I am right there with you. 6'1 178 8% body fat and at least twice a week someone says , "your too skinny". The problem is THEY ARE TOO FAT. I want to respond that way but I dont like being rude and I dont think they even know they are being rude first.

Our society is messed up right now in accepting a belly as being normal.

5'11"ish and 147. that is pretty skiiny, but it works for me!



Kurt

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http://www.pbmcoaching.com
USA Triathlon Level 3 Elite Coach
USA Cycling Level 1 Elite Coach

I feel like a tub'o

5'-7", 153 lbs @ 8%

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houstonadventureracing.com (H.A.R.T.)
houstonracing.com (Houston TriClub )

no you absolutely aren't.
Last year i had started swimming again competitively.
I weighed 182LBS at 6"2, i gained weight, in the prime of my swimming shape, i did my best results at 218LBS.
When I decided to race triathlon again I had to lose weight as i didn't want to fall into the clydesdale category, and Now I weigh around 189LBS.It was extremely difficult to lose this much weight and im still trying to bring myself around 180 again.

176 is my goal for next summer.

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"The aspect of sport that you learn is that you have your good times and your bad times, but you share it with great people." - George Gregan

i agree--they are probably fat and out of shape, and not used to seeing a very fit person. 9% fat keeps things interesting, BTW. ;)

[reply].... I am 5' 11" and my weight is now hovering around 170 and suddenly I am getting all the "your too skinny!" comments.
[/reply]

I'm 6'3" and, as of last night, weigh 162lbs. This is actually UP 5lbs from last year due to weight training.

It's all about how you feel. At this weight I feel great. I know I'll put on 3-5lbs/year of muscle mass over the next couple of years, but that's fine. At one point early in my tri 'career' I was 152lbs and I felt like shit, so I started eating better and but the needed weight back on.

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Mike R

Software Engineer and Mac geek
Aspiring to be front-middle-of-the-pack in 2010.

just out of curiosity, why weight training?
I find i'm much more defined healthily without weight training.

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"The aspect of sport that you learn is that you have your good times and your bad times, but you share it with great people." - George Gregan

6feet 170lbs I get the same comments from people who I associated with when I was 200lbs (and sat on my ass a lot). They still do and compared to what has happened to them (weight wise) we are no longer the same size. My Dr. says that I am healthy at this weight and not to worry about 10 lbs either way.

I think that as we get older we have less tolerence for others who are not willing to accept our commitment to a healthy life style..

Rick
By the way congratulations! I remember the fight to get where I am.

With more and more people are overweight these days, when a chubby person looks around, he thinks he is average or "in decent shape" and a fit person looks too skinny.





_____________________________________________________________

you're - contraction of "you are". "You're too skinny"

your - adj. The possessive form of you. "Your seat is too high"

yore - Time long past. "In the days of yore, I could run an IM in under 10 hours"

I'm 1,72cm tall and about 62Kg. I'm as skinny as I can get without losing power on the bike. For me, that looks like this:

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Good Point! But when is that? Did you just drop weight until you noticed a drop in power? I did Mt Washington Hillclimb at 165 about 15 years ago and that felt almost perfect to me then. But at 43 is that good for me anymore? I think in theory my ideal weight would be a little less now since our muscle mass decreases with age.

I agree with the other posters. When someone says this a lot of the times they are not directing it at you, they are trying to validate their own weight in comparison to yours. I'm 6'1", 165lb and get these comments too. Taking any extra weight off will definitely help performance, especially on the run. I'd like to see how I perform at 155-160 next season as I'm pretty confident that I could get there without taking off any muscle.

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"Knowledge is good" - Emil Faber

Hey rover,

My numbers are similar to yours. I am about 5'11" as well. Few years ago, I was 275lbs (played football) w/ ~33% body fat. Now I'm @ 173lbs w/ 9-10% body fat. I got the same comments as you. When I was big, I got "You're too fat." Now I get "You're too skinny." There was no middle ground. In the end all that matters is how YOU feel about yourself. I do light weight training 2-3 times a week for an hour to keep some muscle tone/strength throughout the season. I weight train a little harder/heavier in the off season. No need for me to go any lower. At my current weight I feel great and am happy with my physical shape/fitness. I can care less what everyone else thinks. Great job and keep it up!!!

Mark D.

I hear that all the time (5'6, 118). My usual response is "I'm thin but healthy."

