Recognizing my own bias or prejudice .....

Can’t get the 5 miles per day out of my mind. Sorry to be obsessed by that. Otherwise, mostly based on some of your posts in several different groups - life would be so much easier, generally, if you would share my “hate-sweets” tooth. I don’t mind a small dark chocolate bar a few evenings a week, but the thought of having to eat ice cream or cake or doughnuts is revolting to me. All I (and husband) do at grandson’s birthday parties is to get the tiniest little sliver of commercial cake, and eat half, and try to dump the rest. Get me some spicy salsa, and chips, and I’ll compromise..... mostly salsa, preferably with spoon.

Really? At your height you aim for 160 lbs? Sounds very acceptable to me, but then, I’m quite a bit older than you. With assorted joint surgeries, but very proudly sporting (at age 70) still what used to be considered body measurements. Mine currently 37-29-37. Do/did work for those, pretty much going back decades, and active exercises. Well, it works, it seems. So now you can question my measurements (=very unusual), the way I questioned your 5 mile swim. Also, very unusual. I’l love to live near you and cook the heck out of your basic ingredients.

@contentandwell : Losing weight without trying: yes. Every time after extensive dental procedures (implants with complications), and each and every surgery (2 shoulders, 2 knees) I lost my appetite since I was either in pain, or unable to exercise. Re. dental issues with eating: the simple fact that one cannot eat as quickly, or as indiscriminately as usual, makes for a slower mealtime. Mostly this also means less time to eat, less food consumed. ,

@ellerbracke
Sounds like you don’t believe me but heres an award for swimming. Good thing I was swimming so much. It saved me when I got caught in a rip tide in Carmel, Ca. (Monterey Bay, home to Great White Sharks. ) Very scary in the Pacific ocean when all you can see is water. It took me hours to get to shore.

I swam at the YMCA
5:30am-6:30am, m-f
11:30am-1:00pm, m-f
5:30-6:30pm, m-f
Since I was a volunteer there I had a key so would also go after hours occasionally.

The photo says YUBA CITY 210 Miles I got pledges to swim that far and paid for a lap clock and lane ropes for the YMCA.

Very admirable about your measurements. You have better willpower than I do.
My goal is 145lbs and a 31” waist which I already achieved hopefully I’ll get down to a 30” or 32” waistline.
Jake

@hopeful33250 That is an uplifting note. I recall as a child that my dad waged a battle with weight, as he had a job that didn't have a lot of exercise, but had a big appetite, and little down time to do activities. My mother shamed him into Metracal shakes, raw eggs washed down with coffee for breakfast, etc. He was a tall man and his family were all tall with "heavy bones", where my mother and her side were fairly petite. I have a picture where I look exactly like my dad's sister, who was not a small lady. My sisters, on the other hand, all took after my mother's side. But I have not spent a lot of time on body image. Rather, I know for myself that I eat as healthy as possible, exercise as I can, and am who I am - strong, considerate, respectful, compassionate.

@ellerbracke The lure of salt and fat that is irresistible to so many, is a contributing factor. Mass media fosters gluttony, as do fast food outlets, printed advertisements. Add to that the very real emotional satisfaction that some people get from eating, even if it is wrong, and it can be a recipe for more weight than healthy. We never know what someone is going through. By looking at someone, you do not know their health, or emotional struggles, nor their socio-economic struggles. Lower income earners may choose to go for less expensive but also less healthy food choices, just to fill their stomachs. For many people, eating is a social thing, whether alone or in a group. Asking for help to be less judgmental, I would refer back to the saying "judge not lest you be judged".
Ginger

@ellerbracke
My swimming was 40 years ago.
I’d sink straight to the bottom if I jumped in a pool now. My shoulder surgeries finished my swimming.
Jake

Ok, @jakedduck1, don't think that I'll allow you to blame any weight gain on the Canadian chocolate I recommended. After all, you did eat it!

@hopeful33250
Oh well, it was worth a shot. Would you believe I only ate it so I could prove you right?
Jake

@jakedduck1 What about just walking in a pool? You can do leg raises and so forth.

Yep, I believe it @jakedduck1