"Illegal" to be fat - get fined or face higher premiums!

[SHOGUN]

Refined Flour and Sugar are ****ing toxic to your health. Avoid those, and I guarantee you will 1000000000000x better.

[Iceman57]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

This really, really bothers me.

First let me say that I do 3 or 4 presentations per month to weight loss groups helping people lose weight. I tell people about my own experience of losing 168 pounds in a calendar year, getting down to my goal weight of 170 lbs (thus the jokes about being half the man I used to be). I am absolutely ecstatic when someone comes up to me and says that they are so happy that I motivated them to getting back in shape.

You people seem to think that slamming people that are overweight (i.e. the OP's "people have no self control") is going to get them to start exercising and eating right. For me, it made me feel worse about myself and I'd eat to make the depression go away. It was like someone who takes drugs to escape from their crappy lives.

I've been to Overeaters Anonymous and I should go back.... I'm still struggling with the self control. I rarely see "some people have no self control" stated about alcoholics or drug users, but the same physiological and psychological needs are similar. You seem to suggest that it's easy for a fat person to lose weight... they just need some self control. It's bigger than that. As a guy, I'm far better at helping people with the logistical needs than the emotional needs, but I work with people on both.

On Monday, I am doing a presentation for my home weight-loss chapter where I'm going to show everyone my planned exercise regiment for the winter (swimming MWF mornings, boot camps TTh mornings, cardio-kickboxing W afternoon, aqua-turbo Th evenings, cross-country skiing on Sun, etc) and asking them to join me. It's the working together and supporting each other that gets people motivated to be healthier... and once I got started and saw the results, the motivation just grew. Positive reinforcement works so much better than the ####ty treatment fat people get from those that are fit.

Right now I'm using my bottom basement stair to "step-up" on while holding onto two 20 pound weights. When i first started i could barely get through six minutes. Im proud to say that im now up to 35 minutes a day, five days a week and I've stopped eating pasta or bread and no longer eat later then 7:30pm. I've only lost about 12 pounds in just over three months but my wife and kids keep me motivated, its now a change in my life im going to continue forever.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by HOZ

This was a nice post to read. I wish you luck DA.

I read somewhere (I will see if I can find it) that said that it is far easier to stay "skinny" or never get fat than to ever lose the excess weight. Once the weight gets put on and then the person loses it, the body reacts as though you are starving. Basically, tempting you to put it on.

Get your kids on a healthy lifestyle to start with and they will find it easier to stay that way!

As much as you might be to loathe something coming from MSNBC, this link agrees with you:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36716808.../#.TwbbqJgTs3Y

I can tell you right now that the year and a half that I have spent staying at 170 has been much, much, much harder than the year it took to get to 170. The last two weeks of December I fell off the wagon. One night I had a Pizza Hut Panormous pizza for supper. I saw a chocolate fudge cake at the bakery regular $14 on sale for $6, so I bought it since it looked so good. Had the whole cake for desert that night. Obviously I can still eat like a 360 pound person.... that would probably make someone that was always 170 pounds very sick. But I have not felt "full" since I started losing the weight. Even after eating the whole Panormous pizza, I felt like I could have another.

So, absolutely, definitely,the best thing is for parents to get their kids started out right. It is far easier to grow up eating right and exercising and being fit through childhood and adolescence and staying thin through adulthood than losing the weight later on in life and keeping the weight off.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Ok.
Then lets do the same tax for those who drink or smoke weed as well.

Are you suggesting that alcohol isn't taxed??

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by SebC

We already have an extra tax on alcohol, and we probably would on weed if it were legalized.

we have a tax on the product.

This thread is based upon a premise of taxing an individual based upon their personal characteristics.

I am saying that if you're going to do that, then apply it to those people who cause greater social problems and expense than do overweight people.

I find this entire premise ridiculous. as another poster put above, why not fine those who have familial history of disease as well. One step towards eugenics.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

As much as you might be to loathe something coming from MSNBC, this link agrees with you:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36716808.../#.TwbbqJgTs3Y

I can tell you right now that the year and a half that I have spent staying at 170 has been much, much, much harder than the year it took to get to 170. The last two weeks of December I fell off the wagon. One night I had a Pizza Hut Panormous pizza for supper. I saw a chocolate fudge cake at the bakery regular $14 on sale for $6, so I bought it since it looked so good. Had the whole cake for desert that night. Obviously I can still eat like a 360 pound person.... that would probably make someone that was always 170 pounds very sick. But I have not felt "full" since I started losing the weight. Even after eating the whole Panormous pizza, I felt like I could have another.

So, absolutely, definitely,the best thing is for parents to get their kids started out right. It is far easier to grow up eating right and exercising and being fit through childhood and adolescence and staying thin through adulthood than losing the weight later on in life and keeping the weight off.

I guess it probably depends on how much weight you're losing, and the reasons for it in regards to the whole feeling hungry thing. I dropped from 235 to 195 (where I've stayed pretty consistently, with the exception of a Hangover 2 style 2 week bender through Thailand) and never really had an issue with feeling hungry, I actually struggle to eat the portions I used to. I think a big difference in my case is I was dropping that weight due to the end of my football career (although it wasn't all muscle to be lost) so I was reducing my activity level fairly significantly. I can't imagine trying to work the combination of increased exercise and decreased calories together without always feeling hungry, heck I've had that issue over the last 6 months or so as I've started to ramp up the intensity of my workouts.

Eating healthy and exercising seems easy, but it's not always that way in reality. I definitely support things like taxing soft drinks and using the funds to provide healthy options in poor neighborhoods or education initiatives. Nobody needs 3 cokes a day, and if they do make them pay an extra 10 cents a pop and use those funds to address what is becoming a major medical issue.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

we have a tax on the product.

