How can some people not get why they are overweight?

[Stacey2grls]

I do believe that the majority of it is denial. I know a number of people that are heavy, and they truly believe that they are the "norm". I do not question them about it though, they usually bring up the topic. 4 years ago I lost around 130 lbs. I went from 262 to 132. I am 5 ft. 7, and I actually gained about 12 lbs. back, because so many people were appalled by my weight loss. And guess who those people were? The heavy ones! The stock phrase was "what are you anorexic"? No, I wanted a better life for myself, and I wanted to live to see my girls grow up. I have actually had to distance myself from a number of people who just couldn't stand that I wasn't heavy anymore. But, what really makes me sad are when kids are heavy. It can be so tough being a kid nowadays, and being overweight on top of it must be very difficult.

 

[momrek06]

I have struggled to keep my weight down since my 23yo was born! I have a very good DGF who was always paper thin! When she turned 40 she started putting weight on slowly and gradually. As the pounds started to add up I made suggestions w/o upsetting her about exercising. NAAA, that is NOT for me she would say. I would tell her to try walking. NAAA, that is NOT for me. AND anyway who would I walk with me. I told her to take her dog. I said to her...GO 15 minutes away from the house and then turn around and come back...easy & easy and she has 30 minutes DONE! NAAA, that is NOT for me!

We are both 52yo now but when she was 45, she was diagnosed with "high blood pressure"! She called to tell me and I said so now what and she said I just have to start taking pills. I said DGF: PILLS is the solution, if you exercise maybe you would not have to go on these pills...NAAA, my sis has "hbp" so I have it atomatically...I said DGF, not necessarily, try exercisizing and see by chance if your HBP comes down....NAAA, the pills are MUCH easier. WHATTTTTTTTTT I said to MYSELF. UGH! A year later, DGF tells me she now has HIGH CHOLESTROL to be exact "295"! I about fainted. I said DGF you need to get that DOWN. NAAA, pills...my md is giving me PILLS. More pills I guess and NOW the latest news is DGF has ACID REFLUX and more PILLS!!! She actually joined Curves NEVER ever went and even allowed them to take her monthly fee out of her checking for months until she contacted the bank to STOP IT and she NEVER EVER went. Basically, exercise is not for her. Over the years, I have come to NOT say anything to her about exercise as she just simply does NOT care.
Her DH is extremely overweight, smokes 5 pks a day and suffers severely with sleep apnea. SEVERELY! He got all fitted for the apparatus to wear at night to prevent the SA but he does not like it and refuses to wear it. He suffers daily with migarines DGF told me due to not sleeping properly at night. And to stop smoking is NOT A OPTION at all for him. DGF would like him to give up the smoking but he said NEVER. Together they really do not care at all about their bodies. It just absolutely amazes me how they just could care less. And this is exactly what DISNEYSTEVE is referring to with his initial Thread one year ago!
Let me tell you it is a struggle some days to get to the gym BUT the bottomline: I am DGF's exact age and NO PILLS for me. I refuse, if at all I get some medical condition that requires exercise as vs PILLS, SIGN ME UP TO WORKOUT. DGF always says to me "I am not like you, you LOVE the gym, I hate it"....NO WAY I remind her I do NOT always like it BUT I do it anyway as the end results are SWEET!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

This is some of the problem most thyroid patients have with "regular" doctors, and why most of us who have had to learn to live with thyroid problems suggest seeing an endocrinologist who is familiar with the new TSH guidelines.

From: http://thyroid.about.com/library/howto/htthyroid-test.htm



While there may not seem to be a big difference between 3 and 5 (or 0.3 and 0.5) when you are sensitive to the changes in your TSH it is a BIG difference.

I will be very thankful when doctors treat the patients instead of the numbers.

Amen! I complained for years to my Family Doctor and my GYN about my symptoms and even had to ASK to have my thyroid levels tested. My GYN finally relented (to pacify me) and when the numbers came back he told me I was on the "low end of normal". I was fed up and took myself to an Endocrinologist who handed me a sheet of paper with a list of over a dozen symptoms of hypothyroidism and asked me to circle which ones applied to me - I circled all but 2. After my full panel thyroid screen came back the Endo told me that I was the "poster child for hypothyroidism" and immediately started me on Levoxyl. I have had my levels increased several times and go back next month for another full panel screen to see if my levels are where they need to be.

