To ask why I look like a sack of spuds at my weight

[Boiledpotatowitchbitch]

Been looking at before and after pictures on social media adverts for diets etc. (I know) The before photos look like me very out of shape etc but their weights are about 6 stone more and then the after photos are either the weight I am now or slightly less. So how come I look like 20 stone when I am 11stone 8 and how come the after photos are about that and I look nothing like that? I know everyone's different body shape heights etc but I am seriously all out of proportion. I 100% look like a sack of spuds I think larger women look amazing and thinner ones too but mostly carry their weight fairly evenly I just look like a melted cake with bulges everywhere I am 5 foot 5 was slim curvy. Measurement is 34f waist 32 hips 44 size 12-14 top 14-16 bottom but really 14 jeans too small and 16 trousers too big I know this isn't huge but I am just so lumpy and bumpy nothing looks nice at all.

I'm 12st and 5'6, size 10-12. I'm overweight of course but do lots of heavy lifting almost daily so I have some muscle mass which helps. I don't count macros but I try to get enough fat and protein, kind of intermittent fasting too. I've lost almost 4st since April😇

You need to do strength training. Dieting and cardio will help you burn fat but they won't help you look toned. Think of your muscles as built in shapewear. They hold everything in tighter (especially your core) so it's like wearing spanx all day long.

You might actually gain weight with strength training, but don't worry about it because a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat so you will be more compact. I was a dancer growing up so have always been muscular and weigh about 20lbs more than people expect me to. I am technically "overweight" for my height but wear a size 8 because I'm not very big. And don't worry about getting too bulky. Women don't have enough testosterone to build bulky muscles like men.

Posture and the wrong clothes mostly.

Start following some people on instagram with your shape and styles you like, and look up how to with on posture

This is super helpful and inspiring and making me want to do all these things thank you!

I'm exactly the same. Same height, weigh 4lbs more than you, wear the same size clothes; also look like a sack of spuds.

Standing ab workouts might be a good option for you

I'm 5 foot 5 and about 10 stone 5 and hate the way I look. I look like a dumpy little woman. I think my main problem is my 36DD boobs. I can't wear anything that comes in at the waist or is fitted so all I wear are baggy dresses and tops.

I'd love to find something different that I look even half decent in.

11st 8lbs isn't slim for 5'5". I'm that height and only start to look slim when I'm well under 11 stone. You're just too big.

Weights are your friend. Then you can chuck out the scales and enjoy dropping dress sizes.

You'll not look back.

Posture, how you carry weight. Also, I'd assume with facebook diet ads, photoshop and lying.

I have back issues and Pilates has really improved things. I have a light six pack now. You need stomach muscles to support your back.

Some great tips here for us then!

I also have a compact foldable stationary bike for winter when I don't cycle to work, I'm too lazy to go running etc so can just watch TV at the same time and it keeps you warm too!

Also look up YouTube videos re angles and lighting.
That's how they don't look like normal people
Then there is photoshop.....

Then there is the thing that happens to us all the longer we look in the mirror, all we see are our imperfections.

But also good tips from PP re losing weight etc, but you'll never look like the ads unless you get some lighting rigs and practice your angles. You could probably "lose" a stone by tomorrow if you know how to pose correctly

Op I'm the same height as you, but I weigh 8 stone 12. You look like a 'sack of spuds' as you put it because you are overweight. Work on your diet and then tackle the exercise.

Incredibly rude and unhelpful.

Op didn’t say she was slim, just that other people of the same weight seemed to look better.

My theory is that you’ve got a touch of body dysmophia op. You sound very in proportion and curvy and not at all like a sack of spuds.

Weights, crunches and sit ups DO NOT reduce your stomach or make you lose fat. They build muscle and make the muscles appear more toned. Which is no use if they are hidden behind a layer of fat.

You eat less calories to lose fat. You do weights to build muscle. Look up body recomposition. If your back is bad working on your core strength might actually help. A lot of back problems are caused by a weak core.

My theory is that you’ve got a touch of body dysmophia op. You sound very in proportion and curvy and not at all like a sack of spuds

Comments like this were extremely unhelpful to me when I was overweight. Managed to convince me that I wasn't just fat, I was curvy (no); it was normal to do no exercise (it's not) and as I was a size 14, not the so-called average 16, I wasn't fat (again, no). It took a long time for me to drop the weight but I'm so much happier now I have, and have kept it off.

OP, as pps have said, exercise will make all the difference here, along with eating better. But it has to be a permanent lifestyle change and not a "quick fix." Your back issues are also likely to get much better if you're stronger and carrying less weight. I was plagued by horrendous back problems at a size 14 but now, as an 8, I have no issues at all.

I've been losing weight and I find when you're between sizes, it's really easy to look a bit shit! Everything is either a bit too big or a bit too small and consequently you never look put together. For me, I found sizing down but going for an elasticated waist really helped until I'd dropped down into the size properly. Also shapewear! I like M & S shapewear. Also apparently Primark have a good shapewear range but I haven't managed to go recently to try it out. Have seen some good reviews though!

Wear clothes that fit, nothing is more unflattering and uncomfortable than tight clothes . I'm much fatter than you and same height. It's about dressing for your shape too. If you've got big boobs then nothing too baggy on top or tighter fitting top layered with longer cardi or shirt. Dresses are your best friend , I'd bet you'd look amazing in wrap dresses, can wear them with thick shirt and trainers maybe .
Post some pics of you in outfits and happy to help

You don’t need “tummy fat removing exercises” . Spot reduction just doesn’t work like that and any muscle you build isnt going to be visible if you remain overweight. Exercise is good for you but abs are made in the kitchen.

I’m sure you don’t look 20 stone. But you probably don’t look “slim curvy” either and you won’t even if you buy some new clothes or change your posture (although I think this is still good advice) because you are overweight. the models you are looking at will either be taller or photoshopped or both.

Id put money on you feeling much better about yourself if you lost enough weight to get down to a healthy bmi and got into an exercise routine

As someone who has just lost 2 stone from 11 to 9:

you look like a sack of spuds because, generally speaking, 11 stone + is a large amount of extra weight to be carrying around. I am not finished dieting at my current weight because I still have wobbly bits but I’m now at a size where I can work on toning/everything isn’t covered by a layer of fat!

the more you lose the less you’ll look/feel like spuds. Well done on the weight loss already 💪🏻

My DD's dance teacher says that you can strengthen your abs without doing crunches or sit ups by engaging your core/pulling in your tummy muscles throughout the day. It may be too much to start with but you could make a point of doing or while brushing your teeth/cooking/driving snd then increase.