Most Albertans overweight or obese: report

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Thor

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.

This is probably the hardest time in human history to be someone who is not pretty or smart. The constant cognitive impact of social stigma, and the effect it has on socio-economic outcomes must be incredibly difficult for the obese to deal with.

The cultural aspect is hard to ignore. One of my friends and I (myself a Lutheran, and my friend, a devout Catholic) went to a large megachurch in Calgary's NW, one of those evangelical messes with an increasingly boutique array of services for different types of believers. There was a spin class for Christians called "Fit for Jesus." We both thought it was appalling. Do fat people not get into heaven?

[polak]

Originally Posted by peter12

Do fat people not get into heaven?

Technically, Gluttony is a deadly sin...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by pylon

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.

You misspelled Edmonton.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by peter12

This is probably the hardest time in human history to be someone who is not pretty or smart. The constant cognitive impact of social stigma, and the effect it has on socio-economic outcomes must be incredibly difficult for the obese to deal with.

Oh its incredible the differences. Now I am more confident, happier, a different person, but what has never changed is my intellect. However now I am taken much more seriously than when I was obese, I see it at work all the time and in my day to day life.

The cultural aspect is hard to ignore. One of my friends and I (myself a Lutheran, and my friend, a devout Catholic) went to a large megachurch in Calgary's NW, one of those evangelical messes with an increasingly boutique array of services for different types of believers. There was a spin class for Christians called "Fit for Jesus." We both thought it was appalling. Do fat people not get into heaven?

Thats horrible, you would think that a religious group would see that its not the body, but the mind and the deeds of a person that make up their value.

You are right about society right now, its not a good place, sorry but no matter the progress we have made as a intellectual species, our emotional evolution is sorely lacking. Social medias explosion has taught us all just how messed up our people are in this world.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

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!

Literally just happened again to me five minutes ago. Someone put a box of timbits on the corner of my desk, and people have been eating out of it. One co-worker stops by and says "Have one, buddy." I said "No thanks," and immediately he scowls at me and says "WHY?!" I made some lame excuse about having just eaten, but Jesus. I went for a 6k run last night, that was mostly uphill. Why would I want to waste all that effort over some damn timbits?

[AcGold]

Seems like your coworkers are passive aggressive. WTF do you mean why would have been my initial thought. Kind of a crappy thing to do to someone.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Literally just happened again to me five minutes ago. Someone put a box of timbits on the corner of my desk, and people have been eating out of it. One co-worker stops by and says "Have one, buddy." I said "No thanks," and immediately he scowls at me and says "WHY?!" I made some lame excuse about having just eaten, but Jesus. I went for a 6k run last night, that was mostly uphill. Why would I want to waste all that effort over some damn timbits?

This has often more to do with their own guilt of eating them and seeing someone else being able to say no. Especially if they feel they could lose some weight.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Thor

This has often more to do with their own guilt of eating them and seeing someone else being able to say no. Especially if they feel they could lose some weight.

Completely agree.

[peter12]

You are right about society right now, its not a good place, sorry but no matter the progress we have made as a intellectual species, our emotional evolution is sorely lacking. Social medias explosion has taught us all just how messed up our people are in this world.

I think it has to do with the increasingly autonomous nature of human beings. Does something like social media demonstrate how messed up people are, or does it make people more messed up than they already were.

In regards to emotions, we evolved as social animals with relational needs that can only be expressed through friendship, love, and family. These needs are strengthened through dignity, love, and charity. Speaking as a Christian, I always emphasize the irreplaceable dignity and worth of every human, further emphasized by the fact that we are all equally creatures.

The difference now between the obese, and the relatively not obese is another demonstration of an increasing focus on strong versus weak relations. Perhaps, best explained by Rousseau's concept of amour propre, a sense of self-worth devised by one's careful calculation of one's worth relative to other's unworth.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Completely agree.

Also when you are eating healthy, people around you often comment on it, not in a good way either, for the same reason.

[Devils'Advocate]

Credentials:
http://www.runningdownourdreams.com/don/

I often tell obese people that if they are not ready to take on another full time job, don't bother losing the weight. If you can't spare 35 hours a week to maintaining your weight, it ain't gonna happen. It IS a full time job for me. Thor posted the message I put on his Facebook page where I said that some days it feels like it is taking 100% of my focus and effort. One of my favorite blogs is www.justmaintaining.com and the blogger, Debra, talks about weight maintenance as a full time job. The trick is to make it a job that you enjoy.

I have joined the Ottawa Triathlon Club. I really like cycling and running... and hopefully will survive the swim. I've been taking classes with them over the last year and enjoy the group. As you can see with the link above, I joined a relay running team. I'm doing cycling meet-ups. I see a personal trainer 3 times a week for weight training. But the exercise is a tiny fraction of the effort.

