Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

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  • Posted By: VoiceofReason74 @ 12/08/2007 1:29:30 PM

    If fat is the new normal in America then I want to get out of here and off to Europe where eating healthy and exercise is still a priority. Here in the midwest and especially Indiana it has become a disgrace on the obesity problem. Nobody exercises and many of the women are eating like out of a trough. My friend came over from England and he couldn't believe how many disgusting overweight women were walking around. It was even worse than the rumors he had heard. If you are a single guy you might want to start looking elsewhere very soon.

  • Posted By: poppytt @ 12/08/2007 1:28:44 PM

    obese people are an empedemic in american culture that allows fatty foods to control people's lives. This is also in association with our driving attitude. We complain about 3$ a gallon gas but that does not stop us from driving 1/2 a block to pick up fast food. Your self image and appreciation is important but there needs to be awareness for Health sake that it should not be accepted. It's not the rich holding down the poor in regards to skinny and fat. Severely obese people are a burden in their own lives to lead a long (healthy) livestyle.

  • Posted By: caprinsun22 @ 12/08/2007 12:52:51 PM

    Many people that haven't had to deal with the fact they have a weight problem do not really understand the struggle other people have with maintain a normal body weight. I myself was just at the higher end of the normal bmi since high school and did not start gaining weight excessively until my children were born. Everyone has a different metabolism and it is up to them to do what they need to do to kick start it. When you are already obese You can't just strap on a pair of running shoes and drop the pounds. It takes patience and guidance,support from those around you and the will to want to change your life. No one wants to have some egnorant person how knows nothing about another person struggle with their own self image to come by and say hey, your just a FAT ASS. What kind of idiot is that? My mother did bring me up to talk about another person like that. And until you walk in my shoes or another obese person's shoes, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. Losing weight is very difficult and for some of us who are lucky there are support groups to help guide you through it and give you the confidence to make a lifestyle change that a "skinny" person would never dream of providing for anyone.

    • Posted By: sillyhobbit14 @ 12/08/2007 1:27:48 PM

      no one is born with the genes to be "obese". People can be born destined to be "overweight", but obesity is brought on by the individual. I know this because that's what I'm studying, to be a registered dietician. American's began the obesity epidemic. Someone who is overweight becomes obese because they don't know how to portion control or they don't exercise or they continue to eat even though they're full. In the past 10 years, it's the "obese" population that has exploded, not the "overweight" population. American's have no control over their eating habits, it's distrubing.

    • Posted By: Bellanieva @ 12/08/2007 1:25:51 PM

      I may be young but i was also considered obese. Last year i was testing for my black belt in Tae kwon do and I had to run 40 miles for my test. It seemed impossible! i hated running more than anything else in the world. But when i was at the classes i realized how much i stuck out and i was completely dissatisfied with myself. i was so upset with how my body looked that I decided to start running. I know it may seem difficult to just start doing some new work out but if you just start it and not think about it you find yourself doing it. I have now been running for almost a year and I have lost over 45 pounds. I am not done yet and I still have 35 pounds left to go but I have worked so hard that I am not going to stop. The only motivation i had was the disgust i felt with my body, so when people say that being happy with your body is good when you are obese or overweight i highly dissagree. It is all in your own perception of your situation, it you are satisfied with mediocrity and fat you will remain fat and that is still not good even if you arnt gaining weight! Some times dissatisfaction is the only way women and men can improve themselves. i highly dissagree with the author or doctors who say that loving your fat self is a good way to live. If you are endangering your life then it is not okay to be okay with it. Since i have experienced the hopelessness of huge amounts of excess weight yet i have still changed i have no pity for people who will not change themselves because they feel overwhelmed. So those of you who read this and are in despair over your hopeless weight situation, Take a good look at yourself, get a fill of dissatisfaction and then go change yourself! Start small like running for 20 seconds at a time and then walking and then build up from there, it isnt so hard and after a while you actually start to like it.

  • Posted By: momma2four @ 12/05/2007 1:30:13 PM

    It should never be acceptable to be fat or obese. It is putting your own life in jeopardy. Put own the chips and soda, and get out and exercise. You WILL lose weight, I don't care what some people say. I love to hear fat people say, well, I don't eat hardn't anything"... Bull ***, you would be skinny... It is a LIE!

    • Posted By: Carion @ 12/08/2007 1:26:42 PM

      You think that it's a lie that someone who is over-weight doesn't eat anything? Then maybe you should take a look at information about the thing called "Metabolism". Without a healthy metabolism, your body can't process all of the nutrients and fats that you intake. Thus, if it's not processed in a timely fashion, it actually stays in the body because the metabolism can't keep up due to not working all the time like it should. That's why health professionals tell you that eating 6 small meals a day is better than three large ones, because your metabolism is constantly working and will process everything you intake to keep it from turning into fat and staying in your body causing obesity. How about you read up a bit more on what causes over-weight issues and the full body process before you point fingers and call people liars?

