To be a size 22 and happy with my body

[Lucyellensmum95]

I am a size 22 up top - blessed in the nork department and a size 18 on the bottom.

Sometimes i get irritated because i can't find clothes in my size that i like but when i look at my body in the mirror - i like it.

As i say, my top heaviness is due to an ample bosum, which is, for my age pretty firm still.

I have been slimmer, in fact i was a size 10 when i met DP - but that was 20 years ago. Then after i had DD 7 years ago, due to illness i was a size 12 again - miserable, i hated it, my breasts shrunk and i didn't feel like me.

I do have self esteem issues but not surrounding my body.

When i tell people i am happy being the size i am they make faces at me - i find this insulting.

I am pretty fit, i walk for miles and cycle distances that make the face pullers making faces and declaring that they can't do that. I am extremely flexible and can touch the floor next to my toes wth the flats of my hands without bending my knees

I would be happy to be a size 18 on top and a size 16/14 down below but no slimmer, thanks. I would probably prefer that size but for no reasons other than health reasons - i eat a healthy diet but probably drink a little too much I also have flabby thighs which need sorting out, but othe than that, when i look in the mirror, i like what i see.

I'm 5'2"

I am a very sexual person and i FEEL sexy and my DP certainly thinks i'm sexy.

As i say, i have self esteem issues but they are no way associated with my body imagine. I don't like my face so much.

AIBU to be irritated when people clearly don't believe that someone of my size is happy with their body.

Going back to your OP, no of course YANBU. Your life, your body, your choices. To be happy & comfortable in your own body is a great thing - whether you are a size 8 or a size 22.

I always got told by a fellow runner something very useful - do a paced run carrying a small 5kg weight in each hand, and see what effect is has on you. That's the effect that carrying an extra 10kg in weight has on the effort your body requires to move

As a soldier we do squadded boot runs carrying between 15 and 32 Kgs in extra weight, including helment and weapon. We have to travel 8 miles in under 1 hrs 50 minutes. I didn't have a problem when I wasn't overweight, so I don't envisage that I would have a problem now . A lot of it is dependant on CV fitness and determination - something I have in spades.

Weightloss or maintenance running tends to be a lot slower but over greater distances.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable to be content with your body, and yes it is rude for others to pull faces or comment. However, like previous posters my concern would be your long term health if you are 5ft 2 and this size.

YANBU to be pleased with how you look, that's great. I suspect that later down the line you will wish that you had shifted the weight now to avoid the increased risk of a multitude of health problems.

Personally, I find it morally repugnant that there were 925 million hungry people in the world in 2010 (a number which has no doubt increased by now) while I eat so much rubbish that I have several kilos of excess weight wobbling around. I'm not happy with that.

Sorry LtEveDallas but that's just not correct. 8 miles in 1 hr 50 mins is very slow, and a fast walking pace for some. Fair enough if you're carrying extra weight, but I've done the SAS weekend training (for an adventure show selection) and done the running up and down mountains carrying sand in a rucksack and it does really slow you down. Of course I could still do it because I was Ironman and sub 40 minute 10k fit at the time, but I was much slower than I would normally be, and would undoubtedly have tired faster.

Interval training is probably a far more effective way of losing weight because to burn fat you would have to go for over an hour or more, which is unsustainable every day, particularly for someone who needed to lose a lot of weight due to the strain on their joints. You would lose more weight combining interval training with longer distance cycling.

Then theres also motor skills. Efficient motor skills mean a person can move more easily, with less effort. Excess weight doesn't exactly assist in the execution of good motor skills.

OP - I don't mean to be rude, but if you are a size 22 and eating healthily, have you asked your GP to test your thyroid levels?

YANBU to be happy with your body. Everybody should love themselves for what they are.

However, your posts doesn't scream I love my body, it seems like you're trying to convince us that you're happy and healthy.

If you eat a healthy diet in the correct portions (even too much of the good stuff can make you put on weight) and do exercise, then do you have any medical conditions/issues that have caused you to gain extra weight? If you don't then I'd be questioning what it is (for health reasons) that caused your weight gain.

If I've read your post right, it would seem your main reason for staying overweight is to have a large chest . I was 12stone last August and a size 36G. I've always been large chested, I was a DD cup at 12. However when I gain weight my breasts aren't actually getting bigger, they're getting fatter, which is why when I switched to a healthy lifestyle I'm now 9stone8 with a 32Ecup. Don't sacrifice your health to have "big boobs".

Sorry LtEveDallas but that's just not correct

Umm, I've been doing it for the last 22 years, so I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about

A CFT 'tab' is walking, marching and running and 1 hr 50 is the slowest you are allowed to be. It also takes place in full uniform, helmet, carrying an automatic rifle and wearing boots.

