Question for those who don't want to be ripped.

rsalty

My apologies. I read it that way in the OP because I don't understand how someone who was in the best shape of their life previously would want to settle for less later in life.

You're not alone.

There's a lot of people who's "best shape ever" has been mild enough to make that true (noting that "mild" here might mean "only" lifting 2x bodyweight, or only carrying 15 extra kilos while running 6-minute miles ($%^# college commute-by-panic) - it can still be pretty intense), and I suspect that's why the OP's looking for people who can identify with her goals. People who no longer have jobs/lives where being maximally fit in some particular way is part of the job description. "Maximal fitness" can go *way* beyond healthy: that's part of why the Olympic and military training centers tend to have a larger than normal concentration of person repair facilities.

It's also a major time sink at a certain level and hard to combine with non-athletic goals at a certain point. If I understand correctly, the squad my girlfriend used to swim with broke apart when they hit that point, because only some of them were really trying for the Olympic team, and the others decided that other goals were more important and needed the additional 15 hours per week that the next level would call for. None have actually "gone soft", but some went a lot harder on the swimming part of life (and, again counting on second-hand recollection, one actually did make the team).

despise the term "skinny fat" . To me it implies oh you're slim, but not really into your health. It's insulting no matter how it is phrased. It's a way of shaming someone still.

I *think* that's an ego defense mechanism from the high BMI muscle mass crowd (the "heavy fit") to all of the articles that focus on BMI and tell them they're gonna die just because of a height/weight ratio. They don't want to consider the choice of "skinny fit", since they really do not have that goal at all. I just read it as a flag for "power/bulk advice to follow, do not use for endurance situations".

neandermagnon

Don't worry - no one gets ripped by accident.

I was using "ripped" as an expression. As I was pretty "ripped" before I know it doesn't happen by accident. I am not worried about suddenly waking up with 8 pack abs. I was simply feeling out to see if there were others like me: Not training for anything, just getting healthier.

I understand what you mean, and I think everyone on the forum is so used to people who don't want to (add exercise here) in case they get "too bulky/ripped/(add adjective here)" that a lot of people have interpreted your question as similar to that.

Yes there are loads of people here that are just here to get healthy. Do what exercise you enjoy, eat what you enjoy within your calorie limit while getting all the nutrition you need and that's all you need to do .... but i expect you know that already and are just looking for people with similar goals.

My goal's not about aesthetics either, I'm trying to get as strong as possible and I decided a while back I don't want my body fat percentage to go below 22% (according to accumeasure, Jackson pollack formula always measures a bit lower than accumeasure but the amount of bodyfat that I think is right for my body is the amount when accumeasure says 22%). So I'm lifting heavy and currently bulking to gain muscle, for strength, not aesthetics. at some point I might do a cut back to where accumeasure says 22%, or maybe I won't, it depends how I feel. But I get you re having a goal that's not about aesthetics. My main goal is about strength (i'd love love love to be able to deadlift 300lb+!!), and health goes hand in hand with strength, especially with regards to increasing bone density and maintaining muscle mass into old age, to prevent osteoporosis and mobility problems later in life.

sijomial

Before this exploded into a cat fight I thought it was an interesting question.

For me my goals are different from when I was at my peak but then again I'm a lot older, have more injuries and don't do the same sports.

Minimum is - to be "good shape for my age". Healthy and fit.
Aspiration is - to be in great shape. Healthy, very fit, at goal weight and have a good body composition.
A step too far - to be in exceptional shape and ripped. That's maybe beyond me anyway and I recognise I'm not prepared to make the sacrifices (diet, time, social life - probably surgery) I would need to to get to an elite level.

CoderGal

OP: I get what you're saying about not necessarily WANTING to put the work and effort into being superfit, and that is okay. Everyone has different goals. I will say that there are some great health benefits to resistance training that you should not ignore though especially for women who are aging and want to maintain good bone density, posture, and muscle tone. I think a healthy balance of cardiovascular and strength fitness should be also be a goal if you're going for "healthy" not just if you're going for "fit."

^beautiful