Skinny Fat - Enlighten Me Please
Replies
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My understanding is this. There is this number that the health industry uses to evaluate your health based on your weight called BMI. BMI only takes into account your gender, your height and your weight and is based off population averages.
A person with very high muscle mass but low bodyfat will appear to be overweight by BMI where a person with very low muscle mass but high bodyfat could appear to be in a healthy weight range.
The latter is what has been termed "skinny fat". You actually have an unhealthy amount of bodyfat but your muscle mass is so low that you appear to be at a healthy weight.
A person who is skinny-fat can resolve the issue best not by trying to diet with a large calorie deficit but instead eating at maintenance or above and trying to build up some muscle THEN try to lose the fat later after building up muscle.0 -
Thank you all SO much! When I last weighed myself, before I started my diet (I refuse to weigh again till August), the scale said my body fat is 24.2% and muscle mass is 23.3%. Does that classify me as skinny fat?
You can't rely on the scales for the body fat measurements.
How do you feel? Would you like to be firmer? Same weight but tighter, smaller waist, rounder booty? More energy, tighter and glowing skin, stronger bone density and able to eat a bit more without gaining?
Lifting will do that for you.
^Agree about not relying on the scale to measure body fat %.
Here's a link with a great breakdown in regards to methods of body fat estimation
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/830595-body-fat-estimation-methods0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Thanks for illustrating my point of how skinny fat is used to pick on women's body's. I know plenty of lifters who also happen to have a little cellulite.0 -
It's often used as a derogatory term, sometimes through envy.
Really?
I must be using a bad definition. I thought it was a term for those who were at a healthy weight but who had a relatively high BF%/low muscle mass. There is nothing envious about this situation. It's arguably one of the the most difficult situations from which to make noticeable progress.0 -
Not me- but this is what I think of skinny fat. Small shoulders, wide hips, lots of fat gained goes to love handles0
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To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Thanks for illustrating my point of how skinny fat is used to pick on women's body's. I know plenty of lifters who also happen to have a little cellulite.
Agreed!0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
Thaaaaat's what this is? I don't get what you're disagreeing about? lol0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Thanks for illustrating my point of how skinny fat is used to pick on women's body's. I know plenty of lifters who also happen to have a little cellulite.
Nobody mentioned cellulite, least of all me. Calm down.0 -
I will lift til the day I die! I'm 43 and feel 23. I'm fighting gorgeous young men off with sticks! Haha!
:noway: :noway: :noway: :grumble: :grumble: :grumble:
*note to self, never approach her, you will get beaten*
Of course I ain't young though
Puts stick down.
How yoooooo doing?
Oh....Hello There....
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: 
0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
Thaaaaat's what this is? I don't get what you're disagreeing about? lol
I don't see either of those pictures as showing a high amount/percentage of body fat.0 -
To answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
Thaaaaat's what this is? I don't get what you're disagreeing about? lol
I don't see either of those pictures as showing a high amount/percentage of body fat.
My understanding is, it's not necessarily high body fat, as much as it is a highER LBM:fat ratio. I'm starting to see it's a term that a lot of people seem to have differing opinions on the definition. Shrug. Take mine or leave it, folks. Makes little difference to me. :flowerforyou:0 -
/meanie pantsTo answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
I'm gonna disagree. The first woman's skin/fat is literally hanging off of her. She looks like she's got someone else's flesh hanging off if her bones, which seems a clear indicator of low muscle mass to me. She's not nothing giving her shape or...anything at all. Its just a empty flabby skin sack.
/meanie pants
But you know. As long as she's happy or whatever. I'm probably just picking on her because she weighs less.0 -
/meanie pantsTo answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
I'm gonna disagree. The first woman's skin/fat is literally hanging off of her. She looks like she's got someone else's flesh hanging off if her bones, which seems a clear indicator of low muscle mass to me. She's not nothing giving her shape or...anything at all. Its just a empty flabby skin sack.
/meanie pants
But you know. As long as she's happy or whatever. I'm probably just picking on her because she weighs less.
