Obesity

[awashinlove]

I've known women who eat right, very little, get exercise and still are overweight, obese by societies terms. What of them?

You're right, what about them? The fact is, anyone can say their issue with obesity is based on how the individual cares for themselves, but for a lot of people, I don't think that's really true. How many stop and get to know someone who is obese when we associate the label with an unhealthy lifestyle? Most of us usually just assume, even when we just see them out on the street and not out eating.

One of my best friends is overweight, but she can run farther and faster than I, eats a fraction of what I do, and lives an all-around, healthy lifestyle. But we've been in loads of social situations within Churches where she's overlooked, or even snickers are made concerning her size. She was even once approached by a pastor concerning getting healthy. Why wasn't that ever directed at me, even when I stood by munching on a chocolate ice cream bar, or enjoying a frothy Mocha Latte? People just assume she's living a "bad" lifestyle. I don't think we've come across anyone who gets to know her before making a decision about her character, they're either discriminatory, or not.

I understand that a lot that people don't care about the size of the person, just the habits the individual hold, but rarely do you hear about someone being turned off from a thin person who can eat until their heart's content any junkfood they desire. In fact, most folks think that's amusing.

I believe when gluttony rules someone's life, they don't need to be judged or labeled an unfit parent. We all have issues that potentially go spiritual -- inability to let go, smoking, lying, general dislike of others, disorganization --and no brother or sister in Christ has a right to judge those things, let alone judge one above the rest. If you're truly concerned about someone's unhealthy habits, they may need to be approached by friends or family about a potential depression or emptiness that could damper their spirit, but who are we to judge or even stay at a distance? If anything, that is when we should hear the call of the Shepherd to flock together.

Blessings,
awashinlove

 

[fishstix]

I think it is interesting that people jump to point out the things they can physically see (such as weight) and make assumptions based on those but forget about the things that may be hidden. People who appear fit and healthy aren't necessarily as 'perfect' as they appear.

 

[Starcradle]

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

 

[Tenorvoice]

To use a good ole southern saying for this thread........



"Never trust a Skinny Cook!!!"

 

[revelations12_12]

I basically eat salad, beans, and nuts. I also eat some venison when I am blessed enough to get it. I exercise daily, and try to take the best care of this temple that I can. I do this for me, for my own confidence and basically to rebell against the American medical big money agenda. The more unhealthy we are the more money drug companies make, and the bigger the donations are to government. I personally have little tolerence for obesity, "I just want to shake people, and say can't you see what your doing!!??" "Rebel daamnit don't let them win!!" "Boycott fast food take control of your life!!"

I guess this makes me a bad person... I am sorry for that, I too have areas I need to work on.

 

[Macrina]

I basically eat salad, beans, and nuts. I also eat some venison when I am blessed enough to get it. I exercise daily, and try to take the best care of this temple that I can. I do this for me, for my own confidence and basically to rebell against the American medical big money agenda. The more unhealthy we are the more money drug companies make, and the bigger the donations are to government. I personally have little tolerence for obesity, "I just want to shake people, and say can't you see what your doing!!??" "Rebel daamnit don't let them win!!" "Boycott fast food take control of your life!!"

I guess this makes me a bad person... I am sorry for that, I too have areas I need to work on.

I don't eat fast food. Ever. I eat a healthy diet. I exercise regularly, both strength training and cardio. Yet all my life I have struggled with being condemned for my weight. The only times I have been able to be at what other people have found an acceptable size was when I was being very unhealthy to myself. I try not to care about what other people think of my appearance; I am just trying to pursue health for its own sake, and whatever weight I am will just have to be the right weight for me.

I have lived with slim roommates who would eat cake and ice cream all the time, drink sugared sodas, eat pizza, and generally trash their bodies. I would go and put my tofu and veggies in the wok and wonder at the unfairness of it all.

 

[waterbear]

I don't necessarily see obesity as a lifestyle problem. I think the majority of people who are obese are so because of their lifestyle, but not all and I've met the exceptions. As an indicator of lifestyle choice it's rather poor, I know a lot of people whose metabolisms will keep them thin almost regardless of how irresponsible their eating habits are.

As to the original point that it's a lifestyle you'd rather your children not pick up (which is usually true) - most parents have bad habits or otherwise are going to make less-than-ideal impressions on their children. However, children grow up and - to a large extent - do their own thing anyway.

 

[mixiejoeusa]

Ok, I have been reading the posts here on this thread and I decided that I am going to say something on this topic..........

