Sensitive Subject: Overweight Kids at Disney and in USA in General

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by pnelson
Fine, I'm rude and downright mean. Honestly, I'd rather be mean than fat anyday. There, I said it. And I mean it.

We have lived in the northern California Bay Area for many years, and I am sorry to report that pnelson's shallow, rude, mean personality is very common. Look on the bright side, at least most of you don't have to deal with people like that every single day. It *will* just roll off her back; that is part of the typical arrogance, so I suggest ignoring her. In regards to my earlier post, heh heh, if you get dissed by someone like her on Main Street, maybe you can use the "stroller attack," lol

 

[pnelson]

Actually, that was an EXTREMELY Low point about the "foster" (not adopted) child, big difference in case you need to look it up. There were a lot of adjustment issues that the entire family had, and that child ultimately ended up being moved out of state to be placed with relatives...Not exactly a banishment. But, that is besides the point. Anyways, whatever, I'm done with this.

 

[joshsmom]

After DS8's kidney transplant, he gained 35 pounds in a month. He is on prednisone, which increased his appetite to an unmanageable level. Before surgery he weight about 52 pounds. Now he weighs 87 pounds and is only 4' tall. I'm overweight myself and I hate seeing him go through this. He's very active, in soccer and baseball, but his caloric intake is more than his exercise. So today I donated all the bags of chips and bad stuff to my church and bought healthy food. We're going to lose together and I pray that it works.

 

[Serena]

I sure hope seeing all those fat people having fun at wdw doesn't ruin her vacation too much. On the other hand....

Yep, I'm fat. No good reason, although I eat less than most people I know. I need to exercise more, plain and simple. However, I try very hard not to be shallow and judgemental. Those to me are far worse. Maybe because I'm not perfect that I can accept others for what they are instead of what size they wear.

I mean thinking all fat people are lazy is along the same lines as thinking all skinny people just don't know how to cook. Neither one is accurate.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by Christine
Pixie_Dust,
Great points about the food additives and neighborhoods. I live in an area where I just don't feel comfortable to even let my son wait at the bus stop alone. My kids do not ride around the neighborhood alone on their bikes without an adult with them. Not many other kids in the neighborhood do either. There have been way to many kidnappings around here. Just the other day, in fact, a note went home to all the parents saying that some of the "walkers" had been treated to a genital exposure by some pervert standing in the woods. So while some people can let ther kids run around all day, many people can't. And as I said in an earlier post, my son especially HATES organized sports. So he gets 30 minutes of PE on Fridays and then the rest he has to get from home. His extracurricular activities are piano and drama. Not too much exercise there. Fortunately he is still thin, but that is pure luck!

Christine, I would have to say that the things you experienced are a reality of our society, and the idea of letting the kids run around unsupervised is a retro fantasy rather than the norm these days, unfortunately. What parents could forgive themselves if their child was unsupervised and became abducted or molested? Even indoor spaces like libraries and malls aren't safe from the "perverts," due to a number of social ills working together, such as overpopulation combined with underfunding of law enforcement and of mental health programs. I'm glad there are still happy places like WDW

 

[JESW]

My butt is big because I spend too much time on it in front of the computer DISing....



Jill

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by Serena
I sure hope seeing all those fat people having fun at wdw doesn't ruin her vacation too much.

People like her (the rude ones, not the "fat" ones!) DID "ruin" a part of one of my vacations. I was gaining weight and a size 12 at the time, which now I don't even see as "fat." We were on one of those launches and a loud group of people (loaded down with strollers, actually) decided to sit on the same side of the launch as everyone else who was already onboard. The pilot asked some people to move to the other side to balance the boat, so DH and I moved since it was clear this other group was completely oblivious to any responsibility they had, even though the pilot was looking right at them.

So I hear a loud male voice from their group saying, "Oh, look, he was asking for people *of a certain size* to move!" and thought he was so very funny making fun of the so-called "fat" people, us! Even though his party weighed much more in total (and none of them looked particualarly thin, btw), he had to get his amusement by being disgustingly rude as well as oafishly unmoving.

Since I was a size 5 for 20 years, I *was* sensitive to the weight gain (which is probably medical no matter how many people post here about "excuses," to which I say don't throw stones.) So you see it has become a permanent, unpleasant vacation memory. Maybe comments like that are the only way some losers can have an impact on others.

 

[Melora]

The only comment I wanted to make is that I do not think all people can be 4-6. I do not think that being a 12 would be a bad thing for a lot of people.... frankly as fat as some people are nowadays I think a size 12 might be a vast improvement!

I too cannot believe how many seriously overweight people there were when I went to Disney. And I do not meant the "I wish I could lose 30-40 pounds kind of fat.." I mean the people who are weighing in well over 300 and 400 pounds. It really surprised me. Our society as rule is far far too fat. And far far too may people make way too many excuses about it.

Countries like Japan that until recently have had such a low incidence of the diseases we take for granted here the US simply because they have a far superior diet. Now that many of the younger people there are eating more "western" foods and they are getting fatter and disease is becoming more prevalent.

Statistics right now show that being on the thinner side will help you live longer and better then being on the plump side.

Studies show that our diet makes us sick, makes us fat and we pass this on to our children. Some of you might not like to hear that and will take exception to it, but its the absolute truth.

If we want our children to be healthy we have to be good examples. We have to choose well and provide healthy choices on a daily basis. Its perfectly OK to eat what you want when you go to WDW... after all thats what you go for, to have fun and eat all those great yummies!

I might add that I am one of those who "want to lose 30-40 pounds" and I know its because I eat too much and don't exercise enough. I am making a huge effort right now to keep the kitchen stocked with good foods and a minimal amount of bad foods. I have sympathy for those who need to lose weight, but I know that most people are responsible for their own weight.