Lesson here is to find a doctor that listens. There are some GREAT doctors out there but the patient has to take charge of their health care and ask questions and seek second opinions.

 

[aes74]

"The Maker's Diet" is a fascinating read, especially when it comes to the history of why Jews eat kosher-ly. Since I am not Jewish, it was really interesting for me. The author's thesis, is about eating basically kosher, and not eating things with preservatives and chemicals. I agree with the no preservatives, etc., I just don't think you necessarily have to go without pork and shellfish. But that is purely my opinion.

After reading "The Fat Fallacy," I am very careful about what I eat. It was a huge eye-opener for me, how much sugar we eat, all the extra ingredients in food that our bodies can't process. I have lost a lot of "stuck-on" weight. After turning thirty and having my second baby my metabolism went to a dead stop. I also have much more energy.

Look at the nutrition label on jello. Are there any ingredients you recognize? Look at your bread. Shouldn't it just be unenriched, unbleached flour, yeast, water, and salt?

Just things to think about. Did you know that because all of the hormones in cattle that girls start their periods so much earlier? I am not saying to abstain from meat, I eat it, just not everyday. We just need to be informed about what is going on in our food in our country. We need to be more active about what's going on.

These are purely my opinions. I know this is a very sensitive subject, and I don't mean to tell anyone how to eat or live. I know it's hard sometimes to convey meanings over message boards when you aren't face to face, so I just want you to know I know its just my opinion.

I am officially off my soapbox now.

 

[disneysteve]

I do believe that the majority of it is denial. I know a number of people that are heavy, and they truly believe that they are the "norm"... But, what really makes me sad are when kids are heavy. It can be so tough being a kid nowadays, and being overweight on top of it must be very difficult.

I don't know if I mentioned this earlier in the thread (it was a year ago).

What always disturbs me is when 2 obese parents with one or more obese children come in with their one non-obese child and want me to check him/her out to find out what is wrong because he/she is "so skinny." I try as tactfully as I can to explain that "skinny" child is perfectly normal but everyone else is severely overweight.

I have been in this situation many times, at least a couple of times each year for the past 10-15 years. Not once have I been able to convince mom and dad that the problem isn't with the thin child but with the heavy family members. Denial is an extremely powerful force.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Add stupidity to the list.

Patient Moron: I don't know why I'm so dang fat! I don't eat much!
Doc Wonderful: What does your daily diet consist of?
Patient Moron: Great big gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts! Mutilated monkey meat & contaminated birdy feet. Oh yeah, and french fried eyeballs swimming in a poopy doop. It ain't much, doc, I swear! Duhhhh... I just don't get it.
Doc Wonderful: There's no hope for you, then. The fat is deeply imbedded in your brain.


I'm overweight and I know tons (put intended) of fat people. Not a single one of them would have such a ridiculous conversation as what he posted.

Agreed. People who are overweight know why they are overweight. For me, it's because of my inability to move...I am chained to my desk, with a phone anchored to my ear for over 8 hours a day. Since being placed in this position I have gained over 60 pounds, and I was plump to begin with, due to family heritage. No, I do not get breaks. I get 30 minutes for lunch. I eat at my desk and walk for my 30 minutes. So automatically it is assumed I eat like an idiot. What do I eat? Every morning my breakfast consists of a slice of cheese on whole wheat. That's my calcium for the day. As a woman I need it. I drink unsweetened tea and water all day. My lunch...I have become fond of the South Beach Diet box lunches...less than 300 calories, no sugar, reduced fat. An example of dinner in our home: Yesterday we had pork tenderloin in the crockpot with red potatoes and onions. Other than seasoning, I only added fat free chicken broth for moisture. Sugar free popsicles for dessert. So yes, it makes me angry when I am accused of eating like a moron. My body is different from yours..get over it. Not all overweight people eat like idiots. I changed my doctor, you know why? I went in for a sinus infection and she told me I needed to rent the movie "Super Size Me"! I now see a doctor who takes the time to know me, and hey, he is battling the bulge himself, so he doesn't pass judgement!

