FAT isn't a 4 letter word!
- Thread starter CLUB78
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Yes...your shape is definitely impressive!
By doing some quick math, I can determine that from my heaviest, I lost roughly FORTY FOUR PERCENT (!!!) of my body weight. I lost the first 90 pounds in a year, and another 30 this year...Yes, I seriously changed my eating habits and level of exercise, but I also firmly believe that my toxic work environment and the tumours on my endocrine system had a lot to do with the slow metabolism that left me unable to lose weight. I also wanted to comment on Jewel's idea about there being additives in food that cause cravings: refined foods high in processed fats and artificial sweeteners do EXACTLY that. I don't eat much of that type of stuff anymore because once I start, it's difficult to stop. Certain types of carbohydrates really do affect the way your brain functions. UBC's Mood Disorders clinic has done a great deal of research into how high fat foods affect neuroplasticity (your brain's ability to learn new processes and adapt/change patterns of thought/behaviour) as well as mood.
I know that watching my weight will be something I can eventually get much less rigid about...but not yet.
Congrats, hiddencloud! It's hard work, but worth it. And, good luck in sticking to it until you reach your goal. And, then being able to stick with it to maintain at that level.
My story is that I've lost about 25% of my body weight in the last 4 years, following pretty much the same approach you've laid out. I'm at my goal weight/shape now, and still following the same approach to stay steady, give or take a few pounds here or there
That's a great story and kudos to you for doing such an awesome job! However, life has shown me, especially lately, that I cannot judge others through my own lens. What might be easy or difficult for me may be an entirely different experience for someone else.
I was really good at track sports in school (esp. sprinting and jumping as i have a lot of fast twitch muscle fiber) and I did jazz dance, little ballet/highland, plus I was outside all the time as a kid. I was a tomboy with skinned knees and chocolate ice cream on my forehead who rode bikes,climbed trees and buildings and jumped off and over things for fun. Yessir, that what ya do when there's no ocean and mountains close by. That and run away from badgers.
So when I gained a whole bunch of fat after I became pregnant (helped by the fact I also quit smoking), I couldn't just starve it away and fall back into my ED, because I had a child to nurse and take care of. I had to work out 2 hours a day every day for a year. However, I had muscle memory from being active for so long and good genes to start with.
I know there are people who could have done exactly what I did and make much slower muscle gains/ fat loss. They aren't lazy or bad, just different.
I say just assume everyone is trying their best and be kind to them, whether they are eating a burger or at the gym. Just don't do harm at the very least by mocking people. Not you in specific, hiddencloud, just in general.
Oh definitely. I'm well aware that what worked for me may not work for others. I'm also aware that it was relatively easy for me and that I'm not at all representative of others. I do encourage those I know to get more active if they express interest in losing weight and/or improving their health but won't even discuss the topic if it's not important to them. Many people are happy as they are and I would never begrudge them that nor impose my views upon them.
Artist Creates Barbie With Average-Size Body
SOURCE: http://cdn-ugc.cafemom.com/gen/constrain/500/500/80/2013/07/02/15/2j/ft/pox3c7c2w4.jpg
SOURCE: http://cdn-ugc.cafemom.com/gen/constrain/500/500/80/2013/07/02/15/2j/ft/pox3c7c2w4.jpg
Congrats to both of you.Congrats, hiddencloud! It's hard work, but worth it. And, good luck in sticking to it until you reach your goal. And, then being able to stick with it to maintain at that level.
My story is that I've lost about 25% of my body weight in the last 4 years, following pretty much the same approach you've laid out. I'm at my goal weight/shape now, and still following the same approach to stay steady, give or take a few pounds here or there
I too have lost 20% plus in the 2 years. Not because I was unhappy with my size but getting type 2 diabetes sure sucked and I didn't want to go any farther towards the need for insulin. To date diet and metformin have controlled it and every day requires sober second though at what I put in my body.
Long and short having to much fun and not eating healthy when I had the chance I pay for it now.
Normal Barbie is hot!!
