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've been between 10 and 15 stone for the last 20 years. Now nearly 50, i look ill at the lower weight so keep my weight around 11 stone. It's easier at this weight to give myself a pedicure, put on tights, shave my bits, no achy knees and back, no snoring, no fatty liver or prediabetes and better BP. I feel happier being healthier and can exercise for those endorpgins. Buying clothes that suit me rather than "will do" and cover the fat bits is also a bonus!

At 5 foot I've been 14 stone and I've been 7 Stone due to illness. Being over weight made me feel gross and being extremely thin made me feel gross. I'm now around 8 /8.5 and feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I think everyone has their own weight where they feel comfortable.

Yes.

I wish My Fitness Pal had been around years ago.
The younger me, if I had been this thin, would have worn amazing clothes, had more confidence and way more sex.

Yes, life is just easier. I’m less tired, less clammy, less breathless, clothes are easier to buy and feel much more comfortable, I’m more motivated, I don’t dread making plans, I can pack more lightly, I’m more energetic at work and I sleep so much better. The list is endless tbh.

Yes much happier. For the reasons others have said, being able to shop high street sizes etc.

I found when I was bigger I was constantly thinking about my weight and wanting to lose weight. I hated pictures because I looked terrible in them. Hated the way I looked in all pics of me with my kids. Now I wish I had lost weight sooner. I look back at pics and regret that I didn't put effort into it earlier and spent my 30s looking better rather getting to 40 before enjoying clothes, nice pics with kids etc.

Yes. I have more energy, I can run, choosing and wearing nice clothes is easier

@Whentheydontmeanwhattheysay

Yes.

I wish My Fitness Pal had been around years ago.
The younger me, if I had been this thin, would have worn amazing clothes, had more confidence and way more sex.

You can still do this!

@ZealAndArdour

Yes, life is just easier. I’m less tired, less clammy, less breathless, clothes are easier to buy and feel much more comfortable, I’m more motivated, I don’t dread making plans, I can pack more lightly, I’m more energetic at work and I sleep so much better. The list is endless tbh.

Yes, don't dread getting asked to go out anymore, social stuff.

I was a size 18 ten years ago. Went down to a 12. Yes, I was happier - more confident, more outgoing, more carefree. I've had another baby now, in my 40s and I'm back up to a 14/16. I'd love to lose two stone again. Sigh.

Hmmmm tricky question.

I’m 5 foot 6 and currently the heaviest I’ve ever been at just over 12 stone and a size 14/16.

I’ve also been 9 stone and a size 8.

I was fitter, I had more energy, and felt way more confident/beautiful/sexy at 9 stone.

But it CONSUMED my every waking minute. Had to exercise at least 2 hours a day. Had a personal trainer, went to dance, aerobics, and spin classes. Ran to and from work as often as I could. Never ate carbs. Dodged dinners with friends to save calories. I was fucking BORING and borderline into eating disorder territory.

I couldn’t live like that now- I’m a single parent, have a full time job and do consultancy on the side- so no time for exercise except 2x long walks at weekends and running around after my little boy. My diet veers between utter shit (just ate fried chicken for dinner - with homemade plain rice and veggies sure, but still) and 100% vegan wholefood etc. when I’m feeling guilty.

I don’t have the confidence etc that I used to in my looks, but equally, I don’t worry about them in the way that I used to.

So..... I don’t know. Not sure. Yea and no.

I was a size 20/22 and am now 8/10 and I would say that overall I do feel happier in how I look. I can wear clothes that I like and that look good instead of whatever I could find that fitted and disguised my size. I hated being big.

That said my size was/is all tied up with other stuff and the ending of my marriage has also had a massive effect on my confidence and self esteem.

I'm much happier slim. My clothes fit better, I feel fitter, don't suffer from indigestion, I do things I couldn't/ didn't want to do when fat, I look forward to social occasions instead of dreading them. There is no comparison. My life is much better when I am slim.

Yes, but it’s the other way round. I’m thinner because I’m happier, not happier because I’m thinner

Oh god yes, it's amazing, I'm so much healthier. I am horrified that I let it go on so long.

Having said that, I do worry about putting weight back on and still log calories.

I think that the times in my life where I’ve been thinnest are generally linked to when I’ve been happiest because at those times I was usually getting a lot of outside time, running, plenty of day light, endorphins from regular exercise, eating well and regular meals, socialising with people through exercise (eg group mountain walks, spin classes) being comfortable with how I looked so going out and socialising regularly. It’s the healthy routine of that kind of lifestyle that made me happy, not necessarily being thin alone. I also sleep better when I’m eating well and exercising regularly so that helps with happiness.

