to be ok with being my current size

[cjt110]

Before my son was born 3 years ago, I was 9stone. I am 5ft tall.

According to BMI and healthy weight ranges, this was near the top of the range but I was happy and felt slim. Since my son was born I have gained 2 stone. Partly due to age, an underactive thyroid diagnosis and just pure gluttony. We've been on holiday 3 times where a bikini/swimwear have been worn. Whilst I haven't felt great, I also haven't felt hideous. It's just my tummy that I have an issue with.

I have been trying to lose weight for some time and I cant. I'[m not going to blame my illness or anything but I just enjoy life and food.

I have gone from a 10-12 to a 14.

I feel OK in my skin on a day to day basis. Yes, I look back at old photos and wish I was that size again but I don't have the energy or determination to get back down to my ideal size. And I like my food too much!

Th only time I ever feel conscious is in swimwear/underwear. I've learnt to accept who I am.

So, is it ok to give up on that ultimate goal that I now feel isn't achievable?

OP YANBU. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid too about 15 years ago, I'm in my mid 50s now. I was finding it hard to lose weight. About four years ago I did Weight watchers and lost nearly 2 stone slimming down to 8.5 stone. It was lovely being a size 8 again. But losing the weight was bloody hard and a slow grind at often less than 1lb a week. I really can't face doing it again for the sake of being an 8 instead of a 10-12. I have regained most of it despite eating healthily and exercising and am currently just under 10 stone (5ft 1.5 tall). My BMI is 26.5 but My waist measurement is well under the 31.5 in limit for women so I am not worrying. I would recommend doing some exercise though, because I kept mine up I still look better than I did before I lost the weight.

Re thyroid medication. It deals with the unpleasant symptoms but it does not make your thyroid behave normally. It's a replacement therapy. Just like HRT will ease your menopause symptoms but won't make you start ovulating again if you have stopped.

You can bloody walk a mile in 10 mins. Should be running it faster.

Sorry forgot to link... this is the public page but if you choose to join them there's a private coaching group.

www.facebook.com/teamrhfitness/

£15 joining fee then £3.50 per month.

I am genuinely enjoying the comments - giving me lots of food for thought - no pun intended!

I suppose ultimately as a PP said, what's my goal. And it's 2 stone lighter.

I go abroad in Feb. perhaps I can try and lose a stone before then? I get disheartened because when I stick to it rigidly and am good, I dont get results. Not just results I want but results. I stay the same or gain weight and it's shit and so unmotivating.

OP, firstly, I think your size sounds fine and you are less than my goal weight. 😄 I gained wait through a very sedentary lifestyle and a mentally tiring job.

Now I’ve lost weight and I took up running round about when you did and I’m the fittest I’ve ever been.

It’s hard to lose weight in winter when your body wants food. Have you considered weights or a workout class? That’s my next step because I’ve reached a plateau with running. Did a class yesterday and my thighs are killing me.

So anyway, I think you sound fine as you are but different kinds of work out will help burning calories if that’s what you want.

Happy to be MFP buddies if you’d like one.

Gah, mumsnet autocorrect is the worst... Weight not wait!

@RavingRoo

60mp/h!

Impressive!

Wonder what speed you run at.

Well if you exercise lots your body probably has a higher proportion of muscle, which weighs more. BMI isn't accurate for athletes.

She runs 5k in 37 mins and says she has a big belly.

Heavy muscle is not the problem...

Although running 5k several times a week in whatever time is a good thing tho obviously

Walking a mile every ten minutes
Really?
you can walk at 6 miles per hour?
My fastest walking pace is around 4.3 miles per hour
to go any faster I need to break into a run
The upper limit of my walking speed is not determined by the efficiency of my cardiovascular system it's to do with the logistics of the gait
Or are you a speed Walker?
I realise they do 'walk' very fast but it's not walking as most of us understand it

IceFall I didnt say I have a big belly! I said I'd like to tone up!

Clothes sizes are subjective. 14 on me, at 5' 9" would be overweight but not obese. If I was 9 inches shorter it probably would be, yes.

Your running is good, but you will need to watch the impact on your joints if you're carrying extra weight for your frame. As the saying goes, you get fit in the gym, thin in the kitchen.

