I offically hate the term "skinny-fat".

BinaryPulsar,
You may disagree or agree since you are a dancer but I've met quite a number of ballet dancers in their early 20s who would fall in the category due to years of falling victim to various eating disorders. I clearly recall many of them having body fat percentages in the 30s when I tested them because their lean body mass had decreased so sharply. Also, a lot of the research I look into is primarily about young female athletes with eating disorders. Anyway, I'm glad you, as a dancer, enjoy strength training and have established increasing muscle volume as one of your goals which is very important in your sport.

I'm not a ballet dancer and did not have years of eating disorders. I am a contemporary dancer and very healthy. My body fat is not anywhere near 30% and never has been. My body fat is actually very low. My husband is a scientist and helps me test it properly. I have been committed to health for a long time and would never harm or starve my body. Nourishment is important to me. I am also a mother of two, with two healthy pregnancies, healthy babies and healthy children. I am healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. I have worked very hard at it. I also eat way more than most people because I am active and need to maintain my lean body mass. Also, I dance with children. I'm sorry you have this stereotype (this was the kind of thing I was referring to about snap judgements that I only encounter on MFP and never in real life). I'm also not in my early 20's. I am a grown woman. Being a dancer is not a disorder.

I too rather be 'skinny fat' than "just """" even the word "fat" is very insulting. Iam skinny fat and I'm trying my best to build muscle but the "baby fat" is something very difficult to tone up. That's the problem area that most women have trouble building like myself. I hate when people tells me I'm skinny to stop losing weight (but what they don't understand is that I'm trying to live a healthy lifestyle and exercising 4/5 days a week, and I'm killing myself each and every day to feel good about myself, and the goals that I've accomplished. That my friends, Makes me feel worth of what Iam. But I guess "people just think differently and for that reason it doesn't let them think how they supposed to!!!
- PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ME//// and don't let comments like these bring you down!!! This is a life we're leaving that everyone criticize EVERYONE

When I see people on MFP saying they don't want to be fat anymore, does that insult someone like me, who's fat? I mean, I should be offended by MFP in general, because people use it to recover from a state that I'm currently in, which tells me that fat is bad. I think I need to sulk in the corner over this or maybe start marching in outrage. (Demonstrating absurdity.)

Although I think the term has a ring of truth to it, it's also a way to take away from people's accomplishments, isn't it? Say they restrict calories by creating a healthy deficit and focus primarily on cardio. Then, when they have lost weight, suddenly their accomplishment is not as sufficient because they didn't lift or do strength training--thus, skinny fat.

That's not what skinny-fat means. It means people who eat an unhealthy diet of junk food and never exercise. I don't think anyone on MFP would qualify as skinny fat.

But, seriously, (directed at the thread in general, not at you, OhKelsey1) if you're skinny and insulted by the term "skinny," lighten up. Not all of us want to be skinny. Some of us want to be curvy. But skinny, curvy, toned (yes, I said it), chubby, strong, fit...if it's healthy, it's beautiful.

That really isn't what skinny-fat is. It's medically called normal weight obesity. Basically, someone who is at a healthy weight, but not a healthy body fat percentage.

I also disagree with skinny and curvy being mutually exclusive. I think one can be both.

I love the term skinny fat, it perfectly describes my "before" body. It's a word meant to show that "skinny" "thin" "tiny" etc don't describe health. Health has nothing to do with a 22" waist or weighing 100lbs. Though people may use it to demean others, people will do that with just about anything. I like it. But I'm with you with "toned" lol what a useless word.

This photo was posted on another thread about skinny fat...

One person's view of herself going from fat to skinny fat to hot and fit....I don't think the middle one is that bad, not too skinny fat, but the third is by far better...

That's amazing progress, but I fail to see where she was "skinny fat" before. It doesn't look like she was lacking in any muscle before. She just had body fat she wanted to shed. Her bum was bigger, but it was round and full. She didn't have any rolls or muffin top. She had a normal, curvy body that was just a touch bigger than her goal body.

The final photo is dead sexy, but it's also a sexy pose with good lighting and a professional photographer. She probably wouldn't look that much different from the final photo in photo two if she'd been arching her back with her arms raised and sticking out her booty, too.

