Fat and Happy?
Last Wednesday I received an email from a friend with two photos attached of a former NBA player’s ex-wife, comparing her weight 20 years ago to now. I guess her weight gain was supposed to be a joke because there was a “funny” caption underneath the photos about what may have happened to her settlement. I replied, “She could go to the gym since she doesn’t have to work,1 but she looks fine.”
- drawing by alonzo.org
A few minutes later my friend replied, “Maybe she doesn’t want to go to the gym she might be quite comfortable just the way she is. There are a lot of people out there who are just fine with themselves but magazines, other people, TV, make them feel bad about their size.”
Fair enough.
I don’t doubt she’s happy or even comfortable; I just assume she would prefer to be a smaller size. I know being fat is not always about overeating, there are other factors (e.g. medical, emotional or psychological) that contribute to weight gain. Who knows what her reasons are yet we still judge or comment.
The issue of weight, especially for a woman, is a touchy subject and is not about the weight but the desire to feel wanted, accepted and loved. It seems socially acceptable to make fun of fat people because no one cares about their feelings. “Fat people know that the first impression that others have of them may be negative. This leads to low self-esteem and shame.”
Not fair.
Losing weight is hard work, it’s not easy! Some people are choosing happiness over body size and have embraced the Fat Acceptance Movement, whose goal is to “change societal attitudes toward individuals who are fat.” I first read about fat acceptance on Kim’s blog over @ FatHappyGirl and I was moved by what she wrote below:
I think an important part of fat acceptance is really understanding what fat acceptance is. It’s personal, it’s not the same way for everyone. It isn’t just about being fat, it’s wanting to be treated equally and fairly. It’s about not wanting to be judged on being fat. It’s about being treated kindly because we are another human being. It means being free of assumptions and half truths. It means being judged less and loved more.
I’m trying to lose several pounds this year with the help of friends/family, my Wii Fit, cutting back2 on junk food, making healthier food choices, portion control and regular exercise. Not everyone trying to lose weight wants to be a size 3 either, but a size comfortable.
I am not happy my clothes don’t fit anymore. I am not comfortable with my bulge, but I am a happy person. There are days when I dream of Frisbee sized cookies and days when my eyes are on the prize. Can you be fat and healthy? Well there’s a bewildering array of conflicting opinions on the subject, but most of the studies I read said no. A few of them said yes. Can you be fat but happy? Absolutely!
So, what did I mean by my comment? I’ve never heard anyone say they’re overweight because they want to be. Either they don’t have the time to exercise or the money to buy nutritious foods. If someone is well off financially, to me that represents opportunity and freedom. Why wouldn’t someone use these tools to their physical advantage.
Later I apologize to my friend if I offended her with my comment, that’s never my intention, same goes with this post. A person’s size would not prevent me from befriending or treating them with respect. I do think it’s unfair that a person’s “worth”, especially a woman, is measured in pounds, that’s a heavy burden to bear almost more than the weight itself.
“it’s unfair that a person’s “worth”, especially a woman, is measured in pounds” – I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure people CAN be overweight and happy, but society makes it very hard.
i’m certain people who are overweight can be happy too. i guess when a majority of people tell you otherwise and images of what you are not are everywhere, you do question where you fit in.
There is also the issue that if you see a fat person eating, it is automatically assumed that that person is being greedy. It could be the first thing they have eaten that day, but we assume they have been eating all day. Why?
My mother was overweight all her life and she was always glamorous! Men were attracted to her and she was happy with herself. I believe it stemmed from the fact that my father ALWAYS told her she was beautiful. She felt beautiful, therefor she emanated beauty, and was seen as beautiful by others.
Society has a lot to answer for!
being fat or overweight runs in my family, mostly for the women. presumably, at least according to the doctors, it has caused health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
i know what you mean about seeing someone overweight eating or just around food anywhere, like they are not supposed to eat or want food.
there’s a lot to be said about the way a person carries themselves. if you feel shame about who you are, it shows. if you feel great about yourself others believe you.
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..It’s a knockout!
