Why Do We Hate Being Fat So Much?

124

Replies

  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    Anybody on a bulk.

    Hell, I'm cutting on 2400 to 2600 calories, I do this already.

    I put that in the realm of athletes, really. The rest of us define bulk as what happens when we're pudgy in a thick sweater. :tongue:

    I get that, but I haven't considered myself an "athlete" for years. I do consider myself someone who needs to be able to do real physical labor for their career, so I have muscle. My students *especially the males for some reason* always flip when they see me pushing a full 5 gallon bucket over my head with one arm (40-50 pounds), I was doing that BEFORE I ever started actually doing any form of lifting, that was just part of my job. Even when I added fat, I was *always* strong, I think the biggest issue (at least for me) really has more to do with feeling physically capable. So I've never been shy about eating, because I really do eat to fuel myself. If I'm going diving all day, I need to eat dammit, doesn't matter if I'm overweight already, I need that fuel!
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    Anybody on a bulk.

    Hell, I'm cutting on 2400 to 2600 calories, I do this already.

    I put that in the realm of athletes, really. The rest of us define bulk as what happens when we're pudgy in a thick sweater. :tongue:

    I get that, but I haven't considered myself an "athlete" for years. I do consider myself someone who needs to be able to do real physical labor for their career, so I have muscle. My students *especially the males for some reason* always flip when they see me pushing a full 5 gallon bucket over my head with one arm (40-50 pounds), I was doing that BEFORE I ever started actually doing any form of lifting, that was just part of my job. Even when I added fat, I was *always* strong, I think the biggest issue (at least for me) really has more to do with feeling physically capable. So I've never been shy about eating, because I really do eat to fuel myself. If I'm going diving all day, I need to eat dammit, doesn't matter if I'm overweight already, I need that fuel!

    I did forget physical laborers, too. There aren't many. I miss being able to do those jobs, actually. And at 5'3 120 pounds, I used to be stronger than my chair geek male friends. Alas, the family spine curse put an end to my factory work days. Not that outsourcing wouldn't have eventually either way.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I grew up with thin people around me (almost unreal it seems I am the only chubby person throughout my entire school years). Wanting to be thin has been something in my head since I was a little girl and it's still nagging me now. I don't want to be an "outlier" but in reality I am different than my thin friends. This has created a monster of self hatred inside me and I can't get rid of it.
  • mrbyte
    mrbyte Posts: 270 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    I've been on 20% carbs in my macros for 3 months now. So when I do eat a processed sugar treat like Angel food cake with my organic fruit it's like crack. You can realize just how sweet something is when you don't eat sweets. The general population is numb this this and eat heavily processed sugars and carbs for that serotonin rush without even knowing it.
  • cookmtn
    cookmtn Posts: 156 Member
    I do think societies views are changing, at least here in the south. At my daughter's high school, she is considered abnormal because she is slim and muscular. Kids who would never think of making fun of overweight kids will make comments to her about being anorexic, etc. She competes in judo and jiu jitsu and eats a LOT. Her school is at LEAST 50% overweight. I worry that overweight is becoming so common that it is being seen as normal.
  • Rogue_Girl
    Rogue_Girl Posts: 36 Member
    I grew up with thin people around me (almost unreal it seems I am the only chubby person throughout my entire school years). Wanting to be thin has been something in my head since I was a little girl and it's still nagging me now. I don't want to be an "outlier" but in reality I am different than my thin friends. This has created a monster of self hatred inside me and I can't get rid of it.

    I wish I couldn't relate to this... but I can.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    I've been on 20% carbs in my macros for 3 months now. So when I do eat a processed sugar treat like Angel food cake with my organic fruit it's like crack. You can realize just how sweet something is when you don't eat sweets. The general population is numb this this and eat heavily processed sugars and carbs for that serotonin rush without even knowing it.

