So - Is There Such A Thing As Different Builds/Bone Structures?
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Graelwyn75 wrote: »I once did the elbow and wrist measurements and whilst my wrist came out as small boned, my elbow came out as medium. I also have quite large knee joints. I must admit, I have always loathed my build... fairly broad shoulders, calves that are naturally muscular and yes, I have a pretty broad ribcage. I always bemoaned the fact I couldn't be petite, but it is what it is. I also hate being tall, lol.
I have large elbows and knees too. The more weight I lose, the knobbier looking they get. Bonus for me? They're all mildly swollen with arthritis as well.0 -
I once had a huge crush on my maths tutor... At some point (I was chubby), we were discussing gym habits and I started talking about bone structures and how I'm much thicker than most girls.
He says to me that everyone has the same mass of skeleton.
That day, I vowed never to agree with everything he says... Because clearly there is tall and short... And my wrist is a lot thicker than my younger sister's... She weighs at least 20-30kg less than me.3 -
Interesting study about the correlation of frame size measurements (in normal weight people) with total body fat, fat-free mass, bone mineral content and bone density: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/6/1012.long4
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Yes absolutely. I've always been heavy for my height back when I was 18 I was 13.5stone. I was I peak physical condition however my bmi stated I was overweight. As the years have passed I have put on some weigh and currently (before using mfp) tipped the scales at 16s 12lb Im not that fat. I have a dense bone structure. I'm currently tipping the scales at 16s 3lb. I look more like I'm between 14 and 15 stone. My brother is the same height as me and weighed 16st 13lb when I was similar and he looked a lot chunkier than me. This is why the bmi system isn't entirely accurate.0
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I once had a huge crush on my maths tutor... At some point (I was chubby), we were discussing gym habits and I started talking about bone structures and how I'm much thicker than most girls.
He says to me that everyone has the same mass of skeleton.
That day, I vowed never to agree with everything he says... Because clearly there is tall and short... And my wrist is a lot thicker than my younger sister's... She weighs at least 20-30kg less than me.
This is generally true, we all have similar bone mass, however the density of said bone structure varies.0 -
Interesting study about the correlation of frame size measurements (in normal weight people) with total body fat, fat-free mass, bone mineral content and bone density: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/6/1012.long
That left me more confused than ever.
I'm just a weirdo with a weird body, I think. 0 -
RaeBeeBaby wrote: »A few months ago I did wrist and elbow measurements to determine frame size that I found on several online sites. I know it's not rocket science but it was pretty accurate for me. I expected that I was medium-framed and the measurements supported that. Since you're measuring areas that don't have a lot of fat it likely doesn't change even with weight loss and gain.
Without measuring, this is an even more unscientific method - but also accurate for me (mine touch exactly).
Wrap your thumb and middle finger around the smallest part of your wrist. If they overlap, you are small framed. If they touch, you are medium framed. If you can barely get them to touch or they are not touching, you have a large frame.
I'm 5'6" with tiny, tiny wrists and ankles ... and long, long fingers. My thumb and middle finger well overlap ... like by a lot!
And yet I have fairly broad hips and shoulders.
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Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
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Graelwyn75 wrote: »I know the whole ectomorph/Mesomorph/Endomorph thing is a load of nonsense but I am wondering, given the BMI ranges for each height are so broad, do people really have different bone structures/builds? I am asking because I have noticed that people of the same height and weight can appear entirely different in terms of whether they appear healthy/thin/chubby etc. For example, when I am at the bottom of the weight range for my height, I become very bony and can see my ribs/hipbones, but someone else the same height and weight will look fairly healthy.
Yes...this is one of the reasons there is a range.
My wife is 5'2" - 5'3" and has a larger, athletic build with a decent amount of muscle mass. Her sweet spot is 125-130 Lbs...she pretty much looks like she's back in her college soccer playing days at that weight. 130-135 she just looks a little softer.
