Fat Kids
- Thread starter VanIsle
- Start date
Sorry for the long post but sometimes, it's the only way to tell a whole story.
SJP: My son is over-weight. I am over weight and so is my husband. Our son was over-weight as a child - a small child. Once when I went shopping our oldest son was standing on the front of the buggy having a ride his way and the youngest was sitting up top where all children sit. An older man came along and looked at both the children and he said "Hmm - looks like you feed one and starve the other". He was a big eater from the beginning. I nursed him for only a few weeks because even though I was told I had good healthy milk, he wasn't getting enough (I guess in his baby opinion) and I had to give him a bottle over and above breast feeding. I quit breast feeding. Then like all kids he seemed to drop the weight and by 3 years old was as skinny as all the kids around. By about age 9 he was heavy again. He is big boned but his weight still shows. By 19 he was slim and trim and he worked hard at a job that certainly helped. I never ever nagged him. In fact, I used to tell people that he was just big boned because to me, he didn't seem fat. Now when I look back at pictures, I know he was. His Dad and I did not become over weight until the last few years. His wife on the other hand, for all her good intentions, nags his constantly about his weight. I have repeatedly asked her not to do this and she claims she does not. She has no realization of the fact that she does it with every meal. She also cooks with lots of pasta, lots of cheese and lots of sauces. She loves cookies and keeps cookies in the house. She bakes cookies lots. She believes no one should eat a piece of meat no larger than a fist. We realize that she is not forcing him to eat but - if she wants him to lose weight, why put so much temptation in his path? Because he doesn't have the meat his system wants, he fills up on carbs. We all know carbs are instant fat. (pasta/rice/wht. flour/tortilla shells/pizza shells). He has a desk job. She works only 3 days a week so she has joined a running club and she holds her waist to a nice trim size. One day she will quit running and the weight she began to gain will get worse. She will become the shape her Mom was because it's easy enough to see it's going to happen. Like she can't get through to him, I can't get through to her without insulting her. She is a very good wife and Mom. She's a very good daughter-in-law. I would not want to lose any of that. I don't want to lose my son either. One more thing that I believe to be detrimental is when he goes in for his yearly checkup. He has great blood pressure, great cholesteral readings and no indication of a diabetes problem. All sounds great - right! That is all his doctor tells him. His doctor, who is slim and trim just tells him he wishes his readings were so good. He never tells him "Your readings are all great but if you don't lose weight, they are not going to stay that way."
He is talking about running with his brother starting next month. I hope and pray that he does more than talk. His brother who was and still is somewhat overweight, began running awhile ago. He has type 2 diabetes. If he doesn't watch his eating habits, he can feel quite ill. He needs to exercise. He's trying to get his brother to run with him and I can only hope it happens.
In the meantime, I amgoing to see what I can do with my excess baggage. There has to be something I can do to manage my weight more efficiently.
My own belief is that the road to success is exercise in moderation because I know I will never be a person who exercises vigorously. The road also includes a diet the same as I eat now but far less of it. I've tried and not lost so - I'm eating too much. Filling up on salad is great and it does stay along time but I think the part about "filling up" is the problem. I think my body and other people too, need to understand that we don't need to fill up at every gas station in case there isn't another one around noon or another one around dinnertime. I have eaten basically the same diet forever. I never ate as much of it before. I believe that if I could quit eating so that I could light up a cigarette, I can quit eating just because period. I am not grossly overweight but being a person who has spent most of their life at a good comfortable weight rather than being overweight, I cannot get comfortable with who I am and that's probably a good thing. Hopefully it will be the driving force to help bring me back to a good comfortable weight.
