You look so skinny! (Page 3)

Main Entry: ¹skin·ny
Pronunciation: 'ski-nE
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): skin·ni·er; -est
1 : resembling skin : MEMBRANOUS
2 a : lacking sufficient flesh : very thin : EMACIATED b : lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities, or significance
synonym see LEAN
- skin·ni·ness noun

Hmm... 5 minutes ago, I would have taken being called "skinny" as a compliment. I used to be 45 lbs heavier, so I figure it's a good thing. The dictionary definnition of skinny is no so flattering, however...

yeah man, you really touched a nerve with this one.  I, too, am bothered by being called "skinny."  Sure, I'm pretty thin, but at 5'10" 158#, I'm lean!  For some reason I think the word "skinny" just has a negative connotation and it feels a little insulting.  I'd rather be called: slender, lean, taut, efficient, fast, light, aero, fit, ripped, or even lanky.  But don't call me skinny!

~B

I also don't do it to "look better" I really don't think losing weight is going to help here but plastic surgery might (lol).

Having once topped 235, I can never hear that phrase enough...

In fact, I might pay someone to follow me around JUST to tell me I look skinny.

Or better, I was getting a bike fit yesterday and the guy doing it said "You're obviously very athletic." I nearly kissed him full on the mouth, but didn't want to be called Mrs. Robinson, since he was about 15 years younger.

SnMan - 2007-08-09 8:14 PM I worked my off for the last 8 months. Doing tri's is really an awesome workout and not to mention the scenery is very nice.. if you know what i mean. People tell me all the time that I look so skinny. But I think I look awesome . It kind of makes me upset that the new norm is to be overweight.  

I know! It's so interesting. When I was obese, I swear I was one of the few, the not very proud. Now it's like I'm one of the few again, at least where I live. (When I visit LA I feel downright fat, and I'm a size 2.)

I also find it interesting that most people believe that anyone who works out more than "30 minutes a day 3 times a week" has some sort of serious mental condition. Our bodies were MADE to move. Yes, you can overtrain or make stupid decisions that can cause injury. But a sensible training program is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your body AND to your loved ones.  

It's been said already, but people only make those comments about being too skinny or eating healthy and exercising being abnormal because they feel inadequate themselves.  It is funny though that it is somehow socially acceptable to comment on someone's body if they are thin, but not if they are overweight.  What makes my body fair game for criticism and not the overweight guy sitting next to me?

What really tweaks me though is when I am eating my healthy, nutritionally balanced vegetarian meal (with plenty of protein, mind you) and someone scoffs and says something along the lines of, "Where's the protein, you can't be healthy without eating enough protein."  As if protein is the only nutrient that matters.  One day I'm gonna snap back at that person, who is most often eating a big meaty, fatty sandwhich on white bread, and say, "well, where's the fiber, vitamin c, vitamin a,vitamin k, folic acid, omega 3's, lycopene, antioxidants, etc. in your meal?!"

Having been formerly flabulous, I can attest that yes...I was jealous of thinner people, but not in an "I hate you" kind of way. I also would say that while exercise-wise, I am much MUCH more active than I was 100 lbs ago, I certainly wasn't a lazy person. I know I slip into that "Get off your fat tush and move it" attitude at times, but then I think back. It wasn't that I didn't WANT to be active, it's more that I didn't know how to go about it without it hurting. The things we take for granted as thin people, like running a 5 miler or going for a long bike ride, are a different challenge for fat people. Exercising HURT and it was hard to motivate myself to do it when it was so painful. (I have a very small frame and imagine the stress that 235 or so pounds was putting on it.) It only worked once I joined a program (Weight Watchers) that taught me how to ease into exercise so that it started as a habit that really wasn't doing a ton of physical benefit (more mental) and allowed me to increase in increments that made it doable.

But I do know some fat people DO get the "I hate you, skinny B*" attitude. The first "gym" I joined was Curves. I worked out there 5 days a week (great workout for heavy people...and even fit people). I started at a size 18 (down from 22/24) and 44% body fat and met goal while working out there. Twice people demanded to know "What is SHE doing here!?" when I was working out at goal. Both times the owner just walked over to the bulletin board, took down my before and after pictures, and calmly handed them to the offender. I think it was more the concern that I might be mocking them than really feeling like I didn't belong. That and there is an idea in some segments of our society that being thin doesn't mean you have to exercise or watch what you eat. Yet most thin people I know who are over the age of 25 perform some sort of food/exercise monitoring. It might not be as anal retentive as mine (I journal everything I eat and every calorie I burn in exercise because that's what I have to do for health maintenance), but there is some way of monitoring.  

I know how you feel (fortunately).  I'm CERTAINLY not skinny, but I have dropped some weight this year.  However, friends who haven't seen me in about 3-4 months say "Dang, you've lost some weight!"  I politely say, "Yes, a few pounds here and there."  Actually, it's 23 lbs. since January 5th, when I decided it was time to get back down to pre-college weight.  My fitness has improved immensely since then, my running is coming easier, my rides are faster, and the swim...well, the swim is progressing slowly. 

Most of all, I feel great.  I actually had to go buy new pants.  And underwear!  I've gone from a snug 36 down to a 33 waist, and now buy medium trishorts and running shorts.  Blood pressure is back below 120/70, resting heart rate is back below 60bpm (usually around 48-50).

I am at my goal weight now of 160 lbs.  Now to maintain that weight, and continue transforming to muscle, that's the hard part.