Finally happy with my body and diet and I’m clinically overweight

[judenshabbot]

Female, 28, 5’4”, 141 lbs. I’m disheartened. I dealt with issues with eating and maintaining my weight healthily for years, and only in the past 3 years have had a completely solid track record of eating healthy, balanced meals, working out consistently, and feeling fantastic about my appearance. But the one lingering issue has always been the scale, so I’ve been doing blind weigh-ins basically only once a year. This year, however, I decided to look.
And I’m overweight. Not by much, but I am. Everything I ever dreaded and feared. And it’s funny because I actually do like how I look, although I have been prioritizing lifting weights the past month more than cardio because I could use a tone up/fat loss, but I’ve barely even thought about losing weight for the past three years. And now I need to lose weight. For my health. The same reason I had to gain weight. And I’m terrified. I don’t want to spiral again, for one. But also disappointed in myself, because I’ve proven that I will never not need help regulating my diet. I hopes I had moved beyond that, and was doing a good job eating intuitively.

Here is how I presently look. I’m disheartened. I dealt with issues with eating and maintaining my weight healthily for years, and only in the past 3 years have had a completely solid track record of eating healthy, balanced meals, working out consistently, and feeling fantastic about my appearance. But the one lingering issue has always been the scale, so I’ve been doing blind weigh-ins basically only once a year. This year, however, I decided to look.

And I’m overweight. Not by much, but I am. Everything I ever dreaded and feared. And it’s funny because I actually do like how I look, although I have been prioritizing lifting weights the past month more than cardio because I could use a tone up/fat loss, but I’ve barely even thought about losing weight for the past three years. And now I need to lose weight. For my health. The same reason I had to gain weight. And I’m terrified. I don’t want to spiral again, for one. But also disappointed in myself, because I’ve proven that I will never not need help regulating my diet. I hopes I had moved beyond that, and was doing a good job eating intuitively.

 

[dashadams]

@judenshabbot Is 5’4 and 141 not healthy weight category? Regardless you clearly hold a lot of muscle. Gosh this sub does worry me sometimes.

 

[judenshabbot]

@dashadams It is considered overweight by BMI, just barely.

 

[dashadams]

@judenshabbot It is a 24.2 BMI which is healthy. What BMI are you referring to?

 

[judenshabbot]

@dashadams The one where I thought 24 was overweight…. oops.

 

[damsel]

@judenshabbot 26 is overweight. You’re not. Please stop stressing about this. You look like you’re in great shape.

 

[motherapple]

@judenshabbot lol sorry everyone downvoted you, but are you feeling a bit better now that you’ve learned this?

 

[ramey]

@judenshabbot Nope.
Its healthy BMI.
Youre good

 

[hicksc70]

@judenshabbot 141 is a healthy BMI for 5’4, it’s under 26 i’m pretty sure? either way you look great!

 

[nicholas55]

@judenshabbot I think this is more of a psychological problem rather than physical.

 

[judenshabbot]

@nicholas55 I do like how I look, though. And yes I have some baggage with the scale number. Pretty heavy, too, which I work on with my therapist. But I don’t restrict or binge or overexercise anymore, which I am so proud of. But the scale terrifies me

 

[paulclays]

@judenshabbot

But the scale terrifies me

Why do you look at it then?

A scale is a tool. Why use a tool that causes you harm rather than actually helps you? Wouldn't you rather focus on other tools at your disposal? (Your health, the way you feel, hell even the mirror if you're saying you like how you look).

 

[judenshabbot]

@paulclays I barely use it— this is the first time I’ve actually looked at it in years (at the docs office). I usually go by how I feel/stamina/clothing feeling

 

[paulclays]

@judenshabbot

I’ve actually looked at it in years (at the docs office).

You can tell your doctor or nurse that looking at the scale isn't mentally healthy for you and would prefer to either not be weighed or be weighed by stepping on the scale backwards. Don't feel silly asking for that request--a lot of people do it and most if not all doctors should be respectful of the preference and understand where it's coming from. If it isn't helpful to your mental health I would just avoid it consistently.

 

[judenshabbot]

@paulclays It was in my chart, they didn’t show me at the office. No way to avoid them adding it there I think.

 

[paulclays]

@judenshabbot Hmm I've never been forced to look at my chart. But I mean if you saw it once, then I would just make peace with it. As everyone else has said you're not even overweight by Bmi standards, and BMI is, again, another tool that may be completely irrelevant to your needs

 

[judenshabbot]

@paulclays I wasn’t forced but I wanted to look up something else on my chart and its right there. And sometimes its just temptation, knowing that number is out there.

 

[paulclays]

@judenshabbot

knowing that number is out there.

It's not your long lost brother It's just a measurement. Aka not a big deal. You don't base your self worth on your height or shoe size I presume. Like I said, you gotta just learn to make peace with it. I don't think that the weight on the scale is always irrelevant or that it should be ignored. But that's on a case by case basis. At your weight, your body composition, your overall health, you don't need it.

 

[childofgod1115]

@judenshabbot If you like how you look, what is the problem?

 

[photon]

@judenshabbot DAMN you look fantastic. Before losing weight, go to a doctor. I wonder if your workouts contributed to muscle gain? You look pretty skinny and healthy already. Please don't lose any weight before seeing a professional!!!