A weighty issue

[CutieMouse]

*****

 

[FurryFury]

I would never tell a child that they are fat or put one on a diet that singles them out from the rest of the family.

What I would do is speak with my husband about the kind of foods he cooks. I would get him to reconsider all that fat and such. I would get him to fix such things less or not at all for the good of the family and any child whose weight I was worried about.

I would be careful not to buy problem food items except for special occasions such as while on vacation. I would be careful to eat out little, it's expensive anyway and when we did at higher quality restaurants.

I would encourage the drinking of water, and skim milk over all other liquids.

I would encourage fun family physical activities and the children trying other classes in physical things until they found one they were passionate about.

I would also encourage them to appreciate how very miraculous a human body is and take good care of it.

In fact, I've done all of those things.

Fury

 

[WriterDom]

I wonder what the research would show for kids who are obese at 10?

Obesity Cuts Life Span for Young Adults, Too
LINDSEY TANNER / AP 7jan03
CHICAGO -- Being obese at age 20 can cut up to 20 years off a person's life, with the biggest impact on black men, according to yet another study that underscores the long-term dangers of being overweight.

The research appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association and was released a day after another study that said that being fat at 40 shortens a person's life by at least three years
.
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2003/Obesity-Young-Adults7jan02.htm

 

[Etoile]

I have been obese, and I agree diets don't work- a lifestyle change is the ONLY way to maintain a healthy weight- which means 5 years down the road you're probably not going to be obese again, as you've changed your relationship with food. I know some people are overweight due to illness, genetics, etc, but I cannot agree that being obese is healthy, or that the few benifits of being overweight outweigh the risks of being overweight. I just can't.

You're absolutely right that a lifestyle change is the only way to do it. I'd like to think I have achieved that change, though I think over the past couple of months I have been adding more treats than I ought to, so I'll need to re-evaluate that. But I also have realized that I've reached a point where I have to be happy with myself. Yes, I am still overweight according to my BMI. No, I don't fit into the cute clothes I'd like to wear...when we move I'll be getting rid of them. But I have been dieting for 8 months now and staying in the same 5-pound range. My relationship with food is different, and I think that's the key. I have learned how to eat properly, and that's the key. Yeah, I'm still "curvy" but this might be as good as it gets and I have to love myself the way I am. Hello world, I weigh 165 pounds and I'm 5'4" and I wear size 14 clothes and a 26" corset. This is me.

 

[FurryFury]

Good attitude IMO Etoile.

Oh and you are beautiful.

Fury

 

[graceanne]

You're absolutely right that a lifestyle change is the only way to do it. I'd like to think I have achieved that change, though I think over the past couple of months I have been adding more treats than I ought to, so I'll need to re-evaluate that. But I also have realized that I've reached a point where I have to be happy with myself. Yes, I am still overweight according to my BMI. No, I don't fit into the cute clothes I'd like to wear...when we move I'll be getting rid of them. But I have been dieting for 8 months now and staying in the same 5-pound range. My relationship with food is different, and I think that's the key. I have learned how to eat properly, and that's the key. Yeah, I'm still "curvy" but this might be as good as it gets and I have to love myself the way I am. Hello world, I weigh 165 pounds and I'm 5'4" and I wear size 14 clothes and a 26" corset. This is me.

I've seen pictures of you and anyone who think's you are fat is an idiot.

 

[WriterDom]

You're absolutely right that a lifestyle change is the only way to do it. I'd like to think I have achieved that change, though I think over the past couple of months I have been adding more treats than I ought to, so I'll need to re-evaluate that. But I also have realized that I've reached a point where I have to be happy with myself. Yes, I am still overweight according to my BMI. No, I don't fit into the cute clothes I'd like to wear...when we move I'll be getting rid of them. But I have been dieting for 8 months now and staying in the same 5-pound range. My relationship with food is different, and I think that's the key. I have learned how to eat properly, and that's the key. Yeah, I'm still "curvy" but this might be as good as it gets and I have to love myself the way I am. Hello world, I weigh 165 pounds and I'm 5'4" and I wear size 14 clothes and a 26" corset. This is me.

I'd like to see you after 90 days of a real weightlifting program. I saw some guy on 20/20 talking about his "no aerobic" program. Which I say is crazy. But he is correct about one thing. Women who train with weights do have the best bodies.

 

[WriterDom]

I've know a couple of people who had bariatric surgery and they lost a ton a weight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070411/ts_afp/ushealthobesity_070411141024

Number of severely obese Americans soars
Wed Apr 11, 12:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The number of morbidly obese Americans, those who weigh 100 pounds (45 kilograms) over normal weight, is rising much faster than the rest of the obese population, said a study released Tuesday.

The number of severely obese people rose 50 percent from 2000 to 2005, reaching three percent of the US population, or 6.8 million adults, according to a study by the Rand Corporation.
That rise was twice as fast as the gains registered in the moderate obesity, it said.

