Chow Down, Wide Loads - Just HOW disgustingly FAT are Americans? Pretty fat.

reply to post by SquirrelNutz


I think we can all agree with this and.......I was just talking to my friend about how there are all these reality shows situated around food now.
Chefs wanna be's.
Angry chefs.
Competing chefs.
Cupcake divas.
Cake bosses and more Las Vegas Cakes.......etc

Fats, carbs and sugar sugar sugar!!!! Just disgusting.

Eat to live. Don't live to eat.

Squirrel Nutz:

I am referring to the War on Obesity. Please google it. Pharmaceutical companies are funding it.

Are we getting fatter? I wouldn't have a clue and neither would you. Since the language has been re-defined - we can't communicate with each other.

Obese, over-weight, fat - these are all words that mean different things to different people.

Has the average weight of the american people increased in the last 50 years - Probably! But what does that mean? The average height has increased too!

Are we less healthy - What does that mean? Healthy? Well lets see - we don't have massive epidemics of pellegra and other nutrient deficient diseases that used to be commonplace. (please google pellegra and you will see what I mean. It used to be very common in the southern United States. Heart disease has decreased steadily since the 1950's. Average life span has increased from about 65 to 80 years of age.

Do we have more Type II Diabetes - I am not sure. About the same time that they changed the standards of BMI - they also changed the standard for blood sugars to define what it means to be a diabetic. (Voila - another instant epidemic created by changing words and what they mean)

You see - if the pharmaceutical companies and their Non-profit puppets can convince the public that childhood obesity is an epidemic that will kill our children - then the pharmaceutical companies get to sell anti-obesity drugs and treatment, non-profit get salary dollars for lobbying the government to take action, the politicians get points from the voters for "saving the children", the government gets to tax foods it deems unhealthy (like soda, snack foods, fast foods) and increase its power base by passing laws to force the obese to lose wieght.

We have seen the war on drugs. We have seen the war on tobacco and we are now seeing the war on obesity.

I say - this time - before government gets to expand its power and taxation base, before Big Pharma gets to medicate everyone - please lets have a public debate.

Is there, in fact, an increase in obesity rates (or is it just an illusion created by changing the meaning of BMI). If there is, in fact, an increase in obesity rates, does it really represent a public health crisis. And lastly - if there is an increase in obesity - what role, if any, do we want the government to play. Should there role be an advisory role, an education role or do we want them to intrude on private lives with new taxation and perhaps enter into peoples homes to remove at-risk children.

Don't you want a voice in all this?

TIRED OF CONTROL FREAKS

Don't forget the generals like it too - they don't like to turn away anyone that wants to volunteer to go fight in their wars - if you are overweight, you don't qualify.

They want lean and mean soldiers for their armies.

They even want you skinny to hack and to fly drones. lol

Mostly what the want is a population living in fear - and begging the government to save them!

TIRED OF CONTROL FREAKS

I am 50 pounds overweight.

But to be honest, I fully didn't realize how overweight I was until recently. I just never monitored my weight.

Suddenly people started commenting about how big I had gotten.

It has been a real humbling experience because I never imagined I would be fat. In a way, it is difficult to accept that I am fat. But I make no bones about it.

I am fat and it is my fault.

I always thought I had good genes and could eat anything. Boy, I was wrong.

Now I am struggling to slim down. It has left me somewhat depressed and frustrated and have even caused me some cause for alarm concerning my health.

I post this here to tell people to beware of what you eat and how much you eat. Monitor your weight and don't wait till it is out of control. It is a lot easier to lose a couple of pounds than 50.

I have learned that being overweight does take a toll on your life.

I hope my experience help others.

reply to post by Merigold


Congratulations on your weight loss Merigold, you should be proud of yourself

I too have recently had a fair size weight gain. Mainly due to the fact that I was playing a high intensity sport (Aussie Rules football) until I severely injured my shoulder. Now I need surgery. Unfortunantly I kept eating the same amount of carbs that I used to eat when I was active and without any physical activity, theose carbs simply converted to fats.

Trying to cut down on those now, and hopefully I will get that operation soon and get back to playing sport.

reply to post by jam321

jam I hear ya.