SJP: My son is over-weight. I am over weight and so is my husband. Our son was over-weight as a child - a small child. Once when I went shopping our oldest son was standing on the front of the buggy having a ride his way and the youngest was sitting up top where all children sit. An older man came along and looked at both the children and he said "Hmm - looks like you feed one and starve the other". He was a big eater from the beginning. I nursed him for only a few weeks because even though I was told I had good healthy milk, he wasn't getting enough (I guess in his baby opinion) and I had to give him a bottle over and above breast feeding. I quit breast feeding. Then like all kids he seemed to drop the weight and by 3 years old was as skinny as all the kids around. By about age 9 he was heavy again. He is big boned but his weight still shows. By 19 he was slim and trim and he worked hard at a job that certainly helped. I never ever nagged him. In fact, I used to tell people that he was just big boned because to me, he didn't seem fat. Now when I look back at pictures, I know he was. His Dad and I did not become over weight until the last few years. His wife on the other hand, for all her good intentions, nags his constantly about his weight. I have repeatedly asked her not to do this and she claims she does not. She has no realization of the fact that she does it with every meal. She also cooks with lots of pasta, lots of cheese and lots of sauces. She loves cookies and keeps cookies in the house. She bakes cookies lots. She believes no one should eat a piece of meat no larger than a fist. We realize that she is not forcing him to eat but - if she wants him to lose weight, why put so much temptation in his path? Because he doesn't have the meat his system wants, he fills up on carbs. We all know carbs are instant fat. (pasta/rice/wht. flour/tortilla shells/pizza shells). He has a desk job. She works only 3 days a week so she has joined a running club and she holds her waist to a nice trim size. One day she will quit running and the weight she began to gain will get worse. She will become the shape her Mom was because it's easy enough to see it's going to happen. Like she can't get through to him, I can't get through to her without insulting her. She is a very good wife and Mom. She's a very good daughter-in-law. I would not want to lose any of that. I don't want to lose my son either. One more thing that I believe to be detrimental is when he goes in for his yearly checkup. He has great blood pressure, great cholesteral readings and no indication of a diabetes problem. All sounds great - right! That is all his doctor tells him. His doctor, who is slim and trim just tells him he wishes his readings were so good. He never tells him "Your readings are all great but if you don't lose weight, they are not going to stay that way."
He is talking about running with his brother starting next month. I hope and pray that he does more than talk. His brother who was and still is somewhat overweight, began running awhile ago. He has type 2 diabetes. If he doesn't watch his eating habits, he can feel quite ill. He needs to exercise. He's trying to get his brother to run with him and I can only hope it happens.
In the meantime, I amgoing to see what I can do with my excess baggage. There has to be something I can do to manage my weight more efficiently.
My own belief is that the road to success is exercise in moderation because I know I will never be a person who exercises vigorously. The road also includes a diet the same as I eat now but far less of it. I've tried and not lost so - I'm eating too much. Filling up on salad is great and it does stay along time but I think the part about "filling up" is the problem. I think my body and other people too, need to understand that we don't need to fill up at every gas station in case there isn't another one around noon or another one around dinnertime. I have eaten basically the same diet forever. I never ate as much of it before. I believe that if I could quit eating so that I could light up a cigarette, I can quit eating just because period. I am not grossly overweight but being a person who has spent most of their life at a good comfortable weight rather than being overweight, I cannot get comfortable with who I am and that's probably a good thing. Hopefully it will be the driving force to help bring me back to a good comfortable weight.
I'm not sure if what works for me would work for everyone, I eat pretty much as much of anything I like but I walk 5 miles a day on average and my weight is fairly constant, never fluctuating more than 5 lbs. If that would work for you people it's a simple solution and not hard to do.
People seem to look for many many reason why they are overweight,
and how to lose weight. Not very many people are overweight because of glandular problems, which is hilarious, and has been
used as an excuse for decades.
I have had to control my weight since I turned 30, and right now
I am about 10 lbs overweight. I hurt my hip gardening, and came
down with sciatica, which keeps me from long distance walking, I
keep trying, and will again tomorrow, and I am also going to
physio to correct problem.