If anyone looks at my pic, you can see that I am not thin, so this statement is coming from someone who knows all about this topic.

Being obese doesn't mean you will raise fat kids or be a bad parent. What it means is, you may not be as active as you should be with your child. Just as your sexuality doesn't make who you are as a person, being fat is the same thing.

I'll be honest, food is my comfort..I don't smoke or drink too much. I was never a fat child, I just learned to self medicate myself and food was the first drug of choice.

I think how someone was treated as a child will determine what kind of parent you will be.

Yes i would like to weigh less then I do at the moment, not because of the mirror, but because I want to be heathy and live a longer life. I have great friends and family that love me regardless of my size. I am very lucky to be in a support group who loves me for me, not many people can say that NO MATTER THEIR WEIGHT, RACE OR SEXUALITY.

For people who want to learn more about why people eat or why is America so fat......do some reasearch and talk to people who are obese, find out how they got there and why. If you want to know me as a person and find out what makes me do the things I do, just ask....and I will tell you. I am an open book, just waiting to be read.

What this world needs is more people loving one another and less judging someone on their looks, race, sexuality or even their social standing.

Have a truly blessed Easter

Jessica

 

[Talie]

I'm referring to those who constantly consume starches, sweets, junk food, and cholesterol-inducing trans fats regularly and don't exercise.

not all pepole who do the above are fat - in fact - i dare say 50% of them are not - but are rather quite thin.

i sure hope you place the same emphasis on THIN people who eat junk as you do on overweight people

and I have to say this - but there ARE medical condition that cause people to put on and be unable to lose weight - i know a lot of people say "it's not my fault i'm overweight" - for sure, for some it is, but there ARE medical condtions that cause SOME people to become overweight or not be able to lose weight - despite good eating habbits and excercise

overweight women reading this - please PM me if you want to know what I'm talking about


by the way, i think that photo could be damaging to people who are struggling with eating disorders

 

[goat37]

I know what it's like to be obese... Not too long ago I weighed very close to 300 lbs, (I am 6 foot 4, as well)

I hated how I looked in the mirror... I couldn't stand to take my shirt off even when I was by myself. I never did anything active. I was lethargic and slept more than I should... I spent all day behind a computer.
I really started to hate myself... and I changed.

Today I am in great shape, weigh 185 lbs... run 5 miles at least 4 days a week, and lead a VERY active lifestyle. Because of this, my self-confidence is very high... I love going to the beach, I am not afraid to talk to girls and ask them out (and many often ask me out now too) The bottomline... it COMPLETELY changed my life after I lost the weight.

So when I am looking for a mate, I am very sorry... but after knowing how hard it is to be overweight, how much I hated myself... and knowing that I put the hard work and dedication into changing my body... I could never be with someone that was obsese. I was not attractive to myself in my own eyes when I was very overweight, and neither is anyone else.
I take GREAT care of my body now (I love to purify my temple, as I like to say) and I could never be with someone that doesn't do the same for themselves.

 

[JPPT1974]

Also other things about obseity is that it may run in the family as well as be your metabolism. So not just watch what you eat. But also exercise as well as eat foods that are good for you. Like fruits and veggies. Cut out on sweets and sugar.

 

[goat37]

obesity may run in the family... but that doesn't mean you have to be obese. There are certain cases in which, yes, a person's thyroid may be completely out of control and they literally cannot control their weight... however, these cases are much more rare than we would like to think today.

All these commercials for the diet pills that say "being overweight isn't your fault, it's due to some 'xxx' chromosome that stores fat, blah blah blah"... it's mostly a crock.

It's simple... burn more calories than you consume. If you have trouble losing weight by dieting alone, then mix in exercise (which you should do anyway). When you exercise, your body expends engery, which in turn is calories. Burn more calories than you consume in a day, and boom... you are on the path to weight loss.

Obesity has been on the rise at an exponential rate for the last 30 years, and I REFUSE to believe that there are this many more people being born that just happen to have this gene that prohibits them from losing weight. It's just not the case.

Quit making excuses, get off your fat lazy behind and go for a walk... and eat right. There's no miracle or super secret to losing weight, and it's not hard to figure out. Exercise and eat properly. I lost 120 lbs because I made the commitment and changed my lifestyle, I have absolutely zero sympathy for those that won't do the same for themselves.