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Uhm, I don't actually have a formula to that. I just try not to loose too much weight in a short period of time. The power you loose on the bike, is mainly caused by the muscle mass you "burn" when you are on a very restrictive diet. So as long as you eat properly (at least, the same calories you just cosumed) after each workout, you will be just fine. Meaning.. every pound you loose this way, it's 99% of fat. But this works when you are on that point that you know if you loose anymore pounds, you will be hurting you "bike splits".

That theory for "ideal weight" sounds believable but you should definitrly focus at 165 first.

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http://twitter.com/krepster || http://www.pedro-gomes.com || follow all the action on facebook

6'3- 175ish- scale seems to weigh a bit light

This is about prime weight for myself. However, if I get down much below this I feel like crap and go nowhere. I think that you will know when you get to skinny as you will just flat out run out of power, at least that is what happens to me- not that I have a lot of power. I think it is simply individual to each person. You'll know when you get to skinny.

We do live in a lardass society. Cripes, if people would simply exercise 30 minutes 3-4 times per week, they would be amazed at the results. There is no excuse whatsoever not to workout at least on some form of minimal level.

<When someone says this a lot of the times they are not directing it at you, they are trying to validate their own weight in comparison to yours>

I agree.

I'm 5'10" and weigh 147 lbs,and about once a week,I get the "your to skinny" comments,and its usually by someome who could stand to lose a few pounds.

Alot depends on frame, but you are not too skinny.

Me 6'1.5" @ 185 down from 213 at my peak. I still look to lose another 5-10 lbs as I am @ 17% fat at that weight.

i never had anyone tell me at 213 that it looked like I was 30 lbs over weight (actually 40 lbs), but everyone commented that I looked better once the weight was gone.

I think that for men 30-40 lbs is about the norm now. We tend to carry the weight where people don't see it. The ladies have a much harder time with it.

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This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. - Fight Club
Industry Brat.

[reply]I hear that all the time (5'6, 118). My usual response is "I'm thin but healthy."[/reply]

I'm 176cm and 56 kg. How's that for skinny? packing on the pounds does not come easily. Losing it is really easy

I get that a lot when I am training hard, especially from my mother

Normally I'm 6' 175# race weight is 10-12# less. I only worry about it when I hear if from my coach.

Pedro I don't think you're too skinny but you do look a little gay!

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Elivis needs boats.

"a fit person looks too skinny."

Sad isn't it how general body perceptions have changed in our society. We're so fat now that unless you've got a pot belly or are woman with a pear shape you're then considered too skinny.

funny, I'm 6'3, about 215. I'd probably like to be around 200. Last week, after a group run, we started talking about weight and I mentioned that I weighed 185 while playing waterpolo in college. They all seemed shocked when I told them how much I weigh (they seemed to think I weighed less).

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when you look back on pictures 30-40 years ago, there was hardly a "pear shape" in site. now, there are tons of huge bums and huge thighs. food and inactivity is killing this country.

6'3" 165 lbs....2 years ago at this time as a collegiate xc runner i was over 20 lbs lighter and 6'3" 144 lbs!!!! those bike miles add the weight for sure!

Some people on this board never pass up an opportunity to post a pic of themselves...

Look at me!!!

I remember when Klep weight was around 57kg (or even less)...he could run like the wind, but his bike and specially his swimming sucked (compared to today, of course).

As for me I'm at 1,69m and somewhere between 56-57kg. Just as Klep, if I loose a bit more weight (and I have been down to 54kg) I improve my running, but my bike will be seriously affected. Not to mention my swimming, I look like a nail and almost drown myself. :-P

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The "Pocket Hercules" - jgrat

Technique sets the upper limit to where your fitness will take you...

I'm 5"10, 150lb. When people tell me I'm too skinny I tell them to fuck off.

6'1 178 8% body fat and at least twice a week someone says , "your too skinny". The problem is THEY ARE TOO FAT.

Both could be right.

I'm right there with ya (almost). I started out at 6'3 205, and have lost down to 187 ... and will probably continue to lose another ~10 pounds as I lean out further (mostly good lean out ... lost some leg muscle due to not squatting and all the running).

I feel at times that I am "too skinny" or "too small". I think big muscles are cool, but I can tell that my economy and paces are better at a lighter weight.

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-- Every morning brings opportunity;
Each evening offers judgement. --

I just started triathlons this year after being a long time runner and went from 145 to 137 and am 5'10. Now on the off season and trying to gain some weight and get outta shape b4 starting training for IMWI next year. I always get "you are too skinny" but what frustrates me is that comes from people who don't even know what a workout is. They would die if they spent a 1/2 hour on a bike. Oh... and the best is "I don't know how you stay so skinny when you eat so much" well, if you went for an 80 mile bike ride and then ran 10, you could do the same...it's all about a persons perspective and lifestyle.

oh, and congradulations on your accomplishment!! I know how hard it can be because that is what got me into running in the first place. Keep up the good work!

Same boat... I floated between 200 - 220 for most of my late twenty's... At 30 I decieded to do something about it... At 35 years old I now float between 170 - 178 and am constantly being told I'm too skinny and I look sick. I'm 5'9" and still feel as though my optimal race weight would be 160 or so... It's funny how most people associate a layer of fat as heathly. I still have a layer of fat and people say I'm sick looking... Next year people will say that I look like a walking skeleton.

It is so hard to gain weight! The only way I can put on any weight is by lifting. If I'm doing hard endurance training - forget it, I have to be soooo careful not to lose any.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Thank you very much for your effort to clear this up but it doesn't appear to be sinking in.



Nobody has ever said "your too skinny" to anyone. They may have said "you are too skinny" or "you're too skinny." See how that works? The apostrophe in "you're" takes the place of the a in "are." It's not very important nor is it very complicated.

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I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'

At 6 feet even and 152 people don't tell me I'm too skinny; they say I need to eat more. This works great for me because then I can tell them that I eat 4-5,000 calories a day and just don't have time in the day to eat any more than that. :)

If you thought they were unhappy before, tell them you eat like a pig and STILL look that way. Hey, I figure they can use it as motivation or just walk away bitter.

Clothing companies are very aware of this trend and make larges into mediums and x-larges into larges. What better way to make people feel better about themselves. Wow, I used to be an x-large and now I'm only a large. Small? Who is small anymore?

Chad

even at 7 or 8% body fat most endurance athletes could shed a few pounds of fat.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

You are just jealous cause my top is super fashion!

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http://twitter.com/krepster || http://www.pedro-gomes.com || follow all the action on facebook

You're not too skinny. No worries. Judging by your height, weight, and racing, you sound very fit.

I'm 6'0", ~167-168.

I get that a lot from my mom. She never said anything when I was 195 lbs now that I'm 160 it's a problem for her. Personally at 5' 11" I think I'm at the perfect weight. If I could just loose about 10 more pounds of fat and replace it with 10 lbs of muscle I would be happy as a pig in slop. Don't sweat what others think I'm sure if you asked someone that did not know you before loosing the weight they would say you look good.

Does that mean I should not have had Pralines & Cream ice cream for dinner with caramel topping?

Chad

can you still fit into your body armour? If not, cut out the ice cream. I suspect though with all the runnning you hav been doing, you trying to swap out for a medium bullet bouncer which is the politically correct term for a small.

But remember starting 4 weeks before Du nationals you are required to eat a half gallon per night.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

I'm 5'11" and was 13 stone when I started running again...dropped to 10 stone and now am at 11ish and pretty happy with it. I could stand to lose maybe 3-4lb but beyond there I'd run into endurance problems. For those not familiar with 1000 year old weight measurements, that'd be about 185lb down to 140lb and up to 155lb in muscle. At 140lb I was too skinny, at 155-160lb I am about right. I get comments from some people about being too skinny when wearing normal clothes, but I don't care.

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August 5'7'' 130 lbs.

February 5'7" 145 lbs.

My wife always tells me I'm too skinny in August. She doesn't say anything in February when I'm hibernating.

in defense of pear shaped women [like me]

a pear shaped bottom is in the genes. my granny and mom are skinny as anything [mom is 5'8 and 100LBS!] and you can see their pear shaped bodies. i wouldn't think body type genes would be changed in a generation.

i think a lot of the 'Rubenesque' women from that era are pear shaped.

however, being obese is a whole other story.

:P

In my first incarnation in this crazy pursuit, I came out of college at a soaking wet 145 lbs, at a height of 5'10". And I got those "you're too skinny" comments all the time. Funny thing was, when I STARTED college, I was 135 lbs and marathon training... Now THAT was skinny.

I was away from endurance sports for a while, and did a lot of weight training, and got my weight up to about 200. Now it's hovering right around 165, and I feel good at this weight. But I haven't gotten a "you're too skinny" in a long time.

But when I did... I would just say "then I'm doing something right, thank you." It also helped that I ate more than any 2 of them combined...

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
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my favorite is at my other job when there were cookies in the office and as I grabbed one the heavy front desk woman in the office says, "you're sooo lucky", referring to my size. I promptly invited her to join me for an hour swim that night and the hour run before work the next day. I don't think she got it.