Just east less, but eat properly, and do lots of walking or
other excercise which makes the heart beat hard for at least
20 minutes 3 times a week or more, if you can.
There is nothing in the drug store that works, so don't look for
easy way, by popping pills, what one eats, balanced
with excercise, (not housework or just being busy around the house,
as that doesn't do anything for cardio),will keep the weight down.
And one must be consistent.
and how to lose weight. Not very many people are overweight because of glandular problems, which is hilarious, and has been
used as an excuse for decades.
I have had to control my weight since I turned 30, and right now
I am about 10 lbs overweight. I hurt my hip gardening, and came
down with sciatica, which keeps me from long distance walking, I
keep trying, and will again tomorrow, and I am also going to
physio to correct problem.
Just east less, but eat properly, and do lots of walking or
other excercise which makes the heart beat hard for at least
20 minutes 3 times a week or more, if you can.
There is nothing in the drug store that works, so don't look for
easy way, by popping pills, what one eats, balanced
with excercise, (not housework or just being busy around the house,
as that doesn't do anything for cardio),will keep the weight down.
And one must be consistent.
I assume that you are referring to thyroid when you speak of glandular. It really isn't hilarious if you are the one with the problem. An underactive thyroid gland can and does make you gain weight via slowing down your metabolism. Take a read on line and see how many people like myself take meds called synthroid and see how many (who have had their doctor tell them everything should go back to normal with the meds) have gained weight. I was not skinny but I was just fine until I started on the meds. The unfortunate thing is that like all tests, it costs money so they don't do all the testing they should and most of us end up with less medication then we should have meaning our metabolisms are too slow. The test results make it appear that the thyroid is bang on or that you are receiving too high a dose. Last time I was tested I asked for full tests (T3 and T4) and the results showed I was not on a high enough dose of synthroid. When I go for the regular test again, it will show the dose is too high. It's a no win situation for me with meds so I feel the only way I can fix it is to increase my own metabolism via some form of exercise.
I am on the same meds, and have to have periodic checkups and blood tests, to make
sure thyroid is in normal range, and sometimes there needs to be an adjustment,
but that does not interfere with my own ability to regulate my weight.
When i referred to glandular excuses I wasn't targeting thyroid, I was just remembering all of the people over the years who 'said that', and I didn't really
have a clue what it actually meant, just seemed like an excuse to cover up the
fact that they could not control their own eating habits, but I must add that was
years ago, when I was a young woman, have not found it hillarious for many years,
that anyone is overweight, rather the opposite, as I feel that obesity is a very
sad and worrisome situation, and causes much unhappiness, but that doesn't take
away the fact that most overweight people don't 'deal' with it realistically,
and don't have the dicipline to lose weight, but dance around the problem for
years, visit doctors, take pills, and the real remedy is so simple.
It is quite common as one gets older that the thyroid begins to fluctuate a little,
and it must be kept within normal range, as the brain can be affected by a thyroid
that is not under control.
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Thats right,the old ways die hard .Sometimes my guys would show up at camp after days off with their cheeks and hands looking like hamburger from frostbite while out hunting.
That would explain why every male I met up there had pock marked and scarred cheeks.
Apparently it's a status symbol that shows you can provide for your family in any conditions.
You are so wise Talloola. One of the biggest "diseases" I see in modern society is what I call "drugstore mentality" and the saddest part is thousands of people are laughing at them while they have their hands in their pockets. I too have suffered from sciatica in recent months (thank God it's better now) but thankfully it didn't affect my daily walks much, but it did drive me crazy doing things like grocery shoppin on those concrete floors or having to stand in a line up. I only had one episode where it almost "killed" me walking. HOpe you are over yours soon. There's too much activity to enjoy about life to be sidelined with that nonsense.
Close to where I live there are two flights of stairs totalling 285 steps (am I ever lucky, built in gymnasium) anyway I'm at the point where I can now climb them in five minutes = 20 storey building. That is the ideal exercise for building muscle and keeping weight under control. On days when I cramped for time for my walk I just go up and down those suckers twice.
