How can some people not get why they are overweight?

[Chicago526]

On the previous page of this thread, someone meantion the success rate of the comerical weight loss programs, saying WW came in last. I don't know if that is true or not, I can only relate my own experiance.

My aunt, mother, SIL, best friend and I have ALL lost over 30 pounds on WW and have kept it off for over a year (actually my aunt, mom, and SIL have done it for over two years). Like anything else, the better you stick with the program, the better it works. In my opinon, it's the only national program that teaches you HOW to eat. It teaches portion control, which I think is the #1 problem for most people when it comes to controlling weight. It also focuses on food groups, drinking more water, and exercise. Plus the group meetings and/or the message boards provide tips and support, and give you motovation to stay on plan. Nothing like knowing you have to weigh yourself in two days to make you put down the brownie!

It is a LIFE SYTLE CHANGE. WW stresses this. If you say you've tried WW and it didn't work, it's only because you didn't stick with it. And you have to stick with it for life. I don't mean you have to pay the monthly fee and go to meetings for ever, but you MUST take what you have learned about eating and use it for ever. It's the only way it will STAY off.

 

[pixiedust23]

My DH and I have tried WW, Atkins, and the Cabbage soup diet. While we have lost some it is not lasting. I know all about it being a lifestyle change but that is easier said than done.

Ok I would like to take the time here to comment on these fad diets. Atkins...very bad. Yes so an MD came up with it. Yes you can lose weight if you stick to it. Too bad your going to clog up your arteries, have high bp, and could do serious damage to your heart. If you read the studies it shows that people on low fat and low cal diets lose the same amount of weight as low carb diets on average and they are able to keep it off longer than those on low carb diets.

As for the cabbage soup diet, of course you're going to lose weight, you're basically starving yourself! As soon as you start eating again you're going to gain even more weight back b/c your body will raise it's set point (which is the amount of fat it wants to retain) b/c it will be scared that you will withhold food again and therefore want to hold onto more just in case you do this. Funny our bodies are often times smarter than our minds....

 

[FINFAN]

O.K. Putting my flame suit on.
I did not read thru all of the responses to this thread, but I know whatever my condition might be, I would hope that my physician would not share a word for word recap of it on a public on-line forum. To me, that is no better than "not getting it" about health/weight issues...what about not getting Dr./patient privacy? I think you could have gotten the important message out here for us all to be aware of w/out using your patient so specifically.

 

[Planogirl]

Ok I would like to take the time here to comment on these fad diets. Atkins...very bad. Yes so an MD came up with it. Yes you can lose weight if you stick to it. Too bad your going to clog up your arteries, have high bp, and could do serious damage to your heart. If you read the studies it shows that people on low fat and low cal diets lose the same amount of weight as low carb diets on average and they are able to keep it off longer than those on low carb diets.

I don't dispute that it's way too easy to gain back lost weight after a low carb diet but I don't agree that following the Atkins plan properly will clog your arteries and so on. These effects are caused by a balance of foods, not just fat and the Atkins diet effectively cuts out one of those necessary foods. Not following the Atkins diet properly is what causes the increase in fat not the diet itself.

Besides, it's VERY possible to follow the Atkins plan and still eat little fat. The high fat part of the eating plan is only the first few weeks and after that just about all vegetables and some fruits are worked into the diet. I personally feel my best when I eat salads with just a bit of meat and stir fried dishes using little oil that are mostly vegetables. My problem is that I don't stick to the lifestyle as I should.

Oh, because of genetic high blood pressure problems, my blood and bp are checked constantly and they are at their best when I follow the Atkins lifestyle properly.

 

[reeddi]

Pixiedust23 - I understand what you are saying. I was making that statement to show some of the diets we have used.