  • Posted By: jenart @ 12/08/2007 1:26:36 PM

    Just about the weight issue in general, not this particular article, but I'm so disgusted with people saying "it's ok to be big". No, it's not!! You are damaging your health! So many health problems are because of people that have not clue as to how to eat healthy. There are books on it, find a nutritionist, and most of all stop making excuses! I'm not saying be a size 2, but for Pete's sake.. let me tell you I really (sarcasm) enjoy paying higher medical premiums because Joe Schmoe next to me can't deny himself Mickey D's. Pass the buck onto me. THANKS I'm not going to sit here and babysit your feelings because you're too heavy.

  • Posted By: sillyhobbit14 @ 12/08/2007 1:21:00 PM

    America is obese. We might be living longer, but hundreds of thousands of people are dying from problems and diseases our country has never had to deal with until the obesity epidemic: heart disease, type 2 diabetes. American's can't so no to a double-cheese burger with fries, or two platefulls of food. We have a problem with portion control and that's why we are the heaviest country in the world. it's disgusting.

  • Posted By: momma2four @ 12/05/2007 1:31:03 PM

    It should never be acceptable to be fat or obese. It is putting your own life in jeopardy. Put own the chips and soda, and get out and exercise. You WILL lose weight, I don't care what some people say. I love to hear fat people say, well, I don't eat hardn't anything"... Bull ***, you would be skinny... It is a LIE!

    • Posted By: Carion @ 12/08/2007 1:20:55 PM

      You think that it's a lie that someone who is over-weight doesn't eat anything? Then maybe you should take a look at information about the thing called "Metabolism". Without a healthy metabolism, your body can't process all of the nutrients and fats that you intake. Thus, if it's not processed in a timely fashion, it actually stays in the body because the metabolism can't keep up due to not working all the time like it should. That's why health professionals tell you that eating 6 small meals a day is better than three large ones, because your metabolism is constantly working and will process everything you intake to keep it from turning into fat and staying in your body causing obesity. How about you read up a bit more on what causes over-weight issues and the full body process before you point fingers and call people liars?

    • Posted By: Carion @ 12/08/2007 1:17:35 PM

      You think that it's a lie that someone who is over-weight doesn't eat anything? Then maybe you should take a look at information about the thing called "Metabolism". Without a healthy metabolism, your body can't process all of the nutrients and fats that you intake. Thus, if it's not processed in a timely fashion, it actually stays in the body because the metabolism can't keep up due to not working all the time like it should. That's why health professionals tell you that eating 6 small meals a day is better than three large ones, because your metabolism is constantly working and will process everything you intake to keep it from turning into fat and staying in your body causing obesity. How about you read up a bit more on what causes over-weight issues and the full body process before you point fingers and call people liars?

  • Posted By: rennia1972 @ 12/08/2007 1:20:12 PM

    I really loved the article and I am elated that young ladies are not defining there worthy based on the numbers shown on a scale. No I am not considered overweight. I am a comfortable 125; however after having my daughter I was 198 and being this weight did not alter the way I felt about myself. Sounds cliche, but what matters and defines a person is not the outter appearance, but what's on the inside is really what counts.

  • Posted By: rennia1972 @ 12/08/2007 1:17:48 PM

    I loved the article...it is great that young ladies are seeing themselves in a more positive light regardless of the number on the scale (which really doesn't determine your state of health anyway). No, I am not overweight I weigh a comfortable 125; however, after having my daughter, I weighed 198 and it didn't alter how I felt about myself inside. Sounds cliche, but what's on the inside is really what makes the person.

  • Posted By: Bakeram85 @ 12/08/2007 1:08:52 PM

    These comments really make me wonder where all of this tension between so-called "fat" and "skinny" people came from. In regards to overweight people, no one likes to hear that they aren't right, in fact, there is something wrong with them. So I think they find it comforting that 2/3 of women are just like them, regardless of whether or not it is healthy. As for thin people, I understand the frustrations when overweight people use excuses, but really calling them "fat whores" doesn't do anything but hurt people. This board reminds me of grade school with all the name calling. We are adults, and as adults we should want to be supportive our fellow human beings.

    • Posted By: rich99 @ 12/08/2007 1:16:37 PM

      Well, thank-you, Billy Graham.

