Getting too thin?

[mmner31]

Hello Mumsnetters,

12 months ago I started losing weight through IF (16:8) and reducing portion sizes of meals. I also started walking more, which in turn lead me into starting jogging. I'm 5ft7 and I started at 13st9 and I'm now 10st 2. DP has expressed his concern that I am starting to look too thin.

I have explained that I still fast (for the health benefits) but do eat considerably more than I did when trying to lose weight. To be honest I do not wish to lose anymore weight as I am a healthy weight for my height.

Has anyone actually got too thin and then had a comment made by a DP/DH or even a close friend/family member/?

OP you sound lovely.

I'm 9st 4 and 5'7. I'm definitely not skinny anymore, (was 8 and a half before I had DD) I'm fairly toned and hourglass shape so I just look healthy.

If your measurements line up with the sizing guides then you're fine. It might be that the weight loss has made your arms or face look a lot slimmer so it's a noticeable difference. If it's that you're wearing clothes that show your figure more than that's just a side effect of confidence.

Well done.

It totally depends on body shape and frame. I have a wide frame, big pelvis and wide shoulders and so I look thin at 11 stone and 5ft 7.

Yes, I went from 12st 10lbs to 9st 3lbs quite quickly. It was after surgery and I was able to exercise again, had time off work and time to spend getting fit. I got a bit obsessed. I was told I was too thin. I looked good in clothes - about size 10 - but losing weight over the age of 50 does show up the wrinkles... I look better around 10 st.

If your eating enough and feel great, then I wouldn’t worry. Also, your weight is within the healthy range. I’m 5’8 and 60kg (I think that’s 9.5 stone) and recently went to the GP for health screen and was told I’m in healthy BMI range. And I had my third baby a year ago, so could still lose a kilo if I wanted to get back to my size pre kids.

However, some men prefer more curves, so perhaps comments could come from that. My dp prefers the skinny waif look (his two exes were both super slim). But what’s most important is how you feel. If you are happy then just tell you dh that and no need to be concerned.

I have seen someone (a child) get way too thin and the parent was told by many including doctors etc. Now the child has gotten back to a good weight.

Although I will say, when I was a lot younger, I went down to 9.5 stone after a break up and the GP ws concerned about me as I looked ill. I guess I carry weight well as I am an hourglass shape but someone else my height would probably look great at 9.5 stone,

With a BMI of 22, you're marginally above the mid point of the healthy range (21.7) so no you're definitely not "too thin". People around you just need to get used to your new figure.
I would also add that 25% of adults in the UK are obese with a BMI >30 so sadly there is also a growing tendency for the British population to normalise the fact of being overweight, and being thin is thin as more and more unusual.
I am the same size as you are but weigh 8.5st - I feel thin in the UK (and keep being told I am too thin) but in my home country this is absolutely normal and most of my friends have a similar BMI to mine (low end of the health range).

Well done on the weight loss and increased fitness, and don't let yourself be influenced by others (some might be jealous as well).

*is seen, not thin!

I've gone from 13 srone ish to just over 11 in the last few months and have started getting the too thin comments. I think it is because people have seen me chubby for a couple of years and also I am skinny up top and still chunky on my bottom half. It's my shape but hoping as I lose a bit more the bottom half will catch up and I will look more in proportion

He just means he isnt used to it. It sounds like youre at a nice weight for your height.

NRFT but your bmi is perfect so YANBU.

I lost 3st taking me from just obese to bang in the healthy weight range. Lots of people said I was too thin, taking it too far, getting obsessed. Most of them were people who complained about their own weight but weren't prepared to do anything about it.

My partner at the time was overweight and he commented the most because he thought I would run off with someone from the gym.
We did indeed split up because of his constant comments and the fact we no longer had anything in common. I am indeed now in a relationship with someone from the gym so I guess he was right!

People often say you are “too thin” because they are comparing you to what you looked like before. Eventually people get used to the thinner you and stop commenting in my experience. You sound like a perfectly healthy weight for your height to me and as long as that is true and you are happy then it doesn’t matter what anyone else says (including dp!)

