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?

Op are you exercising ?
I would suggest working out your TDEE calories online then minus some.

Poverty and obesity are linked...its a fact. That doesn't mean every poor person is obese and every we'll off person is thin... there are always exceptions. But the general trend is that they are linked.

*well

Agree with formerbabe.
Some really intolerant and mean comments on here - as well as bizarre eating patterns. There is more to this than meets the eye. Feels like modern people (generally middle class emancipated women) quite enjoy having a scapegoat group (the obese). They can then differentiate themselves as being more virtuous, bragging about their disciplined routines and self denial, and decry others who don't do the same. Plus ça change...
I would be careful constructing so much self-worth around the body, including looking down on others, under the guise of 'health'.
I'm not overweight myself but can't see the harm in carrying a few extra pounds as you age (happened to my mum who then slimmed down in her 70s). Doesn't all this obsessive exercising and vilifying of perfectly normal foods, like 'carbs' or biscuits, not strike anyone as ridiculous and miserable? Where have all the normal women gone?!

@formerbabe

Poverty and obesity are linked...its a fact. That doesn't mean every poor person is obese and every we'll off person is thin... there are always exceptions. But the general trend is that they are linked.

They might well be linked, but there's no need to turn it into a self fulfilling prophecy. It's creating a climate where people aren't even going to bother trying to improve their diet. There's a constant negativity around the subject. Just as an example, a lot of people seem to believe that 'healthy' food is too expensive in the UK, when this isn't actually true for the vast majority.

Feels like modern people (generally middle class emancipated women) quite enjoy having a scapegoat group (the obese). They can then differentiate themselves as being more virtuous, bragging about their disciplined routines and self denial, and decry others who don't do the same

Yes I agree with this analysis.

@formerbabe emancipated or emaciated? Two v different things!

@oldbeforem

Ask the person who wrote the comment

@formerbabe ok

@middlenglander emancipated or emaciated? Two v different things!

@formerbabe assumed as you agreed, you knew the meaning,

I read it as it was written

@formerbabe emancipated or emaciated? Two v different things!

Haha, well, maybe both, but I meant emancipated. As in, interesting how women are putting all this effort into looking a certain way, which seems extremely subservient to me. And most of them probably have pretty good lives in terms of financial security, earning ability etc so perhaps bored and need a new way to define themselves?
Weight is the modern class system!

Yes weight is definitely a class issue. Walk down the kings road...it is full of very thin women...drive to your local retail park in a dreary,provincial town...see the difference.

Furthermore, I don't believe the ostensible excuse that it's health related. If you're a low BMI and exercising into the ground, you're essentially giving your body the same experience as a latter-day Chinese peasant - slightly malnourished and worn out early. I've seen it in friends and relations, and being super slim and sporty has certainly not guaranteed any of them extra life years, and has even aged some of them prematurely.

Yes I agree...of course being morbidly obese is not healthy but actually eating slightly more and having your bmi at the higher end of normal is probably healthier than starving yourself to the lower end.

I didn't correlate my eating with health, I correlated it with my weight and how I look before.

Now I eat to control endometriosis and a liver problem linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis. I don't give a crap about my weight in terms of how I look. It is now linked to how I feel, as long as the pain, bloating and diarrhea is controlled. I think we need to consider the psychology of health and eating and genes before we start judging ourselves and others for their weight. I am 10-12 but that is meaningless tbh. I eat to treat my conditions and my inflammation is my marker of health, not my weight. I think this shift in focus has helped me loads (I have had bulimia and anorexia nervosa in the past).

@formerbabe 'eating slightly more and having your bmi at the higher end of normal is probably healthier than starving yourself to the lower end.'

Yes, which, interestingly, several studies have shown. Then of course there's that whole other, slightly unmentionable, arena of genetics, where lifestyle doesn't really play the huge role modern people assume. It's a great marketing ploy though!

When I was younger I thought I was naturally slim, but that was not the case. As a teenager I was active in sports, had to walk a lot to/from school, etc. And there were few treats/sweets at home.

My DSis was also slim growing up, and most of adult life, but now as she reaches her 50s she is really piling on the lbs, a few a year and it really adds up. She goes on a diet from time to time, but basically she eats a lot of crap/sweets, I don't.

Before I had DS(13) I was a curvy 12-14 with big boobs, at the higher end of my BMI but still within healthy range.

After I had him I became chronically ill and lost 3 stone in 11 weeks and I’ve never been able to put it back on due to meds/illness.

My diet is ok, I try to eat veggie as much as possible but I eat a tonne of cheese and lots of crisps etc but my weight hasn’t changed in 13 years.

I’m curious @Jemenfouscompletement what sort of job you have, because some people have to spend 50 hours plus a week in front of a computer. When you add in sleep and commuting time, it leaves precious little time for exercise.

@motherrunner that’s quite a sacrifice. I tried that for a year (getting up early to exercise) and it just led to me not getting enough sleep which is well known for contributing to weight gain.

There’s a real lack of compassion on this thread from both skinnies and fatties. Greater understanding why people struggle to lose weight would really help tackle the obesity crisis, but so would understanding that reducing your food intake and exercising more doesn’t make you a miserable.

I hope to god that none of the posters who have shown such a complete lack of empathy are policy makers, GPs or teachers. I also hope they realise they sound both stupid and unpleasant.

@WhatWillSantaBring
I said earlier that it isn't easy for everyone to fit in a lot of exercise. I teach part time which is sedentary, I also have my own business which involves a lot of physical work, cleaning, gardening etc. If I teach I only have 45 minutes commute so I'm lucky, I just get up to run at 6 am fir 1h15 before setting off, or run with my running club in the evening.
Eating isn't the same, if you have a 50 hour a week job in front of a computer I'm afraid you should just eat less.
A lot less. It may be unfair but it's true.

@Jemenfouscomplement, never mind, I havve had a bit a laugh at the thought of you rarely sitting down and furiously burning off your calories whilst finding time to pour scorn on anybody who might eat a bit extra because they feel pissed off in the middle of a world pandemic.

ah, we have " should " now. I so love a " should"

who might eat a bit extra because they feel pissed off in the middle of a world pandemic.

And that's the problem I think. How is eating a bit extra going to help with feeling pissed off in a global pandemic? Better to dance round your living room.

@formerbabe

Yes weight is definitely a class issue. Walk down the kings road...it is full of very thin women...drive to your local retail park in a dreary,provincial town...see the difference.

Agree with this. I am currently living in an expat community with a lot of wealthy Westerners. The women are almost exclusively very thin.