  • Posted By: bherrin @ 12/08/2007 12:42:41 PM

    Wow! I have to admit I am surprised by how many comments have come from this article. The ones that stun me the most are the ones that sit in judgement of plus size people. Yep! You guessed It! I am a plus size woman. In fact, have been most of my life! (So were both of my grandmothers, mother, and most of 14 aunts). Hmmmmm, something in the gene pool? I don't know, but I would bet that I can out pace most of my skinny sisters. I walk 5 miles a day ( have a great work-out tool called "large dog", Or Grace that demands the execercize.). Also do weights at least 3 x's per week. I volunteer with urban youth both mentoring and coachin (yep! a dance team), and.....run my own business! My days are long, and full of reward, and can not be catogorized as lazey, or undisciplined! Iprepare my meals (all of them) on Sunday using nothing but fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken, fish etc. (no cheese sauce on veggies, just steamed). I am not diabetic. Do not have high cholesteral. Nope, no high blood pressure either. Do I like being a plus? Not really. Why not you ask? Cause I want to wear great clothes like skinny sisters! Hey, but I remedied that too! I started my own plus size clothing line to give me some of the looks that my skinny fashion friends find at their fav stores! You see, regardless of your size, how you present yourself matters. and there just are not relevant fashion styles out there for plus folks. Any one looks crappy in ill fitting, slouchy, oversized T's and pull on pants! But I am off track. One thing I have found in working with plus size woman customers is that most of them put on weight because.......are you ready for this??!! They sacrifieced themselves to take care of you! Her husband, children, parents, job, volunteer work all come before her. How bout you get off you duff, take over some home chores, take the kids on Saturday so she can go to the gym, fix dinner for her and have it ready when she get home (no frozen pizza or carry-out). Give women back some of the time they need to take care of themselves and they will. Watch them! Especially you 20 somethings that still live at home or bring your laundry to her!

    • Posted By: rich99 @ 12/08/2007 12:58:24 PM

      You just make me wanna break out in tears for you. All that hard work and you still turned into a Goodyear blimp. And, why? 'cause you were taking care of your couch potato companion, raising kids, soccer-mom crap, etc; and you want me to believe that made you fat?
      Your fat because you ate 4000 calaories and only burned 2500 calories. Do the math. It's ++++.



      • Posted By: bherrin @ 12/08/2007 1:12:56 PM

        Rich, I challenge you to keep up with me for one day! We will eat the same thing (my menu), You will maintain my schedule and level of activity. Bet you can't keep up, and will be crying by the end of the day! Don't judge on what you have no knowledge of. In fact, I would bet that you would end up respecting me by the end of the day!

  • Posted By: floparty @ 12/08/2007 1:12:54 PM

    Yes they say most of America is overweight but American's live longer than anywhere else in the world. Explain that one.

  • Posted By: iceblue1 @ 12/08/2007 1:12:15 PM

    Unfortunately, what most people don't understand is that your BMI only takes two things into account, your height and weight. This does not take into account the fact that muscle weighs more than fat and that some people that are considered "overweight" based on BMI are pure muscle while others are truly overweight. In order for people to be labeled over weight, they really need to factor in the fat to muscle ratio in the body. However, most studies done currently only consider the BMI. Also, it is good that people are looking to stay in a "healthy" weight rage rather than conform to the magazine images of anorexic women. While being overweight dowes have its many health problems, being grossly underweight can have equally as many problems.

  • Posted By: myfitlife @ 12/08/2007 1:10:06 PM

    I really enjoyed this article. As a clinical exercise specialist, I see a number of women who want to lose weight or gain health. It is those women who have realistic expectations that are the most successful. Being healthy and fit is not the same as being "Hollywood" skinny. However, there is a great need in this country to become educated about the correct foods to eat as well as a proper exercise routine. It's true, productive exercise and a proper eating regimen have a number of beneficial side effects; desirable body weight, improved health, more energy, and a better outlook on life, just to name a few. You should eat right and exercise for all of these benefits and not worry about what the scale says. Just stay consistent, know that you are doing something wonderful for yourself, and that you are a beautiful person. Don't try to change everything all at once. The best thing to do is look at how you ate last week and eat a little better this week. Remember, "Yard by yard and life is hard, inch by inch and life's a cinch.
    www.alexandermorentin.com

  • Posted By: anchoredangel @ 12/08/2007 1:09:59 PM

    ok people---before i even get to the issue here, let me say that i am a nurse and i am not overweight. several years ago i did loose about 75 pounds.....anyway....what is wrong with some of you? if you are a 'healthy' weight and you don't have a loved one who is struggling with health/weight issues, why do you even care? overweight people don't bother me, i am not disgusted by them. the weight of the people i meet daily (work, grocery store, anywhere) do not concern me. we are all human and we all have our own vices. i can clearly see some blatant hatred for our overweight population, but really, WHY DO YOU CARE?

