Are you fat?

[WolfeMacleod]

More than I'd like to be.
Why? I tore my Achilles Tendon towards the end of 2010, so I stopped moving around as much as I previously did.
IT HURT like a mofo just to walk.

There's a Chic filet in the food court under my building. Always wonder if the fat peops in line there think that fried recombined chikn chunk is a healthy alternative. Been there 5 years. Same people, just fatter.

[dlockhart]

Late 30s early 40s I could see previous breaks in my ribs and had some decent fitness. Now just turning 48 and what the heck happend. I barely eat and I'm stuffed. I cut out the bad yummy stuff and still the pounds are creeping up. Getting old is tough.

[SiberianDVM]

I know how the calories in/calories out thing works. I took all kinds of biochem, nutrition, etc, courses in college and vet school, and I can even compute how much hay and grain you need you need to feed your cow to grow him up to eatin' size.

Yet the biggest problem I have is that when I get hungry my stomach doesn't just growl, that sum***** starts hurting. Pain. As in feed me right now, Seymour, feed me! or I will make your life hell.

How the heck do you handle that without eating? Back when I ran, I could count on running far enough that I got nauseous and didn't want to eat. If I drink enough water to fill up, I'm up pissing half the night.

[billybek]

Three weeks in England and a lot of pub grub....
Think I put on a few.
5'10" and typically 183 lbs. Still that is right on the top edge of the BMI chart.

[911Freak]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I'm 6'1", 185, and in good shape.

I have no problem admitting, though, that it is a CONSTANT struggle. I'm in the gym for cardio and weights 5 days a week, consistently, for the past 10 years. And pretty much hating every minute of it.

I am also eternally vigilant about what I eat. I pretty much stay away from processed foods, esp. processed carbs and sugar.

I went for almost 3 years straight without having any sugar at all.

I weigh myself every day, like a girl, and cut back on food and increase exercise if I gain even 2 lbs.

It sucks, I hate it, but I simply cannot accept the alternative.

I'm big on personal responsibility, but here in the US (and probably most of the world, some day), the foods that are served, advertised, put on shelves, etc. really is horribly fattening. Frankly, it's just crap. The amount of sugar and processed carbs in everything is incredible, the nutrition is low, and the calories are through the roof.

To remain at an ideal weight in that environment, while of course possible and done by many, is simply too much to ask from the majority of people. It takes a level of education, dedication, will power and even money (eating healthy, whole foods and proteins is expensive) that most simply can't pull together. They simply have no chance.

We have so much debate about our "health care" system, but the REAL problem we have isn't health care (i.e., doctors, hospitals, insurance, etc.), but a very, very unhealthy population. (20% still smoke, god knows what the % of overweight and obese is these days). And, like most things, it just gets worse and worse.

No country is immune to it, though. 20 years ago, for instance, there were almost no overweight in China. Now, 38% are overweight. As the fast food restaurants have flooded China in the past 7-10 years, the obesity rate has gone up 5X.

Agree!
The sort of change required to make a healthy return to proper nutrition requires accountability, education and participation from the ground up!
That's a big money making machine so thoroughly engrained in the food supply it would take an act of God to divert the crash course to disease and shorter life spans we are currently on. It's not going to happen as far as I'm concerned. Society wants a pill that makes them thin and allows them to eat whatever they want.

Remember the potato chips that had a chemical in them which allowed the fat to pass through the body without being absorbed? It had a neat side effect written on the side of the bag "may cause anal leakage". What's a little spotting when you can eat a delicious potato chip?

My wife's best friend is an executive at ConAgra, i'll just say we have a long way to go before we even nudge the corporate culture in that industry off its current course towards.......

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I'm 6'1", 185, and in good shape.

I have no problem admitting, though, that it is a CONSTANT struggle. I'm in the gym for cardio and weights 5 days a week, consistently, for the past 10 years. And pretty much hating every minute of it.

I am also eternally vigilant about what I eat. I pretty much stay away from processed foods, esp. processed carbs and sugar.

I went for almost 3 years straight without having any sugar at all.

