Fat Girl Posture

I still have fat girl posture. I hunch forward, doing my best to take up as little space as possible. My shoulders are pulled forward to hide what used to be ginormous breasts. I know this because I caught my reflection in a window as I hunched forward on my way down the sidewalk. I'm trying hard to break this bad habit of caving in on myself and trying to make myself invisible. Anyone else find themselves with fat girl posture? Any suggestions on how to improve my posture? Hugs, Connie

OH YES.............Let's just change the title to "FAT GUY POSTURE" and I'm there!!!!!! I do just fine until I'm standing at rest.....then it happens. In my case, I think that rather than trying to hide, I'm still compensating for the huge gut that isn't there anymore. The knees bend and my upper body angles back to balance the phantom gut. My method of trying to hide was to hunch my shoulders as if trying to pull my head into my invisible turtle shell. How smart was that.....Huge head...Huge body....Hunch your shoulders so that you lose what little neck you had???!!! What was I thinking???!! I'm still trying to lose that habit too, but it's not easy. You would think that after over 2 years, I'd lose that foolishness, but old habits die hard!! As for counteracting this syndrome, what is working for me somewhat is telling a few people who are close to me to get on my case when they catch me doing it. I'm also trying to look at my reflection whenever I'm near a mirror, window, or other reflective surface. This in itself is a bit of a challenge because I've always avoided looking at my reflection unless absolutely necessary. Good luck Connie, and let me know if you find any answers!! Mike

Connie, Count me as Ditto!! However I've really been working on it lately. You have to strengthen your "core" muscles to enable your abdomen and spine to work together to hold you up straight. Get yourself one of those huge exercise balls. Just sitting on it and keeping balanced on it will do some of the work. But you can also do crunches and not hurt your back. Anyway there are numerous exercises you can do on it. Most come with a illustrated work out in the package. Happy thoughts! Va

Yeppers -- but I never associated this with the extra poundage! I'm just always 5 minutes in front of my face, always in 'forward momentum' so I have discovered in the last 6 months or so that I lurch forward when I walk and hunch forward when I sit (Michael, you have my permission to tell me to sit up straight next time you see me!). Riding is helping (english/dressage riding, not western); there is so much to concentrate on doing well all at the same time, the foundation of which is posture -- otherwise known as "the seat" in dressage. I love this! For so many years, I stood next to horses while Jillian went through the horse show circuit. I would pat and sneak carrots and other treats to her horse all the while aching on the inside that I could no more hoist myself up into a saddle than I could swim the English Channel--besides, I would have killed the horse even if a crane might have been able to get me up on it. You should see me now! My instructor says I'm a natural and that I'm progressing very quickly. Great posture is critical to doing well and it's helping me stay focused on my posture when I'm not on my horse. This is fast becomming a passion, even on the heels of Jillian going off to college and leaving her riding behind for now. This former fatty is standing a bit taller these days! Love ya huge, my friend. Reenie