Obesity

[Hero]

Kean agrees: You are so remarkably like my friend Steve in terms of outlook on this topic and weight in general but especially in your transformation. He lost 77 pounds in the last year, the exact same way you have. Ye must have been separated at birth!

Does he have the other half of this talisman? *holds up necklace*

 

[wiccianslayer]

I'm going to try and lose some weight in the New Year, I've always been fat but My parents gave me the "It's just puppy fat, it'll go away as you get older." reasoning and they did it out of love and I listened to them because it was nicer then admitting I needed to stop eating so much. But I am worried that I may get carried away with the dieting, My parents tell me I'm not that big but when I look in the mirror I do think I have a really large stomach, So I'm worried I may end up thinking I'm still fat when I'm not and that's just a whole level of unhealthyness.

 

[Crazy Flakes]

That's probably because you're thin, and as you've said earlier, people often point out how thin you are, so you know eating disorder would probably make you even more thin.

I'm sorry to make an example of you, but this post exemplifies the mindset that can perpetuate unhealthy behavior. There are a number of other factors that contribute to the onset of eating disorders such as lack of control, self esteem issues, stress, trauma, and obsession. The oversimplification of eating disorders into "thin vs. fat" often prevents people from getting the help they need and makes victims feel even worse.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

I'm sorry to make an example of you, but this post exemplifies the mindset that can perpetuate unhealthy behavior. There are a number of other factors that contribute to the onset of eating disorders such as lack of control, self esteem issues, stress, trauma, and obsession. The oversimplification of eating disorders into "thin vs. fat" often prevents people from getting the help they need and makes victims feel even worse.

I know that's mostly the case, and I would never say anything, but I know Ori is good with who she is and she doesn't have a lack of self esteem. People with eating disorders don't think they're thin and don't listen to other people when they tell them they're.. I would never say anything if I didn't know Ori is comfortable in her own skin.

 

[Big Damn Hero]

Reading through this thread I find some attitudes to eating disorders really awful. Maybe it's because, as a sufferer of one of the lesser-known ones, I have more awareness of them or something, I don't know.

Basically;
naturally thin people can develop eating disorders.
you can have an eating disorder and still be overweight (in fact, apart from Anorexia Nervosa, most people with eating disorders are either on the higher end of the scale healthy or overweight).
Compulsive Overeating Disorder and/or Binge Eating Disorder are just as important as Anorexia/Bulumia, they just don't get as much press coverage.
And most people won't have even heard of things like PICA.

It makes me quite sad really.

 

[mayfever]

Reading through this thread I find some attitudes to eating disorders really awful. Maybe it's because, as a sufferer of one of the lesser-known ones, I have more awareness of them or something, I don't know.

Basically;
naturally thin people can develop eating disorders.
you can have an eating disorder and still be overweight (in fact, apart from Anorexia Nervosa, most people with eating disorders are either on the higher end of the scale healthy or overweight).
Compulsive Overeating Disorder and/or Binge Eating Disorder are just as important as Anorexia/Bulumia, they just don't get as much press coverage.
And most people won't have even heard of things like PICA.

It makes me quite sad really.

The thing is, as with most mental health problems (in which eating disorders are included), that a lot of people still have the "snap out of it and you'll be fine" attitude. I witness it a lot with my flatmate, who suffers regular bouts of actual clinical depression (when she's really bad, she won't get up for days). I try to help her as much as I can, but there's only so much you can do, and after a while I get resentful (because the flat's a bombsite and I have to worry about bills and the rent.. you get the idea) and I find myself thinking she should get a grip and sort herself out. As I said... if only it were that simple. My roomie is the lovliest person when she's feeling good, but she once told me that when she's depressed it feels like she's imprisoned in her own body; she knows there's a way out but she can't find it, all she can do is wait until it presents itself. I don't want to imply that my problem is anywhere near as bad (that would be impertinent and preposterous), but I can absolutely relate to that feeling. I know what I do is wrong and unhealthy, but the compulsion is so strong that I forget all my reasoning. The only thing that keeps me sane is that I know it's a phase that will pass.

 

[Nightcrawler]

-Fast food/fast food sales
-Bulk buys

I live in Florida annnd there are quite a number of fat people...but not as much as up north. I guess cause we have South Beach and all...so people want to be bathing suit material all year or for the summer really.BUT still there is a huge number out there.

Fast food! Every street has a Mc.D's,BK,Wendys,Taco Bell,Arbys...whatever you get it.

Its cheap FAST hot food.Mmm but bad for you. Lol the SALES and crap they have out there too for this fast food is uber bad and it sucks cause suckers buy into it(i do it too lol)

Like one thing they do is...OPEN LATE TILL FOREVER in the morning! Oh oh and buy one chicken sandwich and get another chicken sandwich FREE...wth...-.- lol Or every Monday and Wednesday in Mc.D's they have 59cent cheeseburgers and oen dollar chicken nuggets and crud.

My friend once did an experiment...he left out Mc.d's french fries and a home made batch of french fries out. Over the span of a few days(to weeks)...the Mc.d's french fries DID not change color or anything...but the home made ones got green and gross. Lol thats how much crud they put in their fries...

