By Matt Stone
I am not a proud owner of a television, but I was blessed to have my first Extreme Makeover experience last night. The show was incredibly bizarre. Even a casual observer could have pointed out the many holes in’the mainstream views on weight, food, appetite, and obesity. Like most?TV weight loss shows I have seen (not many, fortunately), it was a peculiar blend of sad, joyous, disturbing, dumb, inspiring, and delusional. Here are some interesting observations from the show and some discussion…
Meredith was adopted as an infant and lives with?her two non-birth parents and’their real, biological?daughter. The parents are relatively thin and their biological daughter is very thin. The family has a fridge?packed with delicious yummies like cookies and other junk foods, but only the adopted daughter is significantly overweight (along the same lines, I know an obese couple with an obese biological daughter who adopted an Asian kid as an infant?who is absolutely tiny, now age 10-ish).?One of the most interesting scenes is when the skinny?daughter is?confronting Meredith about her big weight loss kick. She’says something like “How is this going to be different?? I’ve seen you lose?weight?many times but you?always gain it back.”? The thin daughter also gets upset that she has to hide her cookies from Meredith so that Meredith’s binge trigger isn’t pushed.
Both fat and skinny people like cookies.Eating or not eating cookies isn’t the determinant of someone’s weight. Also,?losing weight is relatively easy and straightforward for most overweight people. Keeping it off is what so few succeed at doing, which weight loss?programs do NOT show. They instead leave it?on a triumphant high note and sell the happily-ever-after fantasy of self-starvation and unsustainable exercise regimens as a viable method for permanent weight loss, which research shows that it isn’t for the vast majority of people.Research actually shows that?engaging in intentional weight loss pursuits is a risk factor for obesity and may be one of its causes.
The show also reveals a picture captured by a private investigator of Meredith’s biological mother. As expected, her mother is morbidly obese, and her weight is distributed almost exactly like Meredith’s. None of this should come as a surprise considering obesity research and research on twins separated at birth in particular. Even with the power of environmental factors?on weight, twins almost always end up with similar weights, identical weight distribution, and the same rate of development in most physical departments. Heredity factors are by far the biggest influence over how a person looks when colliding with the modern diet/environment/etc.
Another part of the show that was comical in a tragic kind of way was Meredith, at 314 pounds, being forced to jog (and do a lot of deep knee-bending squatting and other exercises).Joggers that weigh 130 pounds have a high rate of injury to the knees, hips, ankles, and feet. How safe is that for a 314 pounder??In?incredibly unshocking fashion, Meredith starts having knee problems. She injects some cortisone and runs a marathon in extreme pain at still well over 200 pounds. Her regimen by the way involved 2-4 hours of cardio 6 days per week and weight training 3 times per week, all in a mad dash to lose the weight as quickly as possible (about a pound per day to start).
In the end Meredith manages to reach her dramatic goal weight of 155. Meredith, obsessed with her weight and a lifelong dieter, got a tattoo a while back on her belly that says:? “155 – Be it, Believe it.”? Or something like that. So it was very dramatic when the scale read exactly 155 (which I called while watching it). I’m sure the scale was rigged to read out exactly that number, or she was dehydrated immediately prior to the weigh-in to hit exactly that number for dramatic effect.
Shows like this, while they may delude you into feeling awed and inspired by the subject of the show, are pretty upsetting. They portray self-deprecating, hardcore dieting and exercise approaches as the solution to obesity, when they are confirmed to be part of the cause despite the few months or years that someone manages to keep those pounds off.No one has the answers, but certainly it must be better, if taking an “eat less, exercise more” approach, to do it in a more sustainable and comfortable way – finding the least amount of dietary and lifestyle change that still gets results.Instead of?going for the maximum amount of exercise one can endure without killing themselves, and the minimum amount of food they can bear to not eat, why not shoot for the?max amount of calories and minimum amount of exercise that still triggers weight loss?
But no, most?will watch the show, get inspired to the point of having unrealistic ideals, and go gung ho until they get sick,?injured, demoralized, or a combination of all three – all while priming themselves for future weight gain above and beyond their starting point due to the metabolic effects of such an approach. Even the ones’that do lose?all the weight they could ever want to lose will likely gain most (if not all and then some) of the weight they lost over time whether they continue to exercise a bunch and eat?nothing?but?lean protein and vegetables or not.