I'm sure I'm a bit more than 50 pounds over
But even though I'm big I still can get out and exercise, I can generally do things that normal people do. But I'm sick of it. I've given up soda, and now I don't eat like I used to. I used to eat ALOT, but now I'll generally eat until I'm not hungry and that's fine. It started with eating almost nothing during the day. A light lunch usually and then some food at dinner.

Drinking only water I can feel a big difference in how I feel, sucked the first two days off of caffeine though.

But anyone who needs to lose weight should remember. Only you can make that choice, you have to want to change. It's still early in me trying to get my eating habits under control, but I'm going to keep at it. Just cutting out the soda alone should do wonders, for all the extra calories and the blood sugar. But seriously, you have to be sick of looking at yourself in the mirror before you can change, that's the bottom line.

[edit on 29-7-2010 by Judohawk]

reply to post by Judohawk

But seriously, you have to be sick of looking at yourself in the mirror before you can change, that's the bottom line.

Know the feeling.

I am reading up on calories, good nutrition, starting to regularly exercise and drinking more water than I ever have.

I am determined and will slim down. But I can't say it is easy.

Eat in Moderation is my new motto.

reply to post by TiredofControlFreaks

And beyond this - the average life expectency 50 years ago was about 65 - now its closer to 89 - but we are fatter. This is a fact.

Actually the average lifespan of an American these days is 78 not 89, so no that is not a fact...

I hear all of you who gained. I was unemployed for the last 12 months and sat on my ass on the pc from the moment I woke til the moment I passed out. For real. NOT GOOD.

I'm moving monday (tomorrow) and will finally have room to exercise and finally eat more than junk food. I'm tired. I didn't know I looked as bad as I do until I saw pics of myself dancing at my cousins wedding 3 mths back. I nearly sobbed. I look 7 months pregnant.

I'm not pregnant what so ever. My face had ballooned out. Yet in the mirror I don't see a fat person. I see (sure) stomach gut and rolls on the back and stuff but to me in the mirror, it wasn't bad. I see skinny legs and maybe a slightly bigger butt from my old size 7. I'm a 16 now. I must be opposite of anorexic. THey can be skinny as heck and see fat.
I'm large and see "oh i look like a size 9/10"
seriously. It disturbes me greatly how ''small'' I think I look even when my old clothes from just a year back dont even come up my hips or in pics recently I look LARGE. I don't get it.......


but I'm damned determined to change and get my lil 4 pack back, lose the back fat and be happy again. I just want to drop to a legit size 10. Or 8 but that's pushing it. I was a 0/3 at one point and to me being 5'5" tall, that's too skinny. Yuck. I'll be happy to go from my current 176 lbs to 140, say. I don't want to go too far. Just that. What is it? 36 lbs?
I should be able to do that by next summer right?

reply to post by sarra1833


I can SO relate to what you mean. I went through a bout of depression in my early 20's and gained 50lbs. I really didn't notice how much I'd gained until I realized that slowly but surely, I had replaced almost all of my wardrobe in a little less than a year. Now I look at pics from that period and cannot believe how much bigger I looked than I thought I did at the time, and because I am normally pretty tiny, no one believes me unless I whip out the photographic evidence. Don't worry - You can certainly lose the weight by next summer. Once I got my "stuff" under control and started living again, I was losing weight so fast my budget couldn't keep up! (by that I mean, every time I bought pants that did not fall off - they starting falling off within a month)

i like fat people especially well proportioned fat women. so i have to disagree there is a state of dis-ease when dealing with obesity.but i have a contention against stating changing a diet and substituting carbs and sugar is a solution; as i find most obesity issues are relating to a system that is not at all entirely focused on just digestion of what a proponent to obesity as disease would have me believe as the cause.


has anyone mentioned women with too high levels of testosterone; or men with high levels or estrogen? and who is to say that a person is abnormal because they are classified as a male/female and has a high amount of estrogen/testosterone in their metabolic system? i know a man with high levels of estrogen can develop physical characteristics of a woman: but is this done in direct contrast to mans nature; yes, and this is conspiracy.i also know that a woman with abnormal levels of testosterone will develop tendencies that are akin to a mans will including and not limited to physical makeup: this is not conspiracy that some people find advantage in being likened as the image of what they are told is the dominator of the world.

