Thoughts on 'Vanity Weight'

ES110791 wrote: »

, because I think most people deep down don't care too much about health and it's all about the aesthetics.

Seriously???

I find much in your posts very concerneing...

I'm in it for the healthy, anything that comes along with is extra awesome! To me lifting is part of the 'healthy' phase though.

I'm aiming for a healthy weight.

ES110791 wrote: »

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

ES110791 wrote: »

, because I think most people deep down don't care too much about health and it's all about the aesthetics.

Seriously???

I find much in your posts very concerneing...

I'm in it for the healthy, anything that comes along with is extra awesome! To me lifting is part of the 'healthy' phase though.

Yeah, seriously. I don't believe the bros lifting in the gym are all that concerned about their health. They want to be 'ripped.' The girls signing up for 'Ahsey Bines Bikini Body Challenge' don't care about their health. They want the beach bikini body.

Most of the people I know who express a desire to lose weight or 'tone up,' are already a healthy weight and they only want to get slimmer for superficial reasons.

"Lose those lovehandles!" "Get ready for summer" "You best body EVER". Please. The weight loss industry is built on making people feel bad about themselves. If it was only aimed at people who genuinely need to lose weight for health reasons they would lose half the target consumer, and since the industry only appears to be growing i'd say their getting business.

Not everyone is a body builder. Not everyone is a bikini competitor. There are individuals who lose weight primarily for health but of course they want to look good too. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. As you know, the problem comes into play when individuals become obsessed with looking good and being thin and begin engaging in unhealthy habits in order to get the results they so desperately desire.

Here is how I look at weight loss (coming from an eating disorder background myself) You have to love yourself as is and realize that no amount of weight loss/gain will change who you are.

With that out of the way...If you happen to lose weight because you were not eating a healthy, well rounded diet and getting adequate activity, ok. If you are already living a healthy lifestyle, counting calories and working out and now you think "I need to do MORE" then maybe you should put a pin in that plan for a couple weeks and really evaluate. Relapse is a real thing and it can be a slippery slope.

For the record, no I would not say that you "need" to lose weight and I think you are already pretty slim

ES110791 wrote: »

I'm not going to tell you how much I weigh, sorry.

And I will not lose weight probably, just because I don't really have enough motivation and I hate calorie restricting. I could do it, and I could do it healthily, but I don't know if I can be bothered.

But as someone who is neither overly thin nor fat, I cannot help noticing how people my size are still constantly on about weightloss, even though it is unnecessary for them, or even if they're not actively trying to lose weight. Yes I think I would look 'better,' if I weighed less, and I don't think that's unusual. Take away the eating disorder and it's actually a totally normal thing for someone my age and weight to think. It's an unfortunate fact that we live in a society where women are made to feel so bad about themselves.

And that is why I was curious about whether people think vanity weight loss is still a good thing.

So many people are unaware that they can change their entire body composition simply by weight training. If you are unhappy with the way your body looks, I highly suggest looking into body recomposition. At this point, I believe trying to lose weight is too risky and I think you will agree that it is not worth spiraling down that tunnel again when the same results (if not better), can be achieved by lifting.

Health over vanity, always. The whole point should be about all the health benefits. It should be about YOU, not other people.

Well, if you don't want to share your weight, how about your BMI now and the BMI at the weight you want to be.

Big_Bob_Lob wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

mollymarionet wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

You are NOT recovered. Anorexics are never recovered. Once you are anorexic, you are anorexic for life. Just like an alcoholic. You are in recovery for the remaining years of your life.

Not exactly the best way to put things and not fully accurate either, if eating disorders are cought in young childhood they can recover and never have another problem. Anorexia isn't terminal cancer and negativity is never the way to go.

Every single psychologist/psychiatrist I've worked with who specializes in ED's has said they would never refer to a client as "recovered" because someone with an ED can relapse at any given time. Therefore, they are in recovery. Recovery from anorexia or bulimia or EDNOS is an ongoing, lifelong process.

As a former addict and alcoholic, I disagree with that particular opinion. I've always found it interesting how easily that idea was accepted. Granted, I've never worked with a psychologist, and I have no clinical background that gives my opinion much weight, I just find it convenient that by convincing people of that, they are basically ensuring that they are never out of work. It certainly benefits them if they can convince me that I can never get well.

If moderation can't be learned by those who have established compulsive patterns of abuse and over indulgence...why are any of us even here?

Actually in the industry of mental health we treat alcoholism & EDs as both mental illnesses, relapse is very possible after the point of 'recovery' and that is why they are lifelong. My mom is now a 7 year recovered alcoholic if she were to have a drink now she would relapse into a very damaging cycle, this is coming from her self awareness. She still struggles if there is alcohol in the house & we are very careful to ensure that alcohol isn't used in any ingredients as like chocolate or paté.

These both seriously are lifelong struggles for the vast majority of people unlucky enough to experience them. Most people are unable to recover without intervention, so well done to you! that is thoroughly impressive.


- to add, i'm in the UK, so we have no targets & are paid a fixed wage, nothing benefits us personally other than the recovery & well being of our patients/clients, who do not pay for medical care. (we being the NHS)