Excuses! Fat and Fabulous

mistyloveslife

The other day I was watching the new Lifetime show called Fat and Fabulous. It follows a 380 pound woman who gained weight rapidly but became a youtube sensation because she proved that in her terms, "fat people can dance". I remember when I first saw it preview, I was so mad that they would even put on a TV Show that "glamourizes" being overweight. In the show the girl kept saying over and over that she's "fat" (her word to describe herself) because she has polycystic ovarian syndrome (which I'm sure does affect her weight in some degree). However, she drops hints throughout the entire show that she doesn't exercise much and eats pizza and fast foods. She admits to meeting one of her best friends while he was delivering pizzas to her apartment. Regardless, she constantly says the polycystic ovarian syndrome is the sole reason she's overweight.

That got me to thinking. Everybody has excuses for why they do things and the situations they are in. Not just for weight loss but for most everything in life.

I for example broke my foot last April while doing a Spartan Race. I had trained for this race for almost 4 months and lost weight training for this race. 2014 was my year to get healthy. Then, I broke my foot. I actually crushed my heel. It took 13 pins to put it back together. I couldn't walk for 5 months and had 3 months of physical therapy. I still walk with a limp on bad days. When I mention the 22 pounds I gained during recovery, I'm constantly told that I have a good reason. I mean after all I couldn't exercise right? All I could do is sit and watch TV. Did I have to eat kit kats, twinkies and fast food? No! Couldn't I have done sit ups and lifted weights? Sure I could! Could I have continued to count calories to prevent weight gain in my idle state? Sure I could! I let my injury enable me. I let it control me. I let it be my excuse. My excuse to make it okay that none of my clothes fit. That even my bras had gotten too small. My excuse for it to be okay to be 45 pounds overweight.

So, what's your excuse?

Amandatorie

I felt the same way about that show! I watched the majority of the first episode. On one hand I do think it's a healthy and important message to stop focusing on the size of your body and instead focus on being active and eating well, regardless of what size we are. PCOS does make it harder to lose weight, and easy to gain weight, so she will likely never be thin, and doesn't need to strive to be thin, and I think that's a healthy body-positive message to get across. We all should strive to be fit and healthy, not strive to be a size 2.

But the fact of the matter is that anyone who ate crap and didn't work out would put on a lot of weight, that's not just the PCOS! That weight is not healthy on her, and it's preventing her from doing lots of stuff she wants to do (like, physically, she could not do the dance moves and stretches she wanted because her stomach was in the way). It's great that she's happy with her body (although I think that's a big fat lie she's telling herself, no pun intended), but she should ALSO be trying to lose weight. Which means consistent exercise and eating a LOT healthier. Not just eating crap and blaming the PCOS.

gothchiq

I did away with my excuses. I was tired of being fat. However, I did eat something stupid.... it was a one serving size bag of pumpkin seeds, and normally these are great. But these particular ones were uber tough. Ate em anyway because I was very hungry. Now feel like I swallowed a pound of gravel. Never buying pumpkin seeds preroasted again... only going to make my own from now on! Augh. And I model for artists tonight. I have 4 hours in which to not feel like an alien is clawing its way through me.

I'm hypothyroid. I was able to maintain at a slightly over weight size, but not lose, until I got the right medicine dosage. However, I was eating very carefully, not pizza and junk or just plain too much. Otherwise I'd have been as big as a house.

clambert1273

I did great losing weight last year... then had that whole brain ruptured aneurysm thing... and I literally had to sit in a recliner for a month.. I am still not "allowed" to work out in large capacity yet - still not allowed to lift

Did I have to eat what I did.. no, but I didn't care at that point. I mean really - I lived through something I shouldn't have and really didn't have the mental want/desire to "diet" any more. I was just enjoying being alive even if it meant eating my ice cream too much

VeryKatie

My own excuses are always - don't have time and don't have energy. And yet, when I make time and push past my lazy "don't have energy"... I usually DO have energy and time. I'm not sure why I can't get it out of my head. Or why I think that spending 20-30 mins making a good meal is SOOOOoooOO time consuming. Wish I didn't think about it so much and that is just "happened" naturally, you know? I have issues with putting in effort.

So my bad excuse is I'm lazy. I know it, but ... don't know it. Like I know it in my head, but it doesn't occur to me when push comes to shove.

