In middle school, I was skinny. Like, skinny skinny. Kids called me “Toothpick” and “Skinny Bone Jones” and “Chicken Legs” and every other uncreative nickname you could think of for girl whose puny 71-pound body drowned in her Hypercolor tees and cuffed denim shorts. In my yearbook, someone even wrote: “Be careful not to fly away when the wind blows!” Har, har, thanks, growl. I hated being skinny. So I ate.
In high school, I was skinny. I wore the elusive size double-zero jeans and still needed a belt, but at least I was starting to look like a human being. Friends emphasized that I was so lucky to be able to scarf down whatever I wanted and not gain an ounce, so I basked in my God-given gift. And I ate.
In college, I was skinny. And oh, I ate. Waffles smothered with strawberry glaze and ice cream for breakfast (dorm food, yum), fast food for lunch, Alberto’s carne asada fries for late-night snacks. I complained that I was starting to look like one of those starving kids from Somalia — frail limbs with a portruding belly, but overall, I was still skinny. And for the first time, I was happy with the way I looked. So I ate more.
When you’ve been skinny throughout your life, you kind of assume that you’ll stay that way forever. In the past few years, I’ve been pretty blah about my body and how it has expanded (I wear like a M/L at Forever 21 – ugh!), but I keep telling myself that it’s no big deal, everyone gains weight as they age, empire-waist tops are still in, I’m still thin by American standards, I shouldn’t compare myself to others, Sausage McMuffins make me really happy and in the end, isn’t that what’s important?
But the truth is, I’m sick of seeing my gut spill over my pajama pants as I sit indian-style in front of my closet mirror and do my makeup. I’m sick of not being able to see my hoo-ha when look down in the shower. I’m sick of having to do five squats every time I put on my jeans to give my thighs a teensy bit of breathing room. I’m sick of not feeling hot.
This weekend, I cleaned out my closet and got rid of three giant trash bags of old clothes. (They’ll be donated, or sold, or something.) Most items were chucked because I no longer like them, but many items were begrudgingly shoved in a bag because I just can’t fit them anymore. I wistfully showed Matt one of my favorite tops from college, a lacy halter that, in my own words, “brought all the boys to the yard.” He urged me to try it on and for some stupid reason, I did. The thing looked like a fancy sports bra. It was kind of a wake-up call.
Anyway, this whole memoir here is to announce that Matt and I are in a competition. We’re both aiming to lose 10 pounds by mid-February. There are prizes and such, but really, we just want to be sexy.
I don’t know what sort of lifestyle changes I should make, so any advice would be appreciated.
I’m excited.
I’m gonna be skinny.
completely understand your predicament! i was also nicknamed “skinny bone jones” — i thought it was just me!
try the “vegetarian on select days” diet. it works because a lot of times veggie-only gets expensive so you end up only eating the amount you’re ‘sposed to – instead of King Size. =/
I was never really skinny growing up, but my mom is built like a marathon runner and I’m vegetarian – and recently those things have been really helping me trim down!
I would really recommend getting a giant pilates ball and DVD – they’re so much fun and they really help!
Yes! I’m doing this too. I especially hate looking back at pictures from when I was skinny and hot. So depressing. I joined the gym though- It sucks. Haha.
Good luck! I know you’ll succeed.
Girl, I’ve seen recent pictures of you and you are still skinny. My mother’s latina booty was her genetic gift to me and I have never been skinny a day in my life. I’ve been slender, but not skinny, if that makes sense. I wasted a lot of my life hating my body, but in the past year or so have finally come to the realization that I only have so many young, hot years left in my life and maybe I should embrace my hotness instead of hating on myself.
I know that I’m healthy– I indulge in sugar a bit more often than I probably should and you’ll never catch me in an aerobics class, but veggies are prominently featured in my diet and I walk everywhere. I have hips and an ass and a cute little tummy (which looks a little less “cute” and “little” after a heavy Christmas dinner). And that’s just me. I’d like to add a little more activity to my life and cut back a bit on sugar, but I’m done with hating my body.
Get your fitness on if it will give you more energy (and help you beat Matt in the contest, which is really the important thing), but love yourself, lady! You are gorgeous.
I thought we had until the end of February. Eh. It doesn’t matter. I cheated. I was holding a 5 lb. weight during our weigh in, so I’m already half way there.