'Slow' or not, it's rather harder than running in shorts wearing fabby trainers. Which is something we also do of course, but I didn't think running was relevant to the OP.

I don't like all this obsession with weight and size amongst women.
I think it's great you seem pretty happy in your own skin.
I wish more people were !
I think it's really rude to make comments about people's weight/size.
My friend asked me the other day "Have you put on weight ?"
I was really taken aback that she'd just come right out and say that ...
Flipping cheek !
IMO It's not a subject up for general conversation, unless the person themselves starts talking about how well their diet's going or whatever, and then I'd just be nice and encouraging.
Anyhow, plenty of other more interesting stuff to talk about

Being overweight increases risk of poor health, of course ...but it being overweight does not mean you are unhealthy, I'll etc. The only health problem I Have ever had have been to do with, hypermobilty, born with it, and contraception playing havoc with hormones, the thinnest person I know is the most unhealthy, not anorexic just skinny.I have gone through 2 pregnancies 2 haemorrages not so much as a wavering blood pressure, so no its not healthy, but it doesn't, mean we are going to drop down dead, and leave our kids orphans either.

Oh and SSP, I think you're right that it's "morally repugnant" (if that's how you want to put it ... though I'd probably just stick with "immoral") that there are so many hungry people in the world, and collectively we in the west don't do more to address that pressing concern. But I don't think it's massively related to the other problem of people in the west being over-weight, though there may be some links I guess. But mainly I see them as fairly separate issues, that both need addressing in different ways for the sake of everyone's well-being.

Bit pedantic, Juggling?

Not really Jewcy - I just don't see the point in trying to make one particular individual feel guilty about the problem of world hunger just because they are personally a bit over-weight. I think we're all just as responsible for the problem of world hunger whatever size we are.
And the word "repugnant" is a bit loaded isn't it ?

this is how i see it ,
op says shes happy
then lists things she aint happy with
we all eye roll
back to square one

"heaving rolls of lard "

How nasty, Jewcy

It's not about making individuals feel guilty, it's about seeing my weight problem as symbolic of a market failure that costs people their lives every day. It might seem a bit odd but that's really motivated me to lose weight, be less wasteful with food and to think more carefully about what I consume.

I really don't buy into the 'big is beautiful' psyche. In my view being seriously overweight (all SN etc. exceptions apply...) is wrong on several levels, which is why I'm shifting my own excess fat.

I have asked for my last post to be removed as it is unkind. Sorry, OP.

That's not being brave jewcy-its just being nasty. Do you hate all women or merely fat ones? Your insecurity is actually quite

I am attractive at a size 16-have been told so by numerous people. Attractiveness is not the size of clothes you wear-it comes from self confidence. I have lots

Dawn French anyone?

Come back OP, you sound awesome!

^Personally, I find it morally repugnant that there were 925 million hungry people in the world in 2010 (a number which has no doubt increased by now) while I eat so much rubbish that I have several kilos of excess weight wobbling around. I'm not happy with that.

I agree with this sentiment. the problem we face as a planet is not only that there are more people but that the people are heavier so the total number of calories required to keep us is much greater than it would be if we were all a healthy weight.

(I say this as someone who is carrying extra weight)

I don't like big boobs = feeling/looking sexy.

that's just another stick to bash women with.

I was out on Saturday evening and whilst washing my hands I couldn't help but overhear the two women next to me talking.

One was quite large and she said "I've never felt so frumpy before, I really need to actually stick to a diet"

It was obviously that by being overweight it had put a downer on a night out for her.

So if you're happy with your size then good for you, I know I would be more like that woman though - so well done for having more confidence than I ever could.

I think it's great that you're happy with your size in terms of your appearance.

However, at 5'2" your size puts you at significantly increased risk of health problems in future years. I would look into losing a bit of weight for that reason alone, not appearance.

It's perfectly possible to be overweight and fit. In fact it is better to be a little overweight than underweight, as this helps boost the immune system when it comes under fire.

A healthy lifestyle is far more influential than weight for most people. However, beyond a certain weight the excess is probably going to cancel out all that good work.

When I was a smoker, I still ran marathons. My lung capacity was certainly far superior to most smokers and probably better than many non-smokers who took no exercise whatsoever. However, none of that altered the fact that I was still damaging my lungs and ran the risk of all sorts of smoking-related diseases in the future.

SSP, it is very sad you find yourself "morally repugnant", that is no way to live your life.

Working fr the NHS has convinced me to lose enough weight to go from overweight to 'healthy' range and I want to get further down the healthy range too.

There are so many people with gout, type 2 diabetes and associated health problems requiring many different types of medication all with its own side effects.

I would like to avoid this if possible, I would like a healthy active retirement- I know I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and I know being a healthy weight doesn't preclude me from ill health, but it sure helps.