Someone could mistake these successes as fake

TheDoctor90 · October 2011

I'm not sure how it is in the US, but certainly in the UK with a growing obesity problem, there is an increasing attitude that overweight people are not helping themselves, and lack the right attitude, are lazy and resort to drastic measures (surgery) to solve their problems.

I work in hospitals whilst I study, and an increasing amount of my colleagues have little patience for overweight people.

This isn't helped by the media who paint obese people are unable, or rather, unwilling, to change.

I'll admit, there have been times (mainly due to listening to overweight friends constantly complain about their weight, yet do nothing) where I have been judgemental and not my normal helpful self.

So on my first visit to the success stories forum, my first thought was that the site is fake, like those adverts you see 'GET RID OF 500lbs IN A WEEK CLICK HERE'. The reason for this, the amount of effort you guys put in is almost unbelievable.

You've renewed my faith in the possibility for people to change their lives, and when I work next, I shall be sure to remind my coworkers of the same.

AwesomelyAmber · October 2011

Us Americans can be pretty skeptical too

But glad to know that these are REAL people, doing REAL things to improve their lives... and the lives of those of us who read their sucess stories!

richiefixo · October 2011

well said mate......most overweight people are guilty of the "all talk ono action' motto....but the few who manage to do something about it seriously are the ones to be truly commended. cos its not easy trying to loose weight and be healthy when you are already obese. Its the same out here in the americas. Slowly but surely the attitude is changing and people are becoming more aware of the dangers of obesity.

sherry_ann_mt · October 2011

I for one am working my *kitten* off (literally)......my successes are not coming easily.....and people ask me how I am losing weight....I say "it is this new, really super secret, plan.....I am burning more calories than I am consuming....I am eating less and moving more" so fun to see their response.

DietingMommy08 · October 2011

WItout this site im sure, like myself, most of us wouldnt have come as far as we have.

This site is amazing with all of its encouragment, motivation, and friends that you gain along the way.

)

HappyathomeMN · October 2011

LOVE that answer - I might have to use it - super secret plan :laugh:

MummyOfSeven · October 2011

I'm also in the UK. People's attitudes towards me are (sometimes) appalling. Fat cow, lazy b!tch, etc. Until a year and a half ago I was at a reasonable weight. My weight gain is down to being (finally!) diagnosed as being bipolar and being put on a whole barrage of medications which have caused me to gain over four stone in a little over a year.

I am desperately trying to lose some weight while at the same time staying sane.

lemonadem · October 2011

Love this!

p1xelate · October 2011

I love this!!

loseiteli · October 2011

OMG. I am using this the next time I get asked!

bettertracie · October 2011

My line is, "I have found the secret... there isn't one!!" insert dopey grin here then wait for reaction... lol

TheDoctor90 · October 2011

I used to say this to my friends when they complained about their weight. I then got a billion reasons why I was wrong and that isn't true.
Glad to see it really is that simple.

99clmsntgr · October 2011

That's the same answer I give. "Eat less, move more. Emphasis on the 'eat less' part." People are stunned that I've not had stomach surgery or don't have some rare, makes-you-waste-away disease or anything like that.

Them: So, really, there's no "tricks?"
Me: Just one. You know all that stuff they tell you in the 5th grade about how to eat and get your exercise? Your teachers actually knew what they were talking about.

Don't get me wrong, it's not easy. If it were easy, none of us would ever need to be on MFP or diet and obesity wouldn't exist.

Pronoiac · October 2011

This ^^^ , rather ironically, identifies the core for many of the success stories. People will respond to how they are treated. When they are treated as if the are lazy, weak, or broken such meme's only exacerbate their individual challenges. For those who get involved with a site like this the encouragement they may need to succeed is available. Obesity is a complex issue with many causes, but the ulitimate solution begins in communities like this one!. Thank you all for playing your part.!

elemstuck · October 2011

I have gotten so sick of peoples' upset look when I tell them that I have worked my butt off and watched what I eat, that I have decided to just tell them what they apparantly want to hear. I just tell them that I eat a crap load of bacon every single day and the weight has just been falling off like crazy. Sadly, there are some people who don't even question it and just say "cool". Everyone wants to hear that you are doing some new fad diet, so I am just giving them what they want. ::

Pronoiac · October 2011

Yes, after decades of intensive research and billions of dollars spent, science has finally unlocked the key to a lifetime of health! hahahahahahahah

lizzue · October 2011

I LOVE THAT!!! Exactly the way to do it and people are always so surprised! What a miracle cure! x

HappyathomeMN · October 2011

Ahhh, the bacon diet - wrap everything you eat in bacon and you'll loose weight! For extra fast weight loss, use two pieces of bacon!

*too bad I'm at work and have to hold in the hysterical laughter*

yoshi91610 · October 2011

I know for me at least, my attitude (Which used to be that lazy-but-I-want-to-complain attitude) was accepted by my family (Who is all over weight too) Everyone that met me knew that was my attitude and just accepted it, so I didn't really feel the pressure to change, because I felt like saying "I wanna lose weight" was enough. But then you realize it is not enough and it is possible to get to a healthy weight and be healthy if you put in the WORK and TIME. When I found this website I was so motivated, because the people had been where I was and then reached their goals.

KiyaK · October 2011

Super secret.... shhhh.

bahaha!

anG2413 · October 2011

AMEN!!! Without MFP I'd still be *wishing* to be 27lbs lighter!

