CSARdiver Member

About page 2 - fascinating debate! https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10763918/muscle-building-and-fat-loss/p2

I would agree and feel the same - optimist grounded in realism and decidedly decentralist. Add me the list of reformed Marxists. Historically this is the only way societies progress, but this requires time and invested individuals who mutually work towards a common goal. If forced to change, populations resist with…

Both would be optimal, but requires consensus and an identical goal. Man is very good at reacting to dire strait situations where a mutual enemy or threat is present. We are attrocious at finding common ground in times of peace. Even a well meaning endeavor is more than likely to be coopted by the unscrupulous. As we will…

A very generalized point at that - all root causes are. I believe the divide to be on how one addresses it. Does this lie with the individual or with societies?

Yes - I should have noted that distinction. What I believe you're referencing are the input of societal norms beyond academia - cultural norms. Which brings forth the notion that behaviors within cultures can be beneficial and/or harmful depending on the situation. I think back to a statement made by Milton Friedman where…

My senior thesis was on geographical location as one of the driving forces behind innovation and behavior - the concept of sacrifice is a life saving skill to those in colder or temperate climates. I've yet to see any substative evidence suggesting race as an impact other than a factor used to control by the controlling…

I appreciate the reference @AnnPT77 I'm not a tremendous fan of the marshmallow experiment, at least how this was executed. I do agree with the core concept as this is true in nearly every discipline of life. Regarding the conveyor belt analogy I've heard this discussed as an elevator, but like trust this takes a long time…

You've experienced this personally and this inhibited your success? Generational wealth is below 1% of the population, so I'm not sure what impact this has, especially considering that it is rarely maintained passed 2 generations. As wealth is an output of behavior the core principle of managing a budget still applies.…

A possible explanation. You have another, more accurate explanation? This originated from a study on millionaires and their activity - published in "Everyday Millionaires" by Chris Hogan. It dispels much of the misinformation on the wealthy just and MFP does on weight management.

Your assertion: So I'm assuming you're not talking about things like economic, health, education, and wealth disparities right? If you are, then there's a lot more to it than the ability to delay gratification. In fact, the ability to delay one's gratification doesn't play a role. I pose the question "How can delayed…

One cherry picked article and case closed? Can you think of a situation which disproves your assertion? A statement closes the mind. A question opens the mind. Does sacrifice impact disparity? Of course. To say otherwise is an act of escape - of ego protection. Just as one blames their weight on metabolism or some other…

This was me at 16. 6' and barely 140 lbs. I believed I couldn't gain weight, but started lifting with the football players I tutored and ate loads of protein powder and peanut butter - this was 1988 before I knew about calorie counting, so everything was just guesswork. After 2 years I put on ~40lbs. There is no fast or…

I believe you've identified a root cause here in the resistance in accepting a known. Psychology is not my field, but as I understand this - Willpower is emotional - driven by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex boiling down to "I want". The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex engages and questions "I want X now, but does this…

I'd say you nailed it quite effectively dear lady. Apologies to the OP, but I see muscle building/fat loss as a symptom of this root cause. Happily you seem to agree. The ability to delay gratification may be the single greatest ability humans hold and the root cause of disparity. It requires knowledge of self and the…

Motivation is an emotion. Discipline is a practice. Motivation will fail you at some point. Discipline mitigates against failure and establishes a practice. Discipline equals freedom. What I suspect you need is a deeper meaning from your workouts - a goal larger than yourself. This you need to do some soul searching and…

I am guilty of the same sin. We all do at some point and will do in the future. It returns to the fundamental truth that man is not inherently good or evil, but has the potential to do good and evil. This is why it is important to stress the friendship of those on opposing sides - it represents an ideal to strive towards…

I should clarify and "more" important or carrying degree of importance. Proverbs 27:17 - one of my favorite passages as well, but this requires like minded truth seekers who are willing to challenge their bias. Stereotype fits, but in my mind this is more of a strawman construction as there is no foundation of transfered…

I don't believe it's important what you believe. The importance lies in why you believe it. What data are you reviewing? What experiences have you had? What is your immediate and long term motivation? One of my favorite relationships was that of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. While both held very opposing…

I got weaker, gained bodyfat, and become sore all the time.

Ha! A sneeze put me out of commission for a week. I was reaching for something under the bed and this sneeze caused multiple herniations to just go berserk. This also resulted in lot of swearing. I just focused on healing and looking at the big picture. One week out of years of training is meaningless. Me furthering the…

My wife bakes chicken breast by the pound and bakes potatoes in the same manner, so these become ready made easy meals that we both find very filling and satiating. Then it becomes an issue of how to season them. Oatmeal is another solid staple for me. All you need to lose weight is establish a caloric deficit - that's the…

I hope you share this discovery with others. Inspiration is contagious.

It's amazing how little of what the basics MFP teaches is taught in formal medical education. Even my endocrinologist who just knows this as common knowledge (he's in his 60s) states that "Well no one ever actually applies this knowledge". Knowing something is 5% of a solution - implementing and execution is 95% of this…

This is also one of the root causes of disparity and will get worse. If there is one practice to impart to your children I would put it all into this. Epigenetics is providing objective evidence that man cannot fully reach their potential without struggle and resistance, which lends credence to the old curse "I wish you a…

Welcome aboard! Are you seeing an endocrinologist? If you're on Synthroid and this is dialed in then this shouldn't have an impact. Check out the research of Jeffrey Brown - he manages the thyroid disorders of several elite level athletes. You many have to change how you work out a bit, but other than that there isn't much…

Read the same thing after suffering a career ending injury - absolutely life changing.

This is precisely the core of many of these programs. It is very challenging for humans to see the value in sacrificing the present for the future, especially when one goes through days/weeks/months without seeing results. Over the long term this is why all trending ends up in statistically identical points, but exhibit…

It's a sign of how good things are. The hostility comes from the truth inherent within the dissenters. When they cannot debate on the merits other means must be implemented, which is why conversations degrade to ad hominem. "A harmful truth is better than a useful lie." - Thomas Mann Humans process information in a…

There's a fundamental flaw in the concept of parents being welcome to provide input into a service they pay for. I grew up in a small town with a very high sense of ownership and participation. I recently moved into a small town with a similar, if not greater sense of personal responsibility. Over 90% voter participation…

With the rise of wellness plans I've noticed many companies notify in advance the location so calorie counters & meal planners can do their research. Keep in mind it's just one meal and meaningless in the scope of a year of budgeting. The purpose of this is socializing, so focus on that. Take small portions and sample a…