First let me say that I have 3 relatives who have had gastric bypass surgery–weight is a huge (pardon the pun) issue in my family. I struggle, but keep myself at a comfortable size 10–anything less, I am not eating. This is where I am supposed to be, I guess. I am comfortable with that for a 45 year-old woman, I was never a size 3.
I hate the misconceptions about people regarding weight. I also hate them about color and accents too, but that’s another story. I have the most incredible cousin who just had the surgery because she truly did try the diet and exercise thing–and it didn’t work out. The comments and preconceived notions about her were downright hurtful and cruel. I cannot imagine ANYONE saying that they are happy being that overweight–I have to believe it is just a comforting thought to ease the pain. I don’t believe anyone would rather be a size 26 rather than a 12 or 14 where you can still eat, but not suffer.
It is hard to be a woman with so many media-driven values placed on us. I have a daughter who is thin and beautiful and I cannot tell you how many teachers pull me aside to ask if she has an eating disorder. There are so many fat kids at school, they don’t even know healthy when they see it. Yes, I asked my doctor and he said she looked “lovely” to him but followed up with questions about why I asked. I wonder if they ask the fat kids if they have an eating problem?
So, I guess my point is that it is hard to “be” these days. Too fat, too thin, too this, too that. We are all judged and it stinks. Be healthy, I guess, would be my measuring stick–both physically and mentally.
more and more people are turning to gastric bypass surgery as an option. i’m a size 12 and i’m fine with that size but I don’t like the fat I’ve packed around my belly, it’s not comfortable. i’m also tall, so i can’t be too thin, nor do i want to be.
that was my point when i said i assume she would rather be smaller. given a choice i doubt many people would pick to be a size 26.
we’re all judged and you’re right, it stinks, a lot!
Lin´s last blog post..Turn, Turn, Turn
Wow … brave lady writing about women & weight!
Personally I think the word “fat” is subjective.
High fashion’s view of what is fat is quite different than what the medical community deems fat -
I do think that a lot of people living somewhere in the middle …
Are delusional to their actual weight & the consequences it may have on their personal health.
I think we should focus on the term “healthy” weight …
More than the terms fat or skinny.
And lets face it –
Most of us are not at our healthy weight
Personally, I’d much rather be a confident, healthy weight …
(I think some curves are way more hot, than stick figure thin!)
oh this post took 4 days of courage, i grappled with word usage. i used the word fat to simplify (i’m reading a book on writing). anywho i agree, a healthy weight should be the focus..i’m guessing though if that were the case then people wouldn’t be overweight?
dawn´s last blog post..Freebie Friday #11
Hi Natural. Society does make it hard to be overweight and happy. I’ve been battling with my weight over the last year — a combination of a loss of income and morale — and my own fault… less exercise due to blogging. I’m not happy that my clothes don’t fit properly anymore.
There are health benefits to being an ideal weight. Self-esteem doesn’t necessarily improve though. I’m discouraged at my weight gain because to me it represents a loss in caring about myself. It is making me take a long hard look at how I am living and the choices I’m making. And… I’m putting on my runners to go for another power walk in 5.
davina, i’m an emotional eater, mostly at work – there’s always food there and if i’m not busy, then i’m on the prowl. i’m not hungry, i’m just eating. circumstances, depression, loss of job makes people eat.
i made a simple schedule for myself in the morning so that i could spend 1/2 hour exercising before work instead of sitting at the computer. the workout gave me the energy boost i needed.
Davina´s last blog post..Self Help Me
Hi Natural: Our body has an inner thermometer–if you will–of the weight it naturally gravitates to. Some people are naturally skinny, while some people are naturally heavier. I don’t think that either one is preferable over the other. I do think that we should each strive to find some form of exercise that we enjoy–whether it’s dancing, playing tennis, jogging, going for walks, and so on–and eat a healthy diet. But other than that, beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
i read a few magazines and studies that said you cannot change your “inner thermometer.” our determined weight is coded into our DNA. then i watch news show where people have lost half their weight size and have maintained it for over a year.
i agree on the exercise and doing something we love. if we don’t focus on losing weight, it makes staying active easier. that’s why i love my wii. i’m having too much fun to realize i am exercising.
