Skinny is the new moral/hard working and all other kind of superiority?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The obesity problem is, like the climate change problem, a constellation of factors that prey on human weaknesses that, due to the way we think about the world, are almost impossible to solve.

Both involve centuries of momentum. The number one problem humans had to solve for hundreds and hundreds of years was food. Food was scarce, expensive, and complicated to preserve and prepare. And the people historically who have had access to unlimited food, ie, rich people, were frequently fat!

So suddenly we get into this modern miracle of a time where food is basically just a non issue. Anyone in this country can acquire 500 calories for less than $2. Probably less than $1. So we have bodies that have hundreds of years of evolution assuming that food is scarce, and we have the corresponding human impulses to gorge when we see it (because will we have it again later????), and we have a society where food is cheap, free flowing, and highly caloric. We also have a society where most people are living just on the line of poverty or, at minimum, with uncomfortably fragile finances who have to work constantly to keep their head above water and where people are EXPECTED to work constantly. It is a recipe for disaster. And the proof is in the pudding, if 75% of us are failing the test, the problem is the test.

Then we have a whole industry set up to make this food in the most cheap and addictive way possible to maximize profits that is running, basically unregulated behind the scenes with no regard for the consequences. We have no real support for victims of trauma or who have mental health issues. We have entire swaths of demographics trapped in food desserts. And we have a symptom of these things that is so public that it paints a scarlet A of disgust on the sufferer. And humans also LOVE to 1) be proud of their own accomplishments and b) think they are better than other people. So instead of realizing that all these things are coming together to create this epidemic, we point at the fat people and call them terrible.

Super effed up. And I am someone who has put in a metric ton of effort and self discipline into losing 40 pounds in the last year, so I'm not making excuses. But I know myself. And I know I had lots of childhood trauma. And that now, as an adult, I have a happy and stable marriage, I have financial security, I have a flexible job that allows me to work out during my lunch, I have enough money for my peloton and for healthy food, I have a supportive partner who assists with childcare duties, and on and on and on. Yes I exercised self discipline and hard work, AFTER my life and mental health stabilized for the first time probably in my life.

Everybody is saying it’s SO easy to lose weight but they could just take five minutes to read this comment and an article online about the real cause of weight gain. But they don’t want to because they’re lazy and learning is hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obesity problem is, like the climate change problem, a constellation of factors that prey on human weaknesses that, due to the way we think about the world, are almost impossible to solve.

Both involve centuries of momentum. The number one problem humans had to solve for hundreds and hundreds of years was food. Food was scarce, expensive, and complicated to preserve and prepare. And the people historically who have had access to unlimited food, ie, rich people, were frequently fat!

So suddenly we get into this modern miracle of a time where food is basically just a non issue. Anyone in this country can acquire 500 calories for less than $2. Probably less than $1. So we have bodies that have hundreds of years of evolution assuming that food is scarce, and we have the corresponding human impulses to gorge when we see it (because will we have it again later????), and we have a society where food is cheap, free flowing, and highly caloric. We also have a society where most people are living just on the line of poverty or, at minimum, with uncomfortably fragile finances who have to work constantly to keep their head above water and where people are EXPECTED to work constantly. It is a recipe for disaster. And the proof is in the pudding, if 75% of us are failing the test, the problem is the test.

Then we have a whole industry set up to make this food in the most cheap and addictive way possible to maximize profits that is running, basically unregulated behind the scenes with no regard for the consequences. We have no real support for victims of trauma or who have mental health issues. We have entire swaths of demographics trapped in food desserts. And we have a symptom of these things that is so public that it paints a scarlet A of disgust on the sufferer. And humans also LOVE to 1) be proud of their own accomplishments and b) think they are better than other people. So instead of realizing that all these things are coming together to create this epidemic, we point at the fat people and call them terrible.

Super effed up. And I am someone who has put in a metric ton of effort and self discipline into losing 40 pounds in the last year, so I'm not making excuses. But I know myself. And I know I had lots of childhood trauma. And that now, as an adult, I have a happy and stable marriage, I have financial security, I have a flexible job that allows me to work out during my lunch, I have enough money for my peloton and for healthy food, I have a supportive partner who assists with childcare duties, and on and on and on. Yes I exercised self discipline and hard work, AFTER my life and mental health stabilized for the first time probably in my life.