This thread is based upon a premise of taxing an individual based upon their personal characteristics.

I am saying that if you're going to do that, then apply it to those people who cause greater social problems and expense than do overweight people.

I find this entire premise ridiculous. as another poster put above, why not fine those who have familial history of disease as well. One step towards eugenics.

The post you quoted talked entirely about taxing products, not people.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

we have a tax on the product.

This thread is based upon a premise of taxing an individual based upon their personal characteristics.

I am saying that if you're going to do that, then apply it to those people who cause greater social problems and expense than do overweight people.

I find this entire premise ridiculous. as another poster put above, why not fine those who have familial history of disease as well. One step towards eugenics.

Agreed, we should tax people more for being on unemployment, or welfare.

In fact, if elected I'm going to propose a tax on children from birth to 14, they're useless to society in terms of generating revenue and wealth.

And those stinking dogs, pooping and drooling all day, tax them too.

[MoneyGuy]

Seriously, who here has not had thoughts about Rita Macneil? You've at least thought about it. LOL

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Bollocks. Cut the cable if not throw out the TV. Spend the saved money on "good" food, and with the extra time not spent doing nothing watching, um, do something else.

You burn more calories playing a game of Chess than watching TV, ffs.

I made no mention of TV mate......and for the record, you wont get any arguement from me.

My point is that if you put a basket of everyday items in front of the average person, they'd be hard pressed to identify the healthy ones. Purchasing food has become extremely complicated thanks to (among other things) the introduction of chemicals, binding agents, salts, and our old friend HFCS.

Case in point, spaghetti sauce. There are dozens to choose from, and very few have list tomatoes as a top ingredient. Tomatoes have about 30 cals per cup.....but 1/2 a cup of sauce is 80 cals and full of salt and sugar.

People who are making choices based on logic/intuition don't stand much of a chance nowadays.....as I mentioned earlier, its never been so easy to get calories, and never been so difficult to eat healthy.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Bane

And the same tax for those who have a history of cancer, heart disease, and any other sort of disease in their family tree. Look at how they abuse the health care system.

Obviously said tongue in cheeck, but clearly genetic predisposition and intentional choices are very different things. Apples to Cookies if you will.

I come from a heavy family and can tell you one thing for sure......when I stopped eating like a fat person, I stopped being fat.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

I made no mention of TV mate......and for the record, you wont get any arguement from me.

My point is that if you put a basket of everyday items in front of the average person, they'd be hard pressed to identify the healthy ones. Purchasing food has become extremely complicated thanks to (among other things) the introduction of chemicals, binding agents, salts, and our old friend HFCS.

Case in point, spaghetti sauce. There are dozens to choose from, and very few have list tomatoes as a top ingredient. Tomatoes have about 30 cals per cup.....but 1/2 a cup of sauce is 80 cals and full of salt and sugar.

People who are making choices based on logic/intuition don't stand much of a chance nowadays.....as I mentioned earlier, its never been so easy to get calories, and never been so difficult to eat healthy.

Not sure if you made this point or not....

It is not about eating. It is about getting up off your arse. If everyone went out and played all day they wouldn't have time to fill their gullet.

Making laws about food is absolute FASCISM. What are you trying to control? You are trying to control and penaltilize people's stupidity, sloth, ignorance and unfortunately a good time. WTF is the tax money going to? A bureaucrat that will NOT be looking to END his/her job but to perpetuate it.

How about we collect for a charity for a campaign on healthy habits and fitness instead?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Not sure if you made this point or not....

It is not about eating. It is about getting up off your arse. If everyone went out and played all day they wouldn't have time to fill their gullet.

Making laws about food is absolute FASCISM. What are you trying to control? You are trying to control and penaltilize people's stupidity, sloth, ignorance and unfortunately a good time. WTF is the tax money going to? A bureaucrat that will NOT be looking to END his/her job but to perpetuate it.

How about we collect for a charity for a campaign on healthy habits and fitness instead?

I don't think you understand what fascism is.

[fundmark19]

You guys do know that you don't need the healthiest of foods to not become obese right? It is all about calorie intake. Doesn't matter what food you are buying at the store. Eat less calories then you exert and you will live never get obese. You want to eat a whole panormous pizza? Go ahead just go do something to burn off those calories afterwords.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

You guys do know that you don't need the healthiest of foods to not become obese right? It is all about calorie intake. Doesn't matter what food you are buying at the store. Eat less calories then you exert and you will live never get obese. You want to eat a whole panormous pizza? Go ahead just go do something to burn off those calories afterwords.

Incredibly simplistic, and flawed, way to look at living healthy. Where your calories come from definitely matters.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't think you understand what fascism is.

I think I do. It involves undo control over others to impose your/my will unconditionally. Mind you that sounds like COMMUNISM. Maybe we should debate about it???

Still waiting there Mr. ONE SENTENCE for our last debate to start.

Just an add on..a truly unnecessary one, it was obvious I was talking about unnecessary laws that regulate choice in the guise of health.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by HOZ

I think I do. It involves undo control over others to impose your/my will unconditionally. Mind you that sounds like COMMUNISM. Maybe we should debate about it???

Still waiting there Mr. ONE SENTENCE for our last debate to start.

Ha, oh Hoz you silly little troll, how you amuse me

[HOZ]

nm

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by valo403

Ha, oh Hoz you silly little troll, how you amuse me

Still one sentence. Waiting for others again? Wonder if the Moderators pick up on your style.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by valo403

Incredibly simplistic, and flawed, way to look at living healthy. Where your calories come from definitely matters.

Not really. As long as you are getting the fruits and veggies in as well you can eat as much junk as you want and still live a healthy life style. Being healthy is overly simple. People make it far to complicated