Weight and Pressure

[MomijiTMO]

The pressure on people to be a 'desirable' body weight has made many feel uncomfortable about their image. The celebrities are always discussing the newest weight loss tactics and the general populace who idolize them believe that they also have to shed the fat.

So how tall are you and how much do you weigh? Are you happy with your weight? Do you believe that society is becoming too conscious about body image?


I'm male and a short 168cm and 58kg. I believe there is a lot of pressure on the younger generations to be paper thin.

[miniPhil]

Im 5 foot 5, and I weigh 9 stone. Im fine with my weight. I dont really care what people think of me, that and I love food.

[Madel5566]

I'm 163cm, weight secret and I think people should be fit but not paper thin. Fit as in the lean type nya, not muscles. I don't really care what others think of me but I do want to be 'thin' as in FIT.

[Hamashimura]

I'm around 170cm/68kg
I'm satisfied with my height/weight since I'm not one of those who wants to look perfect in any occasion...
I like my body the way it is...

[Ωmega]

Im about 5'7/ 5'8, and I weigh at about 180. Am I happy with my weight? Not really. Not because society says I need to be thin, but because Im short of breath after going up a flight of stairs. I know Im unhealthy, and Im trying to exercise until Im at a weight Im happy with.

[Eris]

I don't have a car, so I have to walk or ride my bicycle a lot. Which keeps me in reasonably decent shape. Granted, I'm no picture of health, but it could be worse.

[Khanxay]

I'm 5'10 at about 120ish lbs. (I'd give metrics but I'm too lazy.)

Do you believe that society is becoming too conscious about body image?

Eh.. in terms of weight, the ones that believe they're too fat are.

[Yuri-chan]

I'm 5'3 1/2-ish and weigh around 104lbs

I'm not uber skinny, but I'm not self concious
I like me the way that I am

[Piper]

First of all, it's not incredibly illogical to worry about your weight. I'm not saying to obsess over it, but consider the health benefits, rather than the physical attraction. Being overweight, may cause some unfortunate benefits, like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. And basically, one becomes overweight, by eating/drinking more calories(energy) than they burn in one day. And just a random fact: 3500 calories = 1 pound of fat.

But if one is obessed with their weight, it can lead to one of two things: Weight gain, or illnesses like bulimia, and anorexia. Research showed that persons ranging from 15-27, that are obsessed about their weight, are more likely to gain weight, because they start to skip breakfast, and over indulge at their next meal, or attach themselves to fad diets, where as they will lose the weight, but it's also shown about 98% of those people, gain their weight back within 3 years.

The best course of action to take, would be eating 5-6 small meals, throughout your entire day. Which would consist of: Breakfast, breakfast snack, Lunch, Lunch snack, Dinner, and Dessert. And try not to eat after 8pm. And remember to drink plenty of water. Preferably 64 oz. a day. Which is about 3 1/2 bottles of water.

Now I know this is hard to do, but if done, with a proper diet, I can assure you, you will lose weight. And I'm sorry if I sounded like I went on a lecture.. I'm just very passionate about this subject.

[The Governator]

I'm 6'1 and around 217 lb, I'm ok with my weight, I dont look like a walking tire or a walking stick, I feel I look normal.

[MomijiTMO]

But if one is obessed with their weight, it can lead to one of two things: Weight gain, or illnesses like bulimia, and anorexia.

Ah some wise words Piper but this is aided by what youths see in the media. Someone is always going into drug rehab or hospital due to eating disorders. I have to also inform AF readers that people who are bulimic and anorexic are often well educated.

[sa5m]

I'm a 5'4" female who weighs 125 lbs. I'm happy with my weight.

I agree with you that these days appearance means a lot. But I don't think that will ever change. Ever since the beginning of human society, there has always been an interest between women about which looks best and which is more beautiful. I agree with Piper that it is important to not be obsessed with your weight.

[Eris]

Ah some wise words Piper but this is aided by what youths see in the media. Someone is always going into drug rehab or hospital due to eating disorders. I have to also inform AF readers that people who are bulimic and anorexic are often well educated.

Eating disorders have a deeper psychological roots than just media. It's a very stereotypical group of people who generally come down with it. It's most of the time not overweight people who fall for a sort of snowball effect where they can't stop dieting, but normal weight girls, often overachieving in school that succumb to pressure to satisfy their family, rather than pressure from friends or media.

[spleeee!]

im 5'6" and i weigh anywhere from 125lbs. to 135lbs. im not a walking stick completely,but thats not my fault my weight hasnt gone over 135 or under 125 for like 3 years no matter how much i eat or dont eat.

[Atara Inferno]

I am only 5'6, well I found out that I am nearly 5'6. I used to weight 120lbs but lost 8lbs when I went back to training. It's not that I am obssessed with my weight, I'm just active, fit and full of energy. I can be lazy [mainly at weekends and half-terms].