Its so ironic, when I was a size 14, I was more or less comfortable with myself. I thought I needed to lose a “few” pounds but nothing more. When my health started to suffer due to my weight, I made the changes in my diet and lifestyle necessary to lose the weight, bring in insulin levels down, etc. When I went down to a size 6 (on a large, muscular frame) I became less comfortable with myself and my weight. Now, I hate to say, I obsess over my size more than I ever have before. I see pictures of myself from a few years back and I am absolutely horrified with how I looked. I cant believe I was an art model at that size.
I dont know where all of this came from, but it seemed like something changed in me – somehow, while I wasnt looking. I am one of those who will LOOK at something and gain weight. Its a fear that hangs over me all the time.
wow carla, from a 14 to a 6. i don’t know how people do that…the lowest size i’m willing to go is a 10 and i’m comfortable at a 12…although if clothes were made longer to cover my long arms and legs, i could probably wear a 10.
anywho, gaining weight happens over time and with extremely obese people, i wonder how they were able to get to that size. i don’t “fear” gaining weight, but sometimes i wonder if i’m slowing drifting away.
Carla´s last blog post..Green + Chic Product Review: Golden Earth
I just finished Jen Lancaster’s “Such a Pretty Fat” which she begins with “Weight Watchers can kiss the fattest part of my ass!”
Jen’s book is screamingly funny while she documents her efforts at losing weight whole knocking the hell out of the notion that being thin is the key to happiness.
The next time I try to diet – I want Jen on the phone as I deal with carb cravings!
hey Kathy, that book reads funny. will add it to my list. i hope they have it at my local library. i’m reading 5 books right now, what’s wrong with me. LOL.
i don’t think being thin is the key to happiness nor is being overweight a reason to be angry.
i don’t even consider myself on a diet, just trying to make better food choices and stay active. i get mad cravings and well, i love my cookies. i already know i’m going to eat them, but not as many.
Kathy @ Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Everything’s relative… setting your life thermostat
As everyone else mentioned, what a dicey topic. Certainly society has a huge impact on impressions and beliefs regarding being overweight, obesity, etc.
I see it mostly as a health issue. So many things can go wrong medically speaking when the body is taxed like that. But I believe there will always be a social stigma. I think the overall thought is that those folks are sitting down and actively making a plan to become overweight. We all know that’s not the case, but I think that’s an assumption.
I think it’s less a matter of choosing to be overweight versus choosing different personal priorities.
Of the people who have no medical issue that causes them to gain weight or conversely prevents them from losing weight, I think it comes down to what they value. One person may devote himself to his job and so he eats fast food to save time. His priority may be spending as much time as possible working to understand some micro organism. So he doesn’t spend as much time focusing on food choices and exercise.
We choose the things that are important to us. Are my priorities more important than yours? No and vice versa.
I also believe, however, that one’s appearance is reflective of what’s going on emotionally inside. Appearance is tied to self image, I think. And if your self image is not healthy, most of the time your body is not healthy.
So indirectly I guess you say it’s a choice by omission — choosing something else to focus on.
dicey is right, i wasn’t sure if i should post it, but the people that come here, i get a lot of compliments on you guys, are great…we can handle it.
i agree on the priority thing. i cut back on my computer time, just a little, enough time to give my body some love and attention = physical activity. i do feel a lot better after.
i also agree that a person’s appearance is reflective of what’s going on inside. that’s how i get dressed in the morning. when i feel great, i look fabulous, when i feel dumpy, i look it. when we feel great about ourselves, it shows, people can see that…when something is wrong, well we see that too.
cardiogirl´s last blog post..Did she just come on to me?
I used to be thin but have gained a lot of weight partly due to the meds I take for bipolar disorder and partly because I’m low income and can’t afford to buy healthy food, which is so expensive. I’ve tried repeatedly to lose weight but have been unsuccessful. I often receive nasty looks and comments about my weight when in public, which just serves to increase the shame I already feel in regards to my appearance. My children have also been teased by their peers because of my weight.
