I am fat because...

[Anonymous]

When you are fat, your body instinctively fights to keep you fat. That is why cutting calories, eating clean, and exercise are so important. It is like fighting an uphill battle, and most of us give up because we are hungry, we don't lose weight fast enough, and we crave the sugary and fatty foods. It is really hard! If you can perservere, you will lose weight, and eventually reset your body. It takes a lot of hard work and effort. I feel for op, but she makes a lot of excuses, and is not ready for the type of battle that she will need to fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love food. Also, I'm starting to think fat may be my superpower. I stayed fat through chemo and eating nothing but ice chips for three weeks!

Actually, a little extra weight can help you when you get sick and into old age. Hope you are doing better.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I can not believe all the terrible, cliche, Woman's World style advice in this thread. No wonder you are all fat,

How about you give some good advice?

Yes, please, almighty PP, tell us.

You have to actually want to be thin. Some things really are that simple.

It takes more than just "wanting" to be thin. Your comment is plain horrible.

Oh please. Do you have a JD? MA? MBA? Even a BA? If you have the discipline it takes to put years into getting a degree, you certainly have the discipline to be thin. Discipline is all it takes if you truly want to be thin.

I tend to agree. Women are always making excuses when it really comes down to What and how much you put in your mouth and do you do basic exercise 3-4 times a week? Weight loss is in the kitchen however, not really in the exercising if you don't change what you eat. Exercise is important for tone and overall health. I have been 20 lbs overweight twice in my life. I could have given up, made excuses, etc. but I am so glad that I lost the weight and now I am 43 and slim and fit. It really feels great, clothes fit well, I feel better, and I love setting a good example for my children.

I agree too and I am overweight. There is so much garbage in this thread. Unless you have a metabolic disorder, if you eat well (portion control is key) and exercise a reasonable amount, you probably won't be overweight. I'm in the process of losing 30 lbs after baby #2 and it is just about discipline, bottom line. For me wine is the main issue, and heavier dinners than I need to have. I don't pretend it's sugar, or carbs, or any of that crap. It's eating too much and moving too little. I don't think pp's comment is that awful, though I'm sure if she looked like me she'd be miserable. You have to really, really want to be thin and make the effort to do it. I haven't thus far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I agree too and I am overweight. There is so much garbage in this thread. Unless you have a metabolic disorder, if you eat well (portion control is key) and exercise a reasonable amount, you probably won't be overweight. I'm in the process of losing 30 lbs after baby #2 and it is just about discipline, bottom line. For me wine is the main issue, and heavier dinners than I need to have. I don't pretend it's sugar, or carbs, or any of that crap. It's eating too much and moving too little. I don't think pp's comment is that awful, though I'm sure if she looked like me she'd be miserable. You have to really, really want to be thin and make the effort to do it. I haven't thus far.

Amen. It's true that carbs, sugar, processed foods, emotional eating, depression, and your own laziness contribute to being fat, but that's not why you're fat. We are fat because we eat more calories than we burn. That's it. Nothing else. Why you do that (and how to control it) could be wildly different for everyone, but there is no secret out there. In the end, weight is determined more in the kitchen than on a treadmill or in a medicine bottle. Most "clean" eaters are either eating crap and lying to themselves, eating far too much good food, or eating so little that they're a day away from (yet another) binge and psyche-destroying failure. And the idea that calories are different ("good calories" and "bad calories") is both correct and useless. Sure, some calories don't fill you up and some are nutritionally useless, but they're still the same unit of energy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Processed food is LITERALLY made to be addictive. The simple carbs of breads and cookies stoke cravings in some people that are an actual physical addiction. Read the threads about people giving up sugar and going through withdrawal.

I remember watching a news show like 60 minutes and they were in a big food corporation. They had vials and vials of flavors and smells that they were showing off, all with the end game of producing snack food that was delicious but somehow left people craving more. This was actually stated by the food scientists.

Sorry for the slight threadjack, but it makes me crazy when people start talking about willpower and moral failings and don't address the widespread and insidious manipulation of the American food supply.

I can't believe folks have glossed over this comment. It is so true for so many of us. Thank you for posting.

This is totally true but its not really what I grapple with. 95% of the "junk" I eat is stuff I make myself. I love to bake and host often, so am constantly baking bread and making baked goods. Other than ice cream, I cant remember the last time I had a store-bought cookie, chips, etc.

Same with me. As a matter of fact, I eat NO processed foods and don't eat wheat.

My vice is savory foods. I cook a lot of indian food, which contains copious amounts of oil, salt, and rice. I enjoy nuts and eat too many. I make my own yogurt and nothing will do except whole. I even make my own salad dressing and buy Avocados at Costco and inhale those.

My hunger seems to have limited abilities to turn "off".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree too and I am overweight. There is so much garbage in this thread. Unless you have a metabolic disorder, if you eat well (portion control is key) and exercise a reasonable amount, you probably won't be overweight. I'm in the process of losing 30 lbs after baby #2 and it is just about discipline, bottom line. For me wine is the main issue, and heavier dinners than I need to have. I don't pretend it's sugar, or carbs, or any of that crap. It's eating too much and moving too little. I don't think pp's comment is that awful, though I'm sure if she looked like me she'd be miserable. You have to really, really want to be thin and make the effort to do it. I haven't thus far.

