So I lost a lot of fat over the past year or so. I remember when I was up close to 200 lbs, I felt like a smaller size than I was. I'd see pictures and be shocked how big I was. Now, at just under 150, I feel fatter than I think I am...
I'll see pictures and be surprised how thin I look. I used to think size 8 was all I would ever really want to be, but now that I'm size 8, I still think that, well, I look really fat naked. Now, part of this is that I still have fat to lose. But it has me wondering, what should I look like naked? I'm really self-conscious about still being "fat" and I'm not sure that's really me being self-conscious of how I actually look to other people or if it's me feeling insecure after years of being fat (if that makes any sense).
I realize I'm not supposed to look like a model (and have no desire to look like a fitness model). I just want to look like a nice, healthy woman. And I realize I have no idea what that body looks like. Any women know what I mean or know what I should strive to look like?
Submitted by a Healthkicker reader
Comments (16)
Just remember men don't want women who are so skinny they break when you hold them, they want curvy girls. Then again, I guess this isn;t about men, it's about you. Just don't go too far.
I know just what you mean, it's sad that these days we don't know what exactly 'health' looks like anymore. We all have distorted views of our body's in a way. There's a difference in how we feel that we look, and how we actually look. There are also some people who look fit or healthy, but infact are not. So you might want to ask yourself what your definition of healthy is. It's different for everybody.
I hope you find comfort within your own skin <3
I wont to look like a normal and healthy person as well. Im working towards that goal and it's been going rather slowly because I love food too much to diet. Even then, I still restrict myself as best I can and I've got another 10 pounds before I reach my goal.
Don't worry so much about the look of your body, focus more on being healthy and energetic. When you eat, choose things that make you feel energetic. When you exercise, exercise in a way that gives you more energy. That will take care of looks. Make sure you have a dream in life other than catching a man, and chase after it with all your heart. Learn how to make other people feel happy when they are around you. Then you will be supremely sexy.
if you got it, flaunt it.
Well, every healthy woman looks different. Some women are really healthy but they're also a little chubby. Some women are extremely unhealthy when they're chubby. I mean, it depends on the person, basically.
I'd say that you should feel good about yourself. Lose weight until you feel that this is the right place for you to be. I'd say "healthy" when it comes to what a person looks like wouldn't be so thin that the ribs are showing, nor above some chubbiness.
I'm in that same boat. I feel as though I had written this post myself... but I didn't. lol Weird. I'm working on getting to feeling comfortable with my whole body, but I want to lose a little more weight...
I totally understand... I never felt obese at 198 lbs (I'm 5'4") but my BMI says I was. Seeing photos was definitely a shock, I didn't feel that fat, I was energetic. I mainly had to change my eating habits. I got down to 154.5, and although I was proud of my accomplishment, I felt like I still needed to lose a lot of weight to look healthy and feel good naked. This is mainly because of my belly fat... I have always had a bit. So, after gaining some weight back (up to 192 again!!), I'm on my way back down to healthy (at 163.5 now)... using the BMI as a guide first (aiming for 145), but I'll do my best to get rid of the unhealthy (and unsexy) belly fat even after my BMI is normal. That's what healthy is to ME, I guess... belly fat has a strong link to heart disease.
Even though I'm still not settling for what I am, I'm still happy in my own skin. I think that's important, accepting yourself, even as a work in progress. For instance, I don't hold out on buying nice clothes just because they will become too big later... I want to look good and feel good NOW.
Be active :]
im having the same issue myself.
i wuold love to know what a normal healthy woman looks like.
That is a good question....I don't think anyone really knows and I suppose you are your only judge of what you think looks "healthy" to you. Me? Well I want the fitness model look...not as ripped though, but just a little (I like lean toned muscles lol) so to me that is healthy, my BMI shows I'm still in my healthy weight range as well so that's another thing I count. You can also have other tests done, such as physical fitness tests (they may offer those at some gyms or even medical health facilities) you can also have your body fat percentage calculated (I want that done someday...I'm nervous, but I'm curious as well). You can even consult with a fitness or nutrition counselor, but again I think you are your best judge of healthy. Good luck :D
Same problem. Big problem of image. Don't take it lightly, It must became pathologic :(
The US military has a good scale for health. If you can't get in, you're probably not healthy. Look it up. Like, for a 5'3 female, its between 106-136 lbs.
i don't even think about it, honestly.
hm, maybe i should..
naaaaaah.
So nice to hear from women who are/were my height and weight and didn't feel obese, but the pictures sure showed it!
I exercise about 3-4 times a week and I'm 5'2" and 200 lbs! Something is wrong here! Anyway, I'm working on it. I was on my way to my first 10lbs being lost and my husband lost his job and the stress was too much to cope with.
I recently saw a picture of me and was HORRIFIED. I have definitely gone past the point of acceptable chubbiness to just plain FAT. And I look at pics of me 30-40lbs ago. And yeah, I was overweight compared to the charts but I also had a waist and a figure and I naturally have a lot of muscle on me anyway. But I looked so much better. I am swearing if I get down to that weight again I will be happy with my body.
So here you are unhappy with yours even though you have lost a ton of weight. I would say to accept yourself! Work on building muscle and eat well. You may lose a bit more but appreciate how far you've come. I wish someone had told me 15-20 years ago how hot I was. I was pretty hot but I didn't think so. Don't look back in 5-10 years and think "If only I was a size 8 again..." appreciate where you are. Size 8 is NOT fat.
Wow. I could have written that! I recently just went from 190 pounds to about 140. I still see myself at that nearly-200 pound girl. I think when weight loss is new that it takes a bit to set it. I'm also a size 8, and have been kind of stuck trying to lose my last ten pounds, but I'm continuing to eat healthy and exercise. I am noticing that the muscle toning process is excruciatingly slow compared to the weight loss process. I think you should focus on toning. Regular exercise should help shed any leftover fat, keep the skin tight, and shrink the waist line a bit more. I may be biased, but I think a size 8 is a good size. Personally, I have never been smaller than a 6 since I hit puberty, even when I was about 115 pounds. I'm just built that way. Take measurements. Muscle toning can't really be measured by a scale. I have lose 4 inches in each thigh, 4 inches in my hips, and 1 inch in my waist even though since my last measurement I have only lost 10 pounds. It makes a difference.
Also, not liking how you look naked just may be a thing. I know so many people of so many different sizes that can not stand the way they look naked/in a swimsuit/in underwear even in front of their spouses or serious significant other. I think it's just a thing, so don't judge how you look based on that,