The Obesity Epidemic

[AnaMarzen]

Originally Posted by Vort

That's quite nice of you to say. Judging by the reaction of some others to me during my time on this list, you may not feel that way after being here a few weeks...but I daresay you're right, we'll be friends. I do have a few of those here.



To be clear, it's not a book on weight loss. Not by a long shot. It's a book about how various things reach a "tipping point" and become a fad or a nuisance or a way of life. It's kind of a book on mass psychology. Very interesting, though.

Ah, I see. Sounds like a fascinating read though.

And it's okay, I have thick skin (literally and figuratively LOL!)

[Dravin]

Originally Posted by Vort

It's kind of a book on mass psychology. Very interesting, though.

Psychologist: Tell me more about your multiple personalities.
Kilogram: Well I feel like I'm made up of all these smaller pieces that make up my whole.
Psychologist: And just how many of these smaller pieces are there?
Kilogram: Depends on who is trying to use me, sometimes it's just me, sometimes there are a thousand. It's horrible but it could be worse.
Psychologist: How could it be worse?
Kilogram: My friend the slug, he just seems so lonely. Nobody seems to use him anymore, and to tell you the truth I think he's jealous of how popular I am.

[AnaMarzen]

Originally Posted by Dravin

Psychologist: Tell me more about your multiple personalities.
Kilogram: Well I feel like I'm made up of all these smaller pieces that make up my whole.
Psychologist: And just how many of these smaller pieces are there?
Kilogram: Depends on who is trying to use me, sometimes it's just me, sometimes there are a thousand, sometimes even millions. It's horrible but it could be worse.
Psychologist: How could it be worse?
Kilogram: My friend the slug, he just seems so lonely. Nobody seems to use him anymore, and to tell you the truth I think he's jealous of how popular I am.

Wa wa waaaaaaaa....

LOL!

[Vort]

Originally Posted by Dravin

Psychologist: Tell me more about your multiple personalities.
Kilogram: Well I feel like I'm made up of all these smaller pieces that make up my whole.
Psychologist: And just how many of these smaller pieces are there?
Kilogram: Depends on who is trying to use me, sometimes it's just me, sometimes there are a thousand. It's horrible but it could be worse.
Psychologist: How could it be worse?
Kilogram: My friend the slug, he just seems so lonely. Nobody seems to use him anymore, and to tell you the truth I think he's jealous of how popular I am.

It's a conservation conversation.

[ViolinGirl]

Hi, Ana. I can tell you first hand that weight loss is not easy, but it's certainly possible. I'd like to suggest that you look into a local Weight Watcher's meeting. They can help you get started with a healthy eating plan, give you information on portion control, and offer you lots of support. It's even likely that you'd find an exercise partner there as well...someone to keep you accountable and motivated.

Start slow. Don't try to save the world in one day. Maybe add a few healthier food to your diet, cut out some of the things you know you shouldn't have (like fast food), eat smaller portions, and start walking, even if it's just a stroll to the end of the block and back a few times a day. You'll be surprised how quickly your body adjusts to the exercise and you'll find that you'll start feeling better both mentally and physically. You'll soon be able to walk way farther than you ever thought.

Remember that you're making a lifelong change and you have to understand that you didn't gain the weight overnight, so it's going to take awhile to lose it. Stick with it and you'll soon start to see good things happening.

[AnaMarzen]

Originally Posted by ViolinGirl

Hi, Ana. I can tell you first hand that weight loss is not easy, but it's certainly possible. I'd like to suggest that you look into a local Weight Watcher's meeting. They can help you get started with a healthy eating plan, give you information on portion control, and offer you lots of support. It's even likely that you'd find an exercise partner there as well...someone to keep you accountable and motivated.

Start slow. Don't try to save the world in one day. Maybe add a few healthier food to your diet, cut out some of the things you know you shouldn't have (like fast food), eat smaller portions, and start walking, even if it's just a stroll to the end of the block and back a few times a day. You'll be surprised how quickly your body adjusts to the exercise and you'll find that you'll start feeling better both mentally and physically. You'll soon be able to walk way farther than you ever thought.

Remember that you're making a lifelong change and you have to understand that you didn't gain the weight overnight, so it's going to take awhile to lose it. Stick with it and you'll soon start to see good things happening.

Thank you for the kind words.

And yes, I definitely need someone to keep me accountable! lol I fall back into terrible habits, very easily. I know my sister is going to start walking with me and that will help a great deal.

As far as the mental and physical part, it's funny... my mind doesn't feel too sharp, ya know? I just feel a little... slow, for lack of a better word. lol So I'm sure that once I start eating fresh food and I get moving, my mind will perk up too.

[anatess]

The problem with the human body is that once it gets out of balance, whatever it is that caused it go out of balance - could be a super small hardly noticeable thing - causes a cycle.

