Officially Obese

SarahRenee82

Well, it happened. I had a wellness physical today. My doctor looked me right in the eye and told me that, medically speaking, I am considered obese. She pointed to chart and with my height and weight.....I'm OBESE.

I knew I was overweight....it was no secret. But the word Obese was like a punch to the gut.

I am 5'3" tall....I am 187 lbs.....

I have been working so hard and feeling really good. But today.....today was a very bad day. But I will not self medicate with food. I will eat my salad for lunch. I will go to the gym after work. I have something to prove now.I will go back to that doctor in 6 months and show her that I have conquered "obesity".

lockedcj7

I got that same news a few years ago. They also gave me a pamphlet on all the disorders and diseases that I was more susceptible to. I was in denial for a few days until I went online and checked the height, weight and body fat charts but they were right.

It motivated me to lose over 40 pounds and get down into the simply "overweight" category. I am still at it and well on my way to the upper end of "normal".

JessRaddatz

You can do it! Just keep on working and you will get there. I'm 5'2.5" and weight more than you do, so I know how you feel.

jharwell58

When I visited my doctor in January, I weighed 182....very, very close to being obese. I was apalled. My doctor didn't seem to be concerned. Right then and there I realized it was totally up to me to change my life. Today I weigh 145....I would like to weigh a few pounds less (I am 5'6"), but I feel SO much better and can do so much more!!!! I haven't had a reason to go back to see the doctor, but I can't wait to see what her reaction is! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

DeguelloTex

It can be harsh.

I was Obese II at the end of April. Now, I'm "only" overweight. About 35 more pounds to get within "normal" range.

fifty6ford

It's hard hearing that word associated with yourself. I'm the same height and heavier, so I'm considered extremely obese. On top of that, I turn 58 next month. I've only been working on this for a few weeks, but really want to get healthier. The encouragement and motivation from others helps in knowing you're not alone. Keep up the good work!

AngieM76

Although I know I am, I have never had a doctor tell me. Great job on not giving into the junk to console yourself. You can do it!

trudywc2

I know the feeling. I'm 5'3 and my heaviest was 252 (when I started MFP in June 2014). I'm considered morbidly obese, now that's a word for you.

also at that visit I was told my A1C or sugars were high and we need to get them down, that was the kick in the *kitten* I needed.

Use the information to motivate yourself to be a healthy weight. To me especially right now I would love to be 187 ...:)

It's not always easy, but its so worth it and you can do it.

jdhcm2006

I was 5'1 and 160 pounds and I was obese. I didn't feel it, but looking at the charts, I know I was (and looking back at pictures, I can definitely see it now). I am now on the low end of overweight. A few more pounds and I'll be at the high end of the normal range.

You can totally do it. I feel so much better physically and mentally. Just keep with the slow and steady, not only is it healthier physically, but it's healthier mentally.

You've got this!

LiminalAscendance

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

loriq41

You're attitude is awesome...just keep it up girl...I was 5 ft 162...fall down, get back up and repeat!

DeguelloTex

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

DerekVTX

Use it to fuel your fire! It will take time but that time will be the best investment you have ever made.

MattBrouse

One metric of many. Of MANY. Pick some small performance based benchmarks that will quantify your weekly improvements. One more minute here, two more reps there, one less minute of rest here, .5% incline more there...

Record your workouts and circle those MFing improvements. They'll come every day and the weight will follow.

donnat238

It's a major wake up call! This happened to me last year and my weight loss hasn't been as quick as I would like, but every day I count my calories and exercise.

aneary1980

I was obese, I was so happy the day I was just overweight it took 2st and close to four months but you know what I did it so you can too!!!

nancybuss

Great attitude!!

You CAN change this and apparently you ARE changing this.

WAY TO GO!!!!!!

We are here to help.

One step at a time. One day at a time. One pound at a time.

There will be ups and downs, but keep at it!

Nancy

LiminalAscendance

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

You were officially obese, and could out-exercise your teenagers?

Were they obese also?

If not, you may want to look into their lifestyle habits.

SingRunTing

I'm also 5'3 and obese. I can't wait for the day when I'm officially "overweight". There will be confetti.

My goal is to be in the normal range, but I'm celebrating all the milestones.

chriscolh

I know what you mean! I knew I had gained weight, but I just referred to it as my "mommy fluff." Hitting "overweight" didn't shock me too much, I mean, I was just barely "overweight." (It was so easy to rationalize!) But it was getting within 3 lbs of "obese" that shocked me into doing something. I know that numbers shouldn't define us, but it worked as a wake-up call for me. I've found lots of nsv's along the way, and have found that there are more important goals than just numbers, but some of those big numbers are there for a reason. I've still got a ways to go, but as long as I keep moving in the right direction, I figure I'm on the right track.
Good luck!

DeguelloTex

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

You were officially obese, and could out-exercise your teenagers?

Were they obese also?

If not, you may want to look into their lifestyle habits.

I was not just officially obese, but Obese II.

One daughter is 5'7" 112 and the other is 5'11" 158 so, no, not obese. Just because I was (even more) overweight doesn't mean my endurance or strength (you try hauling around 335 pounds 24 hours a day) were poor, it just means they probably weren't where they could otherwise be.

Their lifestyle habits are fine -- they exercise and lift, among other things -- even if it conflicts with your view of how things ought to be.

UmmSqueaky

It's not a bad day, it's a day you'll be able to look back on in a few months and go, woohooo, suck it obese BMI label, I'm now overweight! Keep up the great work and don't get down on yourself!

farmers_daughter

You have a fantastic attitude about the news! Keep that going.