i really dont like the people who take advantage of either polarity though; so regardless of how fat or skinny a woman is if she has testosterone and tries to push forward natures unnaturally there is normally a conflict of interest with my self.and i hate running into closet "women" who call themselves males and christian(insert any image associated with male fraternity) goers but allow themselves to be dominated by estrogen.

the dictation that ceasing to consume this or that type of product is an inert act of changing an issue that has more to do with a different system related but not confined to digestion..

I hate to admit it... but lifestyle here in America does contribute to obesity. My observations are purely anecdotal, but I see people all the time that with a little effort could really change the quality of life.

Here in the South, we love to eat...LOVE TO EAT. Traditionally, It's all fried and lots of overcooked veggies, BBQ, always bisquits and corn bread. Homecooked desserts...

That was ok 30 years ago when we worked in the mill or farm and burned off a few thousand calories a day. But now, with modern jobs and conveniences, it is not ok. The pounds pack on fast and stay and do a lot of harm.

I didn't realize how much harm until I switched jobs last winter...due to the falling economy, I could see the future of the job I had then and looked and found a job as asst mngr of a feed/farm supply store.

After manually hauling and slinging 50lb sacks of feed and fertilizer all day, lots of walking back and forth across the store and lot to load 3 point eqipment, I dropped weight fast and built muscle. I am in better shape now than I was in college...at 47.

Oddly enough, my appetite has fallen too. I still eat a lot...but it is all homegrown and home cooked....except for the occassional daliance into fast food burgers.

Also, 10 years ago...I remarried and we started a small farm and now raise about 60-70 % of our own food... pigs, chickens, goats...big ass garden.... heirloom veggies, fresh peaches and grapes.

POINT IS.... activity and lifestyle play a big part. Plus, avoiding most of the fast foods and conveniences out there.

I see customers that are constantly telling me and chastising me for doing things the "hard way"...ie manually, when i could use the forklift...or back up a little closer.

Yet, they can barely keep up with me when we walk across the lot to load fencing, or grunt and sweat like pigs as they climb up into their pickups... or have to take a break helping me load 20 bags of whole corn or 10 bags pf pine shavings or horse bedding.

I also see the future as many of the overweight/obese out of shape customers come in with canes...hardly able to walk from the weight...they talk about their by-passes and disability... because they were smart enough to do it the "easy way."

I guess I am hard headed, but so is my family. I have uncles that still eat like mules, work like dogs, and they are 78-83-85 respectively. A couple of months ago, one of my uncles was complaining about his back...seems he had been breaking up cinderblock and hauling it to the dump in 5 gallon buckets as they didn't take solid construction waste...he's 85. Oh, up until about 10 years ago...my aunt used to pick 2 bushels of beans in the morning and have them in the freezer by night...she stopped when she got to 83... just a little too much she said.... she only does a bushel now.

My mom and dad still cut 2 yards, have a garden, and walk 2 miles a day...they are 75 and 81 respectively.

Looks like, barring some tragedy, I'll be here at ATS for a while...LOL

Anyone over weight i think has a lack of control and pride in there appearance, and i dont like the reason " some people cant help it " ofcourse they can it just takes more effort which is whats lacking in most people who are over weight.

Unless you like the look of overweight you have no right to moan just knuckle down and put the effort in.

I'm about 5.11 and i weigh 174 pounds. or about 79 Kg for my fellow Brits.
I wont even blame fast food places or large amounts of food serving fully for weight gain in people. If you eat alot work out alot.

I know many people wont like what i've said but deep down everyone agrees... BTW i dont dislike "fat" people but i think they are lazy and have no selfpride.

Originally posted by supergeek
reply to post by sarra1833

 

....Don't worry - You can certainly lose the weight by next summer. Once I got my "stuff" under control and started living again, I was losing weight so fast my budget couldn't keep up! (by that I mean, every time I bought pants that did not fall off - they starting falling off within a month)

Thanks! That gives me incentive! Not that I didn't have it before but now I have a goal.

