Skinny Fat Girl - The why

Even skinny people get fat.

I used to be one of those lucky skinny people - I could eat like a cow and not worry about a single pound. This was till I turned 18.

I then spent the next 10 years messing around with my weight - Starting with indiscriminate eating during my college years (think potato chips at three in the morning, and 2 dinners everyday), I reached an unnecessary high as a newly married bride at 24, goaded by my family who equated slight obesity with good health for some reason.

Then, at 26, I started losing weight, without even really trying (i was commuting and working a little too hard). At first it felt good. But as my BMI dipped well into the underweight zone, I ran into some practical difficulties - I could not go clothes shopping anymore (juniors section clothing is not exactly corporate power dressing); I looked like a skeleton with skin draped on bones and weirdly big hair; There was nothing pretty about my face anymore; My family looked at me and thought I was suffering from emotional troubles (i wasn't really) and blamed themselves, and my colleagues tried stuffing me with every cookie and cake they could lay their hands on (which got a little tiring after a while).

Finally, my downward spiral stopped thanks to an embarrassing incident in my new workplace. I passed out in the middle of the warehouse that I was giving a visitor a tour of. The visitor, incidentally, was an insurance guy, in charge of ensuring my workplace was offering comfortable working conditions to the employees. So, me passing out was not a good thing at all. I realized I had to eat well so that my employers would not have to dial 911 at inopportune moments.

My calorie intake was balanced by all the walking around that I did in the shop floor. I steadily gained weight - and it was good. I could look at my photos once more without cringing, I could go clothes shopping without being directed to the little girls' section, and my family started talking to me about topics other than my weight.

I wish I could say I lived happily ever after. Unfortunately no.

Last October, I made certain massive lifestyle changes, which, though good for my personal life, were certainly bad for my BMI. In November, looking at my slightly plump face, I told myself I was looking well rested and happy. In January, I attributed my ill-fitting shirts to a "little extra holiday weight". Last week, after I could not fit into my well worn jeans, I realized it was time to stop kidding myself.

I have gained 20 pounds over the past 2 years. 10 of these were the good pounds which helped me get back into a health BMI. But 10 of these pounds are simply excess weight. And I gained these 10 pounds in the past 4 months. Sure, I am still well within the normal weight range for my height. But, if this trend continues, I will gain another 20 pounds before the end of this year, making me overweight. And obviously, I do not want to get there.

As a petite and formerly skinny person, it feels like its a bit harder for me to achieve my healthy weight target. I get laughed at, and my concerns are simply brushed aside as being a figment of my imagination. Well, all I can say is, my jeans cannot lie. It is easier for me to lose the 10 extra pounds now, as opposed to getting obviously overweight later this year and THEN trying to lose 30 pounds.

I hate going to the gym, and I enjoy food way too much to diet. After much reading and research (unscientific of course), I have made 10 simple rules for myself. I wrote them up on Monday, but, do not want to publish it here, till I am able to live by them for at least 2 days. My goal? Lose a modest pound a week, and then just maintain my ideal weight after that.

I'm hoping my blog will help me stay on track. If you look at me, you may think I'm nuts. But, skinny people do get fat. That's true. My favorite pair of jeans would agree.