Getting rid of lower-tummy fat?

[ariastar]

You know, that mega-stubborn part. I think I'd be okay with my body if I could just get rid of my abdomen. The rest of me is pretty much fine now, and this killing-myself-to-lose-weight thing is starting to get on my own nerves. So can someone PLEASE tell me how to deal with this one specific spot? It's throwing my body proportions out of whack. I don't like my elbows or fingers because even I think those are too thin now, but my f*cking abdomen won't go away so I can be happy.

[masherscf]

I don't like my elbows or fingers because even I think those are too thin now, but my f*cking abdomen won't go away so I can be happy.

Plastic surgery is probably out of the question, huh? Often people that have undergone gastric bypass need liposuction and plastic surgery to remove these areas.

[comhcinc]

plastic surgery or maybe ritural death would be the best bet. that or you could just do crunches, and understand that things just don't happen overnight.

[masherscf]

plastic surgery or maybe ritural death would be the best bet. that or you could just do crunches, and understand that things just don't happen overnight.

I'd rather have a belly.

[heyseuss]

The 'bicycle kick' exercise. It's slow and non-impact yet develops lower abs and strengthens lower back muscles, especially love handles. Basically a great waistline burner. I don't know of anywhere on the web to find you a link that can teach you. I also don't know how to describe the right ways to do it in text, and then make sure you are doing it right. It's not something you have to plod away with either, only a few minutes of doing it will be a test for you.

[ariastar]

Plastic surgery is probably out of the question, huh? Often people that have undergone gastric bypass need liposuction and plastic surgery to remove these areas.

That's gone through my mind, though I'm really trying to not go the route of surgery. I haven't had gastric bypass (no large intestine to connect to), but I've lost over 10% of a ton on my own. Somehow, no extra skin. It's shrunk back.

[ariastar]

plastic surgery or maybe ritural death would be the best bet. that or you could just do crunches, and understand that things just don't happen overnight.

Overnight? I've been working on this since I was 16. I'm almost 27 now. Think I've been looking for an overnight solution if I've spent almost 11 years on this?

[ariastar]

The 'bicycle kick' exercise. It's slow and non-impact yet develops lower abs and strengthens lower back muscles, especially love handles. Basically a great waistline burner. I don't know of anywhere on the web to find you a link that can teach you. I also don't know how to describe the right ways to do it in text, and then make sure you are doing it right. It's not something you have to plod away with either, only a few minutes of doing it will be a test for you.

Ah, mention something that can't be taught. :)

[patch]

Ah, mention something that can't be taught. :)
I believe bicycle kicks are when you lay on your back and alternate touching your elbows to your opposite knee. Kind of a crunch, with a twist. (literally.)

[helen]

Ignore every stupid infomercial you've ever seen and realise that there is no such thing as spot working out. Millions of sit ups might give you really good abs, but won't burn the ever so clinging fat cells above. Sadly. :( If you ever do find a way, please do enlighten the rest of us though.
For the meantime, invest in a good corset.

[tokenuser]

I believe bicycle kicks are when you lay on your back and alternate touching your elbows to your opposite knee. Kind of a crunch, with a twist. (literally.)Actually, it is a kind of crunch - laterally in an oblique kinda way :)

[heyseuss]

I believe bicycle kicks are when you lay on your back and alternate touching your elbows to your opposite knee. Kind of a crunch, with a twist. (literally.)

Nope. That is murderous, damn Jane Fonda shit.

Flat on your back, hands by your side, bring one knee up dragging the heel an inch OFF the ground on the way, when it's at it's peak, straighten it towards ceiling pointing toe, at the point that your toe reaches the farthest it can go, 90degrees/12'oclock, you lift the other leg and start bringing it up. At this moment, you should have 2 STRAIGHT legs, 90degrees seperation and they should always pass in the middle at the same moment, and change direction at the same moment, meaning, the first leg should just be reaching a parallel position to the floor as the other leg is just reaching toe pointing at 12o'clock. Your feet/legs do not touch the ground the whole time.

This takes control AND THIS IS THE KEY, do not arch your back, do not raise your chin to your chest. Try sticking your hands under the small of your back (not all the way to the spine, just into the sides) and feel the lower back muscles work, keep them pressed down on top of your hands or flat to the floor - no arching, when your leg is extended out in front of you, this is the moment you will really want to be lazy, keep those lower back muscles flat to the floor.

This is not fast, do it slowly concentrating on your breathing and keeping your stomach and lower back firm.


The other one, which for me is only hard to do because I have nothing to do it on, is going to define the lower back, and seperate those love handles from the gluteus. In turn, this adversely affects (as all muscle groups do) another set of muscles and those are, the lower abs. Most people don't realise that muscles are attached in pairs or groups of pairs and when one is flexing, the other is relaxing. You have to have it in your mind that you are working on 2 SETS at the same time, and that is why it is important to concentrate on the feeling (I think you know a GOOD way to do that) of what those two groups are doing, simultaneously. Be aware of your breathing and remember to flatten tummy and raise diaphragm and fill chest on inhalation, and to push tummy out on exhalation. Ever done sit-ups and had a sore lower back or neck later ??? That's you making another muscle group do your abs work.

Ok, like I said, this one for me was only something I could do on a massage or doctors table, I've tried kitchen coutners but they are too uncomfortable and beds are too soft and low. Try to find something like a doctors table and lie on it face down on the end of it with everything below the waist, off the edge. Upside down L shaped - perfect 90degrees at waist. Pushing the lower abs into the end of the bed/table lift both legs up together, ankles together perfectly straight and start this movement keeping your heels moving first and farthest away they can be. Don't put divots in the arch movement. CLENCH the BUTT cheeks. You should bring them up til your whole body is straight and hold it for a second. When you let go with the butt clench, you need your abs to hold the legs up from falling. On the way down, your abs are in control it's IMPORTANT not to let gravity pull the legs down and as I said, keep that arc of your heels solid and pure, no bending. Here you feel the control needed to use the back muscles on the way up and the stomach muscles on the way down.

It's almost the same technique as the bicycle move only gravity plays a different role and you are primarily working the lower back/butt, but the abs are required and this move compliments the bicycle move as that one is primarily for the lower abs. Again, slow movements. This isn't cardio although if doing it right, it really doesn't take many reps to feel the burn.

If you can do this, .. try 'the superman'. Which means, lay on the floor or yoga mat on your stomach in superman flying pose. At the same time, lift your arms and legs, trying to touch your heels to the back of your head without bending the legs and without taking the head back further than the shoulders. You should be on apex of your belly. Kind of what a swan dive momentarily looks like. It's not a 'jerk' movement, but it is a sortof quick rep. The hold is only for a split second, but the entire move only takes 2 secs. This is a hard one.

Seriously Aria, is we had contact I could get you in shape very quickly, with a variety of yoga moves that only require a small amount of time to work on per day.

