# I'm not THAT skinny... am I? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706 "2003-04-10T02:29:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/21 "2003-04-10T13:54:00Z")
In high school, at 5’11" and 145 lbs, my coach advised me that I was overweight … OK, it was a cross-country/distance track coach. Distance runners have ‘unique’ ideas of appropriate body styles. When you’re running 8 miles, the less weight you have to drag along, the better off you are. -Christian ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/22 "2003-04-10T14:06:04Z")
Most of the guys I know were 120lbs to 140lbs when they were in high school. Also, most of them were at least 6 ft. Most of them have filled out to at least 160- 180. Except Mr. Lissar. He’s 22, 6"3 and 150lbs. He’s cute. Skinny is great. /hijack/ A friend of mine got in a big argument with a co-worker because she described a man a “short- about 5ft 10 or so”. It took half an hour of explaining that all of her male friends are 6ft to 7ft tall, and therefore she thinks of anything below that as short, to clear up the argument. /hijack/ ---
**Author:** ![Merla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Merla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merla)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/23 "2003-04-10T14:09:24Z")
You are not too skinny. I have been underweight my entire life. I’m 18 years old, 5’4" and I only weight 101 lbs. However I eat like a horse. People call me Jughead. I can outeat my 20 year old brother. You know what the worst part about being skinny is? The humiliation of shopping for A-cups… Merla ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/24 "2003-04-10T14:13:23Z")
I was given to understand that 5’10" was the average. At least, I had always hoped so since that’s how tall I am. Say, anybody know what the average height (I’d have to say U.S.) of women is? All the women I have ever known with only one or two exceptions have been rather short - 5’3" or less - so I tend to get freaked out by tall women. And it’s really fun to pick on my wife. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/25 "2003-04-10T14:16:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neuroman \* > \*\*There are many options available for dangerously underweighted individuals like yourself. I recommend a slow steady gorging process combined with assal horizontology. You’ll want to focus on the neglected food groups such as the whipped group, the congealed group, and the chocotastic. > > And remember, if you’re not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain! \*\* You could brush your teeth with milkshakes! ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/26 "2003-04-10T15:01:46Z")
I thought 5"9 or so was average for men, and something like 5"4 for women. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/27 "2003-04-10T15:48:05Z")
Yeah, skinny’s not what it’s cracked up to be. I love clothes, but nothing pisses me off more than shopping for them in the children’s department! The other day a lady at work called me a “skinny minnie”. When I didn’t reply, she said, “That’s OK, go on and call me a fatsy-watsy or something.” Well no, why would I want to be rude like you? ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/28 "2003-04-10T16:24:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zyada \* > \*\*Heh. This is one of my pet peeves too. > > Did you know that according to BMI, Arnold Schwarzenegger would have been considered obese when he won the Mr. Universe title? \*\* You’re kidding me, right? Using an outlier (like Schwarzenegger) to discredit a method for averaging is fallacious. Of course BMI is only helpful as a rough guideline, and doesn’t apply to the (just estimating) 1% of the population that are athletes. The usefulness of BMI is for drawing averages among large populations, where minuscule demographics like Mr. Universe contestants are drowned out. So don’t poo-poo it altogether; but yes, other factors mentioned here (heart rate, cholesterol, % body fat) will give you a much more accurate and personalized picture of your health. ---
**Author:** ![Brave\_Sir\_Robin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Brave\_Sir\_Robin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brave_Sir_Robin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/29 "2003-04-10T19:09:55Z")
I’m 6’ and about 140 lbs. I’m 29 and have had that height and weight for the last 11 years or so. Going on the assumption that it’s hereditary, I don’t think I’ll ever weigh over 170. People will continue to comment on how thin you are for as long as you are thin. I’m not sure there’s any way to eliminate that… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/30 "2003-04-10T22:00:01Z")
When I was 15, I was 6’1 and 120 lbs. Now I’m 160. You’ll grow. ---
**Author:** ![Shabadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@Shabadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shabadu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/31 "2003-04-11T02:24:30Z")
Even though I don’t have the skinny problem, actually just the opposite, I was sitting next to my oldest brother at dinner the other week, and he says to me: “hey, I have gained 10 pounds in the last four years and that makes me the heaviest I have ever been.” Ten pounds in four years makes him 6’5" and 155. He is 35 and has never taken care of his body. He is just one of those people who no matter what he does simply cannot gain weight. The good thing is his doctor says he is healthy. The question is, why couldn’t I have gotten some of that? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/32 "2003-04-11T02:57:29Z")
From the FtG history files: The min. weight for the OP’s height in order to be draftable by the US military was 135 in 1970. (Though it could have been 6’3". Gimme a break, it was a few years ago.) In anycase, the Army would have taken you. I have an uncle who lost weight during basic in WWII and got booted for being underweight before the magic 6 weeks for VA benefits kicked in. So he must have been pretty skinny. The Army ought to see him now. ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/33 "2003-04-11T03:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Merla \* > \*\* > You know what the worst part about being skinny is? The humiliation of shopping for A-cups… > > Merla \*\* Oh, Lord, yes. So many times I have wondered, “If I gained weight…would my boobs get bigger? If so, is it worth it?” ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/34 "2003-04-11T03:40:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neuroman \* > There are many options available for dangerously underweighted individuals like yourself. I recommend a slow steady gorging process combined with assal horizontology. You’ll want to focus on the neglected food groups such as the whipped group, the congealed group, and the chocotastic. > > And remember, if you’re not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain! When making a sandwich, try using pop-tarts instead of bread. ---
**Author:** ![Linguini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@Linguini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linguini)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/35 "2003-04-11T03:50:14Z")
My brother shot up 12 inches in his senior year of high school. Filled out later. I wish I had that problem. ---
**Author:** ![Linguini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@Linguini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linguini)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/36 "2003-04-11T04:13:12Z")
My brother shot up 12 inches in his senior year of high school. Filled out later. I wish I had that problem. ---
**Author:** ![DLC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@DLC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DLC)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/37 "2003-04-11T06:08:39Z")
Yes gaining weight will make your boobs bigger. Of course it kinda makes everything else bigger too, and depends on how much weight you gain exactly. One of my friends went from a DD to a C after losing quite a bit of weight… and vice versa. -DLC ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/38 "2003-04-11T12:25:01Z")
The thing is, everything else gets bigger **first**. Ah…shopping for A cups…should you get the flimsy silky one that lets everyone know how freakishly underdeveloped you are, or the one packed with foam rubber to hide your deformity from the world, so long as you **never take it off!** Bitter? No, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Merla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Merla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merla)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/39 "2003-04-11T13:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dung Beetle \* > \*\*The thing is, everything else gets bigger **first**. > > Ah…shopping for A cups…should you get the flimsy silky one that lets everyone know how freakishly underdeveloped you are, or the one packed with foam rubber to hide your deformity from the world, so long as you never take it off!\*\* HA, I just went out and bought one of those “adds-a-cup” bras. Looks great, but now I can hardly wear my old ones! I put on my shirt, my mom stared at my chest \*\* in a public resteraunt \*\* and said outright “Are you padded today? You look extra busty”. Meanwhile my dad pretended he didn’t hear a thing. Now I need to shop for a bathing suit, do they have padded ones too? 😃 Merla ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706/40 "2003-04-11T13:53:08Z")
**Merla** The last one I bought had knockers while it was still on the hanger! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-that-skinny-am-i/167706.md?page=3)