    Yep, even though I'm high carb vegan, I do intermittent fasting and I'm keto-adapted from a lot of time doing low carb in the past, so I actually stay in ketosis most of the time and go in and out of it easily. I bet if I ate a huge slice of chocolate cake right now I'd bounce off the walls. Which, to paraphrase Dr. Lustig, would be good, because it would mean I was burning off the calories. But if I eat cake every time I just want the pleasure of eating cake, I sit there in my chair like a lump, I don't want to move, I feel sad and grouchy and I just want more cake. Some foods are just not good for me. Not saying it happens to everybody, but eating for pleasure does a serious number on my health.
  • mrbyte
    mrbyte Posts: 270 Member
    I do think societies views are changing, at least here in the south. At my daughter's high school, she is considered abnormal because she is slim and muscular. Kids who would never think of making fun of overweight kids will make comments to her about being anorexic, etc. She competes in judo and jiu jitsu and eats a LOT. Her school is at LEAST 50% overweight. I worry that overweight is becoming so common that it is being seen as normal.

    Crazy huh?
  • cookmtn
    cookmtn Posts: 156 Member
    I do think societies views are changing, at least here in the south. At my daughter's high school, she is considered abnormal because she is slim and muscular. Kids who would never think of making fun of overweight kids will make comments to her about being anorexic, etc. She competes in judo and jiu jitsu and eats a LOT. Her school is at LEAST 50% overweight. I worry that overweight is becoming so common that it is being seen as normal.

    Crazy huh?

    Scary
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    Anybody on a bulk.

    Hell, I'm cutting on 2400 to 2600 calories, I do this already.

    I put that in the realm of athletes, really. The rest of us define bulk as what happens when we're pudgy in a thick sweater. :tongue:

    I get that, but I haven't considered myself an "athlete" for years. I do consider myself someone who needs to be able to do real physical labor for their career, so I have muscle. My students *especially the males for some reason* always flip when they see me pushing a full 5 gallon bucket over my head with one arm (40-50 pounds), I was doing that BEFORE I ever started actually doing any form of lifting, that was just part of my job. Even when I added fat, I was *always* strong, I think the biggest issue (at least for me) really has more to do with feeling physically capable. So I've never been shy about eating, because I really do eat to fuel myself. If I'm going diving all day, I need to eat dammit, doesn't matter if I'm overweight already, I need that fuel!

    Agreed.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    I've been on 20% carbs in my macros for 3 months now. So when I do eat a processed sugar treat like Angel food cake with my organic fruit it's like crack. You can realize just how sweet something is when you don't eat sweets. The general population is numb this this and eat heavily processed sugars and carbs for that serotonin rush without even knowing it.

    Yep, even though I'm high carb vegan, I do intermittent fasting and I'm keto-adapted from a lot of time doing low carb in the past, so I actually stay in ketosis most of the time and go in and out of it easily. I bet if I ate a huge slice of chocolate cake right now I'd bounce off the walls. Which, to paraphrase Dr. Lustig, would be good, because it would mean I was burning off the calories. But if I eat cake every time I just want the pleasure of eating cake, I sit there in my chair like a lump, I don't want to move, I feel sad and grouchy and I just want more cake. Some foods are just not good for me. Not saying it happens to everybody, but eating for pleasure does a serious number on my health.

    See, I'm exactly the opposite, 99% of the time I'll take one bite out of that cake, go blech too sweet and that'll be it. I'm not big on rice, french fries or any of that stuff, I NEVER eat any form of chips except maybe tortilla chips, and that's only if I'm at a tex-mex place and then it's just a vehicle for shoving green salsa down my gullet. I would just eat the salsa with a spoon if it was socially acceptable and I just leave the rice on my plate, don't even touch it. So I just don't understand this concept that somehow we're all being secretly addicted to processed carbs, if anything, I'm addicted to fats and proteins. Now my HUSBAND, he's strait up Irish potato boy....

    I don't know, I just always find it a little silly when people try to blame one part of the equation for the final outcome. I can promise you it wasn't sweets that caused me to pack on extra pounds.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    I've been on 20% carbs in my macros for 3 months now. So when I do eat a processed sugar treat like Angel food cake with my organic fruit it's like crack. You can realize just how sweet something is when you don't eat sweets. The general population is numb this this and eat heavily processed sugars and carbs for that serotonin rush without even knowing it.

