Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

I'd like to chime in for a moment with Rich99 re: the earlier-posted pictures and their accompanying posts by someone called something like Fat_Chicks_Rule (or some such). Does the young lady in the picture truly feel she represents who she is on the inside by posing in such clothing in such a suggestive way? Does her (I assume) boyfriend feel he's advancing public regard of her with his openly explicit descriptions of her...er...."virtues"? For every overweight person out there trying to dispel the myths and perhaps get some straight talk about how they can reclaim respect in the public eye, there's someone like this girl promulgating all the repulsive assumptions about those who are overweight. Yes, we've got a national problem and the casualties include both, those suffering from the weight problems and those on the "paying for it" end; but nobody's entirely right here. We've devolved in a lot of ways from being folks who make strong choices for ourselves to whining and - worse - putting disgusting images on the internet and claiming to be proud. I want to sympathize but at the point of such posts, I just can't.

I am a very skinny person who has been my entire life. I don't agree with when they say that the skinny people seem to think that its an ideal wieght for them because I have been trying to GAIN lbs for several years now and just can't. I eat like it's going out of style and never go over 100 lbs. (I'm 5'2 and a quarter) But recently I have been LOSING wight instead of staying at the same weight liek I have been, so I went to the doctor (I got down to 90 lbs) and am now keeping a food diary and taking some medication because they think I might be getting ulcers (yeesh... and I'm only 17... this isn't cool.) Right now I am trying to (still) gain about 20 lbs and if im happy when I get it i'll stop there... if not I'll try for a little more. lol I'd tell you what I eat but I don't think I should, I have a friend who claims that just LISTENING to me makes his blood pressure sky-rocket and I know thats not nice to do that to him. So I'll keep my mouth shut for the sake of other people out there who need to watch what they are eating. (FYI: It's very upsetting and enraging when people acuse me of being anarexic or belimic and likewise when people accuse my fat friend of CHOOSING to be fat because it NEVER crosses peoples minds that it might be genetic.)

Also I have a lot of people who ask me if I dislike fat people because I am skinny and no I do not. I have friends who are fat and I love them for who they are. Over this past summer one of them got gastric bypass surgery because of how her wieght was effecting her body health-wise and because of how stressed she was about how other people were treating her.

Boo hoo... Mothernature011, dont you also think your comments are "copouts" as well. Sounds to me like you are discriminating against yourself. You dont need society to make yourself feels good, its a personal thing. You have to want it, and once you do... then you can begin to take action. Several years ago I heard my sister and her husband go through the same things you mentioned - I found it hard to believe that she (just like you) was blaming her husbnad for looking at an attractive figure. My brohter in-law, just like your husband never asked for their wife to become overweight, you did that all on your own. Anyway, when these issues arose with my sister and her husband, we forced her into an exercise routine for her own good. She has now lost over 160 pounds and her entire attitude has changed. She no longer blames everyone around her for her weight problem, she understands and has taken resposibility for her choices. Until you do the same, it will always be somebodys elses fault why you look the way you look. Thats really unfortunate!

I have always been heavy. I am a large woman and I make no excuses for that. People assume that all plus sized women do all day is sit on the couch and stuff their faces. 10 years ago, I got a gym membership and began working out religiously. For a period of 4 years I fought with my body to force it into the ideal. At 5'11 the smallest I could get was 198lbs. This was after spending two hours a day in the gym and watching every piece of food I put in my mouth. I was still huge by standards. The insults don't bother me anymore. I've heard them all my life. I went to the doctor and even though my blood pressure was low and my health was great on every other level I still got to hear, but you're fat. (It cost me 100+ dollars for them to state the obvious) Through that whole time in my life, I had serious anger issues. The pills that I was taking for energy to extend my workout to lose more weight didn't help the anger issue either. I'm glad I chose an all female gym, if some man would have made the comments some of these men here have about me in my gym, I probably would have force fed them a dumbell. It has taken me a long time to accept myself. I am no longer popping pills that make me a timebomb to extend my workout, I've given up the broth and jello diets, I've gained weight but I can deal with that. Being healthy is important to extend your life, but I'm not going to go to extremes again to be "acceptable". I'm a plus sized woman, always have been (even at the height of my regime) and always will be. I'm a big woman and anyone who doesn't like it can go to hell! This article says to me that more women are getting away from this thin ideal and learning to accept themselves. If they are heavy, depressed and give up they will gain weight. If they are heavy and can accept it, they will at least not gain any weight. maintaining is better than gaining.

