Can anyone have the body they want?
healthy491
Posts: 384 Member
So my friend was overweight , lost some weight and is now at a healthy BMI and is really happy with her body. However , her period stopped completely and her mother told her that she should gain weight as she was not made to be thin and she is not naturally slim. Would really love to hear your opinions on this one !
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Replies
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It depends. She should start with visiting her doctor to ensure there is not a medical issue for her period ending. Also, a healthy BMI is a very wide range and sometimes the lower end of that range is unhealthy and requires unhealthy eating or exercise habits to maintain.3
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Depends if they want a body that's within their genetic makeup and frame dimensions9
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Amenorrhea has many causes ...if it's more than 1 or 2 cycles due should rule out pregnancy and see a doctor1
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There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
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healthy491 wrote: »There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
What does her doctor say?0 -
healthy491 wrote: »There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
Maybe her goal is unhealthy and she doesn't realize it. Talking to a therapist, especially one who specializes in eating disorders, could be a good idea just for perspective.2 -
healthy491 wrote: »There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
What does her doctor say?
Her doctor said she shouldnt lose anymore weight as shes underweight. Then , she went to a dietician and the dietician told her she was at a healthy weight1 -
Short answer is "no". I've seen people in here trying to get a body shape that is just not in their genetic makeup. They want long, lean calf muscles when they are simply not built to have them. They want a "thigh gap" when they are pear shaped, things like that.
More involved answer is still really a "no" depending on what the goal is. If someone wants to be a specific weight that's really too thin for them, for example. Someone with a large bone structure and who is muscular would have a very difficult time maintaining a weight that is on the very low end of the healthy range or a low BMI. My sisters and I are a good example of this because although we are close in height I am the large framed and muscular type but they are both very fine boned and if we were all the same weight they look would look much heavier than I do. I can easily carry 130 pounds and look trim, they look much better in the 115-120 range.
If your friend has lost her period, and she's not pregnant and didn't have issues with it before, it's a pretty good sign that her body fat percentage is too low.2 -
I compete in bodybuilding and I still have my period through the entire prep. I get down to very low body fat levels (that are not sustainable and I have no plans to sustain), but thanks to still eating adequately and avoiding excess cardio my body doesn't feel the need to shut down any functions. Your friend is likely doing something unhealthy or is at an unhealthy weight or both.1
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i totally have the body i want. you want to know my secret??
i just want a really sh*tty body.22 -
Your answers are all very helpful ! My idea was that maybe she wasnt eating enough to maintain her weight ?? She was eating about 1500 calories a day and working out for 45 mins everyday0
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There is a fundamental difference between an idealized body as compared to a healthy body.
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
And then there are the rest of us - the 98% - the NORMAL people. The ones who - no matter how hard we try, will NEVER achieve a 24 inch waist, the thigh gap, the whatever is in vogue now, because it's NOT GENETICALLY POSSIBLE, and furthermore dangerous to even try.
So even more important to a healthy body is a healthy mind, and what is healthy for you, and the ability to recognize it.4 -
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.2 -
Depends on what she wants, doesn't it?
I mean, if her goal was to have a healthy, fit body, yes most can do that.
If her goal is a particular number on a scale, or to be at the very bottom of the normal BMI range, then no, not everyone can do that without sacrificing health.3 -
healthy491 wrote: »healthy491 wrote: »There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
What does her doctor say?
Her doctor said she shouldnt lose anymore weight as shes underweight. Then , she went to a dietician and the dietician told her she was at a healthy weight
How tall is she and what's her weight?0 -
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.
I'm actually referring to the question: Can anyone have the body they want?
And the idealized body I refer to is for example the Victoria Secret Angels - who are tall, thin, long legs and arms, etc. Of course there is a lot of photoshop involved, too lol.
Open any women's magazines and you'll see what I mean about the idealized body.1 -
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.
And for what it's worth, I don't consider that an ideal body either. Not for me anyway. Because I'm both old enough to know better and to also think it really doesn't look all that good. But that's not what sells magazines unfortunately.2 -
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.
And for what it's worth, I don't consider that an ideal body either. Not for me anyway. Because I'm both old enough to know better and to also think it really doesn't look all that good. But that's not what sells magazines unfortunately.
I have a thigh gap naturally and I'm old enough to know better
I guess I am a mutant freak who deserves to be body shamed lol 5 -
Let's be careful about sweeping generalisations here. Some people CAN healthily have a thigh gap, some can healthily have a 24" waist. In fact the latter is a loose goal of mine because my body shape will likely allow it. Given I'm 20lbs outside of a healthy BMI and my waist is currently 28" or so. I have a friend who can be a 22" waist and is totally healthy, she's just really finely boned and small.
However, it's all contextual, as in my example of myself. My genetics can allow me to have my body ideal, hopefully.
But really i think the op is more concerned for her friend more specifically than the broader issue. Anorexics think the thinner the better but the reality is it's a dangerous disorder that kills a lot of people. In that scenario, no, not everyone can have their body ideal. Your goals have to be realistic. Same goes for someone 300lbs+, more often than not they're not going to look like a fitness model without extensive surgery because of loose skin.
So. Context.2 -
Well I'd say no. Because SOMEWHERE even if someone was at the closest to the ideal body, they'd want some improvement somewhere where they can't fix it. That's why even people with "perfect" bodies look to make adjustments.
