... does anyone lose weight and still feel fat?

lyn*

I think a few of you guys have seen my outfits and things; but I just find that I just have this belly pudge I can't budge for the life of me.

I weighed in this morning at 115 lbs on a 5'7" frame; so I don't think I'm heavy (at my "biggest" I was around 140 lbs) ... maybe it's just loose flub?

I started to joke about it as my baby bump, but it kind of really bugs me. *poke*

13 years ago

Body Type

42 replies

Latest reply was from suzanne

Queen Mum

Veteran

no, you're not heavy at all!
Everyone carries "pudge" somewhere or another.... I think it's just a fact of life we have to contend with. And we all see those trouble spots on ourselves so much more clearly than anybody else does. I'll bet nobody else would accuse you of having any sign of belly pudge at all.

13 years ago

anne

Veteran

I completely second this. Lyn there is no way you are heavy or have any visible belly pudge! Everyone has a little bulge somewhere but in your case it is only visible to you.

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Lyn you're so cute I just want to hug you ^^ Secret: I have that too (I call mine my "inner tube" hehe) and it's further accentuated by my back's strong curve so it makes my tummy poke out which makes me look bigger than I am (so annoying!). And I'm 132 lbs on a 5'3" frame (I was also 140 lbs at my heaviest, at the start of this year; been working on improving my health this year and I'm very happy about having better muscle mass than before, weight be damned! Weight doesn't tell me a lot about myself, anyway.). As Kim said, everyone has those little pudges, and we're far more sensitive to them than anyone else is. If it makes you feel better, I've never noticed any pudgey spots on you! Also, I find those little pudges cuddly

EDIT: I wanted to say that I feel darn good right now, inner tube and all; I feel healthy, and stronger than I have before, AND I can dress well on top of it? Sweet. The fact that we can even feel "fat" for having a little tummy pudge is simply ridiculous, and not worth the worry. As long as your health and body feels good, so too should you.

13 years ago

rosee

Veteran

I'll answer this in 3 steps:

1. no, I haven't yet lost the weight I want to lose, and yes, I still feel fat. I've gained 60 pounds in a very short period of time (side effect of meds). If I lose some weight I will still feel fat until I am down a few sizes. I am considered overweight right now.

2. almost everyone (except maybe people that work out over 5 hours per day) has some "soft spots" that are most noticeable to them, less noticeable to others.

3. Weight is not as important as overall mass, as weight can vary due to muscle, fat and fluid proportions. At my fittest and healthiest, I was 5'6", about 125 to 130 pounds and a size 4. I was pretty athletic at the time too, and I have (had) a bit of a curvy figure. Interestingly, that was my first year of university. During second year I lost about 10 pounds but was a size bigger (and I'm not just talking clothing sizes by different manufacturers, I measure myself due to sewing and alterations). So, less weight but more mass.

At 5'7" and 115 pounds you may be close to underweight on the BMI charts (but I'm assuming that you know as well as I do that they don't always accurately reflect a healthy weight). As long as you are in reasonably good health, don't worry so much about weight and the "soft spots". I personally think (and many women and men would agree) that they add some "character". I am overflowing with "character" right now... ;P

13 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I always feel fat regardless of how good or bad of shape I'm in. I was in GREAT shape about 3 or 4 years ago. Since I've gained about 5 or 6lb though I have not gone up a size (lost muscle, gained fat). Even then (and I still weighed more than you do now and I'm about 3" shorter) I whinged about my belly.

13 years ago

Kim

Veteran

The belly is a tough area. I have a little "mummy tummy" that I can't make go away no matter how much I weigh. I think it's simply loose skin from having 3 kids and gaining and losing 50 or 60 pounds a couple of times! (Kids again! LOL)

I have learned to hide it and have decided that the body I have is "good enough".

