"Skinny Fat"

Skinny-fat (SF) is a term I've heard a lot lately... I didn't really get it, but now I think I do. It took me 8 months to go from a size 14 to a size 4, and out of 8 months, I only exercised probably 2-3 of them, the rest was from lowish calories and healthy eating. Now, I look at myself in a size 4, and it looks different from other girls who are a size 4. I don't get it. Why do they look smaller than me if we're the same size? Is that the so called SF?

First I believe everyone looks in the mirror and sees themselves a little larger. Another reason, everyone's body shape is different. For example I'm at 180 and wear size 16 jeans. I've seen posts here where ladies at my height and weight are wearing 12's and 14's. I would guess it's more body shape than anything.

BG

First off, congrats on the weight loss.  I think it may be that.  I have done the opposite.  I have now lost 35 pounds in 6 months and have been exercising and strength training 6 days a week.  I think I look the best I ever have at the weight I'm at. 

My sweet husband even said that I look 10-15 pounds lighter than what I am.  Since I don't tell everyone my weight, it is what they see and I like it so far. 

i think skinny fat refers to people who are skinny but have a high percentage of fat. So like, someone who is 105 pounds may have 20 pounds from fat whereas someone who is 120 may have 20 pounds of fat as well. Both are able to fit into the same size but the one who is 120 looks a lot more toned and muscular.

Ahhh, body type. I forgot about that. Well, I definitely have a pear shape. I'm very thin from the waist up, but I have always thought I had huge thighs. Maybe those girls are "apple" shaped, where they are bigger in the stomach area. Hm.

I have heard that skinny-fat thing too.  I think it mostly just refers to who people carry their weight.  I carry all mine in the bust, butt, and legs.  some others carry in the waist area.  Lack of muscle tone may also have something to with it.  I have seen thin women that are nothing but giggle cause they don't have much muscle.  Mischa Barton from the OC has tremendous cellulite on her upper thighs that has to be heavily airbrushed because she doesn't work out and tone her muscles to diminish the appearance of the "fat" on her legs.  Muscle tone is key

Ugh, but I don't want to work out. Haha, I've been trying to do lunges/squats at home, do those work at really toning/thinning legs?

I am a size 4 too and I think of myself as "skinny fat" because I am not as toned as other size 4 people. Skinny fat to me is when you got just a little extra in the belly, hips. It tends to look like a little muffin top when I put on my jeans. So it's back to toning and working out for the summer.

Going from a size 14 to a size 4 in eight months seems like a rapid weight loss. It sounds like you did it pretty healthy though, congratulations!  You probably should excercise more now to tone up and help tighten up your skin.  I lost about 20lbs some time ago and still don't look the same as I used to (thin but a little flabby!).  Exercising will sure help. 

This is probably a "Fitness" forum Q but, anyone know the best way to lose lovehandles (I still have a bit, ugh), and tone thighs?

Lunges and squats do wonders for your hips, buns and thighs.  They hurt like heck but your will start toning up in no time.  Add some weights when your body weight doesn't make you sore any more.  You can do this. ...... but then again I love weight lifting lol

For toning I am doing Turbo Sculpt and it really seems to be working!! I like it because you can always add to it with extra weights and it's really fun.

Yeah, maybe you are not toned due to the lack of exercise when losing your weight (which well done on, btw :]).

Cardio tones me up a lot but remember, if you're trying to maintain this weight always eat the 'net' amount of calories, meaning add on the exercise you've done to your daily intake.

& try toning exercises and light weights, they'll help to tone you and build more muscle too :]

I agree with subwaybusker. Remember that fat is like feathers and muscle is like rock... a pound of feathers takes up much more space than a pound of rock. So the "skinny fat" people have more feathers and thus more inches for the same amount of pounds.

And it's not really body type per se... because when you gain a certain degree of muscle mass, it's interesting but everyone's body type starts looking more or less the same! A pear will lose the excess fat on the hips and become less pear-shaped. An apple will lose the belly and become less apple-shaped. Go to the Body for Life site, and check out the before and afters, and you'll see what I mean.

I have to agree, everyone looks different. I am UNBELIEVABLY able to wear a 6/7 and I weigh 149 lbs. I am 5'7". I was a size 16 43 pounds ago. I am very toned and quite athletic. It all depends.