Originally Posted by Passionista:
My breasts look incredible at this weight. After losing weight? Not so much. That's it! Not one other thing.

Exactly what I was going to say! I'm at my heaviest, and my boobs are at the biggest they've been (still not terribly large lol) and I love them! The only thing of me that I'll be sad to see go...

Easier to avoid uncomfortable situations with the opposite sex.

That's it.

Originally Posted by summerlove:
Easier to avoid uncomfortable situations with the opposite sex.

That's it.

Ahhh, but when you're slim, trim, fit, confident, healthy and feeling fabulous, there are LOTS less UNcomfortable situations with the opposite sex. What was once uncomfortable becomes very comfy. Very comfy indeed. ;)

Originally Posted by rockinrobin:
Ahhh, but when you're slim, trim, fit, confident, healthy and feeling fabulous, there are LOTS less UNcomfortable situations with the opposite sex. What was once uncomfortable becomes very comfy. Very comfy indeed. ;)

Yes. And you totally LEARN how to deal with the few jerks that really are unpleasant/uncomfortable. Being healthy and confident makes it so much easier to say eff off, when that's appropriate. That's been my experience. :)

Originally Posted by rockinrobin:
Ahhh, but when you're slim, trim, fit, confident, healthy and feeling fabulous, there are LOTS less UNcomfortable situations with the opposite sex. What was once uncomfortable becomes very comfy. Very comfy indeed. ;)

Thats one of the reasons I was heavier & stayed that way in the first place; I didn't have the confidence (or the belief I was worthy enough) to handle these situations, so I labelled them as "uncomfortable" and kept on munching....

Hope that makes sense.

Originally Posted by summerlove:
Thats one of the reasons I was heavier & stayed that way in the first place; I didn't have the confidence (or the belief I was worthy enough) to handle these situations, so I labelled them as "uncomfortable" and kept on munching....

Hope that makes sense.

It makes perfect sense. I think lots of us do that. It's a way of avoidance. The only thing is, it causes waaaay more problems then it supposedly *solves*. If we would have only realized just how powerful (& worth it) it is to be strong, fit, and healthy the vicious cycle would cease...

Originally Posted by :
Yes. And you totally LEARN how to deal with the few jerks that really are unpleasant/uncomfortable. Being healthy and confident makes it so much easier to say eff off, when that's appropriate. That's been my experience

1000%. EVERYTHING is easier to deal with when you're feeling better (best) about yourself. EVERYTHING.

I think someone mentioned wrinkles. Being at the age where I have to worry about those things, I have to admit, I am sooooo hoping that I don't get to the weight I want to be at and find out that...lol..the well preservedness of my skin that I enjoy right now is only an illusion caused by excess fat. I don't carry that much extra weight in my face, its mostly in my middle, so I'm trying to think positive and be hopeful on that count.


Points about osteoporosis are well taken. I've never been underweight or at the really low end of my healthy BMI so I think I'm okay on that count...and I've always eaten plenty of dairy and green veg.

And the studies about slightly overweight folks being healthier or living longer than super-thin underweight people - I believe it could be true but one of the criticisms of those studies that Ive heard is that they strictly used BMI as the measurement of overweight/underweight - so people with a lot of muscle mass may be in the "overweight" range of their BMI but they aren't there because of their body fat. That does make a difference as far as health & disease go.

On the other hand, I've always (til lately) been either in the mid to high range of "healthy" BMI or slighty "overweight" and I've always enjoyed perfect health & perfect vitals (til lately).

I'm a teacher, and a popular one, and I sometimes think I did some good in the world by showing kids that a fat woman can still be highly intelligent and worth listening to. One of the worst things about being fat is the way you get ignored and dismissed by people who don't even realize they are doing it.

I never referred to my weight, and weirdly, neither did my students--I never got called a "fat *****" (where I could hear it) or even had anyone ask me why I was so fat or anything like that, which is sorta remarkable--kids are not tactful. Now that I have lost weight, I've only had two mention it, and even they were hesitant. What I have noticed (regretfully) is that they are more likely to talk in a derogatory fashion about their own or someone else's weight in my presence now--something that never used to happen. I know how to deal with it when they start in with the "gay" this or "fag" that or ethnic slurs or whatever--now I have to learn how to deal with kids being mean about weight without it seeming pathetic or self-serving. I used to be able to just be a silent example of fat with dignity!

the larger i get the more "invisible" i become. it's why i started gaining to begin with. for me, it's been a nice shield for a very long time & will be the hardest part of my weight loss journey.

Only thing I can think of is not having 2 share a seat on the train.:D It is kind of embararising having the only empty seat on a crowded train and no one wants to sit next to you. Makes you feel like you have the cooties or something.

I met my other half when I was at my highest weight (188) and he loved me for me. My fat was a "jerk filter" that made it easier for me to find Mr. Right. :)

Ummm..you don't have to worry about buying new clothes when your weight stays the same. :dizzy:

Originally Posted by midwife:
Maybe I'm not answering the question directly, but I have had some good things come from having been overweight. I learned how important healthy food is. I learned that I love to run. I learned that weightlifting totally rocks. I discovered my inner athlete and health nut. If I would have been able to live my life eating junk and being a sloth without the consequence of becoming fat, I would not have had the impetus to change.

Same here. I was never sporty/athletic. In the name of losing weight I finally exercised enough I started to not mind it, and love what it was doing for my body. I've done Triathlons, and I'm training for a freekin' Ironman. WHO IS THIS WOMAN? :)

If I had not been obese I don't think I ever would have found this interest. I'd probably a be "fat" normal couch potato.

I am really afraid of being intensely cold worse than I already am! I have trouble with keeping my body temperature up on a good day and that's with being overweight and wearing layers and a hat almost all the time. Friends used to laugh when they'd see me wearing a hat indoors, so I'd touch my ice cold hands to their sides. Now they offer me blankets haha

Ooooo..... but when I'm thin, three shirts at once won't make me look like a puffy sheep with no fashion sense!

When I was fat I never had to wear a belt....I hate belts( i can't explain why) Now I have to wear a belt with everything.