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Does Your Ideal Weight Need to Go on a Diet?
Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock
In the same way that our actual waistlines have expanded over the past few decades (Americans are 20 pounds heavier than in 1990), our "in a perfect world" waistlines appear to be getting bigger, as well. A new Gallup poll found that women's idea of their ideal weight have generally increased. You might assume that we're just being realistic about what's possible, but sadly, the difference between our ideal and actual weights is going up, too: it's now 22 pounds vs. 13 pounds just 20 years ago. Clearly, cutting our ideal selves some slack isn't helping us stay healthy. This is something to keep in mind when we're looking for fitness motivation: instead of vowing to slim down "soon" but in the meantime buying the next size up in pajama jeans, maybe we should really focus on fitting into those old, uncompromising skinny jeans that refuse to give an inch.
 
Topics: Health
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.
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