But I think both Pixiedust23 and Planogirl made a valid point. (not picking on anyone) There is so much MISinformation out there it is very hard for the average person to make a decision on what to follow or believe. There are good things and bad things about every diet. Statistics are a very poor tool for measuring just about anything. Too many things can mess up the results and you can skew the results to prove or disprove anything you want.
Also, think about the reason for so many different plans. Everyone's body is different in the way it processes food as well as what works for them on from a taste stand point too.

 

[pixiedust23]

I just think it's important for people to understand the biochemistry behind the diets, otherwise it is very easy to misinterpret them and do some serious irreversible damage to their bodies. That was the point I was trying to make.

 

[skiwee1]

Disneysteve, I am curious about something and hope you don't mind me bringing it up. I haven't read through all the posts so it might have been talked about before. Anyway you talk about being overweight and I was wondering about the picture of your wife in your post. She seems to be overweight herself. Have you spoke to her about her problem and what was her reaction or reasoning? I myself need to drop about 20 lbs. I know what makes me overweight. I love food! Anything with butter is my friend! I'd kill for some chocolate! I know moderation is key but just can't control myself around good food.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The last thing I want to say is about Supersize me. The guy was a Vegeatarian. There is no one who could go from a veggie diet to one with meat and fat, and not cause issues. Now take a person who eats meat and fast food occassionally and monitor them for 30 days. You won't see near as much of a change since the body is used to processing that type of food.

His girlfriend is a vegan chef, but if I'm remembering correctly (and I just recently saw the movie) he was not a vegetarian. After the movie he went back to a more healthy diet, but it did include meat. I agree that if a vegetarian were to go on that diet it would be extra tough (speaking as a vegetarian). My body has not processed meat in almost 25 years and I would be in digestive distress if I were to change my diet quickly.

T&B

 

[ndmommy]

O.K. Putting my flame suit on.
I did not read thru all of the responses to this thread, but I know whatever my condition might be, I would hope that my physician would not share a word for word recap of it on a public on-line forum. To me, that is no better than "not getting it" about health/weight issues...what about not getting Dr./patient privacy? I think you could have gotten the important message out here for us all to be aware of w/out using your patient so specifically.

ITA This conversation should never have gone past the exam room.

I too hesitated to post on this thread. However, . . .
I will start out by saying that I am fat. I personally think it is rediculous to say that fat people only eat fried foods, potato chips, ice cream, fatty steaks, and the like. Give me a break. That is so untrue. I admit that I am consuming more calories than I should. But I can honestly say we rarely have ice cream or chips in the house.

Secondly, I really doubt that a person would tell their dr that they ate like that and that they didn't understand why they were fat or had health problems related to their obesity. We all know how a person gets fat and how they stay that way. Just as we all know that eating healthier foods and exercise will help the fat to go away. It isn't rocket science.

 

[ndmommy]

opps duplicate post

 

[carolfoy]

I think obesity IS a serious problem now getting worldwide, its so difficult when we all have access to such delicious fsttening food around the clock. During the second world war a rationing system was brought into the uk worked out on EXACT dietary needs for every person, consisting of x amount per week of protein, carbs, vitamins etc there were even provisions for chocolate!! There were no dietary 'fads' no vegetarianism, no 'organic this' and 'low fat' that no food groups were missed out and nobody starved, in fact general health was excellent for everyone (apart from those getting killed or overworking!!!!). If everyone took the advice of the rationing experts there wouldn't be a problem, Hey I think I'll market my own world war 2 diet!!

 

[Chicago526]

I don't know why people have their undies in a bunch over Steve talking about a patient in a way that no one could possibly know who his patient is. Docs and other medical people do this all the time. My friend is a nurse and she's always talking about her patients, and she is very careful not to say anything that gives their identities away (not that we'd know her patients anyway).

I know I wouldn't care if my doc talked about me.

I also found the story he told to be completely believable. My oldest friend is obese (5'10 and 315 pounds), and I've talked to her on the phone while she's ording drive thru at McD's (Big Mac, supersize fries, Diet Coke, and an apple pie) at the same time she's telling me she's trying to lose weight before my wedding.

