If you're a size 8-10 (or your ideal) but not naturally slim how do you stay that way?

[overweightcat]

I know some people are just naturally rather petite or slim and willowy.

But if you're not and manage to stay a size 8-10 how do you do it?

I'm 5'5 and recently lost weight and gone down to a solid size 12 - 10 in certain shops. Beforehand it was on the larger side of size 14.
I used to be very slim in my teens, had a terrible diet full of crap and sweets but was also very active around 8hrs a week of various sports/dance activities. I became quite sedentary and steadily piled on the weight since.

I don't have long legs or a small frame or anything - if anything I find that I'm rather in proportion all around and when I used to do a lot of sports I looked slim and athletic not willowy (which I'd prefer TBH).
Size 8-10 is my ideal I think as I've recently seen pictures of myself when I was that size and I think that's when I looked my healthiest and fittest - but I'm not sure how to get there.

My weight is at a bit of a standstill at the moment and I want to lose in a sustainable way. I probably have about 9lbs to go.

So anyone who has managed to achieve that and stay the desired size - can you share how you did it?

@Jemenfouscompletement

Oh and I see you dodged my question aa to whether you think underweight people have no excuse for being like that?

I think all these messages show it's incredibly difficult to be 'naturally slim' as you get older.It takes restricting or monitoring food and being strict with exercise.I've certainly found that since hitting 45 I now have to drastically restrict carbs to stay a curvy (I have a small frame) 9.7 stone.If I exercised as much as I do now in my 20s I'd have been lean and strong...not now.I've just started using a fasting app...sometimes I think this is healthy in a 5:2 sense.Other times I think I'm literally monitoring myself not eating which cant be healthy.

Omg some of you are so disciplined
A lot of it indeed just comes down to discipline.

I have watched my weight my entire life. Was a chubby kid and teenager because I loved anything sweet and my parents never restricted it. I decided that I didn't like feeling chubby at 16 so started to change my habits. I lost weight and liked my body for the first time in my early 20s. Its been a constant battle to fight my urge for sugar and carbs though.

I do a lot of sport but really oy because it means I can eat a bit more and still control my weight. I am conscious of what I eat every day and have been since then but it's just become part of my every day life, like showering putting make up on etc..

It really comes down to one thing: the good feelings I get from being slim has always been more rewarding than the pleasure I get from eating but with feeling terrible when I put on a bit of weight.

I am 49 and a size 10.
I've been thinner and I've been much bigger ( after pregnancy).
I exercise every day. I like weights too.
I love food but
I avoid carbs
I don't drink much
I eat a lot of fruit and veg
I cook from scratch as often as I can.

I love cake and chocolate so I don't go without.

Personally I need to move ALOT more than I ever have in order to stay slim.

Can be hard work.

Yeah I definitely need to move more @PablosHoney

It's strange. I never realised that I was moderately fit until I lost my job and therefore stopped walking briskly 8 miles a day going to and from work and walking or standing all day in work. I thought I was unfit for years. Fast forward to now and in the space of a few months I get tired walking just 2 miles. I realise I was semi fit before.

I need to do more and eat better. Its another half a stone before I'm officially overweight but I don't feel good at this weight and shape.

I've torn abdominal muscles (not an excuse, literally no strength in them and my insides bulge out of them if I strain them) but need to do something rather than sit about all day.

“ You are more than welcome to message me for a link to my Strava if you are such a doubter that someone actually looks after their body”

Lol, no I’m good thanks

Anyway I weigh about 50kg and have a pretty great figure so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just don’t see the need to spend so many hours per week maintaining it, I would get bored

Please somebody tell me how for anybody, " water days" are a sign that all is well mentally?

@GhostCurry I enjoy exercise. I'd far rather go for a 2hr run than watch mindless TV.
I'd far rather have an amazing figure than a pretty great figure.
I'd far rather be slimmer than weigh that.
We are all different.
Exercise is not a punishment for me, I don't do it purely to weigh a certain weight I enjoy it, both the actual exercise and the ability to perform well in races.

