I don't look the weight I am?

dave_in_ni

Can anyone tell me why this would be as its something I've always had an issue with. I'm 6ft 173lbs. Having a conversation with a work colleague during the week and he said he weighed himself the previous night and he was 177lbs. Now the guy is roughly 5'5 or. He doesn't work out or anything and just looks average, I'd say roughly 15% bf.

I told him my weight and he didn't believe me, none of my colleagues did so off we trotted to the parcel postage scales and jumped on, Fully clothed I was 175lbs he was 179lbs, I was actually the lightest out of the 6 of us. I do get what they were getting at though as I don't look the weight I am, They question is why would this be?

I think with most folk fat etc is evenly distributed over there body, with me though my limbs are anorexic with most of the fat being in my belly and chest which in a t-shirt makes me look pudgy which probably makes me look fatter than I actually am.

TavistockToad

Just for clarification, you think people think you look heavier than you are?

Pictures may be useful...?

100_PROOF_

I might be misunderstanding your question. Was your question- why do people think I am lighter than what I am? Or why am I lighter than my coworkers?

collectingblues

If I'm reading you right, you're saying that your colleagues think you're heavier than you actually are.

Which... Well, pissing contests can be weird.

But you've had a history of pretty extreme methods for weight loss, right?

Probably a muscle-related thing. It's not "skinny fat" -- largely because I hate that term -- but you haven't focused enough on training and keeping your muscles.

sardelsa

Body composition will have a huge effect. The amount of muscle mass you have can make you look heavier vs leaner than you are. I have photos of myself at a lower weight but high bodyfat, vs 15lb heavier now where I actually look much leaner .. all due to body composition changes (more muscle).

dave_in_ni

TavistockToad wrote: »

Just for clarification, you think people think you look heavier than you are?

Pictures may be useful...?

Just the one

dave_in_ni

collectingblues wrote: »

If I'm reading you right, you're saying that your colleagues think you're heavier than you actually are.

Which... Well, pissing contests can be weird.

But you've had a history of pretty extreme methods for weight loss, right?

Probably a muscle-related thing. It's not "skinny fat" -- largely because I hate that term -- but you haven't focused enough on training and keeping your muscles.

True, I didn't have a clue what I was doing and by the time I caught on the damage was already done.

100_PROOF_

Maybe begin a progressive lifting program

mywayroche

Genetics play a large part in the number of muscle fibers that you're born with. If you and some random guy never hit the gym yet you have different body compositions then it's not necessarily your fault. On the other hand, if it really bothers you, there's nothing stopping you from body building either.

lorrpb

The answer is simple. You don’t look the weight people think you are because they dont have accurate perceptions of what that weight looks like on different people. You are the weight you are, that’s a fact, so it’s them who are in error. There’s nothing wrong with you!