Yes, I finally realised that there are things that I want to do that I want to be fit to do. I always say that I started trying to get fit and then realised that I was losing weight as I did it, rather than the other way round. I have as many fitness related goals as I do weight related ones, and regardless of whether my weight is socially acceptable or not, I'd still want to run a marathon.

I never felt like society made me want to lose weight. I made it to 26 without ever attempting to go on a diet or lose weight. I started doing it when I decided to do it, for me. Society had nothing to do with my decision in the first place, so I doubt it would have changed a thing.

Originally Posted by Meg:
I think being fat - or at least overweight - *IS* acceptable now. With 2/3 of American adults being overweight or obese, it's certainly the norm. Being a normal weight is being a member of a minority group these days. :dizzy:

Originally Posted by Tani:
I think Meg brings up a really good point too. I felt more like one of the masses when I was overweight. Being a "normal" bmi isn't that normal anymore.

I agree about overweight Americans, but to some extent I think it varies by location. Where I live, being overweight I am definitely the minority. However, I used to travel a lot for work and was struck by the higher percentage of overweight people in many other regions. Away from home, I felt a little more "normal."

probably not :o



im so young i dont feel the health risks... and at 138 i dont think i am putting myself at risk (im in the healthy bmi range)

at 170 i wasnt though.... so that was good motivation to lose.

however i think i have struggled so long between 145-132. i keep bouncing around because i feel okay. its like sheesh- im a size 6.... why do i still feel this pressure to be a 2-4?? even though i know i def have some extra wieght on me (small frame) and would look more esthetically pleasing if i lost 10 ish lbs.... i dont feel that bad where i am so the motivation is just... eh.

but if i didnt feel like i would be more esthetically plasing (as in there werent socital norms that dictated that) i think i would have 0 motivation.


of course thats impossible for me to completely imagine because our cultural norms are all i really know.

I agree that being at a healthy weight is a minority in America, but it's definitely hard to feel that way when you spend your days on a college campus-- surrounded by tiny blonde girls wearing their hair in those messy buns and wearing shirts that expose their flat stomachs with ultra-low-rise jeans... and this is winter! I mean, I'm only a few pounds overweight but I am definitely considered fat here: in every single one of my classes I am either the fattest girl or in the top 3. It doesn't feel good.

To answer the question, I think I still would have wanted to lose weight even if society appreciated a bigger size... when I gain weight I get really barrel-y, and apparently the inches around your waist are very good indicators of health. (However, I probably would be content staying at the weight I am now, or even a bit bigger!)

I'd still do it.

Partly for health reasons (I freaked out when my blood work at 25 mentioned "significant rise in LDL colesterol"--no kidding, what *would* it be in 5 or 10 years then?).

And partly because no matter what society dictates, "being fat" is not acceptable *to me*. It's not acceptable for me to be short of breath when walking a little fast or carrying the laundry in the stairs... and not acceptable to feel blob instead of firm flesh and muscle under my skin *lol* No, seriously, accepted or not, it'd be painful all the same.

I always thought that was kind of the problem, I mean that we (everybody) think about it and discuss it in terms of "fat" and "thin", rather than say healthy and unhealthy, fit and unfit. I can think of plenty of thin people, who conform to society's dictates on what is acceptable or beautiful but actually look like they're about to drop :soap:.

I would have wanted to lose weight - being heavy was so uncomfortable. I used to hate cutting my toenails because it was so painful to bend in the middle and crush my belly against my thigh. It's so blissfully wonderful to just prop my foot up casually and cut my toenails without any shortness of breath! I also hated the chafing - I remember one time walking around Vancouver with my boyfriend on a warm, summer day. I was wearing a sun dress and I got so sweaty that I rubbed huge painful welts on the inside of my thights. I was in such pain, I could barely walk (I waddled, with my legs apart!) and he wasn't very sympathetic :\ After that, I always carried talc in my purse.

I do a lot of travel for work - I'm always so pleased how ROOMY airline seats are now. Plenty of space :)

Yeah, even if being fat were celebrated in every movie/magazine, I think I would have wanted to be thinner. It just feels better.

I was quite happy with myself at my largest size, and in my workplace and peer group was not the biggest. My workplace has more fat managers than skinny ones (quite scary when you consider we are britains largest health insurer)

For me there were two motivating factors. My family history was the first, both parents with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and a sound history of ischaemic heart disease. Being my weight and height at 32, an accident waiting to happen.

The second was that I wanted a job in our clinical division, and I honestly felt at my weight being a representative of a company with the slogan "the health and care people" was quite fraudulent at my weight. I even put my weight loss goals on my personal development plan!!! Much to my managers amusement. Who was crying when review time came and I had exceeded my goal to lose 50 lbs in year one, as well as meeting my goal to get a job in the clinical division.

The only pressure I felt was from myself. Sure I would look at nice clothes shops somewhat wistfully, but if I cared THAT much about pretty clothes, I wouldn't have got in this state in the first place!

If it were acceptable?
 

Being overweight in this society will never be acceptable again, despite a little news report I saw that said we're becoming more accepting. But who determines what "overweight" is? We're so used to admiring women who wear size 4, 2, and 0s, that size 12 is considered enormous. (Even Meg Cabot entitled her new book "Size 12 Is Not Fat." It's not a declaration of acceptance, but a plaintive cry by the protagonist.)

If it were acceptable, I would feel under less pressure to lose weight quickly. I could learn to live with my body as I go along.

While health seems to be a driving factor for a lot of repondents (which is the best reason I can think of), I think the majority of us, whether we admit it publicly or not, are doing it for vanity, because we feel unloved as we are, and we have bought into the fantasy that "thin" equals "happy."

I learned something from watching the dog show the other day. I don't think St. Bernards ever waste time and energy trying to be chihuahuas. They seem perfectly comfortable with being St. Bernards and there are people who love St. Bernards for what they are. I've got to start thinking like a St. Bernard.

I can't do what I want physically with extra weight. Eating "whatever I want" is a lousy trade-off for walking around or even sitting comfortably. My back hurts, my knee is acting up and my ankle is a mess... and that's just the obvious. I can't see my heart. There's no way this will ever be acceptable to ME!

I think being overweight requires fooling yourself into thinking it's not that bad. No one is that good of a liar!

I would want to be skinny. I used to be skinny, but on weight do to poor choices and now I want my "old" body back. I felt much better and had more energy. I can say I never liked being over weight and would never choose to be so even if it was acceptable.

I'd still want to lose the weight. I've always been overweight, so I don't know what it's like to be able to just jump up and go do something on a whim, I don't know what it's like to be able to shop for clothes at a mall, I don't know what it's like to not be out of breath when I go up 4 flights of stairs.

I know what it's like to be unhealthy, because I am very unhealthy right now. Now, I want to know what it's like to be fit, healthy, and happy with myself. Yes, I have a weight loss goal, but my ultimate goal is so much more than just losing weight.