you know, quit complaining and get off your butt and do something. fat people are fat because at some time in their life they let themselves go and havent rtreated back to any healthy lifestyle.

There is no difference between the belief that being obese is ok, and the drug users denial that he or she has a serious, life-threatening problem. I'm a male, and I was an overweight child (210 lbs at age 12) and battled my weight till my early 20's. Then with some lifestyle changes, and with help from friends and family, I have been between 150 and 160 lbs at 5 ft 11 inches for most of my adult life. I'm 49 now. Being overweight is a psychological sickness first and turns into a progressive physical sickness soon after. No amount of cultural or individual denial will change that...not ever.

Just a great posting session.
Please excuse and forgive any excessive comments from me as being mean, hateful or derogatory.
Comments are meant to insight; insight thinking, logic, plans, fears, hopes and plans.

I am a medical practitioner. I was conservatively educated and it continues. I am appalled at the medical conditions presented to me everyday. Self-abuse sums it up. The tragic disruption of a previous healthy life, the costs of "fixing" an unfixable problem, the irreversible effects of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, drug addiction, alcoholism and smoking. Americans are literally committing suicide.

For this, I am bitter, because it could be different. Blaming the Pope to George Bush won't solve the problem.
Blaming words and "judgements" won't help. Looking for a pill to solve poor health habits won't work.

A physician's most humble attribute is "Heal thyself," and Primum, non nocere. If I could follow every patient through every minute of his day, cajoling,scolding and advising at each turn what to do, what to eat, what to avoid, then I might make him well. Since this is impossible, then dear patient, you are mostly "on your own."

But, you do not have to be ignorant of good life choices and plans.

As far as obesity is concerned, I believe the published picture of the young lady in these posts says what is difficult to express in words and feelings. She has a sweet face. But she will never live to be seventy. She will have cardiac bypass surgery, she may suffer DVT and a pulmonary embolism, she may be on dialysis before she is forty years old. She does not fit in an airplane seat, she does not really fit in a car. Climbing stairs is likely already a chore, she is probably infertile. Clothes don't fit, shoes don't fit.

But, she may be, and in all likelihood, is a wonderful person. I just would like her to avoid the predictable failures in her health that will occur in the future. I do not want her to, in her later life, be so bitter that no one told her how terrible it would be. It could have been different.

I would encourage all of you to be the best that you can be, think logically and critically, avoiding blame, chastizing your guilt, and love life as the special gift that it is. Be an ambassador of life, health and charity to others.

No evil can conquer this inner strength and you are living in the only country that can respect these goals.

There is no difference between the belief that being obese is ok, and the drug users denial that he or she has a serious, life-threatening problem. I'm a male, and I was an overweight child (210 lbs at age 12) and battled my weight till my early 20's. Then with some lifestyle changes, and with help from friends and family, I have been between 150 and 160 lbs at 5 ft 11 inches for most of my adult life. I'm 49 now. Being overweight is a psychological sickness first and turns into a progressive physical sickness soon after. No amount of cultural or individual denial will change that...not ever.

