what are your reasons for wanting to be thin?

wow you have an awful lot of questions......

well you had twiggy.....name speaks for itself

then you had marilyn monroe who was a beautiful women full figure or shall i say nice figure....

myquestions said:

just pondering, was the 'fat' in , in the 60's. like with maryn monroe?

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Weight is, to some degree, a fashion. And like other fashions it undergoes change. If you look at paintings during the renaissance, you'll find that many of the women are what we today might call "plump". That was the fashion of the day. And, as you've mentioned, during the time of Marylin Monroe, Americans seemed to prefer a higher fat percentage on the female body than would be desirable today. But as much as fashion changes, what's healthy does not.

One could certainly maintain a physique like that of Marylin Monroe and not be over-weight, but research has shown that caloric restriction is the only method thus far successful in slowing the affects of aging. Obviously, caloric restriction in this sense doesn't mean starving. It means getting enough to eat but not so much that you carry more weight than necessary for your height and bone structure. Statistically, people who are 5 to 10 pounds underweight, (as recommended by medical charts), tend to live longer than those who fit within the recommendation of those same medical charts.

But the key at any reasonable weight is to remain active. One can weigh in at the very lower limit for their height and still be unhealthy due to the type of foods they consume and a lack of exercise. One can also be a bit above the maximum weight recommended for their height and maintain good health through proper food choices and a reasonable exercise program.

Beastt said:

That wasn't rambling at all. I think you made some very valuable observations. Obviously, I don't make the same attempts as most others to factor God into the equation. But I think the outcome is remarkably similar whether you do or don't.

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Oh, OK, I see by your avatar you have an "Atheist - logic and reason" background. I guess we differ on our views of how humans came about. Whatever the base belief system, humans are indeed pretty remarkable. Not to sway too far from the topic but I'm just curious what brought you into a Christian forum in the first place? Not judging, just curious. I noticed there are several in here with the same beliefs as yours.

i'm pretty thin to begin with, but i'm very short and i dance and do karate but i want to be a pro dancer sumday and right now since i'm short all my muscles build up in my legs and i think they look fat.... all my friends say i don't but i'm really self concious(i know thats bad) about that....but i want to start pilates cuz that's supposed to make your muscles lenghthen and all...i don't want to lose weight...this is gonna sound stupid...but i want my muscles to shrink a little...

2Bhumble said:

Oh, OK, I see by your avatar you have an "Atheist - logic and reason" background. I guess we differ on our views of how humans came about. Whatever the base belief system, humans are indeed pretty remarkable. Not to sway too far from the topic but I'm just curious what brought you into a Christian forum in the first place? Not judging, just curious. I noticed there are several in here with the same beliefs as yours.

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It's certainly a fair question and it's one that is asked fairly frequently. In fact, there have been a number of threads started with that specific question posed to atheists.

I suppose I originally came here to try to understand the other side of the issue more fully. I wasn't always an atheist. I spent the first 33-years of my life with a very strong belief in a supreme creator/God. But I reached a point in my life where it seemed that all I had been told simply didn't measure up to reality. Eventually I had to choose and I chose reality over what I had been told to believe. Since making that choice I find that things seem to make sense when they never really did before. I don't have to subscribe to the idea that "the Lord works in mysterious ways", or any of the other common cliches designed to cover for inconsistencies.

Since becoming active on the forum I've learned a lot that I hadn't known before about Christian doctrines and Christians as a whole. And as an observation only, I've become even more firm in my atheist beliefs as a result. I've been checking in on another recent thread which has a poll concerning beliefs before CF and beliefs after having been here for a while. I find the results interesting to say the least. When last I checked there were 88 voters. 26.14% are Christians who state that their faith has strengthened. 4.55% are Christians who state that their faith has weakened. 37.5% are non-Christians who state that their disbelief in Christianity has strengthened. 1.14% are non-Christians who state that their disbelief in Christianity has weakened. Here's the interesting part for me; 1.14% are former non-Christians who have converted to Christianity while 13.64% are former Christians who have deconverted from Christianity.

I suppose the reason I remain here is because I feel that there is a degree of damage done by Christian beliefs. I should immediately follow that by saying that it certainly has some beneficial results as well. But, as with the current topic, Christianity supports beliefs which can lead to poor health and premature death. If I can present alternative beliefs which might help someone avoid suffering or limit the cruelty demonstrated through some of these beliefs, I feel I will have contributed something positive.

Beastt said:

It's certainly a fair question and it's one that is asked fairly frequently. In fact, there have been a number of threads started with that specific question posed to atheists...

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OK, thanks for giving me your explanation! (quote was shortened to save room).

looking2heaven said:

i'm pretty thin to begin with, but i'm very short and i dance and do karate but i want to be a pro dancer sumday and right now since i'm short all my muscles build up in my legs and i think they look fat.... all my friends say i don't but i'm really self concious(i know thats bad) about that....but i want to start pilates cuz that's supposed to make your muscles lenghthen and all...i don't want to lose weight...this is gonna sound stupid...but i want my muscles to shrink a little...

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Be proud of those muscles!!! I figured skated all through highschool and my mom would always tease me for having a skater's butt and thighs because they were so muscular. It really bugged me for a while and made me fairly self-conscious, but I've finally come to appreciate my muscles and my shape and I can say without hesitation: "I love my butt!"

So be proud of your muscles, because in this day and age having well-shaped muscles at all is something to be proud of. Good luck with your dancing!