The show also strongly reinforces that FAT = piece of shit lazy ass blob lacking self control and discipline, and THIN = pure?awesomeness. This is the most deeply-disturbing aspect of all. Obesity is a condition, and?unlike other conditions,?all the blame is put on the person and everyone else has all the answers when in?reality the answers are very scarce. Everyone knows what’s best for a fat person!
Random thought:?Imagine a show where?African Americans are?yelled at for forgetting to put on sunscreen as the cause of their dark skin, then, after turning white, are congratulated and shown love and affection from their family members… and this is called success, inspiring millions of people to the point of tears.
Well, that’s all for now on that topic I guess. Meredith… Enjoy dedicating your whole life to your bodyweight, only to probably fail at controlling it?and beat yourself up over it – with some extra shame from being a semi-public figure poured over the top. Kind of like ol’ David Smith, another contestant on the show (that’s his after and after-after pic).Hey, you got a Wal-Mart gift card out of the deal so it was’totally worth it.Mark up another win for Wal-Mart and the diet gurus of the universe!Heroes!
Good reads on the subject of weight loss/obesity:
Rethinking Thin by Gina Kolata
The Obesity Myth by Paul Campos
Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon
Fat: Fighting the Obesity Epidemic by Robert Pool
Big Fat Lies by Glenn Gaesser
Taking Up Space by Amber Rogers (Go Kaleo)
…and many others
First!
I need to lose 15 pounds in a month.
Need to as in my mom will make me pay her $400 if I do not lose the weight by July 17 (the contract was signed June 17). I am 145 at 5′ 2″. I have been thinking about eating vegan and or low fat, just for a month. What should I do? Also, this $400 is ridiculous money for me because I work and pay for my in-state college tuition and I need ery dollar. Sidenote: My mom is a super skinny asian woman who tells me daily I am fat therefore disgusting.
I’m posting this on the first comment because I feel it will be lost elsewhere. This post is a timely coincidence. Also it’s not that important I announce to the world what my mom is doing but rather it’s important that I share the experience of eating regularly to under-eating and that I ask for advice. So I’m going to update people on the weigh in and the aftermath of this diet.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Read the post, read the 100+ comments to see why.
Question: Did you have this contract notarized by a certified Notary Public? Then I bet it’s not legally binding! Tell your mom, “so sue me.”
Seriously, I’m sorry your mom is stupid and cruel. Maybe not always, but if she got you to engage on this level, then she has a stupid and cruel side to her, not to mention manipulative. Lots of parents suck, and the sooner you start disengaging with this crap the better. You would be 100x better with $400 in student loans than effing around with this.
This reminds me of a friend of mine in high school, whose parents would ground him every time he struck out in his baseball games. For anyone reading this, you can actually see exactly what T&A B&A looks like in Diet Recovery 2. She’s basically an Asian woman with curves (hence the screen name T&A). The equivalent of a Ferrari that can also fly… in other words.
T&A, you should channel Eric Cartman and take a stand against mom… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLPM-P7mNQw
Hahaha oh god that’s crazy! Thanks Matt!
Yes! I love Cartman. Tried it. She just likes to take away things when I rebel such as car, money, and housing.
Anyways besides the mom stuff, I’ll tell you how awful or *wonderful* this crash diet is! And I’ll keep ya posted on the crazy stuff that happens after the diet.
If that’s really you (or a reasonable simulacrum) in Diet Recovery 2, just sell some photos, you’ll have $400 in no time.
That was a joke! I don’t mean to be insensitive, just making a jokey compliment of sorts.
Yes this is dumb and the contract is not legally binding. I already discussed for many months before I signed the paper that I do not care if I am fat and will not lose the weight because it is unhealthy. She told me either she would take $400 at the end of the month or kick me out of the house (her exact words). The cheapest rent in my area is $500 per month (sharing rooms) and on-campus housing is $1000. This rent is excluding food and utilities, thus $400 is the better option.
Yes my mom is such. Surprisingly, she does not care too much about anything other than my appearances and maybe this is because my grades are good lols. Her image obsession is probably attributed to her being Korean.
