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?

OP, this post interests me because I am currently receiving treatment for disordered eating (previously anorexic, now have a restrict/binge cycle) and I am 5ft2 and the dietitian told me I am healthy anywhere between 7st11 and 10st1, so I don't understand where your doctors half a stone overweight has come from as I see you're only a little shorter than myself.

Personally - speaking as someone who has had eating issues for 18 years - I can honestly say I've got to a point where I'd rather get to a place of self acceptance than losing an extra few lbs and it sounds like you're more set on self acceptance than weight loss and I think that's great, and you certainly don't need women in an online forum to tell you that's ok.

Also, can't believe someone said you eat a lot! I eat carbs at every meal and chocolate every night, a take away on the weekend and I weigh 8st. Sometimes you can eat too little and that slows your metabolism and a thyroid issue on top of that is just not going to help.

I am.5 foot 2. Size 10-12 is NOT 'fat'. That is why I commented, as we are similar heights. I am size 14. I look fat.

My point was that we all seem to have totally fucked up views of weight, actually.

As long as one eats healthily, exercises and has a positive relatiinshio with food size 10-12 is fine.

All the women I know who are below a size 10 restrict their diets massively ALL THE TIME.They are eating, day in day out, what I would consider dieting to lose weight. They have amazing willpower!

Ok, so ten stone is a little heavy for someone who is only 5ft 1. But as your bmi shows it's just into overweight.

As your post menopausal I assume mid fifties +. It's either accept it or drop a few. Your call, but I don't think it's a big deal either way. I wouldn't stress about it.

Not fat on you loveka but some other people who wear a size 10-12 will be fat.

That's my point.

It's just a clothing size and like all clothing sizes, they can vary massively from shop to shop.

Equally I would say that if all the women you know who are below a size 10 restrict their diets massively 'ALL THE TIME', that's quite unusual.

You sound fine to me but if you are determined to drop any more weight try calculating your BMR (basal metabolic rate) - there are various places online that tell you how. (Sorry crap at linking).

Most tools use your age, BMR & current weight to then calculate the amount of calories to eat daily so you will lose weight.

So my calorie allowance is 1500 calories- that's the amount I can eat daily without doing exercise and still lose weight.
I also look at saturated fat & sugar content.

Your diet sounds fine except cut back on the seeds at breakfast (surprisingly high calorie) & cut out the alcohol temporarily. Quiche also tends to have high calorie & sat fat content.
It may just be a couple of tweaks are needed to lose that extra few lbs.

Also when you have minimal weight to lose you plateau? So I have the last 1st8lb to go & it's so hard as that weights been on me for ten years!

I'm 5'3 if you round up and an hourglass.

I've been 9st 13 and size 10-12. I was undoubtedly overweight at that size. (As I said above, I didn't really realise this till I lost the weight). I think tbh anyone 5'2 ish and 9st 13 is probably overweight, unless they're a bodybuilder or somehow have exceptionally heavy bones. Not obese, not anywhere near, just overweight in the sense of "weighing more than ideal for health".

Does it matter? Not necessarily, if you're happy. It's not so overweight as to be very unhealthy or stop you doing anything.

Please don't cut back on the seeds!

If you're going to cut back anything make it the starchy/high GI stuff like the Oatibix. And any sugar. High GI foods are notoriously problematic for people with hypothyroid (which has links to insulin resistance).

Could it be that you juat have a higher muscle mass, which is adding to your weight?

Are you toned and defined otherwise?

You mentioned that you do weight training.

No I’m not that toned. Not exactly flabby either. I have long legs and a short body so I manage to avoid looking dumpy. I’m not a particularly small frame - some women are really tiny and birdlike, but I’m not. The minimum weight for my height is 7 stone but I’d look skeletal if I weighed that. And probably a lot older in my face.

Thanks to all the lovely ladies who have said nice things, and the advice. Certainly food for thought.

That is not 'a lot of food'.

But I think many women think it is. I think a lot of women starve themselves to adhere to an image pedalled by the media that women should look a certain way.

One of my friends eats no carbs or dairy. She eats just salad and fruit with teeny portions of fish or chicken. She is size 8 and looks amazing. But I really don't think I could eat so little. Even at Christmas or on holiday she wont deviate.

Another is size 6 and eats a strict 1300 calories a day.

Both do shit loads of exercise(as do I).

Thin isn't necessarily healthy, not if you are following a restrictive eating pattern that is causing you to miss out on essential nutrients.

I agree that a healthy attitude towards food is more important than weight alone.