The first women looks like she's possibly running, I wouldn't think many body look great mid run. Regardless of that you really can't tell someones body fat percentage from a papped photo. The other women looks like Kate Moss who on no planet is "skinny fat".0 -
/meanie pantsTo answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
I'm gonna disagree. The first woman's skin/fat is literally hanging off of her. She looks like she's got someone else's flesh hanging off if her bones, which seems a clear indicator of low muscle mass to me. She's not nothing giving her shape or...anything at all. Its just a empty flabby skin sack.
/meanie pants
But you know. As long as she's happy or whatever. I'm probably just picking on her because she weighs less.
Naturally.
Seriously though, like I said, I could be wrong. From what I had read, that wasn't my interpretation. I am interested in the different opinions.0 -
/meanie pantsTo answer you question, these are examples of "skinny fat". These ladies are in no way overweight, but as you can see are severely lacking in muscle definition. This can be the result of eating at too-large of a calorie deficit, while not strength training to preserve muscle mass. The overall look is one of slightly saggy, droopy looking skin, with no firmness. That is what is meant by skinny fat. Hope that answers your question.
Now see I don't think that is an example of skinny fat. It is more like the poster above this one's example, bad lighting, bad positioning. They do lack muscle tone/have loose skin in the butt/legs but overall they do not look like they have a high percentage of bodyfat.
I could be wrong.
My understanding of skinny fat is a person is of normal weight with a high percentage of bodyfat.
I'm gonna disagree. The first woman's skin/fat is literally hanging off of her. She looks like she's got someone else's flesh hanging off if her bones, which seems a clear indicator of low muscle mass to me. She's not nothing giving her shape or...anything at all. Its just a empty flabby skin sack.
/meanie pants
But you know. As long as she's happy or whatever. I'm probably just picking on her because she weighs less.
The first women looks like she's possibly running, I wouldn't think many body look great mid run. Regardless of that you really can't tell someones body fat percentage from a papped photo. The other women looks like Kate Moss who on no planet is "skinny fat".
We'll have to agree to disagree. I see a woman walking on the beach who fits the markers of skinny fat for me. You see " well maybe she's running and anyway it's a bad picture."
That's cool.0 -
Springfield19, I have to say, if you're 40 something, you're looking amazing!
^^^^ what she said!0 -
This would be me, skinny fat
you dont' look remotely skinny-fat in either picture. you look like you have a reasonable amount of lean mass and a healthy body fat percentage... maybe more fat than you want and less muscle than you want, but you look like you have enough muscle under the fat to not be skinny-fat.
My thoughts exactly. If that is skinny fat, I am doomed.0 -
This would be me, skinny fat
you dont' look remotely skinny-fat in either picture. you look like you have a reasonable amount of lean mass and a healthy body fat percentage... maybe more fat than you want and less muscle than you want, but you look like you have enough muscle under the fat to not be skinny-fat.
My thoughts exactly. If that is skinny fat, I am doomed.
I could be wrong, but I think those are before and after photos. Maybe the OP can clear that up..?0 -
Va Beach eh? The statue behind ya gives it away I think.
This would be me, skinny fat
I wouldnt consider this an good example. the first pic is a bit harder to see, but the second one you can see you have some muscular tone in the arms. Guys who are skinny fat look like they need their sister to open a can of pickles!0 -
:laugh: :laugh:
Yep.
Va. Beach.
Nice living near the beach0 -
Brother was stationed there for awhile in the Teams. Had some pretty intense workouts at Mt Trashmore!:laugh: :laugh:
Yep.
Va. Beach.
Nice living near the beach0 -
I had never heard the term skinny fat till I joined MFP in June. By now, I have seen numerous posts with reference to skinny fat, yet nothing to clue me in to what that term actually means. I must be the only one who doesn't know! Does it mean fat in some areas on an otherwise thin person? A person who is a small size due to a small bone structure, but carries a lot of fat? I have no idea what it means. I don't like being clueless-- I feel out of the loop! Am I skinny fat?
Hi! You're awesome! (I read your profile). Lifting doesn't mean you'll get muscley, you can always stop when you feel it's gone far enough.
What it will do is give you great posture, strength, a great booty, lovely curves and growth hormones. It basically turns the clock back.
I will lift til the day I die! I'm 43 and feel 23. I'm fighting gorgeous young men off with sticks! Haha!
