To Some People Just Look "Better" with Weight on? Can you get "too lean"? page

[abc123]

Just something I've noticed.. Wondering if it was just me.. Do some people just look better with weight on? I think, if you've lost a lot of weight, there may be a point where you'll look best (& probably be healthier) without cutting too much weight.. I've noticed that bodybuilder look, looks a little too lean & "pumped up".. Veins exposing in your forehead? Could the blood & body be "too excited" with burning fat?

It seems most guys look best, with slender muscle, around 9-11% bodyfat.. You have to have very very good genetics to look great with little low bodyfat levels.. & you're almost guarenteed to age quicker.. This is where fats come into play & the Paleo diet works well.. High fat foods (good fats) seem to relax in your stomach & slowly digest (low GCI) & kind of "soak" the organs with moisture..This keeps blood pressure down, allergies @ bay, immune system doesn't suffer..

Carbs seem to "fire" things up.. & speed things through.. too much fiber can be rough as well.. Fats slow things down & seem to "normalize" the body's speed of digestion & nutrient retention..

I'm rambling.. Do you think its best for guys to stay around 9-11% (or get down to & stop) & girls to stay above 15% or so? Seems healthier, looks better..

(See what's happened to Madonna & Cameron Diaz.. They look addicted to working out, & eating a ton of protein (& probably low fat diets))..

Paleo helps mold natures fit & strength immune system on fats.. They're important

[kurite]

You don't need good genetics to look good at a low bf %. You need muscle to look good at a low bf %.

[Nion]

Pretty much. Although being a hottie to start off with helps. Some people are ugly, fat or skinny :P

[Aly]

Pretty much. Although being a hottie to start off with helps. Some people are ugly, fat or skinny :P

Harsh, but true. Very few are so unfortunate though. Those who are either bums who don't want to shave/cut their hair/clean their face or they have some sort of facial structure that's borderline deformed.

[loafingcactus]

I believe that people who have the genetics for a high body fat / endomorphs are going to look gaunt at a normal weight and fat level. I think that's why overweight people who get down to a normal weight so often get the comments about being too thin or being anorexic.

[jfreaksho]

I got kinda gaunt looking for a while, but it was because I lost a lot of muscle with the fat. My hairstyle didn't help, and the fact that all my clothes were too big accentuated it. I got down to 145 or so, and still fluctuate that low, but never look quite as gaunt as a year ago.

[IvyBlue]

They're aren't that many really good looking people but they're aren't many truly ugly people either. Most folks are in the middle. I think if you drop a lot of weight in a short time you "look" sick in comparison but as more time goes by that perception changes.

As said above, it's all in the musculature. If you're thin w/ no muscles you look weak. As for celebs there was a thread in the NY Post a couple of weeks ago showing them w/ no make-up or styling done v all done up for some event. Half of them were not even recognizable. I guarantee anyone would look better after a few hours of treatment by the best professionals. Silly to compare oneself w/ that level of primping.

[Diana Renata]

I believe that people who have the genetics for a high body fat / endomorphs are going to look gaunt at a normal weight and fat level. I think that's why overweight people who get down to a normal weight so often get the comments about being too thin or being anorexic.

I got kinda gaunt looking for a while, but it was because I lost a lot of muscle with the fat. My hairstyle didn't help, and the fact that all my clothes were too big accentuated it. I got down to 145 or so, and still fluctuate that low, but never look quite as gaunt as a year ago.

I totally agree, and this was me about 2 years ago. I got down to 125. LOVED the way my jeans fit but damn my arms were pathetic. Now I'm about 150. No longer in my size 6's but my arms and face don't look so skinny. Now... it's a matter of whittling the belly & thighs back down while keeping the rest of me looking healthy.

[abc123]

Didn't mean to draw more attention to the aesthetic & "looks" department because the purpose of our dedication to eating well is certaintly to be healthy.. Lower bodyfat is healthy, so its a goal we're all reaching for.. I guess balance is the key.. A Carb refeed is certaintly an advantage for breaking through plateaus, but the focus of eating good fat just seems to be a healthy focus that has changed my life..

