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?

For me, it's not about how I look in photos - but the ability to do things and not have to stop before and activity and sit it out, because I know I couldn't do it.

Some very inspirational stories.

Oh yes, never have to worry about photos and actually want more of them!

Oh yes, never have to worry about photos and actually want more of them!

I guess it’s a bit like when they say money can’t buy you happiness - that’s very true but life is a lot easier when you have money. Being slim in itself doesn’t bring happiness but the extra self confidence, buying nice clothes, having more energy etc would bring happiness.

The only times I’ve heard people not being happy when they’ve lost weight is when they’ve lost a lot in a short amount of time and have a lot of excess skin.

I am a size 14 atm, but in my early 20s I lost a lot of weight and I was size 8-10, I was very thin and barely ate anything. I was not happy though.

I think I have become happier with myself when I started making healthier habits. Walking everyday, I got a water bottle and drink more water, I quit smoking and I started cooking from scratch using slimming world meal ideas and the recipe book Pinch of Nom.

I did these things because I wanted to look after myself better and I did lose weight very slowly. Treating yourself well is a whole different thing to just losing weight.

I lost 3 stone this year and came down from size 16/18 to size 12/14.

I lost most of the weight in a couple of months when I was very ill. I'm now no longer ill, but I will take the weight loss as an unexpected bonus - it would have taken much much longer to lose otherwise. I am continuing to lose weight at a much slower rate by being careful what I eat. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before I lost weight and though I am no longer on medication, I still have to follow a low carb diet.

I no longer get chub rub on my thighs. I like how I look in my clothes when I look in the mirror and I have a wider choice of what I can wear without worrying what I look like. This is good when I have to scrub up for a special occasion or going out. I am happier with how I look in photos. But that is only a very small part of my life, so my happiness level hasn't changed that much. There are other things in my life which have affected my happiness and confidence much more.

I get out of breath less often which is also good, and I wish I had never got overweight to the point where I got type 2 diabetes and have probably caused long term damage to my body.

I prefer being thin because I love clothes and they look shit on me a hen I'm heavier !

I've gone from a size 24 to a 10 and weigh around 9 stone and I am so much happier. More energy, less aches and pains, clothes that suit me rather than clothes that are bought because they fit. I'm more active and do things I couldn't or wouldn't have done before like white water rafting, abseiling and I've taken up running and now do half marathons

I am a yo-yo dieter. Currently, I've been losing weight since the start of the year, and am down from 13st 7 to 10 stone 7. I'm 5'4 so now within 1 lb of the 'healthy weight' zone according to the NHS. I'm top heavy and (most often) a 14 on top and a 10 on the bottom! 40 inch bust and 34 inch hips. Target weight is 9 st 10 which experience tells me will shrink my hard to shift boobs a bit.

In my adult life, my weight has varied between 8st and 15st (many times!).

My weight doesn't affect my fundamental happiness. The problems in my life are there whatever I weigh - and no amount of weight loss will give me a pretty face!

Some things are more fun being slim - being able to buy high street clothes, actually enjoying planning an outfit for a social event from lots of options rather than desperately trying to find something that 'will do' and knowing that however nice my clothes are, I will still look fat.

I also have more energy, fewer aches and pains and no chub-rub/underboob rashes etc.

But being a healthy weight doesn't miraculously change my life - I would say it makes some aspects of it easier and more pleasurable, but I still have the same underlying problems as I have always had,

[quote MyPatronusIsACat]@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.[/quote]
What a fucking depressing way to see the world.

I am sincerely glad I'm not your friend.

I've been a size 8 and a size 20 (steroids/illnesses caused both extremes - naturally I'm probably a 12-14).

I've been happy at both, and I am pretty body neutral - i.e. I don't think I'm 'better' at either. The main thing is being able to find clothes more easily, which is handy!

I've been thin, I've been fat, and am far, far happier thin. I have more energy, more choice of what to wear, look younger, enjoy exercise, beach holidays and sex much more!

I tend to find it easier to watch my weight when I am unstressed and happy though so it's probably a bit chicken and egg.

I went from size 22/24 to size 12/14 and yes, am much happier. BUT I had to get happier first to really tackle my weight loss. And losing weight involved many big changes - more in terms of my emotions, dealing with stress, anxiety etc than food or exercise. The actual weight loss was relatively easy in that sense, although I still want to lose another 3 stone and that is proving more tricky.

