Do you really think one can be happy FAT?

sjadev1108

This issue has come to my attention often lately with the amount of reality TV shows focusing on body image and issues (height, weight, etc.) I keep hearing people say they are "fat and happy". I also saw on an E! news report the other evening a girl that is a plus size model (size 24). She claimed she was very happy and comfortable at her weight. My question is, do you think this is REALLY a reality? Do you really think someone can be "happy" if they are morbidly obese? I know for me, I love eating, I love food....I mean I genuinely LOVE it and have a great appreciate for food and the way it interacts with life and the way it tastes. Yes, I like eating what I want, but I don't LOVE the consequenes. I don't like being winded, or thinking I might die young, or not being able to shop for cute clothes, or having clothes hurt me. For me, I also like to LIKE the way I look, although this isn't the reason for my health journey. I know for some people aesthetics aren't the key, so maybe in that aspect they are HAPPY. However, I don't see anything positive coming from not fitting in public spaces, or not being able to use stairs. Tell me what you think, are these public figures really happy at their morbidly obese weight??

ndj1979

sure why not...

do you think people with 10% body fat have perfect lives? Of course not, regardless of body type we all have day to day issues that affect whatever we are happy, sad, depressed ,etc...

Mistizoom

Yes.

TR0berts

I think I don't get to tell anyone if they are or can be happy.

Adc7225

I think they are happy with where they are! I know some say that they are happy to cover other issues. For some realizing what you may be missing or limiting yourself from is not apparent until you actually lose weight. For instance I didn't realize that as happy as I was being in the house that it may have had something to do with my weight - just not wanting to be out with the public. Not until I lost weight and realized I am now more comfortable being outside. We build our lives around our circumstances and most of us try to make the most of that and some profess to be happy despite the limitations that being overweight brings with it.

As time passes for some they suffer a multitude of health issues and then realize what that perceived happiness cost them. In no way do I thing being overweight equals unhappy just as being a 'normal' weight doesn't automatically equal happy.

cwolfman13

I probably wouldn't be happy being morbidly obese...but I was happy as a clam when I was fat and overweight...I wasn't healthy, but I was perfectly happy...I was sure a lot happier than when I was super skinny.

Kimo159

I think people can be happy fat....but imo I would think a fat person would secretly always be wondering what life would be like skinny? I think people can choose to focus on positivity and appreciate what they have at any size, but the culture of "fat and happy" does point to an unhealthy lifestyle which would cause people to be unhappy. If you're fat and active and eat well...ok, maybe that's not so bad and maybe you are happy deep down. But if you want to say I'm fat and happy and go sit on the couch and eat a box of cookies every night that just seems like a recipe for feeling like crap..So..I guess it's complex...I guess we don't really have an answer...I wasn't happy fat. I had my moments of happiness but I always wanted to be thinner, then again I still feel that way. So, I guess I didn't give a good answer at all...Haha!

ninerbuff

Body image is just one component in someone's life. Some really care about it and some don't.
Happiness is more than just how someone looks. Heck I've seen and known many a person whom many consider have the "perfect" body and they have lots of other baggage that an overweight person doesn't have.
IMO, there's one main reason one shouldn't be too fat or too overweight....................it creates a higher health risk for that individual.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

KHaverstick

ndj1979 wrote: »

sure why not...

ibamosaserreinas

You can be fat and happy. I don't buy the whole fat and healthy thing though.

999tigger

Ofc you can be because its a state of mind. For most people theres more to life than just weight. Thats not to say its healthy, just there are plenty of other factors that go into being happy. Just becayse you cant imagine yourself being happy that way, doesnt mean other people cant be. I'd hazard a guess that if they had the choice to be thin at no cost then they would choose that.

Josalinn

Well for starters, you jumped from "fat" to "morbidly obese". There is a difference. I do think people can be overweight and happy wit their lives, and I know that skinny people can be unhappy with their lives. Fat/overweight doesn't mean you are out of shape just like being skinny doesn't mean you are in shape. Generally people who are not active get winded and tired, fat or skinny. But there are larger people who are active and in decent shape. Now I'm not saying that it is good for them to be carrying around excess weight; they would probably be able to do more if they slimmed down. But as far as happy goes they are probably fairly happy.

As for the plus size models, generally they are happy also and they have to keep in some sort of shape to still look good. However just as skinny models are photo-shopped to look smaller, plus sized models are photo-shopped to look fatter. We live in a very looks oriented world and right now it is extremely divided.

I do have a hard time believing that the 500 pound woman who is doing photo shoots and saying excess fat is sexy is a truly happy woman. She must be in constant pain and have a hard time moving around. I do not see how anyone can be truly happy in that situation. And I don't believe it is a good idea to support furthering the mindset that it is normal or healthy to be that heavy. There are too many known health risks.

jimmmer

Because nobody who's thin ever had a bad day....

monicalferrier

I think happiness comes from self-confidence. If you love you, how you look doesn't matter.

