Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

I have read thru many of the comments and disagree that a hectic lifestyle leads to eating junk food. I am 5'6" and was 125 pounds for most of my life. After I reached 45, I found that I could no longer eat everything that I once could. Slowly I went to 165 pounds. I have fibromyalgia and found that the extra weight, though not excessive as compared to most, was causing more joint pain. I started eating more healthy foods, salads with lots of veggies, and some chicken, steak or turkey added. You can prepare a lot of lettuce at one time and it will stay fresh in frig for several days, more if you use one of the vacuum containers available on the market. I would also chop up veggies and keep them in sealed containers. Cook 4-6 chicken breasts at one time. Cut them up and freeze in serving portions. Cook the chicken while you clean the lettuce. I can throw together a salad very quickly. I vary the veggies for variety. The preparation is as much fun as the eating. Pack a salad to take to work. Go grocery shopping after a meal, so you are not hungry. DO NOT stop for snacks, cookies, chips or ice cream. Buy fresh or frozen fruit ( no sugar added). Fruit does have a hight glycemic index, but it is better than cookies, ect. When eating, do not have seconds. Most important is exercise. Too many people, especially children are too sedentary. Too much computer, video games and TV. Go for a family walk, or bike ride. You do not have to go to a park. You can play in your yard. Make the kids go outside and go with them. Good old fashioned games of tag and hide and seek, jumping rope. or set up an obstacle course using garbage cans, brooms, chairs is simple and costs nothing. The exercise and time spent together will help to burn calories, and the quality time spent is the best thing to bolster self esteem. It does not take that much time. Even with a hectic schedule, everyone should be able to find 30 minutes in the day. Just turn off the TV. Exercise will give more energy, you will be less tired, and the benefits to hourself and family are priceless. You owe it to yourslf to take care of yourself.

spoken like a true fat ass. oh, and the comment about running 5 km a day, barely touching carbs and still weighing 235? that is SUCH a lie! nobody who weighs 235 could run 5 km a day, and anyone who does run 5 km a day will very quickly become VERY thin. i'm a runner; i run 4 miles a day during the week and 5 miles on saturday and sunday, and i also bike 5 days a week and do pilates. i'm 5'11", 150 pounds. if you excercise MORE and eat LESS than me (becaus i DO treat myself to the supposedly BAD foods you DON'T eat, like chips, fries, cake, etc - its about moderation) how could you weigh more? this excuse about people "just being fat" or blaming weight or metabolism, genetics, thyroid, etc., its just an excuse. america is a lazy, fat-ass country. during the holidays, a trolley takes fat-ass mall shoppers from the parking lot to the mall doors. and the people who make use of this "service" are always the ones who would greatly benefit from the excercise. how can americans be so into sports and still be SO unathletic? one of the great myseries. be honest with yourself, lady - don't lie to us in hopes that we'll pity your allegedly mysterious obesity. you're fat because you eat too much and excercise too little - PERIOD.

CAN YOU SEE HOW THE MEDIA IS ALREADY WORKING YOU PSICOLOGICALLY TRHOUGH FEAR? LOOK AT THE SIDES ???CERVICAL CANCER, WARTS, ETC??? BE AFRAID AND BE A SLAVE OF ???PSEUDO-SCIENCE???! YOU KNOW WHY MOST OF WILD ANIMALS DON???T HAVE SO MANY ILLNESS AS HUMANS? BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN EQUILIBRIUM! AN ANIMAL MAY BE AFRAID SOMETIMES BUT DOESN???T LIVE IN FEAR! AND DOESN???T WATCH TV.

The "too skinny" argument is really getting old. What percentage of Americans are considered too skinny or underweight? And compare that to how many American are overweight and/or obese. Bottom line: We are the only generation in recorded history to have a shorter life-expectancy than ouur parents. That's pathetic. Instead of vanity sizing and making friends with other fat people, Americans should go outside and exercise.

ok here most of you need this to think about waht your saying, this is my girl and a post from her website

The "too skinny" argument is really getting old. What percentage of Americans are considered too skinny or underweight? And compare that to how many American are overweight and/or obese. Bottom line: We are the only generation in recorded history to have a shorter life-expectancy than ouur parents. That's pathetic. Instead of vanity sizing and making friends with other fat people, Americans should go outside and exercise.

I would like to know where all the nurses that said such rude nasty thing work. I for one would never want them as my nurse. If that is what you feel you are in the wrong job. To each person that just had to say something nasty take a good look at your self. what we see in you is not so nice to look at once you open your mouth. shame on all you. Your not all that

I find this story to be true.In most convervations with woman concernerned with their weight they only want to drop 10lbs or 20lbs leaving them still signifigantly overweight.I feel this is good in getting them on the road to regular exercise and healthy eating.I myself have been encouraging several woman to make it to the gym and get started.Once small goals are reached then we can make bigger ones.But I hope heavy or big is not the new norm.

As an adult who has always struggled to stay close to my "ideal" weight, it feels good to fit into "smaller" clothes. However, the trickle-down to kids' clothes is a MAJOR problem in our family. My children are active, thin, but healthy. It's almost impossible to find pants to fit my boys. I think as a society, we need to change our views about weight, and get off our butts to get healthier! Living a healthy lifestyle does not have to mean constant exercising and strict diets.

its not a matter of being fat or skinny, what americans should be concerned about is to mantain a healthy weight. too fat and you get clogged up arteries, too skinny and you can barely sustain yourself.. these are both healthcare situations. think about it...

its not a matter of being fat or skinny, what should concern americans is to be at a healthy weight. too fat and you have clogged up arteries, too skinny and your body can barely sustain itself.... think about it!

I completely agree with lindilou. If someone is on the heavier side and happy with who they are and how they look, then it should be okay. If you are a guy or a girl just looking for someone who have the "great looks" gene and the perfect body and the the best shape, then that is very shallow. There are some very attractive thicker people in this world. And a majority of them are the nicest people and the most confident people. I don't necessarily think that it is all about looks for some people I think it is about the confidence level of the person. So Ladies if you have curves...embrace them and love them. BE CONFIDENT!!

Fat people are sucking the healthcare resourses we have in this country dry! This is why we spend more on healhcare than any other civilized nation. Do us taxpayers a favor and control what you eat and get off the damn couch and go for a walk!