So I'd say if you're unhappy, think about trying to get happier. You might find it gives you the means to then deal with weight loss.

lost about 4 stone. BMI was 30 ish now 23 - so much happier in myself. Agree that lots of clothes fit, feel energized, no wheezing and gasping, less aches and pain and just generally find easier to be 'me' ...

I do love wearing nice clothes and i love feeling that they look nice on my frame ...

I went from a 16 to a 10 some time ago.

I feel happier about myself - more comfortable in my skin. I eat a lot healthier and I can feel that. I used to go to bed with a distended every night because I'd stuffed so much food into myself every day. Now that hardly ever happens. And I feel good because I feel like I'm in control - not the food, and that if I can do that I can do other things. It used to feel impossible to lose weight and now I've proved to myself that my willpower was enough to achieve and maintain it, it gives me confidence.

Yes, I’m definitely happier and healthier.

I was a fat child and, after being reasonably slim as a young adult, the weight crept on over the years because I love my food, wine & beer more than I like exercise. By the time I turned 40, I was clinically obese. I was in denial about my weight and I blamed anything & everyone other than myself.

Eventually, I had a health scare which wasn’t directly related to my weight but made me realise I had to sort myself out. I joined a gym, bought a bike & a decent pair of walking boots and worked my arse off. Literally. I stopped buying my ‘problem’ foods (bread, crisps, cheese, beer) and lost 20kg in six months. The key to my weight loss was admitting to myself that it was my own fault, and nobody else’s, that I was fat. I, and I alone, was responsible for what I chose to put in my mouth. Obesity is a lifestyle choice, and so is being a healthy weight.

Oh god yes much happier. I can wear what I want. Shorts, dresses, everything’s ok.

I used to try stuff on and feel so depressed.

Not quite.

I have been slim, fat, slim then now fat over the last 17 years. Current fat spell (size 16-18, 5'2, about 15 stone) is the longest I've been fat and I haven't really done anything about it. Over this period (about two years) I have VERY slowly accepted myself. I'm older, obviously, and I think my acceptance comes from age and caring less about image.

I just want to be healthy, not necessarily slim.

I've never been very fat, I'm 5'6" and a size 14. But sometimes a 14 only just fits me, other times I feel like I could probably wear a 12. And I do feel happier at the lower weight (I think the difference is about eight pounds).

I look a bit better, face less jowly (I'm 53) and I feel my clothes look better.

But it doesn't "make me happy". It gives me one less thing to hang my unhappiness on.

Serial yoyo dieter , by several stones . When fatter I'm a quiet , more restrained , happy to be in the background , dress quite frumpy as not many clothes type of person .
When thinner , lots of clothes, better quality , more fashionable , take more care of appearance , feel you are taken more seriously so have more to say for myself . Two different people .
Prefer thinner self , but fatter me is around more often unfortunately.

I don't think I would say I ever used to be fat, but post baby weight was hard to shift and I am so, so much happier now I have, because I have so much more energy.

Happier thin. I’m more confident, so I socialise more, which benefits my self esteem and relationships. I enjoy getting up and getting ready for the day so I’m more motivated and positive which again improves my relationships.

I’ve had periods during my life where I’ve been very slim or fat. I eventually found the fabulous BIWI and her bootcamp and her great advice re low carbing on Mumsnet. At the time I was a size 28. So far have lost 5 stone and am a size 16/14. Want to lose maybe another stone, and then maintain. Joined a gym with great enjoyable classes. I can run up hill and long staircases without wheezing, I can fit “normal” clothes. I no longer have painful knees. And I’ve donated my larger clothes to charity so feel there is no going back! 🤞

I went from 14 st 11 to 10 st (unfortunately put a stone back on).
I fucking hated being obese. Hated feeling hot and sweaty, hated my big flabby boobs and my massive belly, I wouldn't even buy new clothes until I was down to my last 2 outfits.
I love being thinner because I love being active, being able to walk quickly and feeling light on my feet. And just the feeling of being healthier, especially as I'm getting on a bit.
Of course losing weight doesn't solve other problems though. It won't make your life perfect, but it does feel better physically. Not to mention, a lot of people get pleasure out of buying clothes, though that's not really a motivation for me.