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Author Message
25 new of 378 responses total.
slynne
response 163 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 12:59 UTC 2006

I think Rane doesnt believe that denying one's natural appetite is
anything like denying one's sexual desires. Interestingly, homosexual
behavior is more like smoking than obesity in that one can completely
give up sex or completely give up smoking.

nharmon
response 164 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 13:43 UTC 2006

> One can better compare the habit of obesity to the habit of smoking. 
> Both are correctable by a person making a decision to correct them. 

I think Rane is onto something, because obesity might be viewed as 
addiction. I wonder if there are any studies about treating obesity as 
an addiction. Of course, like Marc said, you have to eat, but you don't 
have to smoke.
keesan
response 165 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 13:49 UTC 2006

Jim used to work with someone obese and years later ran into him and did not
recognize him because he had lost so much weight.  He said he switched to
eating vegetarian.  People can make conscious choices to give up certain types
of things that they put into their mouths.  We know two other people who are
losing weight after giving up alcohol.  Counting calories is not likely to
work for long, but changing the types of foods you eat can have a big effect.
I lost 20 pounds when I stopped eating dorm food, which was full of grease
and sugar.  Giving up refined foods is likely to reduce someone's weight. 
I have seen some really fat vegans, who brought to vegan potlucks things like
cookies that they bought at the store, made without milk or eggs but with lots
of white flour and sugar.  Cheese is mostly fat.  It would be hard to gain
weight by eating unlimited amounts of fruit and non-starchy vegetables (or
even unrefined starchy vegetables without added fats).

When I was trying to gain 20 pounds I ate cheese and milk and eggs and ice
cream.  

I think Rane has never gone on a weight-loss diet.
nharmon
response 166 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 14:05 UTC 2006

I've thought about becoming vegetarian. If meat gets any more 
expensive, I just might.
slynne
response 167 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 14:09 UTC 2006

Changing what one eats only works for people who have bad diets. I have 
known fat vegans who dont eat sugar. 
cyklone
response 168 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 14:21 UTC 2006

Re #160: Again, apples and oranges. What non-health care costs do you think
salon workers and coal miners are externalizing on general society?
mary
response 169 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 14:30 UTC 2006

The following is a link to a blogger I like to read, because she's
in-your-face honest and edgy.  I don't agree with her point of view
here, in fact I think it shows an amazing lack of empathy.  But I
suspect she does speak for a whole lot of people who see this issue 
as simply lack of self-control.

http://miminewyork.blogspot.com/2005/12/fat.html

keesan
response 170 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 14:31 UTC 2006

What do the fat vegans eat?  White flour, white rice, white noodles?  They
all digest very quickly.  Fried foods?
jadecat
response 171 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 15:33 UTC 2006

For me the whole thing boils down to - healthy diet- with portion size
kept in mind- and exersize. Sure, as you begin to lose weight (with diet
alone) metabolism slows- which is where moderate exersize comes into play. 

Portion size doesn't seem to be much of a conversation topic in this
item. The biggest problem with Americans is portion size. You can eat
foods considered to be healthy, but if you eat huge portions you're
still going to end up with calories that your body can't burn- so that
turns into fat.

I like the website sparkpeople.com because it helps track what you're
eating (caloric content, fat content, etc) and exersize programs (how
many minutes, how many calories burned). For me this is really helpful
because over time I can see (via a reporting program) what areas need to
be adjusted- is there a particular time in which I binge a little/a lot.
What types of exersizes can I do- and how should I be doing them?

My goal is not to be a size 6- looking at 'skinny people' isn't the
answer. Not everyone has a bone structure that would work for size 6.
However, I don't feel healthy at my current weight, and I would like to
be healthier and stronger. That means getting rid of my extra fat and
building muscle. Muscles also burn more calories so that one can eat
more and not gain extra fat.

I fully recognize that my problem in attaining this goal is lack of
willpower. I do well exersizing for a few weeks, and then slack off. My
eating habits tend to go from okay to ooh-not-so-good, but don't tend to
hit terrible often. Luckily while my scale hasn't gone down really it
also hasn't gone up either.
richard
response 172 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 15:44 UTC 2006

anne did you smoke all those years in part because you thought the cigs could
be a diet aide, like if you were smoking you didn't need to be eating?
slynne
response 173 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 16:07 UTC 2006

resp:168 - Would rescue efforts when mines cave in count as a non-
health care cost to society? Probably not. But whatever, I generally 
think of obesity as a state of being (like gender, race, sexual 
orientation) so whatever extra costs to society there are dont justify 
discrimination, shaming, etc. My opinion is that anyone who thinks it 
is ok to publicly shame fat people or try to humiliate them are bigots. 

I think that the woman who wrote that blog Mary linked to is a bigot. 

I think statements like "they could lose weight if they wanted to, they 
are just undisciplined" really are similar to "those fags could stop 
having sex if they wanted, they are just undisciplined" 

I dont know what else to say about it, cyklone. 
edina
response 174 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 16:38 UTC 2006

You think she's a bigot?  Why?  Because she's honest?