    Yep, even though I'm high carb vegan, I do intermittent fasting and I'm keto-adapted from a lot of time doing low carb in the past, so I actually stay in ketosis most of the time and go in and out of it easily. I bet if I ate a huge slice of chocolate cake right now I'd bounce off the walls. Which, to paraphrase Dr. Lustig, would be good, because it would mean I was burning off the calories. But if I eat cake every time I just want the pleasure of eating cake, I sit there in my chair like a lump, I don't want to move, I feel sad and grouchy and I just want more cake. Some foods are just not good for me. Not saying it happens to everybody, but eating for pleasure does a serious number on my health.

    See, I'm exactly the opposite, 99% of the time I'll take one bite out of that cake, go blech too sweet and that'll be it. I'm not big on rice, french fries or any of that stuff, I NEVER eat any form of chips except maybe tortilla chips, and that's only if I'm at a tex-mex place and then it's just a vehicle for shoving green salsa down my gullet. I would just eat the salsa with a spoon if it was socially acceptable and I just leave the rice on my plate, don't even touch it. So I just don't understand this concept that somehow we're all being secretly addicted to processed carbs, if anything, I'm addicted to fats and proteins. Now my HUSBAND, he's strait up Irish potato boy....

    I don't know, I just always find it a little silly when people try to blame one part of the equation for the final outcome. I can promise you it wasn't sweets that caused me to pack on extra pounds.

    I'd say your excellent taste in food is the exception to the rule. And it doesn't require a secret conspiracy. The food companies are going to make the foods we buy the most of and that cost the least to make. Really can't blame them for doing the first one, it's like saying don't give the customer what she wants. But we could change subsidies so that corn and sugar are more expensive and vegetables and fruits are cheaper.
  • allie_00p
    allie_00p Posts: 280 Member
    But when I gained weight and was at my heaviest I hated it because it was a physical symbol of my lifestyle and my relationship with food. I knew that when I was slim I was healthy, happy and enjoying life. Extra 20 lbs meant I was reaching for food for happiness. For me, it's basically like wearing a sign around your neck saying "I'm passive and unhappy".

    This is how I feel about it exactly. Especially that last line.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I think it basically comes down to people don't think fat people have any self control therefore they eat like gluttons and put themselves where they are. It may be partially true, but we are all programmed to love carbs and our diet being pushed all around us on commercials and store shelves are creating a population that eats what it considers normal. A paradigm shift is needed in how people view food in order to enable themselves to control their body compostion.

    %100 agree. Food is for fuel, and it's great if it's tasty, too, but too many of us developed the mindset that food is a way to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain, without regard for the nutritional value of it or whether or not we needed the calories. With the exception of serious athletes, who among us ever goes, "Uh oh! I'm so low on calories, but I've already exceeded my vitamin and mineral needs, what I could really use is some empty calories in the form of cookies!"

    I've been on 20% carbs in my macros for 3 months now. So when I do eat a processed sugar treat like Angel food cake with my organic fruit it's like crack. You can realize just how sweet something is when you don't eat sweets. The general population is numb this this and eat heavily processed sugars and carbs for that serotonin rush without even knowing it.

    Yep, even though I'm high carb vegan, I do intermittent fasting and I'm keto-adapted from a lot of time doing low carb in the past, so I actually stay in ketosis most of the time and go in and out of it easily. I bet if I ate a huge slice of chocolate cake right now I'd bounce off the walls. Which, to paraphrase Dr. Lustig, would be good, because it would mean I was burning off the calories. But if I eat cake every time I just want the pleasure of eating cake, I sit there in my chair like a lump, I don't want to move, I feel sad and grouchy and I just want more cake. Some foods are just not good for me. Not saying it happens to everybody, but eating for pleasure does a serious number on my health.

    See, I'm exactly the opposite, 99% of the time I'll take one bite out of that cake, go blech too sweet and that'll be it. I'm not big on rice, french fries or any of that stuff, I NEVER eat any form of chips except maybe tortilla chips, and that's only if I'm at a tex-mex place and then it's just a vehicle for shoving green salsa down my gullet. I would just eat the salsa with a spoon if it was socially acceptable and I just leave the rice on my plate, don't even touch it. So I just don't understand this concept that somehow we're all being secretly addicted to processed carbs, if anything, I'm addicted to fats and proteins. Now my HUSBAND, he's strait up Irish potato boy....

