There's a lot of truth in the "how do you see yourself". I was never hugely fat, but I was a chubby child, and I stayed "cuddly" for many many years. But a decade or so ago I started doing more fitness type things, eating better and scrapping that after-work beer (or two). cutting out the beer, mostly by forgetting to buy it. I still think of myself as well-built, but at the same time I am happy with my weight and don't really feel the need to change anything. The proof of the pudding is when I meet up with people I have not seen for years. And in the conversations with people who have only known me for the last few years and can't imagine that I ever was fat. Not only am I two dress sizes less than I was aged 16, I'm one shoe size smaller too.
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Zero gallons to the mile