A weighty issue

[WriterDom]

I believe that attacking someone for their weight is a sure fire way of making them fatter. My brother actually said this outloud once about his son, my nephew.

"I've finally shamed Robert into losing weight."

That was about 4 or 5 years ago. Today Robert weighs at least 50 pounds more. I'd be afraid to even ask how much he weighs. My guess is a lot closer to 300 than 200.

 

[lil_slave_rose]

Smokers are drug addicts. Pure and simple. The only difference between tobacco and crack is that crack gets you higher.

Obesity has tripled in this country in the last 25 years among children. I think the last thing we need is a fat person's "bill of rights." We're going to see a whole generation of people ending up on disability by the time they are 45 if nothing is done about it.

sorry to say, but 'food' is an addiction too. i just dont' agree with your 'arguments' here....and what i also don't understand, is why does everyone feel it's their place to say anything about anyone being 'fat', my point is, if they are 'ok' (as ok as you can be) about themselves, then why is it anyone else's business or place to judge.

as i said, i am WAY overweight, but i'm happy with myself for the most part. so who is anyone (especially someone at a restaurant who doesn't know me) to judge me simply because i'm overweight? and i've taught myself not to care what people think of me anymore, because if they are shallow enough to judge me based on my weight alone without getting to know the 'me' inside, then i dont' need them in my life anyway.

 

[lil_slave_rose]

I believe that attacking someone for their weight is a sure fire way of making them fatter. My brother actually said this outloud once about his son, my nephew.

"I've finally shamed Robert into losing weight."

That was about 4 or 5 years ago. Today Robert weighs at least 50 pounds more. I'd be afraid to even ask how much he weighs. My guess is a lot closer to 300 than 200.

i agree with you on this. my dad did this to me, and though He thought He was helping, He only made the problem worse......

 

[CutieMouse]

*****

 

[WriterDom]

I would call overeating more of a compulsive behavior than an addiction. But if you want to label it as a disease shouldn't it be treated rather than excused?

Hospitals are having to supersize with larger gowns, wider blood pressure cuffs, reinforced chairs, larger beds, stronger toilet mounts, bigger room and bathroom doorways, expanded showers and even longer syringes and surgical tools.

Research shows a morbidly obese person's life expectancy is reduced by 13 to 20 years compared to a non-obese person's life span. So that's what? Kicking off at 50 to 60? And at what point do they become wards of the State? Or require constant care from a family member?

 

[lil_slave_rose]

*shrugs* this issue is a very touchy one for me. and if you've never walked in those shoes i'm not sure how you or anyone can judge anyone else who is and have probably always walked in those shoes. society sees a fat person and that's ALL they see, their mind closes and they don't see a person inside, just the fat.

i'm not talking about the medical problems that come along with being obese, obviously there are alot, but there are medical problems that come along with alot of other things too that are WAY more accepted than someone who is overweight. i just don't get it, and probably never will. yep, i'm fat, have been pretty much all of my life, but i'm also a very good person with feelings that deserves the same amount of respect as a 'smaller' person....period. that's my point.

i should just stay out of these threads about weight, because i always end up getting defensive and pissing someone off or getting mad myself, which is not my intent. i just don't get the way of thinking that some people have about overweight people. *shrugs*

 

[HottieMama]

*shrugs* this issue is a very touchy one for me. and if you've never walked in those shoes i'm not sure how you or anyone can judge anyone else who is and have probably always walked in those shoes. society sees a fat person and that's ALL they see, their mind closes and they don't see a person inside, just the fat.

i'm not talking about the medical problems that come along with being obese, obviously there are alot, but there are medical problems that come along with alot of other things too that are WAY more accepted than someone who is overweight. i just don't get it, and probably never will. yep, i'm fat, have been pretty much all of my life, but i'm also a very good person with feelings that deserves the same amount of respect as a 'smaller' person....period. that's my point.

i should just stay out of these threads about weight, because i always end up getting defensive and pissing someone off or getting mad myself, which is not my intent. i just don't get the way of thinking that some people have about overweight people. *shrugs*

rose..i think this is one issue that you and i completely agree on. i have always been overweight...or i should say from at least the time i was 9 or 10. It has just been recently, after i had my son in November, that i have been able to see my "compulsive overeating" as an addiction...and a problem in my life. Food addiction is probably the hardest addiction to manage because you need the "addictive substance" to survive. No one needs heroin or alcohol...everyone needs to eat. i struggle daily with "Am i eating this because i am hungry....or is it because i am sad, worried, frustrated, lonely etc..?"

i am fortunate that the people i love, love me no matter if i was to weigh 250lbs or 130lbs...it's a good feeling to know that no matter what i'm still beautiful and desirable in their eyes...

