Thin vs Fit

GweniePoo

I find a lot of people saying they want to be thin, but what does that mean really? I want to be fit whatever size that is. Thin is not for everyone. Fit is.

Thin is the opposite of Fat and both are a problem. So can we look in the mirror, love ourselves, and opt for being fit instead of asking to be thin?


All of you over 50 [young ones Google it] let's remember this song by the mighty Curtis Mayfield;

We're a winner
And never let anybody say
that, you can't make it
'Cause a feeble mind is in your way
No more tears do we cry
And we have finally dried our eyes
And we're movin' on up (movin' on up)
Lawd have mercy
We're movin' on up (movin' on up)...



;o)

DrMAvDPhD

Healthy is generally a totally different category than fat/thin. You can be very thin and healthy, some people are just made that way. You can be overweight (even in some cases obese) and still rock a clean bill of health.

I personally want to be somewhat thin and healthy. I was healthy when I had a BMI of 27 but I wasn't happy. I am healthy now with a BMI of 22 and liking things more everyday.

GweniePoo

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

DrMAvDPhD

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

I guess I don't get what you mean by "fit". Muscular?

bcattoes

Thin is the opposite of Fat and both are a problem. So can we look in the mirror, love ourselves, and opt for being fit instead of asking to be thin?

I don't understand. Why is being thin a problem? It's quite possible to be thin and fit.

mercikaleb

Looks are so decieving. Many thin people are not fit
and many people who have extra weight on them and look less than perfect run, hike, bicylce, etc..

Depends on the person..

I am losing weight for HEALTH AND VANITY reasons

GweniePoo

Fit is being an appropriate size for your body type. Everyone talks about being thin, thin, thin [and rich..ha!] but I wanted to know what does that really mean? Isn't being fit a more life long and fulfilling goal?

GweniePoo

BTW Bcattoes, I never said thin was a problem.

makemewannadie

When I was younger (12-16) I just wanted to be THIN, skinny, whatever you want to call it, and went about getting there rather stupidly and recklessly. Now i'm a bit older I want to be FIT and happy. (Happy being something i never was before!) (:

bcattoes

BTW Bcattoes, I never said thin was a problem.

Yeah, the OP says "Thin is the opposite of Fat and both are a problem. " Thin is rarely a problem.

rrrbecca11

BTW Bcattoes, I never said thin was a problem.

Yeah, the OP says "Thin is the opposite of Fat and both are a problem. " Thin is rarely a problem.

I'm thin and fit. Have always been relatively thin (though at times carried 10 or 15 extra pounds), but I haven't always been fit. I get it. I cannot agree that fat people can be fit, however, because of the dynamics of the body and how it all works. That's just my opinion, though. Just because you can run, or bike, or whatever, doesn't mean your heart doesn't labor to carry your extra poundage around. And THAT is the dangerous part.

astrampe

Fit is being an appropriate size for your body type. Everyone talks about being thin, thin, thin [and rich..ha!] but I wanted to know what does that really mean? Isn't being fit a more life long and fulfilling goal?

Fit has nothing to do with size, and everything to do with stamina, endurance, strengh and so on....Fit and healthy normally goes hand in hand, whereas both thin and fat does not always equal either healthy or unhealthy....

tinacrane

Let's be honest my motivation to loose weight was to be healthy, but I sure would also like to look good in whatever clothes I wear. Including a bathing suit! How I look at it is: how was I born? How did I look at 8 or 9? Even at 17 (for me anyway)? I was created thin, and that's what looks good on my frame. And in a bathing suit So healthy and toned are my goals!

bcattoes

According to dictionary.com, Fit is defined as in good physical condition and good health. It is possible to be overweight and fit, but it's very hard to remain fit as you age if you are overweight.

GweniePoo

I'm never going to be thin that is not my body type, but I hear thin, thin, thin so much I wondered if that's the goal for women? If you're thin and that's your body type ...GR8, but I'm talking about those of us who are not thin and struggling with the mindset and images we see and read everywhere. As a newbie I found the comments interesting.

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

I guess I don't get what you mean by "fit". Muscular?

It simply means being in a healthy weight, not fat nor thin. When I say healthy weight, I mean someone who has good body composition because you can be thin & have lower BMI but at the same time a poor body composition because of high body fat percentage (aka "skinny fat"). Being "muscular" is another thing. We all have muscles however it is not easily seen if covered with a thick layer of fat. So those people who rock some muscle definition aren't automatically mean they gain muscle. It simply means that the body fat is lowered & their existing muscles are beginning to show.

Erica_theRedhead

One who is fit has stamina, endurance, can sustain a high cardiac output for an extended period of time. By definition, "fit" is a condition. You can't necessarily look at a person and say that they are fit.

Big/thin is just how someone looks. It's possible to be thin and unhealthy (no muscle, cardiovascular health, eat un-nutritious foods, etc) just as it's possible to be big and fit. I ran my half marathon in 2:25 when I was still 200 pounds. Granted, I was on the way to losing pounds, but I had to get it in my head that I was a runner, even if I didn't look like it.

Erica_theRedhead

But saying that thin is a problem isn't accurate either. You can be thin, and just have lean muscle. A friend of mine runs 40 miles a week and literally weighs 100 pounds. It's her genetics. I know that I will never be thin in that sense (my goal is set for 165 pounds, because of MY genetics.) But I do say that I want to be thin, meaning lean.

bcattoes

I'm never going to be thin that is not my body type, but I hear thin, thin, thin so much I wondered if that's the goal for women? If you're thin and that's your body type ...GR8, but I'm talking about those of us who are not thin and struggling with the mindset and images we see and read everywhere. As a newbie I found the comments interesting.

