Am thinking being skinny may be highly overrated

 I would suggest wearing pants and shorts that fit at the natural waist or slightly above.  That will give your body more balance.  Here is a modified photo.  Hope you can view it.

www.obesityhelp.com/myoh/photos/746367/album/fashion-jpg/

Weird.  I am not OK with old lady pants.  The ladies at Neiman Marcus and Lordy & Taylor both said the waist band should fit around the widest part of your belly, to "attack the fat."  They said at the waist looks bumble bee like and anything higher is strictly for the over 80 set.  Anyway, I have no curves at all.  Wherever I wear my pants, they slide down. :(

You know, I personally think that what you are comfortable with wearing IS in fashion regardless of age. Needless Markup & L&T just want to sell you clothes. And of course they want to sell what is fashionable, not what is best for YOU.

Some of us are long waaisted, some short waisted, some have NO WAIST (ME) and can't wear pants/shorts without a belt.

Example, shorts these days are almost small enough to be called bandaids...they are cut for the ideal 20 something body who no one has but shows lots of leg and is very short. *I* prefer longer shorts...almost knee length but those are usually "old lady shorts"...so???? If I am comfortable in them, why should I care? Fashion comes and goes but what you prefer should be timeless.

I'm not saying we need to wear the spandex pants but in the right situation, even elastic waist is acceptable. Sitting in a pair now because I want to be comfortable. And if I had to go out, it wouldn't matter.

Her editing of the photo, actually looked good on you.Instead of listening to sales clerks, take a VERY good friend who is willing to tell you the truth.

Liz

I agree.  I buy what I like.  I'm 38, so I want to be age appropriate.  I don't want to go around rocking Akademiks and Coogi, but also not ready for the Levi's Bendover slacks my grandmother loved.  I am a cougar lol, and can't be looking like an elderly woman, since my dating pool is all at least 10 years younger.  You are right that shorts tend to be too short.  Some have only a 3" inseam, and I am tall, so they are basically Daisy Dukes.  The ones in the pic were advertised as "bermuda" shorts, and, on the photo I ordered from, they were close to the knee.  Capris look ridiculous on me.  I look like Tweedle Dum.  I have actually seen very few people who look good in them.  I like cropped pants, but, on me, they tend to look just like high waters.  I got some skinny jeans and my son said all I needed was curly shoes and I would look like an elf.  I just don't feel comfortable in high waisted pants.  I did find some great gaucho pants I loved, and bought in 6 colors, and, to make is even better, with the Neiman Marcus vanity sizing, I am a size XS (worlds apart from 36). ;) I guess I have a long torso, no waist and long legs.  I have no problem going out and wearing a purple velvet top hat when the mood hits me.  I will wear political t-shirts and not worried about attracting attention or defending my beliefs.  I really don't like to be "plain" or "classic."  I LOVE loud colors, patterns, odd styles, always have.  I just have never felt comfortable blending in or being average.  I guess, in a way, being fat, and having no fat friends, maybe that is what made me feel special and unique.  Doesn't help that everyone now tells me I am too skinny, not the same cute Carrie, should gain some weight, looked better before, etc.  And, dating was a LOT easier when I was 250 lbs heavier. :(  Hopefully, it will all fall into place soon.

Thanks for the support. :)

I guess, in a way, being fat, and having no fat friends, maybe that is what made me feel special and unique.  Doesn't help that everyone now tells me I am too skinny, not the same cute Carrie, should gain some weight, looked better before, etc.

That is because you have never been a NORMAL size to them. So of course you look too skinny to them now. But you are a normal BMI. Remember that. To people who never knew you any other way, I bet you don't look too skinny.

Liz

Thanks, Liz.  That is my hope.  I wonder how strangers see me sometimes, if they can tell I used to be bigger, if they are disgusted by me, or, as I hope, they don't even notice me. :)

Carrie, your BMI is in normal range. You just are not use to being normal. As another poster said, regain your strength by exercise to gain lean muscle not eating to gain fat back.

You can actually go down to 136.5 before reaching the bottom end of your normal BMI.

Its like driving...if you have been driving the interstate all the time, then suddenly you are in the city, 35 seems very slow. But if you had been driving in the city all the time, 35 doesn't seem slow at all, feels normal. You've been in the fast lane all your life and now you are driving in the city...feels odd.

Liz

I don't think you are too skinny but you need to learn how to dress differently if you want to get different responses from your friends.

If you have lost strength then try some strengthening excercise programs.  How are your protein related labs?

I am 5'8.5" and wear a size 4.  My proportions are about like yours.  I realized that I now look exactly like my brother and father and other relatives!! Tall and thin.This is the body I was supposed to have all the time!!! 

~Becky

Thanks Becky.  That is not my normal style of dress.  It was my hanging in the yard gardening clothes with a shirt long enough to not ride up. ;)  However, wearing a bathing suit, sundress, etc., there are not many options.  I am in TN.  I am NOT wearing long sleeves through weeks and weeks of 90 degree plus weather. I do, in general, dress better.  More photos below in other clothes.  Still look stupid.   And I have lost at least 25 lbs since those were taken.  So, apparently, there is nothing appropriate for me. 

Well, since my mom is 5' and 300 lbs (she has gained 100 lbs since becoming disabled from work and moving in with us), and my dad is 5'7" and about 250, and both my brothers are around 5'8" and 250 and 300 lbs, maybe I HAD the body I was supposed to. :(  EVERYONE is my family is big, no exceptions. 

I guess my protein is OK.  Doc says everything is perfect except iron.  Honestly, I remember the days of moving an entire apartment, including couches, dressers, etc., by myself from a second floor and moving it down onto truck and then back up to a 3rd floor.  Those days are long gone. :(  I got my mom a bucket of cat litter and was standing in the parking lot practically crying because I could not lift it out of the cart until a dashing gent rushed over to help.