 

[Dislifer]

I know why I'm fat....I LOVE FOOD!!! When I have attempted to lose weight it is really shocking to me how little I must truly eat in order to lose and stay thin!
How appetizing is this: 1 bowl of cereal and oj for breakfast
1 yogurt for lunch
4 oz. piece of chicken/fish for dinner w/all the veggies you want
and if I get hungry in between a piece of fruit or 2 and if I'm really living it up..a handful of pretzels

HOW FUN!!!

Can't I eat a bagel, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast?
a tuna sandwich for lunch (or maybe a Subway 6")
a steak for dinner????
where does pizza fit in???? oh...that's right...maybe as a splurge I can have one piece now and then
Ice Cream anyone???

WHAT IS LIFE WITHOUT YUMMY FOOD!!!?????

What is truly depressing is that it seems some people can eat like this and have no weight problem! Life is not fair!!!

 

[Anne MN]

I have been overweight since i had twins 11 year ago. I gained 75 pounds with them and most of it stayed. only gained 5 with next child.
last july i had my gallbladder out. I was in the hospital for 6 days. i had very high blood pressure for a couple of days after. I found that after surgery, I could not eat much fatty foods- it goes right thru you. a combination of gallbladder and switching to overnight shift- i have dropped 35 pounds in 9 months. (working 3rd shift- i can not eat a meal at 2 am- that is lunch time- there are people i work with who have been doing that shift for years and can eat "normal food" i have ended up eating 2 small meals a day and a snack)

 

[Dislifer]

Agreed. People who are overweight know why they are overweight. For me, it's because of my inability to move...I am chained to my desk, with a phone anchored to my ear for over 8 hours a day. Since being placed in this position I have gained over 60 pounds, and I was plump to begin with, due to family heritage. No, I do not get breaks. I get 30 minutes for lunch. I eat at my desk and walk for my 30 minutes. So automatically it is assumed I eat like an idiot. What do I eat? Every morning my breakfast consists of a slice of cheese on whole wheat. That's my calcium for the day. As a woman I need it. I drink unsweetened tea and water all day. My lunch...I have become fond of the South Beach Diet box lunches...less than 300 calories, no sugar, reduced fat. An example of dinner in our home: Yesterday we had pork tenderloin in the crockpot with red potatoes and onions. Other than seasoning, I only added fat free chicken broth for moisture. Sugar free popsicles for dessert. So yes, it makes me angry when I am accused of eating like a moron. My body is different from yours..get over it. Not all overweight people eat like idiots. I changed my doctor, you know why? I went in for a sinus infection and she told me I needed to rent the movie "Super Size Me"! I now see a doctor who takes the time to know me, and hey, he is battling the bulge himself, so he doesn't pass judgement!

I saw "Super Size Me". How narrow minded if that is what people think fat people eat all the time. My metabolism is s-l-o-w (sometimes I think it's DEAD ). I look at food and gain weight!!!
I went to a doctor once who made me feel like a piece of you know what because I have a weight problem. Nice bedside manner!!!
If it was easy...no one would be fat! Do people think I want to look like this??!!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I saw "Super Size Me". How narrow minded if that is what people think fat people eat all the time. My metabolism is s-l-o-w (sometimes I think it's DEAD ). I look at food and gain weight!!!
I went to a doctor once who made me feel like a piece of you know what because I have a weight problem. Nice bedside manner!!!
If it was easy...no one would be fat! Do people think I want to look like this??!!

Exactly. When I have the time, I like to exercise. I love being outdoors. But I am up at 4 am every day so I can be on the interstate for an hour to get to my job, then I have the hour drive home. Once there, I have to push DD to get homework done, piano practice in, dinner, dishes, DD's bedtime routime and then I drop in bed around 8:30 PM so it can start all over again the next day. The last thing I need is a doctor who makes such outlandish assumptions as to think having me watch that stupid movie will change my lifestyle. My response is: "fire that doctor!"

 

[denisenh]

I don't know if I mentioned this earlier in the thread (it was a year ago).

What always disturbs me is when 2 obese parents with one or more obese children come in with their one non-obese child and want me to check him/her out to find out what is wrong because he/she is "so skinny." I try as tactfully as I can to explain that "skinny" child is perfectly normal but everyone else is severely overweight.

