Hate the term skinny fat
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I've seen the term used mostly like "If you don't lift weights while losing weight, you'll end up skinny fat".
It's like it's almost inevitable for us poor shmucks who never set foot inside a gym....7 -
How have I shamed people who do cheat meals by saying they should not feel guilty about having a treat every now and then? I said that they should not feel guilty because they do this which I believe is the opposite of shaming.
There is nothing wrong with people having goals with their health and fitness and I apologise if it came off that way. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to recomp or bodybuild to better themselves and their health. This is actually something to admire and I hate that it came across as anything differently. All I have problems with is people thinking that they need to do these things to reach some sort of ideal and perfection rather than be content with being fit and healthy. I have problems with misused terminology which basically shames people who don’t fit into this certain mold.
The very fact that you are happy with what you have but want to improve is a really healthy attitude. You are not doing the improvements to find this happiness or because you feel embarrassed because of imperfections.Lillymoo01 wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »The term, when used properly is completely valid as pointed out a couple places above. Unfortunately in the health & fitness world many, many terms get used improperly or are individually defined so often, that they become meaningless(*cough*clean eating)
Also why let one small subset of people (body builders) have such an impact on you?
When that one small subset of people think it is their business to shame others for their imperfections rather than encourage and praise for achievements reached it can become a problem. We are all here because we are striving for better health. Encouraging and teaching people to do a mixture of cardio and strength training to encourage fat loss without muscle mass loss is important for this overall health.
Reading through so many of these threads though, you can see that too many are fixated on this ideal. They feel guilty if they have what they consider a cheat meal, they feel embarrassed because they can't accept that their bodies aren't perfect which is totally different than being healthy. There are so many threads about recomp. Are they wanting to do with because of health as they are actually skinny fat, or how about we use the correct medical term rather than the body builders term, metabolically obese normal weight, or they they doing it because of this continual pressure put on us for perfection? Are they continually driving themselves to get fitter and stronger because they are never satisfied with their results?
Health is so much more than just our physical appearance.
Wait, what? I don't understand what you are getting at in your last paragraph. It reads as if you think wanting to recomp is a negative or unhealthy goal. And what's wrong with wanting to get fitter and stronger continually?
I don't consider this to be a bodybuilding site and have no memory of large numbers of the people who do happen to lift (whether specifically for bodybuilding or not) shaming others for their imperfections. If a person asks specific questions they are answered and I don't doubt that there is an *asparagus* bodybuilder or two, just as there are *asparagus* runners and yogis, but there's your post reads as if there a glut of this activity when there is not.
Because you have to reach a point where you need to be satisified with where you are at. There is nothing wrong with doing these things if they are being done for the right reasons, for better overall health and wellbeing. We can however push ourselves too far when our health begins to suffer. Too little body fat is also unhealthy. Fatigue of a body that has been pushed to its limits is unhealthy and puts you at greater risk of injury.
You are right that this body shaming does not happen much here but the fact that it did the other day is one time too many. I'd also say that this forum is much better and more supportive than others out there with a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all. My biggest concern is the guilt that people seem to feel about falling short of their goals and the terminology we use that increases that guilt. Cheat days and fat skinny are just two commonly used. No one should ever feel guilty about not being perfect.
To be fair though, you've managed to shame a lot of other people in order to make your point - bodybuilders, people who do cheat meals, people who are recomping.
I agree that skinny-fat Is overused as an insult for people deemed "not fit enough". But putting down other people's goals isn't so nice either. Striving to better yourself is an awesome goal in my book. It is totally possible to be happy with your body but still want to improve, or reach new fitness goals.
Personally, I hope I always have a fitness goal I'm striving for. Luckily I have a ways to go before anyone will be accusing me of trying to be too fit lol
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I agree. A while back a very young girl with a nice figure posted a photo of herself. She was far from being overweight, but had a small belly pooch, and I do mean small. Right away the term skinny fat was used repeatedly about her. When I objected, I was piled up on by several of the regular posters here.
First, I think it is a term used much too loosely by the bodybuilding crowd and on MFP. If you’re assessing someone’s muscle or absence of muscle just by eye, the judgment is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone wants that look of “oh, she lifts”. Some of us would rather hear “oh, she has a nice figure.”
There is nothing wrong with either goal, and is up to the individual how they would like to look.
Second, I think it is another term out there to just make people feel like crap about themselves.
3rd. The true term, if used correctly, means a person looks thin with their clothes on, but may carry fat around their organs, which is dangerous and invites disease. It shouldn’t be used to determine how much muscle or bulk you are carrying from an asthetic point. Eyes of the beholder.10 -
gebeziseva wrote: »The term describes people of healthy bmi and obese fat %.
Why are people upset by a term for a specific condition?
