I am what you call midsize. I was obsessed with being under a size 10 for years. I had clothes I was saving for when I was “smaller”. I got over that and embraced being midsized.

This post was published April 2021 and updated in September 2024. This is one my most popular posts!

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What is “Midsize” ?

First, let’s talk about the term “Midsize”. It is basically the size range 10-18. It is for us gals who can fit in straight sizes and sometimes plus size. Not petit but not always plus size. We are in the middle. Here’s my take on what is good about being in the middle. That means we understand the struggle most women have with finding the right size. We are like a bridge between the straight and plus size world.

How I got to the place of loving my body as it is.

This was a process. I was thin all the way through high school. I put on weight in college (who didn’t) but was still not far from my high school weight. Then I had kids. Game over. I gained weight and it wouldn’t budge. At one point I started running and that kick started my weight loss. But then there was still the messages from society, relationships, and my own negative stories in my head. What changed? I started wearing what fit me regardless of the size on the tag. I freed myself from those labels.

Then, I changed my relationship with exercise and the scale. I now exercise for overall mood and sleep (the sleep after exercise if the BEST). Also, I don’t really weight myself. I then started to loose weight by just focusing on giving back to myself. Additionally, I didn’t have a scale for years. Instead I use a measuring tape. My measurements are what I need to shop online anyway. One thing I do now that I didn’t do before – I give myself the space for my weight to fluctuate. I focus on being healthy while not beating myself up if my body changes a bit. So, that is how I got to where I am today. It is so good to like the body you are living in.

“The lack of representation of different body types has been an issue for a long time, and a slightly less discussed group that’s often left out are folks who might identify as in-betweeners.”

Source: Instyle

A Different Relationship with Exercise and the Scale

I made a shift and that is what freed me. I changed my relationship with exercise and the scale. I now exercise for overall mood, energy, and sleep (the sleep after exercise if the BEST). Building muscle and being thinner are just the bonuses. I treat physical activity like other basic habits. The benefits have been invaluable. I do it as part of taking care of me. I know that I am a better mother, wife, and overall person because of it. Physical activity has become my foundation.

Also, I don’t really weight myself. I started to loose weight by just focusing on giving back to myself. Additionally, I didn’t have a scale for years. Instead I use a measuring tape. My measurements are what I need to shop online anyway. One thing I do now that I didn’t do before – I give myself the space for my weight to fluctuate. I focus on being healthy while not beating myself up if my body changes a bit.

So, that is how I got to where I am today. Let me tell you, it is so good to love the body you are living in.

Some additional thoughts on being Midsize

Here is what I realized, once you figure out your relationship with yourself, so many things fall into place. Moreover, I’m not limited by what I am not and what I should look like. The path to having the life experiences I want is clear now that those walls are down… and it is so good.

Want to read more about embracing your shape? Check out my other post here