I like French Vanilla coffee creamer. I KNOW why I’m fat, just not concerned enough yet to do anything about it 
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I would consider myself lanky but still pushing the boundary between fluffy and “lean”. At 6’ 211lbs I would figure I’d either be fat, or pretty muscular but in my opinion, I am neither. So I guess I wouldn’t be strong and thick or lean and lanky.
My goal for the next few weeks is to work harder and gain as much weight as possible. It’s taken some serious dedication to eat up to 211, and I’m hoping that the extra calories will be put to good use.
I guess my answer is, I’m not lean because I want every opportunity to be as big and as strong as possible. Losing weight is easy, and at some point soon I’ll do that and build back up again… but for now, I need to eat everything in sight.
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So now I’m overfat. Although this is an improvement on BMI, by which measure I’m usually obese but sometimes morbidly obese.
I think I liked it better when I was just chubby.
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Yeah, it very difficult to pass this particular test. I mean, I did, but still. 
Seriously, I wouldn’t sweat “failing” the test by a little. Key is to watch that measurement and keep it under control.
The test is exceptionally difficult to pass. I fail it by at least 3 inches. I’d need to get down to probably a legitimate DEXA measured 12% to 13% bodyfat to pass it.
Whew, I feel better about myself now.
As sort of a summary here, we could say:
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Trying to stay very lean (6-pack abs all year) can decrease muscle growth and strength gains if that means you’re always in a caloric deficit and/or always low carb. You may never reach your potential. But you will likely live longer. You may also be ripped but not look big in clothes. Better plan would be the “4-pack diet” where you eat more but keep fat gain under control.
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Trying to be as big as possible all the time helps with muscle and strength gains, but stay there forever and you’ll probably die of something preventable and risk being the “fat guy with good forearms” who ALSO doesn’t look like he lifts, just like the super-lean guy when he doesn’t have his shirt off. (And let’s remember, it only takes roughly 300 calories over maintenance to fuel optimal muscle growth.)
Luckily, it’s not a binary choice. There’s something in the middle of scrawny-ripped and strong-fat. Self-awareness is key. Don’t fall your own self-comforting bullshit and get stuck at either extreme.
And yes, I think I’ve been on both sides over the years!
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Would you say that lack of consistent exercise is a greater factor here than weight ? I have no idea what the science says but for me I feel like keeping active and doing consistent exercise would seem to have a greater impact on improving cardiovascular health than just how much fat someone has ?
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So to pass this test I need to be 6’ 8" tall.
I wonder whether it will be more productive to focus on cardio and diet for fat loss, or stretching and implants to get taller?
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I’m sure it’s a little if both. For example, someone with excess central adiposity (belly fat and sub-abdominal fat) who trains will probably avoid health issues for longer, but I do think it will catch up to them eventually, but maybe won’t be as severe.
TC talks about some related things, like overall bodyweight and size, in this article below, and his recent heart health articles are pure gold for anyone entering middle age.
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I really don’t think so. Weight seems to be a great indicator of life expectancy (unfortunately)
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I would agree. When I see those that are old and healthy, they do seem to have activity (both mental and physical) built into their days but not necessarily strenuous exercise. Walking, gardening, reading, and, as you say, they tend to not carry excessive weight.
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I agree with this. It is also a good argument for reducing overall size as one ages, especially if carrying extra bodyfat.
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Good to know just after I purposely made myself the heaviest I have ever been…LOL
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Goodbye
Seriously I’m in the same boat. When you regress various mortality studies, though, weight (or BMI, depending on what measure they used) is often the primary independent variable.
Having thrown that out there, I’m incapable of and unwilling to share an example! I just wanted to sound smart.
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A couple thoughts…
Maybe society has lost a work ethic and motivation.
Maybe the Socratic ideals have died a death of ignorance.
Maybe the deluge of endocrine disrupting chemicals is overcoming the human race.
Maybe the media propaganda disparaging health, fitness and beauty is having an effect.
Maybe big pharma / big medical are rolling in dough from all this.
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Is this a thing?
Because it’s much, much easier to motivate yourself to train hard then it is to eat clean.
Also, from a psychological/ego perspective, it’s much easier to rationalise/being ok with being a bit pudgy round your middle if you are chasing big numbers in the gym.
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I definitely think this is a lot of it. We all self-rationalize a ton around this.
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And, by the way, i think that’s fine. This is a hobby, not a moral obligation.
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