I was just reading the "OW Anatomy" thread, and got to thinking about all these ladies who are size 8 and complaining about being overweight.<p>I am 5'8" and was a size 10/12 when I married, and I was SKINNY! In fact, H wondered what was wrong with me to make my hipbones stick out. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Now, I can understand that someone who is 5'0" being a littl plump if she wears a size 10/12, but I've seen some posts from women who are several inches taller than 5' and complaining about wearing size 8!<p>I've lost about 20 lbs. and dropped a dress size, and have quite a bit to go, but there is no way I would ever go down to a size 8. Heck, even a size 10 would be too skinny for me! Two more dress sizes, and I will be at a comfortable and attractive weight. Size 12/14 will be just about right for me.<p>Personally, I think that as we get older, we look better with just a little more weight...helps fill out the wrinkles, doncha know? [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Besides, I've seen thin women who do NOT look good, due to poor posture, etc. And, as they get older, they start looking scrawny and gaunt....not attractive at all!<p>And, I've noticed on the Miss America pageant, they will have some girl who is 5'9" come out, with measurements being something like 36-25-35 and her weight being 110 lbs. PUH-LEEEZE! Who do they think they are kidding? When I had those measurements, I weighed 135 and didn't have an ounce of fat on me!<p>Or, have dressmakers changed the way they size clothes?

I think a size 8 is perfect. HOwever, my husband thinks it is "fat pig", "stop stuffing your face".<p>I am 5'7 and 130 lbs. So, i guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder. <p>yes, my stomach could be firmer( 3 babies)..and yes my butt is a little flabby. But strangely enough, what bothers me the most is the fat my back...<p>So, maybe i will never be 105 lbs again (marriage weight)..but 115 would be nice!

5'7" and you want to weigh 115? Well, I guess you must be small-boned, as opposed to my being a big-boned gal. I got sick once, and lost down to around 110-115 lbs., and my brother and my friends told me I looked like a plucked chicken. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Your H is full of it. [img]images/icons/mad.gif" border="0[/img] 130 lbs. at 5'7" is not fat!<p>Flabby abs can be fixed by having a tummy tuck, which I'm planning to have as soon as I get my weight down to where I'm happy with it. Childbearing did a number on my stomach muscles, too, including tearing one on one side. No amount of exercise will help that torn muscle.

5'9", 130 lbs and size 6<p>I was 115, at best 120 (size 4 was large on me) during the IWLP (Infidelity Weight Loss Program).<p>I think I'm okay in the weight department. I do Pilates and it makes a world of difference regarding posture and muscle tone (length and strength). Ideal weight for me, I'm small boned.<p>Jo<p>[ March 14, 2002: Message edited by: Resilient ]</p>

All I have to say on this subject is this. Men are way too shallow and way too superficial. Are you any different on the inside than when he married you? I'm sure you're not as is the case with most women. But, a man thinks he has to be seen walking with a tiny, skinny woman on his arm....and that is ONLY to make him look good! Forget about a man having a woman on his arm that he loves, cherishes for who she is, and is proud of. Good God -- now that would be a concept!

I agree Angel ...<p>And now that would open up the age old Marriage Builders' controversy of ... is "Attractive Spouse" a Need or a Want.<p>[With the word "Attractive" being subjective]<p>Jo

Hi, I have been skinny once, it was over-rated. Now I am fat and happy. 5ft 7in, and 190 lbs. I would like to see 135 again, but if it never happens, that is ok too. I am medium-boned and carry the weight ok. People are always shocked when I say pushing 200lbs. I remeber weighing 100lbs, and I was so miserable, and still thought I was fat. Looking at those pictures now, I wonder how I ever felt fat then, anorexia, is evil!! But I always saw a fat person when I looked in the mirror. Now after child birth, and just plain life, I like what I see looking back at me. I would like to tone up, but I don't own scales and don't plan on EVER buying any. Hope you are all having a good day, check in later.

Weight is such a personal and relative issue. I'm 5'2" and currently weigh in the high 170s. But for me this is great since not long ago I was a lot closer to 230! I got my size 16 jeans on last week and I was able to zip them without lying on the bed (huge accomplishment). I felt like I looked great!<p>My husband has always had a problem with my weight. I have also accused him of being shallow and superficial and that my weight is my problem and doesn't concern him. But I have come to realize that it does concern him -- not so much because of the way I look, but more because of the way I perceive myself and the way I behave *because* of the way I look. I stopped going out, I stopped buying nice clothes, I got sloppy. All because I was unhappy with the way I looked. I felt I was ugly and everyone who saw me thought I was ugly. I'm sure it's not true of all people, I've met plenty of large people are comfortable with who they are. But I wasn't, and it really affected my life. I'm still heavy and I have a long way to go before I'm satisfied with my weight, but I feel attractive again and that has made all the difference.