Amandatorie

VeryKatie wrote: »

My own excuses are always - don't have time and don't have energy. And yet, when I make time and push past my lazy "don't have energy"... I usually DO have energy and time. I'm not sure why I can't get it out of my head. Or why I think that spending 20-30 mins making a good meal is SOOOOoooOO time consuming. Wish I didn't think about it so much and that is just "happened" naturally, you know? I have issues with putting in effort.

So my bad excuse is I'm lazy. I know it, but ... don't know it. Like I know it in my head, but it doesn't occur to me when push comes to shove.

I swear I could have written this myself! I feel like I have no energy or time to work out, and then if I do get the motivation and do it I feel like I have so much more energy! Or I'm kinda hungry but too lazy to make anything to eat, and then I'll get really hungry, and just eat whatever or get takeout. Ugh. It's always astonishing to me when these types of things come naturally to people, and for me it's such a struggle.

Khukhullatus

There's a. . . I guess you'd call it a "maxim" that if you are ever sitting there trying to decide if you should go work out, the answer is always yes. You wouldn't be debating it if you didn't have the time, energy and ability to go do it.

Not saying I live by it, but I do think it's pretty much spot on.

My excuse lately has been the weather. There's been way too much ice on the ground for me to go for a run (someone else may be able to cut it, but I'd fall and die), I could go to the gym and fire up the hamster wheel, but I hate those things. Nothing kills the joy of running faster than jumping on a treadmill.

CountessKitteh

Too busy at work, too much homework to do, not sleeping enough. And sometimes I do have to skip a workout because I need to be at work early, or I've got a huge project due for grad school, or I just really want to go to bed/sleep in. None of that affects what I eat, and as long as I keep up with that, I can keep jumping on and off the exercise pony as life requires!

aplcr0331

Excuse? I like the taste of fast food and coke better than every other food I've eaten.

I've been making the wrong choice.

Canwehugnow

You're talking about Way Whitney Thore. I watched the show too, and she's definitely giving a lot of excuses for her weight gain. But, she dances and she is active, so maybe it is her PCOS. I know that people with PCOS have a huge difficulty losing weight, and a slew of other problem.

My excuse is that I don't think I'm worth looking (and feeling) better, so I don't. It's more psychological/depressive for me... but, as I get older and my fiancé and I talk about children and the future, it is stunting me... so, I have to get over that, right?

ourtruelovewillneverdie

I watched the show and I was confused a tad about how she thinks her lifestyle is not a factor. I believe she said she only wants to lose 100 lbs and be healthy. Whatever works for her though, it's not my life. She is a fantastic dancer though.

My excuses were an injury from a car accident last February and being put on temporary disability from work. When I started staying home again with kids, it was I had 5 kids I had to take care of and a Bachelor's degree to finish. When I finally stepped on the scale in October and it read 141.8 I was disappointed. I had gained almost 12 lbs in 9 months. It really made me realize that I had to make the effort. As of today I've gotten down to my original weight and I did it all while raising the kids and completing my degree. Once I dropped the excuses the positive changes started coming.

salad_bar

That show is questionable IMO. I saw the previews and one minute she was going on about being happy and in love with her body, and the next minute she is crying because of the mean things people say to her. Then, like the OP stated, she does have PCOS, yet still eats junk. She even complains about not being able to stretch or dance as much because her stomach gets in the way. Oh, and gets upset because she is letting her father down.

So, is she proud and confident in herself and her appearance, or isn't she?

I don't have PCOS, so I'm not even going to pretend I know anything about it. However, I will say that there are individuals that are told they have a disease, realize what their limitations will be, and do whatever they can in order to live a better life with it. Just one example comes to mind. I know people who have rheumatoid arthritis, which can be a very painful and debilitating disease. Instead of wondering what they can't do, they find low impact exercises they can do, such as pool workouts. So, correct me if I'm wrong, even if PCOS makes it difficult to lose weight and easy to gain, could she not be tailoring her diet a bit better and adding some weight training/other exercises in there?

I was the queen of excuses in the past. I wouldn't go to the gym (which is located in my building) because it was too cold. Yes, you heard that correctly. I wouldn't go to an indoor gym because it was too cold outside. Another one, the dishwasher has to be emptied, or the laundry has to be done. Funny how it was still there when I got back from the gym. It never disappeared (although I wish it would). Even better - well I don't like the people at the gym.