Also so you know, I'm not some crazy know-it-all. I worked as a physiotherapist for a few years and worked 2 practices while working for my local professional basketball teams physio..... then, after quitting that to do other things I ended up dating a physio of 20 years. I also do yoga and tai chi and can do the splits standing while being 6'2. Of course, when I do, my hips and knees make noise, most of me does, I'm old. I don't know exactly what 'physiotherapist' means to you because they are different here than in Australia and England, basically they are real doctors there and more like massage therapists here. And chiropractors are simply doing about 10% of what physiotherapists do. I'd put someone in traction, ultrasound, massage, resistence, mobility exercise before I'd start popping and cracking. Except the reserve center for the basketball team, I used to pop his giant ankles as soon as he walked in and then ice him for an hour, but he was a different freakish case and he also brought a dozen hot doughnuts every time he came in. I've also spent afternoons beating on old men with Legionaires and Abestos Lung to loosen the junk in their lungs so they could breathe for a day. It was rewarding and gross at the same time to see the infected flesh they would cough up.

I'm actually going to try and find you some diagrams.

[radzack]

Here are some great exercises that I have to pay money to my personal trainer to teach me to do....

The Crunch

Listen. I don't care how many times you've laid down and done sit ups.
This is one of the most basic and easy exercises out there. Just do them.
To work the obliques, lay on your side and turn your back like a corkscew
so you are still facing upward. Now crunch in that direction. Do each side.

????????????

Really do not have a definite name for this. I've heard so many. Lay on
a weight bench (if you don't have one use the side of your bed) and let
your butt rest right on the edge with you feet flat on the ground. Now
raise your legs and hold them out straight, keep lifting them as they are
straight until you make you body "L" shaped. Rinse and Repeat. That
works the hell out of your abs.

Do each exercise in repititions of 30. Don't take 10 minute break between each one. A minute max. The key to giving you muscles a healthy workout is to keep pushing them.

Also. Kick up your protein intake, drink lots of water, and stay away from any food that is white or light colored....

If you do those twice daily (it takes 5 minutes tops) in a few weeks you should see a difference, and in a month or two you will please with the results. Be sure to maintain it as well.

Edit: you will be sore the next day...

[tokenuser]

I don't know exactly what 'physiotherapist' means to you because they are different here than in Australia and England, basically they are real doctors there and more like massage therapists here. And chiropractors are simply doing about 10% of what physiotherapists do. I'd put someone in traction, ultrasound, massage, resistence, mobility exercise before I'd start popping and cracking. FWIW - I have been visiting sports medicine doctors for about 15 years (since breaking pelvis skydiving). I Australia they are physiotherapists for the most part, in the US they are chiropractors. In fact, I have a visit with my chiro tomorrow - he will probably put me in traction for awhile (loosen spine), possibly hooked up to a tens machine (electrial muscle stimulator), and will then do a spinal manipulation. After crushing my T11/12 verts, and breaking my pelvis, regular maintenance like this helps immensley. I also do floor exercises and hand weigh based exercises as well. Its part of the whole package. Massage does very little for me because it is largely not a muscular problem.

[skyz]

yoga jazz dance class or ballet class

have you ever seen a dancer with a belly ;)

and swimming especially in salt water

stretching your whole body pulls everything into its proper place

i go to a chiropracter too - i walk out with perfect posture

[heyseuss]

The Crunch

???????????

The key to giving you muscles a healthy workout is to keep pushing them.

Edit: you will be sore the next day...


Surpisingly similar to what I suggested.

Although, both you and Token seem to think a Crunch is an obliuqes exercise and lateral movement. It's not really, that's just a specific kind of crunch. 'A crunch' is just a kind of small sit-up without any oblique attention. Neither kind of crunch is lower ab specific though, yeh it works them, but it works alot of other parts too without the concentration on the lower abs.


And yes to the 'pushing them' part too, when you feel comfy with any exercise Aria, throw a few more reps in each day.

About being sore next day, you don't have to be. Stretching is KEY. If you hurt too much after doing any exercise, you may have done it wrong, or done too much. Stretching is the most important thing ever to me, more important that cardio even.

[heyseuss]

Massage does very little for me because it is largely not a muscular problem.

Yeh, I wouldn't massage your pelvis. And by massage, I wasn't talking about nice and relaxing stuff either. I was referring to my elbow and acupressure stuff, it hurts. My list of things I would do prior was choices and options, not the checklist. Massage is only good for releasing somethings grip on something else.

oh, and breaking your pelvis skydiving, FCUK THAT ! I didn't know that, that will make it harder for you to work on your keg.

My sister just had 3 verts laser seperated in a really dicey operation.

[radzack]

Oh ya. The normal crunch gives attention to the higher region and front of your abs. While you work it you can feel which ones it is using. But then you have the alternate angled ones I discussed that works all other angles. And then the full leg lifts that stretch the HELL out of you. Thorough.

[tokenuser]

Although, both you and Token seem to think a Crunch is an obliuqes exercise and lateral movement. It's not really, that's just a specific kind of crunch. 'A crunch' is just a kind of small sit-up without any oblique attention. Neither kind of crunch is lower ab specific though, yeh it works them, but it works alot of other parts too without the concentration on the lower abs. I wasn't referring to a crunch as such. I was referring to the variant patch mentioned where you are in a crunch type position, and moving opposing elbows/knees towards each other (left knee to right elbow, and vice versa). That works obliques as well as laterals.

Also the bicycle move you described sounds more like a scissor move. Bicycle moves I make have the calves staying pretty much parallel to the floor, with alternate knee being pulled towards your chest. This creates a bicycling motion like - well - riding a bike. With my lower back issues, this is about the only exercise I can maintain any sort of action with that involves having both legs off the ground.

[heyseuss]

Also the bicycle move you described sounds more like a scissor move. Bicycle moves I make have the calves staying pretty much parallel to the floor, with alternate knee being pulled towards your chest. This creates a bicycling motion like - well - riding a bike. With my lower back issues, this is about the only exercise I can maintain any sort of action with that involves having both legs off the ground.

That's pretty much what I was describing. Bicycle/scissor, bathroom/dunny, tomatoe/pumpkin. I can't imgaine trying that with a previous lower back injury, it's a hard enough exercise regardless, although you've got to strengthen it somehow I guess.

[radzack]

I've been doing serious physical therapy since my accident, and they have got me going through some insane back straightening exercises. It's true, if you don't use it you lose it.

[heyseuss]

It's true, if you don't use it you lose it.

I thought my penis was getting smaller.

[radzack]

hahahaahahah.

[nikole]

I thought my penis was getting smaller.

there is honestly nothing better than people laughing at themselves

also, lower stomach fat is the devil, im a gamer, with a serious case of the munchies, needless to say im hardly in shape... its definitely my "problem area"

[radzack]

ahhhh. When playing a good session of Halo3 it's almost impossible to not grab something and munch everytime you're killed...that being said I munch alot. lol. I completely stay away from sugars...Goldfish are realllly good munches. Baked. No trans fat...under 100 calories per like 55. Works for me. I'm lucky that I have been athletic as well as tech saavy...or else I would be giANNTT.