I think we always feel we could be doing more, but a lot of that is hype from the media. We are made to feel like we should look ripped like Jillian. Not realistic at all! I'm healthy, have low cholesteral levels, low sugar levels, good bp, and within a healthy range for my age, height and weight. I have good cardio fitness (just ran 8km this morning) and even then I still feel like I "should" lose another 10 pounds! LOL

I'm trying to remember that health is the plan and a little belly pooch can be hidden by the right clothes! LOL

13 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

haha- in the corner advertisement I have Jillian looking at me (not a pooch to be seen) asking me how much weight I want to lose

13 years ago

Marigold

Active Member

Lyn *sending hugs*, you look petite to me, I'd never guess you have any pudge, belly or anywhere else. I'm a similar build to you, I think - 5'6" and about 115 lbs, there are days when I feel pudgy too (I had a baby 2 years ago) so some pudge was there, no kidding.... Everyone has something they want to camouflage about them, you always look so slim and trim in your outfits, even if there 'is' some pudginess (which I doubt! :)), you do an excellent job dressing.

13 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I'm only 110 pounds and yet I have this persistent tummy squish that just won't quit. But you know what? I had it even when I was 95 pounds. I can't help it. I have a short waist, so there is an average amount of belly fat squished into a much shorter than average space. C'est la vie.

Do I think it makes me fat? No. Does it bug me sometimes? Yes. But that's why it pays off to learn how to dress it.

13 years ago

taylor

Veteran

My weight never fluctuates ...and even I have days when I feel chubby..no kidding at 5'4 100 lbs..crazy but it's true.

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Thanks ladies... I guess maybe I don't stand straight so that is why I have pudge. When I was on the obstetrical ward, I measured it once and someone asked me if I was preggers. Lol. No.... that's my usual bulge.

*eyeballs Jillian's ad* ... grrrrrrrrr.

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Lyn, you're my height and 25 or so lbs smaller than me, and I am not overweight by BMI (or my doctor's) standards, so you definitely are not fat, my dear!

No matter how little I weigh, even at 115 when i was in high school, I still had hips and thighs. And conversely, even at my absolute peak, which was pushing 155, I didn't have a belly. People just carry weight in different places.

13 years ago

Laura B.

Active Member

I'm 5'7" and 115 lbs too! I also have a little belly

I just wanted to chime in and say how much I admire your style and that I've never noticed any bulges or once thought you were pregnant!

13 years ago

Stephanie

Veteran

Lyn, I imagine that the person asked you if you were pregnant because you were in an obstetrics ward and measuring your tummy, not because they thought you looked 'round.' You always look svelte and pretty in your photos. I hope someday you can see what we all do

13 years ago

Maya

Veteran

What Stephanie said. If I saw someone of any size at an obstetrics ward measuring their belly, I would think they were preggers, no matter what their apparent size...

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

HAHA... okay, I promise to only measure my belly when I'm on the psych ward

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

My belly will go away when I lose weight, but I've got permanent inner thigh pudge. Bleah. Hey, at least you successfully lost weight! Last time I did, I was in college and got down to about 110, and I felt fantabulous. Now I'm at a stubborn 130, and just kind of learning to live with it, even though I do wish I had the fortitude to work out like crazy the way I used to. I think what helps most is that it's all relative -- I envy your body, others envy my body, others envy *their* bodies. We're all too picky.

13 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Ha ha --- I am 5'8" and the last time I was 115 pounds I think I was 11-- and I have a petite frame compared to many other women in my family! It isn't something that is realistic for me at all. I couldn't manage to weigh less than 130 when I still hadn't filled out as a woman and was exercising like 4 hours at day-- or when I was running a jackhammer for 10 hours a day. So no, you aren't fat. Posture is everything!!!! At my highest weight (considerably higher than most of the other ladies that have posted theirs) I could completely hide most my tummy issues (sure the fat was still under the skin, but it looked nice and smooth) by working to correct my posture through strengthening my abs and other such maneuvers.

13 years ago

Irene

Veteran

I have only done this once, but it also works with YLF outfits post. What I did once was take a pictures of myself in a bikini, but just for me (no showing it to people!!!). It allows you to see your body more objectively. Also, we are our worst judges. My best friend says I have an almost perfect body right now, after losing some weight, but I still see my flabby bits more than anything else. We can't help it. Again, seeing myself on photographs is a way to be more objective. I remember, when I lost the 20 pounds, people would tell me I was so thin (and I'm not as thin as you are!!!) and that I looked skinny (in a good way) and blablabla and I took it like 'yeah, sure, I'm thin' but never really SAW it. Then one day I'm checking the pictures of our Lisbon trip and I see this photo of myself taken by my mother and I am like 'wow, I AM thin!'.