Just cut out the calorie laced drinks and stick to water only. That sheds 5-10 lbs on most people. I should take my own advice ;) I was actually doing really well until the holiday season hit. New Year resolutions are going to be tough on me this year *sigh*
If you lost 10 lbs. right now, you WOULD blow away. Seriously.
:)
In all seriousness, I can completely and entirely agree with how you’re feeling. I was a wisp of a thing (like, size 00 at Abercrombie) until I turned 20. Then that lovely metabolism seriously disappeared. After my honeymoon, I stepped on the scale and saw 137. At that moment, I was all, “WHAT THE HELL.”
It took a few years to actually stick with it, but I ended up getting back down to 120 this year, through seriously adjusting the way I was eating and living. I got rid of some things (fast food, soda) and started eating better (making my lunch to take to work, eating more fruit and whole grains, etc.). I started running and that helped a whole lot, too.
One thing that I had to focus on was just being healthy, and not just trying to get back to the size I was when I was seventeen. (We all know that ain’t happening.) And after the new year, I’m going to try to get back on the healthy train, considering the holidays totally kicked my butt.
Ooookay, this has been a long comment. But I love when I read something that I totally “get”. And for the record? You’re gorgeous. And thin. And I have no doubt that you’ll be able to reach any goal you set for yourself.
I thought the same thing and thought oh, ok so I’m not really a size 0 anymore and I’m a 2? Then I stopped eating junk and moved back to AZ and was thrilled bc it meant I would shed at least 10 lbs (from sweating in the heat). That worked. Maybe you should move back here. We miss you anyway. And we could use more Asians.
i hear you. that’s how i feel too. part of me is like ‘compared to xxxx i’m still freaking skinny!’ but the other part of me is like, girl, you’re body isn’t happy.
main quick changes for weight loss:
drink less. much, much less. champagne has the least calories.
balance every meal protien healthy carbs and fruit/veggie
eat more often and less food
no eating after 7pm (cheat foods should be simple like popcorn)
move a little every day, like a walk, dvd workout, etc.
xo
ps for me, it was turning 30. my metabolism slowed waaaay down, and i’m 34 now and have gone from 125 to 137. which would be ok if i were firm. but i’m not! for thin women, it’s usually about weight lifting and NOT cardio. no one tells you this but if you read enough you will find it’s true. our metabolism’s need that lean muscle to burn fat. when i do weights 3 times a week i am 10 pounds less even with hardly any cardio. and my butt is higher. yeah for higher butts!
I don’t think I’ve ever seriously made a New Year’s resolution, but lately, I’ve been hyping myself up about getting healthy.
Hopefully skinny will a side effect, but really, I just feel so bleh.
Ed and I had a bet going on…whoever got to their target weight goal would get a $200 shopping spree…that was almost a year ago. haha. We’ve only succeeded in gaining more weight. I think he gained 10…I gained another 5 in the past year. I’ve been so sick and tired of seeing a double chin in pictures while smiling so I’m going to start hitting up the gym too. Time to be healthy and fit. I was thinking I do NOT want to be flabby as I head into my 30′s in like 3 years blah.
I feel like every year I long for the thinness and metabolism of my previous year. It just keeps getting worse!
Good luck! Oh and — loving the cursive.
I was the same way, super skinny until I went away to college. Now I’m happy that I’m finally a weight I should be for my height, but I feel like I just need to work on that little muffin top of acquired. I don’t want to lose too much weight though. I’ll just lose it from the places I don’t want to lose it from!
I suggest yoga, that’s the route I’m taking!
i am right there with you. i’m on a quest to be skinnyish, or at least tone. we’ll see how that one goes, haha.
Ooh, I just decided to do something about my pathet-o-weakness too, and my friend gave me instructions on a great core exercise that’s good all over for toning and strength. You can be my online exercise buddy! If you want … :)
Good luck, lady. I have faith you can reach any goal you set for yourself–but I have to say, you look pretty trim to me!
I had the total opposite problem. I’ve always been a big boy. But, slowly but surely, I’m seeking to change that. Which means I’ll be right there with you, too. We can do it!
Mish, you are still skinny. I think what helps is not to really think about it like “I need to get skinny” but more like “I need to get healthier.” Because I found that when I thought too much about being skinny to look good, I ended up dieting too drastically. Our bodies are used to a certain dietary intake and if you start slashing stuff too quickly, there is high probability that you will give in and binge. I think the better idea is to slowly increase the exercise and moderating your intake of bad stuff. For example, for me, instead of the three huge spoonfuls of green bean casserole, I have only have two. Fine, two and a half. Next year it will be two.
