Lying About Your Weight....

my weight on my drivers license states 220, and has since i got my license. they ask if i want to change it and i say no. I am rather honest about my weight, but, who needs to know what i really weigh on my license. I'm also one who said i'd lie about my kids age. If it were for a medical or legal thing, i would whole heartedly say my age and weight. but i don't feel the need to have such a public document telling everyone.

I don't lie about my age as I would never want to tell someone I'm younger than I really am and have them think "wow, she's not aging very well." I have never been overweight in my life so feel no need to lie about that.

you make a great point. speaking for pregnancy and driver's licenses, OMG I had to renew mine pregnant and this past pregnancy put my normally 130 pounds up to 210. I think I'm going to lie and lose it just to get a new pic. lol

Umm..of COURSE I still weigh 135 like I did when I was 16 and first got my driver's license. Every time I renew I just leave the number the same as it was. I swear I hear the DMV worker stifling a laugh as they eyeball my pudgy chin, thick waist and saggy mom-boobs that i've inherited since having 2 kids :)

Its no one's business except between my doctor and me and now of course my Weight Watcher's leader. :)

I don't get it. What's the use of telling people I weigh 98 pounds when everyone can see that I don't?

Of course, when I step on the scale at the doctor's office, I make sure to tell them that I only weigh that much because I still have my shoes on and had a big breakfast and 2 cups of coffee right before I got there.

if you lie to get something for free then the issue of morality is more about the fact that you are stealing. You aren't stealing when you "fudge" on your weight.

I think it has to do with morality-it is NOT morally wrong to lie about your weight but it IS morally wrong to lie to get a free meal. And Karma knows where to find you.

I guess I don't understand why you asked this question and now are getting all defensive about it. You knew what answers you would get, it's a proven fact that people lie about their weight, big deal. As for the lying about kids age, to each is own...I personally don't because our kids only do what they learn from us and if they hear me lying about something so insignificant then they'll think it's ok to do as well and then when you get all upset at them for lying, well... guess where they've learned that from...if that's what you choose to do then do it. To me though, if you didn't feel guilty about it, you wouldn't have asked about it in the first place.

I know the next question your thinking, "oh so I'm saying I never lie". Well, not since I was a teenager probably. As I've gotten older and wiser, I see no point in it.

Because lying about your weight isn't to try to take advantage of something for which you do not qualify. It's private information and I honestly have no idea why it's on the driver's license anyway. I wouldn't lie about my weight to get some discount or privilege meant for someone who is lighter or heavier than me (for example, life insurance - but they make you get on a scale anyway).

And no, when people ask prying questions about private things, you are under no obligation to give any answer, never mind a truthful one! I know that you were asking hypothetically to provide a parallel but it doesn't really fit because no, we do not have to answer questions that are no one's business out of the proper context. My physicians need to know how much I weigh. No one else does.

I didnt see your question about lying about kids age, but i will say I lie about my kids age. At our local venue, kids under 2 are FREE...She is 2 years and 3 months...we just went to the circus on Sunday and had to buy 2-$20 tickets for me and the hubby. I was not about to pay $20 for her to get in so I told them her bday was 'next month'...saved me $20. I would lie about her age too if that would score her a free meal (shoot even a free popcorn at the circus that cost us $10). Now if this is for medial reason or legal issue, i would not lie about her age (or my weight).

I didn't even realize they print your weight on drivers' licenses! Now I'm gonna have to go and check it to see what it says...hang tight, I'll be right back.

Huh. No weight listed on my PA license. Therefore I can tell you with complete honesty that I weigh 120lbs and not at least 20lbs more than that.

Believe me or don't - but I have honestly never lied about my weight or the ages of my kids. Neither has ever crossed my mind. And I do see your point - valid. =)

I don't lie about my weight. I don't have to. No one ASKS! LOL
As for my driver's license... I may or may not give them the EXACT amount. But since I am 42 yrs old... and have maintained the same AVERAGE weight since I was about 20 years old (except for pregnancies) then I just use that average. So really, I DO give them my real weight. But gosh, it changes daily... by little bits (quarter ounces, lol). I fluctuate between 138-148 pounds depending on if it is right after Xmas or not. HAHA
I think my license probably says 142. Most people I know would not think I weight even THAT much though.

And I am one who said "No, don't lie about your child's age" on your previous post.

After you posted "So What Happened?":
No, it isn't ok in one instance and not in another. If, hypothetically speaking, I went to a buffet that charged a different amount based on weight, I would probably go to a different restaurant if I didn't want to pay extra and their rules required me to. I also don't "sneak" in food or drinks at the movies.
If some waitress just asked me to ask, I would express disapproval of her rudeness to ask such a personal question of me. If someone asked me the question regarding my weight with a legitimate need/reason to know, then I would answer honestly or, if it made me uncomfortable, would remove myself from the situation that required me to divulge that information in the first place.
But, do I think there is a difference in LYING and generalizing or giving estimates? Yes. There is a difference. But knowingly giving false information for personal gain is lying. If the grocery store clerk asked you how old your child is, you wouldn't accidentally say 3. You would say 4. So the only reason you would say otherwise at a restaurant with age restrictions would be intentionally for personal gain.

In Texas they don't put your weight on your drivers license... I didn't respond or read your previous email about lying about kids age. I'm not going to lie, yes, I've lied about my kids age to have to pay less. Yes, I lied on my drivers license when I lived in Illinois as well pretty much anything that ask what my weight is... I'm ashamed of how heavy I am. I don't lie too much about the kids age anymore and not too much prior. My daughter has always looked older than her age so they would charge me adult prices when she was only 8. The restaurant business is messed up, really a 10 year old is an adult? And why can't my baby (when he was a toddler age 1-2) eat off my plate without me having to pay for a kids price... he barely ate anything...

Lying is wrong and we shouldn't do it, but we do or some of us do...LOL

I don't lie about my weight. Who cares?

I have lied about my age... I used to tack on a year because when I was in my twenties I figured it would help me prepare for getting older and that was my immature way of being different than those who would subtract years off their age =)

These days I try not to lie about other things but I think EVERYONE has told a white lie here or there whether it's by not divulging information, avoiding a direct question, etc in order to not offend someone. People say it's good to teach our children about playing pretend... helps them be imaginative, however if you want to be technical... that's lying too!

Today I told my co-worker that I wasn't worried about something personal when she asked me how I was... well, I am a little worried but I don't need to share this information atm - Guess I still have to work on my lying =)

Please don't take offense to the above... just hoping to lighten the mood on this thread.

I'm upfront about my weight and proud of it, but when going to the doctor's office and they ask my weight I usually respond, "are we talking naked or with clothes on"..lol Because naked or in undies is accurate, but clothing on to me is a lie and I don't want that on my record. LOL

My weight on my driver's license is absolutely not accurate! I don't really understand why it's even on there, but I'm not happy about my weight so there's no way I would print it in black and white for every salesperson, waitress, bank teller, etc. to see!!! I don't lie about my age, though, don't really care about that number.

No I don't lie about my weight nor my childrens ages when we dine out just for a free kids meal.

The difference is if i lied about my weight my kids would never know i was lying, if i lied about their age they would know, people know how old they are. (since the kids would no know the weight was a lie it is not setting a bad example)

Also its about intentions, when you lie about weight its simple vanity and harms only yourself, when you lie about age in order to score a cheaper price on a meal(or movie ticket) its basically cheating, and really stealing. An area in which a child might not see the grey shady parts of and will see only in black and white................although

I will teach my girls that sometimes a lie is necessary

1.Yes, i do already have a long distance provider and im happy with them.
2.Yes honey, you are the best/biggest ive ever had
3. No, you dont look fat in that.

my weight on my drivers licence has been the same for years and years but honestly I havent been on a scale since I was pregnant with my youngest son ( almost 9 years) so it is just a guess mostly.

I have lied about my sons ages for age restrictions but everyone I know has done it. Really I dont see it as a big deal

I think it's kind of silly to lie about weight. I mean, if someone tells me they weight 110 pounds and they clearly don't...it just seems desperate and delusional. I do agree with what you've said about holding myself to the same moral code.

I do not lie about my age, weight, kids age, or anything to those manners. I have no need to.

But, i am also not going to say "you're going he((" b/c someone else has.

Depends on who I Really want to know ;-) LOL
Actually NOW YOU ALL KNOW from my previous answer of another question - I call it a BIG step for me !!!

Why bother lying at all? I would not lie about my weight nor my children's age. That's just ridiculous...I would have to wonder what ones moral standards are if they were willing to lie to get something free/discounted or to lie on a gov't issued certificate. At what point does it become wrong to lie? Where do you draw the line? A lie is a lie period!

I lie about my weight on my license. I have been the same weight, according to my license, since I got them at 16. Now you can very well see that I am not that weight but if they don't insist upon changing it then why should I.

This question is going to be a little harder to answer i think, we are woman and we feel very strongly about our weight unless we look like a supermodel....which could be what you are or not. i am not ashamed of my age. I am 27 with three kids and peoples jaw drop. we started early. I want my fourties to rock and have older kiddos to live them out with. My DL is wrong because I had gained a ton of weight from baby. I dont weigh what it says, so i thik its nonintentional lying.

I am not against you fudging on your youngsters age. I know when i take my kiddos to ikea(furniture store) they ask the kid and they are always just off top thought ready to tell the truth so, I wouldnt want you to sit down try to fudge and then look a banana head. I hope this helps

Rather than using the buffet weight limit (LOL) analogy to argue for the morality about not lying about weight, you need to think about when lying about weight might have a particular negative outcome. Like when filling out a life insurance form....

