So, I've been trying to lose weight for years and have been relatively successful. I went from 220, my heaviest, to 158 currently, but I still think I need to lose a lot more. A few people agree with me, but most stare at me like I'm mental. They all say I look fine, but when I look in the mirror, I look so fat. Some one brought up body image yesterday and pointed out to me that anorexics think they're fat too, and while I'm far from anorexic, it kind of concerned me. How do I know if my body image is normal. I'm 5'7 if that helps and a size 10 jeans.

That's one of the hard parts, I think. But maybe it's more because we were so used to see a "fat me" in the mirror that we're just not used to this new silhouette?

An interesting test may be to look at a picture of yourself, but with the head cut off. Preferably if someone could snap it when you're unaware, and then show it to you. At least I know it's worked with me and with a couple of people I know IRL; something like " we can't put a face on these bodies --> we can't recognize them as ours --> we're more objective and our minds are not polluted by memories of our former bodies".

We may have different body types, so don't read too much into this: I'm also 5'7 and about 145 now and a size 7/9. Most people would also say I don't need to lose weight, but they see me fully clothed, and ya know what miracles spandex can do lol. How much do you think you need to lose? I'm pretty sure 130 would be the lowest I want to go, and with lots of strength training it will totally rock.

5'7 and a size ten is like where i am starting from, i dont think its crazy to want to lose weight from there haha because then like, what am i doing here? i feel a lot better when i am an 8/6 so thats what im aiming for...i guess just go until you feel comfortable and forget what the rest of em have to say about it

I agree. Size 10 is healthy but if you want to be smaller, than go for it! Have a look at your BMI and the weight charts recommended by the AMA. As long as you are in healthy range, I wouldn't be concerned.

Exactly - you are losing weight for YOU and how YOU feel about YOUR body.

i personally am going 2 keep going until i feel toned and fit

Totally agree!!!

AMEN!!!


I have gotten comments anywhere from you look great, how much have you lost and how did you do it to you have lost too much, you are going to fade away. I feel good at the weight I am at, I am the most healthy I have been in over a decade and I am not going to change that for anyone!!! This is all about ME, no anyone else or what they think or say.

I'm wearing size 4s and I still think I look fat some days. I think part of that is the loose skin that creates little pooches and won't go away without plastic surgery and a big part is a whole lifetime of looking in the mirror and seeing fat. My brain still hasn't completely made the shift. Some days I really do see that I am thin but it's not 100% or even 50% of the time yet. I worry that I could get into a mindset of never being completely satisfied. Luckily I just got sick and tired of the restrictions and am pretty settled where I am. I can drop weight but I don't have the motivation to stick with a restricted calorie level again. I found that my body did help though, by making it much harder to drop more weight. Maybe the part of my brain that knows I'm thin is smarter I did find it scary to stop because I was afraid of regaining. I'm focused on weights and sculpting these days. I hope that will help with the loose skin too. I know seeing muscles where there was fat make me feel great.

Only you can figure out the right weight for you. Have you had any of those moments of shock when seeing yourself in a mirror or window? How fit are you? Focusing on sculpting rather than weight loss is always another option. Good luck

It is such a personal thing and body image WOW a few pounds drive me nuts!!!!! Anyways someone on 3fc put on an interesting site maybe you can find it it was "PHOTOGRAHIC HEIGHT" i don't know if you put that in as search word you can find or not BUT it was a site of different people at a height and a weight in photos VERY INTERESTING!