Body shape - getting me down

[LittlePickleHead]

I've put on a bit of weight - about half a stone - over the past six months (combination of a stressful job which thankfully has now changed, combined with too much access to cake and sweets, and a lack of time to exercise). I'm 5.7, and I'm now 10 stone so would like to get back to 9 1/2 stone, which is where I was last summer. I'm not overweight and my BMI is about 21 so for me it is just a toning/looking a bit better thing.

However, I'm a member of a calorie counting website (WLR) and I put in my measurements to keep track. I have skinny arms and legs, and have just put on weight around my middle (actually have had a few people think I'm pregnant ). I am 31.5 inches around my waist, but and hips 38.5, with a thigh measurement of 20.5 and arms of 9 inches, so I'm pretty out of proportion. I kind of knew this, but for some reason I looked at the NHS website on healthy wasit size, and apparently over 31.5 inches is the cusp of health problems and you are recommended not to go over this.

I feel a bit depressed now. I know what I need to do to lose weight (I've done it before) but it never really goes from my middle. I eat really healthily (low GI, all home cooked natural food, loads of fruit and veg etc) and I am now exercising most days. I just feel a bit shit that I am almost classed as in a health risk catagory when actually my lifestyle has to be amongst the most healthy of the people I know. How do I shift this weight from my middle? I just seem to lose the weight from my arms and legs and end up looking like a potato with toothpick arms and legs :(

that shound say 'bust and hips 38.5'

Are you on the pill? I've got a feeling the reason our nation's shapes have changed so dramatically is to do with hormones in food/water/contraceptices/HRT.

No not on the pill - haven't been for years actually. Can't entirely put it down to DD either - she is 3, and my tummy problem is worse since having her, but I was similarlarly built before having her.

It's so frustrating. It's all very well for NHS to say hourglass is the ideal figure for health, but I really don't think that is phsycially attainable for me? Just getting a bit pissed off with people thinking I'm pregnant now...

Where are you measuring for your waist? The slimmest measurment for my waist is 25.5 inches, but when I measure around my belly button, which is where they say you should measure for your waist, it's around 29". What is the measurement when you bend over to the side, stand up straight and measure where the crease was when you bent over? That's your natural waist as not everybody has their waist at the level of their belly button. My BMI is less than 19, and I'd need to lose probably more than half a stone to lose even an inch off that waist measurement, because there's hardly any fat there as it is!

No, sadly I did the bending creasing thing and that is the smallest point :( dread to think what it is round my belly button. I think I'm going to have to work really bloody hard to get the weight off though because I'm really not that overweight overall. It's really frustrating!

You have to remember too that we are all naturally different shapes.

My cousin and I take the same size in clothes and both look ok yet I am 4-5" taller, she has thinner thighs and I have a better waist. Neither of us could become the shape the other is.

Watching with interest as I have a similar shape. I will get the tape measure out tomorrow and come back if that's ok.

Please do married. I do know everyone is built differently, but it;s just the health aspect that is bugging me. I know it's unhealthy to carry weight around your middle, and if I ate mounds of crap I'd kind of understand it. But even at my super fittest lowest weight of around 9 stone 3 (spin classes, running, weights, good definition) my waist was still probably no lower that 30 inches. I can't possibly keep up to that level of fitness now with children, so am I doomed to a future of heart disease and poor health?

I find cutting out bread really helps with waist and stomach size.

i carry fat round my middle too and always have... its very frustrating. my arms and legs are thin and my belly is huge in comparison....i feel i look out of proportion too, but i think we probably notice it more than others, and actually some people think we have nice figures - some people think thin arms and legs is a nice look. we ARE all different like you say and maybe should work on accepting the beauty in all the different shapes...and find things that are flattering. i like wearing floaty tops and tights and kneeboots. i know how annoying it is though i wish i had a good waist...maybe crunches would help hold it al in?

Ok, the deed is done. Bust 39, hips 38 and waist 32.5
I'm 5'6" and 10st, want to lose a few pounds but am still going to look like Humpty Dumpty.
DD and I were weight watching in the run up to my wedding in 2004. I found the piece of paper with the measurements on and even though I was a stone lighter, I still had a 30 inch waist then. I know being apple shaped is unhealthy and am going to get round to having the health check that the NHS offer for old women of my age.

I'm really not sure how I can change my natural shape without going to Jodie Marsh-esque extremes though!

Using THIS calculator married and pickle you're both absolutely fine.

I'd love thin arms and of you are tall 5 7' then you will look so much slimmer

I know where you are coming from. TBH I don't want to measure my waist right now, but it's around 31". I am 5'6" and between 9.5 and 10 stone. Even as a skinny

yes thats the way ive been built since a teen too - even when i was very thin i had a 28inch waist. and actually when people estimate or assume my weight, they always think i weigh less than what i actually weigh, because i am 5 7 and have thin arms and legs. my waist is big, but its easier to hide. the trouble is i have never really been able to pull off hipster style trousers or jeans - but luckily high waisted styles have been in quite a bit now and easier to find. i just wear things that flatter me instead of going for the fashion

THanks all (sorry for delayed reply, weekend got in the way!)

I know you are right and that we are all built differently, but it is the few people that have genuinley thought I was pregnant that has upset me a bit. I have put on a little bit of weight, but maybe it has just emphasised that I need to work that bit harder to keep my weight lower so I don't look like a weeble. I'd love to wear the cinched in waist styles or lovely pencil skirts to work, but I think I need to accept it's not going to happen and I need to stick to the tummy skimming tops and dresses!

By the way in answer to fluffy and jan - I am low carbing so no bread or starchy carbs at all, and I am now doing 100 crunches a day (though that's only been a couple of weeks). I'll report back and let you know if it makes a significant different to the inches on my waist over the next few months!

hey...

i wouldn't be tooo strict about the low carbing! your body still needs energy and you don't want your metabolism to slow down! you might not agree with me but i think its good just to have a healthy diet - less fat, less carbs, more protein but don't cut total food groups out...cos later on if youcan't keep it up then any weight loss might be hard to maintain. plus you will need energy to exercise. do something that you will not find too hard to maintain - like being able to have a slice of wholemeal toast or treat now and again.

but just do what works for you, and good luck and remember we ARE all different, and just cause pencil skirts don't suit our body shapes great doesn't mean you don't have a great figure and can pull off some great styles

I do see your point jan - I'm not going to extremes with low carbing, but I am cutting out starches. I also suffer from IBS and find starchy food and wheat especially makes me worse and adds even more to the bloated tummy look. I am keeping to under 100 grams of carbs a day, mostly from pulses, oats, quinoa, bananas etc. I think that's pretty healthy? It's something I should be able to maintain as I think I'll pretty much want to keep to this permanently (not saying I never cheat and have a slice of toast, but it's the exception rather than the norm!)

I think you are right though - I do need to work to my strengths, I do tend to show off my legs more anyway. I'm just getting scared of wearing a bikini in 2 months - bit hard to hide anything away in one of those!

hey! that sounds really healthy and doable - good luck!
and noone looks great in a bikini except models lol....get a spray tan and u will look fine...good luck

It's frustrating, isn't it. I've recently lost over 1.5stone, and have slimmed from a 14/16 to a 12. BUT I'm still an undeniable pear !! the weight has come off my chest and arms and waist, but I still look at my bottom and think - arrrrh !! I don't actually want to lose anymore weight particularly.
Just measured my waist and it's 31inches, yet seems toned and slim compared to my 42" hips !

I often look at 'apple' shapes and envy their long lean limbs - perhaps that's the answer for all of us - just learn what sort of clothes flatter our body shape and think about it a bit less...