Food for thought (not about food though)
You know, I'm not sure what to think. When it comes to women and body type/shape. Very few women have the desired hourglass figure while it seems that the majority of women have the banana (aka rectangular) body type/shape. This is where the waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hips or bust. I have often wondered if a person who is overweight, like me, loses the weight, if their body type would change. So far, it doesn't seem likely and is probably unlikely. I've lost 19 lbs so far this year (the majority of it since August) and I'm still considered to have the banana shape. I have 23 lbs to go to be within normal weight range (according to the BMI) and to reach my goal weight, it is 31 lbs. I mention this because I remember what I looked like when I was within the normal weight range and I can honestly say that I have never been nor will I ever have the hourglass figure. Personally, of the all the body shapes (hourglass, pear, apple, and banana), I think that the banana shape works for me. Of course, it is all that I have ever had and the only thing to work with. I think the only difficulty is trying to find jeans or pants that fit comfortably because they tend to be too big in the hips. Oh well. I still have curves even if they are temporarily hidden underneath some fat. Again...it does feel great knowing that I have lost 19 lbs. and that the Thanksgiving meal didn't set me back.That's it for my random tangent.
Comments (16)
I can talk only about me. I have always had about 30cm (12 inches) difference between my waist and my hips/bust. No matter of the changes of my weight this proportion stayed the same.
I don't know about other women. But there are exercises for shaping the waist so don't rely only on the diet. Good luck!
I will use the opportunity to apologize if I was bit too opinionated in out previous talk about make-up.
Thanks for reading the blog. I'm in grad school and I use the gym there 5x a week (Monday to Friday; unless they are closed for a holiday). I lift weights 2-3x/week and do cardio each day (elliptical or treadmill). I spend a little more time on the cardio because it helps me to get me heart rate up. I have definitely seen an improvement in my physical ability but I'm still not where I'd like to be (in terms of fitness). I have lost a lot of weight in my face and around my stomach. My dr. told me to start taking iron supplements because I'm not getting enough iron in my diet. It's hard to cook for one person. Anyway, I'm just excited that I have lost this much weight.
In the pics that I have posted, the weight loss may not be too noticeable. I have a picture of me from this past March at church (taken for the church directory) and when I compare it to the pics I have posted here, you can see it in the face. Well, of course that would be noticeable since many of my pictures of me are of my face (I like my smile and my eyes so I try to focus on that).
Thanks again for responding.
From my experience I know that there is some inertia in gaining/losing weight so don't give up. Usually when we think there is no result it suddenly gets visible... and you know a dramatic change of the weight for a short period is not good for the skin and the health.
You do great in the gym. I personally love swimming and it also shapes the body in a perfect way! And you don't sweat
@Tangerino - You made me smile. I've read that men prefer women with the hourglass figure but I think men just like women...especially if they have some kind of curves somewhere, even if it's not as defined as the hourglass. Then again, that is just my opinion.
@Tangerino - I hear you...I'm thankful for being a woman too.
I looked at your profile not long back (it was the crazy-cat-woman thing, if you remember) and I thought at the time from your blue shirt photo, "Ooh, nice hour glass figure!"
Stuff measuring, that's a man thing to do.
I'm a tailor and you would be sooooo easy to make nice frocks for (I know, I know, you're not fond of frocks) because you have a nice shape to work with.
I am a Pear shape! My ideal weight
should be around 12 stones. I am weighing
in at 17. Problem is 'strenuous exercise'.
I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees,
no cartilidge in the right, and the Metformin
that I take for my diabetes encourages my
body to put on weight.
Although I walk everywhere, and often
ascend six flights of stairs twice a
day, and two times up (carrying armfuls
of shopping) this is not sufficient to
help bring my weight down (which I have
no hang-up's with btw).
I feel no less attractive now, than I
did when I was as slim as a rake!
05.52 a.m.
Congrats for your success in weight reduction, fieldworking.
No worries about me being anorexic. I am far from it. I do enjoy food. Like I mentioned before I am about 23 pounds overweight for my height. It’s mostly in my waist. Losing weight is for the health benefits. I have talked with my doctor about my weight. I need to lose the weight so that I reduce my risk of becoming a diabetic. Feeling more physically attractive is just an additional benefit. I think that I’m pleasing enough now in terms of my physical appearance, but I think that reducing my waistline will be a benefit as well.
You’re right that the media and fitness/weight loss industries do seem to make people feel bad about the way that they look. I don’t take in diet pills or any lose weight fast pills or similar things. I’m just trying to get into better shape mainly for the health benefits but also because it will make life easier when I finish my graduate degree and get into the field (as a wildlife biologist). Also, it will help for when I go to Brazil next year to volunteer on a wildlife project.
I hadn’t really thought about my pictures showing more of my upper body and not a full body pic. I guess it’s because my upper body (above the waistline) is more appealing…depending on what I am wearing. I tend to choose jeans or pants that fit above my hips but below my waist. I have to get my jeans/pants himmed (spelling?) because I’m short (5’0”), which is ok. Thanks for the advice about the shirts.
Be yourself, sweetie. that's all you can do!