 

[Microcell]

I agree kids need excercise, but that is marathon time at WDW. My DD is five and I am sure will walk some and run some, but I do plan on a stroller for her because my DS 2 will need one anywayto sleep if nothing else. My kids do not have a weight problem, but my DS sure eats fast and pretty big amounts. At first I was glad because DD eats like a bird but now I do worry about him having weight problems because he shovels the food in. So if anyone else had that problem with a two year old or if it is common and I need to relax let me know!

 

[Serena]

I'm sorry, that was so unexcusable.

You all are too fast for me. lol This was in response to Pixie dust.



I agree our country is too fat as a whole. We do need to do something about it. It's not healthy. But I refuse to be mean to anyone just to make myself feel better.

 

[MeanLaureen]

must be good, must be good, must be good.. don't stoop to their level (darn I hate being good)

I loved the part about size 12 being fat..LMAO. You ever seen a woman near 6ft tall in a 4/6? Skeletal is *such* an attractive look - NOT! The only reason the supermodels are that thin at that height is they want them to look like walking clothes hangers!

 

[Microcell]

Josh's mom. Do you know that prednisone can cause swelling, so although he may need to lose weight for health, that steroid is really messing with his metabolism, and I would think adding water weight. Lots of encouragement is good because it may be slow going while dieting with that helpful yet annoying medication.

 

[joshsmom]

Originally posted by Microcell
Josh's mom. Do you know that prednisone can cause swelling, so although he may need to lose weight for health, that steroid is really messing with his metabolism, and I would think adding water weight. Lots of encouragement is good because it may be slow going while dieting with that helpful yet annoying medication.

Yes, and thanks for bringing that up. We have been in constant contact with his doctor (once a week--YUCK!!!) and his dietician. They have given us meal plans to follow. We went to a seminar yesterday about living with kidney disease and post-transplant issues and nutrition was a big part of the presentation. They've given us the tools--now we just need to put them in action!! Hopefully by doing it together, we will be support to each other and be successful. Luckily we are not at the lowest dose of prednisone, so there is still hope that the actual swelling and water weight will continue to decrease. We're praying!!

 

[Microcell]

For a second Serena I was getting a complex! Please everyone, do not get mad at me about my question about DS having weight problems at two. I have never had a boy before and truly wonder if he is setting himself up for a bad habit. My mom was overweight, and I could not have loved her more at 125lbs than I did at 325lbs. If anyone wants a good excuse to diet I want to tell you that I lost her at 43- she was 43 and I was 16. One of the five listed causes was severe obesity, though it was the heart attack that did it. The others were Diabetes, high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries- at 43! I have to hope that people who seem offensive on this board care about peoples health and not their looks. I thought my mom was beautiful and she could be a thousand pounds I just want her back.

 

[Microcell]

Josh's mom sorry I got serious there. Weight sure is a sensitive issue! You can tell your son too that although the road seems long ahead of him I have met Kidney transplant people and they have gotten to a healthy weight.

 

[Serena]

I'm sorry Microcell. I lost my mom way too early too. She had stomach problems when she was growing up and couldn't eat much at all. She never weighed more than 100 pounds, and she died of cancer.

Actually, my advice for your son. Control what's in the house. He will go through phases of eating a ton and not being hungry. As long as what he's shoveling is healthy food, like veggies and fruit, then let him as long as he's hungry.

My kids loved frozen peas and other veggies. Worrying about our kids is a never ending job.

 

[Microcell]

Originally posted by Serena

Actually, my advice for your son. Control what's in the house. He will go through phases of eating a ton and not being hungry. As long as what he's shoveling is healthy food, like veggies and fruit, then let him as long as he's hungry.

My kids loved frozen peas and other veggies. Worrying about our kids is a never ending job. [/B]

Thanks, I do control what he eats like I have to feed him his veggies first or they will not be eaten- and he only eats those when desperately hungry, and finally he eats apples like starting last week he discovered that, as many as I will give him. I just wonder if I need to really remind him to chew and swallow before taking the next bite? When I do that you would think I was so severe the way he dramatizes. I guess they don't call it terrible twos for nothing. My DD was a terrific two so I am in uncharted territory! She is almost six and just told me for the first time ever that she does not like green beans. I told her that her brother is a bad influence and to start eating!

 

[Planogirl]

Wait a minute. Wearing a size 12 means that you're fat?!!! I had no idea. The stores need to move the size 12's and up to the larger ladies' area apparently. Geesh!

Seriously, American ARE having problems with being overweight and it is an issue that needs to be examined. However, I see being overweight as a matter of choice (assuming full health) and the responsibility of the individual. I refuse to judge someone based on their size because I assume that people do the best they can and it's probably not as important to each person anyway.

 

[Microcell]

Okay I have children to care for so last post. I look at myself in the mirror every day and I see someone who could stand to lose 30 pounds, but I take note of the horrible 80's flowery wall paper I would like to change sometime SOON- my house was built in 1989. I think to myself, I live in a nice house, I have two great kids and a husband that is overweight too, but who is dedicated and wonderful. I am happy and I don't have to be rail thin anymore. That is how I can stand to look in the mirror, because I have so many great things to think about. DD just told me she is hungry, I can't stop laughing how funny is that during this particular thread!

 

[Mskanga]

Originally posted by pnelson
I was shocked when I was at Disney World at the number of fat (yes, I said "FAT") adults walked by me. How can they stand to look at themselves in the mirror?

How sure are you that you are not going to be one of them one day? Never say never.