[heyseuss]

there is honestly nothing better than people laughing at themselves

also, lower stomach fat is the devil, im a gamer, with a serious case of the munchies, needless to say im hardly in shape... its definitely my "problem area"

Maybe it's just winter coming, cus I know it's not me, ... coming.

alright that even cracks me up.

and Nikole - your 'problem area' is not a very serious problem to concern yourself with. You, as a whole, still only weigh as much as my shoes. A guitar hero guitar couldn't hide any of my body parts - speaking of which, I am going to play guitar hero 1 for the first time ever tonight. Thanks Steve !

[ariastar]

For the meantime, invest in a good corset.

I make corsets, fully steel boned. :)

[ariastar]

yoga jazz dance class or ballet class

have you ever seen a dancer with a belly ;)

and swimming especially in salt water

stretching your whole body pulls everything into its proper place

i go to a chiropracter too - i walk out with perfect posture



Ballet. I stopped after a director refused to let me help behind the scenes for The Nutcracker last year because she said was was too fat to look good. This was in front of the whole dance company. Once I reach 120, I'll go back to ballet. I'm still too humiliated to go to any classes.

[ariastar]

And yes to the 'pushing them' part too, when you feel comfy with any exercise Aria, throw a few more reps in each day.

Do you mean push the muscles apart? Because the muscles in my stomach and abdomen have already been cut apart up and down. If I tighten, you can put your hand on me and feel that the muscles have been severed.


About being sore next day, you don't have to be. Stretching is KEY. If you hurt too much after doing any exercise, you may have done it wrong, or done too much. Stretching is the most important thing ever to me, more important that cardio even.

Mmmmmm.... I like that soreness!

[ariastar]

I'll read the exercise instructions more thoroughly tomorrow and comment. I need to get to bed soon. :)

[heyseuss]

Do you mean push the muscles apart? Because the muscles in my stomach and abdomen have already been cut apart up and down. If I tighten, you can put your hand on me and feel that the muscles have been severed.

No, I meant, in reference to what Radzack said about pushing yourself in the exercise. You should stop when you feel burn, over doing it will cause damage and make it hard for you to exercise the next several times. I meant, just push your self a littel after a while. Once you've reached a comfortable number of reps, next day when you reach that point, do a few more reps, and as they say, "feel the burn and ride the zone".


Mmmmmm.... I like that soreness!

You're still talking about working out right ?

[masherscf]

... but I've lost over 10% of a ton on my own. Somehow, no extra skin. It's shrunk back.

That's a really awkward way to express the magnitude of your weight loss. Do you expect that your achievement sounds more monumental if you express the value in tons? Do you find it less impressive if you say you've lost more than 100 kilos? I don't. Heck, I lost 10% of a percent of a ton the last time I took a dump.

This isn't a criticism, I was struck by the expression.

[skyz]

sweetie what you have acomplished is incredible and admirable BUT that much drastic change is an assault on your body so now is the time to be VERY NURTURING AND KIND TO YOUR BODY

it is time to love your body sweetie

[wizmaster]

Ignore every stupid infomercial you've ever seen and realise that there is no such thing as spot working out. Millions of sit ups might give you really good abs, but won't burn the ever so clinging fat cells above. Sadly. :( If you ever do find a way, please do enlighten the rest of us though.
For the meantime, invest in a good corset.

Why did the thread not end here? You can't direct which fat cells get burned unless some breakthrough happened pretty recently. It's also my "problem" area even though it's practically the only place I have fat. Although I'll probably start working out soon (including abs) I don't have any illusions about having a six pack or anything like that. I'll just have more muscle under the fat.

Lipo is really the only help IMO and not really worth it. Working out enough will lower the amount of fat in your body and lower the fat in your "problem" area as well but not remove it completely. I don't subscribe to the notion of having no ab fat and a visible ribcage / oversized muscles so I can't really be of much help. Just remember, you may not get it all until we find a way to get our bodies to store fat where we want it stored.

[wizmaster]

sweetie what you have acomplished is incredible and admirable BUT that much drastic change is an assault on your body so now is the time to be VERY NURTURING AND KIND TO YOUR BODY

it is time to love your body sweetie



That too. Forgot to add this.

[tokenuser]

Yeh, I wouldn't massage your pelvis. And by massage, I wasn't talking about nice and relaxing stuff either. I was referring to my elbow and acupressure stuff, it hurts. My list of things I would do prior was choices and options, not the checklist. Massage is only good for releasing somethings grip on something else.I didn't think you were referring to a swedish massage, but a deep muscle therapy ... although the chiro I used to visit in SoCal (who does sports medicine for the Ducks and Angels) did have candles and new age music in his massage room, mainly because it did double time as a room for the relaxing massage therapy (which also has a place).

oh, and breaking your pelvis skydiving, FCUK THAT ! I didn't know that, that will make it harder for you to work on your keg.Yep. I was less than an inch or 1mph away from paraplegia (ie - if the rock I'd hit had been an inch to the left, or I had landed any faster). I was always a big guy, but fairly active - snow skiiing, weight/circuit training, road bicycle work ... and it kept me looking pretty good. I am built like a front rower in a Rugby team (like my father), but was into rock climbing, abseiling (especially combined with caving), and sailboarding (flat water for speed, not surf for maneuvers).

When I landed ( :) ) in hospital for a week it didn't look good, but it was because of my level of fitness that I needed only minor physio to become mobile again, but the compression fractures I suffered in the T11/12 means I have had lower back issues ever since ... and apparently any work they do on the verts is likely to just cause other problem. So I deal with it.

Unfortunate side effect is that I was on my back for 6 week, in a back brace for 6 months, and started to gaint e keg. Witout being able to adequately exercise, it kept coming. Then it becomes a vicious cycle of exercise causing back pain, lack of exercise making it hard to kill the keg. It has taken 15 years for me to start getting it back under control - that how long it has taken for me to get my back and lower back muscles and abs into enough shape to make a difference. I have had minor succes in the past, but it was not sustained. This time round it has been a combination o exercise and diet. I slipped over the past month - but am getting back on track again.

Long and painful road - but at least my jeans are now a size too large.

[kickarse]

The only real way to get rid of the fat is through a really good cardio workout. Not every burns fat the same and it's harder for woman to loose weight than men. It's because of the muscle mass. Muscle mass is like a huge factory for eating up the fat.

Good cardio exercises are swimming, running, biking. Getting the stamina to get to the point of making it work is very hard. Surprisingly, a muscle toning or building workout will work well, too. And, eating well is a HUGE deal with this.

[masherscf]

The only real way to get rid of the fat is through a really good cardio workout.

This isn't the only real way. It's probably the healthiest and most sustainable way. Starvation is still the quickest way to lose those unwanted pounds. A sensible plan of moderation in your eating and healthy exercises is the best way to lose weight. You could also start by getting enough sleep.

