So tell us...is being skinny worth it?

glenelliott5872

then- BMI 32 = sleep disorder, bad snoring, constant tiredness, no fitness, bad indigestions, regularly feeling low

now - BMI 25 = no sleep problems, no snoring , able to run 10k, just cycled over 60 miles, no indigestion problems, much happier

it is so worth it.

poohbah4

I don't know about being skinny, but being a fit, healthy weight is certainly worth it. I got a weight-related health scare 6 months ago, which fortunately turned out to be a false alarm, but it made me look my mortality in the face and begin a weight loss program.

NextPage

Maybe all the name calling should stop - is calling other women "skeletons" kind?

sparklelioness

I am definitely happier. Is life perfect - no. I still get sad about any problems I might have. But I never feel less happy because of how I eat now. I've learned how to make meals that taste good and keep me within my calorie goals, so it's not like I"m walking around wishing I could eat this or that or feeling deprived. And one day a week is splurge day and I eat what I want. That's what works for me.

If I hadn't lost the weight though, I'd still be in an unhappy relationship, I wouldn't have met the great guy who's in my life now, I wouldn't have had the confidence to change my life. I can go on amusement park rides now. I can hop over puddles instead of having to walk around them. I can walk around the park/mall/wherever for hours and not get tired and out of breath. I could go on and on - there are so many ways my life is better now.

But I want to stress that it's not an either/or thing. It's not "either I can enjoy food or be fit". You can do both - I do

tmgmcg

It is worth it. I have struggled with weight my whole life. There were times where I gave in and said, I'm just going to be happy with myself and quit worrying about it. I wasn't happy. About 4 years ago I lost 70 lbs. I felt better than ever. I was healthy, felt so confident and I did not miss what I wasn't eating. I totally enjoyed working out. I got off track when my mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness, stopped working out and slowly put 20 lbs back on. Not happy with that, so, it's coming back off. I just finally made the first bit of progress and it feels good. It is so worth it.

ShellyBell999

Loni Love called me a skinny ***** at the improve the other night :bigsmile:

It was worth it :drinker:

nicolemontagna22

I used to think that way on weight watchers because I was always hungry. But when I signed up here I felt like I was allowed alot of food. And if there is something I want -like to enjoy a piece of bday cake or a Chinese buffet" I will save some calories for it during the week. Maybe trim 50 off one day 60 off another day and give myself a bigger calorie goal on the day I wanted "enjoy life" with food. And I need feel deprived

Isakizza

I'm far from skinny and doubt I really want to be classified as "skinny" BUT.... as far as where I am now, it's totally worth it! Would never want to be as unhealthy and overweight as I was.

Food is good, but not good enough to stay miserable in my own skin.

ereck44

I feel so much better now than I did a couple of years ago--so yes, taking the weight off is worth it. I still am able to eat a piece of cake or a few cookies--so I am good. NOT skinny yet. Just want to be at a healthy weight and fitness level.

Really your friend sounds like a food addict. If you replace the word food with cigarettes, then
it is the same kind of addictive mentality. And some people are happier with indulging their habit. Sorry to hear that your friend has chosen
"fat".

AshwinA7

I don't feel particularly great after having lost a lot of weight (I still have some left to lose). Whatever problems existed prior are still there, but I do know that I never, ever want to be that weight again (unless its all muscle). The other day, I was looking through some old pictures and it was disgusting how fat I was back then. That part makes me feel good.

I'm not exhausted walking up stairs, I can run a mile without being winded where previously it destroyed me. Diabetes runs in my family, so I have a pretty good chance of avoiding that now.

There are lots of good reasons to be fit but a low number on the scale will not heal an already wounded self-esteem.

allana1111

There is a lot more to enjoy in life than food.

Aside from sex, not really.

this

benniesmother

to me, it's not about "being skinny", it's about having a healthy and active lifestyle. I revamped my entire way of life. I used to reward myself with unhealthy food, and lots of it. while it tastes good, it also made me feel like a bag of ****. I couldn't get off the couch because I had ZERO energy, I didn't ever want to go out, and I stopped caring about how I looked because I felt bad emotionally and physically.

now adays, I take care of myself in all regards as best I can. I still eat what I want, but I have learned
1) portion control and 2) not to reward myself with food.

If I want a burger, I'm gunna have a burger. If I want cake, I'm gunna have the cake. however, I have learned to budget into my day and I eat a BALANCED diet. I eat healthy as often as possible, but there are no foods that I am "not allowed" to eat. when I want or crave something, I have it.

also, I feel that my life has drastically IMPROVED since I've begun to eat healthy, exercise, and take care of myself. I am not missing out on anything, because I allow myself to indulge when I want to.

