Obesity - WHY?

cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

Obesity - WHY?

Obesity is something I've never really understood. I come from a long line of skinny people. In my extended family I have one aunt who was at one stage obese, but that was because she was put on meds for a kidney problem and they totally killed her metabolism. Apart from her (and she returned to normal when she was better) no blood relative could ever be described as more than 'stout'. Same goes for my friends. I just don't know any fat people. Of course it could be prejudice; from an early age I've been raised to view obesity as a personality flaw, an immediate warning flag that the sufferer completely lacks any kind of self-respect or self-discipline. But as I grow older I've begun to doubt that. Sure, many tubby people are a little softer than others, but then again no one likes a hardcase. So what's the problem? In my head I've got a switch - once I've put on a few kilos I recognise it pretty quickly and make sure I do more gym time than normal to make up for it. Do the obese never notice how they've changed? Do they instinctively blame others and the environment for their failures (Eddie Murphy's best movie in years, Norbit, makes reference to that with the flat-falling car jokes)? Basically, what the hell is behind it? Do people just not care? Enlighten me, fellow seekers of wisdom. Tell me why obese is increasingly considered okay. What am I not seeing?

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cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

Uhh, V8 juice is VEGETABLE juice, cacto. The only knock on it is the sodium content, and they DO make a low sodium version. I know you're not familiar with American brands, but...we always have google.

I'm on a no-google binge at the moment. Instant enlightenment makes life too easy. I've decided it's time to walk the hard road for a week or so and see what life was like BG. It'll help me to understand the antiquated thoughts of those who can remember those dark days.

So far it's been scary and confusing.

But experience tells me that if you cut too many foods out of your diet, the likelihood of binge eating increases greatly.

So you'd say obesity is a result of a lack of willpower? Or just a lack of will?

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I'd say there are a LOT of causes, cacto. Lack of willpower may be one, but because there are so many causes, it would be premature to assume anything.

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LW here...

And toad-in-the-hole (eggy bread as you call it) isn't exactly the health food of champions.

One egg : 92 calories
One slice bread: 78 calories
------------------------------
270 calories

What's wrong with that? It's funny you take issue with the toad-in-the-hole but make no mention of the sausage, which would have been the first thing I'd cut @ 210 calories for a slim, 50gram (before cooking) patty.

Still, that's 470 calories for breakfast, and with the non-dairy creamer I figure it to be about 500.

The average woman needs about 1500 calories per day to maintain a normal weight, so that's not too far out of line.

V8 juice is a tomato, celery, and carrot juice concoction (the fact that it was used to make BLOODY MARYS should have tipped you off, don't you drink those in oz?) that weighs in at a grand total of 35 calories per 6 oz serving. Add 90 for the vodka, and my two cocktails added 250 to my daily total.

It seems the things you remarked on, those things that make us fat people fat, were the healthiest, lowest calorie items on my menu that day. Are you being deliberately obtuse, or is it that, as a naturally slender person, you remain totally uninformed about truly healthy food choices?

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I'd say there are a LOT of causes, cacto. Lack of willpower may be one, but because there are so many causes, it would be premature to assume anything.

As I said. I am sure some is a lack of will power. Some is hormonal. Some is medical. And some is biological. To paint all with one brush is to do a disservice to all the rest - and in my opinion - they are a majority. The only reason there are more obese people today is due to medical advances. In years past, they would have died either from the medical problems, or the obesity that now can be treated.

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cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

It seems the things you remarked on, those things that make us fat people fat, were the healthiest, lowest calorie items on my menu that day. Are you being deliberately obtuse, or is it that, as a naturally slender person, you remain totally uninformed about truly healthy food choices?

Of course I'm obtuse. I think it's my greatest gift to mankind. There's no reality I won't blithely ignore.

More seriously, you've got a point. I just couldn't imagine eating anything other than cereal for breakfast. Something as buttery and oily as good toad-in-the-hole would make me sick. To use my current favourite phrase wrongly, I'd be gagging for it.

As for calories I'm totally not up on them. I've always ranked food by fat content and the kinds of fat they have in them.

And yes, I forgot about the sausage. But sometimes sausages are the elephant in the room. I just don't want to talk about them.