Come ON!  Someone who balloons up to 600 lbs is not *stupid*.  They *know*
what they are doing, and by saying, "oh - but you have the right to be like
that" is enabling in a cruel and sadistic way.

jadecat
response 175 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 16:54 UTC 2006

resp:172 Nope. I smoked because I liked it and was addicted. However,
given all the chemicals in cigarettes it shouldn't be surprising that
smoking affects metabolism. The altered metabolism theory leading to
weight gain post smoking makes sense to me. It isn't always about the
person quitting eating more- it's that their metabolism has slowed down.
slynne
response 176 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:08 UTC 2006

I think she is a bigot because she is making those claims about the 600 
lb woman based on nothing but her own prejudice. She has NO IDEA what 
that woman eats. And even if she does eat that much, is it her fault if 
her body doesnt respond to the cues of fullness that other people's do? 
Is it her fault that she has a greater appetite than others? I dont 
know but I think it is likely that she has something wrong with her 
besides a lack of self-control. I think it is possible that is just how 
her body is. 

What would be interesting to find out although, of course we have no 
way of finding out, is how much weight she lost after having gastric 
bypass surgury. 

edina
response 177 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:18 UTC 2006

Your sense of denial is pretty much mindblowing to me at this point.
slynne
response 178 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:20 UTC 2006

I could say the same thing about you. 

edina
response 179 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:22 UTC 2006

Lynne, the difference between us is that I've never let my weight be an excuse
for anything.  Sure, I'm somewhat fat.  So what?  
slynne
response 180 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:34 UTC 2006

But seriously. I am not in denial about my own weight. I know I am fat. 
I am not in denial about my diet. I know it isnt all that great. I am 
not even in denial about the possibility that I might have an eating 
disorder and a somewhat fucked up relationship with food. What do you 
think I am using my weight as an excuse for?

I do find it interesting that whenever fat people try to point out the 
prejudices of others they are accused of being in denial. I see this a 
lot on some of the size-acceptance sites I read. People seem to have a 
real problem if a fat person questions the common view that fat people 
are gross or lazy or out of control. They also dont like it if fat 
people choose to question just how much control they have over their 
diets or metabolism or whatever. And it REALLY happens if they question 
the health risks of obesity or suggest that it might be anything less 
than a terminal condition. 

It reminds me a lot of a book I read about how people think. It was a 
book about how people think in frames and tend to discard information 
that doesnt fit with the frame they believe. People in this country 
tend to believe that everyone has control over every aspect of their 
lives. They believe that people who are poor are poor because they 
deserve to be and that rich people are better people than they are 
simply because they happen to be rich. Any evidence that poverty might 
be related to anything other than a person's effort is discarded. Same 
with weight. 
slynne
response 181 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:36 UTC 2006

Let me ask you something else. You say that you are still somewhat 
overweight. Do you sit around on the couch all day stuffing your face 
full of food. There are people who probably think that of you based on 
no other information than how you look. Do you think that could mean 
that they have prejudices about fat people?
happyboy
response 182 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:37 UTC 2006

hey, what is your exercise regimine these days?  i think that
factor is the most important mentioned in terms of health 
impact...well that and NOT smoking.


your bloodwork ok and all?  

come visit.
happyboy
response 183 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:37 UTC 2006

slippage
scholar
response 184 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:46 UTC 2006

re. 169:  does she use commas?!
slynne
response 185 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:53 UTC 2006

resp:182 - I hurt my knee pretty badly at the end of January so I 
stopped walking. Before that, I was taking the dogs out for 1/2 hour 
walk at least three times a week but sometimes more often (Jan was a 
warm month). 

I started walking again when I was in California. I was surprised at 
how much out of shape I had gotten in just three weeks. I am slowly 
getting back into the old take the dogs out 3 or more times per week. 
(So far this week it has been a 45 min walk on sunday and a 30 min walk 
yesterday. I'll probably do just a little 20 minute walk tonight 
because I have afterwork plans). 

I started smoking again in August but have quit again a week ago. 

I have a doctor's appointment on the 27th so I have more information 
about my health after that time. I know from donating blood that my 
blood pressure is good but my iron levels are not (I was refused the 
last two times because of that). 

I am planning a visit to Seattle soon. 
richard
response 186 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:54 UTC 2006

you couldn't take your dogs out to walk for three weeks?  The dogs must have
gained weight too.  Obese pets is another problem these days.  
edina
response 187 of 378: Mark Unseen   Mar 8 18:56 UTC 2006

Lynne - I don't care what people think about my habits.  Therein lies the crux
of the matter.  My issue right now with everything you are saying is that it
seems to be:  Fat people can be healthy.  I agree with this statement - to
a limited point.  Someone can be overweight and have very normal blood
readings, blood pressure, etc.  Good on with them.  But someone who is 600
lbs is not healthy.  And I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon of "I'm ok,
you're ok" - not because society tells me to, but because I've been morbidly
obese and I know how miserable it can be.  Not from what society has put on
me (though I do love the special misery of having to ask for a seatbelt
extender and I was ecstatic to let those days go) - but because I just didn't
feel good - physically or emotionally.  

Do you want me to tell you that I don't believe there are prejudices?  Of
course there are.  I just choose to not live by them.

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