It gets really old.
sorry Jane that people have been or said unkind things to you. it’s not an easy thing to keep your weight under control, especially when you have medical problems working against you. small steps, small changes is what i’m trying to do. it’s helping.
This is a super sensitive subject. However, my honest opinion is eating is a necessity – overeating is a health hazard. If it makes people happy to overeat, then they have the right to do so without criticism, but they obviously don’t love themselves enough to treat their bodies good. Just like smoking, unprotected sex, etc. I’ll duck now from the flying dishes.
i agree it’s a sensitive subject, but the people that come here are great, so there will be no flying dishes or slinging insults.
i agree that we all can treat our bodies better regarding food and smoking.
my first year with cancer I lost over 100 pounds I was a stick-pallid and emaciated.Drs.said put on weight to fall back on-I dislike my body image protruding cancer stomach but it beats the alternative-
I’m packing a Valentine box for my grandaughter such fun-
hey sandy, 100 lbs! wow. i used to be a stick all my life. even went to the doctor to try to gain weight. all she(?) had to do was tell me to wait until i turn 30. ooh i be you there is chocolate in that box. yummy. take care
sandy´s last blog post..Shh -just a few more steps around this corner- noone will ever know it was ME!!
Society tends to throw a curve ball into this and we are the ones that decide if we are happy or not. Eating sensible and staying active is important. We all have our challenges.
it’s a struggle to say the least. that’s great advice, eating sensible and staying active. the rest might take care of itself.
go with what makes you feel good..I have never been a workout being..I smoke eat things that a health food specialist would faint if they knew and I have been known to have a shot or four..but the older I get the less I care…:)
i feel best when i don’t feel worn out from all the sugar i give my body…made a few changes and i feel more energized. of course i’m going to still eat stuff that would make food specialist cringe, but not as much. like cookies – with nuts.
robert bourne´s last blog post..Sunday Scenery
The only person who has to like their body is the person in that body. I think society’s standards for what is and is not attractive as far women are concerned is genuinely ridiculous.
what’s up Mel! ….that’s true, but so many people don’t. yeah standards are ridic…not the same for a man. he could have a beer belly, but no one comments or sends emails about it.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..I Was Slowly Traumatized
Being happy about obesity is fine and dandy.
However, it carries with it a price, including at least 10 years off of your life.
10 years paul, really? wow, didn’t know that. something to think about.
Yes, some people do not have a good body image. And for that woman, she is probably always in the spotlight. So every extra pound is noticed by someone.
As for weight, I used to think that it was just a matter of willpower. But there really are other factors at play. Like you mentioned, you need to have the money to buy the healthier foods, time to exercise (gym memberships cost money), and you also need to be in the right frame of mind. For example, for some people, food means more to them than just something that will keep their body going. It is a source of comfort and enjoyment… AND finally, a lot has to do with genetics.
it always sounds easy to do, lose weight, but when it comes to the getting down to it, it’s not. the schedule i made for myself, if i stick to it – not everyday yet, but a few times a week – will get me going. thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Shirley´s last blog post..How Does Google Find Websites That Sell Links?
When I was fat I most certainly wasn’t happy, but I think much of that has to do with societal pressures to be thin. Those pressures aside, I think we’d have more happy fat people.
i don’t feel pressured myself to be thin, i like feeling comfortable, energized and healthy…thanks for sharing
Jason´s last blog post..Barack Obama is Not Your Messiah
Some of my friends even say that the more fat is your belly, the richer you are. But, it is like counting our days.
you mean like rich as in money? if so i got bank! so i’ve been told it shortens your life span.
Atniz´s last blog post..Next Page Rank Target March 2009
Whether someone is “fat” or not is often a personal perception, especially if you’re talking about doing comparisons on an individual over a 20 year period. If the woman was thin and unhappily starving and judging herself 20 years ago and now she’s a couple of sizes larger and content then I think she can be happier and maybe just as healthy. Obesity has health ramifications, but being a bit overweight according to the BMI isn’t going to shorten your life span if you take care of yourself. And this is the key. People can be overweight and take care of their health. They can be fit, but maybe they just love their food. The thing is it’s really no one else’s business and people are mistaken when they assume a size 2 woman eating a hamburger is necessarily healthier on average than a size 10 person eating a hamburger.