Everybody is saying it’s SO easy to lose weight but they could just take five minutes to read this comment and an article online about the real cause of weight gain. But they don’t want to because they’re lazy and learning is hard.

The real cause of weight gain is taking in more calories than you expend. PP showed real discipline in getting her life and health on track. Most readers on this board are fully capable of doing the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obesity problem is, like the climate change problem, a constellation of factors that prey on human weaknesses that, due to the way we think about the world, are almost impossible to solve.

Both involve centuries of momentum. The number one problem humans had to solve for hundreds and hundreds of years was food. Food was scarce, expensive, and complicated to preserve and prepare. And the people historically who have had access to unlimited food, ie, rich people, were frequently fat!

So suddenly we get into this modern miracle of a time where food is basically just a non issue. Anyone in this country can acquire 500 calories for less than $2. Probably less than $1. So we have bodies that have hundreds of years of evolution assuming that food is scarce, and we have the corresponding human impulses to gorge when we see it (because will we have it again later????), and we have a society where food is cheap, free flowing, and highly caloric. We also have a society where most people are living just on the line of poverty or, at minimum, with uncomfortably fragile finances who have to work constantly to keep their head above water and where people are EXPECTED to work constantly. It is a recipe for disaster. And the proof is in the pudding, if 75% of us are failing the test, the problem is the test.

Then we have a whole industry set up to make this food in the most cheap and addictive way possible to maximize profits that is running, basically unregulated behind the scenes with no regard for the consequences. We have no real support for victims of trauma or who have mental health issues. We have entire swaths of demographics trapped in food desserts. And we have a symptom of these things that is so public that it paints a scarlet A of disgust on the sufferer. And humans also LOVE to 1) be proud of their own accomplishments and b) think they are better than other people. So instead of realizing that all these things are coming together to create this epidemic, we point at the fat people and call them terrible.

Super effed up. And I am someone who has put in a metric ton of effort and self discipline into losing 40 pounds in the last year, so I'm not making excuses. But I know myself. And I know I had lots of childhood trauma. And that now, as an adult, I have a happy and stable marriage, I have financial security, I have a flexible job that allows me to work out during my lunch, I have enough money for my peloton and for healthy food, I have a supportive partner who assists with childcare duties, and on and on and on. Yes I exercised self discipline and hard work, AFTER my life and mental health stabilized for the first time probably in my life.

Everybody is saying it’s SO easy to lose weight but they could just take five minutes to read this comment and an article online about the real cause of weight gain. But they don’t want to because they’re lazy and learning is hard.

The real cause of weight gain is taking in more calories than you expend. PP showed real discipline in getting her life and health on track. Most readers on this board are fully capable of doing the same.

And you are fully capable of learning that weight gain is more complex than physiological processes, you just choose not to put in the effort to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay skinny by being mindful of my weight, food and exercise.

Being fat or thin is in our hands and it is our choice.

And that proves my point. How superior to those that do not stay skinny you feel....

No one is saying they are superior. Maybe the PP makes poor choices in other areas of life, I don’t know. But weight, what you eat, how much you eat, how is something you make choices about every day. Good or bad. How the choices you make make you feel is up to you.

Sometimes. Sometimes not. You can be mindful of your weight, food and exercise and still be fat. Someone can make all the same diet/exercise choices you do and be unable to lose weight. You are working hard to maintain a weight that you prefer. Good job! But be aware that you're lucky that your hard work translates to results. It doesn't work that way for some people.

The people it doesn’t work for likely spent decades eating poorly and making lifestyle choices that were not heathy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay skinny by being mindful of my weight, food and exercise.

Being fat or thin is in our hands and it is our choice.

And that proves my point. How superior to those that do not stay skinny you feel....

No one is saying they are superior. Maybe the PP makes poor choices in other areas of life, I don’t know. But weight, what you eat, how much you eat, how is something you make choices about every day. Good or bad. How the choices you make make you feel is up to you.

