I think might have mild body dysmorphia

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So I think I have a VERY mild version of it, but not serious enough to need any external help.

I used to be bigger all my life... Until one day a few years after I had my first, I had enough, so went on a weight loss journey which led me to be super skinny (I also became a runner in the meantime).

With running I can more or less manage my weight fine and be happy about it, but because of work and family life it's not the easiest thing to do, so instead I do home workouts .

Anywho, I sometimes think I actually look OK, maybe can look a tad chubby (like the one in the photo with the black jacket), but overall I think I probably look slim, however because

a) I do think that without clothes I look "thick"

b) I'm technically overweight

I feel bigger even if that's not the case. My husband isn't much help... He has his own weight hangups and he met me when I was at my tiniest. It really hard to get his honest opinion.

My mother thinks I look too skinny regardless .

So how can I have a more positive attitude? BTW I workout and exercise because I like it, don't see it as something to punish me or anything. I do wish I could eat more "junk food" more regularly but maybe the vast majority feels the same way!

Are you short ? I look like you and I'm
Short and curvy .. it's just the way I am . I have a small rib cage and big boobs but large bum and thighs ..

Nothing wrong with it , my dh loves my curves .

You don't look fat !

As you are having these feelings however mild they seem to you maybe a chat with a specialist would help in some way?

I think you look slim, very normal. You have a shape, not just straight up and down. you don’t look at all chubby in the picture you attached.

I'm short but not necessarily curvy? I'm very heavy for my size though (6-8 UK)

I've talked to my therapist about it and she's of the view that it's a distraction, but also weight is (in theory) one of the few things I can control.

I would think you do have dysmorphia yes. The pictures you’ve added show you are clearly slim. Added in with the UK6/8 dress size, in what way can you be judged as chubby?

Waist to hip ratio is a better indication of health compared to BMI. So if you’re “technically overweight” I’d bin off the BMI.

In my head :( because I've been lighter and can't understand why I can't be as light again. Even though I'm wearing size 25 jeans atm, I still think I don't always look "slim" and it depends on the angle

Being light won’t make you happy, trust me. It’s always a race to the bottom with hinging your happiness on your weight/figure.

The fact that you’re posting this, especially with images, suggests you have a preoccupation with your body image. This isn’t healthy. Asking your husband also isn’t healthy. Asking strangers also isn’t healthy.

I can tell you everyday you’re not chubby, you’re slim, I think you’ve got a great figure, but it’s means nothing if you don’t believe it.

Please discuss with a professional. If your therapist is dismissive, look somewhere else.

I weigh heavy for my size , what do you weigh ? I think people with slum
Bodies and bigger legs weigh more than round tummies and slim legs ( certainly in my experience anyway )

If you are a 6-8 you are very slim!

I'm around 66kg.

I think I look similar to you (I am short) but I am 8/10

I lift weights and the best compliment I get is that I look strong

I really think you look strong, not skinny

I think I look about the same body type and size as you. I am tall, size 10, and in the middle of the healthy BMI range for my height. My point is that although we look very similar, our 'numbers' are totally different! I think for this reason it's unwise to pay too much attention to numbers. The waist to height ratio is a useful ballpark for healthiness, but you obviously don't exceed that so you're fine. Focus on your running if you enjoy it, and measure your healthiness by how good you feel (springy and light on your feet, not puffed easily).

Ignore your mother.

You look short to me , 6/8 is very slim, I don’t take any notice of these stoopid graphs, why do you want to be lighter op , BMI is very outdated, hip to waist ratio is much better , yes you do have body dysmorphia! And I think you need a therapist, I think you look great op, I would concentrate on your running as you enjoy it, muscle will make you weigh that bit more, I honestly don’t see a thing wrong with you, but I don’t think it’s healthy asking anyone, I wouldn’t take any notice of numbers, you sound fit and you look great.

The thing is I've been smaller and much preferred it. It's not a HUGE difference, but to me it was noticeable. In fact last year, when I reached 60kg I simply stopped weighing myself and just lived my life normally. 60kg is my happy place (and it's a healthy weight!) I know I'm carrying some weight on my boobs this time, and some around my thighs. What's massively frustrating is that with my current routine I don't seem to be able to lose any weight (it's more of a maintenance). I already feel restricted, so I'm 100% not changing my diet, but I'm trying to start running again. I have a HM to run in March after all!

You look strong and healthy rather than skinny, which is better! You’ll be heavy for your size because you’re muscular.

I've always been heavier than I look (which is the frustrating bit). Even when I didn't work out, I'd still smaller than what the scales would say. I'd rather look skinny than strong (or skinny muscular rather than thick muscular if that makes sense).

I'm shortish so any "bulk" makes me look even shorter. (5ft3)

So how can I have a more positive attitude?

Counselling.

If you want to change the way you think about yourself, you need to talk to a therapist. It doesn't happen overnight.

There will be lots of judgements on this thread about whether or not you look fat, probably most will be very nice and reassuring.

Maybe that's what you wanted and it will make you feel better in the short term if most of them say you look good.

But all that actually is whether you think you look fat - and you do think this.

So this thread isn't going to fix your problem.

You need to talk to a professional about your body image issues.

Sorry typo - should have said 'all that actually MATTERS is whether you think you look fat'.

Go on the Body Dysmorphia Foundation website and check the symptoms. BDD isn’t mild and concerns about weight aren’t one of the symptoms it’s usually intense self loathing. I’m sure you’d benefit from counselling support but it’s unlikely to be Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

I think you are one of the many cases where BMI is unhelpful. You are obviously very fit and strong with little excess fat.

I lift weights and would much rather be strong than skinny. Strong feels amazing!

I only scored 10... So obviously don't have it by test standards. To the PP who mentioned that 3rd party opinions are nor here not there because I FEEL chubby, yes that's spot on.

In a way bizarrely it's not so much about my size, I'm for the most part happy (yes I have some toning to do/lose some extra pounds to fit in some of my clothes properly). I just find it beyond frustrating that I'm heavy, and the GPs saying you're heavy so what, doesn't help!!

I'm not sure it's helpful having people tell you how they think you look. It's how you feel about yourself that's the issue, so maybe seeking proper counselling will help you deal with this.
I think you look like a healthy weight from what I can see on the pics.
Numbers on scales are deceiving as you have to take into account your muscle mass and how heavy bones you are, amongst other things.

I do go to therapy, but as I mentioned before I have TONS of other issues, me not being able to lose these 5kg being the least of them