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An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.
I'm actually referring to the question: Can anyone have the body they want?
And the idealized body I refer to is for example the Victoria Secret Angels - who are tall, thin, long legs and arms, etc. Of course there is a lot of photoshop involved, too lol.
Open any women's magazines and you'll see what I mean about the idealized body.
Although the topic is "Can anyone have the body they want" the question within the first post was not actually whether someone can have any body they want. The OP was curious if loss of menstrual cycle indicated that the goal was not appropriate for her body (or her friend's body).
Can anyone have the body they want? It depends on whether their wants match their build. Not everyone wants to look like the photoshopped girls in magazines.2 -
singingflutelady wrote: »
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
I don't think everyone defines ideal the same and the OP said the body they want, not ideal. I would never call a thigh gap or 24 inch waist or any of those trendy things ideal and I know I'm not alone.
And for what it's worth, I don't consider that an ideal body either. Not for me anyway. Because I'm both old enough to know better and to also think it really doesn't look all that good. But that's not what sells magazines unfortunately.
I have a thigh gap naturally and I'm old enough to know better I guess I am a mutant freak who deserves to be body shamed lol
*Sigh* I meant trying to force your body into something that is unnatural for your specific body type. Dieting until you have no body fat to achieve a look.
Forget it, I'm wrong. I'll just shut my mouth from now on. Carry on.4 -
If her physician tells her that she's underweight, that should carry much more value than the nutritionist. That, coupled with amenorrhea suggests she may need intervention.3
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singingflutelady wrote: »healthy491 wrote: »healthy491 wrote: »There arent any problems except for weight loss as she already done the tests
What does her doctor say?
Her doctor said she shouldnt lose anymore weight as shes underweight. Then , she went to a dietician and the dietician told her she was at a healthy weight
How tall is she and what's her weight?
48kg and shes about 158cm0 -
There is a fundamental difference between an idealized body as compared to a healthy body.
An idealized body is one that maybe 2% of the population have been genetically blessed with, and even then, only to the standards of what modern beauty looks like.
And then there are the rest of us - the 98% - the NORMAL people. The ones who - no matter how hard we try, will NEVER achieve a 24 inch waist, the thigh gap, the whatever is in vogue now, because it's NOT GENETICALLY POSSIBLE, and furthermore dangerous to even try.
So even more important to a healthy body is a healthy mind, and what is healthy for you, and the ability to recognize it.
You might want to explain the rise of the heavier set super model right now because that goes against your arguments. Most people don't want to look like your "2% idealized" body you know. Despite the hype most people are actually pretty satisfied with their bodies and the majority of people don't view that "idealized body type" as ideal anyway. Perhaps you should put down the magazines and then you might understand that the majority of people find a huge range of body types to be attractive and don't even care what's in Vogue.0 -
healthy491 wrote: »So my friend was overweight , lost some weight and is now at a healthy BMI and is really happy with her body. However , her period stopped completely and her mother told her that she should gain weight as she was not made to be thin and she is not naturally slim. Would really love to hear your opinions on this one !
From your posts it seems that she has seen the proper medical professionals and there doesn't seem to be anything medically wrong from what I gather. Should she gain weight? Not sure, but a 3rd party post about a medical issue is rather out of place for a board of lay people. As has been mentioned, there are many reasons that it could happen and she needs to keep working with her doctor and dietitian to resolve the issue. Perhaps putting back on a few pounds might help but I'm not a mystic so I couldn't say.
I wish her well but she seems to be doing the right things and it probably wouldn't hurt for her to regain a bit and see but that's her decision.1 -
If her physician tells her that she's underweight, that should carry much more value than the nutritionist. That, coupled with amenorrhea suggests she may need intervention.
This is exactly what I was thinking.
In a woman in her reproductive years, amenorrhea is a symptom of an underlying condition of some sort. It should not be dismissed or allowed to go unexplained, as it is associated with later infertility and osteoporosis.3 -
healthy491 wrote: »So my friend was overweight , lost some weight and is now at a healthy BMI and is really happy with her body. However , her period stopped completely and her mother told her that she should gain weight as she was not made to be thin and she is not naturally slim. Would really love to hear your opinions on this one !
This is a pretty different question that the subject line. If her BMI is really within the healthy range it's unlikely that she's so underweight that it would cause her period to stop. It's not impossible, especially if she lost weight very quickly, but it is unlikely. Also, if she didn't consider nutrition when losing it could a nutrient deficiency causing it. Or it could be something unrelated to her weight. She would be wise to see a GYN to determine the cause.0 -
healthy491 wrote: »So my friend was overweight , lost some weight and is now at a healthy BMI and is really happy with her body. However , her period stopped completely and her mother told her that she should gain weight as she was not made to be thin and she is not naturally slim. Would really love to hear your opinions on this one !
Are you the "friend"? :huh:4 -
tl;dr answer: No.
Detailed answer: Barring exceedingly rare metabolic disorders, everyone can get to a healthy body fat level; that's a matter of how and what you eat. Most people, again with the caveat of medical issues, can both get stronger with a resistance training program AND increase their cardiovascular health with cardio exercise.
All of that said, the "body you want" is incredibly subjective. Lean people look differently because of how their muscle insertions are set, the shape of their musculature, and the length and thickness of their bones and connective tissues. None of these are alterable without some fairly significant and radical surgery.2
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