Oh, and as for why you might be overweight I would have thought it might have something to do with your health. It's probably pretty hard to get that much fitness work in with really bad arthritis. You can eat as healthily as you like but if you can't exercise you're going to pack on pounds.

The only reason there are more obese people today is due to medical advances. In years past, they would have died either from the medical problems, or the obesity that now can be treated.

I would have said it's access to lots of food at any time, but each to their own. In the old days you had to cook your own revoltingly unhealthy concoctions - http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/index.html - but these days you can just buy them readymade from a freezer.

I reckon that's the big difference behind the rise in obesity. But why people choose to remain obese, that's the big question.

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As I said. I am sure some is a lack of will power. Some is hormonal. Some is medical. And some is biological.

Don't forget psychological. Eating disorders aren't limited to anorexia and bulimia.

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But why people choose to remain obese, that's the big question

But not all do. That is the answer. I dont doubt some do, but I have seen others that do more than you to get their weight down, and yet their own chemistry betrays them.

And yes, you are right. Some of it is the availability to unhealthy foods. But not all.

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KFC Kickin For Christ

Join Date 11/2005

+93

Sometimes it's hard to know how much is genetic and how much is environment. But I do think as someone already said the food choices we have today play a huge part of how big we are becoming. The best thing to do, when watching your weight when going grocery shopping is avoid the isles. Yes, for the most part if you do your shopping around the perimeter you're so much better off. Of course you may have to avoid the endcaps as they like to put the chips and stuff there to tempt you.

Usually the good food items, like produce, meat, bread and dairy are placed around the perimeter of the store with your cans, snacks and packaged foods filled with all sorts of fattening ingredients and non healthy essentials are found in the aisle sections. Usually I find it best to stay away from alot of the packaged easy to make foods filled with all sorts of unreadable ingredients.

It's really all about taking in less calories than we are outputing. The best way to burn calories is to have muscle. The more muscle the more we burn. The more we burn the more we can eat. That's why I run.....so I can eat..heh.

That's why guys can get away with higher calories than the ladies. They have more muscle. I'm at a standstill as far as weight. So, I've recently decided to try weights to work out a bit more to build more muscle. As we get older, we lose muscle. Besides.....I'll be able to eat more.

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This article inspired me to cook fresh green beans (first time ever...I usually do canned). Then I ate a clump of brown sugar all by itself.

*sigh*

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WWW Link

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Big Mamma's House, Big Mamma's House 2

In Eddie Murphy's defense, these films belong to Martin Lawrence.

Still, that's 470 calories for breakfast, and with the non-dairy creamer I figure it to be about 500.

The average woman needs about 1500 calories per day to maintain a normal weight, so that's not too far out of line.

And *that's* where the issue is. If you've got 500 calories for breakfast, 500 calories for lunch and 500 calories for dinner, then another 500 calories for "snacks and midnight thirsties", you're 500 calories over what you need to simply maintain your weight. Now, all of these numbers are approximations, but that general guideline may be why you're maintaining your weight at a higher level.

I need to start counting my own calories again, or I fear I'll simply maintain this higher weight (although I'm having very minor success with lowering my body fat percentage).

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ya'll all take this bloggin' shit way too serious... Would somebody pass the gravy please?

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As my mom was 7 and a half stone and my aunty the same I never understood why I now weigh 16 stone , I dont own a car walk everywhere and dont eat unhealthy food. I was 6 stone aged 9 and that was it. I got picked for EMI disco dancing championships and was ace at ballet but heavy you bet. This overweight stuff is rubbish see Marylin Wann FATSO? book it is great Fat forever!

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whip - I'm glad you didn't take my observation the wrong way. I was a little nervous that it came off sounding judgemental. I know some of the frustration that you're going through; even if I'm watching what I eat, I really need to push the exercise (especially cardio) to get my weight down. I can only imagine how difficult it is to find those "joint-friendly exercises" that you need.

I wouldn't necessarily throw too much fruit into your diet, but more vegetables will help fill you up and keep the calories down.

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Whip, don't know if this is any consolation, but this is what my Dr told me.

200 calories for breakfast (I have hot chocolate with f/f milk, splenda, dry wheat toast, or one cup high fiber cereal)

300 for lunch

500 for supper

Or one can reverse that since the metabolism slows down at night...better to eat smaller then.

For me and my thyroid, eating like this and working out regular, I am not gaining any weight. But for someone with a normal metabolism, they could expect about a pound weight loss a week.