It drives me crazy when people see me eating fast food, or something unhealthy and say "oh I wish I could eat like that and stay thin like you do!".

that's just my 2 cents.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

IslandSeeker

I truly believe it is up to the individual what aspects of him/herself make them happy. I got fat when I returned to college full time & worked 40 hours a week. I felt much healthier back then (pre-fat) but I am happier now (even with wanting to lose a significant amount of weight). I think assessing what is really important to you is the only way to determine if losing weight, and then keeping it off, is going to make all your dreams come true (or at the very least help you feel happy while you complete your goals).

One thing you may want to consider is if your goal weight is realistic for your body type, lifestyle, etc, etc. You may want to consider upping the goal to account for some things (like muscles & a tone body!

MelsAuntie

If you really mean SKINNY, then NO. It's unhealthy and horrible. I have a friend who is about 5 feet 5 and weighs at most 100 lbs. She has no strength, no resistance, gets sick all the time, has no stamina, and looks like a bundle of sticks. She hates it, but can't gain weight no matter what she eats. Doesn't help that she smokes like a chimney, too. We were co-workers, and I could work rings around this girl. She couldn't wrestle a thirty pound package into her mail car.

Ok... I get that some people aren't into the term of "skinny" or what that means. Completely understandable, especially if you do a lot of strength training and are very into fitness.

What I don't get is "thin-shaming". Your friend may not be healthy (which is unfortunate), but that doesn't excuse you saying that she "looks like a bundle of sticks". You even said she can't gain wait and does try to do so. Why insult her body? Would you want her insulting yours?

*edited for typos
[/quote





I wouldn't say it to her face, I didn't name her, and she will never see this post, so what difference does it make? This is NOT "shaming", it's a fair and accurate description, especially of the health issues of being so thin. She HERSELF says she looks like a bundle of sticks. Lighten up, chill out .]

ccf_trainer

Trust me when I say no one wants to be skinny. Skinny is unattractive. If anything, the main goal is to be healthy. You want to be healthy overall, regardless of how much you weigh, as long as you have a normal BMI and normal body fat percentage. Skinny is not only unattractive, it is very unhealthy. So, my answer is no. Being skinny is not worth it.

in_the_stars

Trust me when I say no one wants to be skinny. Skinny is unattractive. If anything, the main goal is to be healthy. You want to be healthy overall, regardless of how much you weigh, as long as you have a normal BMI and normal body fat percentage. Skinny is not only unattractive, it is very unhealthy. So, my answer is no. Being skinny is not worth it.

So... VS models are unattractive?

Ely82010

Trust me when I say no one wants to be skinny. Skinny is unattractive. If anything, the main goal is to be healthy. You want to be healthy overall, regardless of how much you weigh, as long as you have a normal BMI and normal body fat percentage. Skinny is not only unattractive, it is very unhealthy. So, my answer is no. Being skinny is not worth it.

Don't be silly please. Many "skinny" people (what ever that means), have normal BMI and low body fat. Skinny (again, what ever that means), doesn't equal abnormal or unattractive or unhealthy.

BinaryPulsar

Trust me when I say no one wants to be skinny. Skinny is unattractive. If anything, the main goal is to be healthy. You want to be healthy overall, regardless of how much you weigh, as long as you have a normal BMI and normal body fat percentage. Skinny is not only unattractive, it is very unhealthy. So, my answer is no. Being skinny is not worth it.

Don't be silly please. Many "skinny" people (what ever that means), have normal BMI and low body fat. Skinny (again, what ever that means), doesn't equal abnormal or unattractive or unhealthy.

Yep and strong.

in_the_stars

The last 2 posts are perfect.

SomeNights246

I think it depends on your mind frame.

I think a lot of people go into it, expecting themselves to magically be happy once they hit a certain number. That's bad. That encourages disordered thinking and low self esteem. Because once you hit that number, it either won't be enough or you'll be so stressed about staying there that you'll lose your sense of living life to the fullest. You shouldn't go into it thinking "I want to be skinny so I can wear 'x' without looking like 'x'" or "I want to be skinny so I can be happy".

Our society puts too much emphasis on being 'happy' with our weight. This is backwards, if you ask me. It encourages disordered thinking. It does two things: It either encourages people to want to lose weight for superficial reasons, or (in your friend's case) encourages them to accept their unhealthy lifestyle because 'at least they're living'. I have, too often, seen overweight people brag about how they are happy because they can eat a box of Ho Ho's and not have to worry about weight. This line of thinking isn't any better than thinking "I'll be happy when I only weigh 'x'".

