In life, we all tend to want what someone else has! People who are overweight want to lose weight, thin people want to gain weight, and those who see themselves as flawless aim for an even higher level of perfection. Married people sometimes long for the freedom of being single, while single people wish to be married. Basically, we are often never fully satisfied — it’s part of the human condition.
Some time ago, while ordering my meal, the cashier asked if I still worked at the gym. I said yes, and then she asked how she could go about gaining weight on her hips. As she pointed to the area, I told her to be careful about saying that around other women! When I explained why, she seemed a bit surprised. I said that the body she was describing — the slim waist, thin legs, and arms — is exactly what many women at the gym are working hard to achieve. What she considers a “problem” is actually what a lot of people want. I was being a little playful when I said they might not take too kindly to hearing it!
To my eyes, her body was quite pleasing, especially the way she carried herself. I have a bit of a lighthearted sense of humor, and I hope that comes through. If not, maybe a more serious read is better suited for you — no offense intended!
She mentioned that her female doctor told her she needed to gain weight and pointed to specific areas. That gave me pause. First, I think doctors should be mindful about not creating unnecessary insecurities in their patients. Second, just like you cannot spot reduce fat loss in one area, you also cannot target weight gain in a specific spot. I shared this with her, and honestly, I got the sense that her doctor may have been projecting a bit.
To answer how she might move forward, I suggested looking into a strength training routine. I would not recommend simply eating large amounts of food to try to bulk up certain areas, because fat distribution is largely genetic and unpredictable. Extra calories could end up in the belly rather than the desired spots, and going overboard on calories is not healthy in general. For someone who is naturally thin, the most effective way to enhance specific areas is through weight training, ideally a full body program with some added focus on the areas she wants to develop.
With proper strength training and a solid diet, she can tone up, improve her overall shape, and potentially add some healthy weight over time. She is very petite, so there are natural limits based on her frame and genetics. Before she left, I reminded her that she is a very beautiful woman, and we all have the right to pursue what makes us happy. What I find ideal may not be the same for everyone, and that is perfectly fine. What matters most is learning to love and appreciate your body, because it can change over time, and you may one day look back and smile at the season when gaining weight was your biggest challenge. If she still wants to work toward her goals, she now has some solid basic advice to get started.
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