Poll: Would being "skinny fat" be better to you than being grossly overweight?
- Thread starter alphaX
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Jericho
New member
I think this is a bit of a bad poll just because of this being a tainted pool. People are here to lose weight right? Well, since the goal is to lose weight, it's very natural to assume that people are trying NOT to be grossly overweight as it goes against the whole reason of being here.
And what's with all the physical based polls lately?
And what's with all the physical based polls lately?
alphaX
New member
Well, we are all products of our environments. One could potentially think themselves to look better at 35 BMI with 14% body fat than one would at 22 BMI with 20% body fat. After all, few would be able to tell unless they saw you naked.
Personally, I like being able to fit into off-the-shelf designer label clothes. That wasn't possible before because if the shoulders and chest fit, the arms were 20cm too long.
Personally, I like being able to fit into off-the-shelf designer label clothes. That wasn't possible before because if the shoulders and chest fit, the arms were 20cm too long.
Jeanette401
New member
I voted for 'skinny-fat' but that's because the other choice is 'grossly overweight'.
If it was muscular & moderately overweight I may have gone for that, but being grossly overweight is just too damn hard on the joints and the body overall. I feel like I have loads more stamina just because I'm not lugging around the extra weight, even with muscle loss. However, I'm still riding the borderline BMI-wise between normal and overweight, and if my alternatives were to keep my existing fat and gain 5-10 lbs of muscle, or to lose 10 more lbs of muscle and 15 lbs of fat to be 'skinny fat' I'd choose to stay where I am. (I stayed at the low end of the 'overweight' BMI scale for 5 years because wearing size 8 jeans isn't so shabby)
If it was muscular & moderately overweight I may have gone for that, but being grossly overweight is just too damn hard on the joints and the body overall. I feel like I have loads more stamina just because I'm not lugging around the extra weight, even with muscle loss. However, I'm still riding the borderline BMI-wise between normal and overweight, and if my alternatives were to keep my existing fat and gain 5-10 lbs of muscle, or to lose 10 more lbs of muscle and 15 lbs of fat to be 'skinny fat' I'd choose to stay where I am. (I stayed at the low end of the 'overweight' BMI scale for 5 years because wearing size 8 jeans isn't so shabby)
xxfoofoolafluff
New member
can i ask what "skinny fat" is? never heard the term? is it a US thing?
Big D
New member
it may be, but I've heard a number of my Aussie friends use it as well. Basically, as I understand it, someone of average or 'normal' weight who has a high body fat percentage. so they're skinny, but they're fat in relation to their lean mass.
Myself, I've known most skinnyfat types to be rather weak. By most accounts, I'm pretty strong and powerful. It's harder I think to give that up than fat. moreso, I'd rather be fat and strong where I can diet down and work to maintain my strength, which will increase relatively when I'm not lugging around and extra 50-75 lbs, vs working out like a madman to gain strength to come up to match what I already have.
Myself, I've known most skinnyfat types to be rather weak. By most accounts, I'm pretty strong and powerful. It's harder I think to give that up than fat. moreso, I'd rather be fat and strong where I can diet down and work to maintain my strength, which will increase relatively when I'm not lugging around and extra 50-75 lbs, vs working out like a madman to gain strength to come up to match what I already have.
Most skinny-fat people in my experience are weak, too. But my answer, as noted, was based on the things I love to do. The things I love to do require stamina over grueling terrain and I've yet to meet a 400+ lb mountain climber.
I've climbed with some big guys... nobody I'd label as "grossly overweight," but still big. Some played D1 football. And carrying around all that extra mass simply doesn't work for climbing.
On the flip side, I've climbed with plenty of skinny-fat guys who might get crushed under a 135 lb bar in the weight room... but they can still climb a mountain... albeit struggle a bit due to cardiorespiratory conditioning.
I've climbed with some big guys... nobody I'd label as "grossly overweight," but still big. Some played D1 football. And carrying around all that extra mass simply doesn't work for climbing.
On the flip side, I've climbed with plenty of skinny-fat guys who might get crushed under a 135 lb bar in the weight room... but they can still climb a mountain... albeit struggle a bit due to cardiorespiratory conditioning.
WineDeer
New member
I understood the question as being skinny fat or being obviously fat.
I didn't understand the second option was "healthy" and "strong" -- even if you're a little bit overweight.
Being "grossly overweight" is not healthy. If you're a body builder and your BMI can reach 35 and be healthy, then yes, I would prefer that.
If it's 35% BMI and no, I'm not healthier, then no, I wouldn't want that.
I didn't understand the second option was "healthy" and "strong" -- even if you're a little bit overweight.
Being "grossly overweight" is not healthy. If you're a body builder and your BMI can reach 35 and be healthy, then yes, I would prefer that.
If it's 35% BMI and no, I'm not healthier, then no, I wouldn't want that.
Big D
New member
yeah, I hear you on the climbing. Most of my favorite activities involve playing on stage, working with wood, including volunteering building homes, blacksmithing and motorcycles. Endurance takes on a lot of different forms I guess. You'd be amazed how many people barely make it past lunch.
Jeanette401
New member
When I was heavier I might have been stronger but I don't know about strong from an objective standpoint 
You can be grossly overweight and still pretty weaksauce.
Of course, I'm not skinny-fat - or skinny. So 'neither' is obviously my real answer
You can be grossly overweight and still pretty weaksauce.Of course, I'm not skinny-fat - or skinny. So 'neither' is obviously my real answer
I know when I reach my goal I will be skinny fat to a degree and I have accepted it. I didnt start out lifting weights properly, then stopped due to a hip problem.
