Ya, I still crave bread, like toast for breakfast and gluten free pasta...For the most part I'm not really sure why I gained so much weight though as I eat a lot less "bad" food than I did before.
It's quite common for people with celiac to gain weight once going gluten free because your body is actually absorbing nutrients again. It's probably more of a mystery why I didn't gain weight. Although maybe I was just eating that poorly before.
I also wonder what the breakdown is among co-habitating couples and singles. I gained about 10 lbs when I moved in with my girlfriend last year. Then I took off to Europe for six months and dropped 15, and have since gained 15 in the past six months that I've moved back in with her. I imagine once you have kids that it gets even harder to lose and keep weight off.
Lucky guy. I literally gained 30 pounds with my girlfriend/fiance/wife in about a year and a half. 155 (unsure if I was 150 or 155 when I first met her) ->188 peak ->175 now. My doctor was very mad at me.
I agree with cognative dissonace and pressure from others. When I first met my wife (GF) I was 6'0 155 lbs (ish). That's a pretty respectable 21 BMI. But I was deemed lanky and skinny by many, many people. I was fed amounts nearly 3x my original food consumption. Now that I'm averaging around 175, people say I'm "about right" which actually is about 7-8 pounds from the overweight BMI. These same people have known me since I was about a 5'10" 130 pound toothpick in school.
Why I look scrawny at a 21 BMI to so many people around me but healthy at a weight so near the overweight BMI (about 24 BMI atm) is beyond me. But, it does lend credence if the article is saying 6/10 overweight (not obese) and some don't even know they're overweight. Only a few extra pounds could push you into the next tier.
I wonder if some people arbitrarily set a weight number to maintain and never realize that perhaps it's a little above the "healthy weight" BMI?
I resemble that. According to the BMI number thingy I am 50 lbs overweight. I was once 90 lbs overweight. I looked pretty bad. About a year and a half ago I was still 20 lbs overweight (according to bmi) and I looked unhealthy. So I decided to gain some weight but more than I wanted. It is hard to maintain weight when you had years and years of abusing food. People make it sound easy and it can be but the hard part is reducing the years of bad decisions and tendencies. In the end I don't follow the BMI because of my body type I don't think I would be healthy if I did.
We shame smokers, being fat is no different. Both are (or require) direct, intentional actions that are often sustained through habit that lead to negative health and interpersonal outcomes. Fat shame is necessary.
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Yes, you should be ashamed if you've treated the only body you get in this life like a dumpster. Fat shame is why I learned about proper diet and nutrition and lost weight properly. I'm fit as hell now, but it wasn't without realizing no one gets a second chance in this world and you have to just do it.
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The trick is to hate your body enough to recognize you need to change, and love yourself enough to realize you're worth the effort. Self-actualization is key.
I just don't know how to respond, I want to be logical, calm, nice, but the amount of wrong in a few paragraphs and all the likes it got, just reminds me yet again (it happens almost daily) of how far we have to go with understanding obesity, dealing with the epidemic and having empathy for people.
Me and Devil's Advocate had a really positive discussion on my FB wall with others who were discussing an article talking about how less than 2% of obese people keep the weight off long term, which like usual brought a few fat shaming comments but overwhelmingly was positive thanks to some very thoughtful people. For every one conversation like that, we see 9 ones like this where people show such disregard for the problem, belittle and insult, and are not speaking from scientific knowledge on the problem.
Just hugely disspointed in reading this on CP, but this is the depth of this problem, fat shaming will continue to be an acceptable part of our society until people become educated on the facts behind this epidemic and show a minimum of empathy for people.
Asked Devils advocate if I could repost his wonderful reply on my FB wall during the discussion on the near 99% failure rate of obese and severely obese keeping the weight off discussion.
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I have spent much of the last 24 hours discussing this study.
Against my better judgement, I read the comments replying to the article. And I wanted to find a bridge to jump off of. I don't want to live on this planet anymore. I think it's like Global Warming. People seem to WANT to believe that people who are obese are just lazy #######s leaching off the health system. Despite all the studies, all the scientific research, they want to believe that losing weight and keeping it off is easy.
Dr. Arya Sharma talked to me in Calgary when I bought his workbook that I keep in the shelf beside my computer for easy reference. Very similar to the Sandra Aamodt video above, our bodies have a set point which is typically our highest weight we have stayed at for 6 months to a year. And our bodies adjust to want to pull us back to that weight. Hormones. Metabolism adjustments. Even social changes (at a lower weight I was able to get out more, go to more parties, more dates, etc). He says that as a doctor specializing in obesity, it has been his experience that to lose 5% of your body mass takes 10% effort to lose and maintain. That's 10% of your habits changing, 10% of your time and resources. 10% of your head space. For the rest of your life.