As for whether I believe you can be morbidly obese and happy – probably not. Not if you were honest with yourself. There’s just too many uncomfortable situations and restrictions on your life. I find it hard to believe anyone is okay with that. Either way though, it shouldn’t be socially acceptable to persecute fat people over thin. It’s just people being narrow minded and going with that age old tradition of putting someone else down just so you can feel better about themselves. It’s an ugly and pathetic side of human nature and definitely not funny.
Kelly
hey Kelly, I agree. people should not be made fun of or treated badly because of weight, height or race. i don’t know if it makes someone feel good to poke fun at someone else’s expense…i don’t see how it could…but this is nothing new, just another form of abuse.
I’m fat & happy, personally. I used to be a size 3 & I was completely miserable then. Sure, I got a lot of attention, but I don’t WANT to get a lot of attention. I actually had a workout obsession at the time, so that wasn’t healthy, either. Instead of working out for hours every day, I turned that energy toward learning & creativity. I have a MUCH better brain as a result & I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
There are sometimes psychological reasons behind someone’s weight, as well. Girls/women who’ve been sexually abused or people who have suffered from depression often put on pounds for varying reasons. Sometimes losing weight isn’t just a physical process. Not that that’s my issue…Just wanted to point it out.
i view weight as a symptom, something else is going on inside that person, not always, but most of the time. if the problem or issue is taken care of, i tend to think other things will take care of themselves. same thing with a messy house. sum ting wong – i think it reflect what’s going on inside, but that’s just me.
Lana´s last blog post..New Painting & a Heads Up
Hi Natural – I love what Kim said – “It’s about being treated kindly because we are another human being.” How true is that? Too often people are judged based on their appearance because they don’t “fit” the norm. Oddly enough, it’s often those who don’t “fit” that are the kindest, dearest people we could ever meet.
Great post!
you are right, those who don’t fit in are the kindest and those are the ones i seek as friends. i don’t fit in myself .
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..They Don’t Have To Be Einstein To Figure It Out
You just reminded me of one of my favorite song lyrics from The Smiths. And it has also incorporated itself into my life.
“I wear Black on the outside
Because Black is how I feel on the inside”
Sometimes I wear black workout pants, a black shirt, black low tops and a black hoodie. And on some of those days I am really feeling down.
But other times I wear that just because I like the color black. It’s on those days that I say it’s my Johnny Cash impression.
So I guess it goes both ways for me.
i wear black because it’s my favorite color. sure what we put on reveals what we feel inside, or it can.
cardiogirl´s last blog post..Did she just come on to me?
There may be subconscious fears that prevent someone overweight to exercise or diet. What is often missing is addressing these fears and emotions. If some of these can be overcome, losing weight may not be quite so difficult.
there could be subconscious fears and liked you mentioned, you have to deal with them and address what’s wrong….it could be a remedy to other issues. no doctor here.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..HAVE-DO-BE or BE-DO-HAVE?
America is choking on it’s obsession with looks.
It used to be cool for models to be stick thin and gaunt…
That is until mothers had to explain to their daughters why it’s so morally and ethically wrong. I hope the future will bring open mindedness especially when it comes to appointing someone based on their looks.
Grog´s last blog post..The Poison Squad And The Birth Of The F.D.A.
we are choking on something, no doubt. i think we always judge people on their looks to a degree. like a person who lives on the street or maybe someone who looks like they use drugs…we don’t open our arms as readily to help, but we judge.
