Friday, January 8, 2010

Overweight and Fit

if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I sometimes talk about how women shouldn't obsess about their weight and think they should emulate these skinny models who look like they need a meal. One of my favorite lines is real women have curves.

Well, NBC Nightly news is having a series this week on women's health that can be found on nightly.msnbc.com that kind of makes my point.

I don't know if you saw the first one entitled Fat and Fit but it said overweight women can be healthy and thinner women can suffer heart disease. It showed an example of each and said the body mass index can be misleading and the key for a women is to keep their waist under 35 inches. For a man, it's 40. Oops, I'm there. I need it to warm up so I can play more tennis.

Anyway, I hope that reassures some of you who are trying to fight the weight battle.

Your thoughts?

FD

12 comments:

  1. BMI can be very misleading as it does not take body composition into account (lean tissue vs. fat tissue). The overly skinny model types are a very bad example to follow for multiple reasons. However, so is the BBW belief, because it perpetuates the myth that it is ok to be extremely overweight as long as you feel ok about it.

    While it is good to maintain a positive self image and everyone should strive for that, it doesn't matter how much you love your very large body, it is not healthy in the long run.

    The key is balance. Everyone should try to maintain a HEALTHY body, rather than chasing an unobtainable dream of skin and bones, or conversely, being content in an obese body destined for problems.

    This is a bit of a passionate subject for me, as it pertains to my former profession. Women (and men for that matter) should just ignore what healthy is supposed to LOOK like, and focus on what it is.

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  2. I have to agree that BMI readings can be very misleading. I can still remember a program that I watched in high school profiling a man whose BMI rating was 'obese', but who regularly ran marathons and was in excellent shape.

    I would also like to point out that girls who are "skinny" can still have curves. You would probably look at me and immediately say that I'm the type who could use a meal (but I really do eat three a day), but I still have curves. Maybe I'll post a picture on my blog sometime.

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  3. Oh FD,

    Yuor hitting me where it hurts with this post! While I am 'sized' well enough, I've been cheating by not going to the gym to stay fit. I told myself I was to go Monday and uh well with (insert excuse here) I've not gone. Just like my recently (albeit barely embraced) smoking habit I've quit, (in that 'one more won't matter') exercise holds the inverse promise of 'I'll go tomorrow - for sure'. In that regard your post is reminding me that it is the day, not the promise of the next, that matters. So tomorrow I'll... just kidding : ) !! Wear your wool on the court and have fun! BTW does shoveling count as my exercise? Hugs, KayLynn

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  4. As the new year starts, and so many make their resolutions, this seems a timely posting. After an enlightening conversation with HWMBA last year, I finally threw away my scales. When I eat properly, and exercise moderately, I feel fit and well....when I don't, I don't.... regardless of what the numbers on the scales say. So, I've agreed to monitor how I feel, not what I weigh. There's an incredible amount of freedom in that after a lifetime of being a slave to the scales!

    love and hugs xxx

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  5. I found it interesting and it made me rethink my weight loss goals.

    mouse

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  6. Well, as has been said, BMI is a rubbish measurement. Really doesn't mean anything. Simple waist measurement is far better.

    Also, I'm sure I've read somewhere that people who are slightly overweight have higher life expectancy (of course 'overweight' is just a statistical invention).

    40 inches!? That must depend on how tall you are right? Again as has been said, the individual knows themselves (deep down) whether they need to work on their fitness. I'm 5'10" and 155 pounds (and 32" waist) but I need to get to it because I just sit and hack code all day (or read blogs;).

    PL

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  7. It's nice to find men who say out loud that they prefer women with curves.

    I do think that it's possible to be fit and fat, or at least fitter than you would be if you weren't active. Do what you can, fitter is better.

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  8. I've always tried to focus more on fitness levels than actual weight loss or BMI. They have that on the Wii and I use it as a guide, but I've really been more interested in how I've been feeling since I started exercising again.

    I have more stamina and energy. I don't lost my breath like I used to. Today I cleaned the whole house in one go. One month ago I couldn't do that... it would have landed me in bed for two days. So I'd say I'm improving and I'm happy with that.

    spirited

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  9. spirited one,
    i just wanted to tell you that is a wonderful way to look at your goals. People often overlook the importance of measuring how they feel in their daily lives as an indicator of progress. If you can achieve life activities with more ease than before, you are getting somewhere.

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  10. I agree the BMI is crap! While I still have goals, I agree exercising and dieting for health is way more important than a number on the scale.
    Katia

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  11. Daisy: Very good point about maintaining balance and a positive self image. Way too many women don't have a positive self image and I think if you feel good about yourself, you project a good image.

    TrueBlue: Sorry, Blue, I didn't mean to suggest that skinny women don't have curves. Skinny women are considered very sexy in our society. I was just trying to reassure the women who aren't skinny. And feel free to post a picture on your blog.

    KayLynn: I'm sure shoveling snow counts as exercise (LOL) but I hope you're hitting the gym, too. Is a good spanking good for your health? LOL.

    M:e Good idea not being a slave to the scales as long as you eat properly and exercise moderately and feel fit and well. You seem to be on the right track.

    mouse: Do what's best for you.

    sfp: Congrats on being 5-10, 155 with a 32-inch waist. Sounds fit and sexy to me. I used to be 6-4 (I think I'm shrinking) and I try to stay around 200-205 but I'm up to 217 after the holidays. Need to hit the tennis courts more.

    sin: Yes, women with curves are sexy in my book. And good to hear that you're exercising again because it's so good for you.

    Daisy: Yes, how you feel is so important.

    Katia: Yes, exercising and dieting (or at least eating healthy) are the way to go.

    Thanks for all the comments and feel free to add your own thoughts.

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  12. i totally agree and thank you for posting this. i think far too much emphasis is placed on weight and not health, BMI, or facts such as being large framed... (i'd certainly die before making it to 130lbs because my body just is not made that way).
    Thanks for bringing this to light for many out there who may be looking at the scale far too much and not thinking of their health first.

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