    I don't know, I just always find it a little silly when people try to blame one part of the equation for the final outcome. I can promise you it wasn't sweets that caused me to pack on extra pounds.

    I'd say your excellent taste in food is the exception to the rule. And it doesn't require a secret conspiracy. The food companies are going to make the foods we buy the most of and that cost the least to make. Really can't blame them for doing the first one, it's like saying don't give the customer what she wants. But we could change subsidies so that corn and sugar are more expensive and vegetables and fruits are cheaper.

    McDonalds is among the top 5 buyers of apples, grape tomatoes and lettuce. I don't think that says good things about the future of our farming practices.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member


    McDonalds is among the top 5 buyers of apples, grape tomatoes and lettuce. I don't think that says good things about the future of our farming practices.

    McDonald's is such a behemoth that they probably use an astronomical number of fruits and vegetables when they actually serve very small portions of them to a small percentage of their customers. Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables in the store cost too much compared to a bag of chips and some cookies. Some people actually would eat healthier if they could afford to. But they can't.
  • missshyeviolett
    missshyeviolett Posts: 310 Member
    I felt absolutely horrible when I was at my highest weight. I hated my body and would not EVER let myself be photographed. I couldn't run a block without being physically ill. Nope nope nope.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,847 Member
    Because it sucks.
  • Oscarinmiami
    Oscarinmiami Posts: 326 Member
    Pretty much if you are skinny and look in the mirror it looks pleasing if you see wads of fat it is unattractive.....and if you are fat you are more likely to have poor health or die younger.
  • weavernv
    weavernv Posts: 1,555 Member
    I'm significantly cuter when not fat.

    And sex is better.

    All of the above plus clothes look cuter on me.

    All of this as well. My wardrobe has really expanded and gone in new directins these past few months.

    So there you go: Cuter, better clothes, better sex. What's not to love?

    ^^^^ This
  • aedreana
    aedreana Posts: 979 Member
    I have not read thru this long thread yet, but I can already see it is a very interesting thread and I will read it after I post my reply.
    So, if someone has already said this, please forgive the redundance. I believe that women in many cases subconsciously are turned off by overweight men for this reason: Overweight males can possess a somewhat feminine quality to their body contour. A rounded belly, heavy hips, meaty butt, soft fleshy arms and legs, man-boobs. All feminine attributes. I have noticed that men seem to be more attracted to a firm figure on women, not whether she is thin or fat, but how firm her body contour is. Possibly, a tight body contour suggests subconsciously to them that she is internally tight (sorry to be graphic; I couldn't figure out any delicate way to say it.)
  • mtruitt01
    mtruitt01 Posts: 370 Member
    It's the cultural norm in the USA, which basically means 'the world.'
    Do you know who the painter Peter Paul Reubens is/was?
    1600's
    Google it in and look at his paintings of nudes.
  • nikhunter
    nikhunter Posts: 1 Member
    In my opinion, I'm not sure we really HATE being FAT as much as we HATE being presumed unhealthy by our family and peers, whether emotionally or physically. With the unreachable standards of outward beauty for men and women set aside, I think we're all a bit self-destructive and use our excuses and perceived short-comings as a means to do nothing about it. The fact that we're all here shows that we truly care for ourselves inside and out and want to do something about it. I think the "fat" is the guilt we've packed onto our emotional bodies. The fat WILL be melted away, but that harmful grip of self-destitution will never go away unless we embrace and love ourselves as a whole.
  • micfit9
    micfit9 Posts: 18
    We shouldn't hate it. It's only because such a high percentage of people are "naturally fat" that everyone has the desire to be something they're not. Thin people are seen as having more self-control when in reality... they're either naturally that skinny or they have a restrictive eating disorder or they are health nuts who spend all of their time obsessing over their bodies and what to eat

    I think many people forget that your weight is not a measure of your self worth. Being a good husband, wife, daughter, sister, brother, friend etc. . is a better measure of who you are as a person.
    Or what you do for others ... which people who spend most of their time obsessing over what they eat or look like don't do.

    Being overly critical of what you eat often takes general enjoyment out of life.
    You think you'll be "so happy" once your thin.