Benefits of eating more fat to me.. (Excuse my lack of scientific support, but I'll speak from "feel"..)

-My body seems to calm down.. When I eat carbs, I've noticed myself getting "excited".. Carbs seem to give me a quick blast of energy, then crash ensues.. This false sense of energy can sometimes feel like being on a drug.. & they are addicting like drugs.. The more you eat, the more you need.. Can't be good..)

-The skin glows a little more.. The skin wears your health in a way.. What I eat has a direct effect on how my skin looks & feels.. I like eating 4-5 whole eggs cooked in olive oil, & big avocado.. Feels like moisture sets in my joints, & from the inside out, I become "less dry".. Dryness increases aging.. The eyes clear up.. Skin looks "dewey".. Maybe a little greasy @ times, but you can clean that up.. Dryness is tough to balance out.. Good fat promotes glowing, unagitated, skin.. I've even noticed my ability to tolerate a lot of sun is directly related to the moisture generated from my diet.. I usually don't tan really well, but eating fats creating provides that field shield that allows proper absoption of sunshine.. Like a plant that hasn't been watered, dry skin gets punished in the sun.. My teeth even seem to get whiter when I don't eat grains.. Interesting..

-Fat reduces inflammation.. I'm noticing pretty much all negative things that happen in the body lead to inflammation.. Carbs increase inflammation.. Some are more tolerant than others, but in general it seems carbs (maybe grains specifically) increase swelling.. Disease leads to inflammation, allergies create inflammation.. Swelling is the body putting a "Road Under Construction" sign around areas that need repair.. The least amount of inflammation your body suffers from, the more efficient the immune system doesn't have to work overtime.. Energy & health builds.. Its like a day without inflammation is a little deposit into the bank of health.. Healthy fats can grow that bank!

-Feeling "satiated" has to be healthy.. I don't think our body is meant to constantly be digesting food.. Carbs make me more hungry.. (I've noticed drinking "Gatorade" or sugary Orange Juice, actually make me MORE thirsty).. Eating fat slows digestion, you don't get as hungry & being able to survive & feel great after an entire of not eating, has to be a sign Sustainability.. Very important to continue doing anything.. Low carb diet encourages 5 Meals a day, eating a big fatty breakfast/brunch & dinner can hold through the entire next day (I'm more of an "IF" guy & enjoy a little fast every week.. Fasting just feels good for me.. Gives my system a break)..

There is no one size fits all or course, but I haven't seen anyone that wouldn't look & feel better with a little less inflammation.. Good fat seems to reduce inflammation & carbs can create inflammation.. Less carbs, a little more fat.. This paleo lifestyle just seems to support a strong & healthy body.. Fats being the unsung hero.. (Encorporated with a little Fasting, & a cheat meal whenever you need)..

But whatever.. I just like what Marks doing here.. Eating correctly (how your body was meant to be treated & nourished) can change everything for you.. Attitude, emotional health, physical health, looks, confidence.. I'm sure sex life benefits as well.. What can be more natural than your new "Sexual Prowess"!

[girlarchitect]

It seems to me that a low carb diet reduces inflamation from carbs - which affects our faces as well as the rest of our bodies. So someone on this diet is going to look thinner in the face at the same weight than when they were eating a SAD or high carb diet.

Right now I'm just at the top of my acceptable weight / BMI before being classed as overweight - yeah, yuck - and I look terrible at this weight. I believe that this much weight makes me look older (and dumpier) than I should. I've been down to the bottom of what is considered my healthy weight/BMI - about 6-7 years ago - and I looked pretty fantastic. Definitely thinner in the face, but it was a good look for me and I'm hoping to see those cheekbones in 10-12 months . Much below that level? yeah, there are people on this site that go there and some look good but others look too gaunt. For me and most of us, it would be too much work to achieve and maintain.