Yes, very recently lost 5 stone and 2 dress sizes (15 stone to 10, size 14-16 to 10-12) and much happier. I feel better, more active, a better example for my daughter.

@Snowpaw

I think that the times in my life where I’ve been thinnest are generally linked to when I’ve been happiest because at those times I was usually getting a lot of outside time, running, plenty of day light, endorphins from regular exercise, eating well and regular meals, socialising with people through exercise (eg group mountain walks, spin classes) being comfortable with how I looked so going out and socialising regularly. It’s the healthy routine of that kind of lifestyle that made me happy, not necessarily being thin alone. I also sleep better when I’m eating well and exercising regularly so that helps with happiness.

This is a really good point. It all feeds in to it. I tend to wear 'active wear' about, mostly because at some point in the day I'll be doing a class of some sort - but in trainers, I tend to skip and bounce down a road. That all brings joy in itself.

I’ve been a variety of sizes over the years. I never felt slim enough but looking back I always had a flat stomach and could wear crop tops. I don’t eat much( today a bowl of Krave, a twirl a couple of spoonfuls of Greek yoghurt and some tomatoes) and exercise a lot but never seem to be as thin as I would like. However I enjoy the feeling of not having much food in my stomach. I get much more attention when I am slimmer from
both sexes so that’s definitely a thing. Clothes look so much better on thinner people unless you buy clothes that flatter. I never judge people for being larger though- I’ve been larger myself.

Yes me. I was 16/18 18 months ago, am now 12/14. Sorry but yes I'm much happier. I had a health scare and needed to lose the weight.

When I first left home I had no weighing scales or mirror. I had been working stupidly hard at University and when I left I carried on eating as much as I had before, because I had been terribly thin and needed to not get any thinner.

Anyway, in my new easy life, without noticing it, I manage to go up in weight from 9st 3lbs to 13 st 8lbs. It was a really big change and I was totally oblivious.

I was completely happy and had no idea that anything had changed. So it definitely did not make me unhappy just to be overweight, without any societal pressure.

One day I was invited to a party and tried to put a skirt on and then I realised that things had changed quite radically. I bought a mirror and scales and realised that I had sort of changed from stick lady to honeymonster lady without realising.

The thing that struck me mainly was that nobody had said a single thing to me, in spite of the fact that I had gained literally four stone. I was living among strangers, so they knew nothing about me.

After that I cut down to a normal amount of food and started cycling to work and I quickly normalised back to 11st 8lbs, but it was a real eye opener to me to have done that.

All I can say is, yes, it is definitely possible to be overweight and happy. Being too stressed to eat and terribly underweight does not make me happy.

I used to be thin (size 8) and am now a bit fat at a size 16 (obese acording to bmi).

I'm happier now. I'm treated better by most people now. I look better in my face now too - as I have a lot of loose stomach skin either way, I genuinely don't think my body looks any worse either, just different.

For me anyway, thin most certainly does not equal happy. Particularly as I only maintained thin with a disordered eating pattern and periods of purging.

Genuinely, I LIKE that men can't physically push me around now. I LIKE that men talking to me aren't looking me up and down all the time. I also like not feeling so bastard cold all the time; I always used to get chilblains, but don't now.

I feel confident in my own skin now. I think that's what makes one happier, rather than a specific size.

I’ve always been slim since I was a child, till childbirth at 33 yo I was size 6 and weighed 48-49 kg.
Things slowly changed after I had my first child and by the time I was 37 and after my second child I weighed 64 kilograms and I was size 10. I was extremely unhappy but I was not watching my eating and lived very sedentary lifestyle.
Then decided to get more control and hired online trainer and meal plan.
Now, three years later I weigh 48 kg, size 6 and so happy with my weigtht. I might be a bit to skinny but I’d rather be skinny then what I was.

I lost 3.5st a couple of years ago and i was much happier. I felt so much more comfortable in my own skin and didn’t feel self-conscious walking around or have to worry about if I looked fat in my outfit. However covid and lockdowns mean some of that weight has gone back on and I’m back to feeling uncomfortable again 😭

Honestly, yes, I really am. Went from a size 14 (pushing 16) to a size 8, and I feel fabulous. I can wear whatever I want now, and I don't wince when I catch sight of my reflection in shop windows or see photos of myself.

However, I think the happiness is in part due to finding a way of eating which I enjoy, can stick to, and don't feel deprived on. If I had to starve myself to stay thin, that would undoubtedly make me unhappy.

I went from a 20 to a 14 so not massive drop but enough. If I’m unhappy it’s not because of my body shape or weight. I enjoy the exercise I do and that makes me happy and I am fitter so I guess I can exercise more but that’s nothing to do with my weight then or now.

I feel so sad when women are sold this dream that happiness only comes in a size 8-10