Sometimes. Sometimes not. You can be mindful of your weight, food and exercise and still be fat. Someone can make all the same diet/exercise choices you do and be unable to lose weight. You are working hard to maintain a weight that you prefer. Good job! But be aware that you're lucky that your hard work translates to results. It doesn't work that way for some people.

Thank you. I am not obese but I am overweight. I eat two meals per day, no snacks, don't drink alcohol, excercise 1 hour per day and avoid gluten, sugar and dairy for health reasons. I can't lose weight. Been in perimenopause for a few years and trying to lose weight has been so frustrating. I'm at the point of giving up after months and months of trying. My thin friends eat more than me and some don't excercise. Its depressing and I'm tired of people assuming I'm not trying or not making good food choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obesity problem is, like the climate change problem, a constellation of factors that prey on human weaknesses that, due to the way we think about the world, are almost impossible to solve.

Both involve centuries of momentum. The number one problem humans had to solve for hundreds and hundreds of years was food. Food was scarce, expensive, and complicated to preserve and prepare. And the people historically who have had access to unlimited food, ie, rich people, were frequently fat!

So suddenly we get into this modern miracle of a time where food is basically just a non issue. Anyone in this country can acquire 500 calories for less than $2. Probably less than $1. So we have bodies that have hundreds of years of evolution assuming that food is scarce, and we have the corresponding human impulses to gorge when we see it (because will we have it again later????), and we have a society where food is cheap, free flowing, and highly caloric. We also have a society where most people are living just on the line of poverty or, at minimum, with uncomfortably fragile finances who have to work constantly to keep their head above water and where people are EXPECTED to work constantly. It is a recipe for disaster. And the proof is in the pudding, if 75% of us are failing the test, the problem is the test.

Then we have a whole industry set up to make this food in the most cheap and addictive way possible to maximize profits that is running, basically unregulated behind the scenes with no regard for the consequences. We have no real support for victims of trauma or who have mental health issues. We have entire swaths of demographics trapped in food desserts. And we have a symptom of these things that is so public that it paints a scarlet A of disgust on the sufferer. And humans also LOVE to 1) be proud of their own accomplishments and b) think they are better than other people. So instead of realizing that all these things are coming together to create this epidemic, we point at the fat people and call them terrible.

Super effed up. And I am someone who has put in a metric ton of effort and self discipline into losing 40 pounds in the last year, so I'm not making excuses. But I know myself. And I know I had lots of childhood trauma. And that now, as an adult, I have a happy and stable marriage, I have financial security, I have a flexible job that allows me to work out during my lunch, I have enough money for my peloton and for healthy food, I have a supportive partner who assists with childcare duties, and on and on and on. Yes I exercised self discipline and hard work, AFTER my life and mental health stabilized for the first time probably in my life.

Everybody is saying it’s SO easy to lose weight but they could just take five minutes to read this comment and an article online about the real cause of weight gain. But they don’t want to because they’re lazy and learning is hard.

The real cause of weight gain is taking in more calories than you expend. PP showed real discipline in getting her life and health on track. Most readers on this board are fully capable of doing the same.

I showed that discipline when those societal factors were controlled for, NOT before. I showed it when I was financially stable, had a good doctor, had a good husband, had adequate childcare, had time to exercise and had money to buy good food. Do not erase my narrative around my own weight loss to suit your own points.

[Anonymous]

People like to think they are so brilliant because they have figured out that a calorie surplus causes weight gain. Slow clap for you. You know something an elementary school kid could tell you.

Yes, a calorie surplus will generally cause weight gain. But why do people take in more calories than they burn? What mental, emotional, and societal factors are at okay? And is weight gain always unhealthy? Could it be neutral? And should we tell people they should lose weight when dieting has been shown to be a factor in unwanted weight gain? What about weight maintenance and the studies about the value of aiming foe that? How does fat disgust impact the health of fat people? Is it productive or counterproductive? (I know these are leading questions but I can’t figure out a way to make them neutral because the answers are easily discoverable).

So yeah generally a calorie deficit will cause weight loss. But that isn’t new information and it’s barely a surface-level understanding of the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay skinny by being mindful of my weight, food and exercise.

Being fat or thin is in our hands and it is our choice.

And that proves my point. How superior to those that do not stay skinny you feel....

