To ask if you used to be 'fat' and are now thin, are you happier now?

[Lsquiggles]

I'm overweight and a size 18. Like many others I'd love to be thin or slim but when I think about it logically, I think it's because society has conditioned me to think thin = happy.

Am I unhappy because I'm fat or because society tells me I can't/shouldn't be fat and happy?

So if you used to be big and are now at a weight/size you are comfortable with, are you happier now? And if yes, why do you think you're happier?

I lost several stone and am much happier now. I can shop in high street shops and things will fit me! I can eat what I want in public without being worried people are judging me. I can wear on trend clothes and feel fancy without being stuck in plus sizes (where everything has excess ruffles on or bold prints because they are incapable of designing larger sizes in normal clothes), I can go out on full days out and walk and walk and not be tired. So many more things!

I think it depends though, I was perfectly happy before I put on weight, then miserable when big because of my weight. I think it only works if that's what's making you sad!

Yes much happier.

I used to be a size 20 and although I was unhappy about my size and the fact I was so restricted in where I could buy clothes, I wasn’t unhappy overall as I have a lovely life - my weight and size were just two very small parts of an otherwise very happy me!

However I’m now a size 12 and I have to admit that being healthier and being able to buy the clothes I want, and not what fits, do contribute to my overall happiness.

Maybe I’m shallow? I’m not some glamour puss, I’m always in jeans and a T-shirt!

But the biggest difference to my happiness has absolutely knowing I’m the right weight, not obese, and that I am so much healthier now.

Yes, much happier and my knees no longer ache

Yes I was a size 18 and lost 4 stone, gradually put one back on and am now a stable size 10-12, and have been for 10 years (during which I had 2 kids, and lost the baby weight after). I’m definitely happier now. Can shop in normal shops, don’t get as sweaty, can have a conversation when fast walking and still breathe. Am more confident and I swear i did better at work when I lost it (probably due to confidence).

@Lsquiggles

My weight has been between 8 and a half stone, and 15 stone over the past 30 years. I am around 10 and a half stone now.. (Size 14, and 5 ft 5.) And I have been for about 8-9 years. I am very happy with how I am now.

I am always happier slimmer, NEVER happy fat. I don't see how anyone can be happy fat to be honest. You're more comfortable slimmer, your clothes look better on you, you look better in photos, and you are more healthy, have less ailments, and have a lot more energy.

I know some people say they are happy fat, but I don't believe them.

@Lsquiggles

My weight has been between 8 and a half stone, and 15 stone over the past 30 years. I am around 10 and a half stone now.. (Size 14, and 5 ft 5.) And I have been for about 8-9 years. I am very happy with how I am now.

I am always happier slimmer, NEVER happy fat. I don't see how anyone can be happy fat to be honest. You're more comfortable slimmer, your clothes look better on you, you look better in photos, and you are more healthy, have less ailments, and have a lot more energy.

I know some people say they are happy fat, but I don't believe them.

I had been overweight for my entire life, from childhood. I remember being in year 2 and weighing 9 stone.

I was bought up to not think anything of it, it wasn't until the bulging started that it became a problem.

When I was about 14 I realised the only person who could change me, was me. So I started a healthy lifestyle and lost weight that way.

After my first child, I was 16 stone again. Just through indulgence during pregnancy. I had trouble shifting it but I preserved.

2 kids (and 2 husbands) later I am now a healthy weight, size 10-12 which I never dreamt I would be. I'm still a foodie, I love to cook and eat, I love wine, but I know the consequences and I know how to deal with balance.

I cannot tell you how much happier I am now. I don't have to worry about being fat or the looks/comments that come with it.

I attribute this not only to my own mentality but to having a husband who tells me every 5 minutes I'm gorgeous. That helps.

Happiness doesn’t come with being slim.

Life is easier when you’re not obese/overweight especially when you’re getting older and your joints start creaking a bit.
I’m mid 40’s and really need to watch my weight.

