Do you think I'm chubby?

[Butterflytat]

I've lost a wee bit of weight recently (I think - I no longer weigh myself). Haven't gone down a size but my muffin top is definitely disappearing. Anyway, I'm 5'8" and wear a size 14 top and bottom - sometimes a 12 in a top. Yesterday I went out and thought I was looking ok but when I caught sight of myself in a bathroom mirror I just thought I looked so fat. I am quite in proportion - was always pear shaped but boobs have caught up with the hips now. I never used to put weight on round the middle but have for the last few years . I just feel like a fat pie!

Id say with the right clothes for your shape, you could / would probably look trim with those proportions but our mind plays tricks on us when it comes to what we look like so I wouldnt get too worried if you are healthy and not overweight but do think about whether you are wearing things that suit you

Im almost 5ft 8 and wear 14 bottoms and 10/12 top thanks to small bust. I too feel fat but according to bmi im high end of healthy weight. i would love to be a stone lighter

mummyof2boys30 that used to be me but the menopause is looming and my boobs now match my hips! I could never find dresses to fit so at least I am more in proportion now. Like you I would love to lose a stone but it's so difficult. Your shape is actually in fashion now so embrace it - I always thought I was fat but looking back I wasn't really.

I have lost about 3 stone recently and gone from a 16 to a 12/14, I still feel fat and don’t feel like I’ve lost any weight, however what helped was taking progress pictures and comparing them side by side. You can do this on my fitness pal. I’ve just accepted I’m always going to carry weight on my tummy I think I just have a funny shape !

I'm also 5ft 8in and a 12 all over. Some days I look in the mirror and think I look like a hippo, especially sideways on. My tummy sticks out despite giving up alcohol six months ago AND doing pilates for 3 years.

I'd like to lose a stone, but I'm really struggling. I try to eat 1200 calories a day, but it only takes two days of slight over eating to put 4lb back on. Then it will take me 10 days to lose that bastard 4lb.

It seems that women are just constantly on a diet - all the women I know are - men don't seem to care so much. We are probably our own worst enemies. I have a couple of friends who are a size 18 and even then I think they look better than me.

I'm an inch taller than you, wear size 14 top, mainly because of my shoulders and fat upper arms, and size 12/14 bottoms. I am post menopausal and have put on about a stone in weight, all over. And yes, I think I am chubby and photos of myself are a huge shock. I understand exactly where you are coming from.

I agree about being constantly on a diet. I had a friend coming over for a meal the other night. I was meal planning and asked her if she was still on her diet. She gave a hollow laugh and said... 'I'll always be on a diet, that is my life now'.

Interview with Susie Orbach, author of Fat is a Feminist Issue which was first published 40 years ago, in the Observer mag today in hich she says she never dreamed or feared that it would still be in print and relevant today.

You are definitely not a fat pie!!! I'd say in a clinical sense you may still be overweight but certainly you're not fat.

Ewww, self-shaming of the body variety here. No one who is size 12 is a hippo. You most likely look fab. :)

I'm the same height as you and a size 10 all over. If I was any bigger my BMI would be too high and I would feel a bit chubby. That's just me though. One 5'8 woman is completely different to the next. Depends on body fat make up, muscle mass etc.

What do you weigh?

I'm the same height as you, I weigh 9 st 6 at the moment and wear a size 8 usually (sometimes a 10). I go to the gym every day so I have a fair bit of muscle.

I feel best when I weigh between 8 st 10 - 9 st 2. At the moment I feel too heavy.

It’s hard to know without seeing you. You said it’s all in proportion, so maybe not. For me personally, with my height and body shape, I will never look like some stick thin model. I need to lose a tiny bit of weight until I reach my ideal weight which is curvaceous, not overweight, embracing my curves. So seriously work with your build and body shape and as long as you don’t feel overweight, embrace being sexy just the way you are.

I know what you mean, I know rationally I'm not fat but I am short and my BMI is about 23.3 at the moment so I just look a bit dumpy in my clothes. Even though I choose them carefully, the effect is never as good as it shoud be. I choose an outfit that I believe is simple, properly fitted and flattering and then I catch a glimpse of somebody short and squat in the mirror. I'm 9 stone and 5'1, rationally I know I can't be that 'fat' but I get a shock when I look in the mirror and I don't look good in my clothes. I get a shock every time. I'm 48 and sometimes I think I look less dumpy with no clothes on!!

I would love to be 10 stone - years ago when I was a size 10 I was 9 and a half stone but that really is too thin for me now. As previous posters have said it depends how your body is proportioned. I seem to put on weight evenly but I do feel overweight.

Nobody they've recently revised the BMI and advised that tall people can be a bit heavier, and short people should be a bit lighter, than previously thought.

That would put your new BMI at 24.86, at 5'1 and 9 stone, so it's not surprising you feel like you could lose a bit of weight - it sounds like your ideal weight is probably quite a bit lighter.

Have a look here:
people.maths.ox.ac.uk/trefethen/bmi_calc.html

I feel right at about 9 stone too, but I'm 5 ft 8!

"I no longer weigh myself".
The denial is there.

That calculator does not take frame size into account. Larger framed people can carry more weight.

I tried to stop weighing myself. I did not step on the scales for six months. When I got back on I was shocked to find I'd put on over a stone! .

I’m 5 2 and 9st 4 and medium/large frame. Size 10 all over. I feel I look best at 9st or just under. I went down to 8.5st five years ago and it didn’t suit me.

Seren Of course it takes frame size into account, that's why there is such a huge range of 'healthy' weights.

For my height, the revised BMI says I am healthy at any weight between 123 and 166 lbs (8 st 11 to 11 st 12).

That's a three stone range which obviously allows for a lot of variation in frame size, body fat %, muscle mass etc.

Personally I feel best at the lowest end (123-132 lbs) but others may feel better a stone or two heavier, and can still be counted as healthy.

Nobody’s, I’m 5ft 3,I got sick of clothes not looking that great on me, so spent a lot of time reading blogs on dressing for my shape, height, right necklines for my face shape/ short neck and the right sleeve length etc. Also, a big thing is colour, so getting your colours done. It’s a lot of work for someone as lazy as me but I have saved so much money by not buying impulse clothes that don’t look as great as I think they do.

I’m a size 12-14 although only 5’4”
I would say I’m average - think it helps that my weight is evenly distributed (hourglass body with chunky arms and legs)
I’ve lost 4.5 stone recently and 2 stone previous to that
Aiming for another 1.5 stone which will make me a size 10

@gorgonlondon, interesting, I always suspected that the BMI thing didn't take height in to account,

I kinda disagree that my 'ideal' weight is lighter though. In a fashion-slim measure of course it is. I am aware of hunger and have no problem being hungry in the run up to a meal, I don't eat huge portions or drink or have a chocolate habit. I walk every day. I hardly drink, avoid sugar, doing everything right, no issues with food at all.

I think what I need to accept is that I am comparing myself with an ideal that is taller. I would have to starve to achieve that same elongated look.

Yes i'll be honest of course I would LIKE to weigh less but at the same time I'm 48 and I think I should be able to accept that this is who I am, finally!

But maybe tomorrow morning I try to eat less.