I weigh myself every day, like a girl, and cut back on food and increase exercise if I gain even 2 lbs.

It sucks, I hate it, but I simply cannot accept the alternative.

I'm big on personal responsibility, but here in the US (and probably most of the world, some day), the foods that are served, advertised, put on shelves, etc. really is horribly fattening. Frankly, it's just crap. The amount of sugar and processed carbs in everything is incredible, the nutrition is low, and the calories are through the roof.

To remain at an ideal weight in that environment, while of course possible and done by many, is simply too much to ask from the majority of people. It takes a level of education, dedication, will power and even money (eating healthy, whole foods and proteins is expensive) that most simply can't pull together. They simply have no chance.

We have so much debate about our "health care" system, but the REAL problem we have isn't health care (i.e., doctors, hospitals, insurance, etc.), but a very, very unhealthy population. (20% still smoke, god knows what the % of overweight and obese is these days). And, like most things, it just gets worse and worse.

No country is immune to it, though. 20 years ago, for instance, there were almost no overweight in China. Now, 38% are overweight. As the fast food restaurants have flooded China in the past 7-10 years, the obesity rate has gone up 5X.

THIS! ^^^^^

Could not agree more....except about whole foods being expensive ( although having access to good food in this country is a problem for many ). If you discount by the fact that most of us over eat then when you eat less quantity of whole foods then the cost may be a wash. Plus with the increased nutrition in whole foods your won't require as much either but that still requires discipline. Further it's a pay now or pay later principal. What you spend up front for quaility food will pay dividens in better health later in life. No different than a car... if you want it to run well ya better damn well put good fuel in it!

Buy it ...Read it!
In Defense of Food | Michael Pollan

regards,

Mike

[motion]

Yo fat people: Sign up! Bountiful Baskets

[stogie25]

I am 44, 6'0 and 210. I was out of shape at 247 in December. I am now very fit as I work out with weights for an hour and a half, and do the treadmill for a half hour five days a week. I also monitor my carb intake carefully. I am now back to about 12% body fat, and went from obese to over weight on the bmi scale.

Around Christmas I decided I was fat and went on a very low carb diet, and started working out again. I was an amateur competition body builder in my 20's and 30's. I hurt my arm and stopped working out about five years ago. It is good to be back.

Last week.



Last year.


The old days.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

How the heck do you handle that without eating?

1/2 of a grapefruit works very well. And its good for the prostate or the heart or something . . .

Ian

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

And if so, why?

Why?
Genetics play a big part of it. My grandmother was over 300 lbs and lived to age 93.

Habits and lifestyle. You start out working on a farm, playing football and spend 25 years jogging/running.....Weight is not an issue. You ruin your feet knees from running and injuries (9 out of my 10 surgeries have been from the knees down). Start putting on the lbs...

Now you are old and broken up and don't work out. You start to drink socially and then to ease the pain. Alcohol packs on the lbs...

You're now in a downward spiral and get no respect from even people like Motion...

Then, you meet some really good doctors that spend time with you. Thanks to my doctors, I've lost 105 lbs the past 18 months, finally gotten the knee replacement I'd put off for 20 years and haven't felt this good in 25 years.....Still a few lbs to go, but my whole life has changed by now. I now lose weight w/o really trying...

[motion]

I respect all people.... well, most of them, anyway. Just that looking at obese people gives me the heebie-jeebies.

[imcarthur]

Offered without other comment:

"It used to be your glands were blamed for obesity, as in,"Don't blame me, blame my pituitary." After several decades of searching for and failing to find an organ in the body that was causing the eater to consume too many doughnuts, the blame game switched to genes. I'd like a nickel for every weight-loss client who went through the genealogy of obese relatives concluding, "It runs in the family."

A recently reported analysis of studies on an obesity gene, FTO, has concluded that if obesity "runs in the family" then running will prevent the family from becoming obese. The study suggests if all your relatives on both sides of your family can't see their laps when they sit down, if you run or otherwise engage in physical activity, it is doubtful that you will be fat . . . (snip)

Apparently just having the gene is not sufficient to produce an obese body. The FTO gene does increase the risk of obesity by 23% but its effect, according to the report, may be limited to upping your body mass by 1 kg or a little over 2 pounds. This means that going on a cruise is more likely to add pounds than inheriting the gene."