I gotta agree with the Porto guys... there is just a level at which I feel the run gets better and better with lighter weight but then at some threshold point the bike just falls apart.

FWIW- 190 cm and 72kg's when in fighting shape (A race) now... (5 week sabatical from sport) 78kg

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

Uhh, I guess I haven't tried it on for a couple weeks.

And didn't we already determine you are not even in my age group this time around? Why do you keep trying to sabotage my race?

Chad

[reply]
I have been chaulking up this comments to my theory that Americans have become jaded and have replaced what used to be known as a "little overweight" with normal. [/reply]

I think you nailed it on the head.
I'm 5'9" 156lbs

Sadly, people seem to think that being thin or in shape is something that just happens, like having blue eyes or brown eyes. Granted, there is a genetic component, but mentioning the work you put into your body to a couch potato usually falls on deaf ears. They think, "If I were thin, I could run and swim all the time" not the other way around.





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you're - contraction of "you are". "You're too skinny"

your - adj. The possessive form of you. "Your seat is too high"

yore - Time long past. "In the days of yore, I could run an IM in under 10 hours"

Yeah, I get a lot of "skinny" comments too, and what I don't appreciate is that co-workers, etc, seem to think that watching me eat is some sort of spectator sport (I'm sure being female makes me more sensitive to this). At a BBQ one co-worker pointed at me and laughed when I reached for a second veggie-burger, and then there's the accusational "you can afford to eat anything!" when I'm eating chocolate, as well as the "you're going to waste away if you eat nothing but weeds" when i'm having salad, and the prodding "are you sure you're getting enough to eat?" I think it's sort of funny that butting into someone's biz this way is totally socially acceptable whereas it would be unthinkable for a courteous person to ask the obese person if they really need that second helping. (Not knocking obese people here, they get enough indirect grief.)

15 years ago I used to be able to eat anything and not gain weight as long as I was working out. Now the balance is a little more sensitive. Again this is probably due to my advanced age (43). I fear the last 5 pounds will be all about not drinking!

Let's be honest here. Most triathletes are too skinny. (Let the flaming begin!) At least, I believe so. I propose that the label "skinny" is not sufficiently deflected by a body fat percentage. Are your upper arms the size of your wrists? Is your waist circumference within a few cm's of your chest circumference? Guess what, you're too skinny for the rest of the world! :) (As a triathlete, you're pretty normal, though.)



-Jay

ok, I forgot about that, you're old(ish) lol, no ice cream for you -1 small bowl to celebrate your arrival home, no candy, no cake, better get used to the taste of diet soda b/c after the first 12oz no more for you. Other food restrictions will follow.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

i am 6'2, 160lb. 4% BF.

i agree though that if i notice my arms and chest are getting to skinny i pick up the free weights a little more often. i dont wanna be the kid at the lake that has to explain hes a marathonist and thats why my rib cage is visible through my skin.... i also cant imagine being good for tris and nothing else. can you throw a basketball? do 50 push ups? kayak? a strong upper body is important to enjoy life in general....

Don't worry about those comments. Take a trip to Europe and it will change your perception. People are generally skinnier there. At 5'10 and 147 lbs I feel on the 'skinny' side of the scale here but whenever I travel to Europe I find that I am in the 'normal' range.

EXACTLY! I think some of us confuse the triathlete look with a "fit" look. Sure, you can run a 3:45 marathon after 112 miles on the bike, but can you bench your own weight? That's not overall fitness, it's just "triathlon fitness". ...and my wife tells me it's more fun cuddling with a man with nice pecs and big arms.

-Jay

5'9 156 . 7%...i'd like to be 160-165....if i didn't lift i'd be in the 140s i'm sure........im glad i lift. muscle is neato..chicks dig it :) when i was playing ball in college i was 175 at 8%....man i miss those days...but i like these too :)

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http://www.GetEndorFit.com
Personal Training and Sports Conditioning
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Yes, it's amazing how smoking lots and eating nothing keeps the weight down

While I agree that smoking may have a part in explaining why Europeans are generally thinner, I don't think it is the main parameter, nor do I think that "eating nothing" is. They just do tend to have healthier eating habits there.

How the heck do you get that many calories? I eat CONSTANTLY and have trouble getting in even 3000. I'm training about 20hrs a week right now and haven't been getting enough energy and I'm starting to feel it.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Don't kid yourself. Europeans EAT. The feasts I have had at some ex girlfriends houses prepared by their European parents are freakin unreal. The difference is they eat better. Lots of big salads, lots of fish, and lots of beans. They eat better than we do over here. Simple as that.