    But in reality its the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" thought and the feelings of insecurity will persist through weight loss as there is really a deeper problem within that can only be corrected by self love and acceptance.

    A lot of people need to ask themselves if they want to spend the rest of their lives obsessing over their weights and fighting their natural body weight through self starvation, over-exercise,etc ... And your body weight is SOMEWHAT genetic as its likely your body "shape" resembles one or both of your parents.

    But anyway, there are tons of healthy overweight people in the world. If your losing weight for health reasons, good for you. But if its to be thin, to be accepted by others, to be accepted by yourself etc ... then your looking at a bigger issue of self-esteem.

    Check these out:
    http://180degreehealth.com/addiction-fetish-health-nutrition/
    http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2012/12/4/women-and-men-of-substance.html/
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    We shouldn't hate it. It's only because such a high percentage of people are "naturally fat" that everyone has the desire to be something they're not. Thin people are seen as having more self-control when in reality... they're either naturally that skinny or they have a restrictive eating disorder or they are health nuts who spend all of their time obsessing over their bodies and what to eat

    I think many people forget that your weight is not a measure of your self worth. Being a good husband, wife, daughter, sister, brother, friend etc. . is a better measure of who you are as a person.
    Or what you do for others ... which people who spend most of their time obsessing over what they eat or look like don't do.

    Being overly critical of what you eat often takes general enjoyment out of life.
    You think you'll be "so happy" once your thin.

    But in reality its the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" thought and the feelings of insecurity will persist through weight loss as there is really a deeper problem within that can only be corrected by self love and acceptance.

    A lot of people need to ask themselves if they want to spend the rest of their lives obsessing over their weights and fighting their natural body weight through self starvation, over-exercise,etc ... And your body weight is SOMEWHAT genetic as its likely your body "shape" resembles one or both of your parents.

    But anyway, there are tons of healthy overweight people in the world. If your losing weight for health reasons, good for you. But if its to be thin, to be accepted by others, to be accepted by yourself etc ... then your looking at a bigger issue of self-esteem.

    Check these out:
    http://180degreehealth.com/addiction-fetish-health-nutrition/
    http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2012/12/4/women-and-men-of-substance.html/

    #FatAcceptance
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    We shouldn't hate it. It's only because such a high percentage of people are "naturally fat" that everyone has the desire to be something they're not. Thin people are seen as having more self-control when in reality... they're either naturally that skinny or they have a restrictive eating disorder or they are health nuts who spend all of their time obsessing over their bodies and what to eat

    I think many people forget that your weight is not a measure of your self worth. Being a good husband, wife, daughter, sister, brother, friend etc. . is a better measure of who you are as a person.
    Or what you do for others ... which people who spend most of their time obsessing over what they eat or look like don't do.

    Being overly critical of what you eat often takes general enjoyment out of life.
    You think you'll be "so happy" once your thin.

    But in reality its the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" thought and the feelings of insecurity will persist through weight loss as there is really a deeper problem within that can only be corrected by self love and acceptance.

    A lot of people need to ask themselves if they want to spend the rest of their lives obsessing over their weights and fighting their natural body weight through self starvation, over-exercise,etc ... And your body weight is SOMEWHAT genetic as its likely your body "shape" resembles one or both of your parents.

    But anyway, there are tons of healthy overweight people in the world. If your losing weight for health reasons, good for you. But if its to be thin, to be accepted by others, to be accepted by yourself etc ... then your looking at a bigger issue of self-esteem.

    Check these out:
    http://180degreehealth.com/addiction-fetish-health-nutrition/
    http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2012/12/4/women-and-men-of-substance.html/

    Oh my! Such extremes! This is not true.

    You can be mindful of health and fitness without being obsessed or restrictive. And you can be slim and fit and be a person of value and substance in many other ways.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    We shouldn't hate it. It's only because such a high percentage of people are "naturally fat" that everyone has the desire to be something they're not. Thin people are seen as having more self-control when in reality... they're either naturally that skinny or they have a restrictive eating disorder or they are health nuts who spend all of their time obsessing over their bodies and what to eat

    I think many people forget that your weight is not a measure of your self worth. Being a good husband, wife, daughter, sister, brother, friend etc. . is a better measure of who you are as a person.
    Or what you do for others ... which people who spend most of their time obsessing over what they eat or look like don't do.