Weight doesn't magically appear out of nowhere.
If your energy intake (ie, food you eat) is greater than your energy output (activity and exercise), you will gain weight as your body stores fat.
The key to maintaining weight is to balance activity with consumption; to gain weight, consume more and burn less; to lose weight, burn more, and consume less.
It's very, very complicated, as you can see.
If your energy intake (ie, food you eat) is greater than your energy output (activity and exercise), you will gain weight as your body stores fat.
The key to maintaining weight is to balance activity with consumption; to gain weight, consume more and burn less; to lose weight, burn more, and consume less.
It's very, very complicated, as you can see.
Absofrickinlutely correct- that's why if you walk five miles a day you are unlikely to have weight problems (unless you are a real glutton)....:lol::lol::lol:
It is not hilarious talloola; there is a lot of truth to it. I don’t mean thyroid or glandular problem, I don’t know how widespread that is.
But the fact is, we were evolved for obesity. In the old days food was scarce. An obese person, who had slow metabolic rate and how could store fat on his/her body rather easily, had an advantage over a skinny person, the one who burned calories rather fast.
In a famine (and there were plenty of them in historic, prehistoric times), an obese person was much more likely to survive than a skinny person. So skinniness was bred out of human race, skinny people died at a much great rate than obesity prone people, and we have ended up with essentially an obese race.
That is why so many people are obese. People find it easy to put on weight and difficult to take it off. It is not totally their own fault; humans have evolved to cherish obesity as a hedge against famine, against starvation.
Sir Joe: Humans have not evolved to obesity, rather they have been programmed to it. Rotten ronnies did not get to be the largest fat food chain because of concerns for peoples health. It is not so much how much you eat but rather what you eat. Doughnuts are called fat pills for a reason. Pills provided by your doctor are often questionable and can have many adverse side effects. Go visit a good naturopath and get tested for food allergies and a diet check.
Yep, I thought that explanation was a little suspect- laziness and gluttony are more like it.
Yeah, it's common sense - some people have trouble with it. Some like to make it more complicated than it really is. And some ignore it completely.
Only thing I might add to that is the importance of paying attention to the kinds of food eaten...calories are calories (or energy), but real, whole foods also provide the good stuff required to keep the body functioning well. Processed foods and fast foods generally provide calories but lack many of the nutrients that can keep a body healthy.
Again, not that difficult to figure out if one spends a few minutes thinking about it. "You are what you eat."
That's nonsense. You can theorize all you want about how we evolved, how obesity is not totally our fault...a typical cop-out (with a very few exceptions)..."blame something or somebody other than yourself." Ever heard of taking responsiblity for your own actions?
It's very simple, as others have pointed out - eat less, eat better, and get some exercise. We also evolved with a brain in our head and it has a function - to allow us to think. Thinking about what we're eating (not just how much of it, but what kind of food) can lead to all kinds of wonderful improvements.
You'd think with our wonderful educational system and all the wonderful information available through Google - literally at our fingertips - that everyone would have a basic understanding of how a body works. Doesn't seem to be the case - most people understand the basic workings of a computer and all kinds of cool software, or perhaps can theorize about the existence and behavior of black holes in the universe, but many of the same people can't seem to get their heads around the fact that eating a couple of apples is better than eating a fast-food cheeseburger and fries. Go figure...
We might be so educated that we're in danger of turning stupid! I think it's called "going over the edge."
As much sense as you are making I bet you get lots of arguments..........:lol::lol::lol:
I hope so. It's kind of what I had in mind when I wrote it. I would really like to hear why "we" can't blame ourselves for pigging out on crap food instead of good food. They're both available to most people so I can only come up with 2 reasons why so many people choose the junk - 1. They don't know better, or 2. They don't give a damn.
