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Getting my arse in gear is the biggest reason why I still have my gut... I've been on a healthy diet for almost a year, and I'm still far overweight.

People over eat for different reasons, some people are depressed and use food as a comfort, others are addicted to the stuff in the food same way some people are prone alcoholism in their genes, others are just quite greedy. Sometimes it can have something to do with metabolism, that's what my science teacher said back in the day at least.

Of course then you've those who are influenced by their family members, e.g. person x has parents or siblings that are obese and because they're accepted in this environment as someone who is overweight they have no motivation to change.

I think it's hard to pin down obesity as this or that because there are too many different circumstances around individual cases of obesity, that's my opinion on it anyway.

 Ardaric_Vaanes wrote:
Sometimes it can have something to do with metabolism, that's what my science teacher said back in the day at least.

The "slow metabolism" argument is almost always bollocks:

http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/conditions/slow-metabolism/

Lots of things contribute to obesity.

The answer to ":Is obesity a mental disorder or a disease?" is


Yes.

 kronk wrote:
Lots of things contribute to obesity.
The answer to ":Is obesity a mental disorder or a disease?" is
Yes.

I strongly suspect that the answer is no.

How about sometimes, except when it's not?

*HIGH HORSE ALERT - blocked out for your convenience*



Obesity can be a difficult thing to overcome, but anyone can do it. I used to love my snacking, my eating with long marathons of TV shows and gaming, etc. It's similar to an addiction, you need to hit a rock bottom before really becoming motivated enough to do something about it. The thing is, everyone's rock bottom is different, and a lot of people just don't care to move from that bottom. In my opinion, which is one drawn from personal experience with this exact struggle, is that obesity is not a disease, it is a result of poor willpower and self-control. I know this kind of statement may set people off, especially the heavy folks, but that's what I feel. I have no sympathy for people who can't control their base urges like ramming burgers and junk down their throats and shoveling fried stuff into their mouths as fast as possible. Believe me, I love that stuff too, but you can't make it a regular thing!! You don't need to consume so many calories a day, especially with a sedentary lifestyle. It's just wrong and you're only contributing to the health pandemic by increasing your susceptibility to the multitude of health issues. Hit the gym and curb your diet, you'll never go back to your old ways once you start changing!!

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
*HIGH HORSE ALERT - blocked out for your convenience*

Spoiler:

I used to weigh 260 pounds, I was a major fatty with a 42 waist and a double chin. I had strangers make comments about me, family busted my balls constantly, friends took the piss out of me often (fat jokes hurt even when it comes from friends), and girls sympathetically called me 'cute' and 'like a teddy bear'. Lame! I was 23 years old at the time. I stepped on the scale one day and the max of this particular model was 265 lbs. I was an inch away from redlining this thing, that's when I looked in the mirror and drew the line. I came back from the brink. I now weigh 178 pounds, rock a 32 waist, with well-sculpted muscles. I run every day and I've never received so much attention from girls nor has my social power been so strong - I am, by a wide margin, the Alpha of my social circle. I'm 24 years old, I did it in 8 months through intense exercise, and absolutely strict dieting. All the people around you who knew you as a large individual get blown away by your transformation, and acquaintances who haven't seen you since X date usually don't recognize you and take several minutes to come to grips with the change. Their faces will also exhibit intense envy or jealousy, since the gym has a snowball effect - you go there to lose weight, and then eventually your mind gets you to push, push, push, and then you're suddenly jacked and way stronger and physically superior to everyone around you. It's a euphoric feeling to know that if a huge desperate fight broke out in the room, you would likely be the final man standing on the top of the pile of bodies.