    Being overly critical of what you eat often takes general enjoyment out of life.
    You think you'll be "so happy" once your thin.

    But in reality its the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" thought and the feelings of insecurity will persist through weight loss as there is really a deeper problem within that can only be corrected by self love and acceptance.

    A lot of people need to ask themselves if they want to spend the rest of their lives obsessing over their weights and fighting their natural body weight through self starvation, over-exercise,etc ... And your body weight is SOMEWHAT genetic as its likely your body "shape" resembles one or both of your parents.

    But anyway, there are tons of healthy overweight people in the world. If your losing weight for health reasons, good for you. But if its to be thin, to be accepted by others, to be accepted by yourself etc ... then your looking at a bigger issue of self-esteem.

    Check these out:
    http://180degreehealth.com/addiction-fetish-health-nutrition/
    http://www.youreatopia.com/blog/2012/12/4/women-and-men-of-substance.html/

    Oh my! Such extremes! This is not true.

    You can be mindful of health and fitness without being obsessed or restrictive. And you can be slim and fit and be a person of value and substance in many other ways.

    Seriously THIS! I can assure you my self esteem is fine, and I pretty much eat what I want, when I want it. Yes, I like looking good in a mirror, but I consider that to be a side benefit of a more important issue. The reason I'm working on being fit and dropping fat, because I need to be able to haul my fat butt on to the boat when the sharks start getting frisky! I'm all for being happy with yourself no matter what your size, but in my field there's a very real issue if it takes two other people to pull you out of the water.... those shark researchers don't last long.....
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member

    Seriously THIS! I can assure you my self esteem is fine, and I pretty much eat what I want, when I want it. Yes, I like looking good in a mirror, but I consider that to be a side benefit of a more important issue. The reason I'm working on being fit and dropping fat, because I need to be able to haul my fat butt on to the boat when the sharks start getting frisky! I'm all for being happy with yourself no matter what your size, but in my field there's a very real issue if it takes two other people to pull you out of the water.... those shark researchers don't last long.....

    I think I've just read the best motivator ever for staying light on one's feet. Or rather, fins! :laugh:
  • tfleischer
    tfleischer Posts: 199 Member
    Not sure if it is that I hate being fat or if "Being Fat' hates me.
    Being fat has caused me to have Metabolic Syndrome, which is a nasty disease that compounds trouble with blood sugars and coronary.
    Being fat contributed to a heart attack at age 39. Also, heart surgery at age 40.
    Being fat causes me to have dramatic highs and lows in my day because of the Metabolic Syndrome I mentioned earlier. I run out of energy, which contributes to over-eating on foods that suck (high calorie, low nutritional value), but my taste buds which taste only sweetness, sourness, saltiness bitterness love love love the sweetness of candy (and the salt of it, too!), the saltiness of hams and bacons, the sourness of pickles. All of these contribute to water retention, which further complicates my high blood pressure, etc.

    Yeah, my fat is out to kill me. I should probably stop helping it!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,279 Member
    Going against the grain here - but cant say I hated being fat at all.

    Admittedly I wasn't ever very fat and I didn't get fat until mid 30ish.

    But I noticed my weight had crept up and was now in the over weight category by about 10 kg, BMI of 28.(yes I know BMI has its limitations but in my case it was over because I was over weight, no other reason)

    I'm glad I worked at getting that 10 kg off and my BMI back into healthy range - but I don't hate or like it any differently.
    It was purely a health decision for me, not an issue of getting away from fat things that I hated.
  • dotcomee
    dotcomee Posts: 36 Member
    I have psoriasis so I'll never really be fully comfortable in my skin. I did use that as an excuse to say "f*** it, just eat and be happy that way". I was fairly healthy up to about 10 years ago and it was a slow decline to my heaviest of 314. I felt terrible, no energy and doing simple things like tying shoes was getting to be a pain (Louis CK has a great skit on this). I still have a long road ahead but even losing about half the weight I need to lose has helped tremendously.

    Anyways, when you are carrying around a lot of extra weight, it makes everything a lot harder. That's why I hate it, yrmv.