What would be considered a fat size in UK?

Just an observation....Isn't it funny that you get a bunch of women together and weight/size inevitably comes up? Ahh to be a guy sometimes, you don't hear many of them worrying about how big their butt is or if they will be able to find clothes to fit 

Yeah.  They just aren't as obsessed or bothered.  While I am assured by my husband that men do worry about their weight and how they look, I find that - if they truly do - they rarely, if ever, express their "concerns".  There is not so much pressure on men to look a certain way. 

Weight to me has been an issue ever since my late teens and early twenties when I became anorexic and bulemic in a desperate attempt to satisfy a selfish, narcissicistic and unsatisfiable man (my first husband).  I had such a low self-esteem that I was willing to ruin my health (I have pretty severe digestive difficulties to this day because of what I did to my body) to try to be something I was never meant to be. 

Because I have the female tendency to worry about what other people think of me, I am too aware about how I am perceived in this country because of being American.  I don't want people thinking that my husband has a Fat American Wife.  It's silly, because Jamie is happy - and keeps desiring me - even with my fluctuating weight, and he doesn't care one bit about what other people here might think of me.  He doesn't have a problem, I'm the one with the issues.  One day I hope to get over them.

As for a "fat size", I try to comfort myself with the fact that there are so many women here that are "fatter" than I.  I am also encouraged by the fact that even though there seems to be an obsession with being thin, British television is a whole lot more realistic with the way people look.  The actors - in a lot of shows (and especially the soaps) - look like real, everyday people.  Some of the women considered sexiest on these shows have more meat on their bones than I do!  It's refreshing.

Because I have the female tendency to worry about what other people think of me, I am too aware about how I am perceived in this country because of being American.  I don't want people thinking that my husband has a Fat American Wife.  It's silly, because Jamie is happy - and keeps desiring me - even with my fluctuating weight, and he doesn't care one bit about what other people here might think of me.  He doesn't have a problem, I'm the one with the issues.  One day I hope to get over them.

i SO HEAR YOU ON THIS.  i had to yell this as i hate meeting dave's overly skinny friends who've liked him and feelign they are looking at me thinking 'what a fat american wife'.

Bah.

i SO HEAR YOU ON THIS.  i had to yell this as i hate meeting dave's overly skinny friends who've liked him and feelign they are looking at me thinking 'what a fat american wife'.

Bah.

I wonder if I won't worry about this as well - but if Simon knew I felt that way he would not be happy with me.  He's always telling me how beautiful I am and how he loves my curves, and that he so tired of "skinny little girls".  He has a way of making me feel fantastic, but I know exactly what you mean about that American stigma of being a "fat woman".

~Liza

I find defining "fat" or talking about "what's fat" a very frustrating topic.

Perhaps it's because I've battled with my weight my entire life.  As a kid, I was raised by my grandparents.  Not only did they go through the depression, but my mother was bulemic as a young teenager.  Between the two, my grandmother forced me to eat every last bite that put on a plate in front of me. 

I love food and entertaining.  Adopting a healthy approach towards food, eating and lifestyle has never been easy.  Being overweight is difficult emotionally and it makes me angry when I hear people being judged.

As for being large in the UK, I gained tons of weight during my second pregnancy.  But my friends and family there came in all shapes and sizes.  Yes, I felt self-conscious but fortunately people in my circle never made me feel bad about it.   

I definitely think it's women being critical  of women or women competing with  an image..  remember  that  reading beauty magazines  will only make you feel ugly..loved that quote in that sunscreen song..anyway..  I love food too  and  luckily my DH doesn't mind that .. he loves it too..  although we worry about how big we will get  by the time  we get back from the states  and  my family's cooking.. come Christmas..

...although we worry about how big we will get  by the time  we get back from the states  and  my family's cooking.. come Christmas.. 

Mmmmmmm -- Christmas with the Italian Americans... I remember it well.

Yeah, but you'd have to learn to spit! And that whole adjusting yourself in public thing is just gross!

Who says I don't do these things already? 

SillySnip, Ewwwww! 

What is the British sizing compared to American?  Do we just add two more dress sizes and that is our size in the UK?  Just curious.

What is the British sizing compared to American? Do we just add two more dress sizes and that is our size in the UK? Just curious.

That's what a lot of people on this board say, but I don't think it's quite right. I have a book that claims that it's only one dress size off, but I don't think that's quite right either. In my opinion, it's closer to one size, but maybe 1 1/2 sizes would be more accurate. For instance, if you're a perfect size 12 in the US, you'll probably find a 16 here a little bit too big, but a 14 a bit too small.

That's what a lot of people on this board say, but I don't think it's quite right. I have a book that claims that it's only one dress size off, but I don't think that's quite right either. In my opinion, it's closer to one size, but maybe 1 1/2 sizes would be more accurate. For instance, if you're a perfect size 12 in the US, you'll probably find a 16 here a little bit too big, but a 14 a bit too small.

This is true for me!  I need a size 15

This is true for me!  I need a size 15

17 here.

But I guess if you were one of those people who was between sizes in the US, you might luck out here!

My UK16 trousers are a bit tight, but my UK14 tops are a tiny bit big. Ah the joys of being pear-shaped.  My US jeans are a 12 and they're fine and I have a bunch of US13 dresses that are also fine (biggest size in the Jr. department at Macy's - but ONLY fit because they're radically A-Line!!!)

But I got a wake-up call last night. We went to a leaving-do for one of dh's school friends, so nearly everyone there was about our age, and the women were SO thin.  I remarked to dh on the way home that they all seemed quite fit for being our age and most having kids and he said he noticed that too. I felt like a total cow. But it definitely renewed my motivation.

My UK16 trousers are a bit tight, but my UK14 tops are a tiny bit big. Ah the joys of being pear-shaped. 

I feel your pain. I'm the opposite, however. My UK 16 (or sometimes 14) bottoms fit fine. But my UK 18 tops are too tight. I still need a 20 up top.   What sort of a fruit does that make me?

What sort of a fruit does that make me?

An upside down pear?