Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

Americans are overall BIG, under-exercised and superindulgent. On the other hand, TV stars tend to be annorexic and unrealistic about body image and healthy weights. What we need is a happy medium which no one can seem to ID or find. Whether or not we view ourselves as "fat" or "skinny" also has a lot to do with ethnicity. Black and Hispanic women don't view weight in certain areas of the body as necessarily a bad thing.

I have been struggling with my weight just recently in this past year. I have also tried to quit smoking (although not always successful, on and off again) and the doctor put me on an anti- depressant. I gained 30 lbs from March to present. Now the problem is how in the world do I get it off.!

I used to be overweight. Back then I was in some kind of denial. I knew I was overweight but I didn't think it was that bad. I would look at myself in the mirror and think I looked Ok so why worry ?? It was only after I lost the first 10 pounds (I developed a respiratory problem and was put on a medical diet) that I realized I wanted to lose more, continue to eat healthy food and exercise more. Some of my friends were also like that. Some to the extreme of only looking at themselves in the mirror from the shoulders up and never going on a scale. I am no expert but could it be that our first instinct is to accept ourselves and that it is only after we realize that a change is not only possible but attainable that we find the necessary drive to actually pursue it?

Read "The Gospel of Food." A skinny body is not necessarily the product of sacrifice and hard work (I'm a size 2 and I never go to the gym and like extra butter on my steak). An "overweight" person may eat healthy and exercise, but because their set point weight is higher, they are never going to be "skinny." That's OK! It is not unhealthy. What's unhealthy is thinking of food in terms of sacrifice.

I HAD ALWAYS BEEN WHAT I THOUGH WAS A "NORMAL" SIZE MY WHOLE UNTILL I HIT COLLEGE WHEN I GAINED OVER 130 POUNDS. I DIDNT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT WHEN I BOUGHT NEW CLOTHES. UNTILL I SAW A PICTURE OF MYSELF AND FREAKED. SINCE JANUARY IVE LOST 30 POUNDS WITH DIET AND EXERCISE AND I DID IT FOR MY HEALTH. I DIDNT KNOW HOW BAD GAINING ALL THAT EXTRA WEIGHT REALLY WAS. I BELIEVE THAT NOT MATTER HOW BIG OR SAMLL YOU ARE YOU ARE BEAUITFUL, BUT IF YOU ARE OVER WEIGHT YOU DO NEED TO LOOOSE IT FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

Dudley, Jenngor and Turkey4re - I resent and reject your declaration that "fat people are fat and lazy." Speaking as a formerly fat person, I am offended that you would assume a lack of activity or overindulgance as reason for extra weight. Other explainations could be genetics, hormones, glandular disorders, etc. Yes, there are humans that are lazy and they come in all sizes, but they are still humans and don't deserve such cruel comments. I'm not sure why you feel the need to make such ugly assumptions but I encourage you all to open your narrow minds. Perhaps the "fatties" really ARE comfortable with their "gravid" selves because they have inner beauty and kindness.

To Momma2Four Well to the woman who had children and lost weight. Child bearing weight is very different from lifetime weight. Ask you physician. It is much easier to lose because your body has not completely adjusted to holding that fat. For someone who has been overweight for an extended period the body is maladjusted to the fat content and is used to consuming a certain amount of fat. Thus it will retain more fat. Also to suggest that a certain thing that worked for you or "skinny" people should work for larger people is ignorant. I mean that in the sense of your knowledge on this matter is incorrect not that your personality or sense on a whole is ignorant. Everyone is different our bodies respond differently to everything. You could possible respond overzealously to stress whereas someone else may not. You may have dermatitis reaction to sweat when working out someone else may not. You may think you work hard for your "nice" body but actually it???s a possibility that you may not. There are many things that come into play when it comes to losing weight. Genetics, diet, access to exercises, proper health care, proper food. I personally have come into better finances and am now able to eat better along with adequate transportation for work and school which has given me more time to exercise and resources to get what I need to be healthier. It is a determination and goal but don't make it seem as if you are working so hard and "fat people" are not. The goal is healthy not thin. Maybe you should refocus your mental capacity on compassion and helping others get healthy rather than pointing out their errors. If you let it happen you're a part of the issue.

its ok to say fatty but not ***?

I agree with so many of the posters comments. I am a 43 year old woman who is 40 lbs overweight. It does come down to self control, 40lbs on me is like a world of difference. It is easy, and as soon as I stop becoming so dam lazy, I'm gonna be one hot mama. I am married to a man who loves to cook, and sadly is very good at it, he is not overweight, so he does not see the need to cook healthy. I think all these comments will encourage me to become more avid about walking at my lunch hours, and passing on the mashed potatos, because I dont' have far to go.

I also do not agree with the bmi, its too simplistic to take into account different body types and muscle mass. I am classified as obese according to the bmi index, yet there is no way anyone would consider me obese. I ride horses, mountain bike, and do aerobic exercise on a regular basis. I have alot of muscle, especially in my legs and stomach. Down with bmi!

Whoever mentioned that Jennifer Love Hewitt seemed fat..... is either jelious that he isn't with her.... or he's gay!!! And about fat people..... there will always be fat people. There will always be skinny people. Sooner or later generations will change their ways and eat healthier. People say that American's are living longer these days........ what's the problem???

I disagree with milktoast18 not everyone is the same and for it is not as simple as you put it. I do have self control and I work out 5 days a week, I count my calories I am not eating fast food crap no sweets and still I have not lost any weight nor any inches and I have been doing this for 5 months. It is people like you who make it difficult for those of us who are truley trying and still not suceeding so shame on you. I do think that for some that is all it takes but to imply that is across the board is just a ignorant statement of course in my opinion.

Wow..I am amazed by all the ignorant comments I have read here. i really am glad I don't know these people in reality..I would never asscociate with such narrow minded fools who think just because they are "normal" that they are superior. HA! Not in this life.... The thing is you may be the ideal person in the looks department but in your minds you are ugly. How can you berate people as you are? Don't you see you are not impressing anyone with your "witty" comments? All you do is show how ignorant you truly are.

Wow..I am amazed by all the ignorant comments I have read here. i really am glad I don't know these people in reality..I would never asscociate with such narrow minded fools who think just because they are "normal" that they are superior. HA! Not in this life.... The thing is you may be the ideal person in the looks department but in your minds you are ugly. How can you berate people as you are? Don't you see you are not impressing anyone with your "witty" comments? All you do is show how ignorant you truly are.

I don't know, you people can say what you want, but statistically less input (food) and more output (exercise) = weight loss. I have a hard time believeing a marathon runner that eats perfectly healthy food is 85 lbs overweight. I am a runner and I just don't think that is possible. I also am a nurse, and some of your stories just don't match up. You should be a stick if you are doing what some of you say... But, whatever... to each his own. I just thank God that I am not a content, obese American.

everyone dies-although a big woman is probably less likely to get hit by a car-weight should only be changed for health reasons-obese or anorexic-live and enjoy yourself-how can you go anywhere in life if you're cemented to a scale

Whoever mentioned that Jennifer Love Hewitt seemed fat..... should seriously take a brain scan..... or maybe he's just gay.

Gosh, some of these comments are so sad, everybody saying fat people.. ya da ya da ya da, I thought this website was supposed to help........................... Its funny though, Americans are extremely overweight, but I wonder how many of us will produce anorexis or bulimic children in the future?