 

[Talie]

well, you'll go a long way in life with that attitude, and i'm sure you're just as sympathetic to people with any kind of health problem.

you can't be happy being in life being that nasty - and that IS something you have COMPLETE control over

 

[Macrina]

obesity may run in the family... but that doesn't mean you have to be obese. There are certain cases in which, yes, a person's thyroid may be completely out of control and they literally cannot control their weight... however, these cases are much more rare than we would like to think today.

All these commercials for the diet pills that say "being overweight isn't your fault, it's due to some 'xxx' chromosome that stores fat, blah blah blah"... it's mostly a crock.

It's simple... burn more calories than you consume. If you have trouble losing weight by dieting alone, then mix in exercise (which you should do anyway). When you exercise, your body expends engery, which in turn is calories. Burn more calories than you consume in a day, and boom... you are on the path to weight loss.

Obesity has been on the rise at an exponential rate for the last 30 years, and I REFUSE to believe that there are this many more people being born that just happen to have this gene that prohibits them from losing weight. It's just not the case.

Quit making excuses, get off your fat lazy behind and go for a walk... and eat right. There's no miracle or super secret to losing weight, and it's not hard to figure out. Exercise and eat properly. I lost 120 lbs because I made the commitment and changed my lifestyle, I have absolutely zero sympathy for those that won't do the same for themselves.

Thanks for the encouragement, brother. So nice to receive love and compassion from a brother in the faith. I'm so glad I joined the marvelous thread. [/sarcasm]

 

[Misnomer]

There are plenty of people out there with poor lifestyle habits which include but are not limited to eating junk (empty calories, etc), living a sedentary lifestyle, etc. For SOME of the people in this category the consequence is substantial weight gain.

Modern American society encourages these choices and yes there would be less of a problem is we in general would adopt a more balanced lifestyle. There are few (if any) people who need to eat the things that we do.

My problem is not the attraction level that some may or may not have for obese individuals. What I do have a problem is the judgements that we can be quick to put on them. Just as there are obese people who are gluttonous and lazy so there are thin people with the same problem. Just because outwardly you can not tell... inwardly the two share a common struggle. But the obese one is the only one getting looked down on for have little motivation and self control. What is the difference between the drug addict living on the street and the high powered attorney that has his own crack addiction but dresses well and lives in the right neighborhood?

So no I am not saying that it is healthy to be obese or overweight for that matter we just shouldn't be so quick to judge. The whole not judging a book by it's cover thing comes to mind.

But this is just my OP and feel free to exercise your right to disagree

 

[fishstix]

I know what it's like to be obese... Not too long ago I weighed very close to 300 lbs, (I am 6 foot 4, as well)

I hated how I looked in the mirror... I couldn't stand to take my shirt off even when I was by myself. I never did anything active. I was lethargic and slept more than I should... I spent all day behind a computer.
I really started to hate myself... and I changed.

Today I am in great shape, weigh 185 lbs... run 5 miles at least 4 days a week, and lead a VERY active lifestyle. Because of this, my self-confidence is very high... I love going to the beach, I am not afraid to talk to girls and ask them out (and many often ask me out now too) The bottomline... it COMPLETELY changed my life after I lost the weight.

So when I am looking for a mate, I am very sorry... but after knowing how hard it is to be overweight, how much I hated myself... and knowing that I put the hard work and dedication into changing my body... I could never be with someone that was obsese. I was not attractive to myself in my own eyes when I was very overweight, and neither is anyone else.
I take GREAT care of my body now (I love to purify my temple, as I like to say) and I could never be with someone that doesn't do the same for themselves.

So you don't want to be with an obese person because they might have a poor self image and dislike themselves and not be confident. Do you think that if an obese person who is feeling down about himself/herself reads this that it is going to improve things or push them even further towards feelings of worthlessness because they don't match society's standard of beauty?

 

[beetlequeendiva]

I think it is important to mention that being underweight due to eating disorders is extremely dangerous. I would hate to see someone prone to eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia read this thread and take it as confirmation that if they don't become skinny they will never find a spouse.

hi, being someone who is struggling with an eating disorder I will just say that is thread has not helped!!!! Please everybody be careful with what you are saying - be aware that things can hurt people!!!

 

[beetlequeendiva]

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Anorexia is not something to joke about!!!!

 

[Fatolia]

This thread was NOT meant to flame and demean people, nor was it meant to argue scientific evidence. The topic is how obesity-inducing eating habits can affect a spouse's and childrens' lives.

 

[beetlequeendiva]

I understand what the thread was supposed to do however I don't think it's done it!!! Why did you choose obesity out of all the things you could have chosen? Such as drugs or alcohol? Just a general wondering.....