To be upset that I look wobbly at a normal weight

[Summerflab]

Just that really. It just seems ridiculous that I can be a reasonably normal size (dress size 10) and still have so many rolls and visible areas of fat and a lumpy shape.

Does anyone else have the same? I just feel sad when I see other larger women without all the extra flab and looking fabulous and then I’m quite small and all flabby :-(.

If it is important I’m 5ft5 and between 9-9 1/2 stone

Surely that just means you're not toned. What exercise do you do?

Do you think that’s it? I don’t really exercise apart from walking about 2 miles every day but presumed a low-ishweight would be enough?

You need to lift and tone that’s all!

Would running be enough or would I have to lift? Never tried before and it sounds daunting...

I had the same, it’s a bit depressing when you are your idea weight but you look in the mirror and look so flabby.

Like PP said, weights are the answer. I do BodyPump and it’s made a huge difference. I also do Pilates and Yoga but without doubt it’s the BodyPump that’s really giving me the results. Good luck!

Bodypump classes are great, weight machines in the gym, swimming. You probably need to exercise 2-3 times a week depending on intensity

Building muscle through exercise will have no effect unless you cut down your body fat percentage.

9 and a half stone at your height, whilst perfectly acceptable for health purposes, is still quite a lot if you are hoping to look lean and toned.

I am, on paper, very slim (5"6' and around 8 stone) and still have wobbly thighs/rolls of fat around my middle when I sit down in a bikini.

I do get your frustration though, I shudder to think what the BMI of most models must be...

No sadly running will not do it alone. (I do run too and walk lots.) It really does need to be weights if you want to really tone up.

I’m the same. Felt ok in clothes but in a bikini/naked just felt wobbly and meh. I’ve joined a new gym and started lifting heavy weights and I can see a small difference in my upper body but not much in my lower yet, although I’m a pear so it’s chunkier down there anyway and I’ve not been at it yet.

At it long rather!

I’m a size 6, do a frankly ridiculous amount of exercise (triathlon) and still have flabby hips. Sometimes I think it’s your body shape more than anything. Unless you want to be a slave to it 12 months a year you’re bound to wobble in some places. Weights might help pull you in a bit?

I do agree with Cats, you do need to be really at your ideal weight. Otherwise the layer of fat does hide the muscles.

I'd agree that strength training is the long term answer, but I find I need to eat more calories to sustain the workouts which in itself makes fat loss harder.

There is a reason body builders have separate 'building' (adding muscle) and 'cutting' (losing fat) phases before competitions.

I find it nigh on impossible to simultaneously work hard at the gym and restrict calories.

Not unreasonable at all for wanting to improve your shape/body/physique. Do you have a plan? Do you want to change your shape and look toned or be thin with low bodyfat but not necessarily with visible muscle?

As for 'size', you can be small in size/frame and have a bit too much bodyfat which could lead to you being a size 10 but flabby. You could have a larger frame (tall, broad shoulders) and less bodyfat and have a more toned look at the same size. Size doesn't tell the whole story.

Running makes me hungrier than anything else - its also very ageing on your facial skin and breasts.

Depressing, isn't it?

This is all really helpful thank you- weights it may have to be! I was hoping i could just run 3 days a week as I know how to do that.

I don’t know how to tag posters (I’m relatively new to MN) but agree with CatOnASwing that I’m not thin enough to be lean and toned...

I'm very wobbly round the middle too, yet my BMI is spot in the middle of what its supposed to be. I've been doing pilates and weights for many years. I've got an amazing six pack which I feels like iron, but its hidden under a layer of fat

RandomAmanda- that’s exactly it- i would like to be toned but not visably muscle-y!

I don’t have a plan or access to gym at the moment but willing to exercise lots and change diet- any tips welcomed 😊

Weights are the only exercise I don't hate. Don't actually love it, but it's not hate. Lol Haven't lost weight but I'm toning up and it's been commented on by friends. Started with bodypump once a week for a couple of months, then had a personal trainer session and did 2 sessions of free-weights a week for another couple of months and now try to do four sessions a week. I'm almost 51 so anything with jumping and hi-intensity is out (thank god) and hate sweating!!! Once I got over the anxiety of being in the section of the gym with muscle bound grunting men as lift I my tiny (compared to theirs) weights, I find everyone very accepting and friendly. Wobbly middle age belly and bingo wings are reducing. Posture is better. Back hasn't 'gone' since I started. Creaking getting put of chairs has stopped.

I think women are meant to be slightly rounded and have some wobbly bits so their bones don’t stick in when they cuddle someone.

My greatest confidence builder was coming to realise that there was more to life than a totally flat stomach and I was being too hard on myself. Is a concave abdomen really an improvement? I’m not sure it’s what defines beauty. If I look at truly beautiful people it’s about the smile that makes their eyes twinkle, their charisma, their confidence.

I've always been active (late thirties) but never felt toned enough. I'm a walker, jogger, done fitness classes etc etc....

Right now feel more toned than EVER! How? Yoga. YouTube. Free. If you're a healthy weight, try it. Honestly!

I am similar to you but weigh a few pounds more at the same height. Every time I see a picture of myself I just look so.... solid.

I really must doing some weights. I have run up to marathon distance and my body has changed but would love to loose a bit more.

I’m exactly the same OP. I’m much fatter at the moment but when I was between 9 and 9.5 stone (5 ft 5 too) I had lots of flab and couldn’t wear tight dresses etc. My friend was the same weight and height and had no belly or flabby upper body. I have a very small frame so I think that’s part of it and also lack of exercise. I think I would need to be 8 - 8.5 stone to have a more shapely figure! No advice though other than dress for your shape and at least other people don’t notice it like you do.

What other women are you comparing yourself too? Unless they are also in front of your mirror at home, in their pants, in the same lighting, you are perhaps not comparing like for like...

Daily yoga with Adriene on YouTube will make a difference. I’ve done her 30 day programmes and always felt and looked better at the end. There’s a lot of core work involved even though day 1 might feel easy it really builds up doing it every day.