What's more important: Weight or Physique?

runnercheryl

I wouldn't say muscles are the only measure of health.

This is true but lean muscle mass controls almost everything in your body and if you concentrate on cutting fat, you will automatically lose the weight but the bigger thing is, you will lose inches faster at a moderate deficit and ST then just cutting weight.

Ah, but again this seems to be focusing on looks. It's not about the inches, to me. It will be once I'm at my healthy weight - THEN I'll let myself focus on deciding what I want to look like and seeing if it's worth developing my physique.

PLUMSGRL

Physique IS nice, but I'm going with stamina. A number on a scale?
Well, three people with the same weight: "skinny fat", "fit", and "over weight", it's just number~

_GingerSnap_

for me, it's weight. i need to be as light as possible to be a fast runner. i dont really care if i look like a bag of bones as long as i'm light enough to be a successful runner. runners almost have to be UNDERWEIGHT to be really really good.

Totally disagree. I wouldn't say a single runner in the Olympics appears to be underweight, and they're pretty much as good as it gets in the running world. Even the top elite distance runners don't look to be underweight, but they DO look very fit and lean.

I second, underweight is not healthy. Being underweight can acually cause poor running performance and can lead to injury. If your not getting the nutrients you need you can look at the possiblity of stress fractures. I just read an article in Runners World from last month that discussed this same issue.

askme12

Definitely physique!

IronmanPanda

for me, it's weight. i need to be as light as possible to be a fast runner. i dont really care if i look like a bag of bones as long as i'm light enough to be a successful runner. runners almost have to be UNDERWEIGHT to be really really good.

Totally disagree. I wouldn't say a single runner in the Olympics appears to be underweight, and they're pretty much as good as it gets in the running world. Even the top elite distance runners don't look to be underweight, but they DO look very fit and lean.

I know 12 year old girls with arms bigger than these guys.

scott091501

I wouldn't say muscles are the only measure of health.

This is true but lean muscle mass controls almost everything in your body and if you concentrate on cutting fat, you will automatically lose the weight but the bigger thing is, you will lose inches faster at a moderate deficit and ST then just cutting weight.

Ah, but again this seems to be focusing on looks. It's not about the inches, to me. It will be once I'm at my healthy weight - THEN I'll let myself focus on deciding what I want to look like and seeing if it's worth developing my physique.

Not sure I understand where you're coming from. If you're 120 lbs or 180lbs and 40% body fat it's not healthy. Now if you're either and say 18% bf for a woman chances are you're healthy. Weight is just a number, unless like me it effects how fast you go on course.

jwhit31

Definitely physique! This is why I put the scale away. It was driving me bonkers. My weight would fluctuate but my clothes would either fit the same or become looser.

jenluvsushi

I only use my scale as a tool.....it does not define who I am or how fit I am. I weigh a lot according to all the medical charts and my scale...but I have low body fat so both are BS.

TriciaZ944

Physique. I am more concerned about how I feel and look than I am about what the scale says.

Raynn1

At this stage, the weight is more important.. only because I am still carrying an addition 60-70 pounds on me, so yes i want that number to decrease.

Once I get closer to goal, then my physique becomes more important. I wouldnt care if I was 188 pounds, as long as I was in a great size for it.. you know?

kikokateyy

Physique. I am more concerned about how I feel and look than I am about what the scale says.

This!

BAtobe

At my higher weights, I would have definitely said weight. Now that I am closer to my goal, I really just want my idea physique and I figure the number I want will come eventually. Besides, nobody really sees the scale but me anyways.

SexyCook

I think it is a Mix of the 2....Yes I have made goal and have changed my routine so many time...In my eyes....If I gain on this next weigh-in which is at the end of the month...So what if I like the look I have, healthier, and I can fit in those 8's or some 6's that I have been....It's all good for me!! It's about the feeling and looking at your self and looking healthier and feeling healthier..Not the weight....To be honest...No way one can just maintain the same Ideal Number the rest of our lives....Everyday!

SabrinaJL

Both? Neither? I wanna be healthy and strong. The main reason I started this was because I knew I had to get my blood pressure under control and I knew that when I lose weight, my bp drops. Two months ago, my doctor took me off bp meds. I just checked and it is currently 115/75. I'm hoping with at least another 20 lb loss, it'll go even lower. I'd been avoiding lifting heavy (mostly just doing Jillian DVDs) in the hopes that I'd continue losing and start a real lifting program once I got into the "healthy" weight range. Since I'd been stuck in the 170s for about 4 months, I decided the hell with it and started doing Body for Life. Because I not only wanna be able to run from the zombies, I wanna be able to kick/stomp their heads in if necessary. :bigsmile:

ninerbuff

I'm certainly in no rush to get to my goal, and for me it's better to focus on one thing at once. It's important to me to know that I'm down to a healthy weight, before I start any form of weight training.

Just a thought. Wouldn't it make more sense to get to a "healthy weight" and actually "be healthy" at the same time? If you reach the weight without being physically fit, then how healthy is the weight?


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I wouldn't say muscles are the only measure of health.

Of course not, but exercising with weights more than just affects your muscles. Your metabolism becomes more efficient, you build a stronger heart, you increase blood flow, you increase your immunity, etc. These are aspects of health also.


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Zoeeee_xx

Definitely physique!

ninerbuff

neither, it's about health!

Everybody wants good health. The options between the 2 were to prove a point.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

DianaJaneD

Just this week in my mind, I changed my "goal" to a body fat % goal instead of a weight goal. I really am not sure how much I should weigh at "goal" because I've never had this much muscle going on! So I'm looking for a particular healthy body fat percentage and a clothing size goal. I'm curious what I'll weigh when I reach it!

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

Great post Niner, for me physique is my number 1 priority. In fact I gained 2 pounds but lost an inch on my waist

77tes

Weight is just a number, baby.