I've never seen her below about 125...she could probably manage 120 or so and still maintain a fit and athletic look, but she'd be super lean...but she's not petite so I'd imagine she would start looking rather ill below 120...0 -
I definitely think so. When I was near the top of the healthy BMI range for my height, I was clearly overweight. I look and feel my best around 20 and below.0
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BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
I am glad you think so. My mother was really unhappy and worried when she saw me recently and my boyfriend thinks I have 'gone too far' and two trainers have now told me that I am underweight for my build. Admittedly, my BMI did hit 18.4 this weekend past, but yes, I do still have some muscle. I guess I just don't have much fat. I have not bothered to ask anyone what my bodyfat is currently.0 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
I am glad you think so. My mother was really unhappy and worried when she saw me recently and my boyfriend thinks I have 'gone too far' and two trainers have now told me that I am underweight for my build. Admittedly, my BMI did hit 18.4 this weekend past, but yes, I do still have some muscle. I guess I just don't have much fat. I have not bothered to ask anyone what my bodyfat is currently.
Are you trying to lose weight?1 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
I am glad you think so. My mother was really unhappy and worried when she saw me recently and my boyfriend thinks I have 'gone too far' and two trainers have now told me that I am underweight for my build. Admittedly, my BMI did hit 18.4 this weekend past, but yes, I do still have some muscle. I guess I just don't have much fat. I have not bothered to ask anyone what my bodyfat is currently.
Are you trying to lose weight?
Not currently, just trying to stay the same weight. I think it is more that I have lost 14Ibs since earlier this year and have a history of anorexia in my past, so my mother worries a lot.0 -
Not trying to be mean, but I think your mum, boyfriend and ex-trainers have good reason to worry. In the nicest possible way, you need to regain some of that weight.13
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Nony_Mouse wrote: »Not trying to be mean, but I think your mum, boyfriend and ex-trainers have good reason to worry. In the nicest possible way, you need to regain some of that weight.
I have to cosign this. Losses at this point mean loss of lean mass as there's nowhere else for it to come from. I'd be concerned too, 14lbs is a lot on an already small person.8 -
VintageFeline wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »Not trying to be mean, but I think your mum, boyfriend and ex-trainers have good reason to worry. In the nicest possible way, you need to regain some of that weight.
I have to cosign this. Losses at this point mean loss of lean mass as there's nowhere else for it to come from. I'd be concerned too, 14lbs is a lot on an already small person.
Especially over the course of 10 months, when it's drawing the person into an underweight territory.3 -
I'm 5'10" and have very wide hips.
To give you an idea of my "frame size," when I was pregnant with my first kid, a lot of people didn't realize I was pregnant until I was 7 months along. Not because I was already fat, but because I really didn' t show, because he didn't need to stick out.
With kid #2, the midwife underestimated her birthweight by over a pound based on how big *I* was. I was still hiking and could touch my toes and fasten my own shoes, because the kid pretty much fit *inside* my skeleton and didn't have to stick out very much.2 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Yes of course. That's why there is a range. I look healthy and fit at the top of the BMI range (160) where smaller built women would not. I have broad shoulders, big hips, a big rib cage, a big head, big hands, etc. I haven't been at the bottom (128) ever but I don't think I would look healthy at all.
And I'm totally the opposite. Well, I do have wide shoulders, but narrow hip width and no breasts (mastectomies). I look best - not bony or skinny - near the low end of the BMI range (19-20). I was noticeably fat near the top end.
I haven't seen a simple frame-classification method that's anything but nonsense yet, but there are definitely meaningful differences in people's configurations.
I have fairly broad shoulders also, but even when I was once underweight, my hips did not get that small, and are currently 34". My body, in the past, tended to settle at a BMI of around 20, but am currently 18.5-18.7. Although not underweight by BMI standards, a few people, including a trainer, have said I am underweight, so I am assuming it is due to my having a fair amount of muscle. I wish there was a way to gauge, beyond how you feel and how you look, the best weight as an individual.
You know that most people consider 34" hips small, right? And at 18.5-18.7, yes, you're right on the edge of being underweight.
It might be worth listening to your trainer, and others around you. Body dysmorphia is a beast, and another b word. Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in that that we can't see what's the reality.
This^^
Being on the edge of underweight, and having a "fair amount of muscle" doesnt really make sense. Muscle mass will make you heavier for your size, and your bmi would be higher than expected if that were the case.