I also was told by the dietitian (I asked about my uncle's R/A and his weight) that people with R/A have a higher amount of "inflammation" in the body. And it is almost impossible to lose weight normally because of this. Have you heard this?

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no quotation marks necessary

I used quotes more out of my ignorance of the subject than for any other reason. I wasn't sure if I remembered the exact word but thought it was something like inflammation.

IF I see her again I will ask for her reference.

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cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

I got an email from another aussie friend yesterday pointing out to me that V8 is widely available in Oz, so widely available that he believes cacto was taking the piss when he suggested it must be something calorie laden and sugary.

I've never heard of it. It's never on the TV and I've never known anyone to drink it. I thought it must be an America-only thing. A V8 is a kind of car engine, so it's only natural to assume it works on the same principle as any other overtly masculinely named drink - it's packed full of sugar and caffeine and maybe even some guarana.

If he was serious, all I can say is his remarks really illuminate some sort of underlying prejudice. For him, it's quite natural to think of an overweight person's diet as greasy and oily and sugar-laden and unhealthy, when the reality of the situation is this, many of us eat what many of YOU would consider a 'normal' diet...and in 'normal' amounts.

Everyone loves a good prejudice, but no, I don't think that. I do think that about the obese though. I don't think anyone's natural weight is 150kg or more. That takes commitment and not just bad genes.

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Cacto,

V8 has been in Australia since at least the mid-70's. I can remember my father drinking the original way back then. It is available off the shelves in Coles, Woolworths and Franklins. In comes in many varieties. We regularly buy it to go with our vodka as it does make the BEST Bloody Marys. There are fruit/vegetable blends which are also nice with vodka.

I too thought you were taking the piss when you said you didn't know what it was.

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We even get V8 in Egypt!

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'It's never on the TV'
Fibber. One of Sally Williams' regular 'Brand Power' adverts is for V8 juice. You can see it nationally across Australia, on free-to-air commercial TV, and on a regular basis. And you can see it here (see link below), 3rd video down.

'A V8 is a kind of car engine, so it's only natural to assume it works on the same principle as any other overtly masculinely named drink - it's packed full of sugar and caffeine and maybe even some guarana.'
No more than it would be natural to assume that 'Mountain Dew' consists of, well, mountain dew. Actually, it's called V8 because it consists of juices from 8 different vegetables. Which you would know if you had researched your subject before passing judgement.

'I'm on a no-google binge at the moment. Instant enlightenment makes life too easy.'
Given your erroneous claims above, isn't it rather that you don't want to undermine your prejudices by letting those pesky little facts get in the way?

Link

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Reply By: Furry Canary

Welcome back! I hope the high ate us was not too bad.

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Why, thank you Dr Guy. It's lovely to be remembered. And no, all is well in the Canary household!

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cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

Furry Canary: (and I really hope that name doesn't mean what I think it might)

Okay...? Relax, take a load off. I am being completely honest in saying that I had never heard of V8 until it was explained to me by LW.

Given your erroneous claims above, isn't it rather that you don't want to undermine your prejudices by letting those pesky little facts get in the way?

Of course. A real man cultivates his prejudices like a hothouse flower, and he makes sure he gets sufficient mental exercise by jumping to every conclusion within reach. These are the keys to a civilised mind.

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'Furry Canary: (and I really hope that name doesn't mean what I think it might)'
I doubt it very much, but it depends upon which conclusion you've jumped to on this occasion ...

'Relax, take a load off. I am being completely honest in saying that I had never heard of V8 until it was explained to me by LW.'
Oh, I'm very relaxed, thanks. And I take no issue with you not having heard of V8. But if you choose to extrapolate from your own experiences to those of the population in general without checking your facts, eventually - like here - you're going to slip up.

'A real man ... makes sure he gets sufficient mental exercise by jumping to every conclusion within reach.'
But jumping to conclusions is the least energetic way of getting from A to B. So, I put it to you, it's rather like completing a marathon by taking a taxi. Hardly 'exercise', and hardly the stuff of a 'real man' (whatever that might be).

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cactoblasta

Join Date 04/2004

+48

That was a joke, Furry. 'Jumping', get it?

Anyway it doesn't matter. Good to see you back around here anyway.

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