Size 18 and Happy - Anyone Else Not Wanting to Lose Weight?”

Well for me, I am always trying to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Thinner is not always better, however as a size 18 you are not as healthy as you would be as a size 16.

Try to find a healthy average as you are young now, but in coming years you will find that you will put more weight on and find it hard to maintain a healthy weight.

Re BMI and muscular women.

I’m very muscular. According to dexa done 18 months ago top 15% plus have gained more muscle since then. For reference I can deadlift 2x bodyweight, bench bodyweight etc

However, even for me the extra muscle is not likely to be more than 4-5kg and hence barely impacts BMI. Yes maybe overweight not until 27 rather than 25, perhaps but it’s marginal. I think you’d have to be taking steroids before muscle really does have an impact.

The biggest motivator for me was my two girls. I didn’t want to spend their childhood being too big to go on rides, do active things, always be the fat mum squeezing into things or not being able to go on soft play with them, struggle to walk around theme parks all day or be boiling and sweating in the sun. I also want to model healthy bodies, not weight specifically, but it’s important to me they grow up in a household with healthy attitudes to exercise and food, and that being a healthy weight is their ‘normal’ environment.

And I also want to be around and as fit for as long as I can. I don’t want to be the gran who can’t do anything cos her knees are knackered from carrying around 5-6 extra stone for years, or the gran who dies at 60.

Wow!
Good for you.

BMI is a broadly accurate indicator of weight and health outcomes. As a middle aged woman working out as a leisure activity I highly doubt you are muscular enough for it to have any impact on its accuracy - that is reserved for professional athletes training for particular sports. It is of course your choice if you wish to continue to carry the health risks associated with being obese.

You might feel healthy now but carrying that excess weight around for years will definitely put a strain on your heart and joints.

I’ve lost 5 stone, gone from a size 18 to a size 8. One of the things that shocked me was how much I hadn’t realised how sore I was a lot of the time. Getting out of bed my knees would hurt, everything would hurt. I was always blaming the mattress but it was the weight.

I went away on a camping sort of trip recently and shared with 5 other women, all of whom I would say were size 18+. The snoring was out of this world. I snored too when I was fat, and stopped entirely now I am slimmer, and it was a real kind of wake-up call for me that it’s just so bad for the body. The fat is literally stopping you breathing normally.

I was a size 18 last summer. I’m 5’6 and have broad shoulders and big boobs. I’ve lost 2 stone since last summer and I’m now a size 14. People are saying you’re obese but my starting BMI was 31, only just into the obese category. I’m now officially just ‘overweight’ but people are commenting on how slim I am. Bodies are different shapes and sizes and people weigh different amounts.

I feel fine as I am now and am focussing on fitness. I’m not bothered about being a smaller size, and I’m not sure it’s even possible. I have a large frame and have never been a size 10 and my weight is still higher than many would think is ok.

I had no health issues either OP and I’m much older than you. But what I would say is don’t dismiss losing some weight altogether. It’s not a choice between fat or skinny, there is a happy medium. I feel so much better having lost a couple of stone. My clothes fit better, I look better and although I felt fit, I realise that I am fitter and have more energy. It’s definitely been a positive for me.

To be fair the food that makes you fat is crap like biscuits and granola etc. Well it is for me.

Ive really tried to turn it round since I came out as overweight at a medical in November. Lost 6kg so bmi now 24 not 26. It is motivating. It’s worth giving up the biscuits for.

It’s a very personal choice but there are significant health risks that are associated with being overweight.

I would try the WLIs. If you decide you don’t enjoy being a fitter healthier size 10 or 12 you can always come off them and put the weight back on again. That way you’ll have eliminated any ‘what if’s’ and ‘shoulda woulda coulda’s’ in case your health ever saw any issues due to obesity in the future and you regretted ever trying? It’s surprising what a difference it makes having more energy and not feeling puffy or lethargic which does happen often if you’re overweight.

Well, having just got back from my 40 minute swim (3rd this week, plus a spin class), I can honestly say that I feel no guilt at the extra weight. Of course I'd like to be slimmer, but not at the cost of starving myself. I'm fitter and healthier than lots of people younger than me.

