To think being slim should be normal for most people.

[DevilishDebbie]

By slim i mean sizes 8 to 12.

Obviously you get a minority who are not in this range naturally but for 80% of people this size should be natural, say they eat a reasonable diet of between 2000-3000 calories.

Im so sick of people at work making out i am abnormally thin for being a size 10. I watch what I eat but dont deprive myself. The same people making me out to be lucky to be slim eat fried chicken or pizza for lunch and seem to be able to demolish a whole pack of biscuits at 3 o clock.

Aibu to think that the normal human man/woman should be a size 8-12 and that to attain or maintain this does not require super human discipline or strength.

Ginger1982

Dorset, if she had come on here and left her OP at that - ie that people were saying she was abnormal I would have replied differently. But to go on and say 'oh and 80% of the population should be like me?' She was rude first.

Do you realise how childish you sound? 'she was rude first'? That gives you the right to be rude back? Grow up for god sake. She is right, most people shouldn't be overweight. I shouldn't be, but still am and am trying to lose it.

Isn’t the evidence that BMI of overweight is just as healthy as so-called normal BMI, so the healthy range should actually be 18.5 to 30?

Isn't the average size woman a size 16?

Depends on height. I know a woman who is 6 foot so anything below a size 14 and she would look ill. It also depends on body type. Pear shapes, for example, can easily be a 14 bottom but 8 top and definitely not be overweight.

"Trendynorthlondonteen. Don’t be stupid, you genuinely think that people who are very thin are not turned down for jobs? On the basis that they ‘might’ have an ED and therefore mental issues and be unreliable or be off sick? You genuinely think that slim people are never called horrible names?

Don’t be silly."

"Don't be silly", don't be deliberately obtuse and read the bloody post. I'm not saying that slim people are never called names/ turned down for jobs, I'm saying that this generally doesn't happen on account of their weight because no one judges them on sight for it. But, I suspect you knew that.

"And yet it's absolutely fine for all of the fat people to call slimmer people 'skinny bitches' or say that op is a cunt or must be so exhausted keeping slim or that slim people are anorexic.

It's all to make themselves feel better, but it's still just showing how cruel they actually are. It does carry the same weight, it's still bullying. Make yourself feel better in different ways, don't cause someone to feel bad about themselves just because you feel like shit. That's horrible.

And in reality, if a slim person smells bad, they still get told. Being overweight isn't an excuse not to shower or to be lazy, but I've seen plenty of people use it as an excuse."

Same goes for you. No one will look at you and assume you must be lazy/dirty/smelly just by LOOKING at you. But, again, you knew that is what I was getting at.

Wendycope I used to live in Spain too about 15 years ago. Breakfast was very small and something like a coffee and a magdalena. Lunch was at around 2pm and a proper 3 course meal, but healthy and home made (desert was fruit or yoghurt). Merienda was at around 4-6pm and was seen as more optional and was something really light like a biscuit or two or a banana or something. Tea was at around 10pm and was something healthy and light like a salad or soup. All homemade apart from the Magdalena and maybe biscuits for merienda. I can’t believe how much it has changed according to your post!

So now we're claiming the obesity epidemic is down to less people smoking?

Vulpine I think there are a lot of causes and smoking probably has contributed to it, as it is an appetite suppressant. I also think our constant work, work, work 24hr culture is partly responsible.
I’d say the causes are:

• increase in availability of processed foods
• larger portion sizes
• snacking between meals
• reduced physical activity
• less down time meaning people are too tired/stressed/rushed to cook a meal from scratch every night. It also means you get less sleep which affects your hunger hormones. Less time for exercise, sleep and rest and increased stress also lowers your immune system and puts you at a greater risk of catching viruses etc. Then when you catch these viruses most people carry on going to work/school unless they’re really ill, compounding the problem. When ill most people reach for more comfort food than a salad
• availability of junk and processed food means that if you crave it you can access it very easily
• more people needing to eat ‘on the go’ teaching for convenience foods

Vulpine it's got to be a factor, seeing as smoking is a well known appetite suppressant.

I have noticed that in the last 10 years being a size 16+ has become normalized because it's now so very common. But that doesn't mean it is healthy or right.

