Health is more than body size. Don't use the scale to measure health.
Replies
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What does that even mean?
How do you know you're good at running before you decide to try running?
I feel like almost no one has not had the opportunity to run (unlike say SCUBA diving or pole dancing) but admit this may not be true for everyone.
The following is my opinion (albeit one shared by at least two of my past physiotherapists):
Some people are built to run. Great biomechanics for running. They're like gazelles, beautiful to watch. They know they can run because when they do it, it's easy and feels good (vs bad).
Some people are ok at running. Medium biomechanics for running, maybe not perfect but they can make it work without hurting themselves.
Some people SUCK at running and will almost certainly hurt themselves if they do it long enough bc their mechanics for it are terrible.
The issue is when people THINK they're in group 2 but are actually in group 3. That can be long term bad news bears (it happened to me).
Many people who are ACTUALLY in group 2 will probably be fine, but there's no real way to know until you've already hurt yourself, possibly permanently0 -
I have been running on and off since I was in my early twenties. I ran when I was fat, not so fat, and now that I'm not fat at all. I gained weight while running, I lost weight while running, and I maintain while running. I love running and will hopefully do it for the rest of my days.
Certainly, I find it easier to run now that I am at a healthy weight, and I'm a damned good runner too. I was a good runner too when I was overweight. The only way I was able to get to the place of being a good runner, was running when I was not so good at it, and to just keep it up no matter what, to push myself to the limits.
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Also, you can get the same CV benefits from less risky endurance activities, so why put yourself at risk (if you think, based on previous suckage at running, that you might possibly suck at running)0
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wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
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TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
No, it's down to your appetite for risk. Go for it and be careful with form, and you might get lucky & have something beautiful to enjoy for years to come. I have become very risk-averse bc of my own experiences0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
No, it's down to your appetite for risk. Go for it and be careful with form, and you might get lucky & have something beautiful to enjoy for years to come. I have become very risk-averse bc of my own experiences
but like i said before
That comes down to common sense of the person
And not for you or me to say you have to stop or dont run.
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I have been running on and off since I was in my early twenties. I ran when I was fat, not so fat, and now that I'm not fat at all. I gained weight while running, I lost weight while running, and I maintain while running. I love running and will hopefully do it for the rest of my days.
Certainly, I find it easier to run now that I am at a healthy weight, and I'm a damned good runner too. I was a good runner too when I was overweight. The only way I was able to get to the place of being a good runner, was running when I was not so good at it, and to just keep it up no matter what, to push myself to the limits.
You probably brought your natural talent for running & running experience w you into your heavier times so were somewhat protected0 -
And there is a huge difference between not being good at something and doing it for the fun and get fit.
And some professional and/or serious running0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »And there is a huge difference between not being good at something and doing it for the fun and get fit.
And some professional and/or serious running
Yeah there is. But for some people, it doesn't take much to trip them into the danger zone
Some people, C25K = the danger zone
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I'm overweight and ran a little tonight. I do it because I'm proving to myself that I'm more than what I think, and that things that are hard now will be a little easier tomorrow if I just put in the extra effort. That's how I learned to do everything. I wasn't always "good" at psychology. Now I'm a psychologist. I didn't know that I would be "good" at it at first. Like everything else, it takes hard work, tons of practice, and patience. I wasn't always "good" at cooking either, but I didn't let the fear of an oven fire stop me from learning and continuing to practice and hone my skills.
I am determined. I have learned that I can succeed now where I have failed in the past if I'm willing to work for it.
I might not look like a gazelle when I run around my neighborhood and, quite frankly, I'm learning not to care what neighbors looking out their windows might be thinking. At least I'm off the couch, out of the house, doing something to improve my health. You don't have to like to watch me (in fact, please don't, because staring at people exercising is creepy). I'm still going to do it. If I start to have trouble with my joints I'll consult with my doctor and will alter my activity as needed. I'm not going to do something stupid "just because".
And about the article--I'm not a doctor and I can't speak to the points. I can say that the woman featured on the cover was my personal inspiration for getting out and being active. If she can jog in a park in NYC and be overweight, I can certainly walk and jog around my little suburban neighborhood. So while the rest of it might be BS, I found it inspirational.0 -
I have been running on and off since I was in my early twenties. I ran when I was fat, not so fat, and now that I'm not fat at all. I gained weight while running, I lost weight while running, and I maintain while running. I love running and will hopefully do it for the rest of my days.
