"Lost 100lbs & found out what the world thinks of fat ppl"

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I had a chance to read through only about the first ten pages of this thread, so I apologize if this has been previously mentioned by another poster. It's a bit off topic from the OP, but I think the negative attitudes of society as a whole will perhaps increase in the near future~~

I'm curious about how the recent headlines regarding the current level of obesity and the projections for the next 20 years will affect attitudes towards the overweight. I agree wholeheartedly that our nation as a whole needs to stop and take a look at our health habits and the negative effects on ourselves and society as a whole.

Someone mentioned early in the thread that their obesity doesn't hurt anyone but themselves, but this is inaccurate. The medical expenses related to obesity our a big drain on resources. However, this is no different than those who don't exercise but are at a normal weight, smoke for years, don't take their medicines as prescribed, etc.

I review home health medical charts every day and it really is sad to see the long term effects of all these bad habits. I have patients with 40+ diagnoses - no one should have to have 40 different medical conditions! I sympathize with them as I've been struggling with my weight for 20-25 years now - it's hard to quit smoking, start exercising, eat right, stop substance abuse...whatever the issue/s may be. On the other hand, it's not fair for me to expect other people to pay higher insurance rates because I use up more health care dollars than they do.

I can't tell you how many charts I look at where people are on disability due to conditions that came about because of health habits rather than something like cancer, multiple sclerosis, etc. that aren't so directly tied to health behaviors. Often these are the very folks where we a a society are paying for multiple hospital/home health admissions and then the people won't even attempt to comply with the care and help they're being given.

I don't know what the answer is, but we definitely need to start from the beginning and work with our current children to learn health behaviors that will keep them from following in the footsteps of the last two or so generations. We are the land of plenty but we need to figure out the key to moderation in all things so we can continue to afford to exist in this wonderful society.

Best of luck to us all on our efforts to improve our health and well-being:flowerforyou:

I love it! People definitely treat you better when you are smaller!

This is fantastic!

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I whish this was not true, but I see my little girls unhappyness and strugles and I know that it is true.

Amazing. I hope when I loose all the weight I need to that I won't forget either and stay fat on the inside.

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

That was really great to read. It's amazing how our society is - it's just plain sad actually. Thanks so much for sharing this article with us.

i love this!! ive now lost 90 pounds and have noticed almost everything in this article. i have two kids and with my first when i was about 40+ pounds heavier than i am now people would see me carrying her carseat and a bunch of grocery bags (obviously having trouble) and would NEVER bother to help or hold the door open. now that i just had my second and am at 130lbs almost everytime i go out some guy runs infront of me to hold the door open, ive even had random guys yell at the person in front of me if they dont hold it open.. its nice i guess but very sad that society is that way!

You can't judge people on liking what they like. The hard truth is some people prefer the people they date to be fit. And chances are by becoming fit your friend me now become attracted to you. Thing is he already likes you that's why you are friends, but attraction is s tricky thing. Just don't hold it against him, he is just a man and as a human being we can't help what we are naturally attracted to.

I agree that the world, in general, is a very judgmental, and cruel place. Most people tend to take things at face value, never really thinking about all the possible variations behind one person's situation. Example: a few weeks ago, a friend and I were out to eat at a local restaurant. One of the hostesses at this restaurant is obviously obese ( for the record, as was I not even 12 short weeks ago). My friend made a comment under their breath that apparently "they hire anybody at this place".
I was really disappointed at that statement, and beyond that, I was saddened. Saddened that someone I care so much for could have so little concern or compassion for other human beings. And then I wondered.. what did they think about me when I was wobbling around at 218 pounds in March of this year? What is that all about?

Next example: I work in a somewhat athletic industry and I have noticed that since losing 40+ pounds, I have gained much more respect and kindness from my peers and superiors. Maybe it's me... maybe its because I have more confidence now... who knows.. but I personally feel that because I made this commitment to lose the weight, and because these people are seeing me do the work to make it happen, they are showing more respect to me as both a human and an equestrian. Which is nice.. but sometimes I look back at fat Kimi, and I feel badly that I kept her in a box for so long...

I found this article compleatly relatiable..I was a very obease child..then I lost a load of weight at 14..and sadly by my early 20's started packing it back on; and more People defonately treated me differently as a thin woman; particularly men. Now its as though I'm invisable and its hard not to feel resentful.

I feel like with the whole "opening doors" thing it also applies to make-up. When I go out in my sweats with no makeup, nobody looks at me but when I'm dressed up with my make-up on and my hair done, I feel like people treat me differently. It doesn't come as a huge surprise, but it's like I'm the same person with or without makeup, just like that woman was, with out without 100 pounds.

Thank you for posting that article! I can certainly relate...I was fat my entire life! I lost 160 pounds over the last two years and I saw how different life is when you weigh 220 pounds as opposed to 380. I gained 23 pounds over the winter and I panicked because I realized that I don't ever want to be that fat girl again. I'm back in control!