

I don't think you look fat, but not slim either.

[user1493797837]

I'm definitely not slim. I could do with losing a stone.

[Batghee]

you look great! The BMI calculator told my friend she was obese..... and she is stunning, honestly shes not even chubby!! Some people carry more weight than others and differently so the BMI thing is only a rough guess at what is healthy. Id go more on weather you get out of breath easily, or if your knees hurt or you have high blood pressure.
If you feel fit and healthy and are only a size 12 i dont think you really need to worry that much!

[WellErrr]

I think you look overweight. Many people have a skewed view of what a healthy weight is because so many people are overweight now.

I think it's fantastic that youve recognised it and you've got a plan to get back to a healthier weight though

[namechange20050]

It's hard to tell from the clothes you are wearing but your stomach protrudes more than your bust so yes you are carrying a lot of weight round your middle which isn't healthy. I would say a size 14 at 5'6 is too big.

[IAmTheWorwax]

Well you're not fat but I would say you do look slightly overweight.

[WellErrr]

In the interests of balance, I too am overweight after DC3! About a stone in my case.

[Chasingsquirrels]

It's very hard to tell from that picture with those clothes...but nearly 13st at 5'6 isn't slim. Neither is a size 12/14. It isn't obese either though.

I'm about 5'6.5, and when I decided I wanted to lose weight I was pushing upto 12st and a definite size 14 although I said I was 12/14. I'm not at all physically active though, so mine was fat not muscle.

[user1493797837]

My stomach definitely doesn't protrude further than my boobs. That's just the photo angle.

Thankfully!

I'd say I need to lose a stone. I eat healthily anyway but could cut down on my snacks. Thanks everyone.

I'm going to weigh myself again though as my friend is 13 stone and looks much bigger than me and she's the same height.

[grumpysquash3]

I am the same height as you, weigh nearly 11 stone, and am definitely a size 14 (almost never a 12). I was 12 stone 11 when I went back to work after DS1 and was a size 18. It just goes to show how people carry weight differently.
I think you look fine BTW.

[mintinbox]

By psychically active what do you mean? Do you do any exercise classes or use the gym?

This would really make a difference.

[user1493797837]

I walk around 4 miles a day and I'm a regular at the gym. I definitely do at least an hour of exercise a day minimum.

the too of my stomach has clearly defined abs. The bottom part is podgy which is odd.

I have muscular legs and arms.

[Amiawful23]

If you're a gym bunny a lot of your weight might be muscle rather than fat.

[LovelyBath77]

BMI / weight is not a great measure of health, especially as you say when you are fit, as muscle weighs more than fat.

You might want to look at waist measurement instead as a better measure. I think the waist should be half the height something like that.

[RedSandYellowSand]

Another 5'7" mumsneter here that needs to loose some weight.
I'm 12 stone. Just starting to wear some size 12s, but the 14s are ok. Probably a size 13!!!!
Aiming to get firmly into a size 12. Probably another 4-6kg ( 9-12 lbs??) to go.

Also, I'd take off 5lb for clothing. More if you are wearing shoes from the GP weight.

[mintinbox]

Maybe your metabolism has slowed then. Happened to me and I was most pissed off when I realised. Happens to everyone I think.

I used to eat whatever I likes even giant breakfasts followed by 2 pieces of cake at 11 huge lunch and dinner then eat chocolate all night. Now if I snack it's dried mango, dates and bananas

I eat about 1/3 of what I ate in my 20s and also barely drink when I didn't even consider calories in alcohol or soft drinks.

It's not a diet no reason to starve yourself I just can't eat like I did when I was younger.

That's only if you feel the need to cut down though

I found a Pilates class really helps with my sides and lower stomach and also great for my posture.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Yes, don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat, so you could just be very muscular. I don't think you look fat at all, so maybe this is the case?

[SleepFreeZone]

You can't really tell from the picture, I am I inch taller and two stone lighter and need to lose a stone so yes, I think you are probably overweight.

[TheTabardOfDoom]

You are probably like me. Muscular (so heavy) but with a fair bit of abdomenal/visceral fat. I am about a stone and a half overweight in reality but not obviously so IYSWIM? I would love to lose the weight but am bedbound waiting for surgery so have no chance at the moment :(

[newdocket]

I wouldn't define you as two stone overweight on the basis of that photo. The photo does suggest you are carrying weight around your middle, but it could be the angle. BMI is a blunt instrument if you are muscular. If you are really toned then I don't think you need to diet.

[QuietNameChange]

I have a "large frame" according to my doctor and am pretty muscular. He once calculated where my "healthy weight range" starts and it's about 6 kg over what the bmi scale said. I wasn't that heavy but I still thought it was very interesting. Especially because I used to do a very weight conscious sport.

[streetface]

I agree with wellerr. I do think we have a very skewed view of what overweight looks like these days because so many people are overweight, when someone is within their healthy weight range they are called 'skinny'. You do look overweight to me (sorry) but that doesn't mean I think you look bad / unhealthy. It is not a criticism, just answering your question honestly.

I think you would look and feel better if you shed those two stone. Good luck.