To wonder what it feels like to be thin?

[sunshine5997]

I'm 24, married and quite frankly I am fat.
I hide away in black clothes and coats. It's my fault I'm fat (size 16).
I see some lovely photos of people in their early 20s stick thin in lovely short skirts or crop tops.... and all I think is, what does it feel like to be thin and confident to wear those lovely clothes? So what does it feel like not to have saggy over hangs or horrendous chafing in summer???

(Ps i have had some wine!!)

Yes it really is an amazing achievement

I lost 2.5 stone about 5 years ago and was down to a size 10 (from a large size14) I managed to keep it off for about 2 years and I have to say it felt great especially as I had been a 14 for a long time! Being comfortable in clothes and not constantly tugging at tops and covering up with cardigans felt so good.

I gradually put it all back on after 2 ish years and then gradually started feeling more and more crap again. Pregnant at the mo but would love to try get back to a comfy size 12

What I have learnt OP is that women can never “win”. I was skinny for years, it was just natural, and I was always being told “your too skinny” and that I didn’t have a “woman’s” body. Men would complain about my small chest! Now I am fat, thanks menopause! Now I have boobs but the stomach to go with them! I don’t care anymore. I just go with the flow. People can think what they want.

I have lost a considerable amount of weight I’ve the past 18 months and am now a size 8 again (haven’t been an 8 since my early 20’s). I have worked hard and made sacrifices to feel
slimmer and healthier, which is great because I’m much more motivated to exercise, sleep well and eat well.

Overall it’s done wonders for my mental health and really boosted my confidence. However, I still don’t look great naked, I have no breasts and I have found that not everyone is complementary or supportive of weight loss. I think sometimes us women can’t win no matter what we do or how we look.

Go for it if you think it’ll make you happy, op. Though I hope there are people out there who love you for who you are. Size is just a number

What I have learnt OP is that women can never "win"
Well I've certainly "won". I'm fit and healthy and don't give a single fuck what anyone else thinks about my body.

@feelingverylazytoday Fucking right. Me too. I don't give a shite about my cellulite or spaniel's ear tits, I'm fit as fuck

Yup. Winner here too. Being slim enough to wear whatever I like is an absolute, objective win. How could it possibly not be? I've had not one negative comment. I've never felt this good in my life.

I lost almost 20kg in 6 months through getting sick, having to make drastic changes to my diet and taking medication. I went from being just slightly over a healthy BMI to being at the bottom (size 14 to a size 8). I didn’t recognise myself and wasn’t particularly trying to lose weight.

As my body has healed I’ve gradually put on 8kg and I’m a size 10.

I’m healthy, this matters more to me than a clothing size. I was never particularly overweight, nor considered an unhealthy weight but at my lowest weight I looked frail. My hips hurt when I lay on my side.

My goal this year is to get physically strong.

Actually no, there is an upside. I went from a DD to a B cup and can wear any bra I like. Including ones without an underwire. This is actually a win.

After being a 14/16/18 my entire life, I too wondered this constantly when I was your age.

When I got engaged I started dieting and basically didn't stop. I got down to 8st 12 (am broad, gangly and 5 7") and I've never been so miserable to be honest. I planned and counted food and calories constantly, I exercised obsessively, everyone made comments about how I looked too thin and I got comments all the time about food and weight, culminating in a colleague with eating issues trying to compete with me and trying on my stuff all the time to reassure herself she was smaller than me. It was awful.

I'm kind of glad I know and have it as a reference point now. But seriously, get healthy and enjoy your life, your friends and your family. Time is so precious. And a size 16 isn't a biggie.

I’ve always been slim and to be honest don’t know any different :( I hate it a lot of the time as I feel so shapeless!

Fantail
I hear you sister. Being able to wear a lycra crop top instead of a bra, and knowing my breasts are now supported by my natural pectoral muscles instead of bits of metal is unbelievably liberating and empowering.