[Kristen]

Not to mention most of those celebrities speaking about weight loss and how they did it, are PAID by that weight loss program to do so.

Tyra Banks is my hero. =) She eats whatever she wants, but works out like CRAZY to keep her shape. Also, she's not a 0000000000000 size like most models and people still love her. She's amazinnngg.


I worry about my weight and whatnot, but not because of social pressure. I worry for health reasons, and because I wouldn't be happy with myself if I got over the weight I'm at now. I'm trying to lose weight because I'm not happy with my current weight. Personally. It's not an extended thing. If someone called me fat, OH WELL. Rofl. If that person says I'm a blimp then it MUST be true, right? =P Social pressure isn't an excuse to do or not do any one thing. That's no different with self-image.

[Buruku]

Well the ideal weight for a girl my height (5'3) is 107-140 depending on your body type, right now I'm at about 130, so at least I'm considered normal/average whatever. I don't have major problems with how I look, I like being curvey and not a toothpick. The only thing I don't like though is lack of height makes putting on weight pretty noticable.

I pay more attention to my eating habits and activity then I do to actual weight, I reeeaaallllly don't want to end up a fat older women, so I'm trying to make working out and eating right a habit. I'm not a naturally thin person, and I love food, so its something I have to work at.

My advice to people if your over-weight is to do the best you can and be consistent with it. Don't strive to look like a model, just be happy with the results you get and keep at it.

[Trisseh]

I'm about 5'8 and about 190-200 lbs and I'm ok with it cause I can still beat the crap out of anyone I know without having to be fast. The only reason I'm losing weight is for my gf so when we meet IRL she dosn't think i don't take care of myself or think i'm a slob.

[氷の動物]

Well I am a male and I am about 5'11" tall (180cm) and I weigh around 145 pounds (65kg).

Lately I've been having trouble figuring out what is going on with my weight, basically over about the last 6 months I've gained 10 pounds... the thing is I haven't noticed any change at all in my figure, although I have a feeling it is probably because I started running more when I go to weight lift which drastically increased my leg muscles size which I hadn't really focused as heavily on working out before then. I was a little worried about that drastic change in weight though, so I started trying to heavily reduce what I was eating, but I'm fairly sure that was a terrible idea as my weight has basically not fluctuated at all since then and eating far less with the amount of exercise I do was making me really tired and very hungry... so I'm back to eating normal portions of good healthy food again.

Overall though I'm very content with how I look, in fact I'm surprised and amazed at how far I've come... because back before Junior year of high school I really had no muscle whatsoever and now I look very in shape (in the good toned medium size no steroids involved muscle way... not the ridiculous steroid pumping body builder muscles). Basically to stay in shape I just setup a schedule to go to the gym for weight lifting and cardio three times a week and I've stuck with it for over 2 years and counting.

[Kilawher Shazarade]

I'm not going to state my proportions or anything, but I will say that I am upset with my weight. I don't feel that my body image is appropriate for me - I think, it's due to pressure, sadly. I think my want to conform is greater than my want to be healthy, which is bad I know. I'm trying to change my mentality 'bout that. X_x

[animefreak_idiot]

i saw that they were talking about that on the news last night. i think it is retarded for anyone to consider trying to be the same as everyone else. no one should care about what anyone thinks just because they say it's supposed to be this way or that way. everyone has their own way and no one should try and change that.
heheh sounds like a speech xD

[Aulos]

I'm not quite happy with my weight, but it's not because of some stupid celebrity who is so skinny they could die, and I'm not even suicidal, or that depressed over it...

With all of the other problems I have with myself, my weight has to be the least of my problems, especially since I really am not that overweight at all... some-no a lot of people would say I shouldn't be complaining.

[Remie-chan]

I'm 5'4" and about 140, though I don't look it(people think I'm lower than that) and I'm fine with that because you can weigh as much and still look lean(which is how I kind of look) which is amazing. =] Though I do a little weightlifting not because of the media but for my health.

[Beast]

I'm 5 foot 11 and I'm roughly 260 lbs. I'm relatively happy with my weight, it's mostly muscle mass and soon it will all be.

[Sagat]

Well.. When I am not in my 100% full power Sagat form, I am 5'9" and 230 lbs. Now, don't be so quick to judge, while I do carry too much bodyfat people estimate me at 190 and don't believe when I say 230. There is muscle there, it's just buried

I do care. A lot. However, I am not very disciplined with my diet, I can admit that. Exercise, sure no prob... but my diet kills me, especially as I am an emotional eater. I fully intend to start the CKD diet next week when my knee is dong better - physically I am trashed right now, I can't exercise upper body cause of my sprained rotator cuff and can hardly walk cause of a torn meniscus ... ugh.

My goal is to be physically perfect. 8 pack, well proportioned, fighting fit. Not for show.