A message that bears repeating

[LisaR]

It isn't an excuse. It's a fact (for me).

So you just give up?

 

[jujube]

I gave up awhile back with mine. I couldn't lose weight and so I didn't care. My seizure meds put weight on me and I've never been able to get it off. I am trying to lose some for the little one I hope to have one day. My PCOS symptoms include:

fatigue, mental fog, brittle nails, menstrual irregularity, moodiness, and weight gain.

I found that I can eat yogurt instead of ice cream. I eat carrots and nuts for snacks. It's small steps, but it's something. It's always nice to hear someone who does understand because there are those out there who just come off with the attitude that if they could do it easily, than everyone else should as well.

You might want to ask your doctor to check you for hypothyroidism because researchers have found that many PCOS sufferers are also hypothyroid. My daughter has both. Also, if it turns out you are hypothyroid, it can make getting and staying pregnant hard. Its a double whammy.
Congratulations on taking positive steps!

 

[aprincessatlast]

You bet I am.

I have PCOS, which makes it incredibly hard to lose weight, even when you're following a sensible diet and exercising like crazy. So yeah, after a few months, when you don't see any results and you're doing everything you're "supposed to", you give up.

Unlike my DH, who decided to drop some weight and took to riding his bike a few times a week, changing nothing else. He's dropped 27 lbs in six weeks.

Stuff like this makes me angry that no matter what I do, I'm still not acceptable to some people, because of what they see on the outside.

Give up? Like throw in the towel and start eating junk again? If you are eating healthy and less calories than you burn, what exactly is there to give up?

 

[Kennywife]

I am hypothyroid according to my RE. I take Synthroid.

 

[luvmy3]

Give up? Like throw in the towel and start eating junk again? If you are eating healthy and less calories than you burn, what exactly is there to give up?

Maybe she just gave up trying to lose weight and instead is concentrating on just being healthier.
Maybe she is eating nothing but hostess cupcakes and 2 liters of coke.
Maybe its her business.

 

[SaraJayne]

So you just give up?

Yes.

I'm backing away from this thread now. I'm getting too emotionally involved, so it's time for me to step away.

It sure isn't making me feel any better about myself.

 

[sunshinehighway]

OM freaking G heck yes! Birth control pills made me gain 10 lbs!

Condoms don't do that to a man!

But gaining 10lbs doesn't make someone obese unless they are overweight to begin with.

I think there is a huge double standard. It is more acceptable to comment on the appearance of a thin person than an overweight person.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Maybe she just gave up trying to lose weight and instead is concentrating on just being healthier.
Maybe she is eating nothing but hostess cupcakes and 2 liters of coke.
Maybe its her business.

Not maybe! It is her business no doubt.

It is my business to comment if I so desire.
It is my business to say "Has anyone noticed how this thread brought out all those overly annoying opinionated posters who post a million times over on these boards?"

 

[FergieTCat]

Yes.

I'm backing away from this thread now. I'm getting too emotionally involved, so it's time for me to step away.

It sure isn't making me feel any better about myself.

Going with you!

I don't imagine you want to go out for some donuts, do you?

 

[CdnCarrie]

But gaining 10lbs doesn't make someone obese unless they are overweight to begin with.

I think there is a huge double standard. It is more acceptable to comment on the appearance of a thin person than an overweight person.

No of course not. The point is the email sent in the story we are commenting on is written by a MAN who assumes he knows the lifestyle and therefore the reason for the news anchor weight.

Weight gain especially in a women with young children like in the STORY (sticking to the topic here) can be from many things and not just lifestyle. Of course it can be from lifestyle as well.

One thing that another PP mentioned that caused weight in women but not in men in BCP.

My point is that especially in child bearing years there are many factors and hurdles to weight gain/loss in women that are not a factor for men.

-pregnancy
-lack of sleep (night nursing)
-birth control pills
-nursing (anyone else have a crazy appetite while nursing )
-post partum depression

That is why it ANGERS me to have a man make a swipe at a woman's weight when he doesn't even know her.

 

[LisaR]

Yes.

I'm backing away from this thread now. I'm getting too emotionally involved, so it's time for me to step away.

It sure isn't making me feel any better about myself.

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you haven't given up completely because there is help out there for PCOS and weight issues.

My mom has been overweight since her early teens. She does have a thyroid problem and takes medication but most of her weight issues come from an addiction to food. Somehow, even though she can eat KFC three times a week, she has perfect cholesterol and only just recently went on blood pressure meds when she was 80. All things considered, her weight didn't seem to be detrimental to her health.

Unfortunately, carrying all that extra weight around has wrecked havoc on her bones. She suffers from severe arthritis and has for the past 10 years. She has days where she can't even get out of bed because the pain is so bad. It is very sad to see her suffer.

There are so many people (including some in this thread) who say they are overweight but all their numbers are low so it is all good. My mom thought that too.

 

[Kennywife]

Going with you!

I don't imagine you want to go out for some donuts, do you?

Got room for one more?

 

[sunshinehighway]

No of course not. The point is the email sent in the story we are commenting on is written by a MAN who assumes he knows the lifestyle and therefore the reason for the news anchor weight.

Weight gain especially in a women with young children like in the STORY (sticking to the topic here) can be from many things and not just lifestyle. Of course it can be from lifestyle as well.

One thing that another PP mentioned that caused weight in women but not in men in BCP.

My point is that especially in child bearing years there are many factors and hurdles to weight gain/loss in women that are not a factor for men.

-pregnancy
-lack of sleep (night nursing)
-birth control pills
-nursing (anyone else have a crazy appetite while nursing )
-post partum depression

That is why it ANGERS me to have a man make a swipe at a woman's weight when he doesn't even know her.

The email was unnecessary whether it came from a man or a woman. Would you be less angry if it came from a woman?

Honestly, my guess is the email was more about her health has an obese woman and young girls looking up to her, than it was about whether she is attractive enough

If a similar email was sent to an underweight newscaster, the response would probably be more "eat a cookie and get over it" than "you go, girl".

 

[nathalee81]

Not every women has the same metabolism.
C-section vs ******l birth can cause issues.
Breastfeeding can increase your appetite.
Some women suffer PPD.
Lack of sleep can hinder weight loss (working moms of young kids......)

Lots of reasons that MANY women gain weight with pregnancy. It's HUGE change to the body that men don't have to go through. And for someone like this Krause to be so snug about weight to a young mom of 3 burns me beyond belief. Yes I'm assuming she put weight on with children. Maybe she did, maybe she didn't. Very strong chance she did as so many women do.

It's not just about watching what you eat. Working full time with young kids at home doesn't always leave a lot of time to work out.

This is so true.

I think the increase in obesity is due to a drastic change in our society in the last 40-50 years.

The typical family needs two incomes to survive (or may need one parent to work just for the insurance benefits). Then your workplace wants you to put in a 8-10 hour day (and some people only get 30 minutes for lunch). Then your commute takes anywhere from 1-2 1/2 hours per day. Then you want to spend some time with your family when you do finally get home...

So, where in that process are you supposed to exercise for an hour? Get up at 4 AM? Lose the little time you spend with your kids or your spouse?

If obesity is such a big problem then a societal change needs to occur. Workplaces need to be more flexible with schedules so everyone isn't on the road at the same time and you have to sit in traffic for two hours. They need to be sensitive to workers with families and understand the job should not be someone's whole life. I still don't understand with increased technology why telecommuting isn't used by employers more often.

Also, there have been many studies that show a direct correlation to obesity and income levels. Fruit and vegetables are expensive. Fast food is cheap and readily available. In many public, inner city schools they have cut physical education and recess. So, where does that leave kids who haven't been born into the right income bracket? Fat and sedentary.

Lastly, I will say that the use of SSRI's in the last 20 years may have something to do with the increased level of obesity. I don't know if there have been any studies, but I know from personal experience that anti depressants can seriously screw with your metabolism. So, while it is wonderful that there are drugs out there for depression, it isn't like they don't come without side effects.

To say that the obesity problem is just about fat, lazy people is far too simplistic. I'm not saying, of course, there aren't people who are lazy and that contributes to their weight issue, but I think it is much broader problem.

 

[zurgswife]

I just hopped back in reading this thread so I don't know if it was mentioned but the woman suffers from a Thyroid disorder that has made it even more difficult to lose weight. In addition it's not like she is sitting around eating bon-bons. She sounds very physically active - she runs tri athelons and marathons.....so while she knows that she is over weight it sounds like she is trying to do something about it.