I am skinny fat now and the fact that I know what this means makes me NOT being upset by my body shape because I know that I can change my shape by working out a bit (and recomposing my body instead of losing more and more weight). Healthy fat % is important for overall well-being too, not just your bmi.
Because I’ve seen it repeatedly used on these boards to describe someone that is not remotely in that category. As in, you are at a healthy weight. You don’t have a lot of visible fat deposits, but because you don’t look “muscle-y”, then you need to “lift heavy” to get “un-skinny fat.”
By the way. I believe everyone benefits from some form of resistance training, and I do body weight routines for this purpose, but I think the term is thrown around too freely.
I even had someone respond to one of my strength training posts in my feed saying, you’ll be skinny fat no more!!
Totally overused phrase.5 -
Zombiethread?
I hate the term too. Calling anybody "fat" is cruel given how the term "fat" is culturally known, used and felt. Fat as a noun, sure, that's a thing. CALLING someone fat, even as half a phrase? Snark City.
Skinny fat sounds passive aggressive and yes, feels shaming. And how is there a "medical" or clinical application for the "skinny" part? "Skinny" is a clinical term? When did that happen? Even this "skinny" part is jerkwad-ish, let's face it.
And "skinny fat" doesn't necessarily apply to someone who is UNDERweight (I.e. "skinny" ), correct? So how on earth is this a "medically" correct word at all? If I t doesn't only apply to people who actually are "skinny" then there really is no part of it that has any medical merit...because in that case even as a coarse way of describing someone it still isn't correct. So the good application for this is what, again...?
It's a snark, pure and simple. And not a very clever one, either. But it seems to elicit the same shrieks of sheeple delight as "snowflake," "butthurt" and "slow your roll," so... here to stay, folks, here to stay.
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NVM. Seems that a few months ago I already said what I was going to say!
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I resurrected an old thread cause someone said skinny fat in my presence today and I had a rant in me. Sorry. Not sorry.9
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frankiesgirlie wrote: »I resurrected an old thread cause someone said skinny fat in my presence today and I had a rant in me. Sorry. Not sorry.
Thanks for that, it's been a good read, and I enjoyed everyone's contribution. Cheers.2 -
Sometimes people just like to one up each other. It’s like seeing someone meet their weight goal triggers a kind of jealousy so you gotta find /something/ to shame that person about to repair your own ego. So you know, “who cares if they met their weight goal - they’re skinny fat and clearly aren’t working as hard as I am”3
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I agree that the term is almost criminally misused, and it does bug. It has its place if you're going to use the medical application of the term, because then it's a health issue. But the people using the term usually aren't doing that.
I don't mind this zombie thread being raised. I've seen this come up recently when someone misused the phrase and it annoyed me then.5 -
The only place I see it used is on forums - people using it to put down themselves or other people. If a doctor were speaking of it medically I would be super shocked to hear them say “skinny fat” instead of the much-longer-but-definitely-more-clear version of “your BMI is healthy, but your body fat percentage is too high”2
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I don't care for the term either. At the end of my bulks, I am sitting at a higher bodyfat but I would never call myself that. I do find people calling themselves skinny fat (perhaps when they are not) to describe them being at a healthy weight but higher bodyfat than they themselves desire (this is usually expressed as "I am not happy with my body")... there is nothing wrong with a healthy bodyfat % if someone is happy with it, and there is also nothing wrong with helping a user with advice on how to lower their bodyfat % if they desire.2
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WhereIsPJSoles wrote: »The only place I see it used is on forums - people using it to put down themselves or other people. If a doctor were speaking of it medically I would be super shocked to hear them say “skinny fat” instead of the much-longer-but-definitely-more-clear version of “your BMI is healthy, but your body fat percentage is too high”
Exactly. How is "skinny" a medical term? And further....even that part isn't being used as a "medical" descriptor unless normal and healthy is "skinny" (it is???). So...I can't see any way to rationalize this "term" into anything clinical at all. It is kind of a runaround for "I want to snark and put someone I am jealous of down, so I will pretend doctors the world over use this insulting and completely unquantifiable term..." Okey-dokey then...
I mean if ya want to be petty....be petty but own it. You're allowed. This is the internet. But pretending this is in any way a scientific term is just a little much to swallow,
so...yeah, don't. 4 -
I don't think anyone is asserting it's an actual medical term, but rather a colloquialism for a medical status.4
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I don't think anyone is asserting it's an actual medical term, but rather a colloquialism for a medical status.
There is a term "metabolically obese, normal weight". But not used how the term "skinny fat" is used.1 -
newheavensearth wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I don't think anyone is asserting it's an actual medical term, but rather a colloquialism for a medical status.
There is a term "metabolically obese, normal weight". But not used how the term "skinny fat" is used.
In an ideal world, those two things mean the same thing.
Unfortunately, body shaming types throw around the term "skinny fat" far too casually.
