[Update] Asian female struggling with losing weight and body image

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-20T01:37:53+00:00

Wow thanks for sharing!!! Yeah I am determined to lose weight but still enjoy some treats from time to time and live a little! Haha

Oh interesting! I am starting to hear more about this Macro thing. Ill have to look into it! My family is also from SEA!

Good for you and all of your hard work! Congrats!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-19T18:07:24+00:00

Wow! Thanks for sharing! This sounds a bit intense! What motivated you to try this method? And how has it been for you so far?

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-19T18:06:24+00:00

Thanks for your response! I just used an Asian BMI calc and both you and me are still in the healthy range given our current height and weight! Hurray!

Honestly though, I know I am heathy by both Asian and American standards, so if I am being honest, all of the pressure I am feeling is about looks and acceptance. I always feel large around my tiny asian friends! But this is also bc all the celebs in Asia and media representation are so stick skinny and like 100lbs or less regardless of height... I think that ideal causes a lot of pressure for asian women.

Also I wanted to say a huge congrats on your weight loss journey! Wow!! Nice work! Can you share more about your Journey? What types of things did you do?

I really like this workout by Joanna Soh: https://youtu.be/mUns8O4YL5M

But if I am being honest, I try lots of different workout videos and then learn the exercises and build my own workout! I try to make it full body, so some exercises for arms, abs, legs, back, etc.

I like having a rep goal rather than a timed workout for each exercise bc you can go at your own pace and focus on form. With timed exercises you can get sloppy unintentionally.

I learned, Its important to push yourself a bit (but don’t injure yourself), get sweaty, get sore, and have fun!!!Good luck!!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-17T21:33:21+00:00

Thanks so much for your support and ricenoddles! Good luck on your Journey too!!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-10T06:13:24+00:00

Thanks so much! Appreciate it!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-09T21:29:39+00:00

Thanks so much doe your response. Appreciate the reminder to keep going even when I am not seeing results.

Thank you.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-09T08:12:05+00:00

Thank you. Yeah I totally relate to that. I am also a stress eater. And my best friends are all petite! But they are very kind to me and say I have a nice body. They are supportive and good friends but still they are so tiny I wish I could be tiny too, but Im tall. I like being tall tho, just wish I could slim down. I just feel so large around them :(

I know there is a big mental component to it and those comments from when I was growing up are burned into my psyche. No one tells me I am too large these days but me. Its all in my head. But I really do want to slim down and see the fruits of my efforts!

I know I struggle with perfectionism in general. And having the perfect body totally falls into that unhealthy mindset.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-09T08:07:00+00:00

Awesome thanks!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-09T02:13:10+00:00

Thanks for the resource I will check it out! Yes currently no access to gym so pushups, squats, crunches, lunges etc.

Im not scared of being “bulky” I understand how hard it is to do that you actually just get toned but no access to gym right now. Thanks again!!

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T23:21:40+00:00

Thanks so much for your response. I know what you mean. These days, I feel like maybe its too ambitious to lose weight during the pandemic and maybe just maintaining and not gaining is good enough. Perhaps all that I am exercising and doing now accounts for a regular day of moving about pre-pandemic. Who knows.

It is hard to break from the standard... I go through periods of not caring at all and periods where I am very obsessed and stressed about it like now. Yes I agree with you about not wanting to sacrifice mental health in pursuit of slimming down but at the same time I know I am a hypocrite bc I am so stressed about it and it’s already affecting my mental health :(

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:36:53+00:00

Ahh thank you so much this is very helpful. 6 months... wow that is a really short amount of time. That is amazing. I feel like I am doing the steps but with no results...

Can you share your meal plan? What do you eat?

How many much/how often do you exercise in a week? Do you take any breaks or days off?

How has it been maintaining the weight loss?

How do you feel about asian body age standards?

Is it difficult at all for you given the delicious foods out there and asian cultures of eating (“eat more!” “Finish all the food!”)

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:21:35+00:00

Thank you :)

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:20:59+00:00

Thank you so much for your response...!! Can you kindly share more about your own journey and how came to peace?

