Your too skinny!! So what your too Fat!!

Sep 22, 05 3:28

Post #1 of 112 (9122 views)

Started my getting back into shape journey almost 2 years ago at 215lbs. Trained hard for a year than tore my ACL last October, which slowed me down a little. After recovery began training again and did IM CdA, Timberman and a couple of Oly's this past summer. Now I plan to finish the year with the Marine Corp Marathon. I am 5' 11" and my weight is now hovering around 170 and suddenly I am getting all the "you are too skinny!" comments.

No don't get me wrong, I appreciate this as a compliment and I am proud of have taken the weight off but.. am I too skinny?? It is easier (and I am faster) to run now than ever. Would losing ten more pounds make it even easier? I have a bodyfat scale and have watched my percentage drop to 9%. 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. Heck no one even blinks an eye unless your 300 biscuits now!! Most people say "yeah I could stand to loose a few pounds" when in fact they could stand to loose at LOT.

So any help out there? How tall are you and what do you weigh? What is your goal weight? I need a response to these people besides "Clam up, Chubby!"

Rover

Last edited by: rover: Sep 23, 05 8:46

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 3:42

Post #2 of 112 (9089 views)

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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:01

Post #3 of 112 (9046 views)

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

Kurt

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [trukweaz] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:32

Post #4 of 112 (8996 views)

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 )

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:39

Post #5 of 112 (8979 views)

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:40

Post #6 of 112 (8978 views)

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. ;)

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:49

Post #7 of 112 (8949 views)

[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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [miker] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:53

Post #8 of 112 (8936 views)

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

Last edited by: Ted McGregor: Sep 22, 05 4:53

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:54

Post #9 of 112 (8929 views)

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.

Last edited by: rickeh: Sep 22, 05 4:56

Re: Your too skinny!! [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 4:58

Post #10 of 112 (8916 views)

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"

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:00

Post #11 of 112 (8908 views)

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:

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [Klep] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:06

Post #12 of 112 (8890 views)

Quote:

I'm as skinny as I can get without losing power on the bike

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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:08

Post #13 of 112 (8883 views)

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:18

Post #14 of 112 (8857 views)

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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:23

Post #15 of 112 (8829 views)

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

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:24

Post #16 of 112 (8825 views)

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.

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:27

Post #17 of 112 (8807 views)

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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [Strider124] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:28

Post #18 of 112 (8807 views)

<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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:51

Post #19 of 112 (8720 views)

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.

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

Re: Your too skinny!! [tigerchik] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:54

Post #20 of 112 (8704 views)

[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

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:57

Post #21 of 112 (8685 views)

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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [Klep] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 5:58

Post #22 of 112 (8683 views)

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

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Elivis needs boats.

Re: Your too skinny!! [Evil Monkey] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 6:10

Post #23 of 112 (8644 views)

"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.

Re: Your too skinny!! [rover] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 6:14

Post #24 of 112 (8615 views)

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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Re: Your too skinny!! [cerveloguy] [ In reply to ]

Sep 22, 05 6:18

Post #25 of 112 (8587 views)

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.

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