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"Anything is better than being obese"?

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  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,160 Member
    I feel like the "just be tougher/more disciplined" advice (as a universal) is somewhat lacking in empathy. I don't necessarily relate viscerally to other people's struggles, but don't disbelieve what people say they experience just because it's different from my experience. I hope to learn from listening to (reading) others' experiences. The GLP-1 experiences reported here have been instructive in that way. I've read them with interest.

    From their reading posts here, it seems that at least some of them are using the drug as a way to create conditions where they can indeed find and practice new, more health-promoting eating (and activity) habits, with a hope and intention of making those habits permanent. The drug has created a bit of space for them where doing that is just a little bit less of a struggle.

    Maybe there are some doing it, but I'm not seeing much "take the drug and eat ding-dongs" euphoria here. Yes, there have been a very few who seem to expect the drug to magically do all the work. There seem to be more who are truly working hard at self improvement.

    The idea that "the way I did it is universally the right way" seems self-affirmational in a similar way to the people who say "I did XYZ special eating routine (or exercise routine) and you'd succeed if you did it, too". Humans seem to need to feel that whatever way they chose is objectively and clearly the very best approach for everyone, and we can rationalize a lot of personal choices that may have down-sides by burrowing into that view.

    There's no guarantee that any of us will be successful forever, of course, no matter our tactics.

    No question in my mind that mindset is a key part of any self-change effort, but different things seem to work for different people. That's interesting to me - sincerely.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,271 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    paperpudding wrote: »
    From a health point of view Anything is better than being obese - or turning it around, the best thing you can do for your health is maintain in, or reasonably close to, healthy weight range.

    I would say that statement is almost correct - it is the second best thing you can do for your health.

    The first one is Don't smoke.

    And buckle your seat belt.
    And limit your alcohol consumption.
    And protect yourself from the sun.
    And don't get addicted to heroin.
    Not sure how to rank order all these and other risks, but "anything is better than being obese" seems false.


    yes those are all health factors too - but what I said still stands - the 2 most important things you can do are don't smoke and be in or reasonably close to healthy weight range.

    Of course don't get addicted to heroin either and don't jump from high buildings - but on a population level, the 2 greatest avoidable health risks are smoking and obesity.

    Yes, skin cancer is an issue too - but you are far more likely to develop chronic disease and/or die younger from smoking or weight related illnesses than melanoma.

    that doesn't mean don't use sunscreen or follow any other health message of course - just that the 2 biggest things are don't smoke and weight management.
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 1,620 Member
    edited November 4
    This conversation brings to mind when I asked my pcp doctor which one first; lose weight or quit smoking? If i can only do one, which first because I had tried a long time to do both either together or separately.

    He actually paused to think a moment, then said quit smoking. Said it was more dangerous more immediately.

    Change thought... for years people in my life have done some extreme things to lose weight from super low calorie diets, excessive exercise, diet aids/supplements, cleanse and purges, teeth wired shut... in desperation to lose. I figure those things are worse.

    jmho from a lived experience.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,494 Member
    trixsterjl31 wrote: »
    neanderthin wrote: »
    Seriously? if there's a medication that helps with losing weight and all you have to do is sign up and you can still eat ding dongs, that's a drug.
    Except that is not at all how the drug works. The GLP-1 drugs removed the craving. Or at least that is what people say. It is a step above the stuff like Phentermine(sp) that removed cravings by making you think you were full. The GLP-1 supposedly help change your mindset so you are dwelling on food all the time even when your not hungry. I cant say how that works but i know that i've in the short term used drugs to help with sever depression due to personal lose. I literally stopped dwelling on not living constantly for a month and it was a big relief. It worked but I didn't really want to depend on it for my happiness. I really needed it because I couldn't function for a short time. When it was up for renewal I did not renew it. Honestly I slipped back toward depression and had to work my way back out but I had a better support system by then.
    I was going to say "if they ever come up with a drug were I can eat w/e I want i'll be first in line". The twist to that is that you really can eat whatever you want. In moderation. Serving size is hilarious some times. Twinkies only have 140 calories a cake. 280 a pack. You can work that into any eating plan even every day if you wanted. It is just a mater of would you rather have 2 twinkies or 60 strawberries. Man i want a twinkie now though. Have a good day.

    Unless one changes habits the weight will come back with a vengeance if one quits GLP-1 drugs (Big Pharma's annuity).

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