I mean - do any of you just choose quality of life vs. endless watching of food?

[Anonymous]

A lower weight gives me, as one PP said, greater quality of life. Exercising is easier and many chronic conditions are diminished. I sleep better and think more clearly at 115 lbs than 130. Accepting a higher weight is not worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

The doctor could be recommending a 10 pound weight loss because he/she knows what is coming in your 50’s. Weight loss is a lot harder in peri/menopause. As a prior PP said you will be surprised how quickly 10 pounds turns into 20. Maybe your doctor wants you to be in the best place possible (or realistic) when your metabolism slows down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

[Anonymous]

I’d lose the 10 pounds if recommended by my doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

If your doctor tells you to lose ten pounds and you refuse to because it requires a few weeks of dieting, you are the kind of person that is going to keep gaining as you age, and you will have all kinds of health problems that could have been nipped in the bud with minor weight loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

If your doctor tells you to lose ten pounds and you refuse to because it requires a few weeks of dieting, you are the kind of person that is going to keep gaining as you age, and you will have all kinds of health problems that could have been nipped in the bud with minor weight loss.

I think the point is that losing 10 pounds, for the OP, would require more than a “few weeks of dieting” and it’s not “minor weight loss.” I mean, did her doctor not get the memo that diets don’t work? There is SO much data on that. She’s active, eats a healthy diet, and is in otherwise excellent health. So...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

If your doctor tells you to lose ten pounds and you refuse to because it requires a few weeks of dieting, you are the kind of person that is going to keep gaining as you age, and you will have all kinds of health problems that could have been nipped in the bud with minor weight loss.

I think the point is that losing 10 pounds, for the OP, would require more than a “few weeks of dieting” and it’s not “minor weight loss.” I mean, did her doctor not get the memo that diets don’t work? There is SO much data on that. She’s active, eats a healthy diet, and is in otherwise excellent health. So...?

Of course diets can work. It has worked for me, and I’ve maintained the weight loss for years and it’s not a struggle. Some people just choose to make excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

If your doctor tells you to lose ten pounds and you refuse to because it requires a few weeks of dieting, you are the kind of person that is going to keep gaining as you age, and you will have all kinds of health problems that could have been nipped in the bud with minor weight loss.

I think the point is that losing 10 pounds, for the OP, would require more than a “few weeks of dieting” and it’s not “minor weight loss.” I mean, did her doctor not get the memo that diets don’t work? There is SO much data on that. She’s active, eats a healthy diet, and is in otherwise excellent health. So...?

Ten pounds is not even ten percent of OP's weight. It's minor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

me too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the last two PPs: isn’t that serious all or nothing thinking? Do you think there’s nothing between morbid obesity and restrictive dieting? I’m very fit and strong, and can physically do whatever I want, but I’m also not skinny. It sounds like there are a lot of us in that camp: not much benefit to starving ourselves to lose 10 pounds, given that we don’t really need to lose them other than to meet some absurd ideal.

NP. The real black and white thinking here is believing that losing ten pounds means you will have to starve yourself and live the rest of your life deprived of the pleasures of food.

Wow! Good call!

Not really, as subsequent PPs pointed out, and as my experience also supports. When most bodies find their happy weight, they hang onto it, and when you don’t have much (or any) to lose, it’s much harder to. For me, losing ten pounds would take an enormous amount of deprivation. And because I’m not obese and am already fit, the only reason would be to look “skinny,” rather than average.

So, yeah.

If your doctor tells you to lose ten pounds and you refuse to because it requires a few weeks of dieting, you are the kind of person that is going to keep gaining as you age, and you will have all kinds of health problems that could have been nipped in the bud with minor weight loss.

10 pounds over one’s ideal weight does not rise to the level of being a medical concern. I’d get a new doctor; this one sounds like a quack.