No kidding myself, just thought that one wildly generalised comment deserved another...

Here's a typical day during a 20-hour training week.

Breakfast at 8am after working out. A large bowl of bran flakes with plenty of milk. A yogurt. Maybe a pop tart.

That gets me to the lunch workout, with maybe a powerbar if I am riding at lunch.

Lunch at 1 pm. another yogurt. maybe fruit of some kind. apples or pears. A frozen dinner, usually pasta based, then grazing on wheat things or cookies through the aftenoon.

Grazing for 30 minutes before dinner. Dinner with the family between 6-7 pm. Grazing before putting the kids to bed at 8:30. More grazing after putting the kids to bed.

Basically three main meals and grazing for the entire day. It can be tedious. I we eat dinner earlier, say 5:30 or 6 pm then I just eat another meal at 9 pm. You get used to going to sleep on a fairly full stomach. If I don't eat the 9 pm meal then I wake up hungry enough to eat a cow. Well, at least a sheep.

Chad

This really isn't describing the majority of triathletes I've seen at the several triathlons I've been a spectator at. Not even close. Most of the guys look like they spend more time in the weight room than they do running. What you are describing is the crowd and competitors at a distance carnival in track & field.

Another data point...5'10 155lbs...and I can't remember the last time someone told me I was too skinny, maybe it has something to do with how you carry yourself.

Here is 6'3" 160lbs. If you are turning some of the fastest run and bike splits, you are lean, not "too skinny".

It's amazing what people say to someone thin that they wouldn't say (the opposite of) to an overweight person. My husband is very thin because of health reasons. Complete strangers will approach him and say things like "How much do you weigh!?", "Wow, you're thin!", "Boy you look like you could eat more", "You remind me of a concentration camp survivor", or the one that boils my blood "Looks like your wife needs to learn to cook". A stranger even recently offered him a tub of potato salad, with spoon, because he "looked like he needed it".

Now, would these same people go up to an overweight person and say "How much do you weigh?", "Boy you look like you could eat less", "You remind me of something I saw in the zoo", or "Damn you're fat maybe you should eat less". I don't think so because it would be considered rude.

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Have you hugged Your Mom today?

I use weight training to supplement the power work I do on the CompuTrainer. I do two different circuits/week and I will pare that down over the 'off' season to what I feel I really need to develop power and speed in the water and in my legs.

I have definatly noticed a difference, especially in my cycling. I do weighted 4-point lunges (27.5lbs in each hand), 3 sets of 6-8 with the last set to failure. Those have single-handedly cured my ITB by developing all of the supportive muscles in my knees and hips.

I do the other stuff (leg press, adductors, abductors, etc.) mainly to develop a little muscle and for a bit of definition.

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Mike R

Software Engineer and Mac geek
Aspiring to be front-middle-of-the-pack in 2010.

   

That depends solely on your definition of skinny. If you're a triathlete, you're going to say that "lean" is a normal triathlete body. If you're a bodybuilder, you're going to say that a triathlete is "too skinny". ;) My definition of "lean" is simply a lower bf%. I can be 5'4" and 160 and still be lean. (No, I'm not really 160.)

-Jay

Yeah, sorry, europeans and good eating habits?? No way. I'm a naturalized UScitizen, now living back in europe. I'm still shocked at how unhealthy the eating habits of folks here are. Just quickly comparing highschool and college-age kids here and in the US provides the real reason people here are skinnier. Noone has any muscle. The bodyfat percentages here are fairly similar in both groups of kids, it's the difference in musculo-skeletal development that makes the most difference. There is no compulsory exercise for kids here, and 90% of the population doesnt engage in sports. At all. The people who do, are generally more dedicated and devote more time to sports, hence thin, unlike the casual jogger in the US. Unless you are an athlete in europe, you are thin and weigh little because you never work out, eat irregular meals of small portions of unhealthy foods, and most likely smoke. Even all the national team athletes here I know have extremely bad eating habits, but stay thin due to smaller portions and much more irregular eating habits, which adds up to fewer calories in the end. The folks I see in the hospital (Im a medstudent) are generally all overweight, or at least their BF% is too high, the big difference is the smaller % of morbidly obese people as compared to the US.

Thats an awesome picture! I wish race photographers would take pictures like that. I'd be much more inclinced to buy them in that case since I'd look fast.

5'11 and 170lbs doesnt sound too skinny. Sounds good to me.

