Living the Lifestyle ~ Thursday, January 24, 2019

gadgetgirlIL

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Thread starters for January are below:

Monday - imastar2 (Derrick)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - myallforjcbill (Bill)
Thursday - gadgetgirl (Regina)
Friday - Al_Howard (Al)

Today's Topic: Has Weight Loss Jumped the Shark?

“Jump the Stark” is defined as when something begins to decline in quality and popularity after reaching its peak.

This blog was referenced on another forum I visit. Dr. Barbara Berkeley has a practice focused on weight loss and is also the author of "Refuse to Regain", which I've read:
https://www.refusetoregain.com/2019/01/has-weight-loss-jumped-the-shark.html

It is a short read. This especially stood out to me:

“… our younger generations have been born into a world where people are appreciably heavier than older Americans remember.  It is interesting that we are so shocked when we look at photographs or movies from the 50s or 60s and see the size of the people.  The memory of that world is fading and a new normal has taken its place.  For younger people, the urgency to lose weight may be less intense simply because the world is just....bigger.”

Thoughts?

88olds

My kids are in their 20s and watch their weight. Don’t know how it came about but they’re both gym regulars and are aware of their food picks. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working.

Old photo 50s & 60s- Maybe we’d all be thinner if we started smoking a lot.

gadgetgirlIL

@88olds - you have a point about the smoking.

I was the fat kid when kids weren't fat (born in 1961). So the desire to be of a normal weight in order to fit in was always intense. I just kept failing at my attempts to lose weight and keep it off. My mom put me on my first diet when I was about 8.

misterhub

I think there is a trend toward concern with overall health, of which, weight gain/loss/maintenance is just one component. It appears WW is trying to move toward that philosophy.

steve0mania

I agree somewhat with the idea that we've become accustomed to folks generally being larger.

One consequence of how society is evolving is that there is no such thing as a stable "right" or "wrong." It used to be accepted that being overweight is not good for your health. Now there is a movement to argue that one can be "fat but fit," and there is a "fat acceptance" movement that seeks to normalize being overweight. Now, I strongly believe that no one should ever be shamed over how they look or discriminated against. Nevertheless, being overweight is not good for your health. Simply accepting that is simply accepting a less healthy body size (in some ways similar to how we've accepted that anti-vaxxers will risk their children's lives because we've given up on making children be vaccinated to attend school).

WW has paralleled this recently. The WW commercials I've seen on TV lately (and the stuff I've heard about the latest iteration of the program) suggest that getting to a "normal" weight (read: BMI of 22.5-25) is no longer the end-all/be-all of WW. Instead it's about a "healthy lifestyle," even if at an unhealthy weight.

It somehow feels like we've given up.

podkey

I too agree that we are accustomed to folks being a lot larger. I think it is good that we don't shame anyone based on mere appearance. It is also true that many medical conditions from GERD to strokes,heart attacks, and diabetes are being brought on or at least exacerbated by size.
Yes it is true that one can be fit and fat. Doesn't mean there may be other issues though.
Sometimes getting beyond just fretting and beating oneself up over appearance can lead to a healthier lifestyle and as a side effect weight loss too.

Jimb376mfp

Youth is wasted on the young.

Someone asked Bernard Shaw what, in his opinion, is the most beautiful thing in this world.

“Youth,” he replied, “is the most beautiful thing in this world—and what a pity that it has to be wasted on children!”

The old adage “If I knew then what I know now.” Often comes to me as I age.