And meant to add that an underactive thyroid needs a moderate calorie intake to suport its function. It's not recommended to go down to much under 1400 calories a day and strenuous exercise also puts the thyroid under extra stress if it is not working properly. Plenty of moderate exercise and being generally active is the way to go.

TheHolidayArmadillo I have noticed impact on my knees and ankles of late.

I need to batch cook a series of meals that I can grab and eat. That are made, pointed and measure etc. Although I dont know how on earth I'd store them or even get it to fit with family life.

I'm 5 feet tall . I was just under 8.5 stone before my third dc which is the weight I feel best at . I'm currently 8 stone which is the heaviest I've ever been and feel curvier than I've ever felt - boobs , hips, my face looks softer . We all carry weight differently !
I'd say if you're not majorly unhappy with your weight but you'd ideally want to lose it (given than you're currently on a weight loss program and the other things you've said ), set a realistic goal and time scale . Don't follow a rigid plan but swap choices, maybe ?
What is it you're currently doing that isn't giving you results ?

Meant to say I was under 7.5 stone pre dc3 , not 8.5

OP I was stalling a bit after starting running a year ago and I recently started with interval training - try adding 3 x 3 minute sprints into your run, you'll need to pick up the pace significantly e.g. 7.5 MPH so around 25% faster than you're going normally.

Sounds like your body is finding your run too easy and has adapted to it. You need to challenge yourself with each run to keep your body wondering what is going on, and make it inadvertently burn more calories than it wants to.

I've lost probably an inch around my waist since I started with intervals (google HIIT - high intensity interval training). It is pretty miserable but it is super time efficient and it works.

As a runner, I would very much doubt you’re walking ten minute miles, unless you’re about six foot and a professional speed walker.

5k in 35 mins is a perfectly fine amateur jog pace. Not fast, but the sort of pace a lot of amateur half marathoners go along at.

My concern in your shoes would be whether I would keep on gaining (pushing the issue ever more firmly towards real health impacts and away from 'just' aesthetics) if I didn't make changes.

I'm 5 foot 1, weigh about 8 st 6 lb and certainly don't look skeletal - I'd actually like to lose 4 or 5 pounds, more for personal preference (as I feel better/my clothes fit better at a slightly lower weight) than real need.

It is not necessarily that unhealthy to be a little bit overweight, especially not if you exercise regularly www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/05/10/overweight-people-less-likely-to-die-early-than-the-slim-study-s/

IMO, you will probably be healthier at a little bit overweight if you are happy and comfortable with it, than what you'd be if you are feeling constantly stressed and worried about your weight.

A 37 minute 5 k is very slow. Have you tried HIIT workouts? They are short intense workouts that burns lots of calories and don't take up much of your time. They will get you fit.

Definitely mix your runs up. Find a hill halfway and run up it/walk down ten times. Then one more lap.

I never managed to increase my speed past a certain threshold, but my endurance levels were always increaseable. I was never fast but I could run for hours up hill and down dale. And that was what I enjoyed more - getting outdoors and being alone and running. Plenty faster than me and plenty slower too.

I am in a similar position although taller and heavier. My most successful "diet" tactic is 16:8 although I fit it around circumstances of each day - I find it helps limiting snacking in the evening and morning - basically I skip breakfast unless I'm doing a long run in the morning (over 10k) or a race and eat a normal lunch and dinner. Some snacking is permitted between lunch and dinner because banning it tends to mean I crack and eat more. Reduces the I broke the rules so stuff it attitude too for me! Specific dieting is just impractical with a 2 year old around because cooking would be far too time consuming.

I have lost 5 kg so far doing this. Mostly I want to lose weight to limit the impact of running on my joints and to ride more interesting horses rather than the aesthetic or future health considerations.

My 5k pb is now just under 30 minutes - and losing weight has definitely helped with that! Which also helps motivate me!

I actually am 4.5 / 5 miles an hour. Do it as part of my fitness training. Am building up to running. Based on responses here no wonder my personal trainer said I shouldn’t jog for fitness - many people don’t do it fast enough to have any benefit.

Sounds like your body is finding your run too easy and has adapted to it. You need to challenge yourself with each run to keep your body wondering what is going on, and make it inadvertently burn more calories than it wants to
This is nonsensical broscience