Obesity can be a difficult thing to overcome, but anyone can do it. I used to love my snacking, my eating with long marathons of TV shows and gaming, etc. It's similar to an addiction, you need to hit a rock bottom before really becoming motivated enough to do something about it. The thing is, everyone's rock bottom is different, and a lot of people just don't care to move from that bottom. In my opinion, which is one drawn from personal experience with this exact struggle, is that obesity is not a disease, it is a result of poor willpower and self-control. I know this kind of statement may set people off, especially the heavy folks, but that's what I feel. I have no sympathy for people who can't control their base urges like ramming burgers and junk down their throats and shoveling fried stuff into their mouths as fast as possible. Believe me, I love that stuff too, but you can't make it a regular thing!! You don't need to consume so many calories a day, especially with a sedentary lifestyle. It's just wrong and you're only contributing to the health pandemic. Hit the gym and curb your diet, you'll never go back to your old ways once you start changing!!

are you aware?



Basically sums it up honestly.

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
*HIGH HORSE ALERT - blocked out for your convenience*

Spoiler:

I used to weigh 260 pounds, I was a major fatty with a 42 waist and a double chin. I had strangers make comments about me, family busted my balls constantly, friends took the piss out of me often (fat jokes hurt even when it comes from friends), and girls sympathetically called me 'cute' and 'like a teddy bear'. Lame! I was 23 years old at the time. I stepped on the scale one day and the max of this particular model was 265 lbs. I was an inch away from redlining this thing, that's when I looked in the mirror and drew the line. I came back from the brink. I now weigh 178 pounds, rock a 32 waist, with well-sculpted muscles. I run every day and I've never received so much attention from girls nor has my social power been so strong - I am, by a wide margin, the Alpha of my social circle. I'm 24 years old, I did it in 8 months through intense exercise, and absolutely strict dieting. All the people around you who knew you as a large individual get blown away by your transformation, and acquaintances who haven't seen you since X date usually don't recognize you and take several minutes to come to grips with the change. Their faces will also exhibit intense envy or jealousy, since the gym has a snowball effect - you go there to lose weight, and then eventually your mind gets you to push, push, push, and then you're suddenly jacked and way stronger and physically superior to everyone around you. It's a euphoric feeling to know that if a huge desperate fight broke out in the room, you would likely be the final man standing on the top of the pile of bodies.

Obesity can be a difficult thing to overcome, but anyone can do it. I used to love my snacking, my eating with long marathons of TV shows and gaming, etc. It's similar to an addiction, you need to hit a rock bottom before really becoming motivated enough to do something about it. The thing is, everyone's rock bottom is different, and a lot of people just don't care to move from that bottom. In my opinion, which is one drawn from personal experience with this exact struggle, is that obesity is not a disease, it is a result of poor willpower and self-control. I know this kind of statement may set people off, especially the heavy folks, but that's what I feel. I have no sympathy for people who can't control their base urges like ramming burgers and junk down their throats and shoveling fried stuff into their mouths as fast as possible. Believe me, I love that stuff too, but you can't make it a regular thing!! You don't need to consume so many calories a day, especially with a sedentary lifestyle. It's just wrong and you're only contributing to the health pandemic. Hit the gym and curb your diet, you'll never go back to your old ways once you start changing!!

At 178 pounds you're the strongest guy in your gym?

Also, stating that obesity is not a disease and that it is a pandemic are not congruent statements.

At 178 pounds you're the strongest guy in your gym?

Also, stating that obesity is not a disease and that it is a pandemic are not congruent statements.

Funny, I never mentioned being the strongest at my gym. Way to make things up. I do however, tend to be the largest individual in a room of people, since the vast majority of people do not go to the gym. In a gym, I'm definitely not the strongest there, a lot of juicers and taller guys have me faded big time.

I figured someone would nitpick the pandemic statement. Obesity CREATES tons of other health problems, it is the root cause of numerous issues. Therefore it is the catalyst for a modern, currently ongoing pandemic of health problems. Try to think a little bit before spouting off next time.

That means obesity can cause pandemics, not that it is one though.

You can't just change a word's definition to suit your purposes.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
That means obesity can cause pandemics, not that it is one though.

You can't just change a word's definition to suit your purposes.

Please show me where I said obesity WAS a pandemic. Oh that's right, you can't, because I didn't.