If you want something badly enough you will do everything you can do have it. That means waking up at 4:00 am to exercise if that's what it takes. Or doing home workouts at night after the kids are in bed.

I soon came to realize that I had nothing to complain about if I didn't want to take the steps to improve. I couldn't be upset because my pants didn't fit. I couldn't be upset because I had zero energy. That was my fault because I made excuses.

xMrBunglex

This might sound ridiculous, but social media saved my life!

In late 2007 I was 237 lbs, and I avoided cameras & scales like they caused cancer. Then myspace started, and people started posting pictures. I was SHOCKED at how fat I had become....but that's what happens when you simply didn't take pictures. You change in the mirror so gradually that I simply didn't really think about it.

Then Facebook kicked into high gear, and I realized that people I hadn't seen in 20 years were able to look at these pictures. That really motivated me.

And as everyone that's been here awhile knows, once you really start hitting your stride in getting fit...it's more addictive than ANYTHING.

I'm 169 lbs this morning, maintaining for well over 3 years. Sweet victory.

CharleneN

I didn't really care for the show but as usual with reality tv shows -it is like a train wreck, I just can't quit watching! Anyway, I think that woman is full of excuses but she is accomplishing exactly what she wants which is being on tv and getting paid to be 'fat' as she puts it. To each their own and whatever.

As for me, my excuse. . . kids, busy, love food, too cold. I had lost over 130+ pounds and got down to my lowest in June 2012 and felt awesome!! My hubby came home from deployment and wanted another baby and I finally agreed and I just spiraled out of control and gained too much weight (Lost some of it and maintained a weight higher then I wanted but lower than I ended the pregnancy with.) Then our son was born and not even a year later hubby deployed again but this time I had an often sickly baby with lots of breathing issues (rsv, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and finally diagnosed with asthma) and I was just too tired to care about me when he needed so much of me. I kept saying over and over I'll start next month, next month, next month. Finally next month has arrived and I did great in October, great in November, took off December and gained 6 pounds back, and here is January and so far soo good again. I want to lose about 45 pounds and every time I find those 'motivational' friends who come with me to work out, they quit. I'm trying to get back to remembering that the only person I can count on in my weight loss journey is ME ME ME and anyone who happens to join me is a bonus but I'm on my own.

cebreisch

I wondered about the show for the same reason, and actually have not seen it as yet. I was bothered because I was worried that she would use PCOS as an excuse.

I have PCOS, and yes, I used it as an excuse too. It does make it easier for you to gain weight and harder for you to lose it.

HOWEVER....I am currently at about 76 pounds lost. Yes, I was up to about 140 pounds lost at one point, and gained back - recovery from surgery was more difficult than I expected, and my father passed away within a year. Really threw a wrench into the weight loss efforts. And yes, they're excuses too.

You're right. People will use all kinds of excuses. They use things as a crutch and just give in to it.

Even people I see everyday that whine and complain that they need to lose weight, ask me what I've done, and their eye's glaze over as if I were speaking Greek.
OMG - I actually log what I eat!!
...I actually changed my eating habits!!!
...I got an activity monitor!!!
...I do things that are conducive to losing weight, I've done it, and now am on a path to continue to do so!! What is the world coming too!!!???

People want to give me excuses as to why what I'm doing won't work for them. "You can do it- you're like that..." I have to keep telling them...I'm nothing special. I'm just willing to change and look at things differently.

noexcusesjustresults2014

I don't make excuses. Like everyone just I make mistakes. I try to learn from my mistakes and move forward. Weight has never been an issue for me. My focus has primary been on improving my race times although lately I have been more serious about tracking progress with my weight lifting and cross training as well.

SuggaD

My excuse was I didn't have time to get fit. I no longer make excuses. I hate excuses for anything.

redambition

I have lots of them. I'm injured (assorted things here). I'm too tired to exercise. I'm too tired to cook (takeaway). I'm too tired to mealprep lunch (more takeaway). Not watching portion sizes. It all adds up.

Since I started a new job late last year, I'ver mostly removed my mealprep for lunch excuse. It's now a habit to pack lunch every day except Friday (where I get to buy something).

I've started cracking down on my portion sizes again. Weighing everything. I'm cooking my own food most of the time and now it's just re-forming the exercise habit. I'm nearly there. The fact I'm starting to see some progress back to where I used to be is helping.

