AIBU to be pissed off at having to think about losing weight?

[NishiNoUsagi]

(None of this is a stealth boast btw, I wish I had more curves but have been the same size forever.)

I'm a size 8 for fecks sake. However, I'm a size 8 with a puffy, wobbly, sticky out tummy (thanks kids!) not much in the way of norkage, so am at the point where tummy sticks out further than boobs

Size 8 trousers fit me round the waist and bum, but my thighs are having none of this, and if I wear anything straight/skinny cut they spend the day trying to break free. Looser cut trousers look daft on me as then my top half looks half the width of my bottom half.

Bit of a pointless rant, but the only way I can think of fitting in clothes is to tone up my tummy and thighs. However, I don't want to lose weight, I'd love to put some on. But boobs, arms, legs etc refuse to put on weight.

If only there was some way to suck the excess out of my thighs and into my boobs

AIBU to try to tone up? Or should I be dressing differently? What do you do to hide the bits you don't like?

If you are a size 8 you probably don't need to lose weight!

If you want to change your body shape (within reason obvs!) then exercise, particularly resistance work is the way to go.

Honest answer? YABU to be pissed off because pretty much everyone has to keep an eye on their weight if they want to be healthy and fit into the clothes they want to . Most people, I would think, dress to flatter the parts of their body they like and disguise the ones they don't . However...if you don't do any, you should probably do some exercise, but for your health more than anything else. Just because you aren't overweight doesn't mean you are healthy - it sounds as if you need to reduce fat (NOT weight) tbh.

Resistance training - with weights or just body weight will give your body more definition - trim your lower half and sculpt your top half so you don't only look very slim but fit too. Interval training will burn fat. Both will make you fitter and healthier. The Shred DVD is an excellent starter for this. Cut as much sugar and processed carbs out of your diet as you can and eat lean protein and loads of veg (NOT a diet, but a much healthier way of eating) - coupled with the exercise, you should see a real difference in a month or so.

OR...just buy some bigger trousers and stop complaining about it

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Nishi I think I understand where you are coming from. I haven't had kids but am skinny without a lot of tone, and due to the odd, er, IBS issue my gut can pop out way further than my boobs, and yes it is a pain in the arse when choosing what to wear. But, we live in a thin-obsessed culture so won't get much sympathy (which is understandable!) and there's nothing more irritating than an over-all skinny person moaning about thigh fat, so probably best to acknowledge that we have it 'easier in general' and start doing yoga!

I think the issue here is about proportion, which people of any shape and size can come unstuck with. My thighs have more flesh and curve to them than the rest of my legs which are similar to toothpicks. This can give you the sensation something is 'off' but it isn't. It's just another variation of woman-shape, and there is no standard our legs are supposed to follow. We kind of need to cut them some slack, whilst aiming to find clothes which make us feel confident.

I am going to try to tone without losing weight. I think cycling for my calves (I don't have any defined muscle), yoga for all over health and tone, and maybe some light lifting to get some strength and tone into my arms. I am no expert on this! It's ok (on the surface) to appear 'slender', but I am a little afraid of how this skinniness will translate when I get older (am 39 now), so my fitness levels are becoming more important to me than my appearance. But yeh, we want both, so I do think the above ought to suffice for starters.

From your description you sound like a pear??? I always wished for this shape - which kind of goes to show the grass is often greener!

As for hiding?
Don't.
Simple as that.
Whatever we perceive our flaws to be, other people are hardly going to notice or even agree with us. If you must minimize your thigh area:

Wear a small to mid heel, longer line cardi's, straight leg jeans or boyfriend cut, full skirts with tighter fitting tops.
And if you wish to emphasize your chest, the world is your oyster, for sadly there is a method in which to do this in almost every store. Finding a bra without padding is a bloody nightmare.

I am a pear shaped/ skinny fat size 8. Only 5ft 2 ish so not a good look. It just kind of crept up on me....

I hate my thighs they just look out of proportion with the rest of my body. I have always done cardio but recently have started doing Jillian Michaels No More Troublezones DVD 4 times per week. There has been a marked change after just 3 weeks in my figure.

Agree with toastedteacakes on most of what she says! Exercise and toning is the way forward. I am a slight pear, and used to be more of a pear. I have enschanged it mostly through exercise. It requires hard work, and regular exercise. It won't happen overnight. Shred is great. Push ups are your friend. They tone and slightly develop the shoulders and arms, making you look more hourglass. They are also great for your core muscles. A press up challenge is a great thing to do in addition to other exercise as you am fit it in at any time of day. Depending on your level of fitness, start with sets of 10 or 20. Ideally full press ups, but on your knees if you need to- but keep trying to do full ones. They are much better for your core. Callenetics (books and DVDs available on amazon) are also great for toning and are low impact,

Finally as a fellow pear, I would say beware the long line cardies and boyfriend jeans. Try them by all means, but they actually accentuate my worse bits!

Ah Wiley- another Jillian fan! I have that DVD too (in fact I have most of hers)- its great isn't it?

Yoga is wonderful for lengthening & toning muscle without bulking up or weight loss. It also makes you feel great. As a fellow slim person I highly recommend. It is not a quick fix, but 20-30 mins every day or so does make a difference.

my entire body is a trouble zone!
but not, perhaps, as much as my mind.

I can sympathise as I think I have a similar issue. I think the danger is, you tend to focus on your 'problem' areas (that no-one else actually notices much) and think that you are 'fat' but completely forget that the entire rest of your body (that EVERYONE else sees) is very slim and looks great.

I fall into this trap and only realise it when I see photos of myself and realise that the bits I worry about really aren't that noticeable. Focus on your slim arms and top half, buy some great long tops that show off your top and disguise the bits you don't like.

Buy some gorgeous heels, stunning accessories, get your hair done. Don't worry about the wobbly bits. No one expects a woman to NOT have some wobbly bits. We ALL have them, it's really not a big deal.