 

[lil_slave_rose]

rose..i think this is one issue that you and i completely agree on. i have always been overweight...or i should say from at least the time i was 9 or 10. It has just been recently, after i had my son in November, that i have been able to see my "compulsive overeating" as an addiction...and a problem in my life. Food addiction is probably the hardest addiction to manage because you need the "addictive substance" to survive. No one needs heroin or alcohol...everyone needs to eat. i struggle daily with "Am i eating this because i am hungry....or is it because i am sad, worried, frustrated, lonely etc..?"

i am fortunate that the people i love, love me no matter if i was to weigh 250lbs or 130lbs...it's a good feeling to know that no matter what i'm still beautiful and desirable in their eyes...

*nods* exactly. i find myself everytime i go to eat, asking myself ' am i really hungry?' the answer is alot of times no, but i can't stop myself anyway. weight struggle is a VERY hard thing, and i agree since the 'substance' is needed it makes it that much harder. and i truly hate societies reaction to me when i go out in public. their reactions have played a big part in my anxiety issues along with my issues about myself. i hate the looks, the comments, but i've finally learned that their opinion of me does not matter, they don't know me.

 

[HottieMama]

*nods* exactly. i find myself everytime i go to eat, asking myself ' am i really hungry?' the answer is alot of times no, but i can't stop myself anyway. weight struggle is a VERY hard thing, and i agree since the 'substance' is needed it makes it that much harder. and i truly hate societies reaction to me when i go out in public. their reactions have played a big part in my anxiety issues along with my issues about myself. i hate the looks, the comments, but i've finally learned that their opinion of me does not matter, they don't know me.

That's such a HARD lesson to learn, and if you manage to maintain that attitude with any amount of regularity, you have my utmost respect and admiration. There are many days when i can't look in the mirror and be objective about myself. All i see is the fat thighs...the fat belly....blah blah blah... When i am in that headspace, it's really hard for me to not be anxious or depressed about what other people think of me... i'm hypersensitive, and i think everyone is talking about me.

(i have also learned that, at least for me, during these times it is REALLY bad to question/doubt my PYL when He says i'm beautiful, or sexy, etc...He doesn't handle that too well, and i usually wind up getting some sort of writing assignment...lol)

 

[lil_slave_rose]

That's such a HARD lesson to learn, and if you manage to maintain that attitude with any amount of regularity, you have my utmost respect and admiration. There are many days when i can't look in the mirror and be objective about myself. All i see is the fat thighs...the fat belly....blah blah blah... When i am in that headspace, it's really hard for me to not be anxious or depressed about what other people think of me... i'm hypersensitive, and i think everyone is talking about me.

(i have also learned that, at least for me, during these times it is REALLY bad to question/doubt my PYL when He says i'm beautiful, or sexy, etc...He doesn't handle that too well, and i usually wind up getting some sort of writing assignment...lol)

i am the same way, and i don't maintain that way of thinking all of the time, many times i hear the comments and i start to get upset. but shallow people are just not the kinds of people i like being around anyway, and i have to remember that in those times or i too get like you anxious, depressed, and feel like everyone is staring and talking about me. i too get in trouble with Master when He tells me i'm beautiful and i tell Him 'ok, if You say so' lol....that's not what He wants to hear, a simple..thank You Sir, would do just fine

 

[HottieMama]

i am the same way, and i don't maintain that way of thinking all of the time, many times i hear the comments and i start to get upset. but shallow people are just not the kinds of people i like being around anyway, and i have to remember that in those times or i too get like you anxious, depressed, and feel like everyone is staring and talking about me. i too get in trouble with Master when He tells me i'm beautiful and i tell Him 'ok, if You say so' lol....that's not what He wants to hear, a simple..thank You Sir, would do just fine

Hey...at least you say..'ok if You say so'...Our conversation last night went like this...Him: "you're so beautiful" Me: "and You're fucking blind." We're normally very playful and joke a lot with each other...but He didn't take that as so much of a joke. (Before anyone jumps on me...i know what i said was VERY disrespectful and rude. i will certainly not say it to him again.)

 

[lil_slave_rose]

Hey...at least you say..'ok if You say so'...Our conversation last night went like this...Him: "you're so beautiful" Me: "and You're fucking blind." We're normally very playful and joke a lot with each other...but He didn't take that as so much of a joke. (Before anyone jumps on me...i know what i said was VERY disrespectful and rude. i will certainly not say it to him again.)

