Women - what is skinny to you?

There are often debates on here from women who want to lose a few lbs from other women who think they should be happy where they are (presumably because they weigh more and would be happy with that weight).

So, PTers, what size do you consider skinny (the point where you have no more weight to lose, not so small you look unhealthy but small enough that you do not have even another 5 lbs to lose).

I'll start - I think a size 4 is skinny.

Thu. Sep 25, 1:56pm

Rather than state a size I would say when you can easily see a person's bones. When skin is just hanging on a skeleton, that is too skinny.

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 1:59 PM

I don't know if a specific size is too skinny, there are bigger and smaller bones people in every size. Some people are just naturally very thin, and they eat healthy. Too skinny is the people that look sickly. Visible bones, darks circles under the eyes (and not from being tired).

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 2:06 PM

Here's a few more: upper arms smaller than wrists, legs that look like arms, hollows above each collar bone that would hold half a cup of water easily. Thin is in, thin is, yes, healthy for longevity reasons, but too thin is too thin. You need enough muscle mass going into later life to move your mass around without falling down.

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 3:17 PM

I see the term "skinny" as meaning someone who doesnt work out or have much muscle, someone who is "skin and bones", like when I was in high school, no curves, just plain thin.
A healthy figure is not overweight, someone who eats well and exercises, has muscle, has curves.
My best friend is about 5 feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds I think maybe 105 or so and is healthy, not overweight, so a size 4 would be WAY TOO big for her. I am 5'6" and weigh 127 and I wear a size 5 but I dont think of myself as skinny.

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 5:40 PM

Personally, at 5'6, size 6 would be the smallest I'd go. I prefer being a size 8. But I do have a med-large frame.

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 6:18 PM

For myself, when I look at a woman in her early 30's and she looks like she's 40 or 50 because she is skin and bones, is way too skinny! One person I met like that got help, and gained some healthy weight. She now looks young and youthful, not dead. I think when you are losing weight and you become obsessed, you lose sight of healthy and go for thin. I want to get to a size where I feel sexy, which to me means I would still have curves, but would look nice in a swim suit. I started my goal to eat healthier at a size 12, and hid my weight quite well with my body shape. Being a consistent size of 6,7, or 8 would feel good to me, even when I do hear from those larger than me that I'm not fat! It's not about making those people feel worse because I don't like my size, it's about me being happy and feeling healthy.

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 10:56 PM

MY DR SAYS....

My doctor says too skinny is a person who doesn't get their period. Aparently some athletes get themselves so lean there isn't enough fat left on them. that can effect your menstal cycle. Even cause it to stop. She says some female athletes while they are training for a major competition often note their period stops. According to the doc, fat cells can produce estrogen!!!!! Too much fat cells, sometimes leads to irregular periods, because the fat cells tend to produce irregular levels of estrogen

Thursday, September 25, 2008, 11:10 PM

When the elbow is the widest bit of the arm.

Friday, September 26, 2008, 4:46 AM

It's like the elusive standard for what is obscene and/or pornographic - I know it when I see it.

Friday, September 26, 2008, 8:44 AM

At 5'4 with my body type, I think 125lbs would be the weight that I wouldn't need to lose anymore.

Friday, September 26, 2008, 4:09 PM

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