That said, I would rather be skinny fat and lift and eat to get strength while having the appearance (at least with clothes on) that i want, than have to lift and not eat while not having the appearance I want.
That said, I would rather be skinny fat and lift and eat to get strength while having the appearance (at least with clothes on) that i want, than have to lift and not eat while not having the appearance I want.
clever_plant
New member
I am lacking a definition of skinny fat but I voted the, apparently, unpopular no because it is a health thing for me more than a getting laid thing and well.. being skinny fat basically means, if I understand the term right, that your body is not healthy, while being overweight (grossly or not... I don't know what that means specifically) doesn't have to mean that you have shitty cardiovascular health.
But I mean... I'd rather be neither... really
and it is hard to answer since there isnt' really any health status indicated in the poll.. humm.. dunno.
But I mean... I'd rather be neither... really
and it is hard to answer since there isnt' really any health status indicated in the poll.. humm.. dunno.
ChefChiTown
New member
I'm not sure I 100% understand the question. What exactly is "skinny fat"...??? I mean, besides the nickname for my penis.
Harold14370
New member
Yes, it kind of describes me. Close to normal BMI, still too high a body fat percentage. It doesn't imply poor cardiovascular health, necessarily.
My response was 'yes' simply as a matter of which would be easier for me to start from to get to where I want to be. Weight loss is hard for me, but I'd rather be close or within my healthy weight range and start training to be healthier than starting from a 'grossly overweight' position, even if I were already 'healthy' at that point. For me personally, though I am female, I seem to shape my muscles up quite easily (I don't know if that means I build muscle more easily than other females, it is just I see fairly quick results when I work at them), so I believe, too, that contributes to the logic in my answer.
I really enjoy outdoor activities and believe fully that enjoying them while being thinner is a lot easier than while being overweight. Perfect example: I'd say I was more likely 'skinny fat' before summertime about 5-6 years ago when I had lost some weight on the South Beach Diet... I looked pretty good though. That summer was filled with activities I might have been too shy to do had I not felt comfy in a bathing suit (silly reason, I know, but most girls are probably with me on this). However, I was more 'healthy', albeit technically obese, after the birth of my daughter 1.5yrs ago. Yes, I know, baby weight, but weight nonetheless. I felt too huge to do anything I normally loved to do: kayaking, beach volleyball, jogging, tubing, sailing, etc. Not that I had much time for these activities with a newborn, but when family offered to watch the baby for me to go and have some fun, I was too embarrassed to do these things and chose to just take the time to sleep or rest.
I also understand the concept when talking about hiking/climbing, but my thoughts are a little different- not my favorite activity to do but my husband and I did climb Mt. Fuji, and yes, that kind of hiking nearly killed me. The couple we went with had no problem and made it up a few hours before we did (of course, my girlfriend was in fantastic shape and her boyfriend was working in Japan as a kickboxing competitor LOL could we have picked a worse couple to climb with given our shape?!). I wasn't in the best of shape at that point, though at the time I thought I was with having been playing soccer regularly- I sheepishly confess that the altitude hit me hard, too, but the reality was I wasn't nearly as fit as I thought I was. But, I wasn't skinny. So just call me out of shape and overweight ;-) But, I made it!! I was barely over the healthy BMI threshold at the time. Anyway, The climbing with extra weight would have been nearly impossible as I believe in my personal experience that the altitude would make that extra weight even more difficult to move. I'd rather hoof it up as an out-of-shape skinny girl because though those around me would have heard lots of whining, I believe I would still have made it up to the top for sunrise (a magnificent sunrise, BTW).
I really enjoy outdoor activities and believe fully that enjoying them while being thinner is a lot easier than while being overweight. Perfect example: I'd say I was more likely 'skinny fat' before summertime about 5-6 years ago when I had lost some weight on the South Beach Diet... I looked pretty good though. That summer was filled with activities I might have been too shy to do had I not felt comfy in a bathing suit (silly reason, I know, but most girls are probably with me on this). However, I was more 'healthy', albeit technically obese, after the birth of my daughter 1.5yrs ago. Yes, I know, baby weight, but weight nonetheless. I felt too huge to do anything I normally loved to do: kayaking, beach volleyball, jogging, tubing, sailing, etc. Not that I had much time for these activities with a newborn, but when family offered to watch the baby for me to go and have some fun, I was too embarrassed to do these things and chose to just take the time to sleep or rest.
I also understand the concept when talking about hiking/climbing, but my thoughts are a little different- not my favorite activity to do but my husband and I did climb Mt. Fuji, and yes, that kind of hiking nearly killed me. The couple we went with had no problem and made it up a few hours before we did (of course, my girlfriend was in fantastic shape and her boyfriend was working in Japan as a kickboxing competitor LOL could we have picked a worse couple to climb with given our shape?!). I wasn't in the best of shape at that point, though at the time I thought I was with having been playing soccer regularly- I sheepishly confess that the altitude hit me hard, too, but the reality was I wasn't nearly as fit as I thought I was. But, I wasn't skinny. So just call me out of shape and overweight ;-) But, I made it!! I was barely over the healthy BMI threshold at the time. Anyway, The climbing with extra weight would have been nearly impossible as I believe in my personal experience that the altitude would make that extra weight even more difficult to move. I'd rather hoof it up as an out-of-shape skinny girl because though those around me would have heard lots of whining, I believe I would still have made it up to the top for sunrise (a magnificent sunrise, BTW).
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