I do not believe that the BMI is a fair assessment for our present culture. If you go by this BMI chart, then all bodybuilders and pro atheletes would be considered overweight. I think what we must really ask ourselves is, can I touch my toes, let alone, can I see them? Do I have back, ankle, knee problems not associated with sports? These may sound like cruel questions, but come on, it is not that people are overweight for their height. It is that people are fat from being lazy, eating fastfood, and not lifting more than their remote. I agree, there are some people who have genetic weight issues. But, for the rest of us, diet, exercise, and lifestyle. You can't look good unless you have all three. It may take some time and frustration to obtain your healthy look, because it took alot of trip to McDonalds to get your present look. Take it from me, I'm overweight! According to the BMI, I weigh 190 lbs at 6'1". See for yourself!

The BMI has never held any credability in my life, so I threw it out the window. I am 5'4" , extremely (almost unhealthily) active, size 5, and weigh 145 lbs. However, I prefer to be a smoother size 6, so I'm not so boney, and I like my look much more in a bikini, if I had another 10 lbs. I've been thinner, I've been rounder. Fact is: As long as I'm comfortable in my own skin, and I can comfortably live my life. At all times, however, anorexic hollywood can kiss my shapley tushie.
- :-)'

Everyone worries about putting on an extra pound or two, people like myself who would love to put on a few extra pounds are very tired of hearing about how hard it is to lose weight. My BMI is 15.5 according to your chart I am under weigth, not by choice I have been to doctors (several) and expressed my concerns but it seems that it's ok with them. I can almost assure you that if I went in complaining about being overweight that they would try to come up with some kind of solution. For those of you who are overweight without some kind of medical condition causing it, stop overeating, start walking 30 minutes a day--eat what you like just do it in moderation it really isn't that difficult. For people like me, I'm still working on it--I eat whenever I can whether I'm hungry or not--still not gaining any weight, where's my solution. Oh by the way I am very tired of hearing how lucky I am to be able to eat anything I want and not gain weight. Try force feeding yourself when you are not hungry and see how lucky you think I am then. My point is I'm really tired of hearing people complain about a situation they put themselves in and can just as easily take themselves out of.

I am a BBw..Big Beautiful Woman..there are many of us out there in the real world..and there are many of us that are happy with our size..sure there are days when you look at your self and say..hmmm..if I could lose a few pounds I'd be happier..well most of us at any size say that...like hmm what would I look like with hair or a different nose..its something we all do....I wish we could learn to accept ourselves..Im meaning everyone..as people..and quit pointing fingers..if your thin..you thin..it doesnt make you better than anyone else.....if your an unkind person..yep..Im sure you will be one of the first to point at a large person and say some nasty comment..but really it says more about you than the person your pointing at....you cant really say people dont try to lose weight look at the weight loss industry...making money hand over fist....all people really want is to be accepted for who they are be fat or thin.....I have no problem with who I am...in this world with the sea of colors and races..I fit right in..all sizes..thats the way God made us..to be different and in order for us to get along in this world we need to learn to accept people for just that..I am tired of hearing about our girl children worrying about if they are perfect enough...or the young men...we can strive to be happy and healthy..it doesnt mean I have to look like a cardboard cut out...of other thin people..I can be me....you can be short and bald or even toothless...I accept you for who you are..life would be a better place for alot of people if we all stopped pointing the finger that way...if you want to be thin..you go....if you want to live your life and not worry who likes you or not..I applaud you as well....but for you out there who keep pointing the finger and saying things to others that are hurtful...hmmm...look in the mirror and ask yourself..what propels you to be unkind to others? is that healthy?

I think that more people should look at themselves and ask "Do I feel good where I am in weight?" When I was a teenager I was upsessed with being skinny, at 5'2" and 102lbs I was proud to say that I was too skinny to be able to donate blood. But to keep at that weight I only ate once every 3-4 days. It didn't matter to me that you could count my ribs or that I didn't have any breasts to speak of or that my tight shirts showed every rib and vertibre....I was skinny. Now at 142lbs and a size 10 I am considered slightly overweight, but never does the fact that I have more energy, am happier and actually have curves come into the conversation. So just be happy with yourself and who cares what you weight