IDK. Metabollically obese, normal weight isn't exactly a phrase that melodically trips off the tongue. On the other hand, skinny fat takes two words that are used to shame people and mashes them together and is often misused to further shame people.
I think someone somewhere should come up with a nice, neutral way of saying MONW and having it just be a clinical assessment, but being something that's a little catchier to say.6 -
I don't think MONW is any harder or more awkward than IIFYM, NROL4W (say that one five times fast), TDEE, or any other acronym we see approximately twenty gajillion times per week on fitness/weight forums. That's just me, though. 0
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I've never had a doctor mention my body fat at all. In fact I've never had one measure it. BMI is usually enough for them to tell if you are in the dangerously obese area, even "overweight," is not really medically dangerous and most doctors aren't at all interested in our body fat percentages. Once, back in the day when I weighed 110pounds on a 5'5" frame, I was having an OBGYN exam and I said something to the doctor about always having a pouch of fat over my abdomen. He said that was a good thing and proof that I had plenty of healthy female hormones.
The idea that women should have ripped muscles and six pack abs is strictly a contemporary fashion pushed on us by the fitness industry. We women are more fertile, will conceive, carry and nurse our children better, and make it through menopause more easily if we have the body fat we should have to produce estrogen. Not excess weight, but strong, flexible, soft bodies. We are women after all, no need to look like construction workers.13 -
I don't think MONW is any harder or more awkward than IIFYM, NROL4W (say that one five times fast), TDEE, or any other acronym we see approximately twenty gajillion times per week on fitness/weight forums. That's just me, though.
Okay, then MONW it is! At least the initials are easier than the phrase.1 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I don't think MONW is any harder or more awkward than IIFYM, NROL4W (say that one five times fast), TDEE, or any other acronym we see approximately twenty gajillion times per week on fitness/weight forums. That's just me, though.
Okay, then MONW it is! At least the initials are easier than the phrase.
Much easier, I agree, LOL.
We made an acronym...remember folks, you saw it here first!
So you know to blame the folks at MFP.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I agree that the term is almost criminally misused, and it does bug. It has its place if you're going to use the medical application of the term, because then it's a health issue. But the people using the term usually aren't doing that.
I don't mind this zombie thread being raised. I've seen this come up recently when someone misused the phrase and it annoyed me then.
Agreed. The only time I find the term appropriate is when referring to people of normal to low weight with high body fat percentages. By high I mean a body fat percentage that would normally be associated with someone medically overweight.1 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »I hate the term toning. There's always going to be something people use incorrectly.Chef_Barbell wrote: »I hate the term toning. There's always going to be something people use incorrectly.
Me, too. And that’s the terminology most people arrive here with from the vocabulary the mainstream media uses, especially “women’s magazines.” I honestly think the women’s mags use “toning” because they think articles about “building muscle” will scare women off.
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newheavensearth wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I don't think anyone is asserting it's an actual medical term, but rather a colloquialism for a medical status.
There is a term "metabolically obese, normal weight". But not used how the term "skinny fat" is used.
I think there are two problems with that:
1. If you think people have problems with the term “skinny fat”, try calling them “metabolically obese”. I don’t think that will make them happier.
2. Most people that I work with that fall into the “skinny fat” category are over fat for their weight, but they are nowhere near “obese”. Most people who are obese have a decent amount of muscle.
I don’t use the term “skinny fat”, but I haven’t come up with a better term. I don’t think it is automatically a perjorative but it is used that way too often, so I just avoid it.
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newheavensearth wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I don't think anyone is asserting it's an actual medical term, but rather a colloquialism for a medical status.
There is a term "metabolically obese, normal weight". But not used how the term "skinny fat" is used.
I think there are two problems with that:
1. If you think people have problems with the term “skinny fat”, try calling them “metabolically obese”. I don’t think that will make them happier.
2. Most people that I work with that fall into the “skinny fat” category are over fat for their weight, but they are nowhere near “obese”. Most people who are obese have a decent amount of muscle.
I don’t use the term “skinny fat”, but I haven’t come up with a better term. I don’t think it is automatically a perjorative but it is used that way too often, so I just avoid it.
I didn't mean that it was on okay or better term to use, just that it exists. Usually used in medical terminology. I hate the term skinny fat too.0 -
AbstemiousMe wrote: »I've never had a doctor mention my body fat at all. In fact I've never had one measure it. BMI is usually enough for them to tell if you are in the dangerously obese area, even "overweight," is not really medically dangerous and most doctors aren't at all interested in our body fat percentages. Once, back in the day when I weighed 110pounds on a 5'5" frame, I was having an OBGYN exam and I said something to the doctor about always having a pouch of fat over my abdomen. He said that was a good thing and proof that I had plenty of healthy female hormones.