OK ladies, I'm changing my opinion. I did a little research and came across an article discussing China's obesity pandemic. I think I'm going to have to give in and jump on the obesity is a disease bandwagon. Yes, I'm going to assume most people can choose to exercise and eat better, but they aren't. There's 200 million people who are obese in China alone. And that number is rapidly increasing as Children's obesity in China has more than doubled in 5 years. We may have close to half a billion obese people living in the world. It's time we shift our way we look at obesity and start thinking it as something else. Cause what we're doing now, isn't working.
Just think, if India industrializes in the next 20 or so years, we could have close to a billion obese people in the world.
Exactly ... If it was as easy as some people on here say ... eat less exercise more ... don't you think being thin would be increasing .. it's a complex, world wide problem. Yes eating less and exercising has an effect but it also slows the metabolism and stops working over time and repeated attempts .. the body becomes so good at storing fat it becomes better and better with each dieting attempt .. it's a catch 22 in so many ways .. NO ONE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS .... but calling people gross Beached Whales is the last thing thats going to help !
But we all know what the real problem is!
Peter and NorthVan 10 what the two of you have done is really remarkable to be able to keep it together long enough to actually like your body and work with it as you see fit. You have a restored body image and probably countless other non scale victories you can endlessly count throughout your day . Thank you so much for sharing your victory!
Obesity is different than being 20 30 40 even 50 lb. over weight > What I am talking about is 100lbs or more. This is where we see medical problems begin but of course at any of these lesser weights overages there can be medical problems. I have a friend he has high blood pressure in off season body building his blood pressure spiked he had to go on special meds and be emitted for tests. This is a man who gained 40lbs in 6 months. He is not obese he is a 25 year non steroided body builder. He has a pre existing illness that being even 20 lbs over weight could literally kill him dead in a minute.
Imagine if he had the disease of obesity and he had high blood pressure he was not an athlete and succumbed to the prison of obesity . He would be on machines to sleep meds to wake meds to eat needles to live pills to breath ventilators on AND PAINFUL on .
No human being wants to live this way but when a fat man gets wheeled into emergency they neglect him, they send a social worker or a dietician to him telling him the cause of his illness is because he is fat . Is this true ? Do they know this for a fact? Obese people are immediately medically discriminated and not given the help they actually need . Which is bariatric surgery and intense psychological help . I am 100% for full complete medical intervention which is life long and life saving. Many disagree I could care less because I am not obese so its not for me to say what I would do. It is a personal choice and not everyone requires this kind of intervention. Its not a cop out the benefits and sometimes the curse is for the duration of life. It 100% permanent.
Chili is not wrong for stating his opinion it he is reiterating what we probably all have thought at one time or another. When we begin to open our minds to gather more information opinions change. We are all responsible for allowing junk food into our homes and mouths . Its a conscious decision on a daily basis not to get sucked down in the mire of grease and misery which seems a better solution than booz or crack.
Rock on
Jessica James
Peter and NorthVan 10 what the two of you have done is really remarkable to be able to keep it together long enough to actually like your body and work with it as you see fit. You have a restored body image and probably countless other non scale victories you can endlessly count throughout your day . Thank you so much for sharing your victory!
Obesity is different than being 20 30 40 even 50 lb. over weight > What I am talking about is 100lbs or more. This is where we see medical problems begin but of course at any of these lesser weights overages there can be medical problems. I have a friend he has high blood pressure in off season body building his blood pressure spiked he had to go on special meds and be emitted for tests. This is a man who gained 40lbs in 6 months. He is not obese he is a 25 year non steroided body builder. He has a pre existing illness that being even 20 lbs over weight could literally kill him dead in a minute.
Imagine if he had the disease of obesity and he had high blood pressure he was not an athlete and succumbed to the prison of obesity . He would be on machines to sleep meds to wake meds to eat needles to live pills to breath ventilators on AND PAINFUL on .
No human being wants to live this way but when a fat man gets wheeled into emergency they neglect him, they send a social worker or a dietician to him telling him the cause of his illness is because he is fat . Is this true ? Do they know this for a fact? Obese people are immediately medically discriminated and not given the help they actually need . Which is bariatric surgery and intense psychological help . I am 100% for full complete medical intervention which is life long and life saving. Many disagree I could care less because I am not obese so its not for me to say what I would do. It is a personal choice and not everyone requires this kind of intervention. Its not a cop out the benefits and sometimes the curse is for the duration of life. It 100% permanent.
