Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

why would you date anyone, if you are married?

The simple fact is this: BMI indexes are a load of Bullsh**. At the age of 26, I became a Type I diabetic (Insulin Dependent)...I wasn't overweight (save for maybe what remained of the "freshman 15" that I got in college. But I didn't know I had diabetes for several months, and my weight dropped down to 143lbs before I was able to get to the doctor (I was waiting for my health insurance to kick in...long story, and beside the point). I am 5'10" tall. I was skin and bones. Walking up a very slight incline wore me out. As I kid, I could run up an entire mountain without hardly losing my breath. Now standing for very long was painful. My knees were so bony I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs because it hurt when I laid on my side. My point is this: The BMI calculator says that at 5'10", and 143lbs, I am a healthy weight. In fact I'm a good 2 points above the "low" end of the healthy scale...yet I was probably weeks from death. Don't throw BMI calculators out there because they're crap. They don't take into account muscle mass, fat %, etc...You realize that according to that scale, Arnold Schwarzenegger is obese! I'm not blaming the authors, just the stupid people who tout the BMI calculators!

I think the main problem is that people focus on a certain 'look' instead of a person's actual thrive toward a healthier lifestyle. If a man or woman excerises regularly and eats healthily and yet still isn't considered to be 'normal' looking (in other words thin) then they are immediately classified as unhealthy. However, there are people who, no matter, what will have different body types. Some women are meant to have more curves while others are meant to be in-between and some are just destined to be thin no matter what they eat or do. Genetics plays a large part in it as well as lifestyle. There aren't many women out there who are happy with their bodies despite what they look like. Even the thinnest of celebrities want a 'better' body. Even the skinniest of women want a 'flatter stomach'. It's insane and will never end until women start worrying about their health regardless of the size of their tush. You can be thin and be considered 'normal' but be the unhealthiest person out there. If you aren't active, eating healthily or exercising regularly then you aren't living a healthy lifestyle and therefore aren't as healthy as you could be. So thankfully there are researchers who are acknowledging that there are women and men who do live healthier lifestyles and who are healthy despite the fact that they don't have the 'BMI' that scientists have come up with.

I think the main problem is that people focus on a certain 'look' instead of a person's actual thrive toward a healthier lifestyle. If a man or woman excerises regularly and eats healthily and yet still isn't considered to be 'normal' looking (in other words thin) then they are immediately classified as unhealthy. However, there are people who no matter what will have different body types. Some women are meant to have more curves while others are meant to be in-between and some are just thin. Genetics plays a large part in it as well along with lifestyle. There aren't many women out there who are happy with their bodies despite what they look like. Even the thinnest of celebrities want a 'better' body. Even the skinniest of women want a 'flatter stomach'. It's insane and will never end until women start worrying about their health regardless of the size of their tush. You can be thin and be considered 'normal' but be the unhealthiest person out there. If you aren't active, eat healthily or exercise regularly then you aren't living a healthy lifestyle and therefore aren't as healthy as you could be. So thankfully there are researchers who are acknowledging that there are women and men who do live healthier lifestyles and who are healthy despite the fact that they don't have the 'BMI' that scientists have come up with.

I am a 28 y/o who works out regularly at a gym, because I'm trying to lose the 45 lbs I've put on the past couple of years. But no, I don't care if I ever fit into some "perfect" size 2. I just don't want to be overweight anymore. I CERTAINLY don't want to walk arould looking like I'm starving, or look like some supermodel. I could care less about such superficial junk.







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I totally agree with babs1971. I started losing weight back in 2005. I was 249 lbs and totally unhappy. I joined a gym and started working out. I also watched everything I ate. I got down to 180lbs. For my height of 5'8 I thought I looked good. That didn't last long. I used to hate to shop for clothes when I was "fat", but when I lost the weight, I was able to wear fashionable, "normal", clothes. But, because of society, I started being unsatisfied with my weight again. I started working out even harder. When I thought that wasn't giving me the results that I wanted to see, I began to take diet pills. I didn't know how skinny I wanted to be. Ijust knew I wasn't happy with where I was. I started hating myself because it just seemed like I would forever remain fat. I didn't know what to do. I stsrted withdrawing from everyone because became too depressed and obsessed with losing weight. Finally, a good friend of mine told me I should probably see a psychologist. I did. That was the best thing I ever did. I found out my unhappiness was not because of my weight, but had to do with my past. I now visit my therapist regularly and I love myself! WOW! What a difference a therapist makes. Good luck to everyone!!!!