But, Aria it's obviously got the diet and exercising thing down. What she needs is a little targeted training combined with a cardio workout.

[mic]

Ballet. I stopped after a director refused to let me help behind the scenes for The Nutcracker last year because she said was was too fat to look good. This was in front of the whole dance company. Once I reach 120, I'll go back to ballet. I'm still too humiliated to go to any classes.
Please understand that I mean this in the most polite way that I can say (I'm not the most poetic of writers), but you need to work on the inside too. Fat does not mean ugly, nor does it necessarily mean unhealthy. The hell with those idiots. I'm overweight, I'm also not as mobile in my older age due to injury, and if someone tried that crap with me I'd shove sausage down their throat and starving dogs up their Ask.

The point is, do this for yourself and not for the benefit or to impress others. Love who you are first, all of you, and know that not everyone will like you, thin or otherwise. That, my dear, is but one key to a happier life.

[radzack]

Cardio is verrrrry important. I strongly recommend a spinning class.

Oh and Token. I can share some kind of sympathy with you. Not the exact injuries, but after my accident I was hospitalized for 2 months and bed ridden in a hospital bed with home health for about 4 months after that....had machines all over me and things like that. Hard stuff. Phys therapy is the most important thing for sure. Im lucky I was active. My healthy body kept me alive. That is also another reason I think you should strive to exercise. Love yourself by all means. Don't conform sure. But regular exercise is VERY healthy for you, and may help prevent complications in your in the future.

[tokenuser]

Cardio is verrrrry important. I strongly recommend a spinning class.

Oh and Token. I can share some kind of sympathy with you. Not the exact injuries, but after my accident I was hospitalized for 2 months and bed ridden in a hospital bed with home health for about 4 months after that....had machines all over me and things like that. Hard stuff. Phys therapy is the most important thing for sure. Im lucky I was active. My healthy body kept me alive. That is also another reason I think you should strive to exercise. Love yourself by all means. Don't conform sure. But regular exercise is VERY healthy for you, and may help prevent complications in your in the future.I was lucky. My body "bounced" back pretty fast. I could not walk without assistance (crutches for 4 months, walking stick for another 6 months after than), but was OK driving.

I got my first speeding ticket while I was on crutches. The cop didn't believe that they were mine. My gf had been in a car accident the weekend I had my parachuting accident, and thought that because she had her rm up in a sling (broken collar bone), they must have been hers. He made me get out out of my car of the time - a low slung Honda CRX Si. Still didn't believe me as I was hauling the crutches out of the back of the car ... and was going to cal in backup becaue I was "taking my own sweet time complying with a lawful directive". Asshole didn't stop giving me grief until I was out of the car, and balancing myself seated on the hood of the car. Then I flashed him the back brace ... and he booked me for doing 125 in a 110 zone (km/h). BS - I was doing 115-120 tops, but was being forced to pay the "20 something driving a red sports coupe" tax. Prick.

Back on topic. Spin classes are killer - if you can handle the pace they are a great workout. I can't so I use a stationary bike on a variable resistance program while I watch TV at home :)

[radzack]

I love the 20 something driving a red sports coupe tax. It's sooooooo true though isn't it? If your gf was very attractive that couldn't help either, jealous cops. Anyway. Wheelchair for 9 months, now crutches....have had for around 2 weeks now.

Learning to walk again = the hardest thing i've ever done.

(doesn't help being 6'1")

[tokenuser]

I love the 20 something driving a red sports coupe tax. It's sooooooo true though isn't it? If your gf was very attractive that couldn't help either, jealous cops. Anyway. Wheelchair for 9 months, now crutches....have had for around 2 weeks now.

Learning to walk again = the hardest thing i've ever done.

(doesn't help being 6'1")I ended up marrying the gf :)

The accident for me was both the high point and low point of my life. The feeling of being superman hanging off the wing strut of a Twin Otter, followed by freefall - thats my happy place. Unfortunately the ground and a large rock proved to be my kryptonite - so my high was follwed by a decided low point.

I empathise with you and sincerely hope the road to recovery is smooth. I
hated my crutches - especially living in a split level home at the time.

[radzack]

Oh I appreciate it. But trust me. The crutches are gold after being 18, at the end of senior year, and stuck in a wheelchair for 9 months. I am a nationwide traveling motivational speaker, and that really cut off my resources for some time. Luckily I had tons of highschools, friends, and good family members across the nation that kept me strong. I will be driving soon, so hells yeah!

[frankiethewaffle]

OK Aria, this seems to be important as this topic is the busiest topic I have ever seen. I am not the final word, all I can tell you is what I have experienced and witnessed. I ran into a similar problem as I worked out to become a pro wrestler.

Since I was seventeen I had lost a lot of weight. (I was 17, 5'4" and 180 pounds. Over my HS Junior Summer, I lost 40 pounds and grew to be 6'.) That is a lot of change, so the skin was mostly taken up by the growth in height. But I lost the weight with cardio.

When I was 23 I decided to train as a pro wrestler. I mostly worked out for the strength so I didn't kill anyone by dropping them. That happened a lot in that time. I gained muscle weight back to about 208lbs. I settled there for a while but I still had some left over skin. Plus, I thought I could lose it when I felt strong enough, through diet. I never paid attention to my diet at the time except to have tons of protein, and limit fat as much as I could. I did that for three years as I am an overtime worker and that is what I could do.

I got the money together and went to Florida to train with Dory Funk Jr. No one ever knows who he is, but, he is a legend. When I was there and didn't have the daily work, we put the time into the gym. I increased my workout by 30 percent. I liked it. After a while, Dory told me that I would have to get used to being a big guy. My muscle mass was increasing. After some time I came back to NY to do what I couldn't in Fla. Plus, I kinda broke my neck. My fault but, nothing too serious. I went back to work and increased my time in the gym. I would work 10 hours and go to the gym for 4-6. Days off I put in 8-10 hours in the gym. With my gym intensity, (I work to failure on every set and do it till I can't anymore. Sometimes passing out.) I gained another 30 pounds. I made up for the loose skin and more. I have stretch marks from my elbows to my chest on the front of my arms and to my waist on my back. I was accused of a lot of things illegal, none true. But I would be banned from baseball. I did a 12 week cycle of over the counter suppliments.

The point to that useless story is pay attention to your body. Don't cheat or force more than you can do. At the same time, to lose that area. If your skin has not retracted after weight loss, you can do sit ups till you die. Won't help "right there". I do have something you can try. Build your thighs and legs as a whole. If you have a chest you don't mind changing or losing too much of it, build your chest and back too. (Back especially, takes a lot of room inside and feels really good. Back is my favorite. Not to mention a strong back on a woman, somehow makes me squirm.) Muscle pushing on all of those areas, especially up there, may pull you tight.

