Honest opinions please on whether I should lose more weight?

[fatorok]

So in the last couple of years I lost a lot of weight. End of last year I was only about 1-2lb from the top of normal BMI and less than half a stone from my 'goal weight'.

However Christmas, family bereavement and lockdown intervened and I've put on about 1.5st. Not the end of the world as I know I can easily lose most of that if I watch what I eat and do more exercise (last year I was at the gym 4 or more times a week).

However I've been told I looked a bit thin last year, and look better/ healthier now and to stay as I am rather than going back to how I was or losing more than that.

I'm in my 40s and don't want to lose too much weight and have it age me, also not watching what I eat too closely and sticking as I am is the easier option but I don't think I was that thin at my lowest, and I'm so conscious that I was still just outside BMI normal and that it would probably be better for my health to weigh less than I currently do.

I've attached a photo of me at my lightest (apologies for poor photo quality btw)- I think I could still lose another few lb as I'm clearly not super slim but as people around me are saying different I could do with some impartial opinions!

You don’t look too thin in that photo.

Lovely in the photo.... would even say "cracking figure" - i would be aiming to stay around about this size if you can, op.

Looks like you have a lovely figure. I’d say if you know that you are comfortable where you are then don’t sweat the gain, but if you want to be where you were before then go for it! Others opinions on your “thinness” don’t get to overrule what you consider to be a healthy weight

*had (as this is your lightest you say?)

I would say you don’t need to lose any more weight! If anything, I’d think you might be too slim
If you lost more weight.

What do you prefer?

You look like you have a lovely figure, losing a bit more won’t age you but if you’re happy and can maintain at that weight don’t feel pressured to lose more.

I love my food and I'm inherently lazy so staying as I am now, about a size bigger than in the photo is easier.

But I can't get into my smaller clothes and I am conscious of fat around my torso. I know if I lose this 1.5st and get back to that photo I will lose a bit of it off my boobs (and they definitely look better with a little more weight) but I do generally feel happier and more confident in myself at the lower weight.

You don't look too thin.
Whether you 'should' is a personal comfort thing.

I would like to get to BMI normal, or just below. My target was to get to 10st 10, in the photo I'm about 11st 3. I've not been under 11st since my early 20s.

thinking about it I expect because I have been a lot bigger for so long, it does look odd to others to see me at a lower weight.

I do also have some saggy skin, although am considering a tummy tuck if I can get to my target and stick at or near it.

We have the same shape, OP. Quite broad shoulders and skinny at the bottom.

I think you look great as you are now, but if you're anything like me, there's a fine line between too skinny and too heavy (subjective, of course!) because if I lose too much, I lose my bum entirely, but my shoulders obviously remain, so I look like a lollipop, but if I have any extra weight, it all goes to the middle. I do need a little to balance out my shoulders and I think you're nicely in proportion right now OP.

Congratulations btw!

Who is saying you look too slim? Is it a case of the green eyed monster??

You certainly don't look too thin in the photo. Being in the normal BMI range makes sense, and trying to keep there. Well done!!

Have a look online at a body fat calculator. You look great but you can check that see if you’re in the healthy range. I had a huge shock as despite having a healthy BMI my body fat was at the very top end of overweight, so depends how you carry it.

My shoulders aren't actually that broad (well I never think so) and I do have a fair bit of 'cushioning' around the bottom - but you can't see that from the front of course! My legs are pretty good because I literally only do leg day in the gym, lots of walking/ running/ cycling. Need to work more on my core/upper body but legs is easier :)

Family and partner have said I look better now with a bit more meat on me although I'm not sure I agree.

I've just looked at a body fat calculator thanks for suggesting that - at my lowest weight/ measurements my body fat apparently was still the high end of average, which I expected, I know even at my lowest I still had fat on me. Obviously now it is more in the obese category although my weight isn't.