What I did exactly say, was obese people are

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
only contributing to the health pandemic.

I didn't specify what the pandemic is because it's a huge spectrum of health issues brought on by obesity. Reading comprehension can go a long way in life.

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
It's (Obesity is) just wrong and you're only contributing to the health pandemic. Hit the gym and curb your diet, you'll never go back to your old ways once you start changing!!

You don't really leave qualifying statements in there... It would be easier to say, "obesity is just wrong and you're only contributing to the health pandemic [by opening yourself up to all the problems it causes]."

And Void isn't the only one to read it like that, as I too thought it was humorous you said it's not a disease and then refer to it as a pandemic. Also, reading comprehension is kind of my job, considering that I'm a technical writer for my company.

Okay so for clarity, I'll go ahead and edit the original post so people can understand it better and don't misinterpret the point of what's being said. I would have known what was being said if someone else posted that sentence in the context of this discussion, but I guess I give people too much credit.

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
Okay so for clarity, I'll go ahead and edit the original post so people can understand it better and don't misinterpret the point of what's being said.

Certainly, that's why we have the edit function, no harm no foul.

I understood it perfectly. I was merely pointing out the irony of your post.

Also, I wanted to mess with you.

Well done for toning it down, but I still think you need to step off the high horse. It's not your place to tell people they are *wrong* for choosing how to live their lives.

As a matter of fact, it is my place when portions of my tax dollars go to their health welfare to combat issues brought on by poor lifestyle choices. I have a right to express that, don't even start to assert otherwise.

 Auxellion wrote:
Mental Disorder/weak mindset/pure gluttiony and sloth

Look at any obese person, their life is almost never together.

Almost 300? At 6 Foot plus? That might be the primary reason to the GF thing honestly.

Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either. Oh well I am not one of those people I am 6'4" 245lbs and I exercise every day. I would love to see you say something like that to my mother in front of me. Probably never happen though you are probably just an internet tough guy. I doubt very seriously you would say that to someones face. Just my thought. What do you think. Oh I am sorry you probably do not have a brain. I on the other hand will be happy to buy you a plane ticket to come here and see if you have the nerve to say that to someone I know.

Like I said I exercise everyday. Haha it sounds kind of gay, but I'm starting to fear my own strength. I've been getting stronger and stronger every time I hit the gym, that now I have to use those heavy ass dumbells no one uses, and alot of 45 pound plates on all my barbell workouts. I dont have a gym partner so its kind of intimidating to do certain workouts alone with such heavy iron. Anyone have this little phobia? lol it wont stop me, but I'm getting really big into stretching cause the fear of injury from these workouts. It's kind of scary, lol.

There is a strange sort of irony when you see someone online accuse someone else of being an internet tough guy, while at the same time threatening to beat people online up.

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
As a matter of fact, it is my place when portions of my tax dollars go to their health welfare to combat issues brought on by poor lifestyle choices. I have a right to express that, don't even start to assert otherwise.

That's a fair point... but do you express the same opinion about drinkers and smokers in the same way? A lot of people (perhaps not yourself) will happily defend people's rights to do both while highlighting obesity as a waste of their tax money.

 daedalus wrote:
I go through shoes fast too. New balance are some of the best (cheap) shoes I'd consider running in. They're cheap enough you can burn through a pair every 6 months or so (though mine have lasted over a year).

If we're using boots like as in black dress boots, I recommend Doc Martens. I've been wearing my pair daily for over a year and they're still in awesome condition, while a similar cheaper pair would have multiple holes in them.

I never really liked NB shoes. I have friends who swear by them but I just preferred normal sneakers to the NB ones I had.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Super Ready wrote:

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
As a matter of fact, it is my place when portions of my tax dollars go to their health welfare to combat issues brought on by poor lifestyle choices. I have a right to express that, don't even start to assert otherwise.

That's a fair point... but do you complain about drinkers and smokers in the same way?

Umm, absolutely. LOL.

