Am I Fat?

Haha, well, you're probably right there...

Gotta love those "big boned" genetic anomalies.

I guess all I'm saying is that I'm considered overweight considering my BMI, but I have visible abs. So what's going on there? Well, I'm one of those "outliers" that doesn't fit the curve because of the amount of muscle I carry. I have no problem admitting I'm overweight according to the BMI. In fact, for me, it's somewhat of a badge of honor because it means that I can't be compared with the rest of the general population.

While it sounds egotistical, I spend a lot of time and energy trying to diverge from the average. For me, it's a small indicator of my goal being met.

I feel fat constantly. I look at myself and just feel absolutely disgusting. But several of my friends say I'm delusional. So, which is it?

 

I am 5', and can range anywhere from 121-124 (it depends on the scale and the time of day.) My dimensions are:

 

Shoulders 40"

Bust: 36"

Waist: 32"

Hips: 37"

 

I've tried working out, but after going to the gym for 5 months, 3 times a week, I saw absolutely no results. I lost body fat, but no pounds, and only an inch out of my bust.

....

 

So am I fat? If I am, then how do I change it?

How do you change it? Sorry to say, you don't. I'm a bit taller (5'6', 145 lbs), but we have almost the same measurements: I'm a 36" bust, 32" waist, and 38" hips. Just like Stargazer said, we were born this way--naturally apple-shaped. Tried to fight it when I was younger, but now that I'm 41, it's just not worth it anymore.

You can lose weight, but I can tell you, you probably still won't be happy, because--agreeing with Star Gazer again--your hip-to-waist ratio will stay the same.

A few years ago, I went on a very strict exercise and diet regimen (exercised at least an hour a day, six days a week, and stuck to about 1200-1300 calories). I got down to 128 lbs. My weight was so low (for me), people were asking me if I was sick. I was cold all the time, and it hurt for me to sit on a hard surface because I'd lost all the weight in my bottom! But guess what? I STILL had a stomach sticking out. I think the slimmest my waist got was 29". I had intentions of trying to get down to 120 to try to flatten it, but I was already too thin, and trying to lose more weight would have just been stupid. That was WAY too much work to lose three lousy inches off my waist.

As I mentioned, my weight has bounced back to 145. People tell me I look much better now than I did at 128. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it's not worth it to fight your body's natural shape. Do I like having a stomach? No....but short of surgery, it ain't going anywhere. So, I'm just going to appreciate it, and minimize it with a couple 15-minute session of ab work each week.

And focus on my great legs! (and the fact that if there's ever a famine, you, Star Gazer, and I will be among the last girls standing!)

One more thing: The reason people say you're not fat, is that YOU'RE NOT FAT. Another thing I've realized after many years--nobody notices a little extra tummy but you. I understand where you're coming from, but it's just not worth it. Focus on more positive things--exercise and eat to be healthy and stop wasting (waisting?) your time on this.

I can relate to the OP. I know I'm not fat, but I feel bigger than I should be sometimes. There is a website, (I can find the link soon and post) where you can see pictures of real people at the same weight and height as you. It is amazing how different people look based on the their shape or muscle vs. fat. I'm 5'4" and I weight between 125-130. If I get over 130, I feel fat. I think it's psychological more than anything. When I see pictures of myself, I do not look fat at all.

How do you change it? Sorry to say, you don't. I'm a bit taller (5'6', 145 lbs), but we have almost the same measurements: I'm a 36" bust, 32" waist, and 38" hips. Just like Stargazer said, we were born this way--naturally apple-shaped. Tried to fight it when I was younger, but now that I'm 41, it's just not worth it anymore.

 

You can lose weight, but I can tell you, you probably still won't be happy, because--agreeing with Star Gazer again--your hip-to-waist ratio will stay the same.

 

A few years ago, I went on a very strict exercise and diet regimen (exercised at least an hour a day, six days a week, and stuck to about 1200-1300 calories). I got down to 128 lbs. My weight was so low (for me), people were asking me if I was sick. I was cold all the time, and it hurt for me to sit on a hard surface because I'd lost all the weight in my bottom! But guess what? I STILL had a stomach sticking out. I think the slimmest my waist got was 29". I had intentions of trying to get down to 120 to try to flatten it, but I was already too thin, and trying to lose more weight would have just been stupid. That was WAY too much work to lose three lousy inches off my waist.

