I'm fat ask me anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you exercise regularly? What do you do?

No. I am one of those people who starts and then stops. I feel very self conscious when I go to the gym.
I do walk a mile or two 5 days a week.

OP, I used to be self conscious too. I was always overweight as a kid and even through adulthood. I work out a lot now and there are a couple things I wish I'd figured out earlier -

1. People who work out at the gym are generally much more concerned about their own bodies than yours. Whether it's one more mile, one more rep, ten more pounds...
2. Starting out at the gym is much harder than keeping it up, in a lot of ways. The first five trips to the gym and much harder than trips 50-55!
3. Weight lifting will really make you much more confident about your body!

When I see someone who is clearly just getting started with a workout routine I want to give them a hug and a high five. I don't judge that 300 lb woman walking 2 MPH on the treadmill. I am proud of her because I know how hard it is to get started.

I really encourage you to lift weights - I have always struggled with my weight and I really started to enjoy exercise when I started weightlifting. I love focusing on what my body can DO and not just what it looks like. It sounds like you're really confident, and you'd like that aspect

Do you want a workout buddy? I live in South Arlington and you sound like you'd be fun to hang out with!

I was the PP who posted about being at 240 and always lacking confidence.. I just want to say that I personally appreciated this response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm a fairly in shape white male, and I think you should be commended for your efforts.

Serious question - given the documented health risks that come along with being very overweight/obese, and the significant costs to society of treatment and/or accommodation of those health problems, do you think overweight people should pay more for health insurance?

Thanks PP! I'm not completely sure, because I'm not well read on the subject. I would think you should pay more for services that you utilize. So if you have more health issues maybe you should. I honestly don't know. On one hand it's a disability, and a larger person most likely was responsible for their size, on the other hand it's out of some peoples control. I'm not sure how that would be regulated. If a person is special needs, or has a disability you can't charge them more in a child care center, even if you need more/ special resources for that child.

I don't think that's a great comparison but it made me think of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm a fairly in shape white male, and I think you should be commended for your efforts.

Serious question - given the documented health risks that come along with being very overweight/obese, and the significant costs to society of treatment and/or accommodation of those health problems, do you think overweight people should pay more for health insurance?

Thanks PP! I'm not completely sure, because I'm not well read on the subject. I would think you should pay more for services that you utilize. So if you have more health issues maybe you should. I honestly don't know. On one hand it's a disability, and a larger person most likely was responsible for their size, on the other hand it's out of some peoples control. I'm not sure how that would be regulated. If a person is special needs, or has a disability you can't charge them more in a child care center, even if you need more/ special resources for that child.

I don't think that's a great comparison but it made me think of that.

NP here. I'm wondering if the PP who asked the question would also ask the same thing about smokers, people with extremely stressful jobs, thin people that don't exercise or eat right, women that wait until their 40s to have children, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you lost a significant amount of weight a couple of years ago did you gain that back? Any more?

I did gain some back. I got really sick, I was on bedrest for months. Before anyone asks my illness had nothing to do with my weight,but it progressed because instead of thoroughly checking me out the dr.'s blamed all my complaints on my weight. When it was discovered what was wrong it almost killed me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm a fairly in shape white male, and I think you should be commended for your efforts.

Serious question - given the documented health risks that come along with being very overweight/obese, and the significant costs to society of treatment and/or accommodation of those health problems, do you think overweight people should pay more for health insurance?

Thanks PP! I'm not completely sure, because I'm not well read on the subject. I would think you should pay more for services that you utilize. So if you have more health issues maybe you should. I honestly don't know. On one hand it's a disability, and a larger person most likely was responsible for their size, on the other hand it's out of some peoples control. I'm not sure how that would be regulated. If a person is special needs, or has a disability you can't charge them more in a child care center, even if you need more/ special resources for that child.

I don't think that's a great comparison but it made me think of that.

NP here. I'm wondering if the PP who asked the question would also ask the same thing about smokers, people with extremely stressful jobs, thin people that don't exercise or eat right, women that wait until their 40s to have children, etc.

That's a really good point.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you ever considered gastric bypass surgery? I have a colleague at work who had this surgery, and she lost an amazing amount of weight as a result.

