Your Self-Worth is Not Measured in Pounds

I usually get hammered for saying this. But speaking of power lifters, the guys in this sport often look as if their last hope is a gastric bypass surgery. When it comes to lifting amazing amounts of weight, they sure have a functional physique, but I doubt many women find them attractive.

Many of them, are in fact, grossly overweight, but it is a relatively small community, so they do not seem to attract much attention outside of the fitness/bodybuilding circles.

I believe that women prefer muscular males, well, they told me they do. No, not all of them, but many seem to prefer to see at least some muscle on a guy. Those with “normal” weight, jokingly say that a skinny guy looks like a girl.

These days, we still have examples of indigenous people leaving in their native environment, far away from cable TV, or any magazines. From time to time, the Discovery channel runs great programs about them. In these native tribes, the men certainly do not look like Arnold, but they are lean AND muscular. In contrast, the women are not muscular.

Of course, the nature made us this way, because males have testosterone. Could it be that an image of male muscularity comes from women’s subconscious mind? I don’t know, let’s hear what the ladies have to say about this.

iFitandHealthy, I can understand why you usually get hammered for spouting such a narrow-minded view.

Even though this shows that men are starting to catch some flack for their chosen body shape, it's not nearly as bad as women.

The most interesting statement I've heard relating to this is...

Men get dressed up to go out to impress women... women get dressed up to go out to impress... OTHER WOMEN...

From what I've heard, the competition in women amongst each other is pretty heated. I don't know if this is true or not (because I'm not a women), but I know guys really don't care as much.

I'm sure this plays a huge role in the social stigma between men and women when it comes to weight and body shape.

Normal is relative to your goals - but we must not forget that statistically those over a certain weight or BMI are more likely to health problems.

Wow. The link back to the previous post where you found Chelsea's comment is astonishing. There are tons of posts on there from younger girls - mostly 13 or 14 years old who all think they are fat...enough to do research on the internet and find a diet blog to help. I am 20 years old, 5'6, and 129 pounds. To see that there was a 17 year old girl speak about being overweight at 5'7, 126 pounds is unreal to me.

What has our society turned in to?

It was quite a wake-up call to see that so many girls, just growing into their skin and entering Jr. High School are so consumed and feel so horrible about themselves when none of them were overweight. I've struggled with being obsessed with exercising and lossing weight in order to get that "perfect" physique. As a young adult, I am more level headed and know quite a bit about fitness and nutrition (I'm a fitness consultant), so I constantly keep myself in check by avoiding unrealistic images from the media and letting go of unrealistic expectations. It's incredibly hard for me and sometimes I don't feel a "normal" weight because I see fat on my stomach compared to what I see in magazines or TV shows, etc. and my self esteem just goes down the drain.

I consider myself lucky because I never had to struggle at such a young age like that. We need to do something to radically change our youth's image of themselves. The battle doesn't end when these girls "grow up," It only gets worse. I'm continuing to get better everyday, but I'm so heart-broken for these young girls who are only getting worse, and hating themselves more every day because they don't see themselves as healthy, beautiful, girls, they see themselves as "overweight."

noelle

In response to the mens comments above: I think that the majority of women out there tend to say those things as more of statement of "Well guys always like the Skinny perfectly formed, large breasted beautiful girl so why can't I turn around and give him something unrealistic to shoot for." And frankly it's true. Mostly driven by the media but still true. But here is the problem with this sort of thinking. Both sexes have now created a never-ending cycle or this desire for the supposed perfect figure. Normal today is whatever is Abnormal. Body modification has become the accepted replacements for tobacco and other unacceptable behaviors. We are no longer a society where basic stimuli is enough. In fact nothing is enough, we want to the extremes for everything now. Food, Sex, Image. We forget that sometimes less really does give more. I can honestly say that I have been attracted to and loved men of all shapes,sizes and looks. Because what we fail to remember is that all the plastic in the world is not going to do us alot of good when we start to break down and age internally. But thoughts, words, intelligence and actions are what matter. Next time you see some girl you like or don't like guys do me a favor when you are talking to her close your eyes and just listen focus only on what she or he(Because women are as guilty as men) is saying and how that person communicates. You will understand that the body is just the vessel that allows us to transport what our brains are trying to accomplish. As cheesy as it sounds, in the dark everyone has their own unique beauty and it has nothing to do with what is portrayed on the outside.

Instead of making me happy that men and women are becoming equal. It makes me upset. I wish equality went the other way where women are criticized less for their appearance. I hate seeing male friends and relatives obsessed how "scrawny" they are and bulk up using expensive protein drinks. It's stupid. Frankly, I'm attracted to men whom are comfortable in their own skin enough to flip off society and say, "F@#$ you! I'm healthy!"