Certainly, I find it easier to run now that I am at a healthy weight, and I'm a damned good runner too. I was a good runner too when I was overweight. The only way I was able to get to the place of being a good runner, was running when I was not so good at it, and to just keep it up no matter what, to push myself to the limits.
You probably brought your natural talent for running & running experience w you into your heavier times so were somewhat protected
No, I don't have a natural talent for running. It took a lot of hard work for me to get to the place I am now. I would not be where I am today if I had not chosen to run when I was overweight.0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
No, it's down to your appetite for risk. Go for it and be careful with form, and you might get lucky & have something beautiful to enjoy for years to come. I have become very risk-averse bc of my own experiences
but like i said before
That comes down to common sense of the person
And not for you or me to say you have to stop or dont run.
Oftentimes, the "common sense" of someone inexperienced in a sport is different from the "common sense" of someone who knows what they're doing / has experience. Sometimes you run into tendonitis (where btw pain emerges after tissue damage has already occured) before you learn what is "common sense" bc you are a know-nothing novice
Also, I said it was my opinion0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
No, it's down to your appetite for risk. Go for it and be careful with form, and you might get lucky & have something beautiful to enjoy for years to come. I have become very risk-averse bc of my own experiences
but like i said before
That comes down to common sense of the person
And not for you or me to say you have to stop or dont run.
Oftentimes, the "common sense" of someone inexperienced in a sport is different from the "common sense" of someone who knows what they're doing / has experience. Sometimes you run into tendonitis (where btw pain emerges after tissue damage has already occured) before you learn what is "common sense" bc you are a know-nothing novice
Also, I said it was my opinion
But isn't this kind of like when you're searching for an entry level job and everyone wants 5 years of experience? How do I get experience when I'm entry level? Don't I need the chance to prove myself? How can I prove myself if I can't get a job? It's a vicious cycle.
This is the same way. As long as you are under the care of a physician, I don't see a problem with trying new activities.
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gaelicstorm26 wrote: »TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »wow
so me...who sucks at running for sure
Must stop running because i am not good in it?
No, it's down to your appetite for risk. Go for it and be careful with form, and you might get lucky & have something beautiful to enjoy for years to come. I have become very risk-averse bc of my own experiences
but like i said before
That comes down to common sense of the person
And not for you or me to say you have to stop or dont run.
Oftentimes, the "common sense" of someone inexperienced in a sport is different from the "common sense" of someone who knows what they're doing / has experience. Sometimes you run into tendonitis (where btw pain emerges after tissue damage has already occured) before you learn what is "common sense" bc you are a know-nothing novice
Also, I said it was my opinion
But isn't this kind of like when you're searching for an entry level job and everyone wants 5 years of experience? How do I get experience when I'm entry level? Don't I need the chance to prove myself? How can I prove myself if I can't get a job? It's a vicious cycle.
This is the same way. As long as you are under the care of a physician, I don't see a problem with trying new activities.
Yeah, definitely try everything that appeals, & guidance for sure helps. It's not a guarantee, though. I had great input on shoes, technique, etc., still happened. It's just going to for some people, that's all. Not everyone, of course. There's risk everywhere of course and like I said, up to any person to decide what they're ok with. Personally, if I could turn back time, I wouldn't do it again.
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It's a good thing we have an expert here.0
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Cranquistador wrote: »It's a good thing we have an expert here.
I'm talking about stuff I learned the hard way, I'd rather not know it.0 -
"We live in a society where people who happen to carry a few extra pounds are looked down upon and face a lot of bias and discrimination — especially as you come to higher BMIs — and that makes their lives miserable. It's not that they actually have health problems."
If this were true than the majority of the population would not be obese. Again, the majority of the American population is obese. So who looks down at who? I live in Southern California, and you can hardly see a person in a normal weight range.0 -
Being 75 pounds overweight at 25 for example is not near as bad as being 75 pounds overweight at 65.
Running at any age 75 pounds overweight is going to create undue harm I expect 100% of the time.
I am 64 and have lost 50 of my 75 overweight pounds and my health is already better than in the past 20 years.
