Two stone overweight! I thought I was a healthy weight (pics included)

[user1493797837]

I'm 5ft6 and should be 11 stone. 10 stone to be slim.

I've never weighed myself.

I stepped on the scales at the doctors today and it says I'm 12st 11lbs!!!!

That's almost two stone overweight.

I am very physically active and have a high protein diet.

I have a podgy tummy from loose skin and weak muscles but my arms and legs are fairly toned I thought.

I'm quite shocked and I've decided to diet to get within a normal healthy range.

I've included a picture. How overweight do you think I look? Do you think the scales could be wrong?

Clothes wise I'm a size 12 but on the odd occasion I'm a 14.

Never a 10 or 16 though.

Me in tighter clothes.

The best way to tell is a swimwear shot. Remember though there is a difference between fat and being a bit loose on the tum. If you're muscular that isn't too high a weight.

I think you need to post a better picture, the picture itself is unflattering and you are sort of hunched over. This makes it difficult to tell if what appears to be an overhanging stomach is actually just the top and if your double chin is really a double chin or just the angle you are twisting at.

I feel very mean typing the above but feel its better to be truthful than lie to be diplomatic. I wish people had been more honest with me when I was gaining weight rather than the no you're broad shouldered/tall/big boned comments. I might have not gained even more weight then and not be in the process of losing it.

Could you have your body fat measured at your gym? Calipers etc. This would give you perhaps a better goal, working towards a healthy/healthier body fat percentage, rather than using numbers on a scale, which may not tell the full story.

You sound exactly like me op.
At the beginning of the year I was 5'6, 12st 6, well defined top abs, can see my ribs, very slim arms etc but that stubborn roll of podge on the tummy and quite chunky thighs. I also exercise a lot.
So I did try to excuse myself with the old muscle is heavier than fat argument.
But then I decided to do something about it. I've cut out the snacks almost completely (I do have the odd forget about it day) and I now weigh 10st 5.
I feel and look a whole lot better.
It can be done. It's actually been easier than I thought it would be. I just needed to get in the mind set that it was important. Because regardless of the reason why the weight is there, losing a stone or two reduces the stress on the organs and joints - etc. etc.

I've posted a different picture. :-)

I really doubt the scales are wrong. You are pushing 13 stone.
That's a lot for a woman of your height. BMI might need some leeway for extremely active but large people (rugby players for example), or really tiny but fit people (ultra marathon runners), but for most of us, it's a good indication of where you should be.

Obviously 1kg of something weighs the same as 1kg of something else. That's a scientific fact that can not be disputed.
However 1kg of different substances take up very differing volumes of space.
When someone says "muscle weighs more than fat" they are actually saying that a specific volume of muscle weighs more that than same volume of fat OR that a specific weight of muscle is a smaller volume than that same weight of fat.
I think that most people understand that this is what is meant in the "muscle weighs more than fat" comments.

I'm 5'5.5" and 10 stone. I think I'm about a stone overweight.

I'd ignore all the people saying you don't look overweight and just look at the numbers. I don't just mean weight. I mean measurements, heart rate, miles you can run.

You may look slimmer than average, but that's because so many people are fat.

You are the same height as me yet weigh more than my 50 something 5'11" husband. You are overweight.

What did the GP say? I'd rather take their advise than that of a bunch of random people on the Internet.

Yeah, but an extra kilo of muscle is a good thing to have, the exact opposite of an extra kilo of fat.

I'm 5'6", 11st.8, and certainly not a size 12! I'm a size 14 and need to lose a stone to feel more comfortable. I do 10,000 steps most days up and down steep hills.
You are definitely overweight at nearly 13 stone!

(for those of us not underweight, of course)

I am 5ft6 too at 12 stone I am a size 12. I run a lot and I am very active. I once got down to 9 stone and it didn't suit me as I am well built. Everyone is different I think you look fine.

I think you look a bit overweight in the 2nd pic OP. Sorry.

You definitely have a tummy and little fat pads on your hips. We have ponies and when assessing them for weight fat pads is one of the things we look for so that's probably why I notice them.

For balance I am 5ft 5in and at 13st I was definitely overweight. I am now 11st 10 and still overweight. I am apple shaped and my waist is 34inches which I would like to be 30/31. Certainly under 32in. And I have huge boobs, 34J at the moment.

You don't look horrendously fat tho. You look lovely in that second picture. You have a very slim upper half and just need to lose a bit on your bottom bit to balance out.

I can't eat a lot of carbs personally. I can eat fat and proteins and so on. Just not too much bread or pasta. I am reconsidering a lchf diet to get slimmer for a holiday in August.

The BMI calculator told my friend she was obese..... and she is stunning, honestly shes not even chubby!!

I find that hard to believe.

You don't look fat OP but not slim. Slightly overweight I'd describe

Op at the moment you don't have the figure for that dress.
Lose a stone or so, and you would

I'm only about 3-4 kilos overweight but don't carry it well. Being short and curvy with short legs (I refuse to call it dumpy) every kilos shows sadly

You don't look fat as such but you would look better carrying less weight.

Are you a glutton for punishment OP....why would you ask a bunch of random strangers to critique your body, it's just odd

I think the last photo is much clearer. Your stomach and hips look fat and it looks like you have fat on your legs too. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It's how I would expect someone of your weight to look. It's not at all bad and no one would notice you as being fat but you are overwieght and it's not healthy. The exercise means you are fit and that's great but it doesn't mean that it's then healthy to carry so much extra fat.

Im suprised you are a size 12 but I know it makes a massive difference where you shop. Is your tum from having kids?

Roughly How old are you? I've found it increasingly harder to lose weight as I get older. I'm in my 50's. I exercise a lot although maybe not quite as high intensity as when I was younger. When I was younger when I noticed I had put weight on I seemed to be able to zap it away quickly whereas now I have to really work at it.

I have high enough self esteem to be able to take comments about my body.

I'm only asking as I considered myself to be within a normal weight range so it was a shock to see I was almost two stone overweight and I wanted opinions.

For what it's worth, whether I'm overweight or not I am confident that I'm an attractive woman. I'm not going to decide I'm a hideous ogre just because some people think I'm overweight. I don't even mind if I am overweight by a stone or two.

@Sidge opps. Sorry. That will teach me not to convert units properly...
0.2kg for clothes on my scales. Double and add a bit for KG to lb makes half a pound.

Are you a glutton for punishment OP

^^ This!