I lost three stone, I was happy fat, but I’m happier now. I can run over two miles and wear all my lovely clothes I haven’t worn for years. I was finding moving in bed difficult because my body was too heavy but that is in the past, I can walk for miles and still have energy left over.

Was size 18/20. Much much happier at a 14/16.
Feel lighter. Can run upstairs. Less breathless. More energy. Thighs don't rub. I've always been confident that I'm gorgeous even at mid 50s, but feel even more so now my body is more Lithe and nimble.
I tried being a 12/14 and my face looked too thin and mega wrinkles appeared overnight! So I stuffed in a few cakes and solved that problem.

Yes much much happier. I felt lethargic, depressed & generally unwell when I was overweight. I now feel healthy with a lot more energy. A lot of niggley health issues have disappeared.

I lost about 4 stone when I joined the police. I just wanted to pass the fitness test, this was my sole motivation for losing weight. I did hate the way I looked but at the time eating was my crutch and I didn't choose to lose weight for this reason.

After I got in I continued to maintain my new healthy eating and exercise habits (roughly - obviously with bad periods of laziness/overindulgence etc) and after I had my children I lost weight quickly and am currently the lightest I've ever been as an adult (I'm 40).

The pros are -
-not fretting about buying clothes anymore, I used to break out in a cold sweat if I needed new clothes, especially jeans, and would often cry on a shopping trip as I couldn't fit in hardly anything.
Now I can chose any shop and buy nearly anything.

-no chub rub in the summer. Used to avoid skirts and dresses as my thighs used to sweat, rub and hurt after walking. had proper burning pain and red rashes in hot weather and skirts. Awful awful awful.

-I'm not at all a stylish person, but I no longer worry about how I look. If I put jeans and a top on I will be roughly happy with my appearance all day - when I was fat I'd be constantly pulling my top down, making sure my fat wasn't showing, hated showing rolls through my clothing etc
Now I know I'm slimmer and feel more confident.

-feel a lot more healthy. Don't pant walking up stairs. Feel confident of my physical fitness and future health.

-Don't feel guilty for having an overindulgent day/weekend, before if I had a fatty weekend I'd beat myself up.
Now I just go for a bike ride or run and continue to eat well and my weight usually returns to my normal weight range quickly.

I still use MFP after a longer period of inactivity or overindulgence (usually January!) for a few weeks to keep me eating healthily. I like exercising so this combined with better eating habits really helps me maintain a healthy weight.

I was a size 18/20. Lost 5 stone in 8 months on SlimmingWorld. I got down to a 10/12 and was a bit thin for me especially face. I maintained over a year but have put a bit on this year and am near top end healthy bmi size 12. Would like half a stone off.
For me it’s been a massive positive. I look and feel so better. Health wise I don’t worry about diabetes etc or worry complaints will be dismissed by doctors due to my weight.
I didn’t realise how much I hid eg virtually no full length before photos.
I’m more confident - new job. I go to meetings etc and don’t feel self conscious.
Made a massive difference on our last Florida holiday we did so much more as I could walk miles and manage in heat.
Enjoy buying clothes - what I like v what will do.
So much more energy I walk daily, swim, dance class. IBS symptoms totally gone.

Yes. I only lost a stone (sz 12/14 down to sz 10) but even that relatively small change made a huge difference.

Used to be selective with clothes - only a couple of cuts/styles that I felt good in. Now I feel good in everything.

Much fitter. Couldn't go running uphill before, would get really puffed. And because I can do more exercise and am more flexible I don't get so many aches and pains.

I just feel like I 'fit' myself. Like I can flop onto the sofa dramatically without thinking my belly will wobble! I can fold my arms behind my back comfortably. Hard to explain this one really.

I want to stress I wasn't unhappy before. I have good self-esteem which isn't based on what I look like. I am just more content being the right size for me. And I adore the feeling of strength and fitness.

I am now a size 12-14 (more 14 really at the moment) down from an 18-20.