I used to be thin (size 6-8) and it was nice to be able to wear crop tops etc. But you do still get negative comments, I used to get made fun of for having no boobs and told that I needed to "eat a burger" and other nonsense.

I always used to wish to be curvier. Then I had DS and I'm a size 10-12 (not fat by any means but I have a wobbly belly and saggy boobs) and now I would love to be thin again!

I used to be slim and it felt amazing. I felt far more tuned into my body and synergy between body and mind.
I could dance for hours and I adored wearing heels... Again and feeling light on feet. No way I can push so much weight onto one small area of my foot now!!

I’m slim . The biggest thing I would say though is it can be quite cold and I also bruise easily.

I have always been either very thin or slim, aside from pregnancy. I have had an eating disorder for many years so being ultra thin wasn't good. I felt, ill, cold and had no energy. It's always in the background but I have a handle on it. I'm slim right now and I'm 5' 8. I guess I don't know any different so it's difficult to say.

I'm slim (not thin but slim and quite muscly)

I've never been huge but a very reduced diet and 4-5 hard gym sessions a week has paid off and I'm probably slimmer and fitter than I was 10 years ago.

But I'm knackered and hungry a lot of the time! Early morning gym training and smaller portions / less snackings are taking their toll! 😥

I was very slim until menopause hit at 45. I have steadily put on weight without eating more and am now over a stone overweight.

I have experienced chub rub for the first time. Also;,belly rolls, sweaty underboob and loss of agility.

Not having any of the above used to feel great. Especially when you live in a hot climate. It's horrible being overweight in a hot country.

Daylily34 that sounds like anemia.

I've got down to a size 14. I'm hoping to steadily lose 2lb a week, which means by Christmas, I'll have lost another two stone.

It feels great. I can move more easily and don't get tired as much.

I can carry more, especially when walking upstairs.

I noticed the real difference going round the fair with my Grandchildren.

I'm excited by the thought of buying the next size down clothes for winter.

More importantly my blood pressure/blood results/cholesterol are all on the low side.

Ypu can't get away with the weight as you get older.

It feels great. I lost a fair bit of weight a few years ago and kept it off. It does fluctuate a bit and if I put a couple of pounds on I really feel it.
The best thing is being able to walk in to any shop and buy clothes, knowing they will fit and look good. Also not hiding or covering bits up. Compared to before, I feel much fitter and lighter.
I do feel the cold more though and if I get to the lower end of my preferred weight I look a bit gaunt. My neck can also go a bit scrawny, at my thinnest, my veins stuck out on my hands and arms, which looked really unattractive.

I would feel hungry.I was never designed to be thin.
I am over weight,have lost 2 stones and am determined to get to the upper end of a health BMI as that is realistic but having my belly smaller is good,makes painting my toenails easier.
HowevetI strive for contentment whatever my weight.

I hate it. I’m a size 6 still after having a baby, and I’ve had people telling me I’m anorexic. My step mother has poked my hip bone and told me it’s disgusting

I've been both slim and fat (size 18 down to a size 8 and everything in between, currently between a 10 and a 12). Slim felt better physically. My joints felt better. I felt healthier. I felt more confident and clothes looked better. Easier to dress and go about life without being worried about covering up bits I didn't like.But crucially I was only slightly happier than I was heavier. It's not the be all and end all.

Just as an FYI, I’ve found it way way WAY harder to lose weight in my 40s than I did in my 30s. So if anyone out there feels they want to lose weight, try and do it before your 40+ as it’s easier! I think the skin is more elastic when you’re younger too and springs back to your thinner shape easier. Unfortunately I have some floppy skin now as it’s no longer elastic and hasn’t shrunk back to my thinner shape. Shoulda made more of an effort when I was younger. For me I’d like to lose another stone. My joints are sore so this should help that. Fingers crossed!

@Elieza And I've noticed it's harder to lose (or even maintain ) weight now I'm in my 30s compared to my 20s. When I was younger if I needed to shift a couple of pounds it was a piece of piss. Now I have to really work for it.