And it goes up from there. 15% weight loss takes 30% effort. 20% weight loss takes 50% effort. And me? 50% weight loss (350 pounds to 175 pounds)? 100% effort. And most days it feels like it. I'm no longer a prisoner to my weight. I'm a prisoner to keeping the weight off.
I think prevention needs to be the focus. Know why the long term success rate is so low for obese people getting to a normal BMI? Because most people can't maintain that 100% focus over the long haul. #### happens. I know hundreds of people who have lost over 100 pounds. Personally. And most gain much of the weight back. Not because they forgot they were supposed to exercise. Not because they forgot they were suppose to eat healthier. But because that kind of focus is very, very, very hard to maintain. I almost fell off my precarious perch twice; once when my workplace was going through massive layoffs and second when I broke up with my girlfriend. Emotional eating, stress, not giving a damn about exercising or eating healthy... just totally lost my motivation. I need to be at 100% to keep the weight off and I was running on zero.
My personal biggest irk in life is the people who think losing weight and keeping it off is easy and use that justification for looking down and bullying people who are overweight. They seem to think they are doing people favours. "I am pushing him to want to change". Yeah. Right. You really just like hurting people. Because all that bullying did for me was drive me into depression and want to eat MORE.
So I am torn in sharing this article with people. It will demoralize people who want to lose weight. On the other hand it might educate those who think it is easy. But I doubt it. Like global warming or vaccines or GMO - science is not going to convince them. Their minds are made up despite the facts.
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One question I have for Torque, how long were you obese for, were you obese during childhood? How much total weight did you lose and how long have you kept it off for.
Good job on that by the way, never easy.
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Yep, and God help you if you refuse any of the crap that gets passed around. I think it's even worse if you're someone like me, who's in better shape than most people in the office. If you say no to a donut, you instantly get people rolling their eyes at you and making snide comments about how you don't even need to watch your weight. I think it's the same pattern of cognitive dissonance that makes poor people think that wealthy people who don't spend lavishly are cheap, as opposed to recognizing that part of being wealthy includes controlling your spending.
This is exactly it at my office. At least once a week, there are a group of people that are always ordering out lunch. It has now become a clique and the people that don't participate are sort of outsiders. They don't realize that when people start to get older, watching what you eat becomes more critical. When I was younger, I could eat whatever and drink every night, and it didn't matter. Now, if I slip up just once in a week, that is like an extra pound right there.
The social committee activities always revolve around anything that involves junk food and beer. Some of us not in the "clique" keep recommending other things to do which do no involve those things, but we get out voted. Fortunately my boss is also getting fed up with it and she is on the verge of just abolishing the social committee. Hah!
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I just don't know how to respond, I want to be logical, calm, nice, but the amount of wrong in a few paragraphs and all the likes it got, just reminds me yet again (it happens almost daily) of how far we have to go with understanding obesity, dealing with the epidemic and having empathy for people.
Me and Devil's Advocate had a really positive discussion on my FB wall with others who were discussing an article talking about how less than 2% of obese people keep the weight off long term, which like usual brought a few fat shaming comments but overwhelmingly was positive thanks to some very thoughtful people. For every one conversation like that, we see 9 ones like this where people show such disregard for the problem, belittle and insult, and are not speaking from scientific knowledge on the problem.
Just hugely disspointed in reading this on CP, but this is the depth of this problem, fat shaming will continue to be an acceptable part of our society until people become educated on the facts behind this epidemic and show a minimum of empathy for people.
No need to be too polite about it. It was a flat out ignorant post.
But also not a surprising one, and one which is just indicative of how most people have bought into the pseudo science that is supposed "overweight and obesity" research.
Not that flaws in in the science and in public perception can really justify being mean to people or actively shaming them. That's more a symptom of being an ignorant dick.
While I don't think there's much point in fat shaming, I also don't think we should kid ourselves about the source of the problem. It's about behaviour, and behaviour can change. 60 years ago, there were far fewer overweight people in Canada. What changed? Genetics? No. Behaviour. Is it impossible to mimic the behaviour of our parents or grandparents when it comes to food and exercise? It may be difficult, but it's not impossible.