Okay, I'm going to tell you what happened to my husband 2 years ago. We've been married going on 15 years now. 15 years ago, he was a runway model. Yeah, health nut, works out daily, 6-pack that kind of thing. 2 years ago, he sprained his back lifting pavers out of the van. It was so bad he could barely get out of bed the next day. He couldn't work out for a month - threw him out of balance because he did not know how to deal with it, so he gained some weight and lost muscle bulk.

This drove him into depression (that out-of-control feeling) which caused him to hit the gym before he was ready which caused his back to get so hurt that he couldn't move for a week!

He became inactive which drove him nuts (he thinks he's invincible, that guy) which caused him to get depressed and turn to snacking (his idea of snacking is downing an entire bag of carrots with ranch dressing). But, even just snacking mega doses of something you would think is healthy - with his lack of regular activity - caused him to gain even more weight - which caused him to hurt his back some more which got him more depressed - cycle, see, it feeds on itself. He became so inward-looking. He sits on the recliner with the remote after he gets off work munching on something because he doesn't want to try doing something physical because he would just get mad at how weak he has gotten. He refused to go to the doctor because, in his mind, he is not sick. He just sprained his back.

I couldn't do anything. He's not listening to me. Finally, his best friend told him he needs to go see the doctor before it gets really bad. He's gained 40 lbs by now. So, last February, he got his MRI, saw the 2 busted discs and a few bulging ones about to bust, and he signed up for a phyiscal therapist. The physical therapist is finally getting him to change the way he exercises to adjust to this new "condition". He lost the 40 lbs he gained but he still looks "fat" because he lost all that muscle as well. But, this change got him back in control which helped drive away depression which helped him get rid of the snack-binging which got him back in balance again. He's not quite back to his normal self - far from it. He's still wearing 36" pants instead of his normal 32"... yeah, muscle weight versus no-muscle weight is really a big difference. But, he is much happier and that gives him more impetus to stay in balance. It's not a matter of hitting a weight goal for him. To him, it is being in control of his body again and getting himself in balance. It's amazing how all this is caused by one silly thing - a back sprain that started off really small.

I think that's the same as what you're going through. You might think, my husband only gained 40 lbs instead of 400... but it's the same cycle. And I think you might benefit from the same solution. Just find that one thing that started this cycle and bring that back into balance again. Address that problem. Then it's just a matter of taking it one tiny step at a time. Instead of drinking 4 cans of soda, replace 2 cans with 2 cans of water. That's it. For a week. Then add to it the next week. Walk to the mailbox everyday to pick up the mail. Do that for a week. Then walk to the end of the block. Do that the next week. Little bits at a time just to give you that feeling of being in control again.

Forget the weight. Skinny people can be unhealthy too. Think of balance. Get your body back in balance. You are very beautiful, by the way. I love your face.

Hope this helps.

[mrmarklin]

Heredity as a cause of obesity is so rare as to be IMHO non-existant.

Calories count. I was diabetic, had high colesterol, and high blood pressure, but I went on the Jenny Craig weight-loss program, and lost enough weight to make ALL of it go away.

If you are pre-diabetic, you can make that go away too considering how young you appear to be in your pictures.

Forget all the BS nonsense you hear or read about. Only eating less will cure your problem.

PS I'm a Diet Coke addict, and since there is no sugar it contributes to 1) my weight loss since I no longer drink surgared drinks, and 2) my sweet craving. I'm a big believer in diet beverages for this reason alone. I don't buy the notion that somehow they contribute to more weight. At the end of the day they contribute calories 0.

[mrmarklin]

I have no interest in Jenny Craig other that it has helped me. It's almost like a 12 step program, in that you are monitored, and accountable for all the food you eat in excess of what is necessary.

I'm sure there are other programs out there, but JC worked for me.

[jayanna]

I know this might seem like a commercial, but I have been doing Weight Watchers since January, and it has been amazing for me. I like having a group of people who are facing the same eating hurdles that I am. I like having the support group, and I have learned a lot about eating, why I was eating, and what I should eat. One of my biggest problems has been the inability to work out. I used to be quite athletic and one day had to suddenly stop. It is hard to even think about losing weight when the standard exercise methods are out of the question.

Remember that exercise for you should be very gradual and keep in mind that the more you weigh, the more your bone structure has to carry....you don't have to work out for as long as a 120 pound person does, for example. Also the types of foods you eat should change, and it will be hard at first, but after a couple of months you will find yourself craving those foods that you have changed to.

I can say at this point that I have completetly changed the types and amounts of food I eat and crave. When I eat I think about what I want to feel like after I have eaten, and then I choose what I am going to eat. High sugar and high carbs will make you sleepy, carrying around excess weight will tire you out fast. I remember one day when I started to stand up, I braced myself, even using a piece of furniture to help my knees, only to realize I didn't need the help because I weigh so much less now....

you can do this, I know you can

I know that it might seem like a lot of money to join something like weight watchers, but I have saved a whole bunch of money on my grocery bill, enough to easily justify the amount it costs for my membership. Go to a meeting near you, you don't have to pay, you can just visit for a while if you want and then decide.