I have so much to say about this topic but I will shorten it as much as my english vocabulary would let me. When I was married to my now my ex-husband, he would continuously tell me that it was embarrassing for him to be seen with me. The weight I gained during pregnancy did not came off. It would be my fault as well since I really stopped caring on how I look. Although I did not think it was right for him to keep reiterating those words. Not a day would pass that he would not make that comment. I was 200 lbs who was wearing a size 16 dress. One day, I got tired of his crap so I started working out and watching what I ate. After two years of hard work I dropped from size 16 to a size 6. I felt really good during the time. But now I am back to a size 12. Too much for diet.. I am happy and content right now. But I am remarrying next year so I am trying to stay away from all the chocolates the vending machine is offering. =)
oh wow that’s horrible, coming from your husband too, everyday. i would not have been able to deal with that noise. from a16 to a 6. wow. i like being a size 12 myself…i don’t look it and there is no shame in it. i need to shed a few lbs. to get back in my clothes, not to fit in to what people think i should look like. for me. congrats on your nuptials.
A friend of mine is a larger woman; always has been. She decided that she controlled so many aspects of her life, she wasn’t fighting here genes any longer. However, she is very fit. Golfs and plays competitive badminton. She is also the Canadian vice-president of an international industrial roofing company. She is taken very seriously by everyone. Why? Because she is stunningly beautiful inside and out, and is absolutely secure with who she is and what she looks like.
and good for her. if you’re not comfortable in your skin, it just shows.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..An illness in the family
I think you can actually be fit and fat (well, to a point). Personally I was overweight but still fit in my way (good cardio endurance, could lift weights well, coordinated) until this fall when I packed on a few more pounds and I think went too heavy to continue to be fit. I once wrote a post about being fat and fit (and there are plenty of unfit and unhealthy thin people out there). It is sad how much people (women in particular) obsess about the number on the scale, though.
that’s the other side of the coin. there are skinny people who need just as much help as fat people. i’m not certain on the fat and healthy thing, but i’m not a doctor. as someone mentioned, a few lbs. past what your normal range should be shouldn’t make too much of a difference, but 100 lbs will.
Lainie (Fitness Fig)´s last blog post..Tell Me Tuesday–Buff Barack
hi Natural (aka Valerie),
I should keep my mouth shut on this topic, but I’ll say this. There is happy and there is healthy, and there is overweight and there is obese. I think one can be overweight, happy, and healthy, and maybe obese and happy, but I don’t think obese and healthy (at least healthy long term, at least not for most people). But then life is all about balance and living, and I’d rather have the beer and the cheese cake on occasion, but I’ll make sure I stay just a tad overweight is all… Well, I rambled.
I can agree with this… loosing weight is hard, very hard.
Steve, the a-tad-overweight trade show guru
hey steve (aka the trade show guru) I rather have the cookies and cheesecake myself and when I want it, I eat it, not as much though. Food was meant to be enjoyed, not abused. I also know I need to make healthier food choices and stay active if I want to reclaim my wardrobe
Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..My Wife is Famous
You can be fat and happy for sure but the health risks of obesity is too much to be ignored.
Anyway, extra poundage is okay. Obesity, no way.
well said erica. thanks
Erica´s last blog post..Chitty Chat
Our country can be so intolerant of differences. When I was in high school, I was very thin and was made fun of for that. I’m overweight now, and I have a feeling that people don’t take me as seriously as they did when I was a normal weight, but I can’t put my finger on why I feel that.
Many years ago, I had a friend who probably weighed about 500 lbs. Once when we were talking on the sidewalk, some young men leaned out of a car to yell insults at her. Whenever we were out in public, people stared and grinned when she wasn’t looking. It was humiliating. She had many emotional issues to deal with, and clearly her weight was a problem, but the young men’s problem was worse.
true, the country has always been intolerant of differences, it’s nothing new. that’s just mean and cruel what those young boys, not men, did to your friend. i understand the nature to glance or even look at something or someone that’s different, but crossing over to rude or insensitive is just wrong. one day we could be that person that is “different”.
Dot´s last blog post..Welcome to Washington, Mr. President
“not the same for a man. he could have a beer belly, but no one comments or sends emails about it. ”
I know. And that’s just Not Fair. At. All.
ps; im glad you are still blogging!
xoxoxoxo
yeah why don’t they pick on men their own size, it’s always the woman. don’t get me started. i’ll be marching with a sign on the turnpike. yes, i’m still blogging i think. i’ll throw things off course next week with something different. maybe. cooking is hard, aye?