Francl27

My excuse to stop working out 10 years ago was that my nose was permanently clogged that Winter (got surgery since, really wish I hadn't waited 8 years to figure out I needed it though). I totally didn't have the food part down at the time though, so it's not like I was going anywhere (burning 250 calories left me starving and there was a Burger King on the way back... need I say more?).

My excuse to gain weight back when I was 21 was that I was following a very strict diet (per dietitian) then started a job for the first time, in a small office, after being home all the time... so I wasn't able to follow the diet anymore and gained it all back (to be fair... it was pretty much meat and veggies, and the office didn't have any fridge or microwave and I wasn't allowed to eat there anyway).

mckat08

My excuse would be pregnancy weight. I put on quite a bit of weight when I was pregnant and have had a hell of a time taking it off. I have finally gotten serious because I want to be around for my son, who happens to turn 29 next month.

killerqueen21

CountessKitteh wrote: »

Too busy at work, too much homework to do, not sleeping enough. And sometimes I do have to skip a workout because I need to be at work early, or I've got a huge project due for grad school, or I just really want to go to bed/sleep in. None of that affects what I eat, and as long as I keep up with that, I can keep jumping on and off the exercise pony as life requires!

Me too! I'm out of grad school but I am back in school and it takes up a lot of my time, so I really don't feel like making the time to work out. I could, but I kind of refuse. I've acknowledged that and moved on. The good thing is, like you said, I always have time to watch what I'm shoving in my mouth.

sofaking6

I saw the show as well. I have a couple of thoughts:

1. It seems like she was in great shape, active and healthy and then really ballooned up very quickly, so I do believe that the PCOS caused her body to change in ways that she wasn't ready for and that she wasn't able to react quickly or well enough to prevent that initial weight gain.
2. Since then she has become inactive and overeats quite a bit and so whatever effect the PCOS has, her current lifestyle is contributing at least as much to her weight yet she still blames the PCOS completely. Now I can definitely empathize with that, if you're healthy and fit and young and then suddenly get hit with massive weight gain, that could do a lot of emotional damage to a person. So I ain't judging.. yet <g>

littleaudrey85

clambert1273 wrote: »

I did great losing weight last year... then had that whole brain ruptured aneurysm thing... and I literally had to sit in a recliner for a month.. I am still not "allowed" to work out in large capacity yet - still not allowed to lift

Did I have to eat what I did.. no, but I didn't care at that point. I mean really - I lived through something I shouldn't have and really didn't have the mental want/desire to "diet" any more. I was just enjoying being alive even if it meant eating my ice cream too much

You are very lucky. My mother died at the age of 32 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. I wish she had the same luck that you had.

kamakazeekim

I have PCOS and I can tell you it blows! I cannot eat like a normal person otherwise I WILL gain weight. I have to live on between 500-700 calories a day and workout 5 or 6 days a week for at least an hour.

When I was having my diet monitored by a doctor and weighing and measuring everything, I was consuming between 1200 and 1500 calories a day and I continued to gain weight. I gained about 100 pounds in under 3 years despite eating healthy and working out (I've never been a big fan of junk food.) I was running 5ks, doing yoga, lifting weights...nothing helped.

I do not have the willpower to voluntarily eat 500 calories a day...I tried and I was constantly miserable and depressed. I eventually realized that in order for me to lose the weight I needed weight loss surgery. 8 months ago I had a gastric sleeve done. I have lost over 100 pounds and now have a healthy BMI. I continue to workout nearly every day and eat healthy foods. There are downsides to having the surgery such as feeling sick to my stomach ALL THE DAMN TIME and not being able to eat food I enjoy such as salads but for me, I believe I made the right choice. I feel so much better about myself and my kids no longer have to be ashamed of me.

tulips_and_tea

I'm not going to comment on the blaming PCOS part because I have no experience with that, but I've watched bits and pieces of the show and find her parents really funny! They just really make me laugh.

TheVirgoddess

I've never seen the show, so I won't comment on it.

I never really had an excuse. I was just lazy - I didn't bother trying to justify it.

I do have a medical condition that really screws me up sometimes (it impacts my brain and flow of cerebral spinal fluid to the rest of my body, causing weakness, headaches, dizziness, speech/swallowing/walking issues), and might set me back I guess. But - 9 months and 68 pounds later, I think I'm doing okay living with it.