I cut out fast food...and it helps. But to fight the craving is hard haha

BULK FOODS...ive spoken to my friend who lives in China. She told me when she came over here to America she was surprised how we have the OPTION to buy in BULKS...Like Cosco...or Bj's...or Kinkland?(think thats it) She was weired out by going there to buy Kraft Mac n Cheese and they only had to offer a 25 pack. She also was shocked how many over weight people we got here.

Fact:America is the fattest country😛

 

[Marisa]

I know my problems and that I should loose weight. There is a lot that contributes to the way I am but I am going to seriously try to work on it. I was doing good for a while but got out of the mindset.
I think it is more than just eating and not exercising for the reasons for obesity these days.

 

[Harley]

-Fast food/fast food sales

While this may be true, you can buy things that are just as bad for you at grocery stores as well as being able to choose things that ARE good for you at McDonalds. If people didn't buy them, they wouldn't be for sale.

Outside of the arguments for and against eating disorders, obesity purely comes down to people's choices. People choose to eat what is bad for them. People choose to not exercise. If you change people's minds about what they eat and the activities they do or don't participate in, you can all but abolish obesity.

Edit:

zobothehobo agrees: Aren't the salads at McDonalds worse for you than the burgers?

It depends. If, for example, you get a salad with fried chicken and ranch, you're just as bad off. However, fat free ranch and a grilled chicken salad later and you're doing fine. Granted, you're not getting much more than a bowl of lettuce and veggies, but that's the price you pay for health right?

Edit:

Also, those chicken sandwiches (minus mayon, plus mustard) aren't too bad either. Mustard is fat free so that's always an option.

 

[caitaintdead]

Pft! Sif you're overweight Gem! Silly girl!

 

[randiann]

Outside of the arguments for and against eating disorders, obesity purely comes down to people's choices. People choose to eat what is bad for them. People choose to not exercise. If you change people's minds about what they eat and the activities they do or don't participate in, you can all but abolish obesity.

But it's not as simple as this. There are alot of factors that play into a person's weight including things like socioeconomic status and ability to attain affordable healthy food choices, as well as genetics when it comes to actual physical makeup. Lets say that two people of the same sex are both the same height (ex. two females who are 5'6"). Putting both people on the same diet and same amount of exercise each day isn't going to result in two people who also weigh the same and have more or less the same physical structure. If you take these two 5'6" females, who both have desk jobs and work 8 hours a day, and don't get any other physical exercise, and put them on the same diet and make them walk 30 minutes a day each, you aren't going to see that they both lose weight, or gain muscle tone evenly.


You say people "choose" to eat unhealthy, but for some people it's not necessarily a choice. They've never been taught what is healthy or how certain foods can affect them. They may not have access to the same foods you or I do, either because of the region they live in, money, culture, etc. etc. They may be confused and just not know where to begin. They may have tried starvation diets, restricting calories, binge eating and purging, etc. etc. and developed an unsafe mentality towards food because they do not know how to lose weight in a safe way, or don't know where to begin. Most people don't choose to be obese and unhealthy. When given the choice, I'm sure most of us would pick to be healthy and at a "normal" weight than be unhealthy and obese. But alot of people need help in learning how to use food and exercise to benefit them.


Alot of this comes from my own personal feelings. This is a topic that's touchy to me. I myself am overweight technically. I know I should exercise more. I don't know when. I don't know how to stick to a program. If you can find time in my schedule, please let me know where it is. Right now the only choice I see is waking up at 4 AM so I have time in the mornings (I already wake up by 5-5:30 AM and am out the door by 6:15 AM each day). I know how to eat healthy (more or less) which I do, but I have problems controlling my portions. I have worked with a study about eating choices and using culture as a way to introduce exercise back into people's lives, and it's a subject I believe is VERY important. But it's not right to blame someone for being overweight. And it's not right to just say, "Ok, you're overweight because you eat poorly. Fix it." Cause if we could, we would. If it was that easy, then no one would be overweight.

 

[Gotham]

Not fond of fatties, though.

This is isn't a helpful attitude, you've no idea about the insidious effects of such comments on people.

I could have lost more, but you know what? I'm still lazy. Even though I don't want to be fat anymore, I also don't want to work out, which causes a problem for me.

Same here, I started losing weight in 2006 and only seriously started to kick on in 2010. The problem was that it was easy to lose the weight at first. But as time goes by, the less weight you're carrying, the harder it is to lose. It's much easier for a 16 stone person to lose a stone than it is for a 12 stone person. This leads to frustration, and more room for relapses.

Anyway, my heart goes out to so many of you. Especially those of you who say you're too ashamed to get yourself out there and actively lose the weight. I've been in your shoes. My suggestion to you all would be to buy a treadmill, or a stationary bike. Lose weight from the comfort of your own home just to start off. Then, as your confidence grows, you'll feel more confident about losing the weight beyond your own walls.