-Ashley

I would say if you are not happy with your calves try pilates, or just go and talk to them and se what they have to say, got nothing to lose......

looking2heaven said:

i'm pretty thin to begin with, but i'm very short and i dance and do karate but i want to be a pro dancer sumday and right now since i'm short all my muscles build up in my legs and i think they look fat.... all my friends say i don't but i'm really self concious(i know thats bad) about that....but i want to start pilates cuz that's supposed to make your muscles lenghthen and all...i don't want to lose weight...this is gonna sound stupid...but i want my muscles to shrink a little...

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Pilates won't lenthen your muscles. That's impossible.

If you really want your muscles to shrink, you're going to have lose weight and stop doing whatever it was that got you those muscles in the first place. But given how tough it is for women to put on muscle, I'd say that your friends are probably right and any attempt to cause your muscles to atrophy will wind up being quite unhealthy.

Bigrob

may i pm you a question?

Go for it.

Because the corps frowns on fat bodies. "Thin" sounds gross though. Lean sounds better. I dont really care though, as long as im shape, im not too worried about my figure.

I'm eating disordered, so my reasons might be different then other peoples, but here you go...

x. because I feel I'm supposed to want to be thin
x. because many people seem to think a thin woman is more beautiful and desireable than an overweight or even normal weight woman
x. because the best clothes seem only to come in smaller sizes and a lot of junior-type fashions, which I like to wear, aren't available for heavier women
x. I feel more confident about myself the thinner I get
x. because one gets complimented when they lose weight, but no one ever says "you've gotten fat, you look fabulous!"
x. because thinness is associated with being successful, controlled and having strong will power, while being overweight is sometimes thought of as being sloppy, lazy or unable to control oneself.
x. because there doesn't seem to be much room for heavier women in society, especialy with all those "no fat chicks" bumper stickers
x. because people insult women who are overweight
x. because I like the way I look when I'm at my thinnest
x. because there is a certain sense of satisfaction in being thinner than others

Also, I agree with this...

The reason I want to be thin is because I love the look of skin stretching over bones. Don't get grossed out lol. I like the shape. I think bones are beautiful and all the fatness of flesh ruins it. I like to see my collarbones and hipbones etc and see the way the skin stretches over it and you can see it's shape.

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Big Rob said:

Chicks don't dig fat guys. That about sums it up for me.

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Well, I think that there would be an even higher divorce rate if this were true?
Ofcourse you are referring to dating?

Feral,

i am on the same page as you,

but you said.... because one gets complimented when they lose weight



Not anymore......

for me i thinik more of a control issue, and i am strong willed , sorry to say... now all i do is get pity looks....and have no contol anymore....

Feral, some of these reasons bother me. Some make sense.

feral said:

I'm eating disordered, so my reasons might be different then other peoples, but here you go...

x. because I feel I'm supposed to want to be thin

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That shouldn't matter - do you have to lose weight for health reasons?

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x. because many people seem to think a thin woman is more beautiful and desireable than an overweight or even normal weight woman
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Again, who cares what others think? When you look in a mirror, do you like what you look like? More important, do you feel good?

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x. because the best clothes seem only to come in smaller sizes and a lot of junior-type fashions, which I like to wear, aren't available for heavier women
x. I feel more confident about myself the thinner I get
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But is that a reason to lose a lot of weight? I understand this problem though. Some larger women I know describe clothes for larger women as being little better than drapes and there's not a lot of designs out there for them.

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x. because one gets complimented when they lose weight, but no one ever says "you've gotten fat, you look fabulous!"
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I've actually said that to people who were too thin. Remember - too thin is unhealthy and unattractive too, regardless of what some models look like.

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x. because thinness is associated with being successful, controlled and having strong will power, while being overweight is sometimes thought of as being sloppy, lazy or unable to control oneself.
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Sadly, that perception is true. The reality is, that perception is wrong and that being overweight has a large genetic component.

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x. because there doesn't seem to be much room for heavier women in society, especialy with all those "no fat chicks" bumper stickers
x. because people insult women who are overweight
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So because of a few jerks, you'd put your health at risk?

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x. because I like the way I look when I'm at my thinnest
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Do you think you look good at your thinnest or do others tell you that?

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x. because there is a certain sense of satisfaction in being thinner than others
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Hmm . . . there is a satisfaction in losing weight that you've put on that made you feel bad and affected your health and hitting your target weight feels great.

What I'm trying to say is that you're okay the way you are. If you're losing weight because you are unhealthy, and do it under doctor's supervision, great. Otherwise, you shouldn't do it because what you think others think of you. They probably don't think what you think they do. My 2 cents, FWIW.
Peace.

FlatpickingDJ,

Do you think you look good at your thinnest or do others tell you that?

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Both. I like how I look and I love it when someone else does too. My best friend, a guy, is really complimentary when I'm very thin, even takes me shopping. If I'm normal weight he doesn't pay as much attention to me, and he's gay so it's not like trying to look sexy for a boyfriend, it's trying to be bone thin.

Again, who cares what others think? When you look in a mirror, do you like what you look like? More important, do you feel good?

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When I look in the mirror I am always dissatisfied. I always see the need to lose more weight, so I do it. I feel happier, proud of myself and more content, when I see that I've lost weight.

I've actually said that to people who were too thin. Remember - too thin is unhealthy and unattractive too, regardless of what some models look like.

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No one can ever be too thin for me. I love bones and the heroin chic look, I don't think Kate Moss is too thin, or really anyone. Fashion models at their thinnest are basically perfect examples of what I want to look like. Again, I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, so obviously my standards and social norms are two different things.

Thanks!
Ivy