In order to be considered morbidly obese, a five-foot-ten-inch (1.77 meter) man would have to weigh 300 pounds (136 kilograms) or more, and a five-foot-four-inch (1.64 meter) woman would weigh 250 pounds (113 kilograms) or more.

The study said to be morbidly obese means a person must have a body mass index, which is a ratio of weight to height, of 40 or higher. People with a BMI of 30 or more are obese, while BMIs of 25 to 29 are considered overweight.

"The proportion of Americans with a BMI of 50 or more increased by 75 percent" between 2000 and 2005, it said. The proportion of those with a BMI of 40 or more grew by 50 percent, while BMIs of 30 or more rose 24 percent.

The study was based on self-reported height and weight, which tends to underestimate BMI, Rand said, warning of severe health consequences if the trend continues.

"Among middle-aged adults, people with a BMI over 40 are expected to have health costs that are double those experienced by normal health peers," it said.

The gains came despite the rapid increase in gastric bypass, or stomach stapling, types of surgeries. Thirteen thousand such operations were performed in 1998 compared with 100,000 in 2003, and an estimated 200,000 in 2006.

"The explosion in bariatric surgery has made no noticeable dent in the trend of morbid obesity," said study author Roland Sturm.

 

[CutieMouse]

*****

 

[Cherrysweetdeal]

I'd like to see you after 90 days of a real weightlifting program. I saw some guy on 20/20 talking about his "no aerobic" program. Which I say is crazy. But he is correct about one thing. Women who train with weights do have the best bodies.

I find weightlifting helps to increase the energy and muscle strength so you have the ability to lose weight faster. Plus when you decide to run or walk or ride a bike you have the strength to push yourself to train for better cardio abilities. The girls who lose weight and just don't eat end up gaining it all back, if you lift weights you tend to keep bad weight off longer though it doesn't help if you are trying to reach a lower weight goal.

When I look at some of the women in modelling you can tell they are either naturally skinny or just not eating as much as they could or should. If they worked out they'd probably be more toned as well as thinner.

 

[CutieMouse]

*****

 

[Etoile]

Good attitude IMO Etoile.

Oh and you are beautiful.

Fury

I've seen pictures of you and anyone who think's you are fat is an idiot.

Thanks, you guys. I wasn't angling for comments, it was really just a self-affirming manifesto. This is who I am! And if me declaring myself beautiful as a size 14 helps others to realize that you don't have to be a size 6 to be attractive, that's great too.

 

[Etoile]

Bariatric surgery can be a lifesaver, but as with all things, it is a decision that you have to live with for the rest of your life.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I agree with you 100% though, and that's why I won't let my wife get it. It's probably the ONLY thing I have ever told her she's not allowed to do. For one thing, while she is obese, she's not truly severely obese. She'll kill me for telling you, but she's 5'2" and 220 lbs, or thereabouts. She might be a candidate for bariatric surgery, but she doesn't need it the way someone who is 500 lbs might need it. The main reason I won't let her is because it's too radically life-changing. We could never really enjoy going out to eat again, it would be too weird for me. Everything is just so different in your life after bariatric surgery. Another reason I won't let her get it is because she probably thinks it's an easy out. I know she hates her body, but she doesn't TRY to lose weight. She's lost weight in the past when she tried, and if she made that essential lifestyle change I think she'd keep it off. Yes, people who get bariatric surgery often drop 75-100 lbs in the first couple of years, but that's not a reason to get it. Losing "a ton of weight" is not why you get gastric bypass surgery, you get it because you're going to die otherwise.

 

[Etoile]

I'd like to see you after 90 days of a real weightlifting program. I saw some guy on 20/20 talking about his "no aerobic" program. Which I say is crazy. But he is correct about one thing. Women who train with weights do have the best bodies.

Hah, not likely! Lifting weights means you have to pick up heavy stuff, and I'm not good at that. Can people with decrepit joints (like mine) lift weights safely anyway?

 

[Bandit58]

Another important issue with weight training is that it strengthens women's bones. You can drink all the milk in the world, but if you aren't weight training, your odds of osteoperosis are higher...

My mother has been diagnosed as having osteoporosis, and my maternal grandmother had the "stoop" that many elderly women get. I've been mixing weight training in with my cardio work and as I posted recently I've not noticed any weight loss for a while (in fact I've gained some of it back) but I'm more toned and my tummy is flatter. I have more endurance and have been trying out some of the classes like cycle and circuit as well as pilates and abs work.

I'm naturally broad shouldered with large upper arms even though I would be considered to be small boned (I can overlap my middle finger and thumb around my wrist). I don't think I'm going to be able to make it to below 70kg but at 5'8 I carry it well and I'm happy at around 73kg.

I also enjoy working out now, something I'd never have thought I would a few months ago. If I don't make it to the gym at least twice a week I feel sluggish and guilty! It's good for me to have a break from caring for Master Gil and it's a great stress buster

 

[CutieMouse]

*****

 

[intothewoods]

Hah, not likely! Lifting weights means you have to pick up heavy stuff, and I'm not good at that. Can people with decrepit joints (like mine) lift weights safely anyway?