Chili is not wrong for stating his opinion it he is reiterating what we probably all have thought at one time or another. When we begin to open our minds to gather more information opinions change. We are all responsible for allowing junk food into our homes and mouths . Its a conscious decision on a daily basis not to get sucked down in the mire of grease and misery which seems a better solution than booz or crack.
Rock on
Jessica James
Thanks for the kind words, Jessica!
I did not intend to imply that what I've done is the "answer/cure" to obesity. I do have a couple of people close to me who are in the obese category as you have described. I try my best to be supportive of them and what they are gong through. I do not try to tell them to just follow what worked for me, as it is a whole different of situation they are in than what I faced 4 years ago.
A pretty good discussion here on a very serious disease.
I did not intend to imply that what I've done is the "answer/cure" to obesity. I do have a couple of people close to me who are in the obese category as you have described. I try my best to be supportive of them and what they are gong through. I do not try to tell them to just follow what worked for me, as it is a whole different of situation they are in than what I faced 4 years ago.
A pretty good discussion here on a very serious disease.
Congratulations rintin6. It takes a very confident man to admit so publicly when he's wrong, and to show so clearly what swayed your opinion. Thank you for that. It's true that the traditional Chinese diet doesn't lend itself to obesity; nor does traditional vegetarian Indian fare. But something that globalization and industrialization has brought with it is the globalization of diet, and the popularity of 'foreign' American food in non-American countries. My younger sister has eaten at McDonald's in Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong & the Philippines. The three busiest Triple O franchises in the world are ALL in Hong Kong! Between the expat Canadians and the former parachute kids who are now back home, they can't get enough Legendary BC Burgers, apparently. (Extra Triple O sauce on the side for those extra-crispy fries? Hell yes! Bring it on!)OK ladies, I'm changing my opinion. I did a little research and came across an article discussing China's obesity pandemic. I think I'm going to have to give in and jump on the obesity is a disease bandwagon. Yes, I'm going to assume most people can choose to exercise and eat better, but they aren't. There's 200 million people who are obese in China alone. And that number is rapidly increasing as Children's obesity in China has more than doubled in 5 years. We may have close to half a billion obese people living in the world. It's time we shift our way we look at obesity and start thinking it as something else. Cause what we're doing now, isn't working.
Just think, if India industrializes in the next 20 or so years, we could have close to a billion obese people in the world.
I can tell you the number one biggest thing I cut out in losing 120 pounds and maintaining that loss for over a year. The one thing that I have given up (almost) forever: fast food.
McDonalds, Wendy's, A & W, KFC, Taco Bell (and Triple Os, apparently) ; it doesn't matter. I was a 'gourmand' and all of them, and a fast food meal was like a fix for me. At the end of my last career, breakfast on the way there was a large double double, an Egg McMuffin, 2 orders of hashbrowns extra crispy...My standard drive through coffee at Starbucks was a venti caramel macchiato. The cause of the obesity epidemic is SUGAR, and the wrong kind of FAT.
The North American high fat high sugar diet is causing an epidemic of disease. It affects your body's ability to process it: eating it causes your brain to crave more of it. There's a reason that you can't eat just one potato chip...But it's in the foods we think are supposed to be good for us too, like yogurt. The problem is, some brands of yogurt have as much sugar and calories in them as a bowl of Lucky Charms! A high fat high sugar diet affects neurological function; it affects endocrine function; it affects the body's ability to fight infection and to tolerate stress; UBC Mood Disorders clinic is doing lots of work on how a high fat high sugar diet affects patients who are clinically depressed. Until the age of 45 I was obese; I was about 15 pounds away from morbid obesity when I decided to lose weight while awaiting 2 back to back major surgeries. I was MORBIDLY OBESE until I was 46 years old. I was considering bariatric surgery and could probably have made a case to get it paid for due to health concerns. I'm so glad I didn't. I love my chocolates and my "Inner Fat Girl" meals; I'll up my activity level and continue with my walking to tone up and maybe drop another size, but I don't want to fade away...