If it's no. 1, then I think education is needed. If it's no. 2, then perhaps it's still an educational issue (Don't care 'cuz they don't know, maybe).
The one thing I do know is that it doesn't require a lengthy analysis of underlying social issues and a bunch of theories on how we evolved. It's very basic.
My dad used to tell me about how the soldiers used to have to eat during certain combat periods in Europe during WWII. He used to see the cooks dump some mutton carcasses in big pots of water to make stew for the troops. When they brought it to a boil, the maggots would float to the top and the cooks would flick them off with a spoon. Not exactly an appetite builder, but the end result (a stew with some protein and any veggies they could scrounge up) - nutrionally speaking - would still beat the hell out of a Big Mac & fries today. My, how we've progressed.
I'm suggesting that we "boil 'er down" to simple basics here and quit making things difficult to understand. Instead of getting all tangled up in a myriad of confusing information, it would be easy enough to just sit down and read a bit of basic stuff on how a bunch of additive-laced "modern" junk food can - over time - kill a person vs. what a diet of good, whole food would do to you. Find "Supersize Me" and "Fast Food Nation" on the Internet and watch them.
This all might be difficult for some to understand, but not for most people. Mind you, it would take an open mind to absorb something this simple. If we think we already know everything, we ain't gonna' learn the basics of food, are we? In fact, we wouldn't learn much at all!
By any means this would not apply ( totally at least ) to anyone with a medical condition..
I remember last year when our older daughter came home and with her defiant ADD / ODD tone declared "I am not doing the 30 minutes of physical activity, required by all students, the BC Government forces us to do to graduate ! "..
She was 16 turning 17 and near 145 lbs at the time.. Very close to obese and not very healthy in my opinion..
I explained to her that I did not agree with Government legislating health requirements but in this case it was too bad and she would need to do it.. She begged me to get a doctor / counsellor to get it waived for her.. It did not and she had to do it and this year as well..
She had to redo this years school and is now at 120 lbs and much more of a healthy weight for her size..
She eats breakfast and dinner at regular times and to me that is as important as what she eats.. She had taken to eating at odd times in the past and until she moved back with me it took a little while for her to get back into a habit of eating some breakfast and dinner at regular times with little snack during the day..
My youngest, 5 years old, is healthy and eats with me under the same conditions.. He is happy to do the 30 minutes of physical activity at school..
I remember when we were in school in Quebec.. Fall, Winter or spring we were always outside at recess and playing sports no matter how cold or what the weather was like.. Schools may not have had government mandated times of activity, but it was not required.. We spent 30 minutes ( 15 minutes twice a day ) outside whether we liked it or not and the only time we were not out there is when we were almost dead from being sick..
I remember last year when our older daughter came home and with her defiant ADD / ODD tone declared "I am not doing the 30 minutes of physical activity, required by all students, the BC Government forces us to do to graduate ! "..
She was 16 turning 17 and near 145 lbs at the time.. Very close to obese and not very healthy in my opinion..
I explained to her that I did not agree with Government legislating health requirements but in this case it was too bad and she would need to do it.. She begged me to get a doctor / counsellor to get it waived for her.. It did not and she had to do it and this year as well..
She had to redo this years school and is now at 120 lbs and much more of a healthy weight for her size..
She eats breakfast and dinner at regular times and to me that is as important as what she eats.. She had taken to eating at odd times in the past and until she moved back with me it took a little while for her to get back into a habit of eating some breakfast and dinner at regular times with little snack during the day..
My youngest, 5 years old, is healthy and eats with me under the same conditions.. He is happy to do the 30 minutes of physical activity at school..
I remember when we were in school in Quebec.. Fall, Winter or spring we were always outside at recess and playing sports no matter how cold or what the weather was like.. Schools may not have had government mandated times of activity, but it was not required.. We spent 30 minutes ( 15 minutes twice a day ) outside whether we liked it or not and the only time we were not out there is when we were almost dead from being sick..