No one is saying they are superior. Maybe the PP makes poor choices in other areas of life, I don’t know. But weight, what you eat, how much you eat, how is something you make choices about every day. Good or bad. How the choices you make make you feel is up to you.

Sometimes. Sometimes not. You can be mindful of your weight, food and exercise and still be fat. Someone can make all the same diet/exercise choices you do and be unable to lose weight. You are working hard to maintain a weight that you prefer. Good job! But be aware that you're lucky that your hard work translates to results. It doesn't work that way for some people.

Thank you. I am not obese but I am overweight. I eat two meals per day, no snacks, don't drink alcohol, excercise 1 hour per day and avoid gluten, sugar and dairy for health reasons. I can't lose weight. Been in perimenopause for a few years and trying to lose weight has been so frustrating. I'm at the point of giving up after months and months of trying. My thin friends eat more than me and some don't excercise. Its depressing and I'm tired of people assuming I'm not trying or not making good food choices.

Pp here. Forgot to mention that I have asked my doctors for help with this. Asked them why my weight has crept up and why I am not losing. They've suggested things I am already doing and haven't helped me.

[Anonymous]

I used to weigh 274 pounds. I’m a woman who is 5’9. I posted on DCUM throughout my weight loss journey. I’m now 135 pounds and I lost the weight with cardio and WW. People treat me so differently now. It’s like when I was overweight I was invisible and now I’m an actual person worthy of human contact. Everyone treats me different, and it makes me angry because I’m still the same person.

I’m the child of an alcoholic, my father died when I was 16, I was molested and sexually assaulted, and yes I ate my way to 274 pounds.

I’m also a nice person. I’m kind and generous. I have actual empathy unlike many of you, because I know how it feels to be treated like garbage.

Congratulations you had an easier life or better genetics. Good for you. It doesn’t make you a better person.

When I look at that photo that was posted a few pages ago, what I see is myself and I see and feel the real pain of that person. I also see the person taking the photo, and maybe they look good on the outside, but they are ugly inside.

With obesity you can see the pain on the outside. It’s not so easy when people are skinny. It doesn’t mean they are ‘better’ people. You just can’t see their pain, walking down the street.

[Anonymous]

I think of it like getting people to stop smoking. It became taboo and most have stopped. What we eat has huge health implications for ourselves, our family, and society.

I have never been skinny but I have never been fat. In my own family and friend dynamics, I have seen the steady rise of weight, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

My philosophy is your weight starts to creep up you pull back a bit. No eating after 8, regular coffee at Starbucks, no thanks to cookies at the office, split the burger and fries instead of ordering your own. None of these things are hard.

Food tastes good, we are bored, we are tired from long commutes, we have bad days. Life is stressful but there simply has to be more than constant intake of food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think of it like getting people to stop smoking. It became taboo and most have stopped. What we eat has huge health implications for ourselves, our family, and society.

I have never been skinny but I have never been fat. In my own family and friend dynamics, I have seen the steady rise of weight, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

My philosophy is your weight starts to creep up you pull back a bit. No eating after 8, regular coffee at Starbucks, no thanks to cookies at the office, split the burger and fries instead of ordering your own. None of these things are hard.

Food tastes good, we are bored, we are tired from long commutes, we have bad days. Life is stressful but there simply has to be more than constant intake of food.

+1 People can make all the excuses about "complex" causes they want but for the *majority* of people this is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay skinny by being mindful of my weight, food and exercise.

Being fat or thin is in our hands and it is our choice.

And that proves my point. How superior to those that do not stay skinny you feel....

No one is saying they are superior. Maybe the PP makes poor choices in other areas of life, I don’t know. But weight, what you eat, how much you eat, how is something you make choices about every day. Good or bad. How the choices you make make you feel is up to you.

Sometimes. Sometimes not. You can be mindful of your weight, food and exercise and still be fat. Someone can make all the same diet/exercise choices you do and be unable to lose weight. You are working hard to maintain a weight that you prefer. Good job! But be aware that you're lucky that your hard work translates to results. It doesn't work that way for some people.