 

[disneysteve]

I was wondering about the picture of your wife in your post. She seems to be overweight herself.

LOL - DW will demand I change my sig picture if I tell her people think she looks fat in it. For the record, she is 5'2" and weighs 125. That gives her a BMI of 23 which is just fine.

 

[pixiedust23]

I also found the story he told to be completely believable. My oldest friend is obese (5'10 and 315 pounds), and I've talked to her on the phone while she's ording drive thru at McD's (Big Mac, supersize fries, Diet Coke, and an apple pie) at the same time she's telling me she's trying to lose weight before my wedding.

I have a friend who isnt obese at all, but maybe a little overweight and she always complains about how she's fat (which she really isnt that large at all) but then she eats out every night b/c she doesnt want to make her dinner when she gets home from work. I tell her it takes 5 min to throw a small piece of chicken on the george forman and pop some broccoli into the microwave, but she won't have any of that. Then she also complains how she has no money....gee i wonder why.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't understand why people are upset either. Doctors, psychiatrists and other professionals are always citing specific cases. They just leave out names and any other identifying features. I think the suggestion that Steve move on to another career is heavy-handed at best.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't know why people have their undies in a bunch over Steve talking about a patient in a way that no one could possibly know who his patient is. Docs and other medical people do this all the time. My friend is a nurse and she's always talking about her patients, and she is very careful not to say anything that gives their identities away (not that we'd know her patients anyway).

I also found the story he told to be completely believable.

Thanks. You too Planogirl.

Believe it or not, and clearly many of you don't believe it, but there are lots of people who simply don't connect what they eat with how much they weigh. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is absolutely true.

 

[FINFAN]

There is a difference between discussing situations in the privacy of your doctors office and colleague's (sp) and posting on a vaction site.I completely agree with the subject matter, just not in how it was presented. This has , however, been an eye-opener for me. Had I been the patient in the example and read this, I would have been shocked to say the least. I am not suggesting Steve change professions, just expressing that I do not think the DIS is where he should have sought advice or vented about it. I a sure there are a ton of medical forums that may have had useful advice as well. However, the advice posted here may have been very helpful to anyone interested, and that is a good thing.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Thanks. You too Planogirl.

Believe it or not, and clearly many of you don't believe it, but there are lots of people who simply don't connect what they eat with how much they weigh. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it is absolutely true.

This is why I believe food journals are a very important part, at least in the beginning, when you make a commitment to being healthier. I don't think people realize how much they eat or what they are eating.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This is why I believe food journals are a very important part, at least in the beginning, when you make a commitment to being healthier. I don't think people realize how much they eat or what they are eating.

Many people don't understand serving size, either. My DH and I had a disagreement one morning when having bagels. I told him that one of the big bagels was about 4 bread servings and he thought that was ridiculous. Of course I found info to support what I was saying. One of those bagels for breakfast, a sandwich with a big roll for lunch, and pasta and bread for dinner equals a lot of bread. Of course I've learned to keep my mouth shut with my DH, ie today for lunch when he had a sandwich on "big bread" and then grabbed a piece of pita bread. We did take a walk after lunch, though, so at least that was a positive. BTW, neither of us have much to loose--me 5-10 pounds would be ideal and him probably 15 pounds (don't tell him I said that... ).

T&B

 

[Caradana]

I am gently suggesting that many of the posters who felt that Steve's post is inappropriate would actually be mortified to have an "assignment of blame" conversation with their physician, and even more mortified to find out that anyone else knew about it. I said in my earlier post: my doctor told me that I was fat and that I had to change, and I cried. Now that I've gone ahead and lost the weight, I'd be happy if my doctor used my story as an anecdote, stripped of all personal/identifying characteristics (as Steve's was). But at the time, I would've been embarrassed. It's rough to be heavy and to see a story like this appear on a message board, and think, my god, what is my doctor saying about me.