Be Happy that You Are "Too Skinny" in this World of Obesity

In this culture of body acceptance, I find that a slim or fit person now gets pointed at for not being normal or judged as not having a "desirable human form." In the current social climate on fitness, it no longer takes an underweight physique for someone to be judged as being "too skinny" because the world's reference point, the so-called "average person" is now clinically overweight.

Being called "too skinny" or to "go eat a sandwich", can creep into the psyche of even the most athletic, health conscious person. Unfortunately, in the back of their mind, this negative message can make one feel unattractive and persuade someone to begin overeating to "fix" this suddenly perceived lack in one's external beauty. This pressure to have a fuller body or to "not look like a boy" can occur despite our knowledge that being overweight, along with the lifestyle factors that lead to being overweight is not good for our health. Unfortunately, just gaining weight by overeating, doesn't even typically lead to someone perceived as "slim" to develop the desirable hour-glass figure because we cannot choose where our bodies store fat. In fact, it is more often the case that slim build women gain their weight on their waist, arms, face and all other part of their body rather than the coveted "bigger ass and boobs."

The next time someone in your surroundings points out your slim build in anything but the most positive light, I recommend that instead of allowing those words to make you judge yourself, take a look at the person pointing their finger at you.  Are they build so incredibly perfect that you should aspire to be more like them? Are they a fit person with a capable, healthy body? If that person isn't the image of health and well-being, I wouldn't allow their words to enter my psyche. In simple terms, don't ever let an overweight friend or a family member convince you that you eat too little! Of course they think that you eat too little but that doesn't make them correct in their assessment.  They wouldn't be overweight, if they knew what an appropriate amount of food for a human is or what a balanced, healthy diet looks like.  Occasionally, they do know what healthy living looks like but since they aren't doing it themselves, they berate anyone else who is, just to make themselves feel better about their personal lifestyle choices. 

There are many reasons why a friend might tell you that "you're losing your ass" when you're finally sticking to your weight loss plan but none of those reasons imply that your friend is being a positive, encouraging force your life.  After all, being overweight and sedentary is now the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States.  Anyone who would encourage you to join the over 70% of Americans who belong to this group, choosing an unhealthy lifestyle, is not trying to help you. You wouldn't care if a "drunkard uncle" called you a whimp for not taking shots at the family Easter party, so don't let your "fat aunt" with diabetes convince you that you should fix your "too skinny" by eating less healthy.