[Anonymous]

OP, I used to be self conscious too. I was always overweight as a kid and even through adulthood. I work out a lot now and there are a couple things I wish I'd figured out earlier -

1. People who work out at the gym are generally much more concerned about their own bodies than yours. Whether it's one more mile, one more rep, ten more pounds...
2. Starting out at the gym is much harder than keeping it up, in a lot of ways. The first five trips to the gym and much harder than trips 50-55!
3. Weight lifting will really make you much more confident about your body!

When I see someone who is clearly just getting started with a workout routine I want to give them a hug and a high five. I don't judge that 300 lb woman walking 2 MPH on the treadmill. I am proud of her because I know how hard it is to get started.

I really encourage you to lift weights - I have always struggled with my weight and I really started to enjoy exercise when I started weightlifting. I love focusing on what my body can DO and not just what it looks like. It sounds like you're really confident, and you'd like that aspect

Do you want a workout buddy? I live in South Arlington and you sound like you'd be fun to hang out with!

I wanted to chime in that I feel the same way. I'm a non-overweight regular gym go-er, and when I see someone at the gym who is obviously starting out, I have all the respect in the world for them. I know how hard it is to make exercising a priority, especially when you're out of practice or feel out of place. Please don't feel like everyone is judging you in a negative light -- if they even notice you at all (as PP said, most folks at the gym are focused on themselves).

At my old gym, there was one woman who was always there at the same time as me, working on her own or with a trainer. When I first noticed her, she obviously was overweight and not used to strenuous exercise. Seeing the effort she put in was a total inspiration for me and made me feel like a slacker! Witnessing the progress she made over time made me feel good about the world -- and inspired to me to make (non-fitness related) changes in my own life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you exercise regularly? What do you do?

No. I am one of those people who starts and then stops. I feel very self conscious when I go to the gym.
I do walk a mile or two 5 days a week.

OP, I used to be self conscious too. I was always overweight as a kid and even through adulthood. I work out a lot now and there are a couple things I wish I'd figured out earlier -

1. People who work out at the gym are generally much more concerned about their own bodies than yours. Whether it's one more mile, one more rep, ten more pounds...
2. Starting out at the gym is much harder than keeping it up, in a lot of ways. The first five trips to the gym and much harder than trips 50-55!
3. Weight lifting will really make you much more confident about your body!

When I see someone who is clearly just getting started with a workout routine I want to give them a hug and a high five. I don't judge that 300 lb woman walking 2 MPH on the treadmill. I am proud of her because I know how hard it is to get started.

I really encourage you to lift weights - I have always struggled with my weight and I really started to enjoy exercise when I started weightlifting. I love focusing on what my body can DO and not just what it looks like. It sounds like you're really confident, and you'd like that aspect

Do you want a workout buddy? I live in South Arlington and you sound like you'd be fun to hang out with!

I was the PP who posted about being at 240 and always lacking confidence.. I just want to say that I personally appreciated this response.

I'm glad! Really, go do a bunch of different things and you'll find something you're good at. Even at my heaviest I was really good at some things...like squats. I can squat a LOT and I feel so proud of myself when I do squats, and it carries over to other things that I'm not so naturally good at. I used to hate doing new exercises because I was sure I'd look dumb/do them wrong/be unable to do it, and now when I see an exercise that looks really hard I'm excited to try it. Once I started to see exercise as a fun challenge, and not a punishment for being overweight things really changed for me. Respect and cherish your body!

[Anonymous]

i agree if i see a fat person in the gym and its clear by the fact they are on the treadmill going 1.5 MPH not because they are lazy but because they are starting out, i dont think anything of them.

now the "fit" (or so they look it) person on the treadmill going 1.5 and talking on the phone watching tv annoy the hell out of me cause they are doing nothing

[Anonymous]

NP here. I'm wondering if the PP who asked the question would also ask the same thing about smokers, people with extremely stressful jobs, thin people that don't exercise or eat right, women that wait until their 40s to have children, etc.

Well, I didn't state an opinion, only asked the question. So of course I would ask it about others. But, to answer what you really were asking:

Smokers - abso-freakin'-lutely. And cigarettes should be taxed to the high heavens.
People who don't eat right - yes, if there are health problems that result. (And yes, I do think unhealthy foods should be taxed more.)
Stressful jobs - probably not - everyone has stress at some time in their lives, job-related or not.
Failure to exercise - not as a blanket matter, but if someone is directed to exercise to improve their health and doesn't comply, that's a different story.
Women who wait until they are in their 40s to have children - not touching that!

