Do you consider yourself overweight?

[Robb]

Seeing as it's in the news again, what it means to be overweight, how many people are, etc. etc. I'm curious about DUers and how they see themselves.

...Using whatever measure you use, do you consider yourself overweight? Underweight? Just right? I'll add "very" to some of these, since this is a perception poll.

[HipChick]

1. Apparently my Wii does..

[muffin1]

2. Oh my god...

mine, too! I am about five pounds away from hearing, "That's normal"!

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I think I'm a little overweight,

maybe 10-15 pounds, but I exercise regularly, eat right, and always get a clean bill of health at my yearly physical, so I'm not going to sweat it too much.

Besides, I'm 63 years old, so I don't expect to look like a teenager.

[Yurovsky]

11. A few extra lbs actually benefits you if you become ill...

you don't want to be emaciated and get sick.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. I like the way you think.

:thumbsup: :)

[latebloomer]

47. Very true

When I was sick I lost nearly 40 pounds. If I hadn't been about 20 pounds overweight at the start I would have been in deep ca-ca. Though I'm still not planning on gaining the whole 40 back. :D

[timeforpeace]

50. A rationale, as well as something to look forward to.

[Ex Lurker]

4. At 5-10 and a shade under 200 lbs

I could stand to lose a little. But I've been working out since I was a teenager and a lot if it is muscle. I don't want to gain any more weight, but I wouldn't want to drop below about 180. In any event, my BP and other crucial numbers are fine, so I don't worry about it too much.

[Forkboy]

5. My ass looks like two badly parked Volkswagons.

:)

[customerserviceguy]

14. Now that's funny!

And I match your description! No apologies for it, either.

[a la izquierda]

6. I'm about normal at the moment...

but I just quit smoking, so I've packed on about 8 pounds this month. One trip to Mexico and I'll lose about 20.

[tabbycat31]

7. yes but working on it

I've lost 40 lbs in the last 1.5 years and I still would like to lose 20 more.

Went from a size 14 to 6

[paulsby]

8. overweight is the wrong term

it conflates excess FAT with excess weight.

is a 215 lb competitive strength athlete who is 5'10 and 12% bodyfat overWEIGHT?

according to BMI, yes.

are they overFAT ? no. 12% bodyfat is EXCELLENT

it's sloppy terminology and metrics like the BMI encourage it.

according to BMI, i am obese, yet i have lower bodyfat %age than when i was a MARATHON runner lol.

[prolesunited]

9. I think weight is a very bad measure of health and fitness

Going straight by my BMI, I am overweight. But, I'm very athletic and my body fat percentage is quite good for a woman my age and my cholesterol was just tested and the TOTAL was 135.

[greymattermom]

10. a chub

Have been for 30 years. Every time I lose weight I gain even more back, so I'm just eating healthy foods and not trying to lose anymore.

[flvegan]

12. I'm 5' 11" and 257 lbs today.

Even though I probably may not look it, I'll always consider myself overweight.

[kestrel91316]

13. I am at an acceptable weight, but dammit, if I dropped another 5 lb those size 8s would fit

EXQUISITELY. Sigh.

[Lyric]

16. Yep. Obese, in fact.

Have been for most of my life, although my weight tends to vary from "merely overweight" to "send out the Sea Shepherd" depending on how bad my level of physical pain is. If I am blessed with a few months of reduced pain, I tend to lose weight because I'm able to move around. If I have a long period of serious pain, I tend to gain weight because it hurts to move around and exercise. (I have a herniated L5-S1 spinal disc, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis among other things.)

Swimming would be a great alternative for me, if only I didn't have skin and auto-immune conditions that prevent me from being able to safely use public pool facilities without risking a life-threatening infection. Perhaps someday I'll be able to afford a home with a small private pool. Until then, I just eat as normally as possible. I am grateful that at least I seem to have a clearly-established upper limit; my body won't go over 252 lbs, even if I eat what I want and get no exercise at all. That's a pretty high limit, but it's a lot better than some people get stuck with I guess.

[lazarus]

42. I have those, too

psoriatic arthritis and fibro. I've never seen anyone else with them; PA is rare. Instead of the herniated disc, I have ankylosing spondilosis.

I was in great shape before the diseases took over. Now I'm obese. But I'm having lap-band surgery on Tuesday, and will hopefully be dropping 140 pounds over the next year and a half.