Ok this is one that always gets my dander up (what ever that means)<p>I am 5'7", and weigh about 128..... during and for a few years after my divorce I weighed in the 112 range, very underweight. At the worst of my depression (dealing with two kids on my own, and abusive stb-x withholding any $ support etc.) I had to deal with women saying to me, "oh you are so lucky to be soooooo skinny" mean while I was literally unable to eat.<p>Fast forward 5 years..... my darling daughter, who weighed just 4.2 pounds at birth (being a twin) is 13, and constantly teased about being "anorexic" in the school yard!?!?!<p>This entire body image problem has got to stop, and soon. There are children as young as 8 on diets, what is that about? As parents, if we are, we have the responsibility to stop this cycle. As partners, we also have the responsibility to say to our s/o that if the body God gave us is not to their likeing, but healthy, and happy, then perhaps their thinking is somewhat skewed.<p>Sorry but this touched a nerve,
Respectfully as always

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by angelsendslove:
<strong>Men are way too shallow and way too superficial.</strong><hr></blockquote><p>Some are, some aren't. For that matter, there are plenty of shallow and superficial women.<p>My x is gorgeous. Stunning. She turns heads wherever she goes and looks great no matter what she's wearing (or not wearing, as the case may be). Am I interested? Not a chance. She's way too shallow and superficial. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img]

I'm the little plump one... ;-)<p>I would be happy to be 120 at 5 ft and frankly think my 100 pound weight when I met WH was sickly...besides no matter what I weigh, this big ol' italian butt doesn't go anywhere. I used to hate it when I was growing up, but it's my H's favorite physical quality next to my irish eyes!<p>I've been doing the gym thing, so toning does wonders, but I have learned that weight doesn't matter. That being said, you won't catch me in a swimsuit in public! ;-)<p>And besides, eating is the one thing besides SF that WH and I REALLY enjoy doing together!

You guys are skini mini's.<p>I am proud to say that I weigh 229 pounds. I wear a size 22. <p>On the IWLP I was down to 170, and everyone thought I was either doing cocaine or dying of some strange unmentionable disease.<p>Then my thyroid stopped working. Doc says I should just start melting away now. I am perfectly happy at a size 18. My boobs never get smaller, so I look like a freak anything less than 18. Yeah, I wear size 11 shoes too, so really, skinny is not the look for me. <p>Eat, Manga, let me cook for you!!! Poor little things wasting away to nothing, skin and bones. We'll start with some pasta....<p>Elizabeth

Weight has always been an issue for me - I got down to about 88 or 89 pounds in high school (my lowest, ever) at 5'6". I thought I looked good, but that my thighs were still too big. I now know that couldn't be possible - they hardly existed.
I married at age 21, weight 107. First baby age 25 and my pregnant weight got up to 150 - I thought I would die.
Well, babies 2 and 3 added a little more each time and after my third was born I was back to around 150 and sqeezing out of size 10s. I grew more and more depressed, but couldn't control what I ate. Also drank way too much - a bottle of white wine a day will pack on the calories and sugar.
I knew my husband wasn't happy with how I looked - I am very small boned, with tiny wrists and ankles. He was always asking me to work out... I think part of the reason I didn't want to was a passive aggressive rebelious thing. I hated the way I looked, but I didnt' want anyone else telling me I needed to do anything about it.<p>Anyway, to make a long story somewhat shorter, after the crisis diet and a renewed interest in finally taking good care of myself with exercise, I am back down to 130 and in a size 6. This feels really good to me and I know I look good again. Old obsessions are hard to break however and I am in danger of losing too much - I find myself thinking how great 120 and size 4 would be. I even bought a bikini the other day even though I don't think 37 year olds should wear them. Guess I am kinda having my own little MLC.<p>For me the extra weight was a symtom of my depression and an expression of how bad I felt about myself. <p>I too think it is such a personal thing - I see people who weigh 200 pounds and because they like themselves and the way they look they project such confidence and are so attractive. Also, your body type is so important. I have a great friend who weighs over 150, but is large boned, very athletic and looks fabulous. When I weighed 150, I looked like a fat slob. Most of it was because I felt like a fat slob. <p>Adding to my strange family history is the fact that I have a sister who used to be very skinny in high school and college and has now weighed between 250-270 for about 10 years. She is unhappy about it, but not unhappy enough to do anything about it. I guess in my own "fat" period I could see myself getting to that point and I just didn't want to go there.