# Are you really fat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594 "2011-12-28T03:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/21 "2011-12-28T06:52:33Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > According to my BMI I need to lose 8lbs not to be overweight. If, like the OP I look at myself in the mirror while standing sideways, my belly is flat (well, if I’m dressed.) I don’t look or feel fat even in clothes that are pretty clingy. Lots of crunches might not get you a six-pack if you’re not underweight, but they sure as hell can get rid of a flabby belly - within a year of daily crunches I went from a 31" waist to 28" and have maintained that for more than five years. Are you still doing your daily crunches? ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/22 "2011-12-28T06:55:43Z")
I picked the first one then checked online for my BMI number - 24.67 - which is at the edge of healthy for me, it seems. I rarely work out now but when I did I was heavier because of muscle mass, so would’ve been overweight then. I was also eating lots more then; more than I was comfortable with. Now I just eat when I’m hungry and stay away from fast foods and unhealthy restaurants like TGIFridays\*. \*I eat out only a few times a month as I prefer to know what’s actually on my plate ;). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/23 "2011-12-28T08:34:18Z")
I’m 6’ and 241 lbs which give me a BMI of 32.7 and theoretically obese. The BMI calculator would have me get down to 180, which would be damned skinny for my build - my calves are 18" around and are solid muscle and have broad shoulders. The BMI calculations are for waifs. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/24 "2011-12-28T08:40:12Z")
Yeah. I’m fat, I look fat, and I feel fat. But even when I was 15 and thin, wearing size 3 jeans, and totally fine, I felt fat and hideous. I could blame teen magazines or shitty role-models or the guys who called me jelly-roll (when I didn’t even have one) or my self-loathing fat family, but none of that changes how I feel. So the cause isn’t relevant. No matter how big or small I am, I feel fat. Even after I dropped 50 pounds in college and got under 200 pounds, I still felt fat and hated going out in public. So, I stopped giving a damn. I feel the same at my current weight as I did at 200, and as I did at 115. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/25 "2011-12-28T09:04:05Z")
Nope. My BMI’s currently 20. My face, however, looks way fatter than it should compared to the rest of me, which is really annoying. Even when my BMI was 17 photos often showed me with a double chin. ---
**Author:** ![svrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/26 "2011-12-28T12:05:09Z")
I’m 176 cm (5’9" I think?) and weigh 72 kg / 158 lbs. I used to be over 96 kg / 210 lbs and I still feel fat. I get surprised sometimes when I look in the mirror, even though it’s over 3 years since I lost the weight. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/27 "2011-12-28T12:21:18Z")
BMI 23.5. Recently got quite toned but have been drinking a bit of beer so have added maybe 3lbs. Even at my optimal weight I thoughy I could do with losing some love handles. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/28 "2011-12-28T12:36:02Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Hope I’ve explained that right. If I met you somewhere and we got a chance to talk, I think I’d hope we could get together again…to go look at old cars, go drinking together, go shopping…just hang out. I’m usually not so blatently vulnerable…I’m just saying I admire what you do and who you appear to be. Haha aw, well thanks! I appreciate it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/29 "2011-12-28T12:52:00Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Are you really fat? I beg you pardon? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/30 "2011-12-28T12:57:50Z")
Not as fat as I was at one time (337 pounds), but not as non-fat as I’ve been since I’ve been keeping track (252 pounds). Right now I’m clocking in at 272, but once the new year begins I’m back on my fitness program. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/31 "2011-12-28T17:38:44Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Are you still doing your daily crunches? Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/32 "2011-12-28T17:50:09Z")
I am fat. I wasn’t always fat but I’ve always felt fat. My brother recently gave me some photos from my teen years (All my old photos were destroyed years ago) and I was shocked at how thin I was. All legs and angles. Why did I think I was so fat? I don’t know. My two best friends were very thin and wore smaller sizes than me so I guess I assumed size nine in the junior section was morbidly obese. I’m very fat now but I think I have a better body image than I did back then. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/33 "2011-12-28T17:53:53Z")
I’m only about ten pounds overweight (and am losing), but I look in the mirror and see a mailbox with a head on it. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/34 "2011-12-28T18:01:10Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I’m a gay man, so I ALWAYS feel like I’m too fat 😉, even though my BMI says I’m doing fine… I don’t believe it. I am certainly not happy with my weight, almost ever. But I see that as a good thing, as it motivates me and keeps me from becoming overweight. I know the feeling. I’m gay fat, especially west Hollywood gay fat. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/35 "2011-12-28T18:09:20Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m only about ten pounds overweight (and am losing), but I look in the mirror and see a mailbox with a head on it. But an _elegant_ mailbox… I’m bigger than I used to be since I had Junior; however, I’m still well within reasonable limits. My stomach will never be the same though - it looks reasonably flat and smooth but I can pull my tummy skin WAAAAAAY out. If I ever decide to smuggle 50 lbs of cocaine I will have somewhere to stash it, sort of like a drug smuggling kangaroo. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/36 "2011-12-28T20:46:38Z")
I’m 6 foot and about 260. So yes I feel fat and I am fat. Few years ago I dumped 25 pounds and it wasn’t all that hard. So I know what I need to do and it want hard. Just need a little willpower which I don’t have. I wasn’t able to keep the 25 off but if I kept up with the lifestyle changes I could have. I’m just weak ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/37 "2011-12-28T21:00:41Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > But an _elegant_ mailbox… > > I’m bigger than I used to be since I had Junior; however, I’m still well within reasonable limits. My stomach will never be the same though - it looks reasonably flat and smooth but I can pull my tummy skin WAAAAAAY out. If I ever decide to smuggle 50 lbs of cocaine I will have somewhere to stash it, sort of like a drug smuggling kangaroo. Amen to that. I wish someone had mentioned the extra skin before I had kids. Though I am overweight. I don’t look it, but I feel it. I’m not nearly as heavy as I have been, but not as light as I should be. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/38 "2011-12-29T02:51:35Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > "From your earlier posts, first I thought you were a Hemingway-type male. Then I thought you were a woman. 😕 > > Now I find out you’re “just right.” > > To me, this reads like you meant that him being gay was “just right”. I don’t mean this to say you were saying something offensive, just that it doesn’t seem to match with what you are saying here. 😕 Well, I think I meant that he’s just right for him. It felt right to me. I don’t mean any offense here; just the opposite. I care more about a person’s character than anything else. (And after that I like a good personality…long walks on the beach…lol) ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/39 "2011-12-29T03:03:52Z")
Just to clarify and then I’m done: I’m pretty sure I’m old enough to be **drew’s** grandmother. But I’d be a cool one. Now, let’s go eat cake. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594/40 "2011-12-29T04:50:10Z")
I voted correctly so as not to skew results (female, look-weigh-feel fat) but honestly I don’t usually feel fat. I have always been fat and have always been active. Played team sports from 5-20 years old and then started working out in the gym by myself on and off since then. I’ve also always been about 80-100% overweight (meaning I needed to lose about 40 to 50% of my bodyweight to not be obese). Like, always - from 5-32 years old. So it’s not like one day I woke up and no longer was a size 4 or realized I’d put on the “freshman forty - ha ha ha” . No I’ve always been running around in this fat suit doing stuff that normal people do with their bodies. So technically I feel fat cuz you can’t not feel fat when you’re my size (I mean like - I don’t fit right in some chairs, I can’t run very far, I can’t rent a wetsuit) but in my fat little head I feel normal. For me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-really-fat/607594.md?page=3)