[eilen]

17. I fit in the clothes in the regular dept. stores, but at the high end

I workout frequently and eat very healthy, but my metabolism is slower than it used to be and it takes a long time to drop lbs. I probably have lost some inches though.

[jdadd]

18. I'm Overweight But......

Fat people are Jolly:donut:

[galileoreloaded]

19. 6'1" 257 lbs and can hump a 100# pack 30 miles a day.

I dare ya to call me fat.

[SmileyRose]

37. I'm about 100# - can you hump me?

:evilgrin:

[galileoreloaded]

38. Probably. Promise to shower first.

[jdp349]

56. Depends on your body composition

if you're bodyfat is high, by dropping it lower and maintain lean mass you could probably carry a heavier pack even further.

[bigwillq]

20. No

I feel I am about the right weight for my height.
31 (almost 32) year old male, 5-foot-3, 140 pounds. Been working out again lately..might have lost some weight (fat) but gained some muscle.

[pansypoo53219]

21. i could lose 10 lbs,

but damned if i am giving up 1/2 + 1/2 in my coffee, or change my diet much. i am cutting out most fizzy drink.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. I voted "other"...

I am a little overweight...

5'7", about 147 pounds. I'd really like to get down to 140. So I'm working out, eating sensibly and not killing myself...

I used to weight nearly 200 pounds, and I felt it, and looked awful. I was always tired. I feel a lot better these days!

[Confusious]

23. I'm at the right wieght 6' 180lbs

Just out of shape. If I got into shape, I'd be underweight.

( Round? round is a shape! )

[bertman]

24. If I lost 20 pounds and tightened up the abs I'd be stealin' all Tiger's mistresses!

But don't tell my wife. Shhhhhh.

[nonconformist]

25. I'm not overweight, but I could use some work

I'm about 5'4" and weigh 120 lbs. But I'm really small boned, I have a tiny frame so every extra pound shows on me. Unfortunately, they mostly show on my belly, which is getting kinda flabby now that I'm 36 and had my 3rd baby a little over a year ago. I'm getting to the point where I was slowly but steadily gaining weight, so I want to nip that in the bud.

I got Wii Fit Plus a week ago, and I love it! I've been using it everyday. I haven't lost any weight yet (besides fluctuating a lb or 2) but I'm not really concerned with my weight. I'm using it to get in shape, and I'm pretty sore so I hope it's working!

[muffin1]

60. Isn't Wii Fit Plus fun?

I just got the "Plus" - although I've been using regular Wii since last May. Although I've only lost 26lbs, I FEEL so much better.
I also think I look a lot better than I did when I was the same weight in the past. Wii really helps with posture and balance.

I tell you, the older one gets, the harder it is to lose. I am turning 49 in a couple of months, and it takes A LOT longer to lose weight now than it did when I was in my 30's.

Good luck and have fun!:hi:

[nonconformist]

61. I love it!

It's a lot of fun and it encourages me, which I need.

When I got into my mid-30's, I started putting on a little weight and wasn't able to drop it as easily as I used to be. That's why I'm trying to do better now, because I can only imagine that it will become more of an issue the older I get. I'll be 37 in a couple of months.

You have fun with your Wii Fit, too!

[upi402]

26. Right weight here

Gym 5+ days a week to keep it close though. Not easy. We eat whole foods too.

[rcrush]

27. Yeah I developed a gut in the last couple years

I stopped giving a crap awhile ago.

[fizzgig]

28. i could stand to lose another five or ten pounds, but i'm not stressed about it

i've been at the same weight for 2.5 years and i eat relatively well. i haven't been to a doctor in a few years, but my bp and cholesterol were in great shape last time i had them checked.

[Political Heretic]

29. I am a verrrrrrrry happy buddha

No, I'm about this much overweight:



I'm the big guy. :D



An interesting poll would be something about are you overweight and content, overweight and unhappy, etc.

[AlienGirl]

33. I think you look good and substantial!

:thumbsup:

[Skittles]

30. 5"4" 123 pounds exercise daily eat a lot of junk

[Oldtimeralso]

31. I'm not overweight at all...

I'm just 18 inches too short for my weight!

[AlienGirl]

32. Underweight. I am trying hard to build muscle and increase bone density.

The fucking ER doctor wrote that I am "thin and cachectic" (frail and wasted). I want to be "thin and athletic."

