If you are in the 8 to 8st 13lb range how tall are you?

[Eightstonequestions]

And are you naturally that weight or have you dieted or changed your lifestyle to achieve it?

People seem to view the 8 stone range as really small/light even if it's a healthy BMI weight for those of us on the shorter side.

I put weight on and lost it sensibly and now maintain it around 8st 10lb without much effort. I'm 5ft 3in.

That’s like me. When I was my heaviest in pregnancy the photos of my face are just so bloated looking and yes a couple of double chin photos! Yet it was a ‘normal’bmi!

BMI categories for Asian people, who are on average shorter than Europeans, has at cut off at 22.99 for normal weight, above 23 the category is overweight. At 63kg my BMI was 24 and I did look overweight. I am from Northern Europe but this has more to do with height and built than ethnicity.

There are many threads on here where posters will opine anything under a BMI of about 22 is extremely thin and you must look gaunt and/or haggard if you're that size and over 40.

Ah ok, I’ve never seen them. A lot of people under 9 stone won’t have a BMI under 22 though, due to their height.

I'm this height.

My goal weight is between eight stone and eight and a half. I'm usually hovering around there. I'm under at the moment, so I'm trying to get back to eight at least.

If I start heading towards nine, I'll be careful with what I eat/drink for a while. That usually only happens if I've got into a phase of drinking wine every day. I never drink alcohol on my own but sometimes I'll date someone who drinks every evening and I get into the habit of having a glass or two of wine with them.

What I think helps me maintain my weight is not drinking alcohol regularly, drinking only water 95% of the time, not being the type of person who likes breakfast, a generally low appetite, not snacking, I'd say exercise too (I didn't get into exercising until I was in my late twenties and I can't exercise now due to health problems but I think having had been very fit is helping me in my forties), possibly a fast metabolism, and coming from a small family.

My main issue with my weight is my boobs. They're pretty big for my frame. Lose too much weight, they start looking like dog ears. Put on too much, boobs look great but my stomach sticks out too much and my clothes feel too tight.

I think this perception is heavily skewed by the fact that this is predominantly a British forum, with 64% of the UK population being overweight or obese, so it seems that people do not have a daily reference of how, say, a lean weight (BMI 17.5-22) 40+ year old woman looks. It would be very different on an Italian or a Japanese forum.

I guess it depends on the point of reference. If most people in someone's circle are overweight or obese then someone of normal weight would appear skinny in comparison. My son has always been deemed skinny but he is a normal weight.

Ah ok, I’ve never seen them.

They are usually characterised by a lot of “teeny tiny” comments.

A lot of people under 9 stone won’t have a BMI under 22 though, due to their height

A lot, but not all.

Yes I remember shopping in some countries in Asia when backpacking and it was amazing as all the clothes fit me so well! Loads of small sizes in stock.

Yes I looked and felt overweight.
Even now I can only hit bmi of normal by eating too much.

I once saw a study where some drs looked at bmi and they said it needed to be adjusted so that for shorter people lower weights were made into the normal category for taller people the opposite.

Mine was around 17 for ages. Couldn’t put weight on for trying. It was just my natural size. My friend had similar but she was more around 5 foot 7 but similar figure.

5 foot 3, I vary between 8 and a half and 8 stone 9. Happy at 8, 8 very happy at 8 stone 7. I watch what i eat and exercise quite a bit. Daughter is 14 and I was 8 stone 9 when I got pregnant.

I am like that with my 8 9 or 8 7! It's so bonkers how you can feel isnt it. I can tell by prodding a specific bit of my body whether it's 7 or 9.

I'm 5ft 3" and have been between 8 and 9 stone for around 5 years, currently about 8st 2lb. Premenopause I was under 8 stone, then went up to 10 stone. I went to 12 stone by giving up smoking. I have gradually lost all that weight.
I have skinny arms and legs and small frame. Any extra weight goes round my middle.

I've seen comments like that.

I often see comments from people who are a few stone heavier and around the same height as me insisting that they would look skeletal if they were any thinner. I saw someone insisting that they would look cadaverous, which I thought was preposterous.

I am actually amazed there's been no awful posts. But it is early days!

5ft 3.5in , I look and feel best just under 9st. Currently a few lbs over this so trying to get back there. It’s hard work in late 40s and really requires self control over food.

Lowest I have been was 8st 3lb after illness. Did not suit me at all, I looked scrawny rather than nice and petite sadly!

To get below 8st I’d need a limb amputated I think.

Yes! I'm always surprised at the number of people who say they look gaunt/ill/skeletal at a perfectly normal weight for their height.

@WeRateSquirrels I think it's more noticeable when you're over 50 and your collagen is more depleted, tbh. I'm 50 and among my friends, the really slim people (don't know their actual weights) are more lined than those who are carrying a few more pounds but are still a healthy weight.

This wasn't the case when we were younger and had tighter skin!

I'm over 50. My face is fine. I really don't think about whether or not I'd have fewer lines if I gained a bit of weight. Health/fitness is much more important to me. I guess I've chosen arse over face (or in my case, belly over face). On the odd occassion I've gained a few pounds (holidays etc.) face just looked puffier, not younger.

Fair enough, @WeRateSquirrels, we can all only go on our own experiences.

Yes it's a bit ridiculous the amount of posts claiming that they'd look 'gaunt' 'ill' 'skeletal' etc at a completely normal weight for their height.

This is what people mean when they say we've lost sight of what a healthy weight looks like.

And then the 'I had to choose between my arse and my face', as though they're purposely staying fat incase their face gets too thin? 😬

Yes, I've seen those too.

I'm over 40 and I regularly get mistaken for someone younger than I am. I have very few wrinkles.

I've also seen a lot of threads saying it's impossible to look younger than you are. But it does happen. It's usually people assuming they're the same age or older than me until I put them right.

It's really helpful to read this thread. I'm 5ft2 and currently 8st3(ish) but I definitely feel and look better under 8st. I also have a small frame, thin arms/legs and every extra pound goes on my belly.

I'm really struggling to lose the few pounds I need to lose. Any top tips from anyone?

If it's your belly, core exercises.

I'd recommend doing 20 mins high intensity three times a week. It won't take up much of your day and you'll definitely see results. Keep it high intensity by alternating floor exercises with something like butt kicks or high knees.

Planks are really good for your core too.