I have been in this situation many times, at least a couple of times each year for the past 10-15 years. Not once have I been able to convince mom and dad that the problem isn't with the thin child but with the heavy family members. Denial is an extremely powerful force.

 

[Chicago526]

I saw "Super Size Me". How narrow minded if that is what people think fat people eat all the time.

Not all fat people eat like that, but many do, and I know two of them!

DH used to eat like that, in fact he ate even worse (this was before I met him)! He now has type 2 diabeties, so he doesn't eat like that anymore. Just the oposit, he has to watch what he eats or it will kill him, sooner or later.

The other person I know is my best friend from highschool. She eats fast food 3 meals a day (Starbucks for breakfast, McD's for lunch and take out from whatever restaurant she's in the mood for at dinner). I've eaten out with her many, many times and she'd never just ordered the salad with grilled chicken and low-fat dressing. She orders junk, and then picks at food left over on other people's plates onces she's done eating everything on her's.

Now, to her credit she wasn't in denial, she knows this is why she is fat. She knows she is an emotional eater and that if she doesn't lose weight, it will affect her health eventually (it's a wonder she's not diabetic herself!). She's tried diets, and a few years ago she was doing GREAT, lost about 75 pounds over a year or so, and only needed to lose maybe another 50 or 60 before she'd be at her ideal weight. But then she moved from IL to FL, and the stress just killed her, she went right back to her old habits. Almost everytime I spoke with her on the phone, she'd interupt our conversation to order food in a drive-thru. Again, I heard what she ordered, and it wasn't a salad! She's almost gotten gastric bypass twice, both times she decided against it due to fears of complications (I don't blame her!).

I don't know what will happen to her. I'm about the only person that doesn't nag her about her weight, she gets enough of that from her mom and her sister. But I know she's unhappy because of her weight, and that makes her eat, so she either gets even heavier or at best, stays the way she is. It's a vicious cycle and I don't know how she'll ever break it.

Anyway, I wanted to point out that there are many reasons for being overweight. Some people really do have horrible diets. Not everyone who is fat has low metabolism or a thyroid problem!

 

[cardaway]

Anyway, I wanted to point out that there are many reasons for being overweight. Some people really do have horrible diets. Not everyone who is fat has low metabolism or a thyroid problem!

Exactly. By the same token, not all are in denial, but plenty are in deep.

 

[hiwaygal]

Not everyone who is fat has low metabolism or a thyroid problem!

To be fair, not everyone who has a low metabolism or a thyroid problem has to be fat/overweight either. Sometimes having those conditions "enable" folks to continue to think THAT'S the problem and not what they are doing. (I am hypothyroid too.)

Yes, those conditions make it MUCH harder for anyone with that problem to lose weight...but it IS still possible.

 

[mickeysgal]

Losing wieght is a lifestyle change, not a diet.

I absolutely agree.

I haven't read through all the pages of this thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating someone.

I've always maintained that its expensive to eat healthy. One of the key triggers for staying slim is money. Its easier for a family to fix a dinner with ground meat than a dinner of salmon. Pasta and rice are cheap and sometimes the only way a family can stretch the budget and feed a family over and over. Fresh veggies...asperagus, squash, etc. are more expensive. Having a variety of fruit constantly on hand for a large family is expensive. (Do you know how fast my kids can plow through a container of strawberries? Minutes!) White bread is cheaper than whole or multi-grains. Iceburg lettuce with very little to none nutrients is cheaper than dark leafy Spring Mix lettuce. Processed snacks and foods fill up people and are cheaper. This doesn't make it right, but I truly believe this is a core, basic problem of why people and families can't get on-track with a healthier lifestyle.

Yes, I know everything is a choice in life. But sometimes, families backs are up against the wall with bills and everyday expenses mounting. I know we've had hard times and it was always cheaper to eat mac and cheese or spagetti than a meat dinner.

There are lots of other factors that contribute to people's weight issues, but I believe money or lack thereof is one of them.

 

[Towncrier]

Did anyone catch the segment on the Today Show this morning about how businesses are realizing that, with nearly 70% of the population of the United States in the "overweight" category, there is a market for oversized coffins, furniture, clothing, etc. The sad reality is that it is much easier to supersize our furnishings than it is to lose those extra pounds.

Why does food have to taste SO good???