Tucker

[Raine]

34. I would like to lose 10-15 lbs

but I'm not overweight ... just for myself I would like to lose a litte.

[elocs]

35. At 5'9" and 190 lbs I am undoubtedly overweight although I carry it well.

Nobody would look at me and say, "My God, you need to lose weight". When I graduated high school 40 years ago I weighted 155 and my waist size was 32" and today it is 33", so apparently my weight gain didn't go to my waist and a lot went to muscle.

However I do have high blood pressure and the best way to get that down will be to lose weight because my blood pressure has always been sensitive to weight gain. Although my total cholesterol is 158 my HDL is below 40 (it should at least be 40) and losing weight will help to bring that up.

Also, I had back surgery 11 years ago and although I have been pretty much trouble free since then, hauling around an extra 30 pounds cannot be good for my back, knees, or other joints. I have a friend who for the 30+ years I have known him he has weighed in the neighborhood of 300 pounds, being only about 5'6" and although he is about to turn 73 he has surprisingly never had a heart attack or heart problems. He is however diabetic and his being morbidly obese destroyed his hips and his knees (all been replaced). His obesity is the single thing that most negatively impacted his life.

[SmileyRose]

36. I think I'm overweight but the doctor still hammers me to gain more.

But I am recovering anorexic.

[a kennedy]

39. like 40 lbs or so........

I quit smoking, arrived at menopause, and turned 55 all at once, and poof 40 lbs overweight..... :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[etherealtruth]

40. I could/ should lose 10#

I'm within the 'normal' weight range .... but at the very upper end of it. At 48 this is far down on my list of concerns

[justgamma]

41. Lost 105# a year ago.

I'm at the top of end of "normal" weight. Doctor told me to quit losing, but I still feel fat. So I voted other.

[backscatter712]

43. 5'6", 138lbs. I'd say I've got Goldilocks weight right now.

A couple years ago, I weighed closer to 160, which counts as a little overweight. Started dieting, hit the gym, stopped eating trans-fats, avoid high-fructose corn syrup, counted calories religiously, and I got my weight down to Just Right.

[Brickbat]

44. Yes, because I am.

[Regret My New Name]

45. I'm 5'11 at 266 lbs. I think I'm at a fairly normal and healthy weight.

[Individualist]

46. 5' 7", 120 lb.

Age 66

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. I am overweight by BMI

but since you did not have obese... and I am a stickler for medical definitions.

By the by, I WAS obese, borderline grossly obese.

Doc and I are peachy keen by the way... damn metabolic syndrome.

[Kyril Enko]

49. Hmm? Whazzat?

The steam from this hot juicy Whopper is fogging my glasses.

[OhioChick]

51. 5'7.....110 lbs.....Nope, and I eat lots. n/t

[mitchum]

52. 6' and 135lbs...sometimes I look like I stepped out of the grave

[Codeine]

58. Goodness!

And I thought I was skinny! I have a good fifteen pounds on you and still stand out as thin.

[petronius]

53. 6'4", 215 lbs, and I consider myself a bit overweight

Mainly because the blubber-to-muscle ratio is a little high these days...

[chrisa]

54. BMI is the only real indicator, I think.

Sadly, if you ask alot of people who are normal weight, they will claim that they need to lose weight, even if it takes them out of the healthy zone. Healthy isn't having your ribs shooting out of your stomach.

[AlienGirl]

59. BMI can give skewed results for very muscular people. Fat to lean % is best indicator.

[Codeine]

55. 6', 150-155lbs depending on the week's hecticness level.

The physician's assistant who is working on my carpal tunnel issues told me I am "seriously ripped for such a thin guy" the other day. :D

[Madam Mossfern]

57. I could stand to lose about 10 - 15 pounds

People say that I'm nuts when I tell them I'm trying to lose weight, but I feel more energetic at a lower weight. As you get older, thin isn't so flattering. I was 20 pounds less than what I weigh now 4 years ago and people started asking mf if I was ok thinking I had some serious wasting disease. That's when I decided to put back a few pounds. Not a good strategy-I put on too many. I was a size 2 petite, now I'm a size six or 8 and feel fat.....but my face looks better! :shrug:

[closeupready]

62. Other - just a little bit overweight.

Most people would say I'm perfect. I have to disagree. :rofl: