How can some people not get why they are overweight?

[Crankyshank]

What is a grinder?

A grinder is also known as a sub

I'll take a turkey and swiss grinder with tomato and a very light smattering of dijon mustard please.

 

[Marseeya]

Portions have gotten so out of whack that we've all forgotten how little we actually need to be satisfied. We just keep eating until the food is gone.

I know exactly what you mean. When I belonged to Weight Watchers, I didn't listen at first when the leader kept admonishing us to measure and weigh everything. So one day just for laughs I did it and found out I was eating from 1 1/2 to 2 portions in one sitting.

And how about restaurants with their "king size" (i.e. 20 oz) prime ribs? I've learned to ask for boxes ahead of time and cut everything up before I dig in.

But then other times I don't. I guess the times I don't would be the reason I'm fat.

Another thing is that so many of us were taught the "clean plate" rule and it's so hard to get out of that mindset. My parents were born during the depression and we never let food go to waste, even if that meant eating when we weren't hungry. There are times when I have to force myself to leave food behind in a restaurant if I can't safely store it and then I feel so guilty.

 

[disneysteve]

Yeah, and this isn't the first time you've posted about this. We get that you are obsessed about people with a weight problem. Why do you think posting here will help you?

Well, I see this thread was resurrected but strange that the OP saw it immediately and began to post again. I'm out.

Sorry you feel that way. Am I obsessed with weight problems? Well, when you consider the fact that I'm a family doctor and about 75-80% of my adult patients and probably close to 50% of my pediatric patients are overweight or obese, yes, it's something I spend a huge amount of time dealing with, studying, researching, etc. If I could find some tips from my DIS friends that might help me better counsel my patients to live a healthier lifestyle than I'll keep on discussing the topic here.

I'm not sure why you find it strange that I saw the resurrected thread. Any thread I've posted to comes up on my User CD when a new post is added so this one popped up a few days ago. I was surprised to see it active again, but I wasn't going to ignore it. Actually, I think there have been some great posts and some great suggestions and I thank everyone who has been participating.

 

[scanne]

I've never seen a post like this before. Why are you so accusatory to the OP? He's trying to show a professional side to all of this and maybe help some people?

JMHO.

 

[disneysteve]

A grinder is also known as a sub

I thought grinders were hot sandwiches.

 

[Crankyshank]

Around here grinder is what they call any sort of sub sandwich - hot or cold. Unless Italians are suddenly grilled sandwiches

 

[Cindyluwho]

I think a lot of people could control their weight if they wanted to. But I also think that some people try their hardest and people still say that they are fat or whatever. I used to have an eating disorder in high school. I went 2 1/2 weeks without eating once. I only drank water. I never have weighed under 130 lbs. Now I'm on a lot of different medications for depression and anxiety as well as thyroid disease, birth control and others and it has made me gain a lot of weight.

I will ask my doctors what is wrong with me and they tell me to cut my portions. Well I don't drink soft drinks, I only eat two small meals a day that are low fat or low calorie, I count both and no snacks. But of course no one will beleive me. Worrying about my weight is something that I am totally obsessed with and probably spend 90% of my days thinking about it.

But I don't fit into what is "pretty". I must look like I've really "let myself go". I must "not try" Even though I work out at the gym 4-5 days a week. Why don't
"I get" why I am fat? Wow what I loser I must be.

Alright go ahead tell me what is wrong with me, or think that I am lying or whatever. Everyone else does. It's so easy to criticize when you aren't living in this body.

I totally sympathize with you! My sister and I have the same (pretty) healthy eating habits, she works out at least 5 days a week and I'm 5'9" 135 lbs and she's very overweight, bordering on obese. She's not lazy, she doesn't overeat - her metabolism is just not good. I feel bad for people who try so hard with no luck! That being said, I do understand how Dr Steve gets upset at people with crummy eating habits who don't exercise and then complain about their weight.

 

[Kermit]

I don't get how some people just don't have even a basic understanding of nutrition. I guess they just don't tune in to that kind of information. I read all kinds of books about nutrition--even ones that I know I won't agree with, just so I can see if I can find a sliver of useful information.

My MIL is one of the clueless. She and her DH, plus 2 of their 3 elementary-age kids, are obese. To make matters worse, her DH has a disease that is nutrition-linked. He's going to die from it, probably in the next few months. He's had it for about 15 years, and he probably could have been healthier for longer if he'd eaten a good diet, but neither of them were interested in researching what foods would be good for him. (And no, it's not a heart-related illness. It's kidney failure and gout.) There are lists available detailing foods that are good and which are not good for people in his exact situation, but I've spent more time reading them than he has.

The last time DH and I visited them, we couldn't believe the kinds of food they ate. They all know the number of their favorite combo meal at every fast food restaurant. When MIL cooks, it's high fat. Breakfast is a choice of Pop Tarts or frozen pancake-wrapped sausages. Both are served with a side of bacon. One night, she asked me before supper what DH likes to eat with his sausage. I didn't even know how to answer that because we've never had a meal of sausage. It turns out that she cooks sausage for dinner, and apparently people dip it in either ketchup or mustard. When DH told her she shouldn't serve sausage for dinner, she said she didn't see what the big deal was. The package says that it's chicken and pork, and what's wrong with chicken and pork?

 

[shortbun]

I've never seen a post like this before. Why are you so accusatory to the OP? He's trying to show a professional side to all of this and maybe help some people?

JMHO.

Same thread in May of this year. "Accusatory?" So you're saying he's not obsessed with this issue? "Professional side?" Well, my idea of a professional is not a doctor who goes to a Disney message board for advice. It's that simple. Personally, I feel doctors need to combine psychological counselling and dieticians on a regular basis for their weight challenged patients. Many people want to eat better and lose weight but are not actually helped because their doctors say, "you know your weight is probably contributing to your health problems" Duh!!! Get these people some real help besides stating the obvious. Now THAT would be something!
Oh never mind

 

[pattyT]

not reading every post -
but I was a STICK in high school - my nickname was Olive Oil (not kidding )
I had varying eating habits at that age - from total junk food junkie - to complete - extreme baby food and dry tuna eating health nut...

Until I was 22 and Pregnant -
with gestational diebetes...
the 'special diet' to control it - is basically a low carb diet...
well with each of the three kids the same thing happened -
I would eat great during the pregnancy - not gaining a ton - then the baby comes, the bad eating habits creep back in - the matabolism is a mess and voila I now have relatives who haven't seen me in years making commets like "wow I have never seen you with meat on your bones"

I day that I am going to go back on the diet - but everytime I turn around there is some 'excuse' not to (easier to have pizza with the family - then make a salad, etc)

 

[disneysteve]

Same thread in May of this year.

Just to be clear, this isn't another thread. This is the May thread. And I'm not the one who resurrected it. Obviously, there were others who were still interested in discussing the topic.

 

[MizBlu]

Around here grinder is what they call any sort of sub sandwich - hot or cold. Unless Italians are suddenly grilled sandwiches

Does panini count?

 

[jenm2878]

Just had a question for Steve. I have asked my doctor several times for help with weight loss. Every time he shrugs and says, "Don't worry honey, you're not that overweight." A couple of other docs have shrugged me off too. WHY would they brush off the willing? I work out regularly, lift weights, have low blood pressure, eat plenty of veggies, very rarely get sick, and don't eat any meat but chicken. Still I have 15-20 extra pounds. Do they think that because I'm healthy that I don't need help? It's very frustrating.

 

[deelam]

Does panini count?

I'm getting hungry.

I've had a panini sandwich. They are good, but not a hoagie.

 

[scanne]

Same thread in May of this year. "Accusatory?" So you're saying he's not obsessed with this issue? "Professional side?" Well, my idea of a professional is not a doctor who goes to a Disney message board for advice. It's that simple. Personally, I feel doctors need to combine psychological counselling and dieticians on a regular basis for their weight challenged patients. Many people want to eat better and lose weight but are not actually helped because their doctors say, "you know your weight is probably contributing to your health problems" Duh!!! Get these people some real help besides stating the obvious. Now THAT would be something!

Well I don't see him coming on the DIS as unprofessional. And as far as being "obsessed", I really think it's genuine concern. I think you're being awfully harsh and are trying to find fault in what he's doing. I really don't understand your stance. And as far as what you said about getting people real help instead of stating the obvious - people will take the help GIVEN to them when they are READY! Old habits die hard and some people are either going to have a significant wake up call OR (like my in-laws) are just going to go on living the life they do out of laziness, habit, ignorance...any "term" could apply. My MIL has a heart condition that nearly killed her but has not changed one single thing about her lifestyle even though her physicians urge her to do so - AND provide information on HOW to do so. My FIL had prostate cancer and is quite obese, yet does nothing to change his habits. They both are retired and could easily get out each day for a walk for some exercise. I've invited my MIL to come to WW meetings with me. They refuse. So the doctors can give the warnings, offer the advice, give them the information, but really? Is it fair to say they do nothing? Do you want your doctor to come to your home, prepare each meal, give you the calorie count, make you exercise, check you blood pressure, etc? Now that is unrealistic. I believe the OP is posting b/c he wants to help AND wants to get insight that may help him help his patients more.

I just had to write this b/c I feel so many people on here "judge" others or think they have a motive OTHER than a positive one. Personally, I think this thread is interesting and helpful and a way for fellow DISers to come together to discuss a topic that can be hard to take.

I just had to get that out.

 

[disneysteve]

Just had a question for Steve. I have asked my doctor several times for help with weight loss. Every time he shrugs and says, "Don't worry honey, you're not that overweight." A couple of other docs have shrugged me off too. WHY would they brush off the willing? I work out regularly, lift weights, have low blood pressure, eat plenty of veggies, very rarely get sick, and don't eat any meat but chicken. Still I have 15-20 extra pounds. Do they think that because I'm healthy that I don't need help? It's very frustrating.

That's an interesting question. I occasionally have a patient who comes in wanting to lose weight. But when I check them out, I find that they are a perfectly good weight for their height and in good physical condition. I don't always agree that the patient actually needs to lose weight.

Sometimes I feel that their weight loss goal is unrealistic. For example, a 40-year-old woman may be striving to get back to what she weighed when she was 20, single and childless. Now she has had 2 or 3 kids and leads a totally different lifestyle but still maintains a BMI within the normal range. She may be unhappy that she's 15 pounds heavier than she used to be or wearing a larger dress size, but that still doesn't make her overweight.

Do I brush those people off? No. I still go through a review of their eating habits and exercise routine and make suggestions if I see areas for improvement but I also try to reassure them that even though they've picked up some weight over the years, they are still in the normal range. Now if my records show that the patient has been steadily gaining weight over the past few years, I'll be concerned with that trend since if it continues they will be overweight in the future. That's when a little more intervention may be indicated.

 

[lilkitty819]

The problem with most people is a lack of exercise and, over dieting. to the part where calorie counting no longer works because you have slowed your metabolism, so your body believes it starving so it produces more fat. What people need to really do is stop dieting for a month or two. Then start up with a 1200 calorie diet for one week, after that go to 1600 till you are no longer losing then go back to eating normal but healthy. Also remember you should try to eat 6 smaller portion meals then 3 big meals, because that will also help get your metabolism back up.Good Luck to all who are trying to be healthy and for some I hope you try to work a little harder at getting yourself in shape remember people all around would like to see you grow old with them.

 

[hemispheredancer]

Steve...what is your take on Meridia? Do you prescribe that to many patients? If so, what kind of results have you seen with it?

 

[deelam]

I know people who have gotten Gastric bypass. One co worker had it down, she weighed 235, now is 120 or something like that. She is unhappy with the lifestyle she has to lead because of this surgery. I have a problem with any Doctor that would recomend this surgery to someone who is only 100LBs over. Why is it that many Doctors are so against the Atkins version of dieting but will recomend drastic surgery or drugs with bad side effects.

 

[Marseeya]

I know people who have gotten Gastric bypass. One co worker had it down, she weighed 235, now is 120 or something like that. She is unhappy with the lifestyle she has to lead because of this surgery. I have a problem with any Doctor that would recomend this surgery to someone who is only 100LBs over. Why is it that many Doctors are so against the Atkins version of dieting but will recomend drastic surgery or drugs with bad side effects.

I had a dear friend who had gastric bypass. She had problems almost as soon as she came out of surgery and died within three years.

But she died skinny.