AdAstra47 · October 2011

That attitude makes me so angry. An overweight person will go in to the doctor, and s/he automatically assumes that any health problems or complaints the person have are because of their weight. They say "just lose weight," as if that's an easy thing to do, without even checking on whether the weight itself might be a symptom of some larger health problem. It took 20 years for my metabolic problem to be diagnosed, because the doctors blamed me for all my problems instead of looking deeper.

I am a highly disciplined, hardworking person. I went to an ivy league school on scholarship, I've mastered multiple musical instruments, and I was more than halfway to a black belt when financial issues forced me to give up my martial arts classes. But somehow, when people look at my figure, they feel free to assume that I am lazy and undisciplined. Prejudice against overweight people is somehow an acceptable form of bigotry in our culture.

jennipooh82 · October 2011

That's too funny I'm gonna have to use that and see what kind of reactions I get... LOL :laugh:

NovemberJune · October 2011

I agree and I feel like the OP still has this attitude. Like those of us on this site have somehow been cured of our laziness and our stupidity. I was never stupid or lazy. Life circumstances sometimes get in the way. All obese people are not fat and stupid. You can't just go up to someone and say "Hey did you know if you consume less calories than burn, you won't be so fat?" You don't know their circumstances, what they might be going through currently, etc.

To say that you thought this site was fake and so hard to believe that obese and overweight people are capable of putting in the effort to change.... grrr

I received my graduate degree from a prestigious university, I have a successful career, I have a wonderful family.

I know that you are trying to be nice and you think you are being your helpful self but you are coming off as your judgmental self to me...

alyssamiller77 · October 2011

I think in the US at least right now there seems to be a growing camp of people who believe it's hard to the point of almost impossible to lose weight and that only certain select individuals can do it. Unfortunately, as you've pointed out, I think many just simply don't have a reasonable expectation fro the amount of work it takes to lose weight and are not willing to put in that amount of work. I think much of it is actually an education thing more than laziness. If we didn't have all these crazy commercials talking about losing 20 lbs in a month doing nothing but taking a pill and instead helped people understand how their body works and what has to happen in order to gain or lose weight, I think more people would be successful.

The fact is it does take effort and people need to be educated on that. Instead, all these fad diets and magic pills or exercise equipment play to everyone's desire to find a shorter/easier way to do things. With weight loss there is no such thing. MFP is great because the site and even the people here are all geared toward teaching folks the proper concepts of how the body puts on fat and muscle. Once you understand those very simple and universal principles, it becomes far easier to be patient and work toward a better you.

** EDIT ** "I'll go on record right now saying it's NOT hard to lose weight, it's only hard to make a lifestyle change that supports losing weight" (i.e. burning more calories than you consume).

TheDoctor90 · October 2011

I think perhaps you are missing my point, or reading between the lines.
It isn't an insult to look at some of the stories in this forum and think they are unbelievable - to make such a change to your lifestyle that you get rid of half your body weight, or drop dress sizes is quite simply amazing, and as was the introduction to my post, this is coming from a constant bombardment from the media and society that people cannot change their habits, or very few do, this site is testament that literally thousands and thousands of REAL people are doing it with sheer determination alone.

Also the idea that there is more to obesity than exercise and calories is an argument for another thread - but looking at those who responded to 'exercise more, eat less' as being the truth, I'd say the consensus is that is what it takes.

tiggerbounce411 · October 2011

First off, thank you for that post and the acknowledgement that people that are over weight ARE willing to change. I know that it isn't so much about being lazy as it is an inward feeling of hopelessness. For most, it packs on super easy because we don't pay attention. Then when the time comes to take it off..the immediate thought is "oh god, I have so much to lose, it will never happen" and many choose to just deal with their overweight self.
Here in the US, there is a very big growth in the obesity rate, particularly where I live in Texas. Everything is fried and served in triple portions..no joke. In the town I reside in, there are literally 2 types of people..super skinny or super obese and most are the latter of the 2. Texas is the 3rd "fattest" state according to something I saw on the news and that is scary..only Mississippi and Louisiana top it. I wish more people believed in themselves and didn't fall victim to the "you're lazy that is why you are fat" stigma that society carries around about overweight people, and how they are slobs and don't care. That clearly isn't the case and it has givin even myself a new way of looking at things to be on here and see some people fight their way thin. I am proud to be a part of something that almost seems like a silent movement on this site. For all those that are here with way more to lose or have lost way more than I, thank you for sticking to your guns and inspiring those that need it, myself included. And to those that need to gain, congratulations for comming to a place where support is in abundance for your better health.

NovemberJune · October 2011

I certainly agree that for almost everyone burning more calories than consumed is the key to overcoming obesity. Otherwise, I wouldn't be using myfitnesspal. I meant that it's not always so simple for some people to burn more than the consume. Their activity might be limited, they might be going through depression, experiencing some other medical problem or tragedy, complications of pregnancy, etc, etc.

emmaleigh47 · October 2011

Ha, I say the same thing ... eat less and move more and when the pressure me again I say ...

I run ... lots

suzieduh · October 2011

great post

galafassi15 · October 2011

Doc, I'd like to ask for your mercy on those who struggle with feelings of defeat, food addiction, ill treatment because of their weight, and all sorts of other circumstances. And, there ARE happy fat people out there. Some people don't feel there is a reason to lose weight - and good for them, as long as it's not hurting their health. But for the prior, permanent change doesn't [always] happen because of how they want others to see them. It's because of how we want to see ourselves, and having hope for success. And hope and encouragement is, thankfully, something the MFP community is great at providing.

Someone could mistake these successes as fake

Replies

Categories