Skinny fat…
Sounds like a major oxymoron, doesn’t it? And you’ve probably heard, read or even used that term before. But what exactly does it mean?
Skinny fat is when you have a small‘ish frame but you may have excessive amounts flabbiness on your body, typically in the midsection, but can also be on the arms and in the booty/hip/thigh region.
When I told people I needed to lose about 10-15 lbs, they’d look at my small’ish frame and proceed to either laugh or roll their eyes at me. But they didn’t realize I was actually considered overweight at a height of 5’4″ and weighing over 150 lbs.
At least that’s what the BMI chart says, anyway. That may or may not be true, but I feel it’s ONLY if the 150+ lbs is excessive body fat, as opposed to lean muscle mass.
And being small in stature doesn’t necessarily mean you’re healthy, especially if you:
- are out of shape and get winded easily
- have poor health
- eat a crappy diet and don’t get the proper nutrition
When is being skinny fat a cause for concern?
Please don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not rallying for being skinny, nor being overweight. It’s all about having a healthy balance.
But for starters, being skinny-fat can oftentimes be the first step to becoming obese.
Also, if someone is relatively thin everywhere except the midsection, this could mean you have a high amount of VISCERAL FAT which, unlike subcutaneous fat (right below the skin), is located much deeper where the organs are.
Too much fat surrounding the organs can be taxing on them and lead to WORSE problems such as type 2 diabetes, issues with your reproductive system, liver & gallbladder problems, risk of heart attack, and many other health challenges.
So what can you do about it?
You will definitely want to begin making gradual changes toward being healthier, fit and toned through diet and exercise.
1. The first step is to recognize and acknowledge you’re skinny fat… if you are.
2. Next, identify your “problem” areas (butt, hips, tummy, arms, thighs or all of the above) and from there, pinpoint the root cause of WHY you’re that way and address it.
3. Then it’s time to sit down and plan out what changes need to be made. Set realistic goals and work toward reaching them! Figure out whether or not you need to change your diet and if so, what needs changing.
For example: If you realize you’re eating an excessive amount of carbs, figure out ways to cut back on them or stop craving them.
Another scenario could be that you’re eating healthfully, but the missing part of the equation is exercise. Again, you have to sit down and really examine yourself and what’s going on.
All in all, don’t allow yourself to be fooled into thinking all is well just because your frame is small. A lot of people who are currently obese, didn’t necessarily start out that way – they started out skinny-fat.
So, if you can relate, take the necessary measures, not to necessarily become skinny, but to get as healthy and fit as possible.
Here are a few recommended items that may help:
(contains affiliate links)
Nutritional Supplement – Fill in any nutritional gaps, boost your energy levels, and improve the health of your hair, skin, nails, and joints with 243 vitamins, minerals, organic antioxidants, organic fruits & vegetables, and more in each one ounce serving.
Weight Loss/Management – If you need to lose a few pounds or more, this kit will give you pretty much everything you need: 2 of your daily meals, vitamin supplement, appetite/cravings suppressor, cleanse/detox, and a skin serum to help tighten your skin and help reduce the appearance of stretch marks & cellulite.
Healthy Meal Replacement – Drink this meal replacement shake as a healthy substitute for any meal of the day, or as a healthy snack between meals.
Appetite/Cravings Suppressant – Crush your junk food cravings (or greatly minimize them), curb your appetite so you eat less, and boost your metabolism.