[Anonymous]

OP here. All these responses are so interesting, and I agree iwth so many of them. I do think I need a new doctor because I have put off going to see her for my yearly checkup bc I know she's just going to harp on the 10 lbs and the BMI, which again, I think is but a part of overall health. And I agree here with so many of you - if I were obese or had chronic health isssues - OR if I wasn't already doing what I find sustainable and healthy (eating generally well and moving my body), I think I'd revisit my thoughts. But I am doing those things and because I am, and becuase I know the amount of effort involved in losing a 10 lbs that I could benefit from losing but don't have to lose, it isn't worth it to me.

But I like all the thoughts about small weight gain over the years and how that adds up, and I also like the reminders about doing all of these things not just for me but for my family, so that I can participate in things as I and they get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. All these responses are so interesting, and I agree iwth so many of them. I do think I need a new doctor because I have put off going to see her for my yearly checkup bc I know she's just going to harp on the 10 lbs and the BMI, which again, I think is but a part of overall health. And I agree here with so many of you - if I were obese or had chronic health isssues - OR if I wasn't already doing what I find sustainable and healthy (eating generally well and moving my body), I think I'd revisit my thoughts. But I am doing those things and because I am, and becuase I know the amount of effort involved in losing a 10 lbs that I could benefit from losing but don't have to lose, it isn't worth it to me.

But I like all the thoughts about small weight gain over the years and how that adds up, and I also like the reminders about doing all of these things not just for me but for my family, so that I can participate in things as I and they get older.

The point is, you want to be in your ideal BMI range to prevent medical problems, not to cure them. You Dr is doing her job, which is to recommend to you to lose 10 lbs, to being your BMI within healthy/normal range. She would be a negligent Dr to not bring this to your attention and recommend it. She doesn't know the ins and outs of your lifestyle, diet, how hard/easy it is for you to make changes to lose weight. It is just a what she is recommending for you to do to optimize your health. If you don't want to or don't feel you need to because of specifics, that is fine too. I think you are taking this way to personally.

[Anonymous]

My quality of life is infinitely better when I’m not heavier than I want to be. I watch what I eat because I don’t like food so much that I’m willing to get fat from eating too much of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am on the lighter side of normal but have health issues, such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol/triglycerides that decrease when I lose weight and exercise to reach a BMI that’s below normal. I am also very fine boned and a petite Asian, and I believe that the BMI scale just doesn’t fit my profile. I feel as I’m overweight and going back to normal weight. Normal for me.

So that also means calorie counts are off too. A healthy daily intake for me is 900 calories or so. I gain weight when I eat more.

I LOVE food. I just mustn’t eat a lot of it.

There are numerous studies out there showing that negative health effects begin at lower BMIs for Asians than for white people. My BMR isn’t quite as low as yours, but yes, I had high BP and cholesterol and borderline blood sugars at higher side of normal BMI. At technically slightly underweight, all that disappeared. For me, health = quality of life, which means watching what I eat and exercising.

PP you responded to. Yes! I totally agree with you, and do believe that being healthy IS having quality of life. I am concerned about my long-term health, and wish to not only reduce the obvious risk of cardiac issues, stroke and diabetes, but also dementia and cancer, which have been linked to poor nutrition and being overweight. My two Japanese grandparents ate poorly and had visible memory loss in their 60s, and had full blown dementia in their 70s. My father saw the writing on the wall, started to eat better in his 50s, and pushed back the memory loss to his 70s. If I eat better and exercise more at an earlier age, and given my mother's better genes in that regard, I really hope to be much older than my father by the time dementia rears its ugly head, if it ever does. Health issues are not only physically restrictive and potentially life-threatening, they're also costly. I don't want to pay for an aide then a specialized nursing home earlier than I can help it.

So it's all about the long-term for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My quality of life is infinitely better when I’m not heavier than I want to be. I watch what I eat because I don’t like food so much that I’m willing to get fat from eating too much of it.

Yeah, that’s where I am too. It’s just a trade off. Being heavy means you can eat and enjoy food and not watch and calories and try everything on the menu and you don’t have to exercise and it’s honestly fun. I did it for years. Food is really delicious and satisfying and just plain yummy. Then I got cancer. Bad bad. And a host of issue.