Your general point is well-taken, though - everyone makes choices that result in increased health risks, so why singlr out weight/obesity? My response is that obesity (and lack healthy eating) has reached a crisis point in the US, especially among children, and any steps that can be taken to change behavior should be taken. This is not meant to be punitive, but to incentivize changes in behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you exercise regularly? What do you do?

No. I am one of those people who starts and then stops. I feel very self conscious when I go to the gym.
I do walk a mile or two 5 days a week.

If you're serious about losing weight, you need to work out regularly. You can do DVDs at home.

I live in an apartment, I'm on the top floor. I could probably find low impact dvds but I always worry about disturbing my neighbors underneath me.

This is just an excuse. Walking a mile or two a day should just be part of life, not to be counted as part of an exercise program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you exercise regularly? What do you do?

No. I am one of those people who starts and then stops. I feel very self conscious when I go to the gym.
I do walk a mile or two 5 days a week.

If you're serious about losing weight, you need to work out regularly. You can do DVDs at home.

I live in an apartment, I'm on the top floor. I could probably find low impact dvds but I always worry about disturbing my neighbors underneath me.

This is just an excuse. Walking a mile or two a day should just be part of life, not to be counted as part of an exercise program.

As someone who at one time lived in a top floor apartment, above people who criticized every noise they heard, I can tell you this is not an excuse for not wanting to work out at home. My neighbors didn't like to hear my kid walking around. They sure as hell wouldn't have sat by and let my fat ass jump and run around above them.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP who said that your confidence is misguided. I'm all for being proud of one's body, but you are morbidly obese. I haven't looked at the smoking thread, but I'd venture to say that smoking isn't as bad for one's body as being 150 lbs overweight. People get so caught up in this 'you go girl!' mentality that they're not being honest with you about the fact that you are severely limiting your career options, your lifespan, your fertility, and a million other things.

I say this as someone who's 5'7 175 lbs and actively trying to get down to a healthier weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. I'm wondering if the PP who asked the question would also ask the same thing about smokers, people with extremely stressful jobs, thin people that don't exercise or eat right, women that wait until their 40s to have children, etc.

Well, I didn't state an opinion, only asked the question. So of course I would ask it about others. But, to answer what you really were asking:

Smokers - abso-freakin'-lutely. And cigarettes should be taxed to the high heavens.
People who don't eat right - yes, if there are health problems that result. (And yes, I do think unhealthy foods should be taxed more.)
Stressful jobs - probably not - everyone has stress at some time in their lives, job-related or not.
Failure to exercise - not as a blanket matter, but if someone is directed to exercise to improve their health and doesn't comply, that's a different story.
Women who wait until they are in their 40s to have children - not touching that!

Your general point is well-taken, though - everyone makes choices that result in increased health risks, so why singlr out weight/obesity? My response is that obesity (and lack healthy eating) has reached a crisis point in the US, especially among children, and any steps that can be taken to change behavior should be taken. This is not meant to be punitive, but to incentivize changes in behavior.

Sure sounds like a penalty to me. So I am a healthy, chubby adult (have only been to the doctor for OB appointments and well check ups in the last 8 years) and my children are a healthy BMI, but I should pay more for health insurance than a smoker, someone with asthma, someone who gets sick all the time, a diabetic, a woman who is geting IVF treatments beacuse she waited too long to have children, etc. That doesn't make any sense to me. Which I guess is why it doesn't work like that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PP who said that your confidence is misguided. I'm all for being proud of one's body, but you are morbidly obese. I haven't looked at the smoking thread, but I'd venture to say that smoking isn't as bad for one's body as being 150 lbs overweight. People get so caught up in this 'you go girl!' mentality that they're not being honest with you about the fact that you are severely limiting your career options, your lifespan, your fertility, and a million other things.

I say this as someone who's 5'7 175 lbs and actively trying to get down to a healthier weight.

Um, does it make it better if she weren't self-confident? I mean, what are you asking for? For her to sit at home and cry? She has a life to live and guess what folks--for severe obesity (and a woman at 300+ pounds is for sure), NOTHING WORKS EXCEPT SURGERY, and even surgery will not bring a super obese person down to normal weight. But hey, why should insurance companies pay for weight loss surgery, because obesity is a choice, right?