Amen. It's true that carbs, sugar, processed foods, emotional eating, depression, and your own laziness contribute to being fat, but that's not why you're fat. We are fat because we eat more calories than we burn. That's it. Nothing else. Why you do that (and how to control it) could be wildly different for everyone, but there is no secret out there. In the end, weight is determined more in the kitchen than on a treadmill or in a medicine bottle. Most "clean" eaters are either eating crap and lying to themselves, eating far too much good food, or eating so little that they're a day away from (yet another) binge and psyche-destroying failure. And the idea that calories are different ("good calories" and "bad calories") is both correct and useless. Sure, some calories don't fill you up and some are nutritionally useless, but they're still the same unit of energy.

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree too and I am overweight. There is so much garbage in this thread. Unless you have a metabolic disorder, if you eat well (portion control is key) and exercise a reasonable amount, you probably won't be overweight. I'm in the process of losing 30 lbs after baby #2 and it is just about discipline, bottom line. For me wine is the main issue, and heavier dinners than I need to have. I don't pretend it's sugar, or carbs, or any of that crap. It's eating too much and moving too little. I don't think pp's comment is that awful, though I'm sure if she looked like me she'd be miserable. You have to really, really want to be thin and make the effort to do it. I haven't thus far.

Amen. It's true that carbs, sugar, processed foods, emotional eating, depression, and your own laziness contribute to being fat, but that's not why you're fat. We are fat because we eat more calories than we burn. That's it. Nothing else. Why you do that (and how to control it) could be wildly different for everyone, but there is no secret out there. In the end, weight is determined more in the kitchen than on a treadmill or in a medicine bottle. Most "clean" eaters are either eating crap and lying to themselves, eating far too much good food, or eating so little that they're a day away from (yet another) binge and psyche-destroying failure. And the idea that calories are different ("good calories" and "bad calories") is both correct and useless. Sure, some calories don't fill you up and some are nutritionally useless, but they're still the same unit of energy.

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

YOU are the one laughably sad. Eat less, move more. Stop making excuses. And I'm not pp.

From the article you quote: “I think the focus on particular nutrients doesn’t tell you the true story,” she said. “It really is about overall calorie consumption and reduced physical activity.” ... “if we’re just talking about body weight and obesity, the evidence seems to point in the direction that calories are calories.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

I read the NYT link and understand the new research. Two things you should read more closely: I said that the idea of good and bad calories is both CORRECT and useless (for fat people). I love every 300 lb person who has decided that they can't lose weight because they have a metabolic disorder, hormone issues, or insulin sensitivity. Sure, it could be that fat people are fat because they have these issues, but doesn't it seem just as likely that some of them are fat because they don't exercise or eat right. Keep believing your stories.

[Anonymous]

Some of you are both ignorant and mean. Yes, nearly everyone can lose SOME weight by changing what they eat. What people are objecting to is the constant assertion that a) weight loss is "simple," b) it is just a matter of wanting it enough, and/or c) that everyone's experience and body is exactly the same.

Scientists are only just beginning to understand the deeply complex physiological and hormonal interactions behind weight and metabolism. Yes, there certainly are lifestyle choices involved for some people, but if you think the recent global uptake in weight is just a result of a sudden mass loss of willpower affecting millions of people then you are an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

I read the NYT link and understand the new research. Two things you should read more closely: I said that the idea of good and bad calories is both CORRECT and useless (for fat people). I love every 300 lb person who has decided that they can't lose weight because they have a metabolic disorder, hormone issues, or insulin sensitivity. Sure, it could be that fat people are fat because they have these issues, but doesn't it seem just as likely that some of them are fat because they don't exercise or eat right. Keep believing your stories.

Well, I think the fat comes first and then as a result of abusing your body, the hormone problems then kick in, causing a vicious cycle that takes a huge amount of time and effort to correct.

So it is not metabolic problem then fat. It is fat then metabolic problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are both ignorant and mean. Yes, nearly everyone can lose SOME weight by changing what they eat. What people are objecting to is the constant assertion that a) weight loss is "simple," b) it is just a matter of wanting it enough, and/or c) that everyone's experience and body is exactly the same.

Scientists are only just beginning to understand the deeply complex physiological and hormonal interactions behind weight and metabolism. Yes, there certainly are lifestyle choices involved for some people, but if you think the recent global uptake in weight is just a result of a sudden mass loss of willpower affecting millions of people then you are an idiot.

it is simple to lose weight, but hard to implement.

trust me, it took me 2 years to lose weight, it was like watching paint dry. However the steps to get there were very clear, the hard part was actually DOING what needed to be done. It is very very hard to undo a lifetime of eating habits while battling a metabolism that naturally slows down as we age.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I started out about 30 pounds over my ideal weight. Started getting serious about exercising about 2 months ago and I work out for 40 minutes, 5 days a week at my office gym. I stopped making excuses and just started going. Now, it's my routine and I enjoy taking that break in my day. Even with the new plan and cutting back (but not as much as I probably should've), I lost about 4 pounds in 1.5 months. It was SLOW going.