What body type can't be thin? Not trying to be argumentative, I've just never known anyone that couldn't be thin. If you are large framed and full bodied your measurements may never be as low as someone with a small bone structure and a less voluptuous figure, but you can still be thin.

chantalb20

personally, i'd prefer thin over 'fit'
if fit comes into it, bonus.
but i'd still take thin. delicate

JennaM222

I get what you are saying OP - Some of you, dont be so quick to attack, cripes.

There is healthy Thin - you work out, eat right, get your nutrients to fuel your body
There is UNHEALTHY thin - Dont eat enough calories a day that your body needs, write in your diary 30 times a day that you are fat over and over, pro ana type crap

There is Healthy Average - Me for example. I am not near as thin as I want to be, but you bet your *kitten* I am HEALTHY. I work out, run half marathons, and EAT pretty well for the most part.

etc, etc.

Wonderob

Never understood the quest for 'thin' - but then again, I'm a guy and I guess it's only women that want thin

Also, I posted a message here yesterday about the word 'skinny'

In UK skinny was always regarded as an insult in the same way that fat is

"She's skinny" was said in the same tone as "She's fat!"

Certainly wasnt seen as a compliment - however since joining MFP I have seen 'skinny' as being something to aspire to

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" that type of thing. Often said instead of 'healthy'

Fit, slim, slender, trim, petitte, lean ....... but not skinny

Is it a generation thing (I'm quite old!) or a culture thing?

oboeing

Being thin has never been what's important to me. Being fit is. Granted, I would love to fit into my old "skinny" clothes, but that's not my goal. I am a volunteer firefighter, and being able to do my job well is what's important. I have no problem being "thick", as long as it's because i'm muscular. My real goal is to be able to drag that 175 lb dummy 50 ft across the grass (LOTS OF RESISTANCE) without feeling like i'm going to pass out. I actually like being a thicker girl. I don't mind my tree trunk legs, I just want them to be all muscle.

Captain_Tightpants

I'll just leave a quote from my always-slim, always-exercising cousin who, in her early thirties had stage 4 breast cancer. She was sitting drinking a beer on July 4 when a family member said "Oh you drink alcohol now?" and she replied, "Yep, ate healthy for thirty years and you see where that got me..."

sabusby

Fat and thin are NOT mutually exclusive.
Thin and healthy also are not.

That is what OP is saying.

RobynMWilson

You can be thin and fit...I am...I don't worry about my size...my goal is to look good naked thru my 40s lol

Kristan_Forsey

To anyone who says you can be fat and fit, you are totally wrong. Stop deluding yourself! It will catch up with you, if not at this moment than later. The high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack. Wake up!

karensoxfan

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

I disagree with the part I put in bold. I don't think you can be truly healthy if you're truly fat, because to me, being "fat" means you have too much body fat (body fat % which usually correlates pretty closely to a high BMI too), which is not a healthy condition to be in.

Sure there are athletes who have healthy body fat % but high BMI, but those people aren't really "fat" then, right?

Hellbent_Heidi

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

I disagree with the part I put in bold. I don't think you can be truly healthy if you're truly fat, because to me, being "fat" means you have too much body fat (body fat % which usually correlates pretty closely to a high BMI too), which is not a healthy condition to be in.

Sure there are athletes who have healthy body fat % but high BMI, but those people aren't really "fat" then, right?

I agree with you there...fat (to me) implies quite overweight..which I do not consider healthy under any circumstances. A person can be "otherwise" healthy while being fat (meaning they don't have any major health issues right now), but carrying significant extra weight is just never good.

I want to be both fit AND thin...

celestialsmith

OP (Gwen)-
Thin, thick, fit, the best tool that I have found to measure over all heath is total body fat percentage (personally, but most health experts agree) I have using MFP for about 18mo now. When I first started my goal was to lose weight, that was it. As I exercise and eat healthy and time passes my goals have changed. It has taken me 2.5years to lose 15lbs (it has been lifestyle changes and not dieting.) As I progressed, I realized that I was not going to make my goal weight which was 108lbs. I wanted to be as "thin" as I could, w/o being under weight. The better I ate the more I exercise I found that I my weight was not what was important to me, feeling good about myself was most important. The longer you keep at this (and please do, just eating right and exercising will do wonders for your self body image) you will find what your "sweet spot" is. It may end up being a weight goal, a fitness goal (running a marathon) or a totally body fat percentage goal. I went from being 130lbs, size 10pant, 27% body fat, not being able to run for 5min to 115lbs, size 4 pant 18.5% body fat, and running 1/2 marathon....... should I keep striving for what I consider MY "thin" weight? I don't think I will, for me to drop my body weight I would have to lose muscle and if I lose muscle I feel I will not have the stamina for my long distance runs. My final goal for me now is 18% body fat and run a marathon (we'll see how I feel when I get there) Each person's self image is different. It is hard to set a goal for yourself when we are surrounded in the media by super models, "picture" perfect actresses, never seeing a drop of cellulite on a celebrity, and so on (at least it was for me) Gwen- set small goals so that you can achieve small victories and can win the battle of self body image and fitness. You can do this!

bcattoes

Yes, you can be healthy and fat and healthy and thin, but Fit is another factor. I want to be healthy and fit. I'm glad you have found your sweet spot. I am looking for my own.

I disagree with the part I put in bold. I don't think you can be truly healthy if you're truly fat, because to me, being "fat" means you have too much body fat (body fat % which usually correlates pretty closely to a high BMI too), which is not a healthy condition to be in.

Sure there are athletes who have healthy body fat % but high BMI, but those people aren't really "fat" then, right?

Healthy means in good health. No diseases, syndromes, ailments, injuries, etc.

A fat person can be healthy. But you are far more likely to be, and remain, healthy if you are thin and fit.