Building abs underneath will help define, but work the Obliques (Side Abs) too. Another thing some women try to avoid as it can give a more square midsection look. (It is like the fact that most guys try to build their biceps for bigger arms, while their triceps add more to the size.) But take your time. Make it a lifestyle thing. It may take a year; but a good diet, cardio and muscle mass may get you what you want. You can do things to make your skin more healthy too so it will do its' part. Vitamins and such. Long but Hopefully useful. Good luck and don't be do damned self critical.

[radzack]

Well said.

[lsman11]

less pizza, no candy.

[nikole]

this is completely irrelevant but i saw the word pizza and you know what i want, pizza, but i want the kind in the ninja turtle cartoons, all that cheesy goodness, like it was sooo cheesy but the the cheese didn't fall off...Mmmmmm

[patch]

this is completely irrelevant but i saw the word pizza and you know what i want, pizza, but i want the kind in the ninja turtle cartoons, all that cheesy goodness, like it was sooo cheesy but the the cheese didn't fall off...Mmmmmm

Home made pizza is always the best. I made some pizza dough the other day actually. I should probably get around to actually using it.

[skyz]

less pizza, no candy.

when i order pizza i order pizza capresi or veggie pizza and i don't eat all of the crust - i move the toppings up the slice and only eat about 1/2 the doughy part

i occasionally eat a dark chocolate toblerone bar

as i told you before i discovered diet is a matter of proportions and portions

by increasing the proportion of vegetable based protein (i am a lifetime vegetarian [i eat some dairy {yogurt and cheese} but no eggs]) my body readjusted itself to a lower weight and i no longer have a weight problem at all

actually i have to remember to eat enough

and of course i maintain the habits that were successful for me but that is not a problem because i enjoy eating that way


Ballet. I stopped after a director refused to let me help behind the scenes for The Nutcracker last year because she said was was too fat to look good. This was in front of the whole dance company. Once I reach 120, I'll go back to ballet. I'm still too humiliated to go to any classes.


ballet people can be really snobbish

but one thing about dancers is this = they rarely think in body parts - they see their bodies as one piece like a dolphin

yoga classes are good because there are all types of body types in class and what most people do not know is that those weird positions not only stretch the body but bring blood flow to your endocrine glands which is why yoga is so beneficial

i forgot to mention pilates - many many top performing dancers depend on pilates

also jazz dancing works your hip area and lower abdomen way more than ballet because there are more oblique and twisting movements

i am too 'white bread' to be able to salsa but salsa provides both cardio and shaping benefits

going out dancing in the clubs is great for you except for all the cigarette smoke and drinking

swimming is wonderful and no one is there to critcize you


as i said before it is time to stop attacking your body and start cherishing it

get massages get manicures and pedicures

buy gorgeous lingerie for you to wear under your clothes and around the house for your own pleasure not necessarily for your boyfriend's benefit

every thread you start is 'top of the charts' here

people love you :)

you don't have to be perfect to be beautiful

;)

[heyseuss]

buy gorgeous lingerie for you to wear under your clothes and around the house for your own pleasure not necessarily for your boyfriend's benefit


She's already good at that.

btw skys, not ignoring your pm's just busy.

[radzack]

awww. But yes, less candy.

[nikole]

stop bagging on the candy

http://a501.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_76ce577388e5c79dc6f77e39017158bc.jpg

thats the fridge in my room, can you count that items that will give you the dibeetus?

[masherscf]

stop bagging on the candy



thats the fridge in my room, can you count that items that will give you the dibeetus?

You're such a chick...

[radzack]

ahhh you beat me to it. Nothing wrong with being girly.

[tokenuser]

My god. A tub of pure calories is in there ... Betty Crocker IS NOT your friend. She is an evil EVIL woman. Never talk to her.

If turning to food is a form of emotional relief, then you need to meet Ben and Jerry.

Personally, I prefer to drink alone. Just me and my buddy Jack ... sometimes doing a little Coke together.

[ariastar]

less pizza, no candy.

I bought a bag of candy last Halloween and put it in a crystal bowl. Over a year later, it's still sitting there untouched. And as for pizza? Love the stuff, but when I eat it, I throw up.

A typical day for me is between 100 and 300 calories right now. Today I drank half a cup of OJ (110 cals for a full cup) and an oatmeal raisin cookie I made.

[ariastar]

Starvation is still the quickest way to lose those unwanted pounds.

Hello, new plan. Helps to have no appetite right now.

[ariastar]

awww. But yes, less candy.

I ate a single Whopper last week. One Whopper. Candy goes bad around here before being eaten.

[ariastar]

going out dancing in the clubs is great for you except for all the cigarette smoke and drinking

I've been going to clubs with Russians. Try sitting down for a single minute and they'll grab you and make you get up, even if they don't know you. Russian culture is nice.


swimming is wonderful and no one is there to critcize you

I think the main pool's heated right now. A swim sounds good.


as i said before it is time to stop attacking your body and start cherishing it

That's not going to happen anytime soon.


buy gorgeous lingerie for you to wear under your clothes and around the house for your own pleasure not necessarily for your boyfriend's benefit

I had a whole collection of hella nice stuff, silk, and shrunk out of it.


every thread you start is 'top of the charts' here

people love you :)

you don't have to be perfect to be beautiful

;)


People tolerate me because I think I provide amusement. Or at least something to ***** about.

You have to be beautiful to be perfect, I think. Or I do.

[heyseuss]

http://a501.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_76ce577388e5c79dc6f77e39017158bc.jpg


Aren't pink walls for insane people ?

[ariastar]

FWIW, this is me this afternoon. I know I look like hell, but most of me is okay, weight-wise. Just this stupid pooch I've got. Another 33 pounds and I'll be finished trying to lose weight.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/theyear2007/November/7%20-%20Me/noname-1.jpg

[ariastar]

And almost exactly one year ago, shortly before Nick and I got together.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f79/TheYear2006/11-November/24-Strike/DSC03373.jpg

[ariastar]

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f79/TheYear2006/11-November/24-Strike/DSC03375.jpg

[patch]

That's not going to happen anytime soon.

I've said that many times. Hell, said it yesterday to someone I love very much.

I know its hard, but you can come through this. I did at one point come through my cutting and depression. It wasn't easy, but it happened and it was wonderful.

You can do it Aria, you just need to find someone to help you along and someone who hurts you time and time again isn't a person who will do that.


You have to be beautiful to be perfect, I think. Or I do.

I'm not going to use kid gloves here...

BULLSH!T

Perfect in my eyes is partly imperfection.

My perfect woman is kind and loving, confident in her self, willing to drop whatever she's doing when you need someone to support you, intelligent, wise, independent, creative and passionate and, I want her to have to times of weakness so I know she's still human. So I know I'm not the only person who can be weak, and so I can help her through those times. I want her to fall from time to time. Because if she doesn't. If she is always strong, and never shows any signs of falling. I would feel like I was less than her. Like I wasn't strong enough for her because I have my times of weakness and she doesn't. Like I wasn't good enough for her, and should leave her so she can find someone she deserves.