It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I would just like to say that I absolutely adore your phone case!!3 -
Yeah, has to do with muscle mass to body fat ratio, fat distribution, and ethnicity & age.0
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beckkkahhhx3 wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
I am glad you think so. My mother was really unhappy and worried when she saw me recently and my boyfriend thinks I have 'gone too far' and two trainers have now told me that I am underweight for my build. Admittedly, my BMI did hit 18.4 this weekend past, but yes, I do still have some muscle. I guess I just don't have much fat. I have not bothered to ask anyone what my bodyfat is currently.
You have an eating disorder and are purging daily. Please take this into account and realize how unhealthy that is. They have good reason to be worried. I don't mean to be a pain, I am just trying to put things into perspective because you seem to think there is nothing to be worried about. Purging daily is probably the reason you look so unhealthy to them and it is a good thing they are worried for your health and mentality. Have you considered therapy for your eating disorder?
I didn't realize she had an eating disorder and was purging but yes you are right that changes everything. I am so sorry you are struggling graelyn. I hope you are okay. I know ED are more mental than physical, but the physical can show the mental state and you do not look too good. Therapy can really help. My sister had an ED and was against therapy for years but finally we pushed her into trying it and she has found it immensely helpful.5 -
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I had not anticipated my admission in another thread being raised in this old thread, but thank you for the concern nevertheless.
The purging issue has really arisen since I posted this. Until that point it had not been an issue and started up soon after this post. I find it quite embarrassing to still periodically struggle with ED nonsense at my age, after so many decades since my original anorexia struck. I mean, to my mind, I should have gotten over this long, long ago. Granted, I have never received any therapy specifically for this as the focus was always placed on my myriad other issues and the ED stuff took a back seat,so I have trucked along and just accepted the periodic relapses into disordered thinking/eating, and usually managed to pull myself back up before things became too bad. My weight has, since I posted the images here, dropped down to 123 Ibs which isn't drastically underweight but has pulled my BMI down to 18. I do not purge constantly. It is generally once a day that I have a minor binge and purge, in the evening. I seem to have developed an aversion to feeling full, whereas before, in the past, I was quite happy to eat a large meal in the evening and do the whole IF thing. I am trying to work out a way around this, by eating smaller amounts at more regular intervals.
I am still managing the gym fine. The main issue I am struggling with is getting cold easily now. I am sure my brain will kick into the right gear again at some point soon... I am hoping so, anyway as at 42, I am far too old to be sliding down this rabbit hole again. I am seeing someone weekly now, but she is just a social worker because apparently, you have to wait anything up to a year to get to see anyone focused on mental health issues here. She is aware of the situation with my ED.1 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »I had not anticipated my admission in another thread being raised in this old thread, but thank you for the concern nevertheless.
The purging issue has really arisen since I posted this. Until that point it had not been an issue and started up soon after this post. I find it quite embarrassing to still periodically struggle with ED nonsense at my age, after so many decades since my original anorexia struck. I mean, to my mind, I should have gotten over this long, long ago. Granted, I have never received any therapy specifically for this as the focus was always placed on my myriad other issues and the ED stuff took a back seat,so I have trucked along and just accepted the periodic relapses into disordered thinking/eating, and usually managed to pull myself back up before things became too bad. My weight has, since I posted the images here, dropped down to 123 Ibs which isn't drastically underweight but has pulled my BMI down to 18. I do not purge constantly. It is generally once a day that I have a minor binge and purge, in the evening. I seem to have developed an aversion to feeling full, whereas before, in the past, I was quite happy to eat a large meal in the evening and do the whole IF thing. I am trying to work out a way around this, by eating smaller amounts at more regular intervals.
I am still managing the gym fine. The main issue I am struggling with is getting cold easily now. I am sure my brain will kick into the right gear again at some point soon... I am hoping so, anyway as at 42, I am far too old to be sliding down this rabbit hole again. I am seeing someone weekly now, but she is just a social worker because apparently, you have to wait anything up to a year to get to see anyone focused on mental health issues here. She is aware of the situation with my ED.
