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A sixth toe preferred over 50 extra pounds

Posted on Jan 7th 2008 9:15AM by Bev Sklar

Filed Under: Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements

Fitness polls abound these days, but this new poll of 1,000 women 18 years and older from Fitness magazine especially demonstrates the desperation of women to become skinnier.

Check out these alarming percentages of what poll-takers would do to reach their ideal weight:

23 percent would spend a week in jail or shave their head
22 percent would wear a bikini on TV
21 percent would trade 10 years of life
85 percent would prefer an extra toe than 50 extra pounds

If I needed to lose 50 pounds, I'd be up for an extra toe. But giving up ten years of life to reach an ideal weight? That strikes me as terribly sad, but also indicative of the immense societal pressure women feel to be thin. I once told a friend I'd pay $2,500 to become an instant rockin' guitar player. We both thought it sounded great until we realized a second later the notion was impossibly ridiculous. Same goes for reaching your ideal weight -- it takes a concerted effort of regular exercise and healthy eating no sixth toe can buy.

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Tags: Bev Sklar, BevSklar, Fitness magazine, Fitness magazine poll, FitnessMagazine, FitnessMagazinePoll

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Judy 1-07-2008 @ 11:12AM

I just read this, and as someone who's never really had a weight problem, I had to think about it, and try to imagine how I'd feel if I did.

So, I thought, if my choices were to have to carry around an extra 50 pounds or an extra toe, I think I'd take the extra toe, too! The health consequences of the extra weight would be much worse than an extra toe. Although I think I'll keep my healthy weight and 10 toes, thankyouverymuch!

And I agree it's terribly sad how many people would sacrifice time off their life for a lower weight. Although, how many people are cutting their lives short by not losing that weight, so maybe it would just even out in the long run anyway.

eyðimörk 1-07-2008 @ 11:54AM

The concept that someone would give up ten years of their life to be their ideal weight is indeed very sad, and very telling of their reasons to want to be fit!

I can't imagine giving up ten years of my life to be more fit; the reason I work so hard at getting fit is because I'd rather like to ADD ten years to my life.