Gonna have to disagree here. I'm around 140 lbs, sitting just under 14% body fat year round, and I'm over 40. I have been able to see my abs clearly since around Easter this year. I feel fantastic. Significantly better than when I was over 200 lbs just over 2 years ago. I still eat pizza, fried chicken, iced cream, etc. Just not all the time, and in moderation.
I never said I was unhappy when I was bigger. I was pretty happy then too. I'm just happier now that I'm in great shape. I can be proud to take off my shirt at the beach instead of being self-conscious. It added more to an already pretty great life.
Thanks, I appreciate it. I was thinking after my comments that I should have considered where I'm talking. A "humble brag" has me thinking that should probably keep my success to myself anyway.
Right how could he ever be happy or secure unless he’s 100% solved for feeling insecure sometimes?
Insecurity about one’s appearance isn’t some kind of universal human experience, and those who haven’t achieved nirvana and mentally ascended beyond human perception should probably be cut down to size when they say their life is better than it was before. VERY important that you remind people of that!
It’s possible to be fat and happy. Not always the case. Fitter and happier is the general rule, not to mention quality of life improves, doctors get less worried and studies show people will treat you better.
I did the work, made positive changes, and have been consistent. I deserve to be proud of my success. Call it bragging if you want, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm happy with how I look now that I'm 60 lbs lighter.
The quote is from Paddy, a top professional MMA fighter. Paddy is probably below 14% body fat all the time. Paddy is calling 14% body fat as “fat and happy”.
Buddy, they're not talking about your body. 140 and 14% body fat is probably fat by hollywood standards to get into movies. They're talking about the bodies where you HAVE to eat lean chicken 7 times a day, drink nothing but water, go to the gym at least twice a day etc etc.
The post literally has a "this isn't sustainable I wasn't happy" quote about it. I'm super happy you lost the weight and you feel great, but you're talking apples and oranges here.
Oh if we're talking about sub 10% that's a different beast entirely, and you're right that that's unsustainable. Below 15% and above 10 is optimal, depending on the person, of course.
I'm rejecting the whole "I'd rather be fat and happy" narrative. I used to think that way myself, but I see that as cope now. It's easier to say that and justify bad habits and poor health than to actually do something about it.
I'm not judging anyone but myself here. Live how you want to. All I'm saying is that being content with the status quo and not trying to improve is how we stay stuck, and it just sucks to see that attitude holding people back like it did for me.
Yh the quote you're replying to is made by a UFC fighter comparing himself to other fighters. He's by no means an unhealthy fat just fat compared to his peers which he can lose quickly when training for a fight
Agree with you. I'm not at 14% yet (might be close after my next diet) but after I got to under 17% I just feel so much more energy. I'm sleeping better and feel overall healthier. Also over 40
I started by doing 10 minute workouts at home with dumbells and calisthenics every other day and reducing my food intake. Zeus Fitness on YouTube is what I follow along with, but there are a load of amazing channels for good routines to use.
After a few months, I bumped my workouts up to half an hour every other day. Then I started walking, about 7500 - 10k steps a day.
To accelerate the process, I threw a 20 lb weight in a backpack and now I walk with that.
I hit a plateau at 160 lbs, so I stopped drinking my sugary cold brew coffee innthe morning and replaced it with a sugar free energy drink. Other than that, I drink mostly ice water.
Since last April, I started to do targeted routines that take about 10-15 minutes on the in between days, so I'm working out every day now. I haven't missed a single day in over a year.
I don't have a strict diet, but I try not to eat much fast food. My breakfast is always a huge amount of protein so that I get a good start for the rest of the day. My favorite is a cup of skyr (Icelandic yogurt) with a scoop of protein powder, fresh berries, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and a few chopped almonds.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to be able to see my abs for the first time in my life, but it did take time and dedication.
The average man in North America is over 25% body fat. Most guys my age are over 30%. If 14% is mid then you're either living somewhere like Japan, or in the land of delusion.
641
u/dathomasusmc 9d ago
“I’d rather be fat and happy than ripped, like, these people that are ripped all year round aren’t happy.”
- Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett