Modern dieting vs dieting in my mother's day I have noticed as I work on getting a few more pounds off (I want to have a slender body rather than just the middle of normal) that modern weight loss advice is aimed towards those wanting to lose 50 to 150 pounds. Obviously in that case it just comes down to eating like a human.  I remember my mother and her friends talking about wanting to lose weight. It was always the 5-10 pound range. They were wanting to be in a size 6. (smaller than our modern size 6!!!!!) It was usually about looking good for the summer or a vacation or something. It was reasonable to expect to take that 5-10 pounds off in 3-5 weeks.  Now it is much harder to even find a friend with a similar goal. And if anyone bigger than you learns of your weight loss attempt you are labled as anorexic by those around you. (nevermind that it is an actual psychiatric illness and you don't just catch it by cutting out beetus juice)  There is little real life support for those of us who desire to be slender (but still healthy sized) humans.  Basically I am complaining about how fats ruin everything. Don't get me started on fitness magazines.