I will say I disagree completely and whole heartedly with the BMI chart that is used in most medical/screening situations. It is not based on an actual person it is based on math and numbers.
There are many people who would look and be very very very unealthy at the weight that is suggested to be "normal" Edit: not normal "healthy" for them.

So understand that, the Label that was given to you is just that. a label. You are worth and can do so much more than that.

erikarobles

You have a great attitude and you will get there!!!! It is a slap in the face as far as I am concerned, but a reality check as well. Of course I want to argue about my BMI with my nutritionist and say athletes BMI is always higher and she looked at me and told me, "Your are NOT an athlete." Ugh.....I am working on that now I am a little a few pounds heavier so I am in the same boat....good luck to both of us!!!!

maidentl

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

You were officially obese, and could out-exercise your teenagers?

Were they obese also?

If not, you may want to look into their lifestyle habits.

I was not just officially obese, but Obese II.

One daughter is 5'7" 112 and the other is 5'11" 158 so, no, not obese. Just because I was (even more) overweight doesn't mean my endurance or strength (you try hauling around 335 pounds 24 hours a day) were poor, it just means they probably weren't where they could otherwise be.

Their lifestyle habits are fine -- they exercise and lift, among other things -- even if it conflicts with your view of how things ought to be.

I think it's just something about the word "obese." People think obese = MASSIVE and that's just not always true. I am still obese at "just" 182 pounds. I don't have trouble with mobility or comfort. I wear size 12 jeans. LOL It's just a word with a stigma attached to it.

SarahRenee82

Thank you for the support everyone!!!

Obese, my *kitten*! I'll show that doctor and everyone else what I think about the word "obese"!!!

DeguelloTex

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

You were officially obese, and could out-exercise your teenagers?

Were they obese also?

If not, you may want to look into their lifestyle habits.

I was not just officially obese, but Obese II.

One daughter is 5'7" 112 and the other is 5'11" 158 so, no, not obese. Just because I was (even more) overweight doesn't mean my endurance or strength (you try hauling around 335 pounds 24 hours a day) were poor, it just means they probably weren't where they could otherwise be.

Their lifestyle habits are fine -- they exercise and lift, among other things -- even if it conflicts with your view of how things ought to be.

I think it's just something about the word "obese." People think obese = MASSIVE and that's just not always true. I am still obese at "just" 182 pounds. I don't have trouble with mobility or comfort. I wear size 12 jeans. LOL It's just a word with a stigma attached to it.

I agree completely.

Yeah, I was a pretty large human being at 335, but I was also 6'9". I wasn't getting around stores in an electric cart or anything. It's just now sinking in, 61 pounds later and with plenty still to lose, how much extra weight I was carrying. Even my doctor was surprised at how much I actually weighed. Again, it was the health and risk factors that went along with the label more than my ability to live life that got my attention.

MsWisconsinite

Just to point it out: from what I've seen in the healthcare industry, the BMI is not really the "best" way to look at how healthy you are. There are people out there with a lot of muscles and weighing a lot for their height. According to the BMI charts, they would be considered obese.

nicsflyingcircus

It's interesting how labels control us.

We could be dealing with the discomfort of being overweight, which affects almost every aspect of our lives such as mobility, endurance, comfort and aesthetics, but when we're told we're now "obese," that's when the alarms go off.

I didn't have discomfort. I could out-exercise my teenagers. Didn't need seatbelt extenders or the like.

It was more the potential negative health ramifications than the label, per se, that made it sink in how much too much weight I was carrying.

You were officially obese, and could out-exercise your teenagers?

Were they obese also?

If not, you may want to look into their lifestyle habits.

I was not just officially obese, but Obese II.

One daughter is 5'7" 112 and the other is 5'11" 158 so, no, not obese. Just because I was (even more) overweight doesn't mean my endurance or strength (you try hauling around 335 pounds 24 hours a day) were poor, it just means they probably weren't where they could otherwise be.

Their lifestyle habits are fine -- they exercise and lift, among other things -- even if it conflicts with your view of how things ought to be.

I think it's just something about the word "obese." People think obese = MASSIVE and that's just not always true. I am still obese at "just" 182 pounds. I don't have trouble with mobility or comfort. I wear size 12 jeans. LOL It's just a word with a stigma attached to it.

I agree completely.

Yeah, I was a pretty large human being at 335, but I was also 6'9". I wasn't getting around stores in an electric cart or anything. It's just now sinking in, 61 pounds later and with plenty still to lose, how much extra weight I was carrying. Even my doctor was surprised at how much I actually weighed. Again, it was the health and risk factors that went along with the label more than my ability to live life that got my attention.

At 5'9" and 375.3 lbs, I was morbidly, morbidly obese, with a BMI of 55.4, which falls in extreme obesity, class III. I was off the edge of the NIH's BMI tables. While I couldn't run, I had no mobility issues and in fact got through all the requirements of clinicals in a nursing program without much difficulty at all.

I am 1lb now from dropping my BMI below 45! I will not escape the "Extreme Obesity, Class III" label for 35lbs yet, and have even further to go until I can even be classed "Overweight" (102lbs), but I am doing it, one way or another.

Liftng4Lis

Yay on your loss thus far! You've got this!

tomandshell

I knew that I had gained a lot of weight and had to buy new (bigger) clothes, didn't like my appearance, etc. but it was a year ago when I discovered that I was three pounds over the obese line that I knew I had to make changes. It was really a red flag for me. After I got serious, getting back down to overweight happened relatively quickly, but the journey to healthy/normal weight has taken the better part of a year.

It takes determination and self control, but you can do it--and it's worth it. I didn't expect my diet and exercise changes to impact so many areas of my life, but the improvements have been really worthwhile. I have regained control of my body and lifestyle, and that's a good feeling.