I decided to start juicing during the weekday. Yesterday marked me entering my third week of my new plan and I've lost an additional 8 pounds. I love the flexibility of sticking to this plan during the week and relaxing a bit on the weekends (without overdoing it). Going to continue with this method until I reach my goal weight loss and switch to juicing for breakfast only because I enjoy getting tons of veggies/fruits in a quick way. And my skin has never been clearer!

Great job! When you do your juicing do you get any other food or just juice?

Thanks! I should also note that while I've lost 12 lbs, I *really* see the difference in the way I look. My face and thighs are much slimmer. I haven't taken my measurements, but I can feel/see the difference.

What I usually eat during the week:

Juice consisting of some mixture of the following: kale, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, pineapple, mango. I don't use all in one juice blend. I use various combinations, but the goal is to use more veggies than fruit.

I drink my juices 3 times a day and also have:

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs
Lunch: 1 piece of baked chicken or fish, 1 slice of wheat bread
Dinner: 1 piece of baked chicken or fish, 1 slice of wheat bread. Lately, I've really been craving something sweeter so instead of chicken/fish, I'll have: yogurt, peanuts and apples. It's really good and filling.

While it may not seem like a lot, the juices REALLY fill you up and you won't be hungry after the first 2 days or so. I enjoy the taste of the juices (and the knowledge that I'm taking in veggies/fruits) so much that I even do it on the weekends for breakfast.

What are you doing for fiber? If I ate like this I would be so constipated.

LOL; that was a worry for me to but the bread (whole-wheat) and nuts help a lot. So does taking in fiber-rich foods on the weekends. I toyed with the idea of mixing a fiber powder in my juices, but I'm able to "go" about 2-3 times a week without any signs of constipation, so I haven't had to do that but it's an option.

See, if I ate this way I would not be constipated. I would be shitting my brains out. I can't do too much juice or I can't leave the bathroom.

Yes, juicing usually helps with constipation.

A liquid diet will do that to you.

This is not a liquid diet. If you read above, you will see that solids are eaten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are both ignorant and mean. Yes, nearly everyone can lose SOME weight by changing what they eat. What people are objecting to is the constant assertion that a) weight loss is "simple," b) it is just a matter of wanting it enough, and/or c) that everyone's experience and body is exactly the same.

Scientists are only just beginning to understand the deeply complex physiological and hormonal interactions behind weight and metabolism. Yes, there certainly are lifestyle choices involved for some people, but if you think the recent global uptake in weight is just a result of a sudden mass loss of willpower affecting millions of people then you are an idiot.

I think you're ascribing motives we "meanies" may not have. I am not trying to be cruel and certainly know how hard it is to lose weight (I've lost and kept off nearly 90 lbs). Don't think that because something is simple that it's easy. I certainly don't, as it would be like telling someone all they need to do is spend less than they make and they'll have savings. The psychological barriers and, potentially, physical barriers are real. This isn't about willpower, that line of thinking is indeed wrong, but it is about working through your issues to make it possible to make the right choices about food and exercise. I am, in the end, just worried that by making this overly complicated and saying things like "scientists are only just beginning to understand..." we give people an out, not to avoid losing weight, but to say "see, it isn't that I'm deeply depressed, it's that pesky insulin sensitivity I can't do anything about" without actually verifying that's the case. We all need to come together and be supportive, but, in my mind, that doesn't mean tell everyone they can be healthy at any size and that weight is impossible to address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

I read the NYT link and understand the new research. Two things you should read more closely: I said that the idea of good and bad calories is both CORRECT and useless (for fat people). I love every 300 lb person who has decided that they can't lose weight because they have a metabolic disorder, hormone issues, or insulin sensitivity. Sure, it could be that fat people are fat because they have these issues, but doesn't it seem just as likely that some of them are fat because they don't exercise or eat right. Keep believing your stories.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OMFG. More and more science and research is saying NO as emphatically as it can. Read the NYTimes link that was provided. Your advice is woefully out of date and laughably sad. You like it because it pats you on the back, when in reality, it reducing calories works well for you, your insulin sensitivity isn't all fucked up. Congrats. But don't tell people that you have all the answers.

I read the NYT link and understand the new research. Two things you should read more closely: I said that the idea of good and bad calories is both CORRECT and useless (for fat people). I love every 300 lb person who has decided that they can't lose weight because they have a metabolic disorder, hormone issues, or insulin sensitivity. Sure, it could be that fat people are fat because they have these issues, but doesn't it seem just as likely that some of them are fat because they don't exercise or eat right. Keep believing your stories.

Exactly.

Actually, the NYT article said exactly that, that fat people have insulin sensitivity that makes them eat more carbs and gain more weight. I guess you didn't read it? Or maybe you don't understand science? Also how can you tell fat people who just don't exercise or eat right from fat people who have metabolic disorders or insulin sensitivity? I want to be sure that I'm shaming the right people for simply being gross and lazy.