It's possible I'm talking out my ass, but I seem to recall that lifting weights is good for you if you have joint issues, because building the muscle that supports the joints can relieve pressure on the joints.

 

[tzigane]

intothewoods is right. Lifting weights is actually good for people with arthritis or joint problems (my mom has awful arthritis, and it bothers her less when she's doing strength training). Start with light weights, use the machines rather than free weights, and/or try a couple sessions with a personal trainer. They would be most likely to be able to tell you what will help or hurt your joints.

 

[intothewoods]

Btw, another positive note about weight lifting. For me, the most positive thing about it (especially for those of us who have spent a good chunk of our lives trying to lose weight or watch our weight) is that you are working at building something, not getting rid of something. It's not about staring at your fat and thinking, yuck. It's about becoming stronger, building muscle, meeting goals. You feel results right away, so it's not like, oh when will I finally meet my goal weight, you know?

I also have found a lot of satisfaction in pilates and yoga. Now, fitting in all of this stuff is hard. At the moment, I just work in the moves that I know with my weight training sessions. But I can't say enough good things about both forms of strength training.

I didn't do pilates quite as long, but I'll be blunt: it was the only thing that got my abs back into shape postpartum. And I only did mat pilates too - not the machines. But damn, those exercises work your abs!

But yoga is my real love. I am someone who is high energy and high stress. And it's incredibly hard for me to say to myself, okay, be quiet for a moment.....ready.....GO! My mind is always racing. Yoga is the one thing that helped quiet my mind, and really change the way I look at my body. You have to find a good instructor though, and that can be hard. But with a good instructor, you will love your body, respect your body and release so much tension that you don't even know you have. I am now so much more aware of when I'm hunching up my shoulders, or straining my back, etc.

For anyone who struggles with accepting their body, I really recommend any or all of the above.

 

[WriterDom]

Yeah, I need to start the pilates again. It's the hardest thing for some reason, for me to do. Hard in the sense that I don't want to do it. Which makes it the easiest thing to quit as well. I have seen improvements in just a few weeks in the exercises. I imagine if I could do it for 90 days I'd see a great improvement in my body.

 

[Cherrysweetdeal]

I've been mixing weight training in with my cardio work and as I posted recently I've not noticed any weight loss for a while (in fact I've gained some of it back) but I'm more toned and my tummy is flatter.

Weightlifting I find will help larger people who are about 70 80 lbs overweight ot lose but if you are close to the proper weight it will be that much more difficult to lose anything. One of the guys who we started bringing with us to the gym started at 315 and is down to 290 or something which is awesome. But as I said it seems to be more effective the more weight you have to lose with anyone close to their proper weight they will tone up and most likely gain weight.... thats just what I find considering I've been at 158 for the last so many months.

I'm naturally broad shouldered with large upper arms even though I would be considered to be small boned (I can overlap my middle finger and thumb around my wrist).

as to the body shape it just means you can do different exercises to make yourself a little bit more even. I am smaller in the upper half so if I work out my chest and arms and shoulders then I should look more proportional...

Thats what I find atleast. And when it comes down to it if you can look in the mirror and go I have lost weight and look great or even the I look great no matter what size it makes you feel much better.

Heres a diet drink cheer to all of you people who have lost and kept it off in a very healthy way.*raises glass*

 

[FurryFury]

It's possible I'm talking out my ass, but I seem to recall that lifting weights is good for you if you have joint issues, because building the muscle that supports the joints can relieve pressure on the joints.

I know that exercise actually helps most injuries as long as you aren't doing something that re-injures the problem area. Complete rest and such isn't recommended at all in some cases and just for a few days in others.

Most people who lift weights actually gain muscle mass. On a scale that can mean weighing more. Most of the time though you feel and look better because of the sort of weight it is.

I'm skipping my PT tonight. I've been good for a while now. How will I know when to stop if I don't give it a rest now and then? The "health care provider" just wants more visits and more money yanno?

I'm tired of this crap. I hope I won't have to keep spending that sort of PT time for a very long stretch. I'll see how much better or worse it is tomorrow.

I really, really, really HATE this stuff.

Fury

 

[graceanne]

*hugs* for Fury

I know that snowy called her PT a sadistic domme.

 

[WriterDom]

I think there is a myth about women who weight train. That they bulk up like a man. They do get very lean. To the point where their body fat might rival an anorexic. The difference being the anorexic has very little muscle tissue.

 

[graceanne]

I think there is a myth about women who weight train. That they bulk up like a man. They do get very lean. To the point where their body fat might rival an anorexic. The difference being the anorexic has very little muscle tissue.

My sister-in-law does weight training. She can't even tell you what her weight is, but she can tell you what her body fat percent is, and it's like below healthy. She's thrilled, though. (I think she said 8%, but I haven't seen her in years, and could be wrong about that number.) I believe that she doesn't even have periods anymore, her body fat percent is so low.