Thank you. I am not obese but I am overweight. I eat two meals per day, no snacks, don't drink alcohol, excercise 1 hour per day and avoid gluten, sugar and dairy for health reasons. I can't lose weight. Been in perimenopause for a few years and trying to lose weight has been so frustrating. I'm at the point of giving up after months and months of trying. My thin friends eat more than me and some don't excercise. Its depressing and I'm tired of people assuming I'm not trying or not making good food choices.

Pp here. Forgot to mention that I have asked my doctors for help with this. Asked them why my weight has crept up and why I am not losing. They've suggested things I am already doing and haven't helped me.

Do you lift weights? If not, try it and see. You have to be consistent ( 3x a week) and keep with cardio. It might at least start to budge. It took about 14 weeks but I finally lost 9 lbs. I’m 5’0/ 52 yr old so a big difference for me. I have about 6 to go and I’m fine if it takes another 14 weeks . It is for life not a quick hit. I was an “ only cardio” person…ran races, took spin. Focusing on weights made an impact. Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stay skinny by being mindful of my weight, food and exercise.

Being fat or thin is in our hands and it is our choice.

And that proves my point. How superior to those that do not stay skinny you feel....

No one is saying they are superior. Maybe the PP makes poor choices in other areas of life, I don’t know. But weight, what you eat, how much you eat, how is something you make choices about every day. Good or bad. How the choices you make make you feel is up to you.

Sometimes. Sometimes not. You can be mindful of your weight, food and exercise and still be fat. Someone can make all the same diet/exercise choices you do and be unable to lose weight. You are working hard to maintain a weight that you prefer. Good job! But be aware that you're lucky that your hard work translates to results. It doesn't work that way for some people.

Thank you. I am not obese but I am overweight. I eat two meals per day, no snacks, don't drink alcohol, excercise 1 hour per day and avoid gluten, sugar and dairy for health reasons. I can't lose weight. Been in perimenopause for a few years and trying to lose weight has been so frustrating. I'm at the point of giving up after months and months of trying. My thin friends eat more than me and some don't excercise. Its depressing and I'm tired of people assuming I'm not trying or not making good food choices.

Pp here. Forgot to mention that I have asked my doctors for help with this. Asked them why my weight has crept up and why I am not losing. They've suggested things I am already doing and haven't helped me.

Are you controlling your portion sizes, counting calories, measuring/weighing your food? Have you been tested for hypothyroidism/insulin resistance? Have you historically gone on very restrictive diets that may have messed up your metabolism? Are you exercising hard for the hour, not just taking a leisurely walk? Usually there is an explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think of it like getting people to stop smoking. It became taboo and most have stopped. What we eat has huge health implications for ourselves, our family, and society.

I have never been skinny but I have never been fat. In my own family and friend dynamics, I have seen the steady rise of weight, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

My philosophy is your weight starts to creep up you pull back a bit. No eating after 8, regular coffee at Starbucks, no thanks to cookies at the office, split the burger and fries instead of ordering your own. None of these things are hard.

Food tastes good, we are bored, we are tired from long commutes, we have bad days. Life is stressful but there simply has to be more than constant intake of food.

For better or worse, eating will never become taboo. Overeating is more complex than smoking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to weigh 274 pounds. I’m a woman who is 5’9. I posted on DCUM throughout my weight loss journey. I’m now 135 pounds and I lost the weight with cardio and WW. People treat me so differently now. It’s like when I was overweight I was invisible and now I’m an actual person worthy of human contact. Everyone treats me different, and it makes me angry because I’m still the same person.

I’m the child of an alcoholic, my father died when I was 16, I was molested and sexually assaulted, and yes I ate my way to 274 pounds.

I’m also a nice person. I’m kind and generous. I have actual empathy unlike many of you, because I know how it feels to be treated like garbage.

Congratulations you had an easier life or better genetics. Good for you. It doesn’t make you a better person.

When I look at that photo that was posted a few pages ago, what I see is myself and I see and feel the real pain of that person. I also see the person taking the photo, and maybe they look good on the outside, but they are ugly inside.

With obesity you can see the pain on the outside. It’s not so easy when people are skinny. It doesn’t mean they are ‘better’ people. You just can’t see their pain, walking down the street.

Congratulations on not only your loss, but your emotional healing as well. I wish you well.