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How much will one pay/risk for weight loss?
ninerbuff
Posts: 48,983 Member
in Debate Club
Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
1
Replies
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People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.7
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Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
The first one, sure. I do just need to be on the second floor of something while the car is on the street.
For the second one, is 10 feet that far a drop? That's 1 story.
And sure for juggle knives - butter knives wouldn't be that bad.2 -
Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
A lot of people don't see it as risky. They're willing to do all sorts of stuff, short term especially.
I've seen several people fall over because they try IF (and it obviously isn't the right choice for them), or too severe of a calorie deficit. And they're just like oh, maybe too much (or worse, they think it's not that bad and keep going. But what if they had been standing on curb and fell into oncoming traffic? At the top of a set of stairs? Driving?0 -
Not me, I never believed those crazy pills, or fad diets. Myfitnesspal has been the easiest, cheapest, and best way for me to loose weight. 30lbs down, 140+ to go. The formula is simple, applying it is the challenge, sometimes.4
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Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
I think part of the problem, also, is that your list contains obvious risks. I can see the danger in an oncoming car. I can see the sharpness of the knives. I can't intuitively sense the danger in fad diet pills or rapid weight loss.
Before doing the research a couple of years back, I thought it was perfectly normal and possible to lose 5-10lbs in a week, because of advertising. So, naturally, when I only lost a pound I considered myself a failure and gave up.1 -
Great point. Especially with the diet industry, the advertising of supplementation and shakes, etc. for some reason doesn't get many people to bat an eye.Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
A lot of people don't see it as risky. They're willing to do all sorts of stuff, short term especially.
I've seen several people fall over because they try IF (and it obviously isn't the right choice for them), or too severe of a calorie deficit. And they're just like oh, maybe too much (or worse, they think it's not that bad and keep going. But what if they had been standing on curb and fell into oncoming traffic? At the top of a set of stairs? Driving?
If they were told to take a medication, they'd want to hear the side effects and possible issues that may occur with taking it.
When it comes to supplements/diet aids, it's not what the risks are but "how much does it cost?"
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.2 -
Instead for you, I'll vote for throwing knives at you.Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
The first one, sure. I do just need to be on the second floor of something while the car is on the street.
For the second one, is 10 feet that far a drop? That's 1 story.
And sure for juggle knives - butter knives wouldn't be that bad.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
1 -
We now live in a society of instant gratification.
Fast food.
Quick heat processed food.
Instant loans.
Cell phones with data.
I could go on.
So many people want rapid weight loss like yesterday but don't want to put in the hard work to safely & gradually lose the weight. Most think the challenge is the weight loss. The real challenge is once you get there maintaining is the real life-time challenge & this is where most fail including myself.4 -
middleton110 wrote: »I think part of the problem, also, is that your list contains obvious risks. I can see the danger in an oncoming car. I can see the sharpness of the knives. I can't intuitively sense the danger in fad diet pills or rapid weight loss.
Before doing the research a couple of years back, I thought it was perfectly normal and possible to lose 5-10lbs in a week, because of advertising. So, naturally, when I only lost a pound I considered myself a failure and gave up.
This. There is plenty of psychology of perceived risk. Cows kill far more people per year than sharks, almost no one thinks of cows as scary animals.
A coal fired power plant emits more radiation than a nuclear power plant, but most people would be more afraid of living next to a nuclear power plant.1 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.
True. They do know that much. But do they know which foods are better or worse for you, in any sense? Kids love sweets.
My family was mildly obese growing up. We ate pre-packaged Betty Crocker food and counted that as home cooking. I thought canned peas and carrots counted as my vegetables for the day. I think when we talk about educating kids on health and fitness, it's not just the principle of "don't eat too much" -- but also teaching them to be active, go outside, find a sport/exercise you're into. As they get older, deepen the education into principles. Kids may or may not listen, but at least they can't claim ignorance.1 -
xbowhunter wrote: »We now live in a society of instant gratification.
Fast food.
Quick heat processed food.
Instant loans.
Cell phones with data.
I could go on.
So many people want rapid weight loss like yesterday but don't want to put in the hard work to safely & gradually lose the weight. Most think the challenge is the weight loss. The real challenge is once you get there maintaining is the real life-time challenge & this is where most fail including myself.
Well said. I'm maintaining now, and I have to keep up with the same healthy habits I formed during my weight loss, and new ones to keep me challenged and motivated.2 -
Yeah, unfortunately I think this is an issue with education and ignorance. By the time people are in their teens, they are seeing articles with tips & secrets to lose weight fast, workouts advertise a "quick-start" add-on that will help you lose 10 lbs & a dress size in a week, the Biggest Loser (nuff said), celebrities who lose baby weight in 6 weeks so they can film a video, etc. I think they get the impression that the only thing keeping them from losing weight fast is their lack of will-power and a team of people to force them to do what needs to be done.
I wish MFP gave more guidance when you are setting up your account on what a healthy goal is and WHY losing faster could be unhealthy.1 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.
When I suggested lack of education, it wasn't as a reason for obesity, it was as a reason for thinking rapid weight loss is without risk and a typical result of deciding to diet.1 -
Instead for you, I'll vote for throwing knives at you.Would you:
Stand still while a car approached you at 25 miles an hour with no intention of stopping?
Jump off a 10ft platform and hit the ground?
Let your toddler play unattended on a playground?
Juggle knives?
I assuming most would say "NO" to the above. But for some reason you say "Hey I can show you how to lose 5lbs in a week without dieting and exercise!" all bets go out the window. People are willing to shell out and take risks they normally wouldn't to lose 10lbs.