Meal planning. Grocery shopping. Food prep. When friends are going to a restaurant I have to check the menu beforehand. If they plan on take-out and going to a park to eat, I'll bring my own food. I never go into any situation where I fall victim to the circumstances of food: ie going to a friends place and being asked to stay for pizza dinner. If I wasn't smart enough to bring something to tide me over, I'll duck out. I sneak food into all sporting events not because I'm cheap (I am) but because I don't want to be tied to the crap food that they have at the arena or stadium..

But BEYOND the exercise and more important than the food is support. I spend 10 to 20 hours a week in weight maintenance support groups. My relay team is my biggest source of support; we are more of a family than a team. We each know the work that goes into maintaining and the struggles with trying to lead a semi-normal life while also keeping the weight off. If I have had a bad day and want to fall back into my old pattern of emotional over-eating, I talk to my team members first. We are always just a call or text message away and support each other unconditionally. I also am leader of a Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) chapter; I started the chapter in January and the 25 people in the group have lost a total of 210 pounds since then. My chapter secretary has lost 30 and two others are approaching 20. I am part of an online support group called "Half Size Me" which is for everyone, but has a large contingent of people like myself who have lost half their body mass. And I have a maintainers FB group so that people who have lost similar amounts of weight as myself can share their struggles and accomplishments.

Those that have never lost 100+ pounds don't know how hard it is. They don't see the struggle. "They just have to choose to be healthy and just do the work". I think people are deliberately ignorant because then they can no longer blame the obese for their disease. I am lucky. I have no children, no dependants, a flexible job that pays well and lots of support from good friends. The woman I am dating isn't interested in fancy restaurants and is more than happy going for a bike ride and picnic in the park. Like I said, I am lucky to have so many factors in my favour. Most people don't have the time in their life to take on another full time job. So to those people I say DON'T EVEN TRY. If all you can spare is 5 hours, do 5 hours and be happy with it. Five hours a week will not give a great budge on the scale or your body fat %, but it CAN improve your health.

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff put it in the context of qualifying for the Boston Marathon of Weight Loss. It is rare that you are going to take someone who is out of shape and never run before and set a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. And if you only have 5 hours a week to train for it, it likely isn't going to happen. For most people it is a full time job between the training sessions, stretching, proper nutrtion, etc.. But if you put in that 5 hours a week you will improve your running and you can enjoy being a runner without qualifying for the Boston Marathon. The goal shouldn't be about being thin. It should be about being as healthy as you can be giving the circumstances of life that you exist in.

Dr. Sharma, another prominant Canadian obesity doctor (and located in Calgary) has patients come in and fill out a form before he talks to them about their realistic goal weight. He asks how many hours they work, how many children they have, have they ever dealt with depression, do they have sick relatives, do they have a stressful job, how much support do they have... because all these factors play into how likely someone is going to lose weight, but also whether they would be able to keep it off over the long term.

On August 20th I am having a huge party. Five years of being at my goal weight. It is a potluck with one rule: No processed sugar allowed. Of all the things I have accomplished in my life, in work and my private life, being able to keep off 160 pounds for 5 years is what makes me the most proud. I know the work that goes into it. But I FULLY respect those that choose not to. It is a huge sacrifice of time and energy. If people have other priorities in their life, like career or family, I respect that choice and would never hold that choice against them.

[PsYcNeT]

The human body is messed up. I can't even fathom requiring 35 hours a week to maintain weight. I put in 60-90 min a day and that feels like alot.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Thor

Also when you are eating healthy, people around you often comment on it, not in a good way either, for the same reason.

Yeah everyone snacks on like chips or cookies or something and you have a little bag of veggies or fruit and it's "What, are you on a diet or something?"

Well A) We're all on diets. B) No, I'm just eating my preferred food, as you are doing. C) If I actually WAS on a special diet, why the need to antagonize.

Most people aren't going to share the fact that they're trying to lose weight for the same reason people don't tell people their quitting smoking or anything else. It's difficult enough to admit to yourself that you have a problem, let alone a bunch of people you couldn't care less about.

[peter12]

This is going to sound sort of dumb, but it is a question that I want to ask Thor and DA. You guys seem to know a lot about diet, so obviously no processed sugar, but what about things like butter? Do you guys stay away from fatty cholesterol?

[Thor]

Originally Posted by peter12

This is going to sound sort of dumb, but it is a question that I want to ask Thor and DA. You guys seem to know a lot about diet, so obviously no processed sugar, but what about things like butter? Do you guys stay away from fatty cholesterol?

I say this with a big caveat, this works for me, only because of the triggers and things that most affect my energy, moods.