Hi. I read your profile too and couldn't agree with Springfield more. You are, indeed, awesome
I agree that lifting would help you get where you want to be too. And you'd only get all muscley if you eat like a horse or start injecting steroids. It has great benefits - I just helped my mum get started and she's cursing me for her sore quads but loving the new challenge. I'd been at her for ages but it's only her recent diagnosis of the onset of osteoporosis that got her out into the garage with me.
Women's bone density starts deteriorating from as early as 35 so anything we've got in the arsenal we should use. I also feel 20 years younger since starting - not as hot as Springfield yet but getting there.
And no, I don't think you're 'skinny fat' at 24% bf. for a female that's just about perfect (jealous actually, I'm sitting at 29ish%).0 -
Brother was stationed there for awhile in the Teams. Had some pretty intense workouts at Mt Trashmore!:laugh: :laugh:
Yep.
Va. Beach.
Nice living near the beach
Great place to do it at....
I enjoy taking my kids over there to play.
They have put in a nice playground area for the kids...
As well as bike and skateboard ramps0 -
I had never heard the term skinny fat till I joined MFP in June. By now, I have seen numerous posts with reference to skinny fat, yet nothing to clue me in to what that term actually means. I must be the only one who doesn't know! Does it mean fat in some areas on an otherwise thin person? A person who is a small size due to a small bone structure, but carries a lot of fat? I have no idea what it means. I don't like being clueless-- I feel out of the loop! Am I skinny fat?
Hi! You're awesome! (I read your profile). Lifting doesn't mean you'll get muscley, you can always stop when you feel it's gone far enough.
What it will do is give you great posture, strength, a great booty, lovely curves and growth hormones. It basically turns the clock back.
I will lift til the day I die! I'm 43 and feel 23. I'm fighting gorgeous young men off with sticks! Haha!
Hi. I read your profile too and couldn't agree with Springfield more. You are, indeed, awesome
I agree that lifting would help you get where you want to be too. And you'd only get all muscley if you eat like a horse or start injecting steroids. It has great benefits - I just helped my mum get started and she's cursing me for her sore quads but loving the new challenge. I'd been at her for ages but it's only her recent diagnosis of the onset of osteoporosis that got her out into the garage with me.
Women's bone density starts deteriorating from as early as 35 so anything we've got in the arsenal we should use. I also feel 20 years younger since starting - not as hot as Springfield yet but getting there.
And no, I don't think you're 'skinny fat' at 24% bf. for a female that's just about perfect (jealous actually, I'm sitting at 29ish%).
Ok,
Just read the "About Me" as well....I like it...
But #3 though???:noway: :noway: :noway: :huh: :huh: :grumble: :grumble:
Come on.....:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
I very much appreciate everyone's replies to my post! Skinny fat is a whole new concept to me that I knew nothing about, not even what the term meant, much less what it looks like--I think I'd recognize it on people if I saw it on them now. I am indeed enlightened, thank you all! I don't think I am thin enough to be classified as skinny fat-- but if I dropped down to like 100 pounds or so, (I am 5' 3 1/2") I almost surely would be skinny fat! But my goal is 112, because I want to be slender not skinny.
I feel I should address the exercise issue, considering that several people have offered suggestions to me along those lines. And I appreciate your advice to me.
I am vanity-driven, and I have always found it easy to diet and lose weight quickly. Don't get me wrong- I like to eat, same as everyone does; however, my vanity is much more powerful than my appetite. I have always avoided exercise, even as a child. These are my 3 issues with exercise:
1) I concede that it is possible that my figure could be improved by exercise. I am not convinced that it is likely. And I do not believe that any improvement could be enough of a transformation that I wouldn't still need plastic surgery.
2) After reading y'all's posts, I asked myself-- for the first time EVER-- what IF exercise could result in a 100% restoration of the figure I had before menopause? And I came to the conclusion that my immense vanity is even less powerful than my aversion to exercise. Exercise is torture to me. And it makes me agitated and hostile-- I am told this is "adrenaline."
3)I then asked myself, what IF I decided to subject myself to the intense agony that is exercise? The unavoidable answer to that question is this: I would be physically incapable of it! It's like, I love cigarettes. I know they will probably shorten my life. Do I WANT to quit? No, because I enjoy them too much. But if I ask myself, COULD I quit smoking? I don't believe I could. And to complete the analogy, I must add this: to be physically capable of exercise would be even less likely for me than to be able to quit cigarettes.0
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