Body Not proportionate...

Ok...I am new here...so HELLO! I found this site because I googled, "My rib-cage is too big for my body."  I read a lot of your answers, but I still have some questions and some others while I am here.

First off, I am 33 yr old female, 5'2" and currently weigh 146 lbs. One year ago, I weighed about 170, and at my heaviest I weighed about 190 lbs. AND just like many of you, I still look in the mirror or at myself (like my legs when I'm driving) and still see a very big woman.

My body (again, just like many of you) is not proportionate. First off, I understand the BMI number and I agree that I am still overweight - however, most of my friends and family would disagree. To give you some idea, here are some of my measurements:

I wear a 32 D or E bra size...this is down from my 34 F a year ago and I probably need something smaller now.

I wear either a size 6 jeans (as I am not a huge fan of the really low-rise jeans, even with the regular rise, my belly button is still at least two inches above my jeans), but when trying on those low-rise jeans aka Citizens of Humanity, Seven's, etc - I am a size 26. HOWEVER, the distance from the top of the jeans to my belly button grows to more than 6 inches and I get the all to annoying, muffin top. COUPLE this with an inseam of 22 inches and hemming, even in the petite section is ALWAYS needed. But, here is something odd - I have many friends who are MUCH smaller than I am...but, they wear size 28's and 29's. Their hips and butt are bigger than mine, whereas their jeans gap at my waist and are really tight on my thighs. So, that confuses me...nevermind they weigh at least 10 lbs lighter than me...although, they say my weight is all breasts.

But, here's my issue, I recently started exercising - mostly abdominal exercises, because I have a lot of excess skin (who knew 50 lbs would cause so much excess skin). I was doing some exercises in front of a mirror and noticed that when I was doing downward facing dog or in plank pose, I have a giant indent right underneath my ribcage, continuing down to my private area. ; )

Is this normal??? I am in no way thin, but this prominent appearance of my rib-cage kind of scared me. If I continue to lose weight and get to my goal weight of 130 (even though this site says my goal weight should be closer to 120), what will I look like? I've always been muscular - soccer and gymnastics as a child - so, I have very prominent collar bones and have a muscular neck region and fairly tone arms. My legs (as I've mentioned) are SUPER SHORT and i've always had big thighs.

I know this post is really all over the place...but, I just don't know what to do. I've alwasy struggled with an unrealistic body image and now I have friends who are telling me my excess weight is in my breasts and not to lose anymore weight...and to tone - which is what I am trying to do. I can't do cardio - one of my ailments is Lyme's disease and i'm just too tired - starting Dec. 1 - I begin IV antibiotics (after a year and a half of oral antibiotics) and fingers crossed, I'll get energy back. So, for now, I have started ab, leg and arm exercises daily.

Should I be concerned about my rib-cage? And is there really nothing to be done? I mean, I've heard of people having a rib or two removed...also, anyone have any suggestions on the excess skin? I know of someone who had plastic surgery, but I defintely want to try and eliminate this naturally, if possible.

And finally, does BMI take into account breast size? Shouldn't it? I mean, I weigh maybe 10 lbs more than two of my friends inparticular and they both wear size 28 jeans. They are both about 5'5 and they are really tiny all over, except they have wide hips and a wider bum. Their legs are about 7 inches longer than mine and they both wear A cups.  I don't understand much about size and weight - frankly, I don't think many people do - but, I'm hoping this forum can help provide some of the answers I am looking for.

Thanks so much!!!

You can balance yourself out by adding weights to your routine to build up your smaller half.

I'm in the same boat im very bottom heavy but since i've added lifting weights to my routine focusing mostly on my upper half adding muscle to my back, chest and arm's ive been able to continue losing weight without looking skeletal from the waist up.

Thanks...however, I don't know if my post was clear - I don't have a butt at all and my hips are normal - with my breasts and hips the way they are, I am the typical hourglass shape...I certainly don't look skeletal at all...my thighs are thick and legs real short - I am mostly concerned that as I lose more weight, my rib cage will just look HUGE...I would say, if anything, I am front heavy! LOL