You don't have to feel embarrassed. Many many people still struggle with EDs until the day they die. Once a day is quite a lot. I am so sorry you are struggling with this and I hope you can start to do better and not keep sliding downwards. I am glad you are seeing someone and hopefully she will be a bit helpful. That is ridiculous. Mental health should be just as easy to get access to as any other type of service. It makes me so mad when I hear how people who need help either have to pay ridiculous amount out of pocket or have to wait forever to be seen. Hope with the support of your family you can start to do better and gain back to a healthy weight but most importantly be okay with it and happy mentally.2 -
If age stopped us having issues that would be fabulous! But alas it doesn’t and there is no shame in knowing what your issue is and dealing with it. I am sure you are aware that exercise can be used in the same manner as other EDs. My beautiful cousin deals with Anerexia on top of a compulsive exercise problem that leaves her almost malnourished. If you are not fueling your workouts they will do pretty serious damage to your body. My suggestion though hard to hear would be take a break from all of it and let your body heal while you wait for counseling. Having an ED or any other mental disorder does not make you weak or ridiculous. It just means you have to focus on health first while your mind catches up with the program.1
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I'm currently overweight, a couple kg off normal bmi. My goal is 7-10kg less but if I start getting too skinny I will not push it. Bmi scale is not perfect.
This is taken yesterday.
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meganpettigrew86 wrote: »I'm currently overweight, a couple kg off normal bmi. My goal is 7-10kg less but if I start getting too skinny I will not push it. Bmi scale is not perfect.
This is taken yesterday.
WOW you definitely do not look overweight at all2 -
This post is all woo and is not coming from published studies, but...
I believe the physical appearance of a person probably has more to do with their non-skeletal lean body mass than it does with their bones. Most people judge the approximate 'fatness' of a person based on their facial tissues and visible muscular definition, as well as their torso shape than by what bone structure they have. This judgement also varies by gender as a relative fatness, rather than an absolute comparison.
I've noticed (anecdotally) that people that were obese in the past tend to have rib cages that stick out, but that they would shape inward over an amount of time ranging in years.
I've also noticed that people with broad shoulders and wide hips can avoid the appearance of obesity while accumulating body mass for much longer than those with narrow frames.
But that's just me.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I have a large frame http://www.myfooddiary.com/Resources/frame_size_calculator.asp and the only time I've had a BMI as low as 24 was after 6 weeks of undereating and overexercising during boot camp. When I first arrived there, I had to get boots and hats from the men's side of the uniforms room because there weren't any big enough in women's. At 5'6", I'm not especially tall.
I've always had a hard time buying bracelets. I wear men's shoes as often as I can get away with it.
My goal is to get back into my skinny jeans from when I was a full time yoga teacher, which will have me at a Low Overweight BMI, and I'm ok with that.
Thanks for this link. Even when I weigh a lot less than I do now, my frame is "broad." To the OP- I think your muscle composition matters, too. I have a body fat analysis done with calipers when I get closer to a healthy weight. 150 is a sustainable, healthy weight for me even though the BMI says that puts me at overweight. I do check in with a doctor when I'm making these decisions and if my body fat is still too high or I'm still too heavy according to a professional then I readjust my goals.1 -
I'm ditto on the 'everyone's different' bit. Heck, even at my lowest and with barely any fat on my torso, my waist was 28 inches... and I'm 5'5". With 34.5 hips at my lowest, it makes buying jeans a nightmare, either they fall off or I have a muffin top.
The 'finger around the wrist' thing is a lot of BS though - because you have thin wrists doesn't mean that you don't have a large torso, and what about hand size?
And just look at the Rock vs Tom Hiddleston... enough said.0 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »Graelwyn75 wrote: »It is what my ex trainer said recently. By fair amount, I mean that I have little body fat but have retained muscle from the training I used to do(when my current profile picture was actually current), not that I have lots of prominent muscles. I suppose a few recent photographs might better illustrate what I mean by that. I don't mean I have lots of muscle. I mean that most of what I do have left now is muscle ? But your view may differ.
I don't think you look "unhealthy" in those pictures. However you might look a little more "healthy" with a few extra pounds of fat. And I think your muscles look great.
I am glad you think so. My mother was really unhappy and worried when she saw me recently and my boyfriend thinks I have 'gone too far' and two trainers have now told me that I am underweight for my build. Admittedly, my BMI did hit 18.4 this weekend past, but yes, I do still have some muscle. I guess I just don't have much fat. I have not bothered to ask anyone what my bodyfat is currently.
Listen to your mum, boyfriend and trainers @Graelwyn75 ...0
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