Here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5GvkcjszLk is a documentary about South Korean high schoolers. At 10:12 a girl tells her friend that she is happy with the plastic surgery she got and that up until she got it, her mom never once called her pretty. But now her mom says she is pretty. Geez, I wonder who paid for the surgery. Although I do live in America, many Korean girls in my high school had basic plastic surgery. In Korea the pressure to get plastic surgery is 100x worse.
Time to bite the bullet, get a job and get away from a tyrannical bitch. Sorry to be so blunt, but this is absurd. I have an equally sadistic and self-involved mother. The aftermath will make you miserable, and she will not learn, because she cares more about appearances then reality. For the record I see the aftermath of my Mom’s stupidity everyday, as she is a twin. My mother has cognitive deficiencies, her facial muscles twitch uncontrollably, she cannot hold a conversation, her back is hunched, she hoards, and to top it off she is obsessed with being thinner then everyone else—especially her twin. So yes, dieting can cause permanent damage to your health, your mom will use this as another thing to bully you about and your body may not let go of the Rrarf weight so easily the next time around. $400 is a small price to pay if it gets you away from someone who cares about you primarily as a reflection on themself.
Your words are comforting. Yes yes yes, my mom is just like your mom. Physically too. Is that what made you want to do the liquid diet for so long? I’ve also really been interested in your liquid diet. You should definitely have a post on here about that.
No, her image obsession is not because she is Korean, its her pathology.
What are the consequences if you default? Does your mom understand that kind of rapid weight loss is really unhealthy? If you lose 15 pounds in a month, you will likely gain 20-25 the next. Any nutritionist will tell you that the most you can lose healthfully is 1-2 lbs/week. So, that would be 4-8 lbs in a month. I’m sorry but your mom sounds emotionally abusive, and the forced weight loss crosses into physical abuse, too. If you can distance yourself from her, that would be my advice.
Getting kicked out of my house and paying rent and food = $600 per month minimum. No. My mom does not understand this. I have tried many times to tell her, but all she says I’m too fat to accept reality and am making up excuses for being lazy. Yes this is emotionally abusive to some, but after dealing with her for years I’ve learned to tune out 90%. Naturally I have been distancing myself from her ever since starting college.
Not distancing enough… time to talk to a counselor at school to figure out what to do.
Yes, I second this suggestion. A school counselor would be a good idea and at the very least will document your complaints if you ever need to use them legally.
Also, I understand you may think you are tuning it out, but these kinds of abusive remarks (and whatever other ones she’s made throughout your upbringing) really get inside.
The Real Amy hit the nail on the head with her comments: negative comments always hit their mark.
Tell her to get lost. It’s ridiculous. I should know – I’ve tried it and all that happenned was that I got miserable and my weight went up.
WOW is all I can say. Well hun you are out of the house. So do not pay her dumb butt anything. That is not heavy and dont let her think you are fat. Just tell her you need to love me for me and not look at how much I weigh. 100 pds at 5 2 is way to thin
How sad! Thanks, Matt, for your alternative, the one being supported by Amber Rogers and a few others.
Gosh, that sounds like a depressing show. And this reminds me of a question I’ve been wanting to ask for a while… when you talk about “weight set point”, is it really weight set point, or is it “body fat set point”? i.e. If my weight set point is 60kg, can I change my body composition whilst maintaing 60kg without having a detrimental effect on metabolism? Or is it that people have a body fat set point, meaning that their of body fat wants to stay at a certain amount/percentage regardless of what they do? (I’m not wording this very well, but I hope you’ll understand what I mean!)
Some have made arguments for both. It’s more likely to be a fat set point and not a weight set point. But don’t get the wrong idea. Making some simple changes to your eating (how often, when, what you are eating, ratios, calories, etc.) and your physical activity patterns can dramatically change body composition, and can do so without the negative metabolic consequences of starvation and overexercising.
I suspected as much. Exercise still doesn’t seem to agree with me – whenever I start getting into a regular routine with it, I seem to get sick within a week or two (even if it’s just a daily short, brisk walk and a few of weighted squats!). This seriously halts my progress, as I take ages to recover when I get sick! And the whole thing has made me a bit exercise-phobic. But I’m tired of being unfit, and would love to “tone-up” a bit!
I often get sick after starting an exercise routine as well, or I did prior to now. I wonder if that’s also linked to not eating enough?