And that's another hit to the normal person's self esteem. We're taking snapshots and comparing ourselves to someone with hair, makeup and wardrobe people, flattering lighting, and the very best photos selected out of hundreds from a professional photographer, who then retouches the photos to make everything even better. Not even going into extensive photoshop or airbrushing, but just altering the contrast, levels and color balance can make a huge difference.

BinaryPulsar,
You may disagree or agree since you are a dancer but I've met quite a number of ballet dancers in their early 20s who would fall in the category due to years of falling victim to various eating disorders. I clearly recall many of them having body fat percentages in the 30s when I tested them because their lean body mass had decreased so sharply. Also, a lot of the research I look into is primarily about young female athletes with eating disorders. Anyway, I'm glad you, as a dancer, enjoy strength training and have established increasing muscle volume as one of your goals which is very important in your sport.

I'm not a ballet dancer and did not have years of eating disorders. I am a contemporary dancer and very healthy. My body fat is not anywhere near 30% and never has been. My body fat is actually very low. My husband is a scientist and helps me test it properly. I have been committed to health for a long time and would never harm or starve my body. Nourishment is important to me. I am also a mother of two, with two healthy pregnancies, healthy babies and healthy children. I am healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. I have worked very hard at it. I also eat way more than most people because I am active and need to maintain my lean body mass. Also, I dance with children. I'm sorry you have this stereotype (this was the kind of thing I was referring to about snap judgements that I only encounter on MFP and never in real life). I'm also not in my early 20's. I am a grown woman. Being a dancer is not a disorder.

Sheesh. Cranky much? She didn't accuse you of anything, just mentioned other dancers she has tested. :laugh:

My personal definition - and I don't know how accurate that is, medically speaking - of skinny fat is lower body weight with higher body fat percentage. One wouldn't necessarily look particularly skinny, either in or out of clothes. But they'd have a weight they could be proud of, but the wouldn't look as light as they were.

For instance, that photo of me that I often use.



I'm about the same weight in both photos, but in 2007, I was stupid about how I lost weight and just cut a lot of calories. I got to a good weight for my height of 5'5, but wasn't particularly lean... I was marshmallow fluff. Was I really skinny fat? I don't know... I don't think my weight, body fat percentage or lean body mass were extreme enough in any direction to qualify. If I'd kept trying to lose weight in that manner, I would have become skinny fat. I did still have a muffin top and back fat rolls that I absolutely HATED, and they looked worse than they did when I was a little heavier. But skinny fat or not... I wasn't as healthy as I could have been if I ate more, ate better, exercised better, etc.

Similarly, I was about 15 pounds lighter 10 years ago than I am now, and look about the same size, but that was weight loss due to a jaw problem. Again... I don't think I was skinny fat. I just wasn't as healthy as I could have been.



I do think the phrase is tossed around too much. But if it gets women focused more on their health and body composition than strictly focused on the number on the scale, then that's not a bad thing.

My personal definition - and I don't know how accurate that is, medically speaking - of skinny fat is lower body weight with higher body fat percentage. One wouldn't necessarily look particularly skinny, either in or out of clothes. But they'd have a weight they could be proud of, but the wouldn't look as light as they were.

For instance, that photo of me that I often use.



I'm about the same weight in both photos, but in 2007, I was stupid about how I lost weight and just cut a lot of calories. I got to a good weight for my height of 5'5, but wasn't particularly lean... I was marshmallow fluff. Was I really skinny fat? I don't know... I don't think my weight, body fat percentage or lean body mass were extreme enough in any direction to qualify. If I'd kept trying to lose weight in that manner, I would have become skinny fat. I did still have a muffin top and back fat rolls that I absolutely HATED, and they looked worse than they did when I was a little heavier. But skinny fat or not... I wasn't as healthy as I could have been if I ate more, ate better, exercised better, etc.

Similarly, I was about 15 pounds lighter 10 years ago than I am now, and look about the same size, but that was weight loss due to a jaw problem. Again... I don't think I was skinny fat. I just wasn't as healthy as I could have been.



I do think the phrase is tossed around too much. But if it gets women focused more on their health and body composition than strictly focused on the number on the scale, then that's not a bad thing.

This is an accurate and excellent illustration and explanation of what it really means. Great work. You look amazing and must feel even more amazing!

