Do you weigh a lot more than you look?

[netty7070]

I had a medical check up this week and was slightly horrified to learn that I am officially obese (BMI 31).

But here's the thing: I'm almost 5'8'' and wear size 14, and have done for at least 8 years. Some of my clothes are really old and still fit fine. None of my skirts are tight around the waist. So how the actual crap have I gained nearly 2 stone in 6 years WITHOUT NOTICING?

(btw I'm not in denial - portion control and exercise are now my best pals. I hope to lose the excess timber over the next year).

Thank you for posting photos Sayra, it really helps to have a visual reference point. In the 2nd photo particularly I would say there's NO WAY you look 100kg.

I am the opposite of you, relatively slim top and much bigger bottom half. I'm also broad-shouldered and basically a mesomorph body type with a fair bit of muscle, which may explain some of my slightly puzzling weight.

OK, a couple of years ago, I wore a size 14 suit to work one day (squeezed in), and a size 18 suit the next day (fitted perfectly, slightly loose but not flapping). Smaller size was also flarey skirt, larger size was long straight skirt. (I tended mostly to wear 16s at the time).

A combination of the size being right and the cut suiting my shape better meant that I got loads of compliments the 2nd day - and loads of people who had seen me the previous day wondering how had I lost so much weight so fast!!

Literally just a different outfit made me look a stone lighter.

Sayra how tall are you if you don't mind me asking?

5ft 7

Sizes have got bigger thou

Sorry been said before

Yeah they have just but even without knowing sizes some people look smaller/larger than you'd expect them at the weight they are.

Is no one else up for posting pictures?! I was hoping to see what other people who think they look lighter or heavier than they are look like.

I'm 5 foot 41/2 and weigh 11 stone 4 ish. Large boobs, smallish waist, rounded tummy, muscular/heavy legs.
I wear a size 12 mostly in tops and trousers. Size 10 in jeans if they've got stretch .
At my heaviest I was 14 stone 7 and wore a size 16. I could certainly stand to lose a few pounds but anything below 10 1/2 stone and I start looking scrawny. I'm 43 and my face/neck start looking awful.
My bones must weigh a lot

The invisible weight is stored as fat around your internal organs - especially your liver. Unfortunately this can be a factor leading to type 2 diabetes. My BMI is 28 , weigh over 11 stone at 5ft 3 :-( . Trying to lose it but it's a bugger to shift !

It's weird I'm not sure BMI is that accurate. I have the opposite situation to the OP. I'm hugely fat and currently on a mission to lose weight but I'm not obese according to BMI.

I have a relative the same height as me who is way slimmer and yet she is a stone heavier than me. I don't get it.

When I was at a weight that I was happy with I was underweight according to the BMI charts.

Yes, me. I am 5'3", weigh 9.5 stone and wear a size 8-10. I can only assume I have very heavy bones People are always surprised when they find out how much I weigh.

This is really interesting. I'm currently hugely overweight & always to some extent overweight but even at my most achievable health & fitness was 13 stone, size 14-16 & 5 ft 7.

There was an article in the paper today about a priest who was 20 stone & even though the story was awful, all I could think was, there's no way he is just a few stone more than me....

Sayrah-thanks for sharing-you look fab :)

wadingthroughsoup 9.5 stone isn't heavy at all!
I am 5'4 with a 27 inch waist, I wear a 30G bra (breastfeeding boobs) and size 10-12. I weigh 10st5.

A few years ago I weighed 9st7 and you could count my ribs!

Ah...ok, maybe you're right LiD It's not heavy in the grand scheme of things but on weight threads here, the average for women of my height seems to be about 8 stone! When I look at BMI charts, I am in the 'healthy' range, but definitely at the top of that range.

My boobs are small, but I have a big rib cage, wide shoulders and a big waist. I am sort of solid, but there isn't much fat on me really. Apart from round the middle

I'm the other way around - currently 10stone and a size 12 (5 foot 6). Normally I'm between 9 and 9.5 and a size 10 on bottom or 10-12 on top (in the average fit shops).

I'm 5'6 and I've been every weight from 7 stone to 11 stone and I've worn size 10s at all of these weights! Sizing is bollocks.

5'3", 12 st 8, wear size 12-14. Big norks, small waist, classic hourglass figure. There's no doubt I'm overweight and finally addressing the issue, but people are amazed when I tell them what I weigh. Like PP, I will probably never get below a 12 due to body shape.

5ft 10 and a bit
15st 7
Size 16

I'm the other way round, 5ft5, currently 9st (BMI 21) and today I couldn't fiat in a size 8 dress in Monsoon, know that is a vanity shop. I have gained weight, need to lose at least half a stone, but would love to be able to carry it better. As it is I would say I am now a 10 and veering between a 12 around my hips. Do not understand why I am so utterly crap at dieting.

Good as it gets, you look half my size btw would love to have your flat tummy

I think it's a lot to do
With shape, I am probably a stone heavier than I should be but when I got down to a healthy BMI a couple of years ago I was a size 12 and ten stone (at 5.5). I'm pretty thick in the waist with big boobs though, slim legs and hips, curvy backside. My hips and legs are slimmer than some of my size 10 friends yet because of my waist I'm a 14 and probably look bigger.

I always think my boobs make me look a bit matronly as well unless I lose a lot of weight from my stomach. If I wear a high neck top I feel extremely chubby.

Yes!
I'm nearly 11 stone but I wear it well.
I'm a size 8 at 9st 7.

See, I'm 6 foot, and a size 18. I'm 16 stone but this photo was taken around 6 weeks ago (I'm 8 weeks preg now) and I henuinley don't look fat!! Or at least I don't think so? Call me deluded but I think I look healthy sorry about state of room, decorating here!

Should say genuinely..