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UltimateRBF wrote: »
What does that even mean?
How do you know you're good at running before you decide to try running?
I feel like almost no one has not had the opportunity to run (unlike say SCUBA diving or pole dancing) but admit this may not be true for everyone.
The following is my opinion (albeit one shared by at least two of my past physiotherapists):
Some people are built to run. Great biomechanics for running. They're like gazelles, beautiful to watch. They know they can run because when they do it, it's easy and feels good (vs bad).
Some people are ok at running. Medium biomechanics for running, maybe not perfect but they can make it work without hurting themselves.
Some people SUCK at running and will almost certainly hurt themselves if they do it long enough bc their mechanics for it are terrible.
The issue is when people THINK they're in group 2 but are actually in group 3. That can be long term bad news bears (it happened to me).
Many people who are ACTUALLY in group 2 will probably be fine, but there's no real way to know until you've already hurt yourself, possibly permanently
Fairly sure that as bipedal creatures, humans as a whole are in fact born to run.
Now whether they're good at it or whether it's safe or whether they enjoy it or not is an individual matter.
That's a weird argument, obviously we're bipedal and human and not e.g. fish and humans generally run. Obviously I'm talking about the variation in whatever underlies biomechanics that's expressed in individuals.0 -
UltimateRBF wrote: »
What does that even mean?
How do you know you're good at running before you decide to try running?
I feel like almost no one has not had the opportunity to run (unlike say SCUBA diving or pole dancing) but admit this may not be true for everyone.
The following is my opinion (albeit one shared by at least two of my past physiotherapists):
Some people are built to run. Great biomechanics for running. They're like gazelles, beautiful to watch. They know they can run because when they do it, it's easy and feels good (vs bad).
Some people are ok at running. Medium biomechanics for running, maybe not perfect but they can make it work without hurting themselves.
Some people SUCK at running and will almost certainly hurt themselves if they do it long enough bc their mechanics for it are terrible.
The issue is when people THINK they're in group 2 but are actually in group 3. That can be long term bad news bears (it happened to me).
Many people who are ACTUALLY in group 2 will probably be fine, but there's no real way to know until you've already hurt yourself, possibly permanently
Fairly sure that as bipedal creatures, humans as a whole are in fact born to run.
Now whether they're good at it or whether it's safe or whether they enjoy it or not is an individual matter.
That's a weird argument, obviously we're bipedal and human and not e.g. fish and humans generally run. Obviously I'm talking about the variation in whatever underlies biomechanics that's expressed in individuals.
Huh? What does this even mean?0 -
UltimateRBF wrote: »
What does that even mean?
How do you know you're good at running before you decide to try running?
I feel like almost no one has not had the opportunity to run (unlike say SCUBA diving or pole dancing) but admit this may not be true for everyone.
The following is my opinion (albeit one shared by at least two of my past physiotherapists):
Some people are built to run. Great biomechanics for running. They're like gazelles, beautiful to watch. They know they can run because when they do it, it's easy and feels good (vs bad).
Some people are ok at running. Medium biomechanics for running, maybe not perfect but they can make it work without hurting themselves.
Some people SUCK at running and will almost certainly hurt themselves if they do it long enough bc their mechanics for it are terrible.
The issue is when people THINK they're in group 2 but are actually in group 3. That can be long term bad news bears (it happened to me).
Many people who are ACTUALLY in group 2 will probably be fine, but there's no real way to know until you've already hurt yourself, possibly permanently
Fairly sure that as bipedal creatures, humans as a whole are in fact born to run.
Now whether they're good at it or whether it's safe or whether they enjoy it or not is an individual matter.
That's a weird argument, obviously we're bipedal and human and not e.g. fish and humans generally run. Obviously I'm talking about the variation in whatever underlies biomechanics that's expressed in individuals.
Huh? What does this even mean?