I'm five foot and six inches and a standard size 12 but ideally I would still be 10lbs lighter to look and feel my best.

it's got to be a factor, seeing as smoking is a well known appetite suppressant

When you first give up smoking yes but it should settle, I gave up months ago I have always been a 6-8, I gained a few lb but with the extra energy I lost it very quick.
Most people just eat to much, over eating and a sedentary lifestyle will do it.
There was one heavy DC in my class in the 80s, she is about 20 stone and her DC are the biggest kids in the school today.
There are so many more overweight DC now, the next generation will be huge if it is not sorted.

Of course giving up smoking is a massive factor in people becoming obese. There are myriad causes - more drinking at home, snacking seen as normal, opportunities to eat and drink cheaply wherever you go, more car journeys, less exercise taken, more people dieting and ending up heavier than they were because it is HARD to reduce your weight once you've gained it. But they all add up.

There are many people who are only a stone or two overweight who are technically obese (and included in the obesity stats) - it's not all 20 stoners you know!

Of course giving up smoking is a massive factor in people becoming obese
People need to keep their hands busy and be responsible for not eating instead of smoking.
It is like a drug addict going into recovery to come out and become an alcoholic, one bad habit replacing another.

Papillon you have it spot on.

Just these days, a full packed lunch almost, at break (before lunch) and merienda is HUGE, sandwich, doughnuts, fizzy drink .

Lunch is exactly as you say, very healthy. A protein with a carb, a salad and fruit/yogurt, plus bread. but DC's get enormous amount of imported fried food now and eat it late (as you say!) 10pm.

Adults eat just as you describe, DC's diets are very different. You notice in the pool, all summer long, thin adults and fat DC's and they eat burgers, crisps, chips and chicken nuggets and fried sandwiches etc.

Their parents have fish and a salad and fruit... absolutely correct on that. Don't know why the DC's don't eat the same as the adults. Mine does!

I live in Valencia though, the 'almurzo' extra mini packed lunch here is particular to here I think, Madrid didn't do this.

School dinners are mega healthy.

The 'old' Spanish diet is amazing. New, not so much.

DH is Spanish and has remarked on it too. A friend of mine comes over for a month every summer as she has a flat here and has done for 15 years, she has remarked on it too.

The diet is changing sadly (although anyone over 25 does not eat like that)

Also numerical sizing is BS. I have trousers from size 14 to size 20 and they all fit. I have bloke’s 36” waist jeans and they fit. Until there is a standard then yeah, can’t take number type sizing seriously.

Isn't the average size woman a size 16?

^

And? Because its an average doesn't make it healthy!

As a pp said about alcohol and drugs, moving the goal posts etc

Isn't the average size woman a size 16?

That's irrelevant. Doesn't mean that they're not overweight. It just means that a large number of women are a 16, and those clothes go out of stock fast.

I'm fat at 16(even fatter now at 18). That doesn't change and magically become average because other women are the same size. I'm not average, I'm fat.

Wooo. Calm down I'm only saying to OP that it's not always normal to be around a size 10

Trendynorthlondonteen. I think you’re mixing up posters there as half the comments you seem to be attributing to me, I didn’t post!

However, I stand by my comment that you were being silly as it’s very clear that slim people DO get judged on appearances and are called all sorts of horrible names. Have you not actually read the responses on this thread? 🙄

I was once told I was underweight for an interview as a BA stewardess. I was told if I put on weight I would be accepted.

I can see what you mean.

I think today’s unhealthy diet, fast food joints and the media impact our views on weight. I do not agree with unhealthy-thin catwalk models, and also the recent glamorising of morbid obesity (Tess Holliday comes to mind).

Everybody is different. People should aim to be a HEALTHY weight for themselves, being healthy is best and beautiful.

I was once told I was underweight for an interview as a BA stewardess. I was told if I put on weight I would be accepted.

Actually this makes sense as the body needs to be of a certain weight in order to cope with the changes that occur due to frequent air pressure changes.

Likewise you are not allowed to donate blood if you are under the recommended weight limit.

Yes blood as well

If your waist is more than half your height, you are carrying dangerous levels of visceral fat.

Eat less
Move more
stop making excuses