The idea that women should have ripped muscles and six pack abs is strictly a contemporary fashion pushed on us by the fitness industry. We women are more fertile, will conceive, carry and nurse our children better, and make it through menopause more easily if we have the body fat we should have to produce estrogen. Not excess weight, but strong, flexible, soft bodies. We are women after all, no need to look like construction workers.
Agreed. This "ideal" is why fitspo makes my skin crawl.1 -
AbstemiousMe wrote: »I've never had a doctor mention my body fat at all. In fact I've never had one measure it. BMI is usually enough for them to tell if you are in the dangerously obese area, even "overweight," is not really medically dangerous and most doctors aren't at all interested in our body fat percentages. Once, back in the day when I weighed 110pounds on a 5'5" frame, I was having an OBGYN exam and I said something to the doctor about always having a pouch of fat over my abdomen. He said that was a good thing and proof that I had plenty of healthy female hormones.
The idea that women should have ripped muscles and six pack abs is strictly a contemporary fashion pushed on us by the fitness industry. We women are more fertile, will conceive, carry and nurse our children better, and make it through menopause more easily if we have the body fat we should have to produce estrogen. Not excess weight, but strong, flexible, soft bodies. We are women after all, no need to look like construction workers.
But what if a woman wants to look like that and have ripped muscles? So if I don't want to look soft, the only other option is to look like a construction worker?
I don't want to look soft personally.. I like definition.. I like to see my muscles - signed a woman with two children who is still nursing her almost 2 year old
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I think that if you don't like the term don't use it but don't police what terms other people use because it makes you uncomfortable. Some women want to be ripped and some are happy with being soft.
This is something I have to tell my 6 year old when her school is trying to teach her that she has a bucket of feelings and other people either empty it or fill it. But it's her that fills it or empties it with how she reacts.
If we truly believe that people are teaching us to be ashamed of our bodies then we get to take the blame off of ourselves and cry "society made me do it". Take a step back and ask yourself why it bothers you, because it doesn't bother everybody.8 -
eliciaobrien1 wrote: »I think that if you don't like the term don't use it but don't police what terms other people use because it makes you uncomfortable. Some women want to be ripped and some are happy with being soft.
This is something I have to tell my 6 year old when her school is trying to teach her that she has a bucket of feelings and other people either empty it or fill it. But it's her that fills it or empties it with how she reacts.
If we truly believe that people are teaching us to be ashamed of our bodies then we get to take the blame off of ourselves and cry "society made me do it". Take a step back and ask yourself why it bothers you, because it doesn't bother everybody.
Agreed
I've seen way more people describe themselves as skinny fat than describe others that way. I've been skinny, fat, and obese myself at times. I'll use those terms as I wish. People are free to ignore /block me if it upsets them (or their buckets of feelings.)
I still want to know what led this to be bumped. It's usually a new member who does it but that doesn't seem to be the case.6 -
I'm just putting this in because I was normal weight obese (NWO is the term I knew it as, no metabolic) and I think I can give a good visual example of a woman within the normal weight range but obese.
My weight was in my upper arms, upper back, and mostly abdomen ( yup probably an overweight abundance of visceral fat). Limbs quite slender, and 'front on' looked quite good.
In fact, my clothing size hadn't altered in a 30 lbs weight gain because I lived in low slung jeans, forgiving tops, and yoga pants.
The left pic horrified me! (Christmas 2008, the week I saw this was literally the week I started counting cals and joined the gym) I never realized I had gained weight. (I could write an essay on this but won't)
There is a ~30lbs loss, so top to bottom of the normal BMI, and a smidgen of muscle added on the right.
I don't have a big problem with the term 'skinny fat' ( it was honestly a good but not complementary descriptor) applied to the left hand picture, but I would have a problem if it was applied to the right hand as I think it is the look of an average woman.
(Arrgh, I don't think I have said what I want to say as well as a lot of folks here can. Sorry)
Cheers, h.
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eliciaobrien1 wrote: »I think that if you don't like the term don't use it but don't police what terms other people use because it makes you uncomfortable. Some women want to be ripped and some are happy with being soft.
This is something I have to tell my 6 year old when her school is trying to teach her that she has a bucket of feelings and other people either empty it or fill it. But it's her that fills it or empties it with how she reacts.
If we truly believe that people are teaching us to be ashamed of our bodies then we get to take the blame off of ourselves and cry "society made me do it". Take a step back and ask yourself why it bothers you, because it doesn't bother everybody.
Agreed
I've seen way more people describe themselves as skinny fat than describe others that way. I've been skinny, fat, and obese myself at times. I'll use those terms as I wish. People are free to ignore /block me if it upsets them (or their buckets of feelings.)
I still want to know what led this to be bumped. It's usually a new member who does it but that doesn't seem to be the case.
LOL isn't that great? She brought her bucket of feelings home with her and tried to use it on me. I had to shut that down real quick lol0
This discussion has been closed.
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