Call me crazy, but I want truthfull advice...

With all the media and such focusing now a days on weight and it's relation to health, I wonder wear I fall... I'm really bothered about it. According to my BMI I am OVERWIEGHT However, when I see myself in the mirror I don't see OVERWEIGHT. I see a little "fluff". I suppose I wish they would classify weight into more specific catagories, Like a little overwight, average, other factors... I believe I would fall into other factors. I feel bad though cause I feel like I'm just making excuses for not eating as healthy as I should, or excersing as much as I should, and I don't do either, I also don't eat until I bust, eat slower, and have abandoned the rule of "finishing your plate". Yet I still have that tummy bulge Enter in the "other factors". Mind you I've only heard of these as being proven to cause weight gain, but both of them relate to me. 1) I am on birth control, a side effect being weight gain, more of weight retention for me though 2) I'm high stress, which creates cortisol (?right one?) which causes fat to retain and gather in your stomach area. With these known, I'm hesatant to even try to diet and excersice, cause I'm sure I'd be waisting my time! I've heard there are pills for the stress thing, but the birth control thing is kind of unavoidalbe right? I also will be completely honest, I don't like to do either of those things, and I don't think I need too... I don't want to bust my ass to get about 5 pounds off my tummy just to have to fight every week to keep 5 freaking pounds off! Especially if those other factors really are going to fight me harder!

I suppose I just need some feedback from OTHER poeple than my mother in law and husband... Do you go by what society says and the media and the BMI? Or by how you feel, and what you know about your body. And what do you say to those who think your just making excuses? Lastly, do you think I'm just making excuses?

[Janet]

This may not link directly to your post, but here goes. I am considered obese. I am 5' 4" and weigh 242 lbs. I am large boned, but carry most of my weight in my stomach, butt and hips. SUCKS!!! At this point nothing looks healthy for me except that I have been smoke free since Aug. 30, '07.

If you don't think you're too heavy now....then don't make the same mistake I did and wait till it's almost too late. I have stress too, but it's mostly from being unhappy. I need to do all the things you need to do but I don't. I'm hoping to start again, but will not do good over the holidays so I'm waiting until Dec. 27. Not New Years's, that is just setting myself up for disaster. I always fail at resolutions.

I think you need to check with your Dr. and find out all the specifics and do what you need to do, to get where you need to be healthwise. Don't wait until you are 52 years old like me.

Good for you for being smoke free!! That is really great! My mom has been trying for a very long time to stop smoking. I do want to talk to my doctor about my wieght... I just have to get insurance I read an article about doctors NOT bringing up wieght issues when you go in, so I am going to ask her about it, weather or not my birth control is effecting my wieght and what she thinks. I feel a little better about it, my husband reminded me of the fact that muscle weighs more than fat, and I have ridden horses for most of my life, and my thighs are very muscular from that, my upper arms are also fairly muscular from doing pedicure massages. My mother in law told me the same thing, she said to take care of it now, before it's a lot harder later.

[judy]

Dear QR,

You're very beautiful, and if you don't feel fat, then good for you! You're not falling for the media hype to be a size 3 if that's not your body type.

On the other hand, I would have my BMI checked at the doctor and keep that at the proper level if the doctor feels it's important. The best way to lose weight is to eat healthy, control your portions, avoid junk food (to a point), and do some exercise. Walking is nice exercise.

None of these things can do you anything but good, so go for it.