Im aware I could have a lower risk to my health if I lost a stone but since I am happy living a healthy balanced lifestyle both physically and mentally and I dont want to spend my days counting calories then I am happy to accept this is where my body has settled at this stage in my life. If my fat goes down as I improve my strength and CV health further then great. If it doesnt then fine too. My point was that BMI isn't accurate, especially when you are muscular. I am not obese. If you saw me you would see that I have an athletic frame with a bit of extra fat on my tummy and bum. Im a size 12.

It’s entirely up to you. And people shouldn’t stick their beaks in or make suggestions.

But don’t pretend to yourself there aren’t any health risks. The health risks of being significantly overweight are well proven. Sure, there are some exceptions, like those people who smoke 2 packs a day and live to 90 nonetheless. Doesn’t mean smoking is actually fine.

She wears a size 18. She's either obese or carries enough weight on her top half that she has the same health risks as an obese person.
Nobody sensible is claiming that being underweight is healthy. But there is a vast range of healthy from BMI 18 to around 26 especially in older women. 27+ is ALWAYS a health risk.

I’m not overweight, but I share your annoyance about WLI.

I think they are a great tool for people to lose weight, but why do I have to be included in the conversation?

Last year 1 lost 2.5 stone through a diet I did. I’ve had no end of people saying but must be WLI and that I’m lying.

What I am trying to say is that it’s now the default setting for everything.

And how exactly do you know OP is obese? There is a difference between overweight and obese you know. Honestly, so many MNers are so judgemental when it comes to weight, it's beyond boring.

Incidentally the last time I was at the medical centre an elderly woman was weighed and the nurse was giving her advice on how to put some weight on. Being stick like isn't always healthy.

Yeah life's too short for that. I'm just on the cusp of overweight/obese but I refuse to make myself miserable by fasting/calorie counting/not eating nice things (or to supress my appetite with drugs - I enjoy eating) I'm focussing on doing plenty of exercise and filling my plate with lots of vegetables (which I enjoy) and less carbs/meat (which I can take or leave) But I'm not giving up chocolate or biscuits.

My dear MIL was always doing weightwatchers or slimmers world, and worrying about her weight, non smoker, barely drank. She died at 54. My FIL smokes, drinks (used to regularly drink to excess) and eats takeaways and processed food, he's 80 this year and in pretty good health for it (no mobility problems, no serious illness).

So I conclude life is for enjoying and I intend to. You never know how long you've got.

You're a healthy BMI. Your situation isn't the same as the OP.

What's the issue? You're obese and have a tyre of fat around your middle. Your health is being impacted by your body fat. The rest of it is a limited protective factor but doesn't mean your health isn't being impacted by your weight.

Her body isn't healthy. An obese body isn't healthy.

It's much harder to lose it in your 40s and above than your 30s. I didn't manage to do it before my 40s and not without WLI so I'm not being glib but I never 'gave up' and accepted being fat. If I had, I'd have been a lot fatter. It's just short sighted to say you're fine being obese now because you're young and have no obvious health problems.

I am happy with my weight too. I am a healthy BMI... and because I am genuinely ok with my body I don't feel the need to justify it!

I wouldnt be making decisions about my long term health based on a 7 yr old wanting me to stay 'cuddly'.
Id be weighing up the risk of future diabetes, heart disease and cancer and trying to ensure I was here and healthy for as long as possible.
But WLI aren't the only way to achieve that

I am apparently obese according to my BMI of 30. Im 5ft 6 and in a size 12. I do cross fit 2-3 times a week, and teach several exercise classes, I walk a couple of times a week briskly for 30 minutes. I avoid UPF and cook mostly from scratch. I intermittent fasting 16 hours a day. I am also perimenopausal. In a year I suddenly gained a tyre around my middle. I do over eat sometimes, but I am mindful of doing this too much. I used to be able to eat anything and stay the same weight but then my 40s hit and everything changed. I would say I am pretty healthy, I enjoy my food and my lifestyle is healthy so Im not going to beat myself up too much. But it goes to show that BMI is not infallible.

Do exactly what you want, you’re young and your body is healthy. When you get older and start to notice the effects of every extra pound on your hormones in peri and menopause there’s room to change your mind.