But looks? Looks hardly come into play. If I love her for who she is. For how she acts. How she cares about others. I will find her beautiful, because it isn't a superficial exterior that I fell in love with. Its the person beyond that.

You do not need to destroy your self to become beautiful and if people around you are causing you to destroy your self, they don't love you. They do not care about you, and you need to get away from them. For your self.

[ariastar]

But looks? Looks hardly come into play. If I love her for who she is. For how she acts. How she cares about others. I will find her beautiful, because it isn't a superficial exterior that I fell in love with. Its the person beyond that.

But she's still beautiful to you. The way I am is that a guy could look so-so or not nice at all, but if I end up liking him, in my eyes he's beautiful. And I love the way he looks. Nick doesn't like his eyes because they aren't straight. i think they're beautiful because they are part of him, and I love him.


You do not need to destroy your self to become beautiful and if people around you are causing you to destroy your self, they don't love you. They do not care about you, and you need to get away from them. For your self.

Know what? There's a bit of irony here. I was taking 18 ephedra pills a day. 18. Until Nick made me stop. He's the main one telling me to stop what I'm doing. I don't believe him anymore though. He's trying to be the "good guy."

[patch]

But she's still beautiful to you. The way I am is that a guy could look so-so or not nice at all, but if I end up liking him, in my eyes he's beautiful. And I love the way he looks. Nick doesn't like his eyes because they aren't straight. i think they're beautiful because they are part of him, and I love him.



Thats exactly what I am saying. YOU will be beautiful to someone who loves you for you. Someone who wants to know the you past physical apperance. Who wants to bond and care about that person. You don't need to destroy your self to be beautiful to someone.







Know what? There's a bit of irony here. I was taking 18 ephedra pills a day. 18. Until Nick made me stop. He's the main one telling me to stop what I'm doing. I don't believe him anymore though. He's trying to be the "good guy."



I'd say that you're wanting more out of him than he is willing to give, and I know its hard (trust me, I know.) but you need to keep him as a close friend, or get away from him for the time being and find someone who is willing to love you back the way you love Nick. Other wise, you're going to keep destroying your self until there is literally nothing left, and I know I don't want to see that. I'd miss your posts too much, and your great comments on Digg and I'm sure others would miss you too.





Man, I'm gonna get yelled at for this. Lol. You better take my words 'to heart'. Cause I'm gonna be takin' a bit of heat from my friend for talkin' like this. Lol.

[skyz]

I'd say that you're wanting more out of him than he is willing to give, and I know its hard (trust me, I know.) but you need to keep him as a close friend, or get away from him for the time being and find someone who is willing to love you back the way you love Nick.

if you thought you were worth more money at your job or were capable of a bigger job would you let your boss decide for you what you were worth ?

recently a friend of mine tried to put me down and limit my worth to what she could handle and i dropped her on the spot 'cause i could see through to her envy and it was ugly


Man, I'm gonna get yelled at for this. Lol. You better take my words 'to heart'. Cause I'm gonna be takin' a bit of heat from my friend for talkin' like this. Lol.

which friend

you're doing great

[ariastar]

I'd say that you're wanting more out of him than he is willing to give, and I know its hard (trust me, I know.) but you need to keep him as a close friend, or get away from him for the time being and find someone who is willing to love you back the way you love Nick. Other wise, you're going to keep destroying your self until there is literally nothing left, and I know I don't want to see that. I'd miss your posts too much, and your great comments on Digg and I'm sure others would miss you too.

LOL, my comments on Digg are sometimes intentionally stupid to amuse myself. And those are usually the ones Dugg up.

I don't want Nick out of my life, but couldn't bear seeing him with anyone else. He talked to his ex-wife the day before yesterday (she's in another country), and she's dating someone else, and he said it makes him jealous. I asked if he still felt something for her, and he said no. Well, how the hell does he think I'd feel actually seeing him with someone else when I love him?


Man, I'm gonna get yelled at for this. Lol. You better take my words 'to heart'. Cause I'm gonna be takin' a bit of heat from my friend for talkin' like this. Lol.

My heart must be fixed first. I need someone to hug me for a while.

[ariastar]

if you thought you were worth more money at your job or were capable of a bigger job would you let your boss decide for you what you were worth ?

recently a friend of mine tried to put me down and limit my worth to what she could handle and i dropped her on the spot 'cause i could see through to her envy and it was ugly



I am, but like where I work, the people, the position, etc.. Those things are worth more than making more money.

Friends shouldn't try to knock each other's sense of worth.

[patch]

which friend

you're doing great

Not you. Someone else. They're just gonna point out how hypocritical. Whic, to be honest. I am.


ARG! Its been such a pain to post lately! I think Rev3 is using a service that has my subnet black listed! I'm having to go through a proxy to post!

This would be a lot easier through E-mail or even the TRS chat room. :/

[patch]

I need someone to hug me for a while.

:/ Trust me, if I were in the area it would already be so.

[ariastar]

:/ Trust me, if I were in the area it would already be so.

Thanks. My dog and Nick's dog (who I'm dog-sitting while he's away this week) just don't hug as well.

I have a teddy bear, which is at work, that Nick brought me from the last time he was in Redmond. Something to do with a conference for work. Was that the Black Hat one, perhaps? Earlier this year. If there's any chance you were there, you may have seen him, and might remember.

[patch]

Thanks. My dog and Nick's dog (who I'm dog-sitting while he's away this week) just don't hug as well.

I have a teddy bear, which is at work, that Nick brought me from the last time he was in Redmond. Something to do with a conference for work. Was that the Black Hat one, perhaps? Earlier this year. If there's any chance you were there, you may have seen him, and might remember.
Yeah, sorry. Thats not my sorta thing at all. So I wasn't there.


I've gotta blow this pop stand. If you ever need to talk Aria, send me an E-mail ( Patch at totallyradfans.com ) okay? I'm always willing to listen.

[ariastar]

Yeah, sorry. Thats not my sorta thing at all. So I wasn't there.


I've gotta blow this pop stand. If you ever need to talk Aria, send me an E-mail ( Patch at totallyradfans.com ) okay? I'm always willing to listen.

You rock. Thanks. :)

[frankiethewaffle]

AriaStar, you have said you average 300 calories and under. You are going down a horrible path. No human body can be healthy on that.

First off, you will never lose the weight where you want to lose it. Your body will go into a sort of shock and store everything you still have and will put in. The next thing you may notice is a lack of energy. Your muscle mass will drop and cause a more notable weak feeling. Your skin and hair will become unhealthy as well. If "looking pretty" is so important, you will never be happy with yourself on 300 calories a day. You also had said you want to lose another 33 pounds? After seeing the "after photo" (the face shot) you had posted, you don't have another 33 pounds to lose. You will look skeletal at best. Again, you will never achieve the "pretty" look you are looking for.