My BF is 6'2, 155lbs and usually around 4-5%bf. That's too skinny. He gets sick and overreached all the time, and his bad eating habits and consequent weight loss are directly related to that. 'Too skinny' IMO comes down to BF and whether you are healthy or not at chosen body composition.

Well, I too have lived both in Europe and the USA and my experience is opposite to yours. I see many more people skipping breakfast, or having a very small lunch only to have their main calorie intake at diner. If that constitutes good eating habits to you, then we'll have to agree to disagree.

Thanks! I love taking pictures. I was pretty happy with how that one came out too. It helps to actually be fast, like Lutz who turned the fastest run and bike split that day in Santa Barbara '04, but with photography you can make for some great illusions.

Yeah I graze all day too. I tend to have 6 or 7 minimeals throughout the day (minimeal = bowl of cereal, bowl of pasta, bagel w/ pb, couple of pieces of fruit, huge bowl of yogurt...)

I'm always eating! My friends would like to know how I stay so thin... they seem to forget the early morning and midday runs and swims!

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Threads about body weight are always popluar. 5'11" 165lb. after a work out. Too chicken to weigh myself prior. Body fat is probably at 12%. I can barely see my abs which makes sense as the general consensus is that a guy can't see them until he's at about 10% or under.

If I cut out the beers the abs would probably show up. But therein lies the rub...which six pack is more fun??

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Sure it's funny till somebody gets hurt...then it's hilarious.

[/reply]Most of the guys look like they spend more time in the weight room than they do running.

yeah... lots of beefcakes out there... i would hate to have to carry around all that excess... oh wait that's i used to do :-) and as for women that want a beefy man... geez ill cross them off my list... size means nothing... speed is everything :-)

What you are describing is the crowd and competitors at a distance carnival in track & field.


bingo... look at the FOP'ers at any local race or the lead pack (in any AG) in 3 weeks at IMH... they all exhibit lighter features and therefore are not burdened with carrying "extra meat" around. It's all about efficiencies.


Here is 6'3" 160lbs. If you are turning some of the fastest run and bike splits, you are lean, not "too skinny".

hey that's me... just kidding :-)[/reply]

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

Guess I am in real trouble. I am 6'5" and weigh 178 lbs

(This is better than high school where I was 145 lbs)

But, I sure love not knowing what the word diet means.

Dave

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

I've had the "skinny" term tossed my way quite a few times this year - I'm 6'2.5" and 185lbs. Hello?!?!?

Yup...societal norms have certainly shifted. I think someone with my height and build wouldn't be considered 'normal' unless they were carrying a soft 205+lbs.

ot

right now I'm 6 ft tall and weigh around 172. Back in the 80's I weighted about 150. Hard to believe I was ever that thin. I don't see how I could ever get down to 150 pounds again, and don't want to. I would like to get down to 168 but time is running out.

No. I will not agree to disagree. We obviously are privy to different populations of folks in both the US and EU. Bad eating habits can make you either overweight, or undernourished. The pattern you are describing is what I see more often in EU, all my friends here make it a point not to eat until lunch, in order to 'save' calories. Folks back home eat the breakfast, AND the dinner :) We're both making wide sweeping generalizations, you realize that. :)

6'1", 160lbs

155lbs is ideal race weight. Anything below that, and I get sick a lot for long periods. I don't train enough to get down to race weight, and I refuse to diet it off. 160-165 is what I weigh when not training much, for the last 28 years..

There's a big difference between skinny and lean. I like to think of myself as lean.. hah!
Just tell them that - "I'm getting lean and mean for racing".

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"It is a good feeling for old men who have begun to fear failure, any sort of failure, to set a schedule for exercise and stick to it. If an aging man can run a distance of three miles, for instance, he knows that whatever his other failures may be, he is not completely wasted away." Romain Gary, SI interview

This is absolutely incorrect. When you chew up muscle by training, and then eat afterward, it is too late. You can't "eat" your muscle back on. Once it's gone, it's gone unless/until your body decides there's a need for more muscle.

Example... I have lost about 12 lbs in the last 1.5 years. My bodyfat % is likely higher today than when I started (~12% now). Why? Because I burn muscle training -- muscle I didn't really "need" and what was used for fuel. And then by eating more to "maintain" weight, I replaced said muscle loss w/ fat.

Solution... Eat more BEFORE and DURING training so you aren't smoking muscle as much. NEVER train on an empty tank IF you are trying to hold muscle. And if you must -- as I do for purely vanity purposes -- lift some weights to try to give your body a reason to keep muscle on (or to replace what has been burned by training).

