Thanks man...to be honest, I've had a bit of a gut-wrench over this all evening. My mom is quite overweight as well - and her excuse is based on a car accident our family had 13 years ago where she broke a few bones and developed a muscle problem (even though she was overweight before that). She definitely has a harder time than other people losing weight, since it hurts if she goes on too many walks in a week and so on...but it's also mind-boggling how poor her diet is at times. I really couldn't give a damn how she looks - she's beautiful in my eyes. But when she loses 15 pounds you can just tell that she's radiating. And when she gains it back her self esteem drops significantly. I definitely understand the feelings, but it is also something that really frustrates me...because I know a few small choices would go a long way for most people.
3814 I find much truth to what you said about having to really love yourself. There are a lot of self-loathing people who stay overweight because of their hatred of themselves and general negativity. I go to Weight Watchers meetings and it really sucks to see these women (and men) so down on themselves. Many admit that their own self-image problems hamper how they act toward others. I've never been obese, but still struggle to get into a healthy BMI range. I've found that when I chose to accept myself EXACTLY how I was and be truly happy, that's when the weight came off. As I loved myself more, I took care of myself and fed myself healthful foods and exercised more. I just wanted to note how true that was, what you said. You really do have to love yourself.
Wow. I missed this when it was a new thread (as usual). Some of you would hate me, or so the shallowness seems... I see that some have since back peddled. And some of you are real people, with the sense to know that ALL of us have some kind of flaw. The rhetoric in this thread made a sad story a sadder one.
im not trying to convince anyone to anything, just sharing. i wish i could remember exactly, but i cant. but i think its applicable to some situations like where i work (mid east) and where im from (malaysia). in mid east, gyms are very few and memberships are expensive, or exclusive. in malaysia its the same, and if youre a 20 something just starting to experience the working life, youre working from 8 till late, and the only time you have if you can afford a gym membership, is on the weekends. factor in cheap quick (unhealthy) meals for lunch on weekdays, sitting ard all day staring at your screen, traffic jams, when youre at home all you wanna do is nothing. of course my experience doesnt explain everyone else's but you can see how when i could afford to stay fit (free gym, rilexed university life) i did, but when i cant, im starting to pack on the pounds.
True enough...there are also many labor positions for the lower and middle class which pay people to get exercise. Not a bad deal...I loved my summers working in the lumberyards.
Losing weight can be costly. If you buy a gym membership or low-fat or fat-free foods (they're almost always significantly more expensive than their full-fat counterpart). People who make more money or have more regular work hours could find it easier to find time to work out. Many people I know have only been able to find success with Weight Watchers, which costs $40/month. But of course, being heavy will down the road probably cost more in insurance and medical expenses. It's not that hard to lose weight and not spend very much money, I think it just requires more dedication out of a person. Maybe there's no access to a gym, but there's at least a few parks within driving distance to walk/jog. Buying whole foods instead of prepackaged/processed foods is actually much cheaper. It just takes a lot more work and creativity in the kitchen.
I was thinking about this topic last night. I work in healthcare and see too many people who don't take care of themselves whether it be refusing to stop smoking, refusing to stop drinking, or not refusing the drive-thru. Many of these same people are pissed off at the world and take that frustration out on those of us who have dedicated ourselves to taking care of them. They want everything on a silver platter. That gets to me sometimes. Yet, I love my job, and wouldn't trade it for anything. If I didn't find so much personal satisfaction in taking care of the ill, I wouldn't do it. So to Major Malcontent and anyone else I've pissed off by my insensitivity you have my sincerest apologies.
What do you consider worse, someone who is obese or someone who openly ridicules and scorns obese people?