I kind of like being soft like a bbw but as sexy as hell in my skinny jeans...and every now and then, I treat myself to a Filet O' Fish...just not on the way home to dinner...
It doesn't show it is a disease, all it shows is that eating too much and eating the wrong foods makes you fat.OK ladies, I'm changing my opinion. I did a little research and came across an article discussing China's obesity pandemic. I think I'm going to have to give in and jump on the obesity is a disease bandwagon. Yes, I'm going to assume most people can choose to exercise and eat better, but they aren't. There's 200 million people who are obese in China alone. And that number is rapidly increasing as Children's obesity in China has more than doubled in 5 years. We may have close to half a billion obese people living in the world. It's time we shift our way we look at obesity and start thinking it as something else. Cause what we're doing now, isn't working.
Just think, if India industrializes in the next 20 or so years, we could have close to a billion obese people in the world.
The solution is to eat less and to eat more appropriate foods.
I'm really not interested in trying to convince anyone but perhaps you'd be willing to concede that, while being fat/obese isn't in itself a disease, overeating and eating for emotional reasons are signs of having made some fairly common poor choices in dealing with emotional illness and pain. Many of us humans eat for reasons other than nourishment; fear, loneliness, inability to cope with memories or certain feelings, celebration, boredom, depression, or for entertainment. Surely you've heard the term 'stuffing down our feelings.'
Overeating to the point of obesity, as with anorexia and bulimia, are responses to emotional pain, and these responses are no different than the choices that some people make to use drugs to help them cope with their emotional pain, which our world has plenty of.
And so the 'illness' of addiction to anything has been well documented.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addictive_personality
An addictive personality refers to a particular set of personality traits that make an individual predisposed to addictions.[1]
THE ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY: COMMON TRAITS ARE FOUND
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/18/science/the-addictive-personality-common-traits-are-found.html
Thus your comment about making better choices about what foods to eat and what activities to participate in misses the point. The choices that were made around food by the fat/obese weren't made for the reasons of bodily nourishment, but rather to ease their pain. For whatever reason, they decided to reach for the fridge, rather than the needle, or the baseball bat.
Once an individual with this coping mechanism learns, often with much support and counselling, that they can find other methods to deal with their pain, they can begin the road back to using food as nourishment, and using other ways to help themselves cope with their emotional pain. This is then referred to as 'abstinence'...using food and making food choices for nourishment, not as an emotional crutch.
I would also like to add that the food industry's job seems to be to exploit every human weakness for tasty choices, such that there is almost no heathy food out there. Everything is processed and bastardized to the limits of imagination. There is some serious temptation out there, even for the most hardy healthy-food individuals!
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/print-list/184612
11. Worst Espresso Drink: Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream (venti, 20 fl oz)
660 calories, 22 g fat (15 g saturated), 95 g sugars
Sugar Equivalent: 8½ scoops Edy’s Slow Churned Rich and Creamy Coffee Ice Cream
Hopefully this will dispel any lingering fragments of the “health halo” that still exists in coffee shops—that misguided belief that espresso-based beverages can’t do much damage. In this 20-ounce cup, Starbucks manages to pack in more calories and saturated fat than two slices of deep-dish sausage and pepperoni pizza from Domino’s. That makes it the equivalent of dinner and dessert disguised as a cup of coffee. If you want a treat, look to Starbucks’ supply of sugar-free syrups; if you want a caffeine buzz, stick to the regular joe, an Americano, or a cappuccino.
Getting back to the example of China, if you don't think their population is in emotional pain, then you haven't been listening. Maybe its taken them a few decades to begin using food as comfort, but it's happening. As is the case with many other countries around the world, eg. McDonalds is now in 122 counties and still seeking new locations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...es_and_territories_with_a_McDonald.27s_outlet
Try not to be so naive about really deep human issues. There is so much more under the surface; maybe consider taking an empathic moment for those who aren't yet making the best choices for themselves. As they refer to them in any of the Anonymous literature, 'for those who still suffer.'