WickedPineapple

Happiness is a state of mind, not body.

DAM5412

I think happiness comes from within and I give very heavy people, who are still genuinely happy, a lot of credit for being so. I think in society there is a lot of pressure to be young and attractive, and too much of what defines attractive equates to thin. However, there are heavier people who are in great health, for the moment. There is too much science about how excess weight adversely affects health, to believe that obesity is healthy in the long run. But let's not confuse happiness with health, I've known a number of (thin) people with chronic and even terminal illness who maintained their sense of happiness. So yeah, I think people can be truly happy while obese.

weightofgold

WickedPineapple wrote: »

Happiness is a state of mind, not body.

tryitonemoretime

Of course. I am 260 lbs and happy. I am not even sure whether losing weight is something that i really want. I exercise now to get fit, because i want to get job oversea and i know everything wont be as easy and relax like in my hometown.

sjadev1108

I don't mean to equate skinny with happy, or to say that thin people never have bad days. I do, however, think that being obese, you have put more obstacles in your own way.

Josalinn

monicalferrier wrote: »

I think happiness comes from self-confidence. If you love you, how you look doesn't matter.

sorry couldn't resist

squirrelzzrule22

someone CAN be happy and SHOULD be happy no matter what their weight. Happiness should not come from any one physical aspect. A person deserves to love themselves for who they are regardless of their weight.

diannethegeek

I've been 225 pounds (obese for my height, though not morbidly). I've been 158 pounds. And I've been every weight in between. I've had about the same level of happiness at every weight.

I can't and shouldn't really attempt to speak for anyone else, public figure or not.

Mistizoom

sjadev1108 wrote: »

I don't mean to equate skinny with happy, or to say that thin people never have bad days. I do, however, think that being obese, you have put more obstacles in your own way.

So, you were asking a rhetorical question, then? Because it sounds like you actually aren't interested in real answers, you already made up your mind. Sorry I wasted my time on this thread.

akern1987

Anyone can be happy, and anyone can be miserable. Some of the nastiest most self loathing people I've met have been extremely thin, and completely unhappy. Also, being fat does not inhibit you from having a full and good life unless you let it. I'm fat but I still have a wonderful boyfriend whom I love, amazing friends, a great family, my job is cool and I love my cat...but because I'm fat I shouldn't or don't have the right to enjoy those things as much as I do? I understand that being overweight can certainly drag you down (both literally and psychologically), but to think that just "being fat" would mean that you can't know true happiness...well I feel bad for anyone who thinks that. Just because it's not your idea of happiness, doesn't mean it's not happiness.

tekkiechikk

Define "fat"? There's being overweight by 10 pounds fat and being overweight by 100 pounds fat.

Like everyone else I can say I've been really happy for most of my life... however I would never, ever choose to be fat , never. Anyone who claims to be perfectly fine being fat (like on the reality TV shows) would definitely much rather be thin. If they say otherwise I'd question their sincerity. Or else they have just given up or don't want to put in the work to lose the weight or else have an eating disorder that requires much more than willpower to correct. Or, in the case of TV, remain overweight because why else would we watch?? A plus size model of course would say she is happy at her weight... what else WOULD she say? I mean, her job kind of depends on her size.

I can allow others to make me feel positively happy on a regular basis, and do; but being happy with myself because of my size is a different matter altogether.

LovingLife_Erin

Of course! I am fat, and have been fatter (before I started losing weight) and I am quite happy and content with my life. I got married fat, and know that I'm awesome no matter what weight I am. I don't see why being fat should mean that I have to hold my life back, or feel unhappy about myself/my life. I'm me regardless of my size. I'm losing weight because I know that I want to be healthy, and not because I'm unhappy with how I look. The idea that someone's weight automatically means they are unhappy is just ridiculous.

mistikal13

Of course they can be "fat and happy". Happiness has very little to do with your weight and everything to do with your outlook on life IMO.

fish2find

About 15 years ago I remember ending the Atkins diet a lil tearful and told my wife "Im a happy fat man". It was true. Later medical complications and a hospitalization with a "near death" experience I had my mind changed.
If you tried to tell me were I was headed I had great arguments, my 2K triglycerides was "baseline" and could not hurt me.
I tend to learn by running into walls very hard. LOL

fatkidonadiet

I agree that I would never choose to be fat. If I could tell my kids one thing, it would be to try and stay fit and healthy. Being overweight has affected many areas of my personal life, my mental health, and my self esteem. I am happy with many things -- with my life, my hubby, my work successes, my kids, being involved with things I love...but I am NOT happy with myself, my looks, and the way I've treated my body.
On the other hand, I would never want to be rail thin and/or have an eating disorder either...

kandeye

Happiness is health of the mind, excess fat is related to the health of the body. We often make them an exclusive entity but they are separate. It is all relative to each and every individual and what they deem important. There is no wrong or right answer, it's up to you (when it comes to yourself, not others).

Holly_Roman_Empire

I was happy when I was fat. I'm happier now that I'm fit, though.