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AwesomeOpossum74
Posts: 104Member Member
Posts: 104Member Member
What is "too thin?"
AwesomeOpossum74
Posts: 104Member Member
Posts: 104Member Member
I am 45yr, 6'3", 185lbs, my maintenance weight. I brought myself down from 215lbs since last July (I once weighed 230). My genetic build is thin, carrying most of my weight in my belly, most of which has also disappeared, and I am not particularly muscular.
I am proud of my accomplishment, both in the way I feel about my image, and for health reasons, as I hope this will at least delay the diabetes that runs in my family.
Since my loss, a couple of people have commented that they think I'm too thin. Coming from these people, these are not jealousy comments, but perhaps more "I'm not used to you looking like this." In my early 20's I was in the 160lb range. I was a stick, looking like a giraffe with my long, thin neck and lanky limbs.
So, cutting to the chase, how thin is too thin for someone my my height/age?
I am proud of my accomplishment, both in the way I feel about my image, and for health reasons, as I hope this will at least delay the diabetes that runs in my family.
Since my loss, a couple of people have commented that they think I'm too thin. Coming from these people, these are not jealousy comments, but perhaps more "I'm not used to you looking like this." In my early 20's I was in the 160lb range. I was a stick, looking like a giraffe with my long, thin neck and lanky limbs.
So, cutting to the chase, how thin is too thin for someone my my height/age?
Replies
Here is a BMI chart that you might find handy. A BMI of 18.5 is usually considered the cutoff for underweight.
https://www.webmd.com/men/weight-loss-bmi
^^^This. A LOT of us who have lost a significant amount of weight have gotten the "too thin" comments. I think it comes partially from the fact that the people around us are not used to seeing us at a healthy weight, and partially from the fact that most people in general do not know what a healthy weight looks like.
If you are happy with your weight and your doctor says that it's a healthy weight for you, then you aren't too thin.
Its funny how nobody was rude enough to comment on my ever increasing weight when i was being unhealthy, smoking, drinking and eating junk food, but now I'm at a healthy bmi, eating nutritious food (mostly!) and exercising when i can, it seems everyone feels they have the right to comment!
Congrats on your weight loss! I think many of us no longer know what normal weight looks like. And maybe there is some “crabs in a bucket” mentaility too? If fat shaming is verboten, why is it okay to call out slim people? I see it a lot on social media, that people are quick to point out how unhealthy skinny people can be - as a response to questioning an overweight person’s health. Really, whose business is it anyway?
Very true.
For context I've been maintaining fit & well near the top of the BMI healthy range for 5+ years.
But when I meet up with a certain friend she always asks "Have you lost MORE weight?" with a concerned look on her face as though I'm undernourished and wasting away.
A harsh but accurate description of my friend would be a fat, failed dieter.
I'd say if you're in the healthy range of BMI and your doctor has no concerns and you are happy with the way you look, then you're not too thin.
I could weigh another 15 or 20 pounds less and still be in my healthy BMI range. Would I look too thin? I think for me.. yes I would look too thin. However.. as long as your weight is within that healthy range... you should not be concerned for your health
And I have a couple of things to look up, e.g. glycogen and ectomorph. I've also been considering more exercise, but I have a back problem right now and am in PT for the next while.
You guys are awesome!
Yes. I am at the very top of the BMI range for my height, and while I could lose more weight, I am pretty muscular. I feel I would look too thin if I lost 20 pounds. Is this because it has been a long time since I’ve been that thin? Not sure. I want to lose a few pounds to get to my goal weight and then reassess. Maybe lose five at a time, maintaining for a while at each milestone and see where I feel my best ... for reference: I am in my 40s and I know I was at the lower end of the healthy range as a teen. Back then I was skinny with flab - I am so much stronger now!!