Over-eating is like smoking, problem gambling, drug addiction, or chronic money mismanagement and debt. Difficult habits to break. They're unwelcome behaviours that can only be changed by the person exhibiting those behaviours.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
I agree with cognative dissonace and pressure from others. When I first met my wife (GF) I was 6'0 155 lbs (ish). That's a pretty respectable 21 BMI. But I was deemed lanky and skinny by many, many people. I was fed amounts nearly 3x my original food consumption. Now that I'm averaging around 175, people say I'm "about right" which actually is about 7-8 pounds from the overweight BMI. These same people have known me since I was about a 5'10" 130 pound toothpick in school.
Why I look scrawny at a 21 BMI to so many people around me but healthy at a weight so near the overweight BMI (about 24 BMI atm) is beyond me. But, it does lend credence if the article is saying 6/10 overweight (not obese) and some don't even know they're overweight. Only a few extra pounds could push you into the next tier.
Exactly. Our "average", "about right", or "normal" here in North America has been so skewed to the heavy side for so long that it's a natural self-fulfilling prophecy.
I understand people want to feel good about themselves regardless but I fear a lot of people use that to as a comfort to do nothing rather than an opportunity to at least self-evaluate their situation and health; and if changes need to be made. Which isn't at all to say that they should be trotted out in public, shamed and whipped.
If you want to see this at its worst. Visit the Airdrie Walmart. You would swear you were in an American Walmart. 80+% of the store is obese, and there might be a handful of people buying produce.
I guess though, it is kinda fitting, Airdrie being 'Canada's trailer park' and all.
While I don't think there's much point in fat shaming, I also don't think we should kid ourselves about the source of the problem. It's about behaviour, and behaviour can change.
This, so much this, is the source of a vast majority of the attitude against obese people and the thinking that is so pervasive. Who is kidding themselves? Our society bombards anyone not fitting a specific body type with messages about gyms, diets, certain magic pills, foods.
One of the things I covered with Devils Advocate on his podcast, was that we should hold a lot of the blame on the fitness and health industries which continue to espouse the same mantra, while failing miserably with those they seek to help and profit from.
Now please keep in mind, when myself and Devils advocate are talking about this group with a failure rate near 99%, its obese and severely obese... Not oh no I'm 30 and 20-40 pounds overweight now.. That is not easy either by the way, however what the science is showing us is the longer you have been overweight at an obese weight, the less likely any chance for success. Its brutal information and no one wants to talk about it, because of our generation of "positive thinking" nonsense.
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60 years ago, there were far fewer overweight people in Canada. What changed? Genetics? No. Behaviour. Is it impossible to mimic the behaviour of our parents or grandparents when it comes to food and exercise? It may be difficult, but it's not impossible.
Well a lot has changed, less moving around, larger portions, food engineered to be hyper stimulating and cause more cravings. An excellent series done recently by the BBC covers the 3 key areas of this change, if anyone wants to chime on on discussions like these, please do watch this top notch series, its 3hrs total and will dispel many myths and educate you on how we got to this point.
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Over-eating is like smoking, problem gambling, drug addiction, or chronic money mismanagement and debt. Difficult habits to break. They're unwelcome behaviours that can only be changed by the person exhibiting those behaviours.
Most definitely obesity has this in common, however unlike those difficult issues you cannot stop eating, you have to manage and deal every day with challenges that is unlike anything someone who quits smoking, gambling, etc.. do not have to deal with. Add to this, you can hide a gambling addiction, you can often hide drug and alcohol addictions until they reach rock bottom... You can't hide being fat and obese. People seem to take a high horse judging those with weight issues, while in their own life struggle with very harmful habbits, be it smoking, drinking, gambling, finances, etc.. Yet how many of those people are shamed, do you find out someone is a gambler and shame them for it? This is what Torque Dog is suggesting we do for fat people, his words not mine.
What the most recent studies are telling us, is that the key to solving this problem of our body fighting us to get back to our obese weight is likely to be in the gut brain connection. This is exciting, hopefully for once we will be able to give the obese more than a 1-2% chance at long term weight loss.