 

As I mentioned, my weight has bounced back to 145. People tell me I look much better now than I did at 128. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it's not worth it to fight your body's natural shape. Do I like having a stomach? No....but short of surgery, it ain't going anywhere. So, I'm just going to appreciate it, and minimize it with a couple 15-minute session of ab work each week.

 

And focus on my great legs! (and the fact that if there's ever a famine, you, Star Gazer, and I will be among the last girls standing!)

 

One more thing: The reason people say you're not fat, is that YOU'RE NOT FAT. Another thing I've realized after many years--nobody notices a little extra tummy but you. I understand where you're coming from, but it's just not worth it. Focus on more positive things--exercise and eat to be healthy and stop wasting (waisting?) your time on this.

Woo-hooo I needed to hear that! I'm pear shaped but I get a tummy sometimes. The only time it was really flat was when I got down to 122 and looked too skinny. You gave a lot of really good advice here!

Is the website comparing people's weight/height the one below:

http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.html

Not when determining your waist measurement for health purposes or even many clothing size charts. Rather, it's just above your navel.

This is correct...

How do you change it? Sorry to say, you don't. I'm a bit taller (5'6', 145 lbs), but we have almost the same measurements: I'm a 36" bust, 32" waist, and 38" hips. Just like Stargazer said, we were born this way--naturally apple-shaped. Tried to fight it when I was younger, but now that I'm 41, it's just not worth it anymore.

 

You can lose weight, but I can tell you, you probably still won't be happy, because--agreeing with Star Gazer again--your hip-to-waist ratio will stay the same.

 

A few years ago, I went on a very strict exercise and diet regimen (exercised at least an hour a day, six days a week, and stuck to about 1200-1300 calories). I got down to 128 lbs. My weight was so low (for me), people were asking me if I was sick. I was cold all the time, and it hurt for me to sit on a hard surface because I'd lost all the weight in my bottom! But guess what? I STILL had a stomach sticking out. I think the slimmest my waist got was 29". I had intentions of trying to get down to 120 to try to flatten it, but I was already too thin, and trying to lose more weight would have just been stupid. That was WAY too much work to lose three lousy inches off my waist.

 

As I mentioned, my weight has bounced back to 145. People tell me I look much better now than I did at 128. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it's not worth it to fight your body's natural shape. Do I like having a stomach? No....but short of surgery, it ain't going anywhere. So, I'm just going to appreciate it, and minimize it with a couple 15-minute session of ab work each week.

 

And focus on my great legs! (and the fact that if there's ever a famine, you, Star Gazer, and I will be among the last girls standing!)

 

One more thing: The reason people say you're not fat, is that YOU'RE NOT FAT. Another thing I've realized after many years--nobody notices a little extra tummy but you. I understand where you're coming from, but it's just not worth it. Focus on more positive things--exercise and eat to be healthy and stop wasting (waisting?) your time on this.

I could have written this post!

I have yet to see anyone on this site who is considered "overweight" or "obese" by the BMI calculator actually admit that it is accurate.

Haha - so true!

It's true that BMI is not accurate for people with significant amounts of muscle. But most people tend to overestimate the amount of muscle they are carrying. You have to have a lot of muscle and not much fat for BMI to be inaccurate. Particularly for women, it's unlikely that BMI is inaccurate; most women just aren't packing that much muscle. Even someone like me, who works out regularly and has a bodyfat of ~15%, has a BMI of 20.7.

There are outliers, as Tman mentions in his post (and I am convinced from reading his posts that he is one of them). But unless LoveShack is a statistical anomaly, there can't be as many outliers here as there are people claiming that BMI isn't accurate for them.

Is the website comparing people's weight/height the one below:

http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.html

Interesting, I haven't seen that one. Here's the one I was talking about:

http://www.mybodygallery.com/

This is correct...

D-lish, I just thought I'd say that you are proof that women in their 40's can be just as hot if not hotter than the 20 somethings.

I guess all I'm saying is that I'm considered overweight considering my BMI, but I have visible abs. So what's going on there? Well, I'm one of those "outliers" that doesn't fit the curve because of the amount of muscle I carry. I have no problem admitting I'm overweight according to the BMI.

As we know, Tman, BMI really, honestly, doesn't mean much when determining whether you're healthy and fit. Bodyfat % is what counts. Here's a perfect demonstration:

http://www.thehealthrabbit.com/714049934/just-coz-youre-skinny-doesnt-mean-youre-healthy/

Interesting, I haven't seen that one. Here's the one I was talking about:

 

http://http://www.mybodygallery.com/

That's really interesting. The gals that are 10 pounds heavier than me look better than the gals my size! Haha... Just goes to show what body composition can do.

