The Experts Weigh In: A Little (Big) Thing Called Skinny-Fat

Image courtesy of filmschoolrejects.com

BY: DAVID PRADO, CONTRIBUTOR

“But, David, if I take your class too much, I’ll get buff.” 

To a personal trainer or group fitness instructor this statement is the auditory equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. Girls, you will not get buff. Trust me! It is nearly impossible for the average woman to resemble Arnold unless 1) you are eating protein like a starved zombie eating brains or 2) you are visiting GNC with the frequency of a Jersey Shore cast member. Instead, you will get toned and sexy as hell!

“Yeah, but I don't want to get bulky.” 

Ladies, we all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as a 'beholder' myself, I'm a bit concerned about how women think they should look. There's a huge discrepancy between how a woman 'should' look according to the general media and how a woman should look according to David Prado and anyone else who has any sense, for that matter. Confused? Let me explain...

Image courtesy of etsy.com

HOW A WOMAN 'SHOULD' LOOK, ACCORDING TO THE MEDIA:

It happens, no matter how much you want to deny it. We are ALL influenced by the mighty magazine image, and men are no less a casualty. It started when we were little. You remember G.I. Joe, the muscular guy with a six-pack of steel that would put Rambo II to shame, or Barbie, the long-legged woman with double D’s and a size 00 waist (oh yeah, and no muscle definition – I’ll revisit this in a minute). It's no wonder you think you should look like this.

HOW A WOMAN SHOULD LOOK, ACCORDING TO 'YOURS TRULY':

Remember Barbie? As with health and many other things in life, it's what’s on the inside that counts. Barbie didn't have a whole lot going on inside, if you know what i mean... just recycled milk jugs and the like. I posit that Barbie is skinny-fat. That’s right... skinny-fat. It IS possible to be skinny and fat at the same time. Allow me to define: “Skinny-fat – (adj.) To look slim, even with revealing clothes, but when touched, the touching hand sinks into fat before reaching muscle. Older people will 'show' "Skinny fat" visually, but young people have firm skin that hides it until they're touched.”

Thank you Urban dictionary.[1]

Image courtesy of www.equinox.com

Skinny-fat in depth:  It happens more often than one would think. More likely than not, you have a friend or two who will fall into this category. These are the people that never workout, eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and smoke a pack a day; yet, come Saturday night, they manage to look like Megan Fox. Well, wait 10 years or so. Your Megan Fox friend will eventually be told that she is clinically obese. Yup! Your friend’s body has actually managed to store fat in areas where muscle should be, giving the appearance of a fit, smokin' hot individual. But when you take an up close and personal look at that b-dunk-a-dunk, you'll soon realize that is is composed of pure lard... that's right, ladies, pure butta! And that will surely subject her to some cray cray cellulite down the road. More surprising is the fact that she is likely to fall victim to type 2 diabetes and heart disease because she is storing fat in and around her vital organs, including the heart! Now that's NOT sexy in my book. Women should look and feel healthy.

Now if you want to look and feel healthy, you gotta get TONED AND SEXY.

Image courtesy of crankyfitness.com

Ladies, I challenge you to redefine sexy. I’m a guy.. I can't do it for you. It’s evident from the super pricy shoes and handbags (which we know nothing about), that you are trying to impress each other, not us. So look in the mirror and stop staying “I’m fat” or “I need to get skinny". Rather, start saying “I need to tone up” or “I need to start looking healthy.”

Take it from experience, there is nothing sexier than a woman who can keep up in the gym and in other places (wink, wink). Yoga increases flexibility. Spin classes, running and swimming increase your stamina. Most importantly, weightlifting ensures that you won't catch a case of "skinny-fat" AND you'll be toned enough to push us around. Hey, we don't want to grab onto skin that feels like gak! [2] 

So, pick up a weight and get to it, ladies! I promise you won't look like Arnold, and you might even turn a few more heads than usual!

For more information on skinny fat: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/skinny-fat-today-show-exa_n_445135.html

David Prado is a cycling instructor at Flywheel Atlanta, personal trainer and general fitness enthusiast. On his days off, he can be found on his road bike, biking more miles than you've ever thought possible in one day. He also makes a mean mojito and dances salsa like a pro, thereby making him one of the most eligible bachelors in the Atlanta area. To check out one of David's classes at Flywheel Atlanta, click here: David's Class Schedule.

---

[1] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skinny+fat

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickelodeon_Toys