13 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It never ceases to amaze me how hard we are on ourselves. Lyn- for your height you are extremely thin (actually, according to the BMI calculator you are underweight), and I see no pudge on you at all. But, I also can relate to what you are saying. I've lost over 70 pounds now, and I am harder on myself now than I was at my greatest weight. Instead of seeing what I've lost when I look in the mirror, I still see what I want to loose.

13 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Lyn I think everyone has their problem area. For me its my belly as well. Even when I have been my thinnest, I have never had a flat abdomen but have always had spare tyres around the middle. Sometimes I look at shows like The Biggest Loser and even beforehand their tummies are flatter with less rolls than mine. I guess its just illustrating that everyone distributes weight differently, and that I should never contemplate wearing a bikini!!!

13 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Lets learn to love our wobbly bits xoxoxo

13 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

*hugs* Lyn you are adorable and it hurts my heart to hear that you feel fat sometimes. You're not. At all.

I think everyone has "flub" unless they agressively work out. Girls can be super skinny and even underweight and yet not be toned and in shape. At my smallest i've been 5'6" and 110 and i've had friends that took care of themselves but were yet a lot bigger than i was be able to out exercise and out run me without becoming winded like i would be.

13 years ago

rute

Veteran

It has to do with the fact that you see yourself differently then others. When I look at your photos I see a very slim woman with bo belly at all.
Focus on your positive aspects. Your lovely face, your slim legs, your slim torso and believe me no one sees what you see, the problem is in your head.
Don't get me wrong, I have the same problem, when I take pictures or trying clothes I always feel fat, but when I try a piece XS I repeat to myself.. "your head is tricking you"!

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

We do see ourselves differently than others - I can assure you we see no belly! You are quite thin. I have weighed 20 pounds more than now and 10 pounds less and honestly a few male friends who knew my throughout that whole period really didn't notice any difference!! That surprised me, but there you go.
Oh, and I have weighed more right before both my triathlon and my half marathon from training, so weight does NOT equal health! It's safe to say I was in great health at those times but my body was needing more fuel to perform. So I had a few extra giggly pounds 'in reserve' for each race.
Chin up - you look great!!! (oh and I think you should measure your HEAD when on the psych ward )

13 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Active Member

Every woman hates something about herself, but I can guarantee what you see as glaring flaws are only obvious to yourself, because we are our own worst critics. I consider myself pretty tiny (I wear XS clothes) but you're 4-5 inches taller than me and weigh less. So even if you "feel fat" I can guarantee you don't look it to most people.

I've been almost as high as 140 myself, but I actually fell into the underweight category recently during a very stressful time in my life, and I became embarrassed by my *lack* of curves. I felt unfeminine. Believe me, that is not a nice feeling either. Our soft spots here and there are what makes us women.

I find I am most happy with my body when I exercise and eat right, regardless of how much I weigh. Strive for health, not some impossible-to-obtain standard of perfection. Trust me, you're adorable!

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My, we are all so hard on ourselves.

I like Louise's comment. Let's learn to love our entire, mostly-healthy bodies that carry us through our days and lives. I just read an amazing essay by a man I know who recently lost a leg and has one of the best attitudes toward life I've ever encountered. It certainly put my quibbles with the appearance of my legs in perspective.

We fret about a bit of "extra" on our thighs or our tummies, when as Mo and rute point out, no one else noticed. What wasted energy! I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I'm getting better about it. I do notice that it slips into my posts from time to time though.

Right now, I'm pledging to all you YLF folks that I will not complain about my body or weight here. I would never snark on anyone else's body the way i do on my own -- how warped is it that we can be so unkind to ourselves?

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Most women feel this way, and I hear the words "I feel fat" or "I look fat" *every time* I shop with clients no matter what their size.

I hope that this thread does not turn into an overly critical analysis of our bodies and how fat or thin we should be/are. I am watching it like a hawk!!

Thank you, Louise

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The Lululemon store near me has a big sign on the dressing room area that says NO BODY BASHING ZONE. I like that.

13 years ago

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