Skinny but Fat and Angry about it!!!!!
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Skinny but Fat and Angry about it!!!!!
| Fri, 08-29-2003 - 8:22am |
Hi. I am new to this particular board. Yesterday, my husband and I finally made it into the gym for the first time to get a fitness analysis and start working out on the machines. We have been dancing jazz and ballroom 2 times a week and that's about it for exercise. Our jobs are sedentary. I'm 42 and DH is 49. I was SHOCKED when the fitness trainer measured my body fat with the calipers!!!! I am in TERRIBLE shape! 33% BODY FAT!!!!! The thing that really depresses me is, I'm skinny-looking. I am 5'3" and weigh 111 lbs. and most people say I don't look fat!!!! My husband however weighed in at 212 and he is only 5'71/2" with a fat belly and he looks fat too. HIS body fat measurement was 27%!!!!! He is like me and does no other exercise and has been eating bad too. As a result, they gave ME the diet (which my doctor wants me on anyway to lower my cholesterol of 205)and told me I need to burn fat and will lose 3 to 5 lbs as a goal in the next 6 weeks!!!! My target heart rate test was good though...took me 5 min to reach 140 which the trainer said was excellent. I realize I am flabby and need to tone up but I had NO IDEA I was this fat! Of course I am going to follow a low fat diet and I did my exercises this morning and will keep up, but I AM DEPRESSED about this! I feel old and run down and in terrible shape. I can't believe I let myself get this unhealthy. I'm angry....grrrrrrrrr

Rhonda
~~Rhonda~~
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Gina
Lori
Lori
Your DH otoh, probably needs to do more aerobics than you (27% bodyfat in a male is far worse than 33% bodyfat in a female) and lose pounds. That diet you got will be great for both of you. I'm betting they gave it to you assuming you're the cook in the family. So cook good healthy foods for you both, provide good healthy snacks too, and work on getting regular cardio and weight training for you both.
FWIW - please don't go by the scale. Go by how you're feeling, how your clothes fit, and in about a month or 6 weeks, get another bodyfat measurement. That's much more valuable than anything the scale can measure - as you now realize I'm sure.
Stick around and keep posting and reading. This is a great place to get support, ideas, virtual hugs... Welcome and congratulations on taking steps to be healthy!
Anna
Phyllis, our fearless leader, is working on the details of the challenge. We'll keep track of our time exercising, goals, and things like that.
Rhonda
~~Rhonda~~
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I'd be bothered if I'd been told what you'd been told, too. I'm 5'4" and my goal is to be around 120. I was 126 when I started exercising (still well in range for my weight and BMI) and had way too many bulges that I wanted to get rid of. I just cut out snacking and empty calories, boosted my exercise to use more calories and toned up with weight bearing exercise. I succeeded, lost 5 pounds in two months, and continued to tone. The good thing about the "terrible shape" you're in is that you don't have far to go at all, and you'll see results quickly. Don't let the trainer turkeys get you down.
Do stick with us - I think you'll find this board very motivational and supportive!
Cussette
C
About your size, I wish I were that. I am only 4' 11" and currently about 140 pounds, how did this happen. I try and lose and then I am back up agian. Stick with it, and I am sure your Body Fat % will drop quickly.
Welcome again,
Deb
Debbie
I am 5'0" and I weigh 110. And that is the goal that I am trying to stay at. I lost 15 pounds this last year and feel so good about that. My body has also changed a lot from lifting weights. I also do lots of squats and that really has helped my legs firm up. I still have a long way to go to be shaped and as firm as I'd like but I think I'm on my way. There is no way at 5'3" and 111 pounds that you can be 'fat'.
Take the information from the diet...(I really do hate that word diet) and use it to build a healthy food plan for yourself and your dh. That way you can incorporate lots of fruits, vegetables and good protein and fat into your dietary intake. And continue to exercise and start to lift weights. You will be surprised that in no time at all, you'll be feeling much better about yourself.
Welcome to the board. This is a great, supportive place and I think you'll like it.
Nancy
"Make Choices that bring you joy" cl-Patty
The first thing that came to my mind when I read your post is weight training. If you weight 111 at 5'3", your lean body mass is probably pretty low. Are you adding weight training? I'm not sure about losing weight. I do however think that changing the composition of your body is a great idea.
Anyway...here's to your success!
Phyllis
Live With Passion!
Phyllis