I don't feel I have changed much as I'm not 'slim' yet but clothes fit and the tape measure show a loss. I'm conscious I have a way to go, would ideally like to be a 10-12 but do feel a lot better than at my largest. I feel less fatigued and more confident about my long term health plus clothes fit better and I am fitter and have improved mental health thanks to the exercise i have been doing in the process of losing weight.

I put on 3.5 stone pregnant for many reasons, I was really miserable post birth. Losing the weight has made me feel so much happier. I'm pretty content now (except for stretch marks)

Yes, the tiny bit of my life I'm thinking about being fat or thin, it makes my life happier.
I like walking past the mirror, I like the feel on my tummy of no fat, and (my bad) I like that I get more male attention, I like that the blokes 'on my level now' that I have sex with have nice bodies.
But, most of my life I'm not thinking about it, so it makes no odds.

I don't think that it's the losing weight itself that makes people happier, i think when people reach a point in their life that they are genuinely ready to tackle the cause of their obesity they will then naturally become happier.

I lost 5 stone 2 years ago and feel better in every aspect of my life.

Yes much happier. I was around 13 stone for about 18 months and dropped to 9.5 at the beginning of lockdown when my daughter was born. It's not going to be the same for everyone but I'm so much more confident, I wear the clothes I want and look good in them instead of wearing whatever baggy black top I see first. I also have so much more energy and am more motivated however it definitely didn't solve all my problems and I'm very conscious about gaining the weight back.

Been thin and fat. No I was not happier thinner. The only thing was it made it easier to buy nice clothes. Thats it.

So much happier. I lost 3 stone and have kept it off for ten years. I am so pleased and can’t explain in words how much better I feel about myself. My biggest regret is not doing it sooner.

Good question.

Was a size 20 and just obese. Over a period of years, I slimmed down to a size 6/8 and at 5'10 was very underweight. Remained there for a few years.
It was such a release being able to go into shops and buy clothes - they all fitted and looked good even tiny shorts etc. (no issues with loose skin etc). I got a lot of compliments - about how wonderful and healthy I looked, how young I looked etc etc.
The sad reality is - in a swimsuit or anything less, I was all bones and angles. I did not look good despite looking great in clothes.
I was also not able to eat that much and so had low energy stores, my hair thinned a little. Exercise was tough.
So I decided to put on weight. I am now a size 12 and feel huge. However, I eat properly and exercise a lot. I no longer get regular comments on how good I look as I think I look my age.

There is a compromise there. I think I was happy at all different shapes and sizes with something - whether that was not worrying about what I was eating, having great hair, looking like model in clothes, being able to exercise hard.

The trouble is I don't think there is a point where I would be happy with everything - the closest would be bordering on underweight but able to exercise hard.

I'm happier since losing weight but I'm not sure it's all down to being slim - I'm eating healthier and it's making me feel better, as I'm no longer uncomfortably bloated. I've a much better social life because I go to quite a few gym classes where I'm meeting more people, plus the social side is less centred on eating out than it was before, and I'm not emotionally eating anymore because yoga has been better for my mental health than leaning on food was eating food for fuel rather than comfort, and im getting a lot more joy out of cooking with an interest in nutrition rather than quick sugar fixes etc. It was a complete overhaul of lifestyle, and I'm definitely happier for it. Being smaller is a bonus of it, rather than the be all and end all. Took a very long time to get here though, and at various different points through out my journey I had a nutritionist, a personal trainer, a life coach, hypnosis and counselling (for other reasons but it did factor into my bad habits).

I lost 9 stone and I'm infinitely happier. Just one little example.. I don't think about my weight constantly now whereas I was constantly reminded of it before.. going past a mirror, getting out of breath, adjusting clothes every 2 seconds, wondering what every passerby thinks. It's exhausting and so full of self loathing. I don't have to think about what covers my fat up when I leave the house.. just know I can shove anything on and feel good. Knowing I blend in and don't stand out. So many more reasons!