Picture vs. Reality

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2005
Picture vs. Reality
33
Sun, 06-18-2006 - 8:27pm
I just met someone from Match who doesn't look like his picture. The picture must be old and about 20 pounds ago. He also claimed to be "toned and athletic." NO WAY. I am getting frustrated with all this. Aren't there any honest people any more?????
Avatar for northwestwanderer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 7:24pm

I think it can really depend on where you live and other cultural factors like that. I can't imagine many guys here really thinking that a healthy, in-shape size 8 woman with a BMI of 21 is "fat", but in places like NY or LA, I could definitely see more men thinking that.

But no, you're not going to make anyone think differently...but who cares about "most men"? Even if you eliminate 90% of men (and I can't imagine that you would have to eliminate that many as a size 8), that's still a lot of guys. I haven't seen a size 8 or BMI below 30 in a *long* time ;-), but there are still plenty of men who find me attractive.

Sheri

Avatar for travkitty
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2003
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 7:31pm
Remember that according to BMI, Tom Cruise is overweight.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2003
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 8:44pm

I dont think this topic is particularly touchy for women. Men like women have weight issues and have hard time admitting it.

I ve met couple of guys who were more on the thin side but described their body type as Fit instead of Slim. I feel sorry for guys who are size 0 and think they are fit. Both underweight and overweight are as far from being Fit.

Also I have to mention here the beer bellly problem in some guys. It makes them look so unproportionate and ugly. I must say a woman with curves is ten times better looking than a man with flat butt and sticks legs and a huge round belly!
I m a size 2 who has some muscle mass but I do think some women look best when they are size 6 or 8. It all depends on how toned they are afterall and the confidence they have in themselves.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2005
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 9:01pm
I'm 5'8" and when I was 140, thought I was "fat"!! Now that I'm 165, I'm being less harsh on myself and consider myself "average".. Yes, I could/will drop the punds back off, but when I look around at the store/mall/restaurant/work.. whatever, I see myself bigger than some and smaller than others... thus, average.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2005
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 9:09pm

I'm 5'8" and can't remember every being size 6 or 8. I went from wearing guys' jeans in jr high 28x32, I think to size 11/12 in high school and have hovered there ever since. I do have at least an average bone structure, if not large and am strong, but I am not fat and never have been.

Size is not the most accurate of body size...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2005
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 9:42pm
I don't care about BMI and stuff. I just want honest and current photos: face shot and body shot.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2006
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 10:21pm
BMI is a bunch of hooey for a lot of people.
heather 5-18-10
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2006
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 10:25pm
Exactly.
heather 5-18-10
Avatar for mhash
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 10:33pm

Agree about your opinion on BMI. I posted that as a FYI. I agree with Bunny on insuring that there are pictures of the person's whole self and knowing what you like.

BMI is just a way of measuring (and comparing), just like dress size or pants' waist size or whatever... I mean you can post how many miles you run in a day as a measure or how many pounds you can pump.

My original point was that I have a different perspective of what I consider as "average" body type than most others.

Mark

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 11:10pm

I agree about the BMI. Generally, a higher weight will look bigger, but not always. A lot does depend on muscle mass. Some weight is "good" weight and some isn't. The most important thing, I think, is to be healthy, whatever one's weight. There's no point stressing about not being a size 4 or that. Besides, I heard that the reason models are so thin is because clothes look better on a hanger. Go figure. Pictures of models are idealized. Thin isn't necessarily better, sometimes it just looks scrawny. There are pros and cons to everything.

However, to respond to the original idea. It seems that people do put up better pictures than they actually look. It could be kind of helpful in determining how honest they are and/or in touch with reality. Personally, I think a lot of people just make themselves look better to draw others in. It probably works sometimes. I've yet to meet someone who looked as good in life as they did in their picture.