BinaryPulsar,
You may disagree or agree since you are a dancer but I've met quite a number of ballet dancers in their early 20s who would fall in the category due to years of falling victim to various eating disorders. I clearly recall many of them having body fat percentages in the 30s when I tested them because their lean body mass had decreased so sharply. Also, a lot of the research I look into is primarily about young female athletes with eating disorders. Anyway, I'm glad you, as a dancer, enjoy strength training and have established increasing muscle volume as one of your goals which is very important in your sport.

I'm not a ballet dancer and did not have years of eating disorders. I am a contemporary dancer and very healthy. My body fat is not anywhere near 30% and never has been. My body fat is actually very low. My husband is a scientist and helps me test it properly. I have been committed to health for a long time and would never harm or starve my body. Nourishment is important to me. I am also a mother of two, with two healthy pregnancies, healthy babies and healthy children. I am healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. I have worked very hard at it. I also eat way more than most people because I am active and need to maintain my lean body mass. Also, I dance with children. I'm sorry you have this stereotype (this was the kind of thing I was referring to about snap judgements that I only encounter on MFP and never in real life). I'm also not in my early 20's. I am a grown woman. Being a dancer is not a disorder.

Sheesh. Cranky much? She didn't accuse you of anything, just mentioned other dancers she has tested. :laugh:

Calm down sir, It's all been cleared up. And that man does not look anything like a woman (he's shirtless). :yawn:

I didn't know it was an insult, but I didn't really know what it meant I guess. I thought I used to be skinny-fat because when I was younger I was very thin (no visible fat) but my body fat was super high. I was all fat, no muscle.

Is there actually a definition of skinny-fat, in terms of what a person's BMI and body fat % has to be to qualify for this label?

The term "Skinny Fat" is adequate to describe a state of body composition. Applying some sort of emotional response to it is ridiculous. Fat, skinny, toned, bulky, chunky, skinny fat, thin, etc. are all simply terms to describe the physical appearance of a person's body composition.

You've obviously never met any women.

Not in a romantic sense no. (No interest if you catch my drift). And I am sure many many people do indeed apply emotional value to simple descriptions. They shouldn't, but I know they do. For some reason, they feel their value as a human being is related to how they look.

I never determine a person's value based on their looks. And I certainly do not lie to someone's face when they ask about their weight.

If you for some reason do not like what you are, do not demand the world lie to you to spare your feelings because to you, your appearance means more to you than your heart, instead, CHANGE what you don't like.

For example, if you think you are fat and dislike the idea of being fat, do not ask the world if you are fat and then demand they say no. Fix it. Change it.

If someone asks opinions on what the state of their body composition is, MAYBE they are looking for the truth in order to design some sort of diet and fitness plan to better achieve their goals.

I look to the forums for advice, help, motivation, and support. I do not go to it for people to lie to me and make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Nice.

So a woman would have to have an underweight BMI and an obese body fat percentage? So a BMI of under 18.5, and a body fat percentage of 32 or over? Guess I don't fall into the category of skinny-fat then. I'd be curious to see what someone in this category actually looks like.

BinaryPulsar,
You may disagree or agree since you are a dancer but I've met quite a number of ballet dancers in their early 20s who would fall in the category due to years of falling victim to various eating disorders. I clearly recall many of them having body fat percentages in the 30s when I tested them because their lean body mass had decreased so sharply. Also, a lot of the research I look into is primarily about young female athletes with eating disorders. Anyway, I'm glad you, as a dancer, enjoy strength training and have established increasing muscle volume as one of your goals which is very important in your sport.

You must mean past dancers. I danced ballet for many years and I have never known a professional ballerina who had any visible body fat worth mentioning. I could see after they stop dancing perhaps they gain weight easily on their small frame, but a currently performing ballerina at 30 percent body fat? No way. In any case, much of the training for ballet essentially is strength training for the lower body, rather than cardio. No competitive dancer is going to be flabby, soft, or weak, especially in the abs and lower body.

I completely agree. I don't understand how what geekyjock is explaining could be possible for a ballet dancer, except for someone that is retired or had to stop due to the condition he is describing. Very absurd, and not in touch with reality. I don't mean this as a judgement. I am genuinely perplexed by this. It is misinformation about dancers.

Stop with the labels, they dehumanize. Labels will begin to erase the complexity and beauty of someone’s story and paint them as a one-dimensional caricature. Please?