This is the story of a combination of weakness in human beings, caused by external forces over which they had no control (childhood emotional damage), and the exploitation by an industry that knows how to target the weakest client and make him/her their best friend.
Overeaters Anonymous
"Food was my friend."
http://www.oa.org/newcomers/how-oa-changed-my-life
darling Tuegla you are right for the majority of individuals who at over weight and have minimal health conditions simply eating a bit less and moving a bit more will hopefully induce fat loss . If it were only that simple for an obese person then they would never be morbid to the point they are a prisoner in their beds or chairs.
Let's be realistic most obese people live life and meet expectations like everyone else they go to work they drive a car they get married and have kids . They keep getting fatter and fatter. Otherwise completely capable people are in a mire of misery called addiction . This is a medical condition that's why people who are addicted to drugs have medically supervised treatment centres called detox that is funded as a medical centre . Or gamblers go to the doctor and and get meds and therapy .
My biggest message I want to tell all obese people is this . You are a valuable person, no matter if you lose the weight or not . You are a person who deserves medical intervention and have the right to enjoy life you have worked hard paid your bills and done everything expected of you . You are not in a prison you can never escape from .there are solutions their is help and please know that people who actually are dedicating their entire careers to making a way for obese people to be treated for the long term because they understand it's not a moral issue you eat to excess you are unique with your own story and it's for the professionals and mostly you and your willingness that will allow you to dance with your addiction and learn once and for all you are valuable and we want you around !
I want to thank every person who has shared their stories here , wether be an unpopular opinion or the courage spilling from every word of your weight loss journey . You may think you have nothing to be proud of , but I'm here to encourage you to keep pushing those thoughts around keep challenging your mind to think higher , don't look to the right or left of you . look to the one staring back in the mirror . that person is truly amazing. this person is a champion ,this person believes in their value so much that they dedicate their lives to discipline . I see you as a champion and victorious and I'm excited when you believe it too!
This wonderful amazing woman lost over 300lbs 9 years later she holds down 160lbs
She started at 487 lbs its a bit long winded but this is what a champion is listen and weep haters lol
Now being fat is a disease?
This thread is a joke.
You are fat because you;
eat too much.
do not get enough exercise in the day.
eat very poorly or eat crap foods.
It's not a disease or a "medical condition" that is an insult to the 100's of millions of starving people on our planet.
This thread is a joke.
You are fat because you;
eat too much.
do not get enough exercise in the day.
eat very poorly or eat crap foods.
It's not a disease or a "medical condition" that is an insult to the 100's of millions of starving people on our planet.
We know you write, but it's very clear that you don't read (my explanation is fairly clear in Post #80). It has nothing to do with anyone on the planet who is living with a shortage of food.
I agree that the industrialization of food is causing mass obesity. In particular, processed carbs and sugar, fast food, and anything that comes from a factory.
But it's still not a disease.
Probably way over 90% of the affected people could choose to eat better and exercise more and could lose most of the weight. They have damaged their metabolisms, and it will be very hard to keep the weight off, but they can do it, without surgery or medicine.
But it's still not a disease.
Probably way over 90% of the affected people could choose to eat better and exercise more and could lose most of the weight. They have damaged their metabolisms, and it will be very hard to keep the weight off, but they can do it, without surgery or medicine.
Three titles keep coming to mind: "When Food is Love"; "Overcoming Overeating", and "Fat is a Feminist Issue" all by Geneen Roth, if I am not mistaken. If you can accept that addiction is a disease and not a moral failing, then you can accept that compulsive overeating of processed high fat high sugar food that is DESIGNED BY FOOD SCIENTISTS to cause individuals who are prone to addictive behaviours to crave that food in larger (AND THEREFORE CHEAPER!!!) portions all the time. Even the most innocuous seeming restaurant meal in large chain restaurants can be three or four times higher in total fat and calories from HIDDEN sugar than a comparable dish at home, and the portion size is 3 times what you'd make at home. These foods trigger the release of serotonin in your brain...and so you feel good when you eat them. So you want more...