I am 5 foot 6 and 9 stone 4 which makes me a size 10, occasionally 12 in a top as I have v big boobs.
I have to work hard at it. I follow 16:8 and eat two meals a day- a protein based salad for lunch and whatever is going for dinner. I eat carbs except bread. I dont eat after dinner at all, but occasionally eat out and then have whatever I want. This is 1-2 times a month. It is hard work and I'm often hungry but its what I have to do to remain slim. I am frightened of becoming obese and the medical implications of that.

@formerbabe

Oh and I see you dodged my question aa to whether you think underweight people have no excuse for being like that?
Sorry was out for my morning run, but yes, underweight people have an excuse, poverty, starvation, illness etc. It isn't necessarily your fault if you don't eat enough. But eating too much is. Even if you have metabolic issues caused by thyroid/menopause/steroids etc you just need to eat less not to put on weight.

But eating too much is

Did you miss my post about victims of abuse?

I became fat as a child..was an average skinny child, until my mum died...I began comfort eating... is that enough of an 'excuse' for you?

What about alcoholics? Drug addicts? People suffering with anorexia? Do you say just stop drinking and shooting up or tell people with anorexia to just put the food in their mouth?

You mention poverty? In developing countries, poverty may result in being underweight. In the UK, poverty is associated with obesity. Food is a cheap, accessible, socially acceptable way to get a dopamine fix if your life is otherwise shit.

You sound massively lacking in empathy.

@formerbabe
maybe I lack empathy but there comes a time when we have to take responsibility for our own health, obesity is a huge problem in western society and for the majority or people it is just caused by greed, overeating and lack of physical exercise than by some form of illness.

You haven't addressed any of my points.

If obesity was driven purely by greed then can you explain why in the UK poverty is so closely linked to obesity? Or do you think poor people are inherently more greedy?

Eat healthily - steam veg, cut out Most snacks and booze. Maybe 30-45 minutes a day of working out.

for the majority or people it is just caused by greed

Bingo! You have solved the problem. No need for research, considering the link between poverty and obesity, scientists, government advisory bodies and so on. Its just bloody greedy fatties stuffing their faces.
Brava.

[quote Jemenfouscompletement]@formerbabe
maybe I lack empathy but there comes a time when we have to take responsibility for our own health, obesity is a huge problem in western society and for the majority or people it is just caused by greed, overeating and lack of physical exercise than by some form of illness.[/quote]
I agree, this was the case for me. As a previous poster(s) mentioned it does take discipline. DS wakes up around 5.30. This meant today I set my alarm for 4am so could get in 10k before he wakes up. Whilst the kids have been playing I did some quick weights. I am now taking them for a 8 mile bike ride. I don’t want my children growing up into the obese child/young adult I was. They don’t see this as exercise, to them it’s normal activity. This may not be some people’s idea of fun but I like the feeling of a slim, toned body. I can still remember tight clothes, chapped thighs and excessive sweating. I was obese til the age of 22. With sheer will power I lost 6 stone in a year and am the same weight now at 41 (bar 2 pregnancies!). It can be done and it doesn’t need fad diets, slimming world, weight watchers, personal trainers. It’s hard work and requires retraining your mind and body but it’s achievable.

@randomer

She can't respond to any of my points beyond...greed and just stop putting the food in your mouth.

Seems bizarre to me that someone could be aware that illness, eating disorders, poverty could cause someone to be underweight...yet totally deny that those things could also cause someone to be overweight.

I also find it fascinating that if a victim of abuse or severe childhood trauma developed anorexia, people would be queuing up with sympathy, empathy and support. Yet if they developed a binge eating disorder, they're treated with contempt and cruelty.

For me, it's a mix of hard work and my natural body shape. I have a tiny waist and chest and can fit into a size 4/6 top despite being 5'7"... however this can make me look unbalanced as I have a size 8 bottom half and I know my tendency is to put on weight around my thighs, legs and bum. So I usually do exercises that target that area in particular and I'm managing to maintain my size and weight. I probably do an hour exercise a day which includes a kettlebell workout. I was going to the gym daily pre-Covid and I'm lucky that I genuinely love the gym. I enjoy the social aspect of it as usually go with my best friend or boyfriend. I did have to learn to love it though... it's not for everyone and that's okay.