I used to think Gyms would be full of ignorant and arrogant bullies but they're really not. My advice though would be to join small gyms which usually have a more friendly and community spirit moreso than the bigger "corporate" gyms would have.

Firstly though, you need to get yourself in the right place mentally before you begin. Make sure you're losing the weight for you and no-one else. I remember the night I made the realisation that I needed to action so clearly. I caught myself in the mirror in my boxers, at 19 years of age and being a 16 stone 5"7 male. I just broke down and cried, from that moment I was determined to do it for ME, not for others.

Couple of years later I'm now 11 stone, I need to lose another 1/2 stone, but I'm confident of getting there now I'm part of a gym. 🙂 Believe me when I say you can do it too, it's a cliche but you just have to find the mental strength within. You can do it.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

This is isn't a helpful attitude, you've no idea about the insidious effects of such comments on people.

I agree. It sure isn't. People have a feeling like they're being categorized, like they stand out, and because they're aware of their situation, they know they don't stand out in a good way. I think people would rather hear 'I don't like your hair' or something, even if they know it's not true.

 

[Christopher]

What Gotham, I don't get the problem. I'm not a fan of them just like some aren't fond of thin people and some aren't fond of Cats. I wasn't personally attacking anybody like so many on this forum consistently assume. Also, as an experiment I myself put on weight and was almost fat for a few months last year so I know what I'm talking about.

Dog people, not fond of them either.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

What Gotham, I don't get the problem. I'm not a fan of them just like some aren't fond of thin people and some aren't fond of Cats. I wasn't personally attacking anybody like so many on this forum consistently assume. Also, as an experiment I myself put on weight and was almost fat for a few months last year so I know what I'm talking about.

Dog people, not fond of them either.

God, it seems you really hate me, LOL.

And we like the term overweight or big boned better. It sounds nicer. You're not calling mentally ill people retarted, are you? LOL

 

[Christopher]

Trick, I'm sorry it was just slang. During my 2 months of being overweight I wasn't bothered by people calling me fattie, only my friends did though and it was in a humorous way as they were aware of my experiment. PrincessBuffy, from your posts on the forum I think you come across as very average and friendly therefore I do like you. Even if you are fat it doesn't matter because I don't have to look at you online. I do like you, don't worry about that mate 🙂

Oh, Retard is a term for mentally ill so yes I do. I tend to avoid the retard community though for obvious reasons.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

Trick, I'm sorry it was just slang. During my 2 months of being overweight I wasn't bothered by people calling me fattie, only my friends did though and it was in a humorous way as they were aware of my experiment. PrincessBuffy, from your posts on the forum I think you come across as very average and friendly therefore I do like you. Even if you are fat it doesn't matter because I don't have to look at you online. I do like you, don't worry about that mate 🙂

Oh, Retard is a term for mentally ill so yes I do. I tend to avoid the retard community though for obvious reasons.

Again, like Trick said, calling someone fat is really, really offensive. I also find your comment very offensive, that you don't have to look at me online. What, fat people are disgusting too look at.

About mentally ill people, that is your choice, although I find it highely offensive and disrespectful.

Like I've said before, people may misunderstood you because don't know the way you talk, so please be careful on the choice of words. I don't want to see any fights starting around here.

 

[The Chosen]

Trick, I'm sorry it was just slang. During my 2 months of being overweight I wasn't bothered by people calling me fattie, only my friends did though and it was in a humorous way as they were aware of my experiment. PrincessBuffy, from your posts on the forum I think you come across as very average and friendly therefore I do like you. Even if you are fat it doesn't matter because I don't have to look at you online. I do like you, don't worry about that mate 🙂

Oh, Retard is a term for mentally ill so yes I do. I tend to avoid the retard community though for obvious reasons.

:/

Just uh, wanted to throw that out there...

 

[Christopher]

Again, like Trick said, calling someone fat is really, really offensive. I also find your comment very offensive, that you don't have to look at me online. What, fat people are disgusting too look at.

About mentally ill people, that is your choice, although I find it highely offensive and disrespectful.

Like I've said before, people may misunderstood you because don't know the way you talk, so please be careful on the choice of words. I don't want to see any fights starting around here.

Uh I was complimenting you and not insuting you. I said I like you 🙁

Retard is a word for the mentally challenged, they used it on BBC news today.

 

[Wishing Oceans]

Trick, I'm sorry it was just slang. During my 2 months of being overweight I wasn't bothered by people calling me fattie, only my friends did though and it was in a humorous way as they were aware of my experiment. PrincessBuffy, from your posts on the forum I think you come across as very average and friendly therefore I do like you. Even if you are fat it doesn't matter because I don't have to look at you online. I do like you, don't worry about that mate

Oh, Retard is a term for mentally ill so yes I do. I tend to avoid the retard community though for obvious reasons.

Sure, an incredibly offensive and derogatory term for people with mental disabilities.

I also disagree with calling people fat; it's quite impolite to judge and call people out like that. Of course, equally rude to call people anorexic. 😉

This feels incredibly repetitious, but calling someone "very average" isn't exactly nice either, by the way.