I agree that people, females particularly, are caving to society pressures. I once weighed 345lbs at 5'11". My height helped 'hide' the fact I weighed that much. My family/friends were shocked. Once I lost the weight and I am now down to 180-190 lbs I have friends that will comment when I gain a little. I just say it is none of the business and it is between my doctor and I. I didn't use surgery or pills but good, old fashioned diet and exercise! I watched what I ate and went to the gym. I wasn't embarressed. I gained the weight following medical issues. The problem with today's society is fast food and the fast paced society we live in. Parents can't or don't want to take the time to cook meals. I don't have children but I do have 7 nieces and nephews. The oldest is 8 and he will eat a salad over chicken nuggets. My sister/brothers are raising their children how we were raised: McDonald's and dining out in general is a once a month treat. They don't allow the children to sit around playing video games all night/day. The kids get out play. Even when its COLD outside. It's called putting on a coat and hat. Remember those??? You have to motivate you children and teach them proper eating habits when they are young or you end up with the society we have now. I work in the medical field and see it all the time. Teenage girls wanting to see a dietician to lose weight when for all intent and purposes they should gain 10lbs! But, try to tell them that!
You don't have to be stick thin. What happened to the day when a size 8 or 10 or 12 was acceptable?? My boyfriend doesn't care that I was once heavy and still have the "after effects" from the weight loss. He commends me for being able to keep the weight off when too many people gain it back. For me it's easy...I want to stay healthy and not have ongoing pain issues, etc.
Who cares what society thinks, they are not you or your family. They are not the ones that love you or will care for you when you are sick from going to extremes to be thin. They are not the ones who will cry at your funeral for going to far.....
Bottom line: Eat healthy and exercise without thought to society pressure!

I once weighed 345 lbs and now I'm at190 and I am 5'11" tall. My height helped distribute the weight so my family/frieds were shocked once I disclosed how much I had truly weighed. Now when I lose/gain the littlest bit comments are made by 'friends'. I then say to them that my doctor is comfortable with my weight as am I and to leave me alone. I don't fall for society pressure and never have. I lost weight after gaining it after medical procedures. My cholesteral was never high when I was heavy and I was never diabetic. that is a false assumption society makes as well.
It is a shame designers are changing the sizing to make society "feel" better. It is a yet another false perception women/girls do not need at this time. The "Hollywood' people put enough pressure w/out the stylist doing it to. I work in the medical field and have seen one too many teenages come in wanting to see the dietician to 'lose' weight. They don't need to!!! Society has changed for the worse regarding this issue. When I was young we were always outside on our bikes and we walked to a lot of places with our friends. Now, kids play on the computer and play video games and eat junk food. I don't have children of my own by have a total of 7 neices and nephews who are learning at young ages to eat healthy. Just like when we were kids, for them going to McDonalds is a once a month treat rather than a daily meal. That is the problem today.

I think the author has a good point that the thinnest women are more susceptable to "societal pressures" to be thin. I am 5' 3" and am 51. Eight months ago I weighed 125 and looked and felt great. Then I had surgery and lost 18 lbs. My family and friends all rave about how I look now, leading me to wonder if they thought I was fat before surgery. Certainly, I now feel much more pressure to remain "thin." I hate that regardless of who we are, how old we are, and what we have accomplished, everyone, including me, thinks of us as a dress size.

Where does it end? You get a little junk in the trunk and everyone wants to say that your obese. Well that just toasts my muffins. Perhaps if I walked around like a used stick from a orange sherbert then everyone would be happy.

So, now does EVERYONE need to be a size 0 because if one is not, then they are lazy???? )-:

I don't like what is being said here, because I am a size 0. And hearing that a larger person can fit into a size 2 wich is the next size up, well that just makes me feel fat. Hearing that a regular size 8 can fit into a size 2. that just makes all the people who try hard to get there size 0 now dont get all the credit. If you keep tricking the mind that your thin when your really over weight thats not healthy at all.

From experience, I know that "too thin" is NOT attractive, and neither is "too fat". But to say EVERYONE has to be within a certain range irregardless of genetics, age, body build, etc.--there should be more than just one tool. It is the lifestyle that matters, and moderation is the key to everything--too much exercise is not always healthy, neither is too little. Too much food, and the wrong kinds of food, are not healthy. But, neither is too little (there are people out there who don't eat enough to maintain their bodies and totally rely on supplement. And, for us "recovering" (even though you never really recover) anorexics, eating and exercising "normally" without becoming OC about it, is difficult enough, as it is.

to the person below me I would highly suggest that you do some more research... In your OPINION what you stated may very well be true. However there can be many contributing factors. I know that in my personal experience I am over weight, nor considered obese by any degree but do not over eat in any regard, I exercise 5 days a week and I have a healthy diet where as my sister who is a size 0 does none of the above. there are genetic factors and there are also other things to take into consideration. Your problem may have been that you were over eating and not properly taking care of yourself however that is not everyones issue... Do some reseach on medical sights it may open up your eyes a little