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Too f@ckin depressed from various injuries to care about having a signature line.

Sponsored by Blue Shield PPO.

I'm getting the same thing as you. I'm 5'11 at 170 @7% and shrinking by the day. Less than a month and a helf ago I was at 182 with the same body fat, it seems i've been losing more muscle than fat. At 182 7% I felt fit but not fast (on the run), now I feel fast but not quite as fit (fit being my subjective opinion). People are telling me that my shoulders and chest have definatly gotten smaller, as well as my arms, back, neck, forearms, ect. but who needs those things anyway...my swim times are about the same, ALL IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS!!!

I'm 5'6" and 145 lbs in the winter. This summer I actually dipped under 140 for Ironman LP and according to the Tanita machine, down to 5% bodyfat.

Early Season (around 144)



End of season (around 138):



I don't want to post the pics from Boston Marathon in April cause I looked like a defensive back with a whole whack of extra upper body bulk from lifting and XC skiing in the winter (thus the blowup 3:18 time).

i think your scale is off. MOST triathletes underestimate their bodyfat percentage.

i'm 5'10". 158lbs.

i'm also solid muscle - you can even see the veins in my abs, i'm that lean.

and , i'm around 13% bodyfat - based on scientific methods (hydrostatic / bod pod).

I'm 5'11 and 138, and nobody tells me that except my wife. And that's not because I LOOK too skinny, it's because my pants always fall down and show my boxers.

5'11 and 138!? Now that's SKINNY! ;)

5'11" usually weigh 160-165 during the racing season, about 170 in the winter.

im 5ft11, 179cms and 165 lbs (147 for racing), 75 kgs (67 kgs for racing)....yet people think i am skinny at the weight i am at now?

I freak people out with my size...105, 5'4" about 13% body fat (for a female that's pretty low). I get remarks ALL the time and it sometimes takes all I got not to make smart retort back, especially to my fat, sedentary and unhealthy in laws.

Could you imagine if we told a fat guy, "geez you're too heavy?" And it's almost always these kinds of people that point out our body types to us. Man, don't get me started....

But what does all this leanness (if there is such a word) get us?? Have you noticed a mark improvement in your times with the any decrease in weight? I have always heard the old rule "1lb = 1 second" as far as a marathon is concerned but is there a tri equivalent? Let me be honest I want to be fit but I want to improve. Heck I'll say it I hope a combo of better fitness, less weight and a little better bike will get me to Hawaii!

I remember reading in a running book long ago that if people aren't saying you look too skinny then you need to lose weight. From a strictly runner performance standpoint, maybe not as applicable to us buff triathletes.

6'1" 155lbs 10" arms, but I can run fast



Keith

"if people aren't saying you look too skinny then you need to lose weight"

That's interesting and probably true. Funny you mention us "buff" triathletes- sometimes I feel funny when I'm cycling or running; I feel like I'm too muscular in the upper body compared to "true" runners and cyclists. But then I go to the gym to strength train and I feel like the skinniest guy in the whole place. It's all a matter of perspective.

Same thing with me, i have problems in the bike when my weight is too low. i feel absolutely miserable but then i can run really fast (for me). now i'm about 67kg 175cm tall, i believe that i cant go lower than this without losing bike power.

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S�rgio Marques
When it hurts is when it feels good ;-)
Sergio-Marques.com

6'2" and 168lbs. I can fly if I'm at 165.

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The Dude abides.

F#&* - It happened again today. Hunny Bunny said a lady came up to him at the club pool and asked him (in a not so friendly tone) "Why are you so skinny?" You all probably know how hard it was for him not to bark back "Why are you so Dumb? or Fat?". Sheeeesh. I think he just turned and walked away from her.

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______________________________
Have you hugged Your Mom today?

Perhaps we as the ST forum should perform an interesting social experiment... for everytime one of us is asked why we are "skinny" we should ask why are you so fat? to the individual asking us. Sound good?

Report back with your findings. :-)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

6'1"/150 lbs/4.2% body fat/and a mean boner

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Ruble Triathlon Coaching Average of 30 coached PR's per year
Florida Triathlon Camps Train in North Americas winter training destination
Ruble Racing Events Midwest Triathlon Racing
Ruble Timing Midwest Event Timing

Shut up Mark, skinny guys like you get on my nerves...