LOL..i've made disrespectful comments like that before also, i've learned my lesson

 

[WriterDom]

But isn't it possible to be critical and concerned about the obesity problem and yet not prejudge or hate heavy people? I find women attractive in all shapes and sizes. For some activities, I'd rather have some junk in the trunk than a twiggy. But I like skinny too. Skinny, curvy, or supersized. To me sexy is all in the mind. And the heart.

 

[babiesmiles]

.......To me sexy is all in the mind. And the heart.

Some of the best words I have read on this board lately

 

[lil_slave_rose]

But isn't it possible to be critical and concerned about the obesity problem and yet not prejudge or hate heavy people? I find women attractive in all shapes and sizes. For some activities, I'd rather have some junk in the trunk than a twiggy. But I like skinny too. Skinny, curvy, or supersized. To me sexy is all in the mind. And the heart.

i do agree with you there, and yes of course it's possible to be 'critical' and 'concerned' about the obesity problem without hating heavy people, but it's the comments like how can fat people go up to the buffet 3-4 times and then top it off with dessert? that bother me, that make me think of the way society views us. and makes me understand why i sometimes hate my body so much. make sense?

 

[HottieMama]

But isn't it possible to be critical and concerned about the obesity problem and yet not prejudge or hate heavy people? I find women attractive in all shapes and sizes. For some activities, I'd rather have some junk in the trunk than a twiggy. But I like skinny too. Skinny, curvy, or supersized. To me sexy is all in the mind. And the heart.

Absolutely. i totally agree with you that it is possible to be concerned about the problem..and yet not be prejudiced against overweight people at the same time. i have two children. i am doing everything in my power to make sure they grow up with different messages about food than i did, which is a large part of the reason why i have started examining my own eating behaviors a few months ago. i don't want them to be teased and ridiculed in school because of their weight..and i don't want them to grow up to be overweight adults who have been "beaten down" so much, they can't find their own self-worth.

And i also agree that sexy is all in the mind and heart. My PYL is not attractive by society's standards...but He's "drool worthy" to me.

 

[FurryFury]

http://news.aol.com/partners/usa-to...s/20070410094109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001


Updated:2007-04-10 09:59:30
Morbid Obesity Affects More Americans
By Nanci Hellmich
USA Today
(April 10) - The prevalence of American adults who are 100 or more pounds over a healthy weight has risen dramatically since 2000, a study released Monday shows.

About 3% of people, or 6.8 million adults, were morbidly obese in 2005, up from 2% or 4.2 million people in 2000, says Roland Sturm, an economist with the RAND Corp., a non-profit think tank.

The evidence of such a significant increase in the number of Americans who are extremely heavy "is mind-boggling," he says.

Sturm analyzed government data on about 1.5 million people who reported their own weights and heights. Participants were categorized as severely or morbidly obese if they had a body mass index (a height-weight ratio) of 40 or higher.

According to government data, about 66% of people in the USA are now either overweight or obese, which is defined as 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight. Obesity increases a person's risk of contracting numerous diseases, including diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.

Sturm's study, which was released Monday on the website of the journal Public Health, shows that 24.6% of people were obese in 2005, up from 20% in 2000. That's an increase of 24%.

People usually under report their weight, so the percentage of people who are morbidly obese is actually higher than 3%, Sturm says. A large government survey in which people are actually weighed and measured suggests that about 5% of U.S. adults are morbidly obese and a third are obese, Sturm says.

He says his analysis highlights the dramatic increase in the number of morbidly obese people over a relatively short period of time.

"Even though we've had an explosion of bariatric surgery in that time, it doesn't seem to have made a dent in these numbers," he says. Bariatric surgery often reduces the size of the stomach.

For years, some experts believed that severe obesity was a rare condition that affected a fixed percentage of the population that might be more predisposed to weight gain for genetic or metabolic reasons, Sturm says.

"But these numbers show the trend is really paralleling what is going on in our society," he says. To help reverse the numbers, "we need to move to a healthier environment with friendlier staircases and more walkable environments," Sturm says.

George Blackburn, associate director of nutrition at Harvard Medical School, calls the increase in the percent of severely obese people a catastrophe.

"It is an emergency because the disability, the discrimination and the health care costs for this population are enormous," he says.

My note on all this:

It's bad folks, really bad and . . .

Friendly stair cases? Wha?

*scratches head*

Oh and finally, I must be classified as obese according to this article since I probably weigh about 145 now and my ideal weight is 115, that's 30 pounds over. Whatever . . .

Fury

 

[WriterDom]

I was thinking yesterday they should rename McDonalds, McObesity.

 

[the captians wench]

That 30lbs thing really gets me as well Furry. Most people don't look good in my opionion at their "ideal" weight. I personally think the "ideal" weight listings are a bit on the light side.