Don't think I walk around telling everyone off around me in real life, I'm not a louse - but in these sorts of focused discussions I condemn people who willfully destroy their health at the public's expense. Everything in moderation! I get drunk a couple of times a year on occasions that may warrant it, and now and then accept a smoke when offered.

KirbyFan wrote:

Like I said I exercise everyday.

Don't do that, you will give yourself overtraining syndrome. Its much more efficent to train 5 days a week.

Also internet hardmen are a bunch of spankers.

 Palindrome wrote:

KirbyFan wrote:

Like I said I exercise everyday.

Don't do that, you will give yourself overtraining syndrome. Its much more efficent to train 5 days a week.

Also internet hardmen are a bunch of spankers.

Dost thou even hoist?

 PrehistoricUFO wrote:
Don't think I walk around telling everyone off around me in real life, I'm not a louse - but in these sorts of focused discussions I condemn people who willfully destroy their health at the public's expense. Everything in moderation! I get drunk a couple of times a year on occasions that may warrant it, and now and then accept a smoke when offered.

Then fair enough. Admittedly I still consider myself in rude health considering, and would have to at least consider changing something if doctor/hospital visits became anywhere near regular.

Dost thou even hoist?

Only mine britches.

 Krellnus wrote:
For some people though (such as myself) most (read: 99%) of those healthy foods taste like utter garbage, I've never been able to swallow a stew, they taste awful and you have to aim for tender meat which for me is the worst cut of meat (unless used for mince).

There's a massive range of foods between that healthy, superfoods bs, and decent, good food. And I'm talking about the latter.

The problem, I think, in many cases is that people get turned off the super-healthy diet and just lurch all the way to McDonalds. Well, they're aren't that many people that are morbidly obese that got that way eating home cooked meals. You can make all kinds of awesome tasting food that might make those super-fit 'my body is my temple' donkey-caves cry, but is still a healthy meal that won't see you in the grave at 50.

And the main reason I really get this now in a way I didn't use to is because since I got married my eating habits have improved so much, and I've lost a lot of weight as a result. I haven't dieted, just traded a Subway bought on the way home from work for my wife's spaghetti or lamb chops. Even making a pizza yourself is a massive improvement over a purchased one.



And you don't use tender meat in a stew. You use crap meat, and slow cook it so it becomes tender.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Palindrome wrote:
I don't agree with this. Its easy, quick and cheap to cook healthy food. The majority of my meals take 20 mins or less to cook and are always homemade. I tend to spend quite a lot on food these days but in the past I probably spent about £2 per meal. Grilled chicken or fish, pasta, rice, etc etc etc. I think that the real problem is one of perception.

For stews you can either make something like Irish stew which cooks quite quickly or make it the day before and let it cook slowly over the course of the evening.

You are not getting a decent piece of chicken or fish for $3 or $4 here... I mean, my wife and I lucky that we've never been on that kind of budget, but even a decent pasta dish will cost up towards $10 once you factor in the mince... and that's with her making it from scratch.

And so for families feeding four or more mouths, getting a quickly cooked meal for under $20 is not that easy... unless you look at those dinner boxes from McDonalds.

Now, that said, I don't disagree with you entirely. Perhaps I overstated my case originally. To clarify, I agree that you can get decent food fairly cheaply. I mean, my wife only left work a couple of weeks ago, and before then we both worked, neither of us were home before 6pm, so if wanted dinner and time to digest it before bed we had to plan dinner in the morning, or even the night before*. But we had the luxury of no kids, so there was more time for that kind of planning.

But the issue is that when both parties work, and there's kids, well it's only logical that with time pressure cooking is one of the most likely things to get dropped.




*Well, she planned it, because I always forgot, and just ended telling me what needed taking out of the freezer, or picking up from the shops after work...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Steve steveson wrote:
It's not just time, but cost. Whilst the meat is cheap fuel (electricity and gas) is more expensive than it has ever been. I cook lamb shank, beef skirt and beef shin on a regular basis. Cheap cuts but the cost of having the oven on all day quickly eats in to that. I do it because I love the food. I do it most saterdays and Sundays, but it costs. Meat is also so cheap now people can by steak every day... And eat far too much of it.