@Etulosba

*I am short 5ft 2, with an hourglass shape so slim waist and small bum. However, I have large man sized hands so have to wear men’s gloves and have size 8 feet.*

I used to work with a short man with massive hands. His nickname was "Mole".

PMSL!

@TheWaif

I'm 5'7.5 and was a size 14 in jeans at your current weight! Mainly because I had a big bum.

Im a 12 always have been even when underweight because I have wide hip bones.

Why do people say that 22 is at the lower end of BMI? 'Normal' ranges from 18-25.

10st - 10st 3lbs is the perfect weight for me. Certainly not thin. I'm also 5ft 7.

If you tone up and are fit and healthy, you should be glowing.

@Sunshineandflipflops

I have a friend who lost a lot of weight a few years ago. She was probably in the obese category and got herself down to about 11 stone at around 5ft 7 (was a size 12). She did it healthily and incorporated sports but people made comments such as "ooh...don't lose any more weight". Yes, she looked very different and that takes people some getting used to but she was happy and healthy and the comments upset her after her hard work. She said to me that even the well-meaning and praising comments got to her in the end as she wasn't losing weight for other people's approval, it was for her own health and to be able to exercise, so she didn't like the comments on her body. She has fluctuated a bit over the years but has pretty much kept it off and now does triathlons.

I am 5ft 6.5 and no idea how much I weigh as I don't like the way a number makes me feel about myself but I have lost a bit of weight since Xmas (lockdown gain) and can fit into my size 12 clothes, run approx 15 miles a week and feel great so I don't really care what the scales would tell me.

So annoying... When people say 'don't lose any more weight,' they usually mean 'stop it, you're making me look bad, and I don't want you looking better than me.'

I am 5 ‘8 and probably a medium build - my weight is very evenly distributed. I think I look my best at 10st 7, the lowest I’ve been is 9st 12 and lots of people said I was “too thin”.

I think mostly because they were used to me being a bit larger and so it took a while to get used to it - at no point was I “underweight” but my frame and normally being an un-toned, wobbly size 12 (like, dimpled fat on my upper arms), did look much better under 10 and a half.

BUT! I had to try really really hard to get under 10 and I couldn’t sustain it. 10 7 looks good and now everyone is used to it I don’t get comments at all.

I really think it’s the change that sparks the comments. Not the weight itself.

OP, to me, it sounds like you're doing absolutely fine, and that you're active and at a healthy weight.

Does anyone else who's naturally fairly skinny find these threads make you feel worried? I'm 5'6" and have weighed around 8.5 stone, give or take (don't know exactly, as I don't have scales), for the last 20-odd years. Which I know puts me right at the bottom end of "acceptable" weights. These threads make me feel quite paranoid that I'm not healthy enough, and should try to put on weight.

I might have a chat with DP later about it

I'm exactly the same height and weight as you OP and have been for the last two years after losing 4.5 stone. I've had exactly the same comments from friends but just ignore them as I'm healthy, and no where near underweight as they all seem to think. I feel great.

BMI has a range to cater for different builds. I would feel and look a bit overweight at the top end of the healthy range.

If you're naturally very slim and are at the lower end it doesn't mean you're unhealthy.

I think the ‘too thin’ thing is just because people are used to a larger version of you. Can you tell him what the healthy weight range is for your height as it will show him your a healthy weight and not underweight

Out F interest was it just IF and portion size or has it been more than that...like keto, carnivore, low carb etc etc
I'm 14 stone, IF cleanly for ages , excercise loads and not had a result like that so really interested?

@Spotsandstars

Out F interest was it just IF and portion size or has it been more than that...like keto, carnivore, low carb etc etc I'm 14 stone, IF cleanly for ages , excercise loads and not had a result like that so really interested?

IF and healthy meals. Sometimes low carb sometimes high carb. It depended on if I was exercising/working etc so always had more food on those days.