And you know I'm really sick of people blaming obesity on McDonalds. I eat there 5 days a week often twice a day for the past 2 years and I've managed to loose 150+lbs. I work there, and I don't get a break as a manager so it's either eat Mcd food or go into a sugar fit. Okay granted the menue is loaded with calaries, but so are other places. Infact I haven't heard one peep about the fact that Wendy's changed it's sizes so a small fry is now what we call a medium, and they added what we used to call a supersize, they just call it large. Mcd's does offer healthier choices, and if you watch what you eat and how often you eat what you do spluge then you can eat any where you like. Come on people, it's not like Ronald holds a gun to your head and forses that mac and fries down your throught.

 

[FurryFury]

I was thinking yesterday they should rename McDonalds, McObesity.

I don't actually think there is anything wrong with McDonalds as long as it's only an occasional treat, say no more than once every month or two.

I rarely eat fast food but now and then I get a craving for fries, shakes and such. Usually I go to a local restaurant that has a veggie burger for that stuff though.

Other fast food I occasionally enjoy is Subway and Roly Poly. Otherwise I like slow food better when I eat out. I'll go with a mom and pop place that has great food at good prices over most other choices.

Still, I don't eat out much at all. That is helpful to me with both my wallet and my waistline.

Every time I resist the urge to grab something out or in fact, to eat anything at home, I feel like I've won a battle for my well being. When I give in, I figure I'm good for it as I don't do it often.

Fury

 

[FurryFury]

That 30lbs thing really gets me as well Furry. Most people don't look good in my opionion at their "ideal" weight. I personally think the "ideal" weight listings are a bit on the light side.

And you know I'm really sick of people blaming obesity on McDonalds. I eat there 5 days a week often twice a day for the past 2 years and I've managed to loose 150+lbs. I work there, and I don't get a break as a manager so it's either eat Mcd food or go into a sugar fit. Okay granted the menue is loaded with calaries, but so are other places. Infact I haven't heard one peep about the fact that Wendy's changed it's sizes so a small fry is now what we call a medium, and they added what we used to call a supersize, they just call it large. Mcd's does offer healthier choices, and if you watch what you eat and how often you eat what you do spluge then you can eat any where you like. Come on people, it's not like Ronald holds a gun to your head and forses that mac and fries down your throught.

It is true you can order healthy stuff almost anywhere now. It's just a matter of doing it and then being willing to actually eat the stuff.

I think it's great that you've been able to lose like that. Wow!

However the ads, mostly aimed at kids do seep into our subconscious and make us feel like, not only should we eat fast food more but everyone else is doing it. That's just my opinion.

My personal ideal weight is mine btw, not what a chart says. I just looked up a chart and I'm quite possibly underweight according to it. It depends on what is meant by small, med and large "frame." I'm 5'10" btw.

I'm trying to get taller because my kids are trying to tower over me someday. I just know that's the plan. *grr* LOL.

I do think people tend to eat fast food too much though. I think that convenience foods in general are laden with bad things, even when from the grocery store.

They are cheap but still, compared with what I can do more costly than I'd like as well. I will at times convenience out but I try not to spend more than I have to if the time and effort difference isn't worth it.

With two veggies in the house and a son who loves produce we spend a LOT of money on healthy things when it would be far cheaper to buy otherwise.

Fury

 

[the captians wench]

It is true you can order healthy stuff almost anywhere now. It's just a matter of doing it and then being willing to actually eat the stuff.

I think it's great that you've been able to lose like that. Wow!

However the ads, mostly aimed at kids do seep into our subconscious and make us feel like, not only should we eat fast food more but everyone else is doing it. That's just my opinion.

My personal ideal weight is mine btw, not what a chart says. I just looked up a chart and I'm quite possibly underweight according to it. It depends on what is meant by small, med and large "frame." I'm 5'10" btw.

I'm trying to get taller because my kids are trying to tower over me someday. I just know that's the plan. *grr* LOL.

I do think people tend to eat fast food too much though. I think that convenience foods in general are laden with bad things, even when from the grocery store.

They are cheap but still, compared with what I can do more costly than I'd like as well. I will at times convenience out but I try not to spend more than I have to if the time and effort difference isn't worth it.

With two veggies in the house and a son who loves produce we spend a LOT of money on healthy things when it would be far cheaper to buy otherwise.

Fury

Oh I agree, I eat at work way too much, and I've thought about bringing things in, like a can of tuna that I can fix a sandwich, but with the hours I'm working now that's just not feesable. I prolly should skip the meal that I get on my way out, but I'm so tired when I get home that I'm more likely to sleep than eat and if I do that I tend to let my sugar get too low which makes eating even harder.

