Myths about 'thin' people
 

Please Insert your own definition of 'thin' here:.....................

1. Thin people believe they are the center of the Universe

2. Thin people are shallow, egoistic and mean

3. Thin people are always happy

4. Thin people are solely interested in their looks, clothes, fashion etc

5. Thin people keep themselves thin solely to please others and fit into ideals set by fashion industry

6. Thin people despise anyone who is not........you guessed it right - thin!

7. Thin people believe thy will live forever just because they look so good.

8. Thin people never read Shakespeare.......

Come on now, you'll ask....how do you know about number 8?

I don't - it's the whole point. But it is as true as the rest of the list...

Alina

1. Thin people are just blessed with fast metabolism.

2. Thin people can eat 5000 calories and not gain weight.

3. Thin people never have to excercise.

4. Thin people can sit on their posteriors and still never get fat.

Thin people are healthy.

This is one for me. I'm fairly thin--at least by traditional weight table standards--but until I started low carbing, I had a ragingly dangerous cholesterol and triglyceride level and high blood sugar. A recipe for heart/artery disease despite the outward appearance of "health".

Frederick,
I was one of those who you talked about. I used to eat 5 or 6 candy bars a day and everything else I wanted. I was 5' 6" and a size 4 until I was 30. People used to tell me "...one day your metabolism will change..." and it did.

It does seem to be true that the metabolism slows down when one gets older. Perhaps the belief that there is nothing you can do about it is wrong. What if we didn't eat those bad carbs? Would our metabolism maintain its health longer?
I think so.

1. Thin people automatocally have high self esteem

2. Thin people have good relationships where there is mutual respect

3. Thin people can wear anything and look good

4. Thin people never have days when they feel blaoted of fat, or jeans don't zip

5. Thin people are in good shape

6. Thin people never eat, that's how they stay thin

7. It's all genetic, if your family is thin you should be too

8. Thin people always have higher energy

9. Thin people automatically have a healthy diet

>>Thin people are healthy.
>>Thin people are always happy.

Amen to all of these, especially those two.

How about - thin people on this or any other weight loss forum must be either obsessed or really vain.

There's a reason I took my stats off my profile.

How about thin people have never had weight issues.

Amen to that one, Paleo! I've gotten crap from people who didn't know me when I was heavy -- "well, YOU wouldn't know what it's like", or "why are YOU on a diet" -- until I explain that I used to weigh 80 lbs more than I do now. I was almost sorry when I got married and had to get a new drivers license, because showing the old moon-pie-faced one was a pretty good way to prove that yes, in fact, I have been there and done that.

I have to say, though, that this forum has a lot of members who ARE very supportive of "thin people". I've gotten into a couple of the fat-vs.-thin conversations, and I have sometimes felt rather jumped-upon, but other people have been so supportive and understanding that it's almost humbling. I *know* I wasn't that understanding myself when I was heavier, and the shoe is really on the other foot now.

I used to be thin as a teen and never thought I'd gain weight. Boy did that ever change for me. I was one of the types that stayed home most of the time and didn't get out to do much though. :(

Kristine and Atlee, I know what you mean about getting jumped on. It hasn't been too bad, but people should realize that there are so many health benefits to low carbing in addition to weight loss. :)

My brother was one of those. All through high school he tried to gain weight and couldn't even eating far more than the average person as well as a steady diet of pop, doughnuts, etc... That trend continued until he hit about 35; ate anything he wanted whenever he wanted and stayed thin. Then in one year, he put on about 40 pounds and found himself having to hit the gym to get it off and keep it off as well as majorly changing his eating habits.

I see alot of parents talk about that on here and other places. "Well they are a growing boy with a high metabolism. I don't see why I should limit junk food since they don't have a problem"

Yes they don't have a problem now, but the eating habits instilled now will stay with them for life. It will be much easier for them at 40 whem metabolism slows if they are already eating a balanced diet instead of suddenly having to change the whole way they eat.

I think the big reason people get heavier as they get older is because their lifestyle changes and not so much their metabolism. A slower metabolism will make you pack on 10 or 15 pounds, but all those women who were thin when they were younger but then gain 30 40 50 or more pounds when they get older can't be explained away by a simple slow metabolism. I think the reason older people tend to gain so much weight is because their lifestyle changes... young people are always out of the house, hanging out with friends, moving, doing... older people are more likely to sit at a desk or at home for hours at a time. Plus, being idle for long periods of time makes you want to munch on foods, so you have a double threat to your weight: sedentary lifestyle and excessive calorie consumption.