For example, at 5'4'' 162, this gal is more than 10 pounds heavier than me (and is considered "overweight" by her BMI, but her bod is great. http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-3881-body-shape.htm#img

My body fat % is usually somewhere between 24% and 27%. The weird thing is, even when I lose body fat, it doesn't show...

I've heard that surgery really is the best way to get rid of the extra tummy, since mine is refusing to go anywhere even with diet and exercise. Anyone gone that route?

That's really interesting. The gals that are 10 pounds heavier than me look better than the gals my size! Haha... Just goes to show what body composition can do.

 

For example, at 5'4'' 162, this gal is more than 10 pounds heavier than me (and is considered "overweight" by her BMI, but her bod is great. http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-3881-body-shape.htm#img

She's actually pretty chubby. She's just using the camera at an angle that distorts her mid-section and makes it appear slim; look at the arms. There's been lots written about this angle: http://www.officialdatingresource.com/beware-the-dreaded-myspace-angles-pics/

5'4" and 162 pounds -- unless she is Ms. Olympia -- is overweight.

She's actually pretty chubby. She's just using the camera at an angle that distorts her mid-section and makes it appear slim; look at the arms. There's been lots written about this angle: http://www.officialdatingresource.com/beware-the-dreaded-myspace-angles-pics/

 

5'4" and 162 pounds -- unless she is Ms. Olympia -- is overweight.

You consider that waist and those thighs CHUBBY? Who's your ideal? A waif?

I'm sorry, but there's no angle manipulation in the picture in the link I posted. That's close-to straight on in the mirror of a dressing room. You can see her ENTIRE figure, totally unlike the link of FB/MySpace angle-manipulation you posted.

Here's a truly straight-on photo of me at 5'4'' and 155-ish and 22-23% bodyfat (considered "fit"): http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=m97tya&s=7

I'm not Ms. Olympia (not by a LONG shot), but my legs are pretty damn solid.

You need a better calculator.

 

I plugged your numbers into a BMR calculator (I entered 30 for your age just to have something to work with) and it came back with 1335 calories. That's what you'd need if you did nothing but sleep all day. With your activity multiplier (I chose "sedentary" - worst case numbers), your maintenance calories come out to 1602. I would never recommend eating less than 80% of your maintenance calories. In your case, this comes to 1282 calories. Yes, it will take you longer than 6 weeks to lose 9 pounds this way (unless you add exercise back into the mix), but it's a more sensible approach.

 

All that said, the best way to figure out your maintenance calories is to track what you eat for a week. fitday.com has a program where you can do this, and it is free. Once you've established exactly what is maintenance for you, cut back by 15%-20%.

I'm glad your not my doctor. You should refrain from giving people advice like this over the internet. Some one may actually follow it. Advising someone to eat 1282 calories a day is just insane!

She's actually pretty chubby. She's just using the camera at an angle that distorts her mid-section and makes it appear slim; look at the arms. There's been lots written about this angle: http://www.officialdatingresource.com/beware-the-dreaded-myspace-angles-pics/

 

5'4" and 162 pounds -- unless she is Ms. Olympia -- is overweight.

It is difficult to believe any online photos these days. What with Photoshop and the distorted angles that your attached article pointed out.

The subject is 4 inches taller than I, and 62 pounds heavier. It does indeed make it hard to believe the photograph is completely representative of her in real life. Why not simply take a photograph head on?

OP, you're curvy. Listen to your friends, though delusional is a bit strong.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128

verhrzn, you don't sound fat but you might want to read this article about the waistline and belly fat if you have any or much.

OP, you're curvy. Listen to your friends, though delusional is a bit strong.

Which female is the OP?

Dressed in yellow/black to the right of Batman.

Dressed in yellow/black to the right of Batman.

Bust: 36"

Waist: 32"

Hips: 37"

Does not compute with so little spread between bust/hips and waist.

She's probably not measuring right. My exW was her spittin' image at that age. Even overweight, she had that defined pear shape with a smaller waist.

She's probably not measuring right. My exW was her spittin' image at that age. Even overweight, she had that defined pear shape with a smaller waist.

she's wearing a corset which could be altering the shape somewhat.

Interesting. I couldn't make that out under her top. That would explain the discrepancy though. My ex used to wear corselettes occasionally and it did make a difference.