A new appreciation for the impact of gut microbes on body weight has intensified concerns about the profligate use of antibiotics in children. Blaser has shown that when young mice are given low doses of antibiotics, similar to what farmers give livestock, they develop about 15 percent more body fat than mice that are not given such drugs. Antibiotics may annihilate some of the bacteria that help us maintain a healthy body weight. “Antibiotics are like a fire in the forest,” Dominguez-Bello says. “The baby is forming a forest. If you have a fire in a forest that is new, you get extinction.” When Laurie Cox, a graduate student in Blaser's laboratory, combined a high-fat diet with the antibiotics, the mice became obese. “There's a synergy,” Blaser explains. He notes that antibiotic use varies greatly from state to state in the U.S., as does the prevalence of obesity, and intriguingly, the two maps line up—with both rates highest in parts of the South.
The level of investment now in this area of science is exploding, and the excitement internally among the scientists is palpable.
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Interesting, Thor. But his point still stands. You chose to lose weight, and worked hard at it. There are other factors obviously, maybe more important ones, but the only one you could control was yourself.
Behaviour and self-control is obviously so important.
I agree with cognative dissonace and pressure from others. When I first met my wife (GF) I was 6'0 155 lbs (ish). That's a pretty respectable 21 BMI. But I was deemed lanky and skinny by many, many people. I was fed amounts nearly 3x my original food consumption. Now that I'm averaging around 175, people say I'm "about right" which actually is about 7-8 pounds from the overweight BMI. These same people have known me since I was about a 5'10" 130 pound toothpick in school.
Yeah this is interesting to me because I'm sort of in the same boat, I'm the same height but found my optimal weight to be 20 lbs heavier than you.
I was kind of the opposite though where I was a chunky kid growing up and at 20 yo was about 235 at my highest weight. I dropped to 175 with a few times floating below the 170 mark. I always felt like staying between 175-185 was a good range for me, I felt great and looked good. I never actually looked at my BMI and what it should be, but I really can't imagine being lighter than 168 (my lowest weight). I lived with a girl for about a year and floated back up to 200 and I'm cutting into that now. Funny how that seems like a common trend. I saw a quote once that said "The difference between a boyfriend and a husband is 30 lbs" and I think that's holding pretty true here haha.
As far as the fat shaming, I think there's a group of people, like myself, who would probably not be considered obese, but were heavy enough that a lifestyle change of eating healthy and exercising regularly had significant impacts over a relatively short period of time (a few months). And those people tend to look at it as a deceptively "easy" thing to do. For me its really not hard to drop weight with cutting out crappy food and working out 30-45 min 3-5 times a week.
With obese people, it's not that easy. Putting aside any genetic issues, If you're a person that's 100+ lbs overweight, it is exponentially harder to lose that for a few reasons. 1) You physically can't move as much, meaning you can't exercise as much or as hard without putting yourself at risk. 2) You have so much more weight to lose, even if you drop 30 lbs in a few months, which is great, you're still a long way from optimal fitness. Both of these combine to have a very demoralizing effect. You can't lose weight fast enough to see any real effects or get into a normal range, so even if you are losing it, you're not reaching your goal very fast and it's hard to feel good about yourself when you've been working hard for months and are still considered "fat".
For those in here that may be in the middle of such a task, keep going. Even though I feel like I'm a pretty tame example of being overweight, I'll never forget the first time I climbed a tree after dropping 50+lbs. It was incredible how I was able to move and lift myself. Something so simple was the greatest feeling in the world and I wish that type of self-satisfaction on everyone. It really does open you up to a whole new world of activities that you never thought you could do, or were too embarrassed to try because it involved a lot of physical work.
Interesting, Thor. But his point still stands. You chose to lose weight, and worked hard at it. There are other factors obviously, maybe more important ones, but the only one you could control was yourself.
Behaviour and self-control is obviously so important.
Absolutely, but you do know how many people with a few extra pounds up to obese are either on diets or are on and off diet/exercise programs for most of their lives right?
I see it now from both sides, having done it myself finally after decades of success and failure. Its still a massive struggle for me, and when I see people fail who have lost massive amounts of weight I never at any point think "oh if only they had more willpower or, probably they are too lazy to keep it off.."
The biggest issue is how nasty the world is to the overweight, mainly thanks to this idea that its a rather simple solution/fix. This is like I said to blame on the massively fked up health and fitness industry, and not to mention stupid governmental guidelines on food.
Sadly though discussions like these are hard, because not only do comments like torques happen, but they are so often supported by many others, and this pervasive attitude is wrong, with a small tinge of "right."
We need to do better, myself in Iceland am working on writing an article that will blast our health and fitness industry in Iceland, as well as deal with the topic of fat shaming, honestly and openly. I'll be sure to post it when I eventually get it done, I want to make sure everything is science backed that I say and get lots of input from the people I most respect.
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