Yes, but also as time goes by the years of bad diet start adding up and taking their toll too. Maybe it isn't visible on the outside while the body struggles to cope. Arteries slowly plaque, levels of circulating insulin slowly increase as cells become more resistant to it, ... then one day, wham! People call it a "slowing" metabolism, but I call it a "damaged" metabolism.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I could not agree more than I do with the above assessment.

My entire life from boyhood, to teenager, to college, and after that I was always very slender. I've always eaten whatever I wanted, and whenever I've wanted. This entailed eating burgers, ice cream, candy, milkshakes, pizza, and just about any food that tasted good irrespective of fat, carbs, or proteins. I never ate fruits or veggies, but just about everything else. I'm not saying that was optimal healthwise, but it never caused any weight gain in me what so ever. I was 145 in college, and after that I was 150. I never gained a single pound until a couple of years ago when for whatever inexplicable reason, I decided to stop running.

It was only then when I gained weight. Of course, slowing metabolism plays a role; but, now that I've run again, there is little doubt that I can eat whatever I'd like without gaining weight. I will not lose, but I will not gain either.

To the individual dissenter who isn't privy to my recent weight struggles, he/she would merely presume I was gifted with fast metabolism not knowing that my "fast metabolism" is running 5 miles per day.

Thank you all!

I know some of you have been here long enough to know why I've started this thread.
When I first came here as a 'wee newbie', the spirit was a bit different. Forum moderators and founders were more present here *wink wink* :)
The notion of everyone being welcome here, no matter which LC plan and no matter how much weight to lose, was more present.

I have for so long enjoyed 'privacy' of my own journal that I've forgotten how bad it can get when people who demand respect and understanding don't give it back. I'm happy to have friends on all LC plans, with lots or little to lose, those who 'cheat' and those who stay absolutely clean, those who love veggies and those who hate them... :lol: That is why I am not used to bashing just because I happen to have a different view. This is a forum after all.

I can for my life not understand why it is so hard to accept others expressing their opinions. I've seen people who happened to be in normal weight range but still wanted to lose 3 pounds being called anorectic and given advice to 'get out of this forum'. I've seen hysterical reactions to relevant and friendly advice, just because the advice implied to follow the plan.
But the worst of all - to see people who claim they fight discrimination and stereotypes and in the very same entry pass unjust judgements on others.
That was just too much for my taste....

Alina

Thank you for this thread Alina! BTW, you look wonderful - you have every right to be proud of your progress and I know you worked hard getting there. I get so tired of the "you're so lucky to be thin" comments when I work my a$$ off at the gym and am very careful about my diet. It is not a matter of "willpower", it is a matter of priorities and planning.

and on a different note:

-Thin people think everyone larger than they are look fat
-Thin people think they are superior to heavy people

As far as metabolisms go, it it not inevitable for the metabolism to decrease due to age or having babies. It has to do with lean body mass versus body fat. The average person gains 40# of fat and loses 25# of muscle between the ages of 25 and 50. If you exercise, especially weight train, you can reverse this trend. It is true that carbohydrate intolerance can develop (and progress into type II diabetes) if a person's diet is poor and they have the genetic predispostion to develop it.

Jen

Big or small, there are always those who judge without trying to understand. WHen I was thin, I got called on the carpet by a dear woman for complaining about MY weight in front of her. (She was morbidly obese) She told me in no uncertain terms how my "bitching" made her feel, and I'll never forget the lesson.

There are militant judgmental people on both ends of the scale... in this very forum, I've been railed on for suggesting someone seek help (at 5'6", I don't believe it's healthy to shoot for 98 lbs, and the person in question was posting about how "obese" she was at 105lbs.) I got told to mind my own business and quit being so judgemental and such a "jealous hater" among other things... (which I regret deleting instead of reporting, but I didn't want the person to be denied the help that others might offer just because she lashed out at me).
I wasn't jealous, I was afraid for her. Just because I'm fat doesn't make me "jealous" of someone with the opposite "problem" as mine...

Admittedly, I'm a little hesitant to even read threads or offer help to "thin people" and that's WRONG of me. I try to not look at the "numbers" but the PERSON. And I have learned a lesson too. I guess it's not my place to offer any advice like that again.

Really? I wonder what it was that finally made you do it.

No way I will ever give up my shameless bragging here....... :lol:

Alina

I guess I would like to try out another variation of the "myths":

People who control their weight by careful diet and exercise think others would be better off to follow their example.

If we agree with that, what about the next step:

People who control their weight with diet and exercise think they are living a better life than those who don't.