I will give you my opinion on how to start a healthier diet lifestyle. I do recommend you talk to your Doctor to confirm anything. First, eat. You can eat plenty and eat healthy. Stop looking at calories so much. Look at fat content first. Especially saturated fats and mono unsaturated fats. Avoid them not only for weight issues, but vascular health as well. Instead of cooking with butter, use Olive oil. It is not only NOT bad for you, it is actually good for you. Go for high protein foods. You can even be a vegetarian and eat high protein foods. If you eat meat good. Look for the lean stuff and you will be fine. I hate this but it may serve you as a woman more than I like to admit. Look for Carb. counts in foods. I hate the idea of the low carb diet. Most people I know that have gone all low carb. insist on eating things that aren't good for them because a book said so. Like Handfuls of bacon. At first I say ignore Carbs. Just limit Breads, Potatoes and Pasta. Those three are huge sources but don't totally ignore them. Enjoy them in small doses. Look up vitamins too. Anything you do can only be helped by getting vitamins in your system. A multi vitamin should be fine. Eventually doing it with natural foods are best though.

Now is the part that takes most money and time. Also the hardest habit to achieve. Join a gym of some kind. Shop around for the best one for you. Here is a strategy if you choose to try. For a week or two start the high protein, low fat diet and vitamin intake. When you feel good enough, start cardio. 20 Minutes a day 3-5 days a week is ok. You can do that with fast walking or jogging. Try to do more when you can. According to what you have posted, your heart is not particularly cardio strong. After that if you feel better, start light weight work as well. Increase as you can. After 6 weeks alter the workout as needed. If you think your muscles are getting too big for the body you want, decrease that part. If you get light headed or weaken working out, check with your doctor first but you may even need to increase your diet. Your doctor can tell you if you have blood pressure or other problems.

You seem to have to needs of every person. I only now as much as a I do because I had to research everything according to my needs. You try to compete with guys that are 6'4" and 250 lbs. on average. You would find every possible article to benefit your goals.

Never push too hard and only do what you want to do, to achieve YOUR goals. No one else has to feel weak, tired and sick to look a certain way but you. Good luck and be healthy. Find the happy medium of your health.

[ariastar]

First off, you will never lose the weight where you want to lose it. Your body will go into a sort of shock and store everything you still have and will put in.

I've come down from 400 so far.


The next thing you may notice is a lack of energy. Your muscle mass will drop and cause a more notable weak feeling.

This happens a lot. That's where caffeine and ephedra come in handy.


After seeing the "after photo" (the face shot) you had posted, you don't have another 33 pounds to lose. You will look skeletal at best. Again, you will never achieve the "pretty" look you are looking for.

Just being thin is good.


Instead of cooking with butter, use Olive oil. It is not only NOT bad for you, it is actually good for you.

I love olive oil.


Just limit Breads, Potatoes and Pasta.

My favorite foods. Bread dipped in olive oil.


Look up vitamins too. Anything you do can only be helped by getting vitamins in your system. A multi vitamin should be fine.

Yeah, I should be taking vitamins. I have them, just don't take them. They're yummy and I want to eat them like candy.


Join a gym of some kind.

My apartment complex has a gym with everything but a personal trainer. I like sitting in the sauna sometimes.


According to what you have posted, your heart is not particularly cardio strong.

I go running three nights per week.


If you get light headed or weaken working out...

Okay, the dizzy sucks. Happens, but still not fun.


Good luck and be healthy. Find the happy medium of your health.

:)

[patch]

This happens a lot. That's where caffeine and ephedra come in handy.

No. That is not healthy. Eating will give you energy. So do it. Taking caffeine and ephedra as a temperary solution will only make things worse.



Just being thin is good.

Not if you're sick hun. Just being thin doesn't make you attractive or healthy.


Yeah, I should be taking vitamins. I have them, just don't take them. They're yummy and I want to eat them like candy.

You can get your vitamins from food. So eat.


Okay, the dizzy sucks. Happens, but still not fun.

You can fix the dizzy. Eat. Take care of your self. Its going to get worse and worse if you keep on this path. What will it take for you to change? End up in the hospital? Experience an NDE? This can very much kill you Aria. You need to take better care of your self.[/QUOTE]

[simon27]

I just keep thin by eating my fruit and veg. Then on the exercise front I just try and jog everyday. Also staying away from the fast food is good. Rather then buying food at work/school take a sandwich and a piece of fruit. As the sugar in fruit will stave off afternoon hunger.

If you live with other people I find it is fun to make up a big salad once a week and you all have salad for lunch that day. Or take turns making sandwiches.

When making sandwiches stay away from spreads use thin slices of bread and put plenty of lettuce in as lettuce fills you up and doesn't add any weight.

Make weight loss fun. As stress can also cause you to put on weight so don't worry about it.

[skyz]

being thin is good enough

i think you have got it wrong in your mind

being beautiful is good enough

glowing skin shiny hair bright eyes a relaxed face rosy cheeks and lips in a size 11 is better than dead looking hair skin eyes and a haggard expression in a size 1

i looked up this true story of a famous model named carrie otis

And last month, researchers found that women who looked at advertisements of thin and beautiful women showed signs of depression and dissatisfaction with their own bodies after only one to three minutes of viewing.


While beauty will always lie in the eyes of the beholder, advertisers are banking on the hopes that their thirty-second commercials will entice us to plunk down our dollars in our own quest for beauty. And it works. Every year women spend millions on cosmetics, gym memberships and even surgery for one reason only - they want to feel beautiful. Some women, though, pay an extremely high price.



Just ask Carrie Otis, a former supermodel who graced the cover of fashion magazines and was featured in the coveted Sports Illustrated millennium swimsuit issue two years ago. Paid as much as $20,000 a day, the 5'10'' 125-lb. model literally starved herself just to fit into her clothes. She began binging and purging at the age of 17, after she landed the cover of French Elle.


Earlier this year, Carrie told ABC's Primetime that she would go on a liquid fast two weeks prior to every photo shoot. Drugs and alcohol were also added to the mix, acting as natural appetite suppressants. But just as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue was hitting the stands in February of 2000, Carrie's doctors were discovering three holes in her heart, from substance abuse and years of poor nutrition. All this just to be beautiful. Carrie had heart surgery and began making huge adjustments in her life, namely eating three daily meals instead of one.


"When I first started to eat food during the day, it was the most terrifying thing for me," she told Primetime. "I would eat and then go and just cry for hours. Just by eating during the daytime, which for me was, like, 'You don't do that. You eat-you know, you starve yourself all day and you eat a little dinner.' That's how I did it for 17 years."


But at 32, Carrie has become somewhat of a rebel in the fashion world. At 155 lbs., she is considered 30 lbs. over her ideal model weight. But her beauty, it seems, has done everything but wane. Modeling offers continue to flow in and when she isn't posing in front of a camera, she serves as an editor and writer for Grace, a magazine that appeals to plus-sized women. Yet there is nothing 'plus-sized' about Carrie Otis, who today is a size 12. The average American woman is a size 14.


As for her own definition of beauty, that also has changed, thanks to a recent humanitarian trip to Nepal where she delivered toys and clothing to orphanages.


