Would you rather have an amazing figure by eating a restrictive diet and exercising or be slightly larger (not obese)and not ripped by eating whatever you fancy?

[malificent7]

Like most women i love food but would also like a leaner body. Is the slog of dieting really worth it?

I'm currently dieting/exercising and am loving the results (I feel THIN!), so option A for now please

Having said that, I will eventually get bored and swing back to option B. I do love the mental health boost from feeling in control when I diet though.

Depends what you mean by larger! I have a BMI of 26 now post-baby and my knees can't take it! I'm restricting my diet till I get back down to a BMI of 23, and exercise will be much more comfortable for me, so totally worth the diet. I wouldn't bother restricting my diet in order to get super-skinny though

I'm 5ft7.
I got up to about 12st, size 14.
I did 5:2 and got down to about 9.75st, then through a stressful situation dropped further to about 9st.
I went back up to about 9.5st and maintained that for a year then gradually crept up to about 10.5st over the next year. I want to lose that extra bit and maintain between 9.5-10st.

For me having lost the weight my back stopped constantly aching - and that alone is worth it for me.

I just wanna be in the healthy bmi range even if it's at the bigger end. I'd also like to be able able to run 10k and be strong and flexible.

I have a friend who is devoted to fitness. Her body is fantastic but she is obsessed with diet and exercise and I just don't think it's worth it to me.

ohno if your knees can’t cope at BMI of 26 and you don’t know about any preexisting conditions, you should go to the doc. That isn’t normal. If, of course, you have a preexisting condition, your comment is a bit misleading.

I'd just like to be a healthy BMI tbh. RIght now I am obese and it makes me unhappy, so I eat and then feel better for a bit and then worse again.

So basically you're asking would you rather have an unhealthy attitude towards food leading to a life of misery but conform to some fictitious idea of female perfection or be happy?

I’d rather be thin.

Codemonkey...spot on!

I think you can do both; go to the gym and eat healthily but still have treats

I haven't had to choose.

I need exercise anyway. I'd go for restrictive diet & better figure. My face is a lost cause (if face is the price).

I'm content. I am overweight. I am happy. And whilst I don't snack and don't eat sweet stuff, I eat a fuck ton of cheese and carbs and sauces.

I could give it up. But I'd lose my boobs for sure, and likely be less content as I get a lot of enjoyment out of my meals.

I agree with pp about being slimmer for pain management rather than vanity these days!

I am happier being skinner and being disciplined most of the week but allowing myself to slip at the weekend and on holiday.

@cardibach I have osteoarthritis and the difference between a BMI of 26 and 23 is nearly 2 stone, so it does have an impact. I don't see how that's misleading - I'm sure plenty of people enjoy better health when they are at a lower, yet still healthy, weight

I love how my body feels after a period of regular exercise, especially including weight training, but I also love food so I'm probably somewhere in the middle. Fat but not too wobbly and pretty fit.

I feel like shit when restricting calories and have no energy to exercise.

I want to say weight doesn't matter, but when I get to a certain weight (as recently, when I was 75kg/11st 2lb - I'm 5'5/165cm) I feel a bit dumpy and not limber. I am now doing 5:2 until I get to 70 (currently 73) and then I'll go 6:1 to maintain. So not super skinny. I do like restricted eating as it's only 2 days a week and makes me feel sharp the next day, and most of the time you can have whatever you like (within certain limits) - plus all the health benefits. So - I reject imposing ridiculous bodily expectations on women, but I'd be a hypocrite if I said I didn't give a damn. Plus I do think it's a little healthier and makes you feel more energetic and alive.

I prefer being slim, but have treats at the weekend. Feast or famine - not sure how healthy it is but it means I don’t feel deprived. Don’t feel good about myself when I weight more than 8.5 stone, but I come from a family where everyone has a double chin at a relatively normal weight so I strive to minimise my chins!

But I'd lose my boobs for sure, and likely be less content as I get a lot of enjoyment out of my meals.

On the one hand, I have lost my boobs, that's true. On the other, I really really enjoy my meals now because I'm usually ravenous when I eat them!

I've been very athletic, training 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. Professional athlete, obviously. It was fabulous and I thoroughly loved every minute of it. Without the goal of competition I wouldn't have the motivation, my body wasn't my target, just the byproduct iyswim. Now my life is different I'm happier with more weight on.

Although, I've recently joined a gym and I'm absolutely loving it, although I'm painfully unfit, lol

Isnt it a bit sad that eating healthily and being fit and well is seen as imposing standard on women?

There is a very clear body of evidence linking mental well-being with exercise and eating healthy - being a healthy weight prevents heart disease dementia etc.

It isn't just up to us humans to decide we don't care - our bodies and brains do care.

Its hard and I know it as I'm overweight myself and don't exercise.

What User and Queen have said. I enjoy food and whilst I don't diet as such if I eat too much crap I feel the same and my skin is awful. I would say I exercise to eat

I did a long run on Sunday and I know it sounds cliched but for hours after I felt amazing, really strong and powerful. Which leads to great body confidence. And that spurs me on to choose "crap" food carefully and enjoy it mindfully.

DH and I are in agreement that we'd rather have wine & nice food and die sooner than not have wine & nice food and live longer.

It's all about perspective really. Why is eating mostly healthy foods seen as restrictive? Ive been big and I've been small, active and inactive. Nothing feels better than being active and healthy imo.