I do a low carb 6 days a week diet, with lots of protein and good fats. A sample favorite of mine is 5 eggs, pepper cheese sauce made with whipping cream.

One day I do carb loading, from 4pm to about 10pm, starts with high sugar simple carbs, donuts, etc.. then a meal like steak with 2 big potatoes, salad and sauce, finishing off later with any snacks I might have craved etc.

This helps me keep sane, I have to be on 95% of the week, always conscious of every item I eat, watching out for sugars (my big two triggers are sugars and breads) etc.. So the carb nite allows me to plan for parties, plan to have a night off where I can eat whatever and not to mention this keeps the body guessing. Any diet once you do it long enough is no longer effective because your body adjusts, and this is why I'll do carb nite for say 5-6 months, take a break and do a clean diet like Paleo (which is pretty bunk science wise but works to eat clean).

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Thor

I do a low carb 6 days a week diet, with lots of protein and good fats. A sample favorite of mine is 5 eggs, pepper cheese sauce made with whipping cream.

Completely off-topic, but don't suppose you'd want to post the recipe for that or PM it?

Always looking for healthy eats and that sounds fantastic.

[peter12]

Here is a great recipe that I make at least once a week. Cheap and easy, but delicious.

http://www.food.com/recipe/julia-chi...-breast-415329

[Thor]

Oh its very simple, eggs, I scramble them, then take a hard pepper cheese melt it in a pot with whipping cream and make it into a sauce on low to med heat. Don't be shy to put in bacon

If you want more ideas, check out my friends cook book, I have her first one, not the 2nd or the desert one but wow this kind of food just works for me so well.

http://www.fitlivingfoodies.com/what-is-carb-nite/ and of course the book, http://carbnite.com/ which is from a astro physicist turned body builder who is about one of the smartest guys around, his website http://athlete.io/ , Kiefer is a nerd, a science nerd and he's always following the science.

But again, this might not be right for everyone, I have met people who did what I did and failed miserably at it.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Thor

Oh its very simple, eggs, I scramble them, then take a hard pepper cheese melt it in a pot with whipping cream and make it into a sauce on low to med heat.

If you want more ideas, check out my friends cook book, I have her first one, not the 2nd or the desert one but wow this kind of food just works for me so well.

http://www.fitlivingfoodies.com/what-is-carb-nite/ and of course the book, http://carbnite.com/ which is from a astro physicist turned body builder who is about one of the smartest guys around, his website http://athlete.io/ , Kiefer is a nerd, a science nerd and he's always following the science.

But again, this might not be right for everyone, I have met people who did what I did and failed miserably at it.

So a great, great way to make scrambled eggs is this...

- whisk however many eggs in a bowl, lightly season with salt and pepper, set aside

- set aside 2-3 tablespoons of full-fat milk

- Get a tablespoon of butter in a hot pan, wait until it starts to foam.

- add eggs, start to whisk immediately, add milk

- eggs will start to look custardy, when that happens, hold pan over the burner, and keep stirring. You will find the consistency you like. Put some Parmesan cheese or chives over those suckers, and enjoy eggs like you have never enjoyed them.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Thor

I say this with a big caveat, this works for me, only because of the triggers and things that most affect my energy, moods.

I do a low carb 6 days a week diet, with lots of protein and good fats. A sample favorite of mine is 5 eggs, pepper cheese sauce made with whipping cream.

One day I do carb loading, from 4pm to about 10pm, starts with high sugar simple carbs, donuts, etc.. then a meal like steak with 2 big potatoes, salad and sauce, finishing off later with any snacks I might have craved etc.

This helps me keep sane, I have to be on 95% of the week, always conscious of every item I eat, watching out for sugars (my big two triggers are sugars and breads) etc.. So the carb nite allows me to plan for parties, plan to have a night off where I can eat whatever and not to mention this keeps the body guessing. Any diet once you do it long enough is no longer effective because your body adjusts, and this is why I'll do carb nite for say 5-6 months, take a break and do a clean diet like Paleo (which is pretty bunk science wise but works to eat clean).

Yeah, this is sort of what I was doing when I was living alone and it helped me get into the best shape of my life a couple years ago. Granted I was also exercising like crazy 5 days/week. A big thing for me was not keeping junk food in the house. I'm one of those people who eats when they're bored, and with having ADHD, I get bored pretty easily. When I lived alone I would walk to the fridge or the cupboards and see that there was nothing there and then go find something else to do. A lot of it was just the mental/ritual aspect of getting up and going to the kitchen and that would leave me satisfied. Now I live with someone who constantly keeps the house packed with crap and it's a lot harder to not grab something when I go in there, so I have to find other things to keep my mind preoccupied.