In summary...nothing.0 -
genetics???????
and anyway, the POINT of running (and training in general) is to also accept the fact that you'll see obesity in runners trying to lose weight and become healthier, too
professional trainers not attuned to broscience will tell you that losing weight should never only be doing it for your ego bc you'll eventually become discouraged when you don't look good fast enough for your liking
training of any kind shouldn't be done only for looks and imho neither should eating healthy (portions, calories)............. that's why i hate the 'eating clean' crap i see and all those bogus fad diets. like what the heck is eating clean??? why not just eat and make sure you fill your macronutrients to ensure you're healthy and reaping the benefits of nourishing your body???
i just think people who get butthurt about heavier people trying to become healthy and also embrace their bodies instead of move on to develop disordered thinking need to find something better to do with their lives. like quit hating everything and everyone for no reason. /shrug0 -
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I read an article on BBC recently that states that inactivity is worse for you than obesity
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-30812439
at the end of the day being healthy weight and being active is better than being obese and active or skinny and inactive.0 -
This is just rewarmed unhealth-acceptance. Ridiculous.
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But I think it's still unclear what the outcomes are for overweight people who pursue health through diet and fitness ...
One would think that a wholehearted pursuit of health through diet and fitness would result in weight loss, yes? I was reading the other day about a somewhat well-known HAES advocate who is, according to her writings, in the midst of training for a triathlon. She describes some pretty hard-core workouts -- to the point that NOT losing weight would actually require some *effort.*
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quintoespada wrote: »genetics???????
yes exactly, genetic variation, that is what i meant, there is genetic variation in biomechanics (and connective tissue health and blah blah blah). and you just don't actually know what your genetics will incline your body to do when you run, until you do it (and it is too late).
the rates of injury for runners range from 25 to 85%. yes there are many factors (recreational vs. competitive, age ect) , but e.g. in this study of 844 new runners, who all participated in a 12-week intro to running clinic, fully 30% of them were injured. http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/37/3/239.full . high bmi was a risk factor. shoes may or may not make a difference, there are studies on that too, all of that is controversial bc ppl love running (i even did for a while) - all i'm saying is that if you have some reason to think you will be crappy at running, my advice is to try something less risky, if you would like to have better odds of enjoying long periods of injury-free or injury-minimal activity and health.
very few people hurt themselves walking, and although obviously running burns ^ calories, the % difference in terms of burn rate isn't a lot, and it isn't worth the risk (IN MY OPINION, obviously opinions vary).
some other thoughts on running by people who aren't me:
"But despite the bold colors and additions of gels, foams, air pockets, and arch supports, more than 50 percent of runners still get injured in a given year, a rate virtually identical to that of 30 years ago. Running has been (perhaps unfairly) saddled with the perception that it’s to blame for arthritis and general orthopedic wear and tear, but the sport is linked with an injury rate that might make the NFL seem reasonable."
but yeah go for it have a ball0 -
quintoespada wrote: »genetics???????
yes exactly, genetic variation, that is what i meant, there is genetic variation in biomechanics (and connective tissue health and blah blah blah). and you just don't actually know what your genetics will incline your body to do when you run, until you do it (and it is too late).
the rates of injury for runners range from 25 to 85%. yes there are many factors (recreational vs. competitive, age ect) , but e.g. in this study of 844 new runners, who all participated in a 12-week intro to running clinic, fully 30% of them were injured. http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/37/3/239.full . high bmi was a risk factor. shoes may or may not make a difference, there are studies on that too, all of that is controversial bc ppl love running (i even did for a while) - all i'm saying is that if you have some reason to think you will be crappy at running, my advice is to try something less risky, if you would like to have better odds of enjoying long periods of injury-free or injury-minimal activity and health.
very few people hurt themselves walking, and although obviously running burns ^ calories, the % difference in terms of burn rate isn't a lot, and it isn't worth the risk (IN MY OPINION, obviously opinions vary).
Damn, it's too bad that I read this too late. Alas, I am now injured. A month ago I twisted my ankle and broke off the tip of my fibula. But, hang on, I am confused? I didn't do this running, in fact, in the past several years of running I've not injured myself during that activity. Even when I started and was 75 pounds heavier than I am now. And I'm still pretty damn heavy. This injury happened while I was walking on a gravel road. So, maybe I should give up walking. Based on my experience, it's a much more dangerous activity than running is.
BTW - I know TONS of people who hurt themselves walking. We walk a lot, and sometimes take a misstep and end up injured. It happens. But, it's better to be active and risk occasional injury than it is to be sedentary and have all of the major health risks that inactivity brings.0
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