I don't lie about my weight because I don't care about that number and I happen to be petite (genetic, not hard work and good habits). I am, however, horribly out of shape with poor muscle tone....and if I could hide that, I would, because it bothers me.....

Shaun,

I lie is lie and will only play on the lier's mind and soul. Why bother, other people know if you lie about your weight, especially the other women who will only talk more about you and be little you behind your back.

Why bother? If you are concerned about your weight, do something about it. If you're not, don't.

PS.....Fudge is something good to eat....a lie is just a lie.

Blessings...

Funny- I didn't lie at the time....but we have the safe driver renewal stickers so I can definitely say with accuracy that as I sit here 31 weeks prego with baby #3, it definitely isn't ACCURATE right now. I got my new license right after I got married because I did the name change and I was the thinnest I had been in years....so though it was accurate at the time, it hasn't been that low since then :) 3 babies in 4 years will do that! Guess next January when it comes due again, I will get myself a REAL new one -- that gives me a little incentive to get this baby weight off in 8 mos, I guess!

no one believed me when I told them I was 145 (before my son) cuz I was a size 4 and short and most people guessed about 115 pds. now I am 153 and a size 8 and still no one believes me. everyone says I am to tiny to be 153, so no I don't lie about my weight because no one believes me when i tell the truth and i find that amusing. (my drivers license says I am 145 because the nice ladies at the DMV are convinced I will get back to my prepregnancy weight) I dont lie about my age but have been accused of it. when I was 22 I ordered a drink at a restraunt and they had to have almost every manager or person of authority ok my ID because no one believed I was old enough. I am 25 and have been confused with my 18 year old sister.

I was wondering the same thing, since I just posted a question asking about weights heheh.

I lie about my weight on my drivers liscense cuz they haven't asked me if I want to change it! lol But, I always tell my doctor the truth because I know that my medicine is measured by weight.
I don't usually lie about my kids age because there's not a lot that we do that is dependent on their age. Plus, my kids are HUGE, so I can't say they are younger than they really are. And, they are old enough that they would correct me immediately!
L.

I do not lie about my weight or age. But I am never asked about them. On the license, who cares? No one is looking at it anyway. If anyone were to ask me what I weigh or how old I am, I would look at them with a slight smile and say, "Why do you ask?" At that point, if they hadn't yet, they'd realize it was a rude question. And depending on their response, I would either give them a vague answer - "I weigh more than I did ten years ago" or "old enough to have gained wisdom" - or I would flat out tell them.

But we ALL lie. What I call social lying. If my friend asks how I like her new dress, and it's hideous, I lie. If my mom asks how I like the wallpaper she picked out and she's very excited about it, I lie. I try to NOT flat out lie - "oh that's the most beautiful dress!" But I say something like, "Oh, wow! It is SO you!" Or "Oh, yeah, I see how the color in the wallpaper picks up on the pattern in the sofa."

However, though we all lie, I believe that our goal for our children, (at least my goal for MY children) is that they become better people than we are ourselves. I don't want my children to be just like me. I have many faults. I want them to be better than me. So that is why I would not set the example of lying about their age to get something free.

You say that "it shouldn't be wrong to fudge our kids age by a few months or our weight by a few pounds". Why shouldn't it? Do we not, as a society, have a set of moral and ethical codes that we live by?

Bottom line - IMO, it is okay to lie (as slightly as we can get away with) to spare someone's feelings. It is NOT okay to lie for personal gain.

I don't lie about my kids age OR my weight or own age. No double standard here :)

To answer your last question about the waitress thing... I think the bigger problem is the fact that someone who didn't need to know (i.e. drivers license or doctor) what you weighed has asked. That is incredibly rude and very uncommon. ...and you don't answer that at all. You say "how rude it is to ask!" As for the child's age, it is a VERY common and acceptable question to ask. So, that is why you answer.

I do not lie about my weight or age, just as I don't lie about my kids' ages. However, I am happy with both my weight and age, so I'm not tempted that much.

I agree with Cyndi. If you lie about your child's age to get a free meal, it's not only lying but stealing.

Lying is lying, whether it is about your weight or about your childs age. Either way it is wrong...but lying about your weight is not a crime against society. However, it IS a crime against your child in that it is setting a REALLY bad example of "the end justifies the means". Not cool. And really, what good is it going to do to lie about your age. I mean... if you really go overboard people will know right away because what you say will not match how you look. And honestly, lying about a couple of pounds... is that REALLY going to make you feel better? No.

When I got my new drivers license I was not only a few pounds over where I wanted to be... but I was 8 weeks pregnant! (over where I wanted to be prior to getting pregnant) I would have LOVED to lie about my weight. But I didn't. I put down the weight I was at the time.

Lying is lying. Lying AND stealing together compound the issue.

Lying is lying, but lying on a DL doesn't get you something for free, like lying about your kids age to get a free meal.

hehehe!

Well... I wouldn't lie about my daughter's age, but I am not often asked when we are out and about. She is "tiny" and delicate, and so most people think she is a lot younger than she is, and sometimes we get freebies... If we are asked, I tell the truth- no qualms. That said, I always tip generously anyways...

AS far as my weight... the DMV never asks me... haha! They just guess and actually the weight says some code like "3"- not a number! I think that "3" must mean "normal"- lol! I think they did it here to keep people from getting offended if they are 110 lbs and someone guesses 125 or something.

I don't mind telling my real weight. Health, fitness, and beauty are a lot more than a flat number anyways! my mom is 5'11" and at 160 she was described as a "bean pole". Me on the other hand, I only grew to be 5'5" and at 160 I was "roundish" - but I knew a very fit girl who was thin and gorgeous but weigh 160 at 5'3"! Being 160 just mean that we all had the same weight- not the same "volume"

I want my daughter to be proud of who she is, no matter her shape, age, height etc. I hope she never feels that she needs to lie about it... and I hope that I can show that I am NOT ashamed of who I am- as an example of having healthy self esteem. Sure- i am not perfect, and I always work hard to get "better"- emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically- but success is not JUST about reaching goals... it is also about being satisfied and happy with who one is, right now- even if we are still "in process". By showing your kids that you really love and appreciate and are PROUD of yourself even though you have faults, you give them permission to do the same!

-M.

PS: i LOVE the honesty of Mommymommymommy- so I am goint to follow her lead and give you the "skinny" pun intended:

I am pregnant- 28 weeks... so I now weigh 148 lbs. Pre-pregnancy I was 128 lbs. My lowest weight at my adult height was 105lbs in highschool... I was SUPER skinny (looked darn near anorexic) at 120 lbs I still look really thin. Since I had my daughter my weight carries much differently than before, and my goal "ideal" weight is 120lbs-125lbs... My heighest non-pregnant weight ever was 165 lbs... and I was very happy - and pretty round. I have never been able to hide my weight very well, because it shows right away in my cheeks! I always try to keep in mind that those baby chasin' muscles account for more weight volume wise than fat does!

Interesting to note- Marilyn Monroe always looked great- and she had a LOT of wiggle room weight wise:

from Marilyn Monroe's dressmaker:
Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches
Weight: 118-140 pounds
Bust: 35-37 inches
Waist: 22-23 inches
Hips: 35-36 inches
Bra size: 36D

I haven't had kids yet, which is probably a large part of the reason that I still way what my driver's license says I do. I don't know if I'll change it if/when I get heavier after having kids. I'd like to think I'll change it though.

A lie is wrong, period. But choosing to lie to deceive someone so that you gain something is not only lying, but stealing. If you lie about your weight, you aren't gaining anything. Personally, I don't tell my weight to anyone but my doctor and best friend. The doctor needs to know it, and my best friend doesn't judge. Anyone else who asks gets told it is none of their business.

As for lying about your weight on your license, why bother? Your appearance would show that your weight is incorrect. Whether you gain or lose, it is going to show physically.

Honestly, the double standard is because weight is personal, and in our culture...it's LOADED.

A 6 foot tall woman who is extremely athletic might weigh 180-200 pounds and be slender, but if she wrote that down and no one could see her, they'd still imagine her as overweight...because we have a skewed idea of how much women SHOULD weigh.

My driver's license has my weight when I got it. The woman at the DMV clearly didn't believe me. I had just had son #1 and was still bloated and floppy, but it was my real weight then. It's not now...now, it's a goal that I'd need to loose 5 to 10 pounds to achieve, but really....it's nobody's business. I kind of see this as in the same area as the "marital status" question at the doctor's office. What does that have to do with why I am there? The fact that it is a PROBLEM from women in our culture...is what drives ME to be honest about it (most) of the time....otherwise, I'd say "its' personal."

I do understand why it's on an ID, but really...that's for police business, if necessary...not the business of the grump at the DMV. I understand why my doctor needs to know, but anyone else...again, I only share because we have ODD ideas about what women weigh.

So, here's some honesty from me, since I think, perhaps if we are honest with each other, we can unload this the topic of weight. SO - I will tell you BUT...I still don't want to talk to the nasty woman at the DMV about it:

At 5'1" and 140 to 145 pounds (it fluctuates), I look stocky but not terribly overweight. I should weight about 125-130. My license says 135. But as a young woman, all info said I should weigh 100-105 pounds. That would put me at about 1-5% body fat! I was skinny (down right BONY) at 115....