Should I accept myself as I am?

[Jaygee61]

I am a size 10-12. I eat healthily, try to watch my portions, hardly any sugar, don't eat junk, alcohol at weekends only and then not much, exercise most days (cardio and strength), my health indicators (blood pressure, resting pulse, cholesterol, waist measurement) are all fine but I am half a stone over the maximum healthy weight for my height. BMI 26.2. I'm not embarrassed about how I look but would rather be 8-10 than 10-12. But every time I go for a general health check up I'm weighed and told to do all the things I'm already doing! I have an underactive thyroid which makes losing weight difficult. So should I just accept myself as I am and concentrate on staying the weight I am rather than trying to lose weight?

So should I just accept myself as I am and concentrate on staying the weight I am rather than trying to lose weight

Yes.

Why would you not accept yourself as you are?
Your life sounds strangely joyless. What's the worst that would happen if you relaxed all those rules a bit?

Yes. Seems like you're doing things right already - I can't see half a stone making any real difference to your health, which is the most important thing.

No one we can answer that for you. If you can't be happy at that weight then do something about it. Watch secret eaters, everyone of them thinks they are doing what they need to do to lose weight.

I’d focus on the thyroid. If it’s under active enough to affect your weight, why are you not medicated for it?

Whatshallidonowpeople your post is really quite offensive. You know nothing about me to suggest I don't know how to lose weight. If I was really stuffing myself silly and in denial Bout it I'd probably be a lot more overweight than I am.

I am medicated for my thyroid. I think I could use a higher dose going by how I feel but my blood tests come back "normal" every time and that's all my GP - who is not an endocrinologist - cares about.

How is it offensive? I'm only going on the info you give. You can't lose weight but think you are doing all the right things so i suggested watching a program filled with people who think this but find it isn't true. You may find it helpful, why not give it a try before having a go?

Oh wow, I was going to post a supportive post but having seen your ridiculous response to whatshall I don’t think i’ll Bother now.

I'm pretty sure whatshall was being helpful.

That's a really good TV programme and lots of MNetters recommend it.

Imop losing weight doesn't bring happiness!!

You sound like me 9 months ago. I'm also hypothyroid (and I have PCOS).

9 months ago I was size 10-12, maybe 9.5 stone, flabby round the middle, arms/legs and worst of all the face. I'm quite petite build and had always been size 6-8 until DC. Size 10-12 sounds ok, but on me it was podgy given my build.

Over the past 9 months I've lost weight, largely by eating a lot less. Unfortunately I seem to have turned from someone who could eat masses and stay slim (in my 20s) to someone who can only eat one big meal plus one small meal a day if I want to stay slim. My metabolism has slowed, despite doing more exercise these days. I think it's hormonal but not sure what to do about it.

I have to say I feel a lot better about myself back at size 8. That's not to say you should lose weight, it all depends on what makes you feel better, but I think personally I was underestimating how much the extra weight was impacting my mood.

You aren't defined by your weight.

PS I thought I was eating healthily too. But I was just overestimating how many calories I needed with my new slower metabolism.

Your angry defensiveness to a genuinely helpful comment is a bit strange OP. I too suspect that you're eating more than you need, if you're doing 'everything right' and not losing weight. Yes, it could be your thyroid/medication - so talk to your Dr about that and see what can be done. Otherwise, I suspect that your portion control is off. Eating sugar or not doesn't mean that you aren't eating too many calories from other sources. For example, nuts, avocados and many things that we're told are 'healthy' are also full of fat and should be eaten in moderation. Have you ever added up the amount of calories you're consuming each day? That might be a helpful exercise for you, if only so you can take the info to your Dr or to a dietician to say 'Look, this is what I'm eating, so where am I going wrong?'

If you feel the need to lose the half stone, get onto my fitness pal, log everything you eat and tweak your calorie intake till it works. I think 'trying to watch your portions' isn't precise enough.

There was nothing wrong with what whatshall said.

You can be happy at the weight to you are, but the whatshall 's recommendation might help you get an insight into why your weight is over the max average.

Yanbu to accept yourself as you are.

But whatshallidonowpeople wasn't being horrible.

A lot of us truly believe that we eat right to lose weight but if we took an honest look then we eat more than we realise.

Of course if this doesn't apply to you then your question is void really because you have no choice than to be the weight you are.

I wish I was size 10-12! Be thankful for what you have, stop focusing on this and start living!

If you're doing strength training, you're building muscle, which is more dense than fat, so you will be heavier. BMI is only one indicator of health, and a basic one at that. As long as your other indicators are fine, I wouldn't worry too much

Whatshall was making the point that some people think their lifestyles are more healthy than they are, and this might be something to explore in case it's the same for you. Perfectly good advice

Your angry / unwarranted response suggests you just wanted everyone to say "I'm sure you're beautiful, hun"

Any chances of a different GP? Sounds as if you need to get the dose sorted. Failing that, a "little and often" approach to exercise to try and keep your metabolic rate up? (And wear fewer clothes when they weigh you!)

Whatshallidonowpeople your post is really quite offensive. You know nothing about me to suggest I don't know how to lose weight. If I was really stuffing myself silly and in denial Bout it I'd probably be a lot more overweight than I am.

This post suggests to me that you are already quite happy with yourself and makes me wonder what response you were hoping for.

I do understand where you're coming from. You do everything right without the desired results. This makes you frustrated and, yes, a bit defensive.

I think you should focus on how you feel rather than on how you look. A size 10-12 really isn't big at all, and I wish I was that size. However if you feel miserable, tired, etc., then do something about it. See an endocrinolgist to get your meds adjusted and perhaps a dietician as others have suggested.

But if you genuinely feel good and full of energy, try to focus on that and whatever else in your life makes you happy. To be honest from your post the only 'unhealthy' aspect of your life seems to be your focus on your BMI. Change your focus and the rest might fall into shape. Best wishes!