Yeah, that last part is a really good point, and one that touches on a cultural change - we now expect every meal to have a lot of meat in it, and expect every meal to be really substantial.

I think the time cost is a real factor for a lot of people in preparing their meals. Generally, just taking some time to read labels and plan meals has helped myself and my girlfriend lose a lot of weight in just a few months. I think the mindset that you have to go to a Whole Foods, buy special diet food or look for "non-GMO organic" food puts off most people, thinking it's difficult, expensive and will taste awful. The funny part is that, doing some reading, some minor non-food changes and tracking our food has made a drastic difference in a short time AND we managed to reduce our grocery costs. Basically, a lot folks with priorities elsewhere.

 reiner wrote:
I think the time cost is a real factor for a lot of people in preparing their meals. Generally, just taking some time to read labels and plan meals has helped myself and my girlfriend lose a lot of weight in just a few months. I think the mindset that you have to go to a Whole Foods, buy special diet food or look for "non-GMO organic" food puts off most people, thinking it's difficult, expensive and will taste awful. The funny part is that, doing some reading, some minor non-food changes and tracking our food has made a drastic difference in a short time AND we managed to reduce our grocery costs. Basically, a lot folks with priorities elsewhere.

It's much cheaper then going out and eating regularly, munching down fast food in your car, or picking up a pizza. Spend the 20~ minutes a day to cook something and actually learn about what you're eating. Most of it is people being lazy/complaining they don't have enough time/making excuses without ever starting anything. It's mostly diet, going to the gym is the bonus and shapes what you want. Diet Diet Diet.

The entire office floor I'm now sitting on, no one on this floor (150~ employees) can jog more then a few miles. Average weight? 200-250lbs~, the women would be on the heavier side then the men here. They bombard me with broscience and women-magazine questions daily, I help out when I can. Most of them don't want to make the change, they're not okay with being disgusting - but they can't make the change due to mental weakness. I walk in everyday wearing a suit that actually fits me, while they have Waist sizes over 40" and think it's okay to have McDonalds for breakfast every morning and iced coffee (25%~ of the floor, srs). Lunch? Nearly everyday they order pizza/giant deli hoagies.

This morning I watched the women next me chow a box of 6 donuts from dunkin donuts

She easily doubles if not triples my current weight. Age: 29

Brb woke up at 4am this morning so I can deadlift when the gyms empty before work. Brb cycling to the shore this weekend for a 100km ride. Brb I actually care

Most of the people I work with are mostly surprisingly thin, if not fit. I'm on the heavier side of the spectrum at 230, but I carry it fairly well, all things considered.

I used to be 40 lbs lighter, but that's what the beer will do to you, kids.

Also, eating out hurts, but I avoid fast food and chains. If I go out, it's to one of the small bars nearby that I have on good authority use decent ingredients. Still unhealthy, but it beats eating Big Macs in about every single way.

Most food you can cook yourself is much better than anything you could get in a restaurant also. I bake my own bread, and it's some of the best I think I've ever had.

KirbyFan wrote:


Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either.

Bad knees and a bad back are not a reason to be over weight though, just an excuse. I have to pick up on this as this is one of the reasons we have this problem. Always an excuse. Bad knees and a bad back limit the type of exercise you can do, not the amount, or mean you have to eat a lot.

Oh well I am not one of those people I am 6'4" 245lbs and I exercise every day. I would love to see you say something like that to my mother in front of me. Probably never happen though you are probably just an internet tough guy. I doubt very seriously you would say that to someones face. Just my thought. What do you think. Oh I am sorry you probably do not have a brain. I on the other hand will be happy to buy you a plane ticket to come here and see if you have the nerve to say that to someone I know.

Oh the irony. Calling someone an Internet tough guy for talking reasonably about the subject in hand then telling them how hard they are and how much they go to the gym and threatening them...