"Somebody asked me, 'When did you feel the most beautiful?' When I was trekking through the Himalayas in dirty clothes, dirty hair, hadn't had a shower in a week and giving kids clothes," she told Primetime. "That's when I felt like the most beautiful woman, and the woman that I'd always aspired to be."

the power of a beautiful woman 2002 (http://www.beverlylahayeinstitute.org/articledisplay.asp?id=2855&department=BLI&categoryid=femfacts)




http://i.cnn.net/si/pr/subs/swimsuit/images/00_cotis_01.jpg

then there is a current model crystal renn who became a star by NOT losing weight but by staying true to he natural self - not everyone has the bone structure for single digit sizing but they are no less beautiful

both carrie and crystal wear a size 12

both of them have worked the runway for fashion designer gaultier in paris 2006

i met a ford plus size model at my dermatologist's office - she did not even have a waist but she was super pretty had gorgeous skin and hair and was relaxed and very friendly and she was also happily married

http://models.com/model_culture/tales_model/crystal_renn/images/crystal5a-cmd1.jpg

[simon27]

This will give you an idea of how airbrushed photos of models really are.

Sorry if this has already been posted.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

[wizmaster]

This will give you an idea of how airbrushed photos of models really are.

Sorry if this has already been posted.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Knew about that almost forever but it was cool seeing exactly how it's done. The (long) prep beforehand and the shop magic (don't deal too much in GIMP/Photoshop because it's not really my thing but that was pretty amazing shop-fu right there) is cool but I would like to know how long it actually took.

Also, she was pretty good looking beforehand.

[skyz]

Also, she was pretty good looking beforehand.


the better looking you are au natural the more spectacular the final result

besides the hours long hair makeup and lighting process and the photo tricks they also take rolls of film from which they chose that one shot that the public sees

i encountered christie brinkley who has probably had the longest run as a super model ever (she is 53 and still has a contract with cover girl cosmetics) at a produce stand in nyc

she was very pretty with very symmetrical features but she was not as bright and glossy as her photographs - i don't think anyone is - fashion photography is a beautiful illusion

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/255861~Christie-Brinkley-Posters.jpg

[ariastar]

So. Is it any wonder so many women have such low self-esteem when we're forced to see images of already-perfect-women being airbrushed even further? And men thinking that what they see is normal?

[masherscf]

And men thinking that what they see is normal?

Don't be blaming us men. I know what normal is.

[skyz]

And men thinking that what they see is normal?

men don't usually read fashion magazines

and i mentioned christie brinkley because of where i met her

AT THE PRODUCE MARKET

if you want to be more beautiful EAT FRESH PRODUCE

christie brinkley would not be a model at age 53 by not eating

and carrie otis weights 170 and still models

you don't have to be a twig and not eating is not going to add to your allure

[scienceking]

Frankly, I don't think women like those pictured above are attractive at all. They just look strange to me. Everyone has their own tastes, and multiple tastes. Few men I know would want to MARRY their sexual fantasies. I remember reading an article a few years ago that showed that most men have about 3 isolated types of women they are attracted to for different reasons.
Don't make generalizations about men either, because I know I am not alone with my opinions. There are many men in the world from many cultural backgrounds, and each has his own personalities from them. Men are pretty one dimensional in the way they want things, but not in exactly what it is they want. :)

[patch]

So. Is it any wonder so many women have such low self-esteem when we're forced to see images of already-perfect-women being airbrushed even further? And men thinking that what they see is normal?

*Checks* Yup, I'm a man, and I don't find that "normal", and I don't even like that type!

-censored as to not weird you out- You need to get healthy, not skinny. You can be more beautiful than any supermodel, but if you continue to destroy your self, you won't be able to.

[wizmaster]

Frankly, I don't think women like those pictured above are attractive at all. They just look strange to me. Everyone has their own tastes, and multiple tastes. Few men I know would want to MARRY their sexual fantasies. I remember reading an article a few years ago that showed that most men have about 3 isolated types of women they are attracted to for different reasons.
Don't make generalizations about men either, because I know I am not alone with my opinions. There are many men in the world from many cultural backgrounds, and each has his own personalities from them. Men are pretty one dimensional in the way they want things, but not in exactly what it is they want. :)

I'm finding truth in this post.

Also, don't blame men. Most of these women are "marketed" to women. Fashion magazines, beauty products, etc. are all for women. Frankly, I rarely see these types of advertisements anymore since I don't watch too much TV and there aren't exactly many billboards here. These women are used to market products to other women and occasionally find themselves on products for men (although, the women on men's magazines are quite as airbrushed).

Long post but I hate it that we're blamed when it's not even our decision or our demographic. The fashion and beauty industry works by making women insecure. Men aren't really all that involved.

Also, as Patch stated, healthy >>>>>>>>>>>>> skinny. If I can see your ribcage, you are a zombie and I must destroy you and prepare for a level 4 zombie outbreak.

[patch]

Also, as Patch stated, healthy >>>>>>>>>>>>> skinny. If I can see your ribcage, you are a zombie and I must destroy you and prepare for a level 4 zombie outbreak.

My cellar is fully supplyed for 7 people to last over a year. Bring your guns.

[simon27]

I'm finding truth in this post.

Also, don't blame men. Most of these women are "marketed" to women. Fashion magazines, beauty products, etc. are all for women. Frankly, I rarely see these types of advertisements anymore since I don't watch too much TV and there aren't exactly many billboards here. These women are used to market products to other women and occasionally find themselves on products for men (although, the women on men's magazines are quite as airbrushed).

Long post but I hate it that we're blamed when it's not even our decision or our demographic. The fashion and beauty industry works by making women insecure. Men aren't really all that involved.


It really starts at a young age which is worrying.

This video gets across the point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaH4y6ZjSfE

[wizmaster]

It really starts at a young age which is worrying.

This video gets across the point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaH4y6ZjSfE

Yea, saw it (Youtube related videos). Are these commercials on TV? Sure it's promoting Dove but considering many of commercials made nowadays, this actually has a message (how much you save on car insurance isn't a message, it's a slogan).

[heyseuss]

I just weighed myself for the first time in 4 years. I was shocked, had gained 30 pounds, but that's ok to me. It's a good thing in my case because I was skinny and had planned to put weight on, but I was shocked because I had only thought I had put 10-15 pounds on not 30.

[masherscf]

I just weighed myself for the first time in 4 years. I was shocked, had gained 30 pounds, but that's ok to me. It's a good thing in my case because I was skinny and had planned to put weight on, but I was shocked because I had only thought I had put 10-15 pounds on not 30.

Welcome to adulthood.

[heyseuss]

Welcome to adulthood.

Being shocked? or gaining weight? As I said, I was -trying- to gain weight. I'm not shocked at the number, in fact I'm glad, I'm just shocked that my estimation was so far off, as it didn't feel like 30 pounds, it barely felt like 15 max. And you do know I'm only a few years younger than you old man.