From Psychology Today: Can Your Genes Really Make You Fat?

Ian

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Then, you meet some really good doctors that spend time with you. Thanks to my doctors, I've lost 105 lbs the past 18 months, finally gotten the knee replacement I'd put off for 20 years and haven't felt this good in 25 years.....Still a few lbs to go, but my whole life has changed by now. I now lose weight w/o really trying...

Bob - congratulations. That's something to be proud of. You prolly added years to your life and vice versa.

[stuartj]

Its always amazing to me to see footage from the 50s and 60s, especially old holiday film of people on the beach in their swimmers. There are simply NO fat people. Im sure they were around, but they were the exception, not the norm. Some look to our 2012 eye like they have stepped out of a prison camp. A similar scene today, every adult looks 20-30 lbs heavier. Its hard to hide in your speedos.

Its not about vanity, its about quality of life. Thats stuff around your waist is also casing every organ in your body.

Its not about fat. The French*, as a population, are not fat. They eat full fat everything, they scoff at "diet" foods. They cook in duck fat, they eat meat fats , they drink whine, they eat bread and pattiserie. In moderation. natural fats wont hurt you. Sugar and processed fats, and quantity, certainly does. When I go to the US, Im always staggered by the portions served.

*like everywhere, their young people are succumbing to the fast food/high fat/high sugar plague.

[mrm930]

I'm 6'-0" and at 175-178. I work out 6 days a week with hard cardio for 45 minutes every work out day. I alternate circuit training with opposing lifting every other day. Saturdays off - Sundays are just cardio and alot of stretching. At 55, it is all about quality of life. Lean muscle mass is a far better goal than anyone lifting for bulk muscle mass - too much fat with the muscle with that work out route. I refuse to eat any thing processed - which in this country is getting nearly impossible.

For overall health - it is embarrassing to be an American - processed foods, large portions, fries, and 60 oz fountain drinks. After a 10 day trip to Italy, I noticed that the europeans eat all the time - but the food is fresh - EVERYDAY. They don't have the crap we eat, they don't have supermarkets. They all look so much more healthy than us - and of course their sense of style is great. Of course - its Italian clothing - how bad could it be!

As soon as we returned to the US - no one had to tell you where you were. People traveling in jump suits, warm-ups and sweats. Oversized clothing to cover the oversized body - it was actually disturbing to all of us who traveled together.

US = "You want fries with that" -or- "You want to supersize that"

[dw1]

Yes.

Not enough exercise and too much time at work + commuting. 70+ hours per week (with no breaks or lunch during the day) doesn't leave time for much else.

I guess I'm a cliché - former athlete gone soft.

I've tried cutting down on the calories & general food intake - I'm down to one meal/day - but it doesn't help that much. My diet still has too many carbs.

This is not uncommon where I live - even the current Governor is more than a little bit overweight. I certainly hope that I am never accused of having a "Christie-esque" physique.

[vash]

Originally Posted by dw1

Yes.

Not enough exercise and too much time at work + commuting. 70+ hours per week (with no breaks or lunch during the day) doesn't leave time for much else.

I guess I'm a cliché - former athlete gone soft.

I've tried cutting down on the calories & general food intake - I'm down to one meal/day - but it doesn't help that much. My diet still has too many carbs.

This is not uncommon where I live - even the current Governor is more than a little bit overweight. I certainly hope that I am never accused of having a "Christie-esque" physique.

One meal a day may be your downfall. Your body is conserving fat. You need to graze.

[mikesride]

Yep, way to big! but at 6'2" 300lbs I carry it pretty well and at 43 I still hold my own at the boxing club. I have started to lean out a bit now.....nobody bothers me much, but I must look funny climbing out of the 911!

[aap1966]

6'1'' 159 lbs

I run a bit.