What would you say to your pre-weight-gain self?

DeterminedFee201426

bubaluboo wrote: »

You look better than you think you do but how about concentrating on weight training now.

CooCooPuff

I don't think I would want to tell a kindergarten kid anything about their weight.

I could tell my teen self to Google calories in / calories out.

tiffanynew2015

Put that smore down!

kshama2001

I would tell my just-inducted-into-the-USAF self that the military is going to raise the weight standards 10 pounds shortly and so I should:

1. Eat more during Basic Training despite the food being disgusting
2. Bring better running shoes to Boot Camp
3. Don't do the extra running on your own time because that plus all the marching in combat boots will mess up your shins and you don't actually need to lose more weight
4. Don't lose 25 pounds during Basic Training because you don't actually need to lose anything at all and that will set you up for a lifetime of yoyoing
5. Drink less booze during your time in the military
6. Go scuba diving more while on Okinawa
7. Start yoga earlier in life

colors_fade

I was just thinking about this subject this morning, in the context of what I want my kids to know: don't get out of shape in the first place, because losing body fat and getting healthy after a long period of being fat and unhealthy is much harder.

I was never overweight until I got out of active duty military and got married. My spouse, at the time, was a very unhealthy eater. The two of us adopted a lifestyle that was no exercise, lots of excessive calories, and we both ballooned.

Some simple adjustments to lifestyle could have prevented the weight gain in the first place. I used to lift weights then, before I got married. I would advise my old self to:

1) Keep strength training, only start lifting heavier, and more compound lifts.
2) Walk every day, for 30-60 minutes. It's easy, healthy, and is a great way to clear your head.
3) Eat until you're not hungry anymore, not until you're "full". They are very different feelings, and a lot different calorie intakes.

Stay active, eat moderately, don't get fat in the first place.

SLLRunner

I have no idea because I do not have a pre weight gain self. I was fat my entire life until my 40s.

DanniB423

I would say "Make a change NOW! You have no idea the sadness that is to come."

spatulathumbs

I've always been bigger, taller, always. So I don't really have a pre-fat self. It's kind of a difficult mental picture to wrap my head around, to be honest. Interesting question. I know a lot of people look at fat adults and just assume we can't put the fork down or whatever, but after major surgery at age 9 I couldn't really move for a long, long time. I would've loved to be able to get up and run the way I see people running now. So I guess I would say to my child-self, it's ok to be active in the way you can be active, and you don't have to be like everybody else, and don't let your parents' fears for you define your view of your own body's capabilities.

kittykaida

I...don't really know what I would tell my 5 year old self. 5 year olds are delicate, I have one right now.

Oh man I have so many body issues, where to begin...
One thing would be... don't let guilt from others prevent you from doing what you love. Even if the people around you don't enjoy it, and will make fun of you for trying, it's not a bad thing to be healthy. It is not vain, and it is not unreasonable to like eating well. Don't listen when they make fun of you for eating like a rabbit and laugh at you when you exercise.

Liftng4Lis

Start lifting weights.
Invest in Apple or Microsoft.
Don't marry him twice.
Oh wait, is this just about weight? SNORT!

ArizonaToast

Stay physically active. Go light on calories in the way of late night beer and fast food!