Food wise I tend to eat what I want although I have cut back on the pasta as I was smashing through it when lockdown started and I noticed it made me bloated. I don't diet but I try my best to be as healthy as possible whilst also eating a little bit of what I love (chocolate, ice cream, cake etc)

I will try to go for a low fat option where available (like lower fat cheese which actually isn't bad)

Honestly, I think staying slim just requires some small sacrifices in terms of diet and daily exercise (making sure the exercise you're doing in targeted to your body and what you want to achieve)

@Duvetday8 , how short are you that you think someone who weighs less than 50kg has a better figure than someone who weighs 50kg? Either you have very different view on figures that me (and I would imagine many people) or you’ve got confused on weights.

@formerbabe
I will try and reply in more detail but don't have a lot of time. I'm very busy, rarely sit down except to eat and am not constantly on my phone or computer which is probably another reason I'm not fat.

formerbabe
I'd say anyone with an eating disorder or trauma in their past needs compassion and support. People who are unhealthily underweight and overweight need support to be healthy.

What I don't buy into is branding slimmer people with appropriate self control and appropriate exercise habits as obsessive and vain whilst trying to get into whataboutery regarding overweight people (eg but what about abuse).

The average woman is 5ft3 and 11 stone. That's a BMI of 27.
According to the NHS a healthy weight at 5ft3 is 7stone6 to 10 stone 1.

Some people will have eating disorders and trauma on their lives, but the majority of the British public who are overweight are probably overweight because of too many calories (especially empty calories) and not enough physical activity.
There is a reason why so many posters want to argue that people who are an 8/10 either have a special slim person gift and/or must be ridiculously obsessed with exercise and never eat. It's because it's comforting to ignore the fact that for most people it is entirely possible to be within a healthy weight range (including the lower end of healthy) by making positive choices.

There's a thread at the moment about biscuits that's really interesting. On that thread there's lots of common sense that too much of anything is a problem and it's too easy for people not to see where their extra calories come from.

What I don't buy into is branding slimmer people with appropriate self control and appropriate exercise habits as obsessive and vain

I never said they were... although I certainly think someone who spends two days a week water fasting is not displaying a healthy relationship with food.

As this thread shows its actually quite easy to become slightly overweight for no other reason than too many biscuits, puddings etc.

However, I think you'll struggle to find a morbidly obese person who doesn't have some serious underlying mental health problems.

Anyway my responses were aimed at the ridiculous "no excuses" comment.

@Jemenfouscompletement

Honestly don't bother replying...

I can't imagine you'll say anything much more than fat greedy bastards, massive fatties blah blah

In the UK, poverty is associated with obesity. Food is a cheap, accessible, socially acceptable way to get a dopamine fix if your life is otherwise shit

Well, I'm officially poor, and my life is pretty shit as well. That doesn't mean I have to eat shit food or accept being unfit and unhealthy. There are other sources of pleasure that are open to poor people.
Personally, speaking as a 'poor' person, I really don't like the attitude that being overweight/obese is an almost inevitable consequence of poverty. It doesn't have to be.

Anyway, OP, to answer your question. I do the following -
Use a smaller plate (about 9" across)
Eat at least 5 a day, .mostly vegetables. I eat quite simple basic food, mostly cooked from scratch.
Cut back on snacking. I don't keep things like multi packs of crisps, chocolates, biscuits, etc in the house. If I want a treat I go to the shop and buy a single one.
Keep alcohol to a minimum.
Be as active as possible.
Weigh (or measure) yourself frequently, deal with any weight gain quickly otherwise it's really easy to have a serious weight problem over a few months.
Unfortunately I've broken a few of my rules over the last few weeks and gained 3kgs. Time to get back on it.