Lily: There's more than one reason to bulk up. I've taken up the sport of bodybuilding as a means of keeping me young and healthy. The more muscular you are, the higher your metabolism stays. Most think that your metabolism just "simply goes down with age". However, others believe that the metabolism drop is just due to loss of muscle tissue. I'm willing to give the second hypothesis a try. Also, it's easier to stay active as you get older with more muscle.

I saw a set of pictures of a certain bodybuilder. I can't remember which one off the top of my head, but it doesn't matter. They had pictures of him at 23, 63, and 73. And, you know what, they all looked about the same. I'd like to be able to preserve myself like that. Building muscle is a very healthy thing, but you have to be smart about it. For example, consuming healthy fats has as much to do with building muscle as protein does.

Also, I don't know what you're friends are relatives are buying, but protein drinks don't have to be expensive. My protein powder costs about 30 cents per serving, which is 120 calories. That's 400 calories per dollar. That's actually a really cheap calorie source, and it's very healthy. Some studies seem to link whey protein with a reduction in degenerative diseases, though I don't know if I buy that. The one I buy tastes really good too and curbs any sugar cravings I have.

Personally, I'm happy with how muscular I am. I don't think I look scrawny, and I like how I look and feel. I don't care what other people think either. However, I might as well build my body up while I'm young before aging tries to tear it down. In short, I'm in it for long term health.

Well Scott, at least I have a view. Do you? Not that it matters, since some of the top power lifters in the country are making changes to their diet, because it starting to affect their health.

Geez, that is scary.
For me, at 120 lb (I'm 5'3.5), I'd be 6.7% body fat unless I lost significant amount of lean body mass (I am careful not to lose my muscle-- I kind of like it.).
It's so weird for me to think that someone that size thinks they are big!

I had a good friend who was my height, and 105 lb. She was naturally thin--- We would run together, and she'd it far more than I did. She wanted to gain weight-- it was very frustrating to her when some people would accuse her of being anorexic.

People really need to turn a more negative reaction to the media when they pull this--- the media is controlled by us... they have to sell, if we refuse to patronize this kind of ridiculousness, they will stop.
I mean, aesthetics will always be there; most have their ideals, and that will reflect in the media-- the media often portrays something "artistically" including the human body.
But we can change the unrealistic expectations that so tear apart people's self esteems.

You definitely can't judge people's health by how thin they look or how heavy they are. I know a yoga instructor that is considered "heavier", but she is one of the most flexible, lithe people I've ever seen. And there is a friend of mine who is my height and is very out of shape but is thin. I'm one of those people that many people think is anorexic but I'm not. I'm 5'3" and have very little body fat because I'm a distance runner. At 105 lbs, I'm trying to gain a little weight so I can get pregnant and it's difficult because my lean body mass is so high.

I do think our perception of "thin" and "fat" is changing a little though. No one's "normal" anymore. People are either "fat" or "skinny". So a normal person...say Chelsea from the earlier post...could be considered "fat" by modeling agencies and the media or "anorexic" by say, her family of overweight people. No wonder kids are so confused.

The bmi’s have been doctored to make people seem fatter for grant money and celebrities are called fat when they are at a healthy weight. Yes there is an obesity problem people need to focus more on health.

Everything in our media today it is hard to really know what is normal and who determines normal. I feel that I am pretty fit being about 10% bodyfat but I was told that 6% is normal by someone and was blown away. I think it is getting dumb the way looks and appearance are getting in our world and hopefully it changes.

Bodybuilding = long term health? I think the jury is out on that one. The sport is riddled with drugs, obsessive pre-competition dehydration and carb cycling rituals, and borderline eating disorders.

However, it may depend on your definition of bodybuilding. Lots of guys at the gym just lift weights and do cardio to stay in shape - but they call it "bodybuilding".

Certainly lifting weights, keeping active is good... but a lifetime of huge amounts of protein? Makes the supplement makers rub their hands together with glee!

Muscle size is not necessarily a marker for health or even strength... but better that than sitting on the couch your whole life.

In our image-obsessed society we've confused visual imagery with a multitude of other things. People of good health and fitness come in various shapes and sizes... not all are necessarily "pleasing" to our extremely critical eye...

I am 5'6" and usually weigh just under 120. in summer with increased activity, I usually drop a few pounds. I don't consider myself underweight or overweight.
If I gained 10 lbs I still wouldn't consider myself overweight even though I am small boned. No one thinks I am too slim since I have curves--ample chest and bootie, not slim in any sort of anorexic way. I eat healthy, and never ever skip breakfast, which is a big healthy meal. I think skipping breakfast and not moving sets people up for yo yo dieting and starving themselves-- skinny in an unhealthful way just does not look happy to me.