Are people helpless in controling their weight?

really? Like people need another excuse....

shakes head....

Well, sure, if you feed people only 600 calories you're going to make their body react as if they've been starved. They *have* been starved. How much muscle mass did they lose on this "diet?" We all know if you lose muscle mass your metabolism goes down and it makes it easier for you to regain weight.

If he had studied normal, slow weight loss we might not be having this conversation.

I don't know of other people are, but I know I am definitely not. That's all that matters, and this is the body I've got. I made it chubby, I can make it fit.

So people who were forced to eat a liquid diet of 600 calories regained their weight? No kidding. Of COURSE they became obsessed with food (dreaming of it). OF COURSE their metabolisms were damaged.

They didn't learn anything. They didn't learn to eat reasonable portions, adequate macro and micro nutrient balances, to find exercise they enjoy so they'd stick with it for the health benefits, to control hunger, to differentiate between boredom, the desire to eat for emotional reasons and hunger.


Also both my parents were obese. I have never been.

I'll grant that genetics can play a factor but it's no different than having any other medical condition like PCOS or diabetes or thyroid imbalances, IMHO. And by that I mean, it may make the process of weight loss and maintenance a bit more difficult than someone who is "normal" but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

And for the record I have some experience with this. Most of my family is obese/overweight (and many suffer with health issues because of it) - and I even used genetics as a convenient excuse - but obviously I was able to overcome and I think most people could if they just put the effort in.

people aren't helpless...they like to think they are because that's easy. what it boils down to is learning how to eat...learning what your body requires in RE to energy balance to maintain at a given activity level. That is one of the reasons that pretty much any fad diet doesn't work long run...you don't learn anything...you eat a certain way for a certain amount of time and then you're done and you resume life as "normal".

For sustained success you have to actually learn how to properly fuel your body and make nutrition and fitness an intricate part of your life...for life...as in forever...as in it has to be a life long endeavor...as in there is no finish line...as in you are never done. That's where most people go wrong...they're always looking towards that finish line so they can just be done with this nutrition and exercise bull ****...thus they just end up back at the same place they started.

and yes, certain genetic factors can stack the deck against you...but this can be overcome. I have a number of genetic factors stacked up against me and at the moment I am beating them all with proper diet and exercise.

If he had studied normal, slow weight loss we might not be having this conversation.

"Normal, slow weight loss" has been studied.

That method has the same abysmal regain rate as quick, fast, low calorie.

None of the current methods of weight loss lead to lasting change in the vast majority of people. Call it a lifestyle change, slow and steady wins the race, etc, it all leads to the same road for the overwhelming majority of people.

Fat and fat again.

That's why the concentration has to be on a total and complete mind change AFTER the weight is gone, because how you lost it is proving to matter so little.

people aren't helpless...they like to think they are because that's easy. what it boils down to is learning how to eat...learning what your body requires in RE to energy balance to maintain at a given activity level. That is one of the reasons that pretty much any fad diet doesn't work long run...you don't learn anything...you eat a certain way for a certain amount of time and then you're done and you resume life as "normal".

For sustained success you have to actually learn how to properly fuel your body and make nutrition and fitness an intricate part of your life...for life...as in forever...as in it has to be a life long endeavor...as in there is no finish line...as in you are never done. That's where most people go wrong...they're always looking towards that finish line so they can just be done with this nutrition and exercise bull ****...thus they just end up back at the same place they started.

and yes, certain genetic factors can stack the deck against you...but this can be overcome. I have a number of genetic factors stacked up against me and at the moment I am beating them all with proper diet and exercise.

This - I can't blame my weight on my mother (who was overweight and had many health issues) I have to look in the mirror and admit what a dumb a** I was all the yrs I didn't do anything about my weight or tried gimmicks and fad diets.

:sick:

my fathers said of the family is all overweight with the exact same apple shape. im working on becoming fit, healthy and skinny. but im afraid my shape is in my genes and im sure i will always have no *kitten*.

If he had studied normal, slow weight loss we might not be having this conversation.

"Normal, slow weight loss" has been studied.

That method has the same abysmal regain rate as quick, fast, low calorie.

None of the current methods of weight loss lead to lasting change in the vast majority of people. Call it a lifestyle change, slow and steady wins the race, etc, it all leads to the same road for the overwhelming majority of people.

Fat and fat again.

That's why the concentration has to be on a total and complete mind change AFTER the weight is gone, because how you lost it is proving to matter so little.

I disagree with this and would like to see studies that compare the regain rates/percentages of people who did the different techniques. Also, I'd like to see the measurements be body fat instead of "pounds"....

I think that there is a huge difference in success long term between people who do quick starvation diets and those who do slow and steady. First of all, slow and steady is sustainable and IS a lifestyle change. Second, when you lose weight by sever calorie restriction, you lose critical muscle mass which lowers your metabolism. You also encourage a mind-set of all or nothing... as opposed to a mind set of moderation.

I did slow and steady, lost 50 lbs and gained back 20. But as I said, I would like to see the measurements not in pounds but in body fat...because my weight is up, but so is my muscle mass (I lift heavy). My body fat was down to 19% at it's lowest and is now up to 23%. Not something I'm ashamed of, considering I started in the ball park of 40% four years ago.

No. No one is helpless with regard to what they put in their mouths.

Being fat is an inherited condition.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/health/08fat.html?_r=2&sq=weight loss rockefeller university &st=cse&scp=3&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&

My entire family is obese. I used to be, but I'm not anymore. I know I'm not alone.

When we take responsibility for our actions and our weight we can change it. When we blame other people or other things we lose control of the ability to change.