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..Cooking Is Hard Work.
So easy to put on weight, but hard to take off. Why is that?
Me, I go by how my jeans fit.
And I look forward to the day heavier people are not looked on or discriminated against.
ooh, i wish i knew the answer to that question. my jeans are tight and i don’t wear tight clothes. i know i didn’t buy them that way, last year so that tells me something. airlines discriminate, no?
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..And the ukulele song winner is…
I didn’t read all the posts because there are just too many of them. I applaud you in your efforts to lose weight. However, I think it should be about health not about someone else’s opinion. As long as you are healthy and fit (and it is true that overweight people can be fit) there is nothing else to it. Unfortunately society doesn’t see it that way. I have struggled all my life and still continue.
However, I do have to say one thing about your comment:
If someone is well off financially, to me that represents opportunity and freedom.
My reply to that comment is OPRAH!
the difficult part about losing weight would have to be the endurance and keeping it off. it is a struggle, not that it has been for me all my life…i’ve always felt in my mind that i could do anything and when i REALLY got ready to lose the pounds, i would just lose them. after several years, my mind is just now ready. 4 miles for me today and i really do feel better, not sluggish at 5:00, but energized.
also i don’t want to lose my bet to you.
uh yeah i thought about oprah. she has a chef and can buy time, but whatever. thanks for sharing.
I have mixed feelings about this subject. First disclosure: I am a very tall regular build woman who has never struggled seriously with weight issues, so I know there are things I don’t understand. That being said, outside of medical/psychological issues I think that most overweight Americans can blame this on a lifestyle of inactivity and food indulgence. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. I am not at all in the frame of mind to accept overweight when it pertains to more than 20 or 30 lbs of extra body weight. Sorry, I just cant. I know I will not likely be popular for this opinion…
I’m tall as well and I can’t say that I have really struggled, it was really a matter of when. I’ve always felt like I could lose it whenever I really felt like it. Now I’m ready and it’s going. Period. The work is in the preparation for me…preparing meals, knowing what I’m going to eat beforehand instead of leaving it to chance and having set days and times to exercise. I would like to have my cake and eat it too, but just a slice, not the 4 I would usually eat.
I understand what you are saying (inactivity and over indulgence are choices) and I think we play fairly well in the sandbox here, so thanks for sharing your opinion.
Julia´s last blog post..Word-FULL Wednesday
I’m with Vered with this one…I guess my overwhelming concern about weight is the health issue and not because you look better with a size 2 jeans.
i can agree there, chris.
Chris´s last blog post..His Moment
Good luck on your weight loss goals. Losing weight is one of the most challenging tasks that face the majority of the world.
peace,
mike
livelife365
thanks mike
Mike Foster´s last blog post..Near-Death? More Life!
Everyone wishes to have a good shape and more so if you’re fat. I used to be very fatty in my green days but managed to have a perfect shape gradually later in my life.
really john and how did you manage that perfect shape? what did you do?
john´s last blog post..NTT DoCoMo unveils PRIME F-03A slider handset
What concerns me is that more and more people are overweight. When I was a kid it was unusual to see someone who was and that may have led to it being considered unusual. Part of me blames high fructose corn syrup being in everything.
For most of my life I was super-thin – probably too thin. Since having my daughter and growing older I’m not thin anymore. A year ago I found myself overweight – it had creeped on over 6 years. I started tracking what I was eating and lost 30lbs – I wanted to lose 40. I then got lazy with the tracking and gained 13 back. I’m tracking again and plan to lose 20. This system works for me – I make healthy choices and I feel better. The hard part can be going out to eat – 1 meal out can be an entire day of calories. The best thing to do is immediately split the meal in half and ask to have half wrapped up – before you even start eating. Or split something with a friend.
kim i’m tracking my calories too, something i never thought i would do, but seeing what you are eating documented on paper makes a HUGE difference. you will think twice about eating a meal that’s over 1,000 calories. you learn to eat differently and look for healthier foods.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..Library Lookup Bookmarklet
Hi Natural:
Good article. My husband and I stopped at the last minute for breakfast the other day. We were in a self-proclaimed “fancy pants” restaurant and he had on a flannel shirt. I know, he likes flannel. I have grown to accept that. He said he probably should have worn something different. I told him people are judged by their character not their clothes. I think I was wrong.