 

[luvmy3]

Not maybe! It is her business no doubt.

It is my business to comment if I so desire.
It is my business to say "Has anyone noticed how this thread brought out all those overly annoying opinionated posters who post a million times over on these boards?"

Well someone has to be around to put all those sanctimonious newbie lurkers in their place.

 

[LisaR]

I just hopped back in reading this thread so I don't know if it was mentioned but the woman suffers from a Thyroid disorder that has made it even more difficult to lose weight. In addition it's not like she is sitting around eating bon-bons. She sounds very physically active - she runs tri athelons and marathons.....so while she knows that she is over weight it sounds like she is trying to do something about it.

Good for her!

I don't think everyone believes that obesity means laziness but I do believe a bigger percentage aren't doing what is necessary to lose weight. I never actually realized that until the invention of FB. Before that, there were some people I didn't communicate with as frequently and I rarely saw pictures. Now some post daily and love to post picture after picture of things they eat. It has been eye-opening to say the least.

On that note, off to the gym.....

 

[kwelch10377]

Stepping lightly here.......

I have PCOS and so do many other women I know. Years back, I actually belonged to a PCOS support group for a period of time.

I do not deny that PCOS makes it harder to keep the weight off but that can't be an excuse (I'm not saying you are using it as an excuse personally, but it really is used by many who have PCOS).

Life isn't always fair. Some people can eat crap and not gain an ounce and others have to watch every morsel that goes into their mouth. Some have medical conditions that make it harder to keep the weight off and others take medication that makes them gain. We all have our thing. Some have to work harder than others to keep the weight off. But we have to do what we have to do. If we don't, the weight increases and then the PCOS symptoms worsen. Giving up really shouldn't be an option because your overall health depends on it.

I totally agree with you. I have PCOS as well and while it is so fustrating to me that I can't lose the 15-20 lbs that I need to, I don't give up because my health is more than just the number on the scale. I continue to eat pretty healthy, I go to the gym 3-4 days a week, I take JiuJitsu class 2-3 times a week and I just completed my first 5k a few weeks ago. By doing all this things like my blood pressure and cholesterol are perfect, not to mention it does wonders for making me feel energetic and makes me feel great (I mean how could being able to defend yourself against a 275 lb guy in JiuJitsu class not make you feel great).

 

[Colleen27]

OM freaking G heck yes! Birth control pills made me gain 10 lbs!

Condoms don't do that to a man!

10 lbs? I'd take that in a heartbeat. On depo I put on 50+ in under a year (and then ended up pregnant anyway - talk about adding insult to injury!)

This is so true.

I think the increase in obesity is due to a drastic change in our society in the last 40-50 years.

I agree. I think the increase in the number of people living with chronic day to day stress has had a profound effect on the weight and well-being of our country - we have all this technology, but for the most part it hasn't freed up our time for the things that matter. To the contrary, we've come to a point where we never really have free time because work is always just a call or an e-mail away, and the expectation is work before family, leisure, or self. Add in declining wages, rising costs of health care and good food, and all the other changes we've seen over the last two generations and it is no wonder we're a fat, stressed out, medicated, unhappy society.

 

[Colleen27]

I had c sections. Metabolism can be changed through exercise. It's kind of like you have 3 students, one doesn't have to study and makes straight As, one has to glance at their notes and makes As and the third student has to really study and gets As. All are A students but it takes a different amount of effort for each of them to achieve the grade.

But in that same class, you likely have a kid or two working hard just to hang on to Cs. And just like some kids have less than stellar academic ability, some people do have a "C" metabolism.

When I was in high school I was swimming competitively nearly year round and putting in 15-18 hours a week in the pool. Back then I was about 10lbs overweight, and I'm not talking about "muscle is more dense" sort of weight - I had a little pudge around my middle even when I was a size 7 and working out hard for hours every day. That was my starting point, and as we all know metabolism and weight only get to be a harder battle to fight with age. I'm active and I eat well, but I've made peace with the fact that I'll probably never fit into the "healthy" BMI range. Even now, running 5ks with my kids, biking 50 miles or so in an average week, and training for my first longer race, I have 50lbs or so to lose to get down to the upper end of normal for my height. And my weight is stable right now; actively losing takes stepping it up beyond the 45min or so of focused exercise I get each day and I don't have the time or energy for that at this point in time.