Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

Fat men and women are just that: fat men and women no matter what size they wear or what the designer assigns to the clothes.

After reading the comments below, I do think that it???s not a matter of people paying too much to eat healthy. Its the fact that its easier to open a bag of chips, or to get a bowl of cereal then it is to go through clean; cut; and prepare fresh food. People now days are getting lazy; that is the big issue. That in the United States currently, there are more fast food restrants that are open 24/7 then there are grocery stores. I admit myself, I do indulge in the fast food world, but when you work two jobs, and have a family to support at the same time, it???s easier to grab a meal on the way home then to go home and cook one.

After reading the comments below, I do think that it???s not a matter of people paying too much to eat healthy. Its the fact that its easier to open a bag of chips, or to get a bowl of cereal then it is to go through clean; cut; and prepare fresh food. People now days are getting lazy; that is the big issue. That in the United States currently, there are more fast food restrants that are open 24/7 then there are grocery stores. I admit myself, I do indulge in the fast food world, but when you work two jobs, and have a family to support at the same time, it???s easier to grab a meal on the way home then to go home and cook one.

The BMI index isn't always the best way to gauge whether not someone is underweight, normal , over weight or obese. There are other factors that go into determining that like how much muscle a person has and the bone structure. A friend of mine who is 6'7" and weighs 250 pounds, but he is very healthy and most of his weight is compiled of muscle, not fat. But since health insurance agencies base how much you pay on your BMI, he has to pay extra because according to his BMI (28.2), he's overweight.

Wow...popular story! I've kind of skimmed over both the article and the comments below. The reason why I don't read everything everyone has to say is...well, it really doesn't matter.
I will tell you that I was once a size 10, hoping not to get up to a 12. I began exercising and eating better with the help of an ex-boyfriend (God bless him!). It was certainly not an easy transition. I would exercise and not eat correctly or vice versa. I didn't see the change that I was dreaming of until I took the initiative and said to myself, "SELF! Why put in all this work without seeing the results that you want?"
NO ONE will make a change in their lives until they make up their mind that enough is enough. That's why none of the studies, none of these comments, none of the fad diets matter. It's up to each individual. It's a choice to feel better and look better. I look forward to exercising (and yes, ladies, I hear your collective sighs. I never thought I would say it, either) and every other type of physical activity. Is there anything better than going on a hike with some one that you love?
I'm down to a size 6 and I've never felt better. A size 2?! Well, let's just say that just wouldn't look good on me. I want so badly for overweight women to feel that way that they should and to able to experience things that they may not be able to experience right now. 90% of the women in my family are overweight and it really hurts me that they don't want to go white water rafting with me, train for a marathon or go hiking for a weekend.
Here's the website that helped me get started with my weight loss...and I promise I'm not some one working for them, I just think it's an easy and VERY effective program! www.bodyforlife.com
In the end, it's about commitment and consistency. You CAN make a change in your life. It doesn't matter if you have a strange work schedule, have kids to watch...if you want to exercise, you just DO IT. Don't let anything stop you. Find a workout buddy if you can. They are a definite help.
God bless and good luck!

i was watching americas next top model (only cause i like tyra banks) anyways, some of those super skinny girls are so .. WEAK they couldnt even pull themselves back up out of a squat, therewaws this one girl at the gym who was skinnier then me and while shes doing 20lbs on the weight machiens im doing 70lbs, skinny DEFINATLY dosnt always mean healthy.

"working out" is not even needed. Just take a walk! Every day, everyday, everyday. Walk for an hour. Walk away from your house for 30 min, then walk back. It can be done any where in any weather with any shoes or no shoes. Walk at lunch time for 30 min. Or walk up and down the stairs for 10 min, 6 times a day. No money needed. Eat fruit and vegtables, bananas are cheap, so are apples, carrots, cabbage, lettuce!

i was watching americas next top model (only cause i like tyra banks) anyways, some of those super skinny girls are so .. WEAK they couldnt even pull themselves back up out of a squat, therewaws this one girl at the gym who was skinnier then me and while shes doing 20lbs on the weight machiens im doing 70lbs, skinny DEFINATLY dosnt always mean healthy.

Bottom line for me - I had to quit making and using excuses to remain fat. I had to look in the mirror and finally say the truth - "I am obese and fat." I had to accept the fact that it had taken me 20 years to gain and remain fat and that it would not come off in a day or weeks' time (I am now into my 5th year.) I had to ultimately be responsible for me - ONLY I COULD MAKE THE CHOICE to stay fat or do something about it. I had to adopt words like Exercise, Disciplined, Determined, Motivated, Balanced, Active, and an Achiever AND THEN I HAD TO PUT THESE WORDS INTO ACTION. I couldn't cheat (still can't, don't and won't) and expect to remain slim and trim. Even during the Holidays, I remain strong and firm in my conviction to maintain a healthy, slimmer me. I don't let anyone intimidate and tempt me into cheating (including myself) - "Oh go ahead, it's only a piece of cheesecake. It's the Holidays afterall." (The average American will put on 7-10 pounds during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season!) NO THANKS. I have to fight every single day to keep it off - it's a battle - let's make no mistake about it. I had to sacrifice many "beloved" foods that were ultimately killing me and keeping me obese and fat - now I wouldn't give you a million dollars for any of that poisonous junk I use to think was so delicious. Botton line for you - ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE IF YOU REMAIN FAT.

One of the top stories was about overweight women and I noticed that one of the others was about whaling stories. What a hoot!!!!!

ok, where are so many people getting the notion that it's so terribly expensive to eat healthy foods????? i will admit and acknowledge that places like Whole Foods are ridiculously overpriced (which is why i refuse to shop there). however, you can go to any grocery store and buy fresh produce which is really not all that expensive. i'm speaking from experience because i'm broke as all get out and am still able to eat a healthy (vegan) diet. I mean, some fruits and things can be expensive but if you cut out all the expensive junk foods (like $5 boxes of cereal, $4 bags of chips, expensive ???juice??? and sodas, etc.) and instead spend the money on fresh spinach, salads, apples, oranges, bananas, whole wheat breads, jugs of water (which you can get from Walmart for $0.68 a gallon), potatoes, etc., it???s really not that expensive. I???m only 26, live on my own, have student loans, rent, car note, and more, and only make $36,000/yr BEFORE taxes. And I live in the DC area which is very, very expensive. So trust me, I am down to my last dime come pay period. I can???t afford to eat out at restaurants or buy all organic foods, expensive foods, but I can and do buy healthy foods, even with my sub-par salary. It???s a sacrifice but it???s worth it.

sadly we place too much worth on weight rather than a persons capability. to be healthy is one thing but to be anorexic is another.

This is due to the 1960's and Twiggy not everyone can be a size 6 and 120 been there done it and what did I get for that. "you are too thin and then I gained my weight back and now I am a 10/12 depending on the designer.

also does anyone realize that every ethinic female has various traits that they cant change maybe society needs to grow up and realize that as we get older the body changes somes for good and bad.

Fascinating to observe the strong negative emotions that people have about other people's, and especially
women's weight. I think this is what needs to be studied if we really want to understand the dysfunction in
our society. If we could stop hating ourselves and each other, I suspect a lot of the the "weight" issues would resolve themselves.

http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100159420