Getting smaller but weighing more...

[crazycanuck]

The best thing about FBG by queen is the line "get on yer bikes n ride"...Í think i've memorized that song for long hills...

c

[RTP1031]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

[RoadRaven]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes... I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

I judge myself by my clothes... I knew I was changing shape, beacuse my jeans started slipping down when I walked/ran, and I didn't need the "extra" bit in my bra you can buy so your bra does up across your back.

But the weight was such a surprise because I hadn't weighed myself since February, and to hop on some scales and find I had gained weight despite getting smaller was a bit of a suprise/shock.

The only reason it is bugging me is because I have extra to drag up the hills... GRRR

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Most men don't want skinny waifs... they want healthy looking women, they want women who feel soft and comfortable to "snuggle" with (thanks Marge Simpson for your word) - men as a rule do not want hard and bony women...

To quote the late great Frank Zappa "Who wants to ride on an ironing board..."

Size is not a determination of sexy - attitude is
Size is not a determination of healthy - fitness is

More power to us, perfect women in all shapes and sizes...

[RoadRaven]

Well, an update on this for me... I am finally starting to drop some weight - 18 months since I started biking, and this last six weeks have dropped 4kg - yay!!! thats 4kgs I don't have to haul up those nemisis hills that challenge me so often!

[crazybikinchic]

My moto is, I would rather be fat and fit, than skinny and not.

By the way, women's magazines all say your fat, ugly, and unorganized.

[SnappyPix]

Size is not a determination of sexy - attitude is
Size is not a determination of healthy - fitness is

RR - Can I borrow this as my mantra?!
And well done on the 4kgs - way to go!

[RoadRaven]

Absolutely Snappy

Thats what womens magazines (ie, woman's weeklies/days, new ideas) should be telling us.

Instead they dish out c**p messages... you too can look like this skinny catwalk model but here's a new recipe for chocolate cake... eat it, because you should feel good about yourself but as soon as you're done stuffing your face you must go on the latest fad diet... GRRRR...

Spread the word, Snap, we have to start a revolution!
Oh, wait a minute... I think we have it started here at TE

More power to us

If attitude is a determinant of sexiness , and fitness is about being healthy, then we have a swathe of sexy fit women right here and we come in all shapes and sizes and we ROCK!

Road - on-her-soapbox- Raven

[HipGnosis6]

you too can look like this skinny catwalk model but here's a new recipe for chocolate cake... eat it, because you should feel good about yourself but as soon as you're done stuffing your face you must go on the latest fad diet... GRRRR...

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. That's typical in a women's magaine - "WALK OFF WEIGHT" is the headline, but the cover picture is a gigantic gooey cake. Of course these magazines are bad for us. Even worse are the magazines marketed to girls, selling them on ways to look their best and how to attract boys. But let's not be biased - men's magazines are pretty bad too, being filled with girls who are hotter than anything one might find in nature and with expensive toys and cars that nobody can really afford.

I read a lot of fashion magazines by requirement of my schooling. The industry is sick; the average model size used to be size 8, which is still used as a standard for patternmaking. However - most coture houses and fashion companies make their actual sample garments in a size 0 today! All those beautiful gowns being worn by models and actresses, most of them are sample garments that have been loaned out - but they only go to people who can wear the size 0.

I was once asked if I'd like to participate in a plus-size fashion show. The models were all size 10. Size 10! When is a 10 a plus size? I usually need an 18 or a 20, and when I was fit I wore a 14 and weighed 195 pounds (or 14 stone, if you prefer ;-) ).

/rant

[Lise]

Size 10 is "plus size". Ha. It's the size I wear now. I'm wearing clothes smaller than in HS. Yet. When I tried on biking jerseys at the LBS today, I look huge! Why? I have curves. Everywhere. The belly curve is what I'd like to lose, but the breast curves make the jerseys hike up and look wierd...sigh. I'm ok with wearing t-shirts. Just wish they had little zippered pockets on the seams! I may have to put some in...I'll bet that wouldn't be too hard to put a velcro'd pocket on the seam of a t...

[VenusdeVelo]

I really should try that...I fly often and they are the only things that keep me occupied but they subliminally make you feel like cr*p then don't they? But lately I've stuck to More (over 40 crowd), Oprah, Womens Health ... sometimes the models aren't shining examples of reality, but the advice is good.

Lately I was reading in some mag that "Eva Langoria came to the photo shoot, blah blah blah, the designer brought in jeans for her to wear, in a size 24"...a size 24?! Does she eat? According to most jeans sizing that's a MINUS 2!!!

[susiej]

You ladies got me to thinking... Is it the number on the scale or how you look in your clothes. So, I dug out my old prom dress. I know it's hard to believe that I still have it after 30 years, but it's a stunning red-carpet type evening gown that would be so in style today as a vintage piece. Understand that though I've lost just over 50 pounds to date, I still weigh 20 pounds more than I did back then, according to the scale. And... drum roll please... it actually fits. And a curvy woman will always look better than a teenager. Now I just need to be nominated for an Oscar so I can justify wearing it in public.

I only use that number on the scale to track how my nutrition program is doing. As I look good in my clothes that's all the proof I need that what I'm doing is working.

Lest you think this is just bragging. I am a curvy 46 year old who is finally comfortable with a curvy, strong body, my hubby's pretty happy with it too. By today's impossible standard of size 0 there are probably things my bike togs don't cover. But this body covers the road faster and climbs hills better than a lot of the guys I ride with. Would I trade that to be a "perfect" 0 - not on your life.

Hah! Another one to say I weigh 15 pounds more than HS (20 year reunion this Thanksgiving), 20 pounds more than my all-time skinniest, and I'm wearing sizes I have never worn in my life. OK, maybe it's the extra 1/2" Anne Taylor Loft adds to their sizes is part of the cause, but still!

I use the scale to keep me honest. After gestational diabetes and now insulin resistance, I weigh weekly to keep my eating habits good. And I also test my blood sugar after any meal I think will push it high. Ugh, Thai food! My love! My nemesis!

SFBeachdog, why be a perfect 0 when you can be a perfect 10? Or better yet, a perfect 12!

--SJ