I'm in the middle of a weight loss journey and I confront these issues myself, especially the temptation to think I'm "on the right path" and others would do well to do the same. Is that wrong? Or just common sense?

some unrelated issue though. how about thin people
who are type 2 diabetic. They have had excess insulin
at one point of time (before beta cell ran out) and still did not get fat. why these people did not gain weight..
I did not find any explanation so far...

I so agree that this one is a major myth: "Thin people are healthy".

Neeam, I was sort of like that.
By my early thirties and only 150-160 lbs, I had no idea why my blood sugar swings were becoming so wildly out of control. I've had PCOS for almost 20 years I think (which I have now learned to associate with high circulating insulin). My cholesterol was bad. I researched my family history and learned we all usually get our Type II diagnoses by our mid-30's, so all this was actually pretty "normal". But even though I was falling apart inside, for some reason I never packed the poundage onto the outside (this is not really true for the other diabetes-prone people in my family though). It would sometimes make dealing with HMO doctors difficult as they would be reluctant to run "extraneous" tests and waste time on what they thought was a healthy person. I wonder if they would have taken me and my complaints more seriously if I had weighed 100 lbs or so more.

Thanks for starting the thread, Alina. You look gorgeous!!

I'm living with "I'm thin, so I don't need to do anything" in my life. My wife.. She was losing hair and was alarmed..asked me what to do. Told her take biotin,
vitamin C and fish oil suplement. It worked !! and hair loss lessened ..own her vote ..now She is becoming a convert ... now reads label, looks for trans fat in food and takes fish oil suplement. good progress you would say. Her blood profile is good but I think she has some hormonal issues still..

I aways feel the woman of the house ought to know more on food & nutrition lacking which she is slowly killing people in her household...

Back to topic..My father-inlaw is thin and has had heart attack twice.. takes high blood pressure medication..I know he could be off medication should be
he fine tune this diet..but he would listen to doc instead
who gives him pills..

I don't think in those terms at all. Nor would I ever say anything like that to anyone..... there is no definition of 'good' or 'better' life. We have to write our own definition every day........

Alina

Wow, what an interesting thread!

I too think the biggest "myths" are:

Thin people are naturally that way and have never been fat.

Thin people are healthy.

Having been obese for a large part of my life, I am certainly not a "naturally" thin person. I go to a huge university, and I am amazed by how many normal weight or even skinny girls are constantly worrying about their weight and have weird eating habits (actually, ED's are a problem on many college campuses), many of which are decidedly UNhealthy. I found myself going in that direction as well, which is why I decided to go back on Atkins. Not just for weight loss, but for my health and sanity! So far, so good. :)

There's a trap I used to fall into, mainly because I've been overweight my whole life. Now, though, I don't assume that someone I see who is thin has always been that way. Yes, some thin people have it easy, but some don't.

Here's one: thin people like the way they look. One of my husband's sisters is naturally very thin. She knows this, but she's not proud. In fact, she doesn't usually wear shorts or tight pants because she feels that her legs are too skinny. Poor girl can't gain weight, no matter what she tries.

I have another observation. Why in the world would I (or anyone here) slam a thin person just for being thin? Isn't that where we're all trying to get?

I think we're all trying to get to the same goal your sister in law is. A Healthy weight that we look good and feel confident at. For some that is higher then others. Unfortunetly some can never get thin enough, no matter how low weight they get, to get to that point and either starve themselves or just hate thier body no matter what.

rather be healthy
 

I was thin til about 30 YO. I entered the service at 18 yo and was a too thin 5'11 129. I was told I had to gain 11 pounds by the end of basic training or face discharge. I gained the weight and went up to 160-165 where I spent the next 12 years.

I just found a picture of me in basic training and I never want to get that thin again.

I hope to reach 165 which also "looked" thin to most people because of my height. If I can do that I'll be very happy.

As you can see from my stays, I am a very small person. I am reducing carbs because the older I get, the crazier my blood sugar goes. People who take notice of what is on my plate always comment. "are you on a LC diet?" "why aren't you eating the bread from the sandwhich?" When I tell them that I follow a health eay of eating, I am automatically acused of trying to lose weight, become anorexice, hating myself and trying to bring attention to myself. Obviously heavy people have far bigger problems to face with the way society treats them than I do and I applaud anyone who has the guts and the determination to take control of their health and their bodies. As far as the low fat thing, I think it is a load of crap! I have tried to eat healthy with that method and I actually gained almost 20lbs. That is alot for someone my size.