I don't think you're being nosy. There's been a lot of talk on Feathers and elsewhere about goal weights, skinniness, people becoming too thin for their own or their family's comfort, so I think it is interesting to discuss how people choose their goal weights and how they feel when they get there.
First, a little personal history: I spent my high school years in my 120s (I think -- I didn't really weigh myself then), my college years in the 140s, and the 16 years since college in the 130s. I've had three pregnancies and topped out between 160-165 while pregnant.
I have always had a preference for a thinner-than-average figure. Not Kate Moss-malnourished-thin, but thin nonetheless. I definitely grew up in an atmosphere of "You can never be too rich or too thin." I was amazed by the recent discussion about skinniness on the weight loss board -- to me, it's a no-brainer to want to be "skinny." I had no idea it had a negative connotation for so many people.
When I joined 3FC, my goal was to get to 127, and I was very doubtful that I could get that low. I remember that number bumping around in my head for
weeks before I dared to say it out loud even to
myself! I always said I was a "big girl" with "wide shoulders, big hips, big glutes, big quads and hamstrings," and I didn't really believe I could get below 130. So that's my background.
Today I weighed in at 124 (a little up from my maintenance weight and working my way back there). Honestly, I feel terrific. Awesome. Never been more confident in myself. I just went to my 20-year high school reunion last weekend and I cannot remember going into such a potentially-intimidating event with such body confidence. It was a huge weight off my shoulders (butt and thighs, too!
) to not have to worry about my looks.
From what I can tell, I have a small frame (my wrist is 6 inches), though I don't understand how this is an accurate measure since my wrist size has changed with my recent weight loss. Don't wrists get fat?
My legs are still, to me, on the larger side, but they are pretty solid muscle. I have no boobs. None. Zip. But that was the case before I lost weight, too, so I think that is just my genetics and weight gain would not really help there. My body seems to prefer love handles to boobs.
My clothing size varies depending on the brand. At Loft I am a 0 or 2 (their sizes go down to 00). At Anthropologie I am a 2, or between an XS and S. In Theory I am a 4 but can squeeze into a 2. I have Gap jeans in 26 and 27, Hudsons in 26. When I try things on, I usually grab a Small, 0, 2 or 4.
I should not neglect to say that in early September, after 2 months of maintenance, my hair started falling out. Not in clumps, just lots of strands in the shower, like after I had my babies. I was supposed to see the MD about a week ago, got the day wrong and missed my appt. Have another in a few weeks. My husband is an MD, and I have quizzed him extensively about if he thinks I could have done this to myself, but we both think I have been eating plenty of calories (averaged 1750-1800 while losing and 2000+ in maintenance) and plenty of fat and protein. My mother was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 40, so it could be that I have that as well.
The only other negative I can think of is that I'm very scared of regaining. But I think that is common at any weight.
Anyways, I do think so much of this is personal -- coming from history, the aesthetic we prefer, our peer group and community, our families, and how much of our identity is based on our weight (sometimes I think I base too much on my weight, and that is why I was unhappy with my body even at my starting weight).
Here are some pics so you can get an idea of how I actually look.
