I've always had that too... Im at like 244 at the moment (and I think this is the only place i'd actually say that!), and people estimate quite alot under that.
Previously I lost 50 lbs and dropped about 3 clothes sizes, and people couldn't believe the size i started at.
I think the fact I'm 5' 11" (with a large frame) helps.
I used to have people tell me that I didn't need to diet when I weighed 185. I am 5'7 and large framed. Now, people say I'm too skinny at 148. I am at a healthy weight and normal BMI. Most people are surprised when I tell them how much I weigh. This is good in one way, but also bad. The fact that I didn't look too fat at 185 is one reason that I let it get out of hand, stupidly, I thought no one could tell I was that heavy.
I have always been told that! My mom thought I weighed 180. Imagine how shocked she was to find my real weight. :P I probably have quit a bit of muscle mass, besides that I do have a medium/large frame.
When I go to the doctor they always set the scale at 150 and try to slide the weight up from there. Unfortunatly, they end up going to the 200 shortly!~
This is what I faced just last week. They set the scale to what they thought then started working their way up. People seem surprised when I tell them what I weigh. They don't think I look like I weigh that much. I think people just don't have a real sense of weight unless they too monitor their own, then they get a better handle on it.
Personally I think sometimes we WANT to believe the "you don't look like you weight that much" stuff when it is said so convince ourselves it is true. Of course, yes... there CAN be huge differences in how people look at certain weights, especially those "fit" -- but reality is still we ARE that weight and if it is indeed too much we need to get rid of some of it!
I agree that we can use it as an excuse, but I think it's also important to not to use a "magic number" as our goal. I had a roommate in college who weighed 150, but looked model gorgeous. She wanted to lose weight because she was 10 lbs over the maximum "ideal weight," she had read in some magazine.
I also had a coworker who said she weighed 195, and wanted to weigh 120 (even by the weight charts too small for her height at over 6 foot tall). She looked great, and could have lost several lbs and still been healthy, but not 75!
I agree that we can use it as an excuse, but I think it's also important to not to use a "magic number" as our goal. I had a roommate in college who weighed 150, but looked model gorgeous. She wanted to lose weight because she was 10 lbs over the maximum "ideal weight," she had read in some magazine.
That's about where I am right now. But I didn't read any number in a mag. My goal comes from a midpoint of the average weight chart. And pre-pregnancy, I was down to 140 and felt that the 5 pounds more I'd set for my goal was still necessary. The 140 was great, but 5 more would be the best. I was ready to revise that goal as I got near it...if need be. But once I got near, I realized it was a pretty accurate goal that didn't need revised. And people constantly do a double-take and tell me I don't look like I weigh 149 now. Even when i was 140, I didn't "look like I weigh that much." But the ones I kept getting that from were the size I used to be, or larger.
Sometimes I think people are just "being nice" and sometimes I think they're just "being dense" LOL...
I am currently 158. People say I "don't look it" but I'm pretty sure that's because I have a LOT of muscle. And as we all know: Muscle weighs more than fat. Still, I have quite a bit of fat sitting on top of that muscle, and so yeah, I'm fat.
Just 20 pounds off... that's all I want, God! (well, ok, maybe 30!)
When I was 183, I went to the doctors office and the nurse was like..."There's no way you're 183, lets try it again." It was kind of flattering, but it didn't matter because I knew I was overweight.
One thing that helped me look smaller is that I was a firm and perportionate (sp?) person. I didn't have loose skin and most of my weight was in my hips and thighs as opposed to my belly.
I think this is the reason why percentage body fat and amount of lean muscle is more important than weight.
I have gained 15 pounds over the last few months because of school, stress, and not getting enough sleep and people don't really notice it, although I have had some friends ask me if I got new jeans (because my butt got bigger) or suddenly noticed that my chest is bigger (gained there too). It's nice that they haven't noticed how much I've gained, especially since they still say I look great, but I don't think so. I hate being this heavy.
Everyone tells me that I look smaller than I am but I never believe them. I actually think I look way bigger than my weight but I have low self esteem so.....*shrugs*
Last Thanksgiving, I weighed about 175 and was wearing a size 12. Everyone thought I was about 150 lbs. But, now that I'm at 146, everyone guesses me at about 145. So, when I was heavier, I didn't look my weight, but now I do. Also the doctors office would always set the scale at 150 and go up, I'd always tell them to start at 200 and they acted like they couldn't believe it.
Of course, yes... there CAN be huge differences in how people look at certain weights, especially those "fit" -- but reality is still we ARE that weight and if it is indeed too much we need to get rid of some of it! 
LOL...
