Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Do you think you're fat?

421 replies

ThingsThatGoHumpInTheNight · 08/08/2013 22:22

I do. And I'm wrong. I know rationally I am not fat. I am 5'5 weigh 9st7ish, dress size 8-10, body fat 18-22%, you can see my ribs from behind and my abs in front....so why oh why do I constantly feel crap about myself?

I do eat more crap than I probably should do (chocolate 5 times a week Sad ) and I do carry weight up top (32FF boobs)...but I am not fat. So why do I feel like I am? Constantly worry that I am. People I don't know well (new work colleagues, random people at parties) make offhand comments 'healthy breakfast again eh?' this morning as I ate a croissant and fruit at my desk and it makes me feel awful.

Are other people like this? Why????

Sorry to anyone this offends...I feel for people with weight issues, I really do, but been thinking about this today (sparked by comment this morning) and wondering if I am the only one?

OP posts:
mercury7 · 10/08/2013 11:14

bmi is only a rough guide...it assumes an average muscle to fat ratio.
If you have more lean tissue (and thats a GOOD thing) you'll be more 'dense' and actually have a smaller body volume than someone of the same or lower weight with a higher fat percentage

ChestyNut · 10/08/2013 11:27

You sound fine to me feral Smile

FeralStreep · 10/08/2013 11:34

Cheers, Chesty Wink

But I can't believe how much more I weigh than others of my height.

And they say they're fat!

Bet yer all gorgeous Smile

emmasfabulous · 10/08/2013 11:41

If you had a baby 9 weeks ago, there is no way you can be fat. Enjoy your baby and being a size 8 after giving birth! xx

GinOnTwoWheels · 10/08/2013 12:02

I'm the same height as you Feral. I currently weigh 11 stone 3* and am a 12 to 14 depending on shop/fit etc. I am reasonably muscular, but not massively so, and do have a bit of extra flab. Do you know what your body fat % is? Mine is about 32% which is too high for healthiness.

  • This is my 'naked in the morning after a wee' weight, ie the lowest it ever is. I could get a lot closer to your 12 stone 3 'in the afternoon fully dressed after eating' so may be there isn't such a huge difference between us after all. Also, perhaps some people are economical with the truth as we don't want to or don't think we should weigh 11 or 12 stone, so I think that some women who do weigh this amount actually claim to weigh around 10 stone as that is the perceived upper acceptable limit for women, with a 'desired' weight of around 8 to 9 stones (I would be very thin below 10 stone).

My measurements are something like 30F 38/29/40 so it looks like I am about the same as you you, but different build - smaller ribs, but my hips are large and even if I was very lean, I probably won't get below a 12 in trousers. I've recently lost nearly half a stone and am hoping to lose another 7-10 pounds. I will then be a comfortable 12 instead of a 12/14 but will still be curvy which I'm quite happy about. Problem is the media would still consider me 'big' but I don't particuarly care about that - I am happy to look like a woman, not a teenage boy.

I think its excess flab and body fat that we need to worry about, as this is clearly unhealthy, especially when its around the middle. The most sensible measure of health is waist to height ratio if your waist is more than half your height, you should try and lose body fat for long term health. However, I don't know how far apple shapes could go with this, if their body fat was reduced to within the healthy range, which I think is about 20-30% for women, would their waist size reduce enough?

crushedintherush · 10/08/2013 12:07

I am 5ft 4, weigh around 9st 12 - 10 stone.

I'm between sizes 12 -14.

I don't think I'm fat. I could do with losing about half a stone, but not too bothered if I don't, its more the in - between sizes thats bothering me atm.

Last month, I went to see my gp and she said my weight was fine. Not sure if its an age thing, but I'm sure I saw a weight chart in my 20's that stated 9 stone 2 is the heaviest weight for my height...and I haven't grown...

Well, anyway, generally, I'm happy with my size, its not an issue Smile

FeralStreep · 10/08/2013 12:15

That's interesting gin. You are at the weight where I feel at my best - but I can never stay there for long.

My waist is about 30in - that's probably quite bad...it looks small though.

I'm very long in the body, which helps me carry weight quite subtly. It spreads out!

mercury7 · 10/08/2013 12:24

I wonder what actually IS the best way to determine the point at which the amount of fat you have becomes detrimental to health.

Is it ratio of fat to lean tissue?
Is it amount of fat per height of a person?
How much does it depend on where that fat is, intra abdominal vs subcutaneous?
How much does it vary from person to person?
Could there be some biochemical marker which tells us that we have more fat than is good for us?

Thumbwitch · 10/08/2013 12:38

My BMI is now 27.45. I am not in the obese range, just the overweight and I am quite definitely fat. I have a massive spare tyre around my waist; I have a double chin. I put weight on in all the wrong and most dangerous places. My legs aren't fat, nor are my arms - but I have central obesity regardless of what the stupid BMI says. I haven't even dared to do the waist to hip ratio because I know how bad it will be, and that's a FAR better measure of how healthy one is than BMI.