  • Posted By: fat&ugly @ 12/08/2007 12:43:47 PM

    All these COMMENTS that are negitive are the reason i am fat. That is ok because those of you who are making these absurd comments need to take a look at your own life and see why you are so unhappy, you want to make someone else sad. Please get a life or someone to talk to...A shrink maybe!!!!!!!!!1

    • Posted By: flipr33@hotmail.com @ 12/08/2007 1:07:59 PM

      I think in a weird way this guy is saying stop making excusses about your weight unless their is a medical reason why you are fat then their is know reason for anyone to be fat or obese other then they are lazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy and eat to much.

    • Posted By: bkazowski @ 12/08/2007 12:47:02 PM

      Maybe someone needs to shrink YOU! And the reason you are fat is because you can't spell "negative". Walk your fat ass to the library and lose some weight/learn to spell!

      • Posted By: Artist_Xtina @ 12/08/2007 12:53:33 PM

        Umm....are you kidding me? Who put sand paper on your toilet seat?

    • Posted By: bkazowski @ 12/08/2007 12:47:55 PM

      Maybe someone needs to shrink YOU! And the reason you are fat is because you can't spell "negative". Walk your fat ass to the library and lose some weight/learn to spell!

  • Posted By: vellita#1 @ 12/08/2007 12:57:34 PM

    Anorexia, bulimia, -LAME- we have allowed our media and society to brainwash us all in thinking we all have to look like famous people that are constantly doing plastic surgery on themselves to look the way they do. How depressing! They could use this money on other serious issues like hunger, AIDS, and war victims ECT. I could go on-shame on us all. Imagine what women would have thought of us 60 years ago.

    • Posted By: rich99 @ 12/08/2007 1:07:57 PM

      Is Nancy Pelosi your grandmother?

  • Posted By: vellita#1 @ 12/08/2007 12:57:49 PM

    Anorexia, bulimia, -LAME- we have allowed our media and society to brainwash us all in thinking we all have to look like famous people that are constantly doing plastic surgery on themselves to look the way they do. How depressing! They could use this money on other serious issues like hunger, AIDS, and war victims ECT. I could go on-shame on us all. Imagine what women would have thought of us 60 years ago.

    • Posted By: rich99 @ 12/08/2007 1:05:34 PM

      Is Nancy Peolosi your grandmother?

  • Posted By: MOando @ 12/08/2007 10:39:59 AM

    Why does it matter so much to everyone anyway? A person who is overweight knows it and deals with it; they either diet or they don't. Why should it be an issue for anyone else? Why are there so many articles written about being overweight when clearly, the only people that it affects are those who are overweight. And guess what? they know they are overweight and the also know what they need t do to stop being overweight. As far as making life difficult for those who are not overweight, if it becomes necesary for an obese person to buy an extra ticket on a plane or other mode of public transportation, or to sit in a movie theater, so be it. That issue is between the obese individual and whatever public issue he/she is dealing with at the time. It's not anyone elses problem. Jay Leno seems obsessed with the overweight. Why? It isn't his problem;he isn't overweight. Unless someone insinuates themself in Leno's space, why should it bother him that someone is overweight, or that people in this country are getting so lazy that they are getting fatter. It seems stupid to me.

    • Posted By: rich99 @ 12/08/2007 10:49:44 AM

      Unfortunately, any of our excesses and addictions that affect our health also affect the costs to a society.
      There is no free lunch for any of this. Obese humans, smokers,drug addicts, risk-taking jackass stunts cost the healthcare industry millions of dollars.

      That is why we care. When your obesity and all its ramifications cost me more for an health insurance policy, then I care.

      • Posted By: MOando @ 12/08/2007 1:05:23 PM

        I hardly think that obese people are costing you much on your life insurance or medical insurance policies. Those who DON'T pay, you know, Medicaid, those on the take, now those are the ones costing you deary. Please elaborate as to how, exactly, you are paying for the fat, the smokers, the diabetics, etc., more than you would if these individuals did not exist.

  • Posted By: Raven459 @ 12/08/2007 12:08:46 PM

    I FEEL DISGUST FOR THE TWO WOMAN POSTED ON THIS COVER PAGE. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF BEING THAT HEAVY. EVERYONE HAS ISSUES AND HEAVY PEOPLE TEND TO EAT TO DEAL INSTEAD OF DEALING AND THEN EATING. IT SEEMS TO BE THE EASY WAY OUT. WORK ON THE INSIDE FIRST AND THE OUTSIDE WOULD RESUME TO ITS NORMAL SIZE. WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

    • Posted By: skribblez @ 12/08/2007 1:00:10 PM

      Yeah, they have nothing to be proud of. How do you know that? For all you know, they could be great mothers, have great jobs, donate to charity, etc., etc. YOU CANNOT JUDGE PEOPLE BY THEIR WEIGHT! I have had lots of overweight and even obese friends who are loyal and caring and it wouldn't matter if they were 110 pounds or 300, people are people and weight doesn't make you who you are, it's just part of the description.

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