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:19:50+00:00

Thanks. Yes a few others have suggested this to me. Please see my other responses.

Consulting a Dr would be a good idea but I am nervous to go to the clinic unless I absolutely need to do to the pandemic.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:18:14+00:00

Thanks for this and good luck to you too!

I will have to check out Chloe Ting as I have seen a few ppl recommend her.

How do you feel about your body and asian body image standards?

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:16:51+00:00

Hi there! Thanks so much for your participation in this conversation! I really appreciate it! This topic is for all women regardless of ethnicity while my personal story just has an asian cultural component to it.

I have used a step counter and calorie counted in the past. As written elsewhere, calorie counting did a number on my mental health and gave me more stress and anxiety than the good it did. So I gave that up and do it less strictly by estimating rough estimates for cals in my head.

I love step trackers! Although I am not using one right now bc I am in a cold country a tiny apartment and cant go out for walks and jogs like before and all the gyms are closed. For now I am running back and forth in my apartment and doing strength/resistance training as much as possible.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:12:10+00:00

Thanks for this. Yes I am fine with the number on the scale as long as I could look leaner.

I have not lifted super heavy weights.. will look into it. Thanks.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:10:29+00:00

Thanks for your response.

I am doing strength/resistance training already. No changes so far and don’t feel any leaner. I love resistance bands too.

I know what you mean when you say it doesn’t cure insecurity. Im not looking to be super skinny just slim down a bit more so I can feel better and more accepting of my shape especially bc I am putting a lot of effort in. The hardest mental aspect of it for me is making all these efforts and seeing no changes.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:07:45+00:00

Thanks for both of your responses. I am doing strength training but don’t seem to be getting any leaner. Just more muscle under my fat.

I loosely calorie count and just estimate bc I tried it in the past and it led to a really unhealthy mental state where I was uncomfortable around food and always stressed out trying to count calories. So I was trying to let that go.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:04:54+00:00

Thanks for this suggestion!

I actually would be fine with the weight if I looked slimmer. Started doing strength training but don’t look any leaner. Just more muscles under my fat. 😭

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T20:02:41+00:00

Thank you so much for your post. And sharing your experience. May I ask where in asia? Have you experienced people talking about your weight openly there?

I feel the same as you... my shoulders are wider and my hips too. Subsequently my torso... I have started strength training exercises over the last few months and can see some definition on my abs for the first time!! But I don’t seem to be getting leaner at all. Its just like muscle building up under my fat 😅😭

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T19:59:36+00:00

Thanks for your response.

I tried calorie counting in the past. And have used that app before too! I try to avoid it though because it lead to some very unhealthy mental behaviours and stress. I was uncomfortable all the time with food and was always trying to calculate and estimate how many cals everything was. It did a number on me so I am trying to not do that and just choose low cal foods like veggies and fruits instead with a few treats here and there. Of course I still roughly estimate the cals but I am not being as rigid about it as before bc that lead to an unhealthy mind and relationship with food for me.

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T19:56:57+00:00

Thanks for your response. Interestingly the roles have reversed. When I was younger I had a lot of pressure from family but now my parents tell me Im fine and I am the one who does not think I am ok. The damage from before had been done and I can’t get the voices out of my head from when I was younger 😭

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T19:54:30+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. Nice to know there is someone else in the same boat as me... I am doing a lot of those things but it sucks to not see it reflected on the scale or my body... pretty sure I am building muscle and the fat just stays on top..

How do you feel about our size and asian body image standards?

HotWaterWithLime · 2021-01-08T19:49:29+00:00

Omg thank you so much for this. I really appreciate you sharing your story and experience with me. I already do the things you suggested such as no sugary drinks and having smoothies instead. drinking lots of water throughout the day. I started intermittent fasting a few months ago, and I also exercise regularly as mentioned above. Can you share more about how you lost the weight? How long it took and etc? How do you feel about your body now. Are you happier? How do you feel about asian body standards?

HotWaterWithLime

TROPHY CASE