It's not all about looks - it's about actual fat distribution and health - and BMI is barely useful in that respect.

snowlie · 10/08/2013 13:22

Last year I went from a size 14 to a size 8, what surprised me was that I didn't feel thin, I still saw massive thighs and a big arse. Am now sized 10/12, I exercise for 5 hours a week and when I look in the mirror I don't see a toned body, I just see a pile of flab. I look much better in clothes. Yes I feel fat in terms of body vanity but I also feel healthy.
My parents are always happy and proud when their daughters are skinny, weight is always commented on when I see them. My Mum doesn't eat much proper food - just cakes and chocolate and smokes ciggies, she aged 81 and a size 10 and that is really important to her and something she is hugely proud of.
My MiL is as bad - in the past she has asked me why young girls these day have such huge thighs - citing me and her daughters as evidence of her theory - they are around size 10-12.

bunnybing · 10/08/2013 13:34

I do agree with Mintyy re being obsessed with weight issues when you are a size 8/10. I have a friend like this (I am considerably bigger) -I saw she'd bought a new bike and it looked lovely so I said so. Instead of having a conversation about the bike and how well it ran, her response was that she was disappointed as she'd cycled into town and only burned 91 calories. (God knows how she knew)

I get that she probably has issues, but surely she can see that comments like that only make me feel like a heifer??

ArgyMargy · 10/08/2013 13:35

Anything over a 12 is fat. Or M&S 10.

OctopusPete8 · 10/08/2013 13:36

I am I'm in the 20+ range.

but I think about more than I should so a vicious circle.

WhoreOfTheWorlds · 10/08/2013 13:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Talkinpeace · 10/08/2013 13:45

Being overweight is an absolute certain route to long term health problems.
I'm 48. I want to stay healthy and medication free as long as I can so I watch what I eat.
Since discovering 5:2 I can enhoy life and stay at a body fat %age that reduces my risk of
diabetes
stroke
heart attack
alzheimers
copd
many cancerss
Its a no brainer really.
BODY FAT particularly VISCERAL FAT is best minimised
for your good, your childrens good and the planets good.

WhoreOfTheWorlds · 10/08/2013 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMelons · 10/08/2013 15:18

The dress size is irrelevant IMO as if you are 5ft and a size 12 then you could well be overweight whereas someone who is 5ft 10 won't be. I definitely disagree anything over a 12 is fat, my friend at 5ft10 wore a size 12 but was very very thin, a 14 would have looked normal on her, her BMI was fairly low.

You can't really judge a size either as the shops vary so much, Next comes up at least a size bigger, I can wear size 6-8 clothes and am really a size 10 sometimes 12, I find places like Karen Millen fairly true to size. I have 28" waist and 33" round my tummy/hips. 41" round my boobs and 30" under so not very well in proportion.

Another mumsnetter posted a photo on her profile on a similar thread to this as she weighed over a stone more than me, was the same height but was loads thinner than me, it really does vary.

Talkinpeace · 10/08/2013 15:26

Mrsmelons
I hate measuring by dress size as it is so utterly random.
BMI, body fat and height/waist are the important things.

And yes, the level of exercise is REALLY important.
I'm 'narrower' than many people my height and weight because I do a lot of exercise

ArgyMargy · 10/08/2013 15:44

Ok how about if you don't have an obvious waist you are fat.

TeddyPickleStick · 10/08/2013 15:57

Oh I often feel fat. I'm 5 ft 4 and weigh 9 stone 8 and I'm a size 8 or 10. My tummy is terrible and I'm very un-toned.

However , the sane part of me knows its ridiculous. I'm pretty sure it's the media and their portrayal of women and that is why perfectly normal size 10 women believe they're fat.

I wouldn't want to be any heavier - I feel every lb so I'm always on a mission to lose 'just a couple'

It's actually ridiculous

MaryPoppinsBag · 10/08/2013 15:59

I am Obese with BMI of 32.6 Blush

5ft 6in and 14st 6.

Nobody believes me when I say I'm obese rather than overweight.

I have been overweight most of my adult life. When I did get from 12st 10lbs to 11 st the top end of my bmi range a few years back I still felt fat.

I could weep at the state of myself now Hmm

Thumbwitch · 10/08/2013 16:24

ArgyMargy you are coming across as incredibly ignorant and oversimplistic Hmm
I have never had an obvious waist, even when I was at my lightest (7st 12 on a 5'6" body, BMI of 17.76 = unhealthy). I was too thin, but guess what! Still didn't have an obvious waist, just went straight down from chest to hips. body like an ironing board

Thumbwitch · 10/08/2013 16:25

And for that matter, my sister, who is morbidly obese, has a VERY obvious waist.

MrsMelons · 10/08/2013 16:31

Teddy, this is why it varies so much from person to person as when I am 9 st 8 my size 12s are tight, I am under 9 atone today but definitely not less than a q0!

MrsMelons · 10/08/2013 16:31

10 not q0