I gave it some thought and paid closer attention to people around me. We have what we call our “winter rat”, it’s an old car I usually drive in the winter so the salt can eat what is left of this car rather than our new truck. People treat me different when I drive the old clunker then when I drive the new truck? Isn’t that strange? What is the world does that have to do with anything?
As far as weight, you are the only one to decide that and it has to do with your comfort and your health. What difference does it really make what other people think, especially strangers?
sadly, people don’t care too much about your character, it’s what you have on, where you live, what kind of car do you drive. it’s not strange at all and pretty accurate from where I stand.
as far as the weight, i’m putting comfort first, my clothes need to fit. can’t take it anymore.
Dee Langdon – BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..Paid Reviews – Yes or No?
There is nothing wrong with fat people. It’s really all about how they carry themselves. The only concern I have with being fat is health reasons. I don’t like feeling out of breath. But I don’t care if someone is fat or skinny or limbless. Can they drink beer? Then we’re friends.
hey mike, i guess we all have our reasons for maintaining or not maintaining a healthy life style. personally, i want my wardrobe back, but i think if we maintain good health, often times the rest will take care of itself – keeping the weight down
MikeC´s last blog post..Watch The Godfather
Hi Natural!
For me, the issue is not the size – it’s the health of the body. I try not to make judgments about overweight people, but I did work with one extremely overweight man and it wasn’t just how big he was, but it was the way he ate too. The choices he made and the way he actually consumed his food was really off-putting. I don’t think he was particularly happy – he lived alone and he was quite surly with people on the phone for no reason. He had quite a chip on his shoulder, really.
On the other hand, I’ve been friends with people who have weight issues and I try to see beyond that or give them some suggestions to improve their diets and make them healthier.
I’m petite, but I do make seriously healthy choices in what I eat – it’s exercise I don’t do enough of. Can you help to motivate ME?
Kat
motivation? yes! get a wii and if you can’t do that then um er um, well listen to some music and do the carlton dance. it’s fun and you’re exercising at the same time.
I have gained a bunch of weight after 50 and so has my life partner. We don’t like it but at least we grew together. We were both slender. WE have just decided to remove all full length mirrors from our home and call it good.
removing the mirrors, not a bad idea, but what about buttoning your pants? that’s my problem, but i’m dropping the pounds, slowly.
gwen´s last blog post..The 109 Day Link Building Explosion – Day 26
Fat and happy – I was like that till a while ago. What changed ? Well, I did some thinking and realized that obesity is something I really would feel better without.
A month later I know first hand how hard it is to lose weight. 3 trips to the gym a week and a (semi)strict diet, and I can safely say that while I haven’t lost too much weight, I am definitely stronger and in a better shape. I plan to lose 10kg in 6 months, while constantly gaining muscles.
congrats on your efforts. it takes so much time and effort to lose just a few pounds, but the end result is so worth it, to me at least.
few years back i was getting fat and the clothes which i used to wear were not fitting me and few didnt suit me because of the tummy …. but after that i became fitness freak, joined gym with proper diet ….
yes the tummy, that’s where all my cookies hang out. i’m working on slimming that area now. i do want my clothes back. in time, for sure.
Hey Natural!
Decided to check out your blog and had to comment. Then my comment got so long, I decided should just finally give in to you and CG and start a blog myself. So I did. Kudos on being brave enough to post this. My post will give you some of my big girl insights on this topic.
cool. glad you are an official blogger now. yay. been to your site and of course, i’ll be stopping by periodically.
Anything that you feel passionately about (either love OR hate) you are pretty much stuck w/. If you hate your big hinie…stuck…
One must come to a state of acceptance first….
hey ginae, well no, not really, i didn’t like my belly fat and i’m slowly getting rid of it. if you don’t like something, i say change it!
Simple, huh? Well, no…not so much
Ginae B. McDonald´s last blog post..My Socks