I'd much rather cook. And on my days off, and all durring my vacation I never ate out, I cooked at home. I even cooked for friends a few times. I think food just tastes better when it's home made rather than premade.

And true ads are aimed at kids. But most products that are for kids are aimed towards kids, and McD's does offer children's meals. It would be a waist to potential customers not to gear some ads towards children. On that same note, Disney doesn't really gear their ads to adults either. *shrug* I guess I just don't see the since in blaming a company because you personally can't make smart choices. And I don't understand why McDonald's is getting all the greif and the other fast food places aren't.

 

[graceanne]

My note on all this:

It's bad folks, really bad and . . .

Friendly stair cases? Wha?

*scratches head*

Oh and finally, I must be classified as obese according to this article since I probably weigh about 145 now and my ideal weight is 115, that's 30 pounds over. Whatever . . .

Fury

My ideal weight is something like 110. I could starve myself and never weigh that much. I know, cause I've starved myself and never got below 130. I bleieve my ideal size is something like a 5. *laughs hysterically*

I don't particularly care what dr's say I should be. Dr's are idiots. Actually they're stupid, fucking idiots, but you don't want me to get started. These are the morons who also say teething doesn't cause throwing up in babies.

Beyond that, that's right, put some mroe pressure on the fat people. Know what I've noticed? The more I stress about my weight, the more weight I gain, and it has nothign to do with what I eat. I rarely eat, period, cause it hurts me. I think all those assholes constantly carping about my weight, and stressing me out about it, are making me fat.

That 30lbs thing really gets me as well Furry. Most people don't look good in my opionion at their "ideal" weight. I personally think the "ideal" weight listings are a bit on the light side.

And you know I'm really sick of people blaming obesity on McDonalds. I eat there 5 days a week often twice a day for the past 2 years and I've managed to loose 150+lbs. I work there, and I don't get a break as a manager so it's either eat Mcd food or go into a sugar fit. Okay granted the menue is loaded with calaries, but so are other places. Infact I haven't heard one peep about the fact that Wendy's changed it's sizes so a small fry is now what we call a medium, and they added what we used to call a supersize, they just call it large. Mcd's does offer healthier choices, and if you watch what you eat and how often you eat what you do spluge then you can eat any where you like. Come on people, it's not like Ronald holds a gun to your head and forses that mac and fries down your throught.

AMEN SISTER! I take my son to mcdonalds on all the days that it's too cold to go outside, cause otherwise he drives me batty. We don't always eat there, but if i had a choice between feeding him there or anywhere else, I'd choose McDonalds. They have the option of apple slices or frenchfries. You can get juice or pop or water for your drink. Burger King only has an offer of this applesauce stuff that's mixed with some other fruit and is NASTY. Also McDonalds has really good, fresh salads for me, and their iced tea is BREWED not that pre-sweetened powdered crap. (And if you want to get into it, take a wild guess how much more calories that fake iced tea has over unsweetened BREWED tea. Not to mention that the brewed tea is high in anti-oxidants. )

I have to say, I wish that subway had a drive through and a play place. I'd go there a LOT more if they did.

 

[WriterDom]

Captain D's has a low cal salmon but I'm the only person I've ever seen eating it. Anything once a month isn't bad. With the body for life program you can eat anything you want once a week. And people do well on it. But it is very workout intensive.

There are people who eat burgers and fries or the equivalent at least once a day if not more. Watch Supersize Me sometime and see what that can do to a person in a month.

 

[ownedsubgal]

those medical ideal weight standards are just outdated. people today for the most part have entirely different body types and structures than they did even 50, 60 years ago. that is why clothing sizes had to be adjusted...an "8" today would have been a "12" in the '40s and '50s. anyone who loves to wear vintage clothing will know what i'm talking about. for some reason, people have gotten progressively taller, wider, and heavier throughout the generations. i happen to have a passion for antique women's clothing, mostly stuff from the early 1800's to the 1920s. back in the early 1800s, the average women's shoe size would be comparable to a US size 5 today. the average corsetted dress size was about a 2 or 3. but even a tiny woman of today, 5'0, size 0, tiny feet, isn't likely to fit the 1800s clothing because modern women still have broader shoulders and backs, bigger breasts, etc.

i wonder what happened to us? personally i don't think we should simply accept that we're just getting bigger and bigger. instead we should stop and ask ourselves why, and see what we can do about it. obesity is truly an alarming problem in the western world, and it's begun to spread to other cultures as well. it's not about discriminating against or bashing fat people, but rather recognizing that this issue has reached epidemic proportions, and it's no longer an issue of individuals.