Originally posted by thecrow001
Anyone over weight i think has a lack of control and pride in there appearance, and i dont like the reason " some people cant help it " ofcourse they can it just takes more effort which is whats lacking in most people who are over weight.

Unless you like the look of overweight you have no right to moan just knuckle down and put the effort in.

I'm about 5.11 and i weigh 174 pounds. or about 79 Kg for my fellow Brits.
I wont even blame fast food places or large amounts of food serving fully for weight gain in people. If you eat alot work out alot.

I know many people wont like what i've said but deep down everyone agrees... BTW i dont dislike "fat" people but i think they are lazy and have no selfpride.

Yes, me personally I have to agree that I am lazy. And I finally hate it. And that's why I'm changing. Obviously my 'fun' of the last 4 years paid off - with fat and lots of pain because my bones in my feet are starting to give out. I don't want that any more. Don't want any of it any more. It's gonna be tough but, I didn't get this way in a few months. It took 4 years. But just the opposite now, in time I'll be to my target weight and feel a lot better. I got into a habit of sitting on my ass and eating. I can get into a habit of exercise and eating healthy and until I don't feel hungry instead of til I'm full.

I gave up red meats 4 weeks or 5 weeks back. I feel better for that and am eating fish and white meat chicken. I think once I incorporate salad, veggies, etc., and exercising, I'll be fine. And I'll grow to crave it instead of mcdonalds grilled chicken wraps, etc.

reply to post by sarra1833


Well i dont want to sound condescending because its not ment to be be well done, I am glad your making a change, life is so much better feeling and looking healthier.

I go to the gym 3 times a week doing 2 hour sessions on weights and cardio that helps me stay in shape.
I eat alot of meat but i know red meat is not good.

I'd like to add America is not the only fat country, Visit the UK, its just as bad.

[edit on 22-8-2010 by thecrow001]

reply to post by thecrow001


I have to agree with Crow.

There come a point where both the pushers and the users should take responsibility for their actions.

Responsibility for yourself used to be an inherent factor in each person. Over the last decade it seems to have fallen out of favour in exchange for the 'victim' mantra. This only promotes a feeling of helplessness and can further cause an individual to rely on others for matters that should be their own responsibility.

Maybe not all the obese people - not only in the US but over the world - feel that they would like to change. But for those that do, taking responsibility for what you eat should be the first step.

Cheers
Shane

[edit on 22/8/10 by shamus78]

What makes NO sense to me is how obesity is supposedly SUCH a BIG health problem. It leads to all these horrid diseases - yet - insurance won't cover the treatment of obesity - oh no, not at all.

I mean, looks like some diet pills or cognitive behavioral therapy might be less expensive in the long run than a life time of insulin supplies.

They wouldn't cover medication for my autoimmune disorder that didn't cause massive weight gain, but oh, they'd cover steriods.

Something's not making sense, and I do think there IS a war on obesity.

What I don't get is why 1/3 of Americans are fat, and we take all this abuse? Most of the abuse comes from twenty somethings and below.

I was watching "Eat, Pray, Love" and Julia Roberts was eating pizza and she said "I don't aspire to be obese"

Is that what they think? That people ASPIRE to be obese?

the proper emphasis should be placed on the food producers/processors.

the meat animals & fowl are pumped full of growth hormones and steroids so they go to market in less time...less feeding/housing means more profits.

the processors are also grinding up animal parts not crammed into the human food and recycling the steroid glutted/hormone saturated body parts into 'protein' for the next generation of animals destined for the slaughterhouse.

all the food stuffs in our food supply is tainted & saturated with drugs, hormones, steroids, thyroid exciters, etc.... our general habits & exercise regimen is minor in comparison...
the FDA & is in cahoots with the corporate masters in allowing the toxic trash we are allowed to eat.... thats where the biggest portion of the blame for obesity lies


~IMHO~


Oh, and a * for AlreadyGone, that post is the other side of the coin
to my above line of thought.

[edit on 22-8-2010 by St Udio]