Weight loss - health - vanity - ageing
Discussion
When you're older, it becomes a bit of a health imperative to be slim/lighter - however, sometimes weight loss can make you look crap sadly, especially when you are older - would you prioritise vanity over general health/fitness?
I got quite chubby as I rolled up to 40 a while back and decided to be more diet conscious - cut out bread mainly, cut down chips, sweets, sugar drinks, booze and so on. Lost 2/3 stone and have kept it off.
Vanity remains a factor in maintaining my weight but I do also worry that I could get too thin and go all scrawny which is not attractive either.
I think Kate Moss once said, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels and someone else once said, you won't find any wrinkles on a balloon.
Watching News at Ten the past few nights I was struck every time I looked at Robert Peston at how dreadful he looks (to me) after losing weight.
I've read, he attributes his weight loss to stopping eating bread, pasta, chips etc - not illness or mourning.
He's only 55.
This is him in 2014
And this is him this year I think
People might think he looks fine either way but it would worry me if I looked so aged after dieting. It's like he's shrunk inside his clothes, glasses and hair and his cheeks have that beard shadow that you can't remove on old men's skin for fear of shaving off the paper thin layers of skin.
I think I'd be back on the pies straight away - have you ever put weight on/kept it on for vanity when it conflicted general health advice about diet - especially as you get older
I got quite chubby as I rolled up to 40 a while back and decided to be more diet conscious - cut out bread mainly, cut down chips, sweets, sugar drinks, booze and so on. Lost 2/3 stone and have kept it off.
Vanity remains a factor in maintaining my weight but I do also worry that I could get too thin and go all scrawny which is not attractive either.
I think Kate Moss once said, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels and someone else once said, you won't find any wrinkles on a balloon.
Watching News at Ten the past few nights I was struck every time I looked at Robert Peston at how dreadful he looks (to me) after losing weight.
I've read, he attributes his weight loss to stopping eating bread, pasta, chips etc - not illness or mourning.
He's only 55.
This is him in 2014
And this is him this year I think
People might think he looks fine either way but it would worry me if I looked so aged after dieting. It's like he's shrunk inside his clothes, glasses and hair and his cheeks have that beard shadow that you can't remove on old men's skin for fear of shaving off the paper thin layers of skin.
I think I'd be back on the pies straight away - have you ever put weight on/kept it on for vanity when it conflicted general health advice about diet - especially as you get older
I find concentrating on a "target weight" unhealthy from a psychological viewpoint. I prefer to concentrate on exercising for events and activities and have the weight as a side-effect of that rather than a target in itself.
You're right that *some* skinny people look unhealthy. Whether they *are* unhealthy or not is much harder to determine of course.
You're right that *some* skinny people look unhealthy. Whether they *are* unhealthy or not is much harder to determine of course.
[Generalisation alert]
When you're older, exercise for muscle gain (because your body is dumping it) rather than focussing on exercising your heart, e.g. running and cycling for hours on end. Weight/resistance training will exercise your heart aplenty, and you'll fight the true nature of ageing, which is a decaying body.
Oh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
When you're older, exercise for muscle gain (because your body is dumping it) rather than focussing on exercising your heart, e.g. running and cycling for hours on end. Weight/resistance training will exercise your heart aplenty, and you'll fight the true nature of ageing, which is a decaying body.
Oh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
V8mate][Generalisation alert said:
When you're older, exercise for muscle gain (because your body is dumping it) rather than focussing on exercising your heart, e.g. running and cycling for hours on end. Weight/resistance training will exercise your heart aplenty, and you'll fight the true nature of ageing, which is a decaying body.
Oh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
Have to agree. For me, diet (as in eating 99% good foods) and resistance training go hand in hand.Oh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
I would imagine that if a middle aged person went on a crash diet and nothing else, they would look gaunt. If you weight train 3-6 times per week, you won't look like that, and after a time, your waist shrinks and your upper body grows.
V8mate][Generalisation alert said:
When you're older, exercise for muscle gain (because your body is dumping it) rather than focussing on exercising your heart, e.g. running and cycling for hours on end. Weight/resistance training will exercise your heart aplenty, and you'll fight the true nature of ageing, which is a decaying body.
Oh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
Absolutely bang onOh, and eat whatever you want (within the bounds of sensibility)
Statistically its better to be a bit overweight when you are older than correct weight or underweight. i.e. there is higher/earlier mortality for being too light. Obviously not counting obesity which has its own problems. it also gives you more reserves if you have medical difficulties ( like cancer etc).
I know older/retired people who are fit but skinny and end up far frailer than those with a bit of weight.
i wouldnt be obsessed with being stick thin 45-50 onwards, just make sure you are fit and active
I know older/retired people who are fit but skinny and end up far frailer than those with a bit of weight.
i wouldnt be obsessed with being stick thin 45-50 onwards, just make sure you are fit and active
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