 

[ducklite]

I'm 5'8 and give or take 130 on a slender frame. I am carrying an extra five pounds, it's all in my belly--the worst place to carry it as far as heart health. I struggle on a daily basis with my weight. I've been up to 150 in the past, and have been as low as 122 a couple years ago--it was too thin and I wasn't eating enough to get proper nutrition. I eat reasonably healthy--could do with more fresh veggies, but don't get enough excercise by my own admission. I read the labels on everything! I try to shop for lower fat items, and for a snack I'll have a piece of fresh fruit if I'm really hungry, or a rice cake if I'm craving but not really hungry. We eat a lot of chicken, I could write a book called 100 low fat/low cal ways to prepare chicken breasts. I do have a treat now and then, but I do so in moderation. Saturday afternoon I ate two Girl Scout cookies (thanks to Suzannews!), as opposed to an entire box.

When I was younger and not a whole lot more active, I was 120 and never dieted, my metabolism has slowed down as I've hit middle age. (that's painful to say!)

I work with a couple women who have been on diets for awhile. One snacks on high carb items all day long, I seldom pass her office that she doesn't have her hand to her mouth with pretzels or crackers. She's not getting it that eating her Healthy Choice meal at lunch isn't going to do any good if she then consumes 600 calories in snacks over the afternoon. The other used to have peanut butter on an apple and half a bagel for breakfast, a salad smothered in dressing for lunch, and I have no idea what for dinner. She complained one day that she'd been eating salad at lunch for two months and wasn't losing weight. I suggested she read the label on the dressing--and she realized she's been putting 400 calories of dressing on her salad every day. Since then she's been reading labels and measuring portions and has begun to lose weight.

Based on this, I absolutely believe what Steve is saying. I think that many people are just completely unaware as to how much fat/how many calories they actually put into their body every day.

While there are some overweight people who truly have a metabolic problem, I firmly believe that 80% of them just are completely unaware of how what they eat is affecting their weight/health. And a small number of those just don't care--which is really sad.

Anne

 

[MzDiz]

This thread is annoying.

Know why your doctor can't give you much dieting advice? Chances are pretty good that he or she didn't take one single nutrition class in school. I have a good friend that's in med school and she's shocked that it's not a requirement.
This thread is pretty evil, you know? Lots of people have this "worst case scenerio friend" that eats her weight in twinkies everyday that they're so eager to point out.
I think this country attacks fat people because we don't truly understand it. It's like an encroaching plague, coming closer to our door. We like to point fingers and assign causes, but we all know one person that's fat who works hard physically and eats well. We know, because of our lack of understanding, that it *could* be us. It scares us, so we attack it. Nevermind that by attacking it, we hurt others. In a witch hunt situation like this, it doesn't matter, as long as we remove ourselves far, far away from the *fat*

 

[disneysteve]

About your thyroid, I too, tested "normal." but there is a new movement out there about thyroid levels.

I did some research about this today.

Quest and LabCorp, the 2 main national laboratories, continue to use the accepted normal range of 0.4-5.5. I spoke to a prominent local endocrinologist. He said the endocrinology association is contemplating changing the normal range to a more aggressive level but they have not yet approved or accepted a change. So it is still standard of care to use the existing range for evaluation and treatment.

He also said essentially the same thing I did earlier. If a patient is close to the limit, like 4.5 or above, and symptomatic of hypothyroidism, they might need treatment. He also said that when he is treating a patient with thyroid replacement therapy, he shoots for a TSH of 1-1.5 for maintenance.

 

[AuntieM03]

This thread is annoying.

Know why your doctor can't give you much dieting advice? Chances are pretty good that he or she didn't take one single nutrition class in school. I have a good friend that's in med school and she's shocked that it's not a requirement.
This thread is pretty evil, you know? Lots of people have this "worst case scenerio friend" that eats her weight in twinkies everyday that they're so eager to point out.
I think this country attacks fat people because we don't truly understand it. It's like an encroaching plague, coming closer to our door. We like to point fingers and assign causes, but we all know one person that's fat who works hard physically and eats well. We know, because of our lack of understanding, that it *could* be us. It scares us, so we attack it. Nevermind that by attacking it, we hurt others. In a witch hunt situation like this, it doesn't matter, as long as we remove ourselves far, far away from the *fat*