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"Yeah, no one likes a smartass, but we all like stars" - Thom Yorke


smartasscoach.tri-oeiras.com

rover, of the two pics I posted above, I actually had a better race in the early season "chunkier pic". I think there is a point where you get too skinny, and although you might even gain time on the bike, because you have less muscle force, you run out of steam on the run largely due to efforts on the bike. It is a pretty fine balance that is very individual.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. Which countries are you comparing? could you be more specific. Are you comparing the US and Slovenia (as far as I'm concerned, Slovenia does not represent the EU as a whole very well).

Not trying to start a fight here, just wondering why you said what you did.

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Searching for the bliss of ultimate exertion.

I am generalizing, what I have seen in my travels and life around europe, and comparing mainly from what I've seen in 10+ years on the eastcoast of the us. Not one city, country, and least of all, all of the entire 'europe' and the european contingent, has uniform eating habits. You cannot say 'europeans' have healthier eating habits. Perhaps the proportion of 'europeans' you know vs the proportion of 'americans' have different eating habits. However, based on statistical information, as well as health stats and my own general observation, I disagree that being 'european' somehow bestows upon you better eating habits. If you have been to the UK recently, you might notice that the proportion of overweight people is approaching or is similar to that in the US. My generation of folks anywhere I go in europe has a similar diet anywhere I look, regardless of the country. My 2years in germany did not convince me that people there eat healthier food. Just smaller portions. Fast food and prepackaged meals are becoming increasing entrenched as daytoday food, in western and eastern europe. Granted, it may not be as bad yet as most part of the US, but it is getting there. Plus, even tradional 'european' food in many countries was never healthy to start with, with the exception of the mediterranean areas like southern france italy spain. You may effectively argue that the mediterranean diet around there is for the most part healthier. But have you been to rural parts of Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Hungary? There is a big difference between the food people eat in cities and in rural areas, as well as between the mediterranean and parts of eu north of it. Comparing statistical information, average europeans do not have better eating habits, but mainly eat smaller portions, and spend more time/day walking or cycling to work and errands than americans.

Anyway, it always cracks me up how americans think all europeans are somehow healthier and/or somehow more enlightened on diet. Has not been my experience. Maybe I should move to portugal :)

    

First off, I agree with what you said.

I think this is key "average europeans do not have better eating habits, but mainly eat smaller portions, and spend more time/day walking or cycling to work and errands than americans".

Europeans may not eat better (and by that I mean consciously eat the correct amount of carbs/protein/good fats etc) but they do eat less - which could also fall under the category of 'eating correctly'. You need to know when you've had enough - and just because it's put infront of you doesn't mean you have to eat it.

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Searching for the bliss of ultimate exertion.

this is not skinny. this is "normal". you will find the same FOPers, MOPers and BOPers in the body-fat-chart. ;-)

FOPers have 6-9% of body fat

Excuse me Smartass... but why are you so fat? :-)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

I think you may have something there. Now to clarify the only one that has license to comment on my physique is my sweetie pie. After all she has to look at it the most and she always has my best interests at heart. But other than her if someone says I am too skinny they best be ready because I will reply back in kind. If the original comment is made in a soft tone then so will my retort. But if it's harsh I will a snappy comment or two ready to go.

By the way I went to Rugby practice last night and the one of the Irish guys there said "Damn you look fit!" It made my practice.

Rover

sounds good.... i will report back to the forum as soon as i receive my first chance to ask this to anyone... this is going to be fun :-)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

[reply]While I agree that smoking may have a part in explaining why Europeans are generally thinner, I don't think it is the main parameter, nor do I think that "eating nothing" is. They just do tend to have healthier eating habits there.[/reply]

I totally agree. Less fast food, smaller portions, less car-driven lifestyle.

And I am NOT skinny for a triathlete, but at work everyone has started commenting on how skinny I am getting (not yet, IMO). At least they see first hand that the change comes from working out and not eating crap and nothing magical.

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Good for you Cathy ;-)! That's great to hear and your should be proud.

I bet you are going to do great in Kona...we will all be rooting for you.

Rover, I love to hang around fellow athletes because they totally understand what it is to be fit vs. skinny. One of the moms on my daughter's softball team is a PT assistant (her husband used to pitch for the Oakland A's several years ago) and she said to me one time when we were discussing weight issues that skinniness is a lack of muscle tone, especially in women and you can usually see it around the sternum area and the upper arms.

Anyway I just about hugged her when she said that I looked fit vs skinny. It was like, finally someone I know gets it!! I normally try not to dwell on my weight, but this is a sore subject with me. As a female, this is a larger issue for us because of societal perceptions.

Yeah... I'm laughing at some of those body fat percentage claims... Tanita must be selling a lot of scales ;-)