I always tell people... don't think of it as a diet. That implies that you have to change everything. It has negative attachments to the word. Think of it as a lifestyle change. You don't have to stop eating 'x' just because you want to lose weight. When you lose weight, don't think about losing weight. Think about getting healthy. If you're healthy when you're overweight (and contrary to belief, some people ARE), that's fine. If you're healthy at a BMI of 25, don't sweat it. And don't always even listen to the doctor. My sister was told she should lose weight until she's 115 lbs. This is bloody ridiculous. She wasn't 115 even at her smallest weight. She was 115 in middle school. One should NOT be told to strive for their middle school body. There is an unhealthy obsession with weight. With being skinny or, on the opposite side of the coin, 'curvy'. People too often lose sight about what's most important: eating simply to survive and exercising because being sedentary isn't good for anyone.

NicholasTan93

TRUST ME IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT! i lost 23 kilos and it was the best thing ive done in my life, u get much more confident and will make you so happy with living life, i even met my gf after i got fit, something im pretty sure wouldnt have happened if i was still the lazy fat guy who did nothing but eat and eat :laugh:

larrodarro

I'm not skinny, being 180 pounds at 5' 11". But the 60 pounds I have lost has been worth the effort it took. I have more energy and find myself spending less time in front of this keyboard, which is a good thing. As far as being happy, that is a whole other thing. When I was young, and truly skinny, I had a period of my life when I was depressed. It had nothing to do with weight, but more to do with bad relationships and bad decisions. And when I was at 250 pounds a few years ago, I was happy. The one should have nothing to do with the other. Your job, your friends, your family, your marriage, your economic situation and your health are all things that can make you happy or unhappy. But your weight should only be a concern as how it relates to your health.

HopeNShelton

Be careful what you say because apparently someone on here has an issue with certain posts. Everyone have a great Sunday morning. :ohwell:

in_the_stars

Be careful what you say because apparently someone on here has an issue with certain posts. Everyone have a great Sunday morning. :ohwell:

yes, many do not like hearing " only dogs like bones". Especially from a young women that had gastric bypass surgery.

sazrina

Not sure than I'm skinny but I think I'm slim now UK size 8/10 and I've never felt better, my confidence has increased so much. I exercise a lot so I can still enjoy curry, pasta, chocolate, wine all the good things in life but in moderation and I make sensible choices most of the time. I find the more I get into exercise the more I want to make better food choices and I now realise how much exercise I need to do to burn some foods off. I've lost 17 pounds in total and dropped 2 dress sizes but I've also improved my fitness massively, I've got from couch potato to being able to run 10 miles. It's the best thing I've ever done.

RaquellJefferson

This is really a good question and something I have asked myself. Is it worth it to work a workout into an already tight schedule and to not have a huge latte when I am tired and my day has been crap... but to me it is. It is not about thin or skinny it is about healthy. I have lost 16lbs so far and life is easier. I can get in and out of the car easier, I can walk up and down stairs without being winded, I don't have to worry if my belly is poking our or how bad my back fat looks, I don't have to worry about my blood work.. I know everything is just fine because I have done the work.

My goal is to live the best life I can to the fullest and choosing to be overweight is just going to limit me and be one more thing to cramp my journey. So its totally worth it to me!!

xochristianna

One thing I wanted to point out here (and if someone said it already, I apologize) is that food is fuel. We are the only creatures in the world who eat for "fun". This is how I try to approach my healthy lifestyle...

You have to eat to get your body to do all the things you want it to do. Forming an emotional attachment to food, especially wherein you sacrifice other things (your body), to enjoy it is unhealthy to me.

Whenever I want to have a giant bowl of ice cream or a giant slice of cake, I have to think to myself "Will putting this in to my body fuel me for what I want to do in the next hour/day/year?" That really helps me put things in perspective.

However, the fact of the matter is that our society does make it seem like eating should have an emotional attachment. We go out for drinks to celebrate the end of the week, go out to dinner when we make new friends, have birthday cake when we celebrate birthdays...so I'm not saying you should NEVER enjoy these things, but day to day, just remember "Food is fuel."

kateangel2312

I don't know, am I classed as skinny ?

AglaeaC

One thing I wanted to point out here (and if someone said it already, I apologize) is that food is fuel. We are the only creatures in the world who eat for "fun". This is how I try to approach my healthy lifestyle...

You have to eat to get your body to do all the things you want it to do. Forming an emotional attachment to food, especially wherein you sacrifice other things (your body), to enjoy it is unhealthy to me.

Whenever I want to have a giant bowl of ice cream or a giant slice of cake, I have to think to myself "Will putting this in to my body fuel me for what I want to do in the next hour/day/year?" That really helps me put things in perspective.

However, the fact of the matter is that our society does make it seem like eating should have an emotional attachment. We go out for drinks to celebrate the end of the week, go out to dinner when we make new friends, have birthday cake when we celebrate birthdays...so I'm not saying you should NEVER enjoy these things, but day to day, just remember "Food is fuel."

Good for you for having found what works for you. I will never feel bad about a glass of wine or a slice of cake or a tub of ice cream. Yes, they contain energy. Yes, I can handle that in a healthy way now.