Discuss.
The first one, sure. I do just need to be on the second floor of something while the car is on the street.
For the second one, is 10 feet that far a drop? That's 1 story.
And sure for juggle knives - butter knives wouldn't be that bad.
Make it plastic ware ones. It would be fitting for those to both be involved in losing and gaining weight.0 -
This really bothers me. As a mostly recovered anorexic the "pro Ana", " thinspo", "anorexic wannabes" really drive me crazy. Hospitalizations and refeeding and treatment and long lasting health issues from eating disorders are not fun and it is scary that some people glamourize it and "chose" (the pro anas not the actual anorexics) to live that lifestyle. I have had some ed friends who died and one who's heart stopped for 5 minutes at age 23 (but lived). Anorexia is not a choice it's a disease and it is not fun or cool.2
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I think a lot of people are deluded when it comes to things like buying weight loss pills online etc. I genuinely think that many assume they will have undergone some formal rigorous testing process, much like medication does, before people are allowed to advertise their wares, so they think they're not taking that much of a risk.0
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I'd be willing to buy a book. That's it.0
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I had a housemate at University many years ago, who was rushed into A&E thinking he was having a heart attack (heart racing, struggling breathe properly etc). He was using Thermobol. He thought it was okay to use because it was advertised on what he considered a reputable UK weight lifting website.0
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Ask that same 3rd grader how much someone should eat though and what do you think the answer would be? And what kind of food is better nutritional wise? I believe education does make a difference.Packerjohn wrote: »
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
Thank you for teaching me something new. I would have never guessed.middleton110 wrote: »I think part of the problem, also, is that your list contains obvious risks. I can see the danger in an oncoming car. I can see the sharpness of the knives. I can't intuitively sense the danger in fad diet pills or rapid weight loss.
Before doing the research a couple of years back, I thought it was perfectly normal and possible to lose 5-10lbs in a week, because of advertising. So, naturally, when I only lost a pound I considered myself a failure and gave up.
This. There is plenty of psychology of perceived risk. Cows kill far more people per year than sharks, almost no one thinks of cows as scary animals.
A coal fired power plant emits more radiation than a nuclear power plant, but most people would be more afraid of living next to a nuclear power plant.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
Put it in the suggestion box.Yeah, unfortunately I think this is an issue with education and ignorance. By the time people are in their teens, they are seeing articles with tips & secrets to lose weight fast, workouts advertise a "quick-start" add-on that will help you lose 10 lbs & a dress size in a week, the Biggest Loser (nuff said), celebrities who lose baby weight in 6 weeks so they can film a video, etc. I think they get the impression that the only thing keeping them from losing weight fast is their lack of will-power and a team of people to force them to do what needs to be done.
I wish MFP gave more guidance when you are setting up your account on what a healthy goal is and WHY losing faster could be unhealthy.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
@ninerbuff hey you have a higher chance of getting killed by a toddler than a terrorist if you are american2
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Some of the posts in the "Success Stories" forum here may also contribute to the problem; there are several where people detail losing well over 100lbs in a year or less. For someone who's new to this (or even someone who's done this for a while but has hit a plateau), it's hard to not make comparisons to that rate of loss and wonder what it is you're doing wrong.0
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Packerjohn wrote: »
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.
When I suggested lack of education, it wasn't as a reason for obesity, it was as a reason for thinking rapid weight loss is without risk and a typical result of deciding to diet.
Got it. That's fair. Thanks for the clarification.
Too many people looking for easy way out.0 -
This content has been removed.
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Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
But "health" isn't what is so often promoted, its weight loss. A lot of people equate weight loss with good health. Quicker weight loss means better health faster. I'm not saying I agree with them, but that seems to be the train of thought I hear around me.0 -
I suppose by some people's point of view, I am risking unknown possible side effects of the ketogenic diet to improve my health in the present. It doesn't feel like much of a risk to me though.0
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vinegar_husbands wrote: »If it involves eating something (and a lot of it), then I'd willing to risk it. Raw eggs, milk, cheese, lamb, cookie dough, and unwashed produce are very tasty. Except for raw pheasant giblets. Discovered that one by accident... Eugh.
I ought to invent The Fugu Diet.
middleton110 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »
Which is sad because health should be a priority to teach, especially now with so many people being overweight/obese even amongst children.People understand the risks behind your examples. They don't understand the risks behind rapid weight loss. The diet industry is largely at fault there, but lack of education on basic health science adds to the problem.
I think I only had 1 overweight teacher growing up. The rest seemed "normal" even though I had no idea if they dieted or exercised.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I just can't buy into the lack of education as a reason for overweight or obesity. Ask a 3rd grader why someone is fat and they will say that person eats too much.
True. They do know that much. But do they know which foods are better or worse for you, in any sense? Kids love sweets.
My family was mildly obese growing up. We ate pre-packaged Betty Crocker food and counted that as home cooking. I thought canned peas and carrots counted as my vegetables for the day. I think when we talk about educating kids on health and fitness, it's not just the principle of "don't eat too much" -- but also teaching them to be active, go outside, find a sport/exercise you're into. As they get older, deepen the education into principles. Kids may or may not listen, but at least they can't claim ignorance.
Canned carrots don't count?
Yeah, I got lost on the canned vegetables. They're my least favorite vegetables to eat because I don't like the taste, but if that's what people are limited to due to budgets, they're not unhealthy foods.0
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