Wow I read through the comments just so that I could get ideas :) I’ve never been terribly thin. Just athletic since I was a swimmer during high school and then afterward I’ve been trying to keep active because for me, that’s the most important part. But I love Candice’s idea about a shopping spree as a reward.. Maybe I’ll hold that over my head until I get to my goal weight
I kind of know how you feel. I don’t think I’ve ever been that skinny, but I am petite (with a lot of muscle from figure skating and rugby to weigh me down) and I have always had a fast metabolism.
Recently, I declared that I need to stop acting like my metabolism is fast because it will catch up to me with age and I don’t want it to be a sneak attack. Little did I know, it was slowing down already and it has hit – I’ve been to the gym twice this week and for the first time in my life, instead of just trying to get in shape, it is to also lose some pounds.
That does sound like a horrible thing to complain about.
Good luck!
Everyone – Thank you for these amazing comments/tips. I think many of us hope to de-flubber for the new year so it’s awesome to know that I have all of you as online workout buddies. By the way, Matt says he’s already lost 4 pounds, but he thinks he had something heavy in his pocket when we did the official weigh-in. What the H.
I hear you so very much on this post. I, too, was the teeny girl in high school who could eat as many donuts as she wanted. Now… not so much. And, yes, I’m still not *fat*, I have a damn muffin top and it stresses me out. So, yep, I have as cliched of a 2009 resolution as everyone else.
yep, i used to be known as ‘twig.’ and then yo-yo’d thru my college years. finally, finally figured out how to maintain a nice, slim weight that feels healthy and good. running become a way of life and sugar become a foe (rather than a crutch).
and then i got pregnant… (!?)
my only advice is super-boring: exercise. water. smart nutrition and portions.
Oo, oo! I know about this one! I was gifted with a lean body type and an active metabolism, but after years of coasting, it takes more a little more work and awareness now, drat it anyway. And now I’m pregnant like Tara, and the whole weight thing goes out the window!
Healthy eating still rules, though. So my advice would be much the same: be aware of portion size, balance protein-fat-carbs throughout the day, write down what you eat (no judgement! Helps keep you aware), and make the daily choice to do some kind of activity. That’s one long-term strategy.
I can totally relate. And with age it just gets worse. But last year I resolved to do something about it too.
Having a dog helps because of the walks required. But you might as well get a gym membership for the cost of going that route..! The only other thing I do that worked is portion control. I use the Daily Plate to manage what I eat. I still give myself days where I’m allowed to go over my caloric intake but I’ve found this to help immensely. When there’s actually more daylight out and I’m feeling more motivated I also do about 20 minutes of yoga before I go to work.
Good luck with your competition!
I’m glad you and m@ are in this together. I’ll call m@ out right now and say that he needs to shape up! As well as our other buds (won’t name names right now, but all y’all).
we’re approaching 30 and our metabolism has slowed since 25, at least for me. It was the “habit” of eating that was detrimental more-so than the sedentary lifestyle that all of us started once we started working. You’ve got to change your mindset and some eating habits slowly over time, and just stick to it for at least 2-3 weeks to get your mind and body to sync.
For instance, no more soda. 0 – zero – none, zilch, at least in the beginning. The sugar is literally killing you and may change your DNA structure according to a study done in Australia on mice. Substitute soda water and juice as a crutch and slowly move in that direction. If it helps, you don’t want your hard earned dollars to be fueling “the man” do you? As your body gets used to this, soda will taste nasty – I promise. Ice water and lemon at restaurants – m@’s wallet and your purse will notice the difference.
Women should not be afraid to use weights. I am trying to convince Anna about this as well, but it’s a myth that working out gets you bigger and bulkier. Women simply don’t produce enough testosterone to get Angela Bassett arms easily. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it also burns calories even while resting. So don’t focus so much on the number, but the looseness of your clothes.
More tips later. Get m@ off Rock Band and go walk around that PV neighborhood – you don’t know what you got til it’s gone. Grab some resistance bands and try the P90X – there’s a level for everyone.
If you want to run (with m@) on Saturday evenings, let’s get people together and do a night run in PV.
m@, let’s get you doing 45′s on the bench by summer.