So this is what overweight looks like?

[OrangeLavenders]

I'm quite surprised. Checked the scales a few weeks back and I weighed 12 stone. Visited my GP for something else recently who confirmed that yes, I was quite bit over BMI of healthy range.

I've lost 7 pounds in just over 10 days. Nothing ridiculous. Just normal eating with no snacks and counting calories.

I just thought overweight looked a lot bigger than this? Scary how in 2020 we actually have a warped idea of what's a healthy weight and what isn't. I thought I looked perfectly fine but the reith is different.

Anyone else think a lot of us think what we might see as 'fine' is actually an overweight person?

I'm not a self conscious person so feel free to tell me I do in fact look clearly overweight! It doesn't bother me as I'm happily changing things. Although I'm sour about not having many luxuries anymore treat wise

[Laufeythejust]

I think you look beautiful! I am 5 foot 7 and weigh 12 stone 3 but you look like you weigh loads less than me- I think it’s because you are quite toned. If you haven’t dieted much before don’t start any fad diets and get sucked into the cycle of dieting and gaining (I’m losing weight slowly now to try and fix my metabolism after weightwatchers/keto/slimming world).

[Heygirlheyboy]

Cinderella solution, so called, would have me at 48kg@ 5ft 2/3....that's too small for me for sure.

[tempnamechange98765]

You carry it well OP and as PP have said you have a desirable figure.

Your middle is where you look "overweight"; your limbs and shoulder area don't.

I'm taller than you at 5"6 but I think I currently sit around 11 stone, which isn't quite overweight but from memory it makes my BMI 24 so not ideal. It's a combination of not quite losing my DC2 baby weight (who is now 18 months!) and lockdown. I'm a good 7+ lbs away from a weight I feel slim and good at but still able to enjoy life with a few treats so I'm currently doing the 5:2.

Our perception is so skewed though. Looking back at 90's films, people were so thin. But they probably weren't, they just didn't have excess fat...

[Loseastonein21years]

@Lorensmiles

As for me the best way to have an awesome body its cinderella solution.

Sure it is, love, sure it is

[netsybetsy]

I've got down to a BMI of 20 (from 34). Feel no benefit - I ache like I never have before but I suspect that's because I went through menopause along the way.

[GreekOddess]

You are the same height as me. You weigh 1.5 stone more than me but you are way way slimmer than me. I'm envious of you! I look a similar size at 8.5 stone.

Isn't it strange how we can all look so different?

[Poulter]

You look good but I would say you're overweight. Especially for someone in their twenties. I say that because it's likely you'll put on weight in your forties and fifties as many women do, so it's a good idea to get a handle on it now. Especially as you tend to lose muscle mass as you age which affects your metabolic rate. I'm 5 foot eight and a few pounds heavier than you and I'm overweight.

Because you're muscular you can carry a few extra pounds safely. But you're also carrying a bit round your upper thighs and belly which you could lose and be healthier.

[Octopus37]

I would say that I look a similar size to you at a smidge over 9st and 5ft5

[HighbrowLowbrow]

Are you using your scales on carpet OP?

[Parkermumma07]

BMI does not take into account a lot of variables so just because it says you are over weight it’s not always correct

[CodenameVillanelle]

@Parkermumma07

BMI does not take into account a lot of variables so just because it says you are over weight it’s not always correct

What variables??
The only variables that really affect BMI are muscle mass. Body builders can show up as overweight. That doesn't apply to the vast vast majority of women.

[powkin]

Would love your figure, super sexy (feels creepy writing that but just the truth!). If you want to lose weight do it for you and your health etc (although lots more to health than weight obviously and food choices will probably make you feel good and look good), but you look absolutely beautiful as is.

[powkin]

@netsybetsy - shame you don’t feel better but congrats on that weight loss anyway, phenomenal. I am 5’2” and now have a BMI of 30. Can’t blame the pregnancy altogether as was overweight before, maybe BMI 28. I had got myself down to 8st 7lbs at one point and that was an insanely long and slow process, I was a size 8/10 (I’m curvy not really ‘petite’ like a more Asian figure might be) but still only had a BMI of 22/23. At that point I knew BMI was a bit insane and not really considering body type differences as if I lost the extra stone to have a BMI of 20 I’d have had to a) completely starve myself and b) would have been minuscule. I was so exhausted from dieting for 18 months along with mental health issues I gave up after that and it all came back on, and then some. OH and I are planning to cut down on a lot of the treats that have crept in though so hoping I can lose a bit gradually. Hard with work and a toddler, but I don’t want to be a hypocrite, cooking healthy food and then eating sugar and treats when she’s in bed.

[powkin]

@Laufeythejust what happened to your metabolism? I found after 18 months of 5:2 and then trying to do that 16:8 thing where you only eat 8 hours of the day my body temperature plummeted, it was in the 35degrees point once and was freezing all the time! I think it was the 16:8 that really buggered it, didn’t work for me at all.

[Loseastonein21years]

I think it’s mainly muscle mass that BMI doesn’t cover and you don’t need to be a body builder either for it to be affected. Simply having a large frame will do it. Obviously I’m not talking about being obese but sometimes two people can have the same dress size and measurements yet be almost 2 stone apart in weight, as many previous posters have said about the OP. That must be down to body composition.

[Laufeythejust]

@powkin I found I had to eat less and less to lose weight and it was just really unsustainable. Like you I was cold all the time. I felt really weak and lethargic and my muscle had completely vanished, my body fat % actually went up. I weighed a stone less but I felt terrible. It’s taken me a few months of exercise and strength training to get back to a sense of normality where I can eat a reasonable amount of healthy food and lose weight again. Definitely wouldn’t advice the fad diets, the old school way of healthy eating and exercise works best.

[ohffs66]

I'm the same height and 10st 6lbs at the moment and you look thinner than me....I'm gobsmacked you're 12st tbh!! I know I'm teetering right on the edge of a healthy BMI, and could do with losing some chub but as you say it's so easy to look around and see bigger people it doesn't register. I'm much happier around a stone lighter but I have zero willpower to get there sadly.