I also wondered if “exercise intolerance” is due to not eating enough (I figured that a drop in metabolism post-exercise was weakening my body’s defenses, and that making sure to eat enough before and after would counter this). But the last time I tried to start a routine, I made a concerted effort to eat plenty and still ended up getting strep throat (or something similar) a few days in.
Maybe yoga would be a better fit? It helps tone up and I can’t imagine it would be stressful enough to make anyone sick, as long as you’re not pushing yourself or trying to do vigorous yoga or anything.
Good idea. I too was thinking that maybe I’d be better suited to something like Yoga or Pilates. Actually, I have a Pilates DVD – just need to make some space in my tiny living room!
That is a typical mistake made: if you are going to exercise you must eat enough to meet your output. Nothing works if you don’t eat enough.
As I said, I tested that theory last time by making sure to eat lots, but I still got sick!
I wonder when you say, “a few *days* in” … if you’re doing something intense (weights, or anything with heavy breathing), you should probably do it only 1-2x a week (1x is really enough to start), to allow lots of recovery, with only light walking, for instance, the other days. If you were able to get in more than one workout in a only few days, that might have been too frequent. Sorry if that wasn’t what you meant!
(I didn’t mean to imply anything too boring during recovery, like where a person would have to sit around getting frustrated … I just meant walking plus plenty of fun, practical activities of daily living — cooking, gardening, socializing, playing with kids, even playing an instrument and singing, or many kinds of arts and craft work can be great light exercise … and then the heavy stuff once a week. I say this because I myself have overdone it starting out *many* times, out of impatience and over-enthusiasm.)
Well, the last time I started a “routine” it was a short, brisk-ish walk every other day, and (I think) 3 sets of 10 weighted squats into overhead press 3x per week. Or that was the plan, but I only made to Thursday before getting sick! I suppose my job is reasonably active (performing musician), but that’s not a daily thing, and frankly when I’m not gigging it’s hard to want to do anything but stay in bed! So I’m conflicted, because on the one hand I hate being unfit, but on the other hand exercise is not something that my body seems to enjoy (unless it’s a leisurely stroll in the sun!). Maybe I should just start with 1 set of the weighted exercises per week and build up from there?
It’s really important to slowly build, working within your threshold the entire time. It’s like trying to get a tan without ever getting sunburned. Not something you can just jump right into if you’ve been living in a dungeon for years. You might have to start out with a minute every couple of days to acclimate without exceeding your threshold.
I guess my threshold must be a lot lower than I thought, as I never really feel like I’m pushing myself much (certainly don’t train to failure)! But I’ll try scaling it right back and building from there.
Or, if you aren’t already max’ed out with them, body-weight — i.e., unweighted — squats and lunges were recommended to me by a phys therapist when I was reconditioning after a foot injury. (Planks, bridges [done w/ exercise ball], girly push-ups are others.) Good for functional fitness because they develop balance in addition to strength, and it’s hard to seriously hurt yourself doing them.
Nice spillover to non-exercise life, too, like ease in digging to the back bottom corner of the fridge, squatting to pee in the woods, etc! :) Seems like heavy-weight, low-rep is popular, but these moves are so classic, I personally can’t imagine harm in building up to 3×15 of them as a base for further training. Patiently of course … I started with one set of 10 the first time, and it took several months to get to 3×15.
Perhaps I need to retrain my brain as much as anything else, because bodyweight squats feel super easy, but clearly doing anything beyond that is too taxing, even if it doesn’t feel it at the time. (I’ve always sucked at girly pushups though, so maybe that’s something to build up to.) I need to get the bodybuilder mentality out of my head, that says it’s totally pointless if it doesn’t feel like absolute hell!
You can still have a bodybuilder mindset and make progress without it being hell. Bryan Haycock’s HST program feels about as hard as tying your shoes but still works fairly well. http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/hst_index.html
I always get sick when I start lifting weights.
I get flu symptoms and gut problems!
Me too – if I had a cent for every time I’ve come down with heavy flu directly after starting an exercise regime, I’d have at least 15 cents…
Interesting! So presumably I’d need to slowly work my way up to a program like that, rather than starting cold, given that it’s still more than I did last time (and still got sick)? (This is in response to Matt’s link above, but it won’t let me add any more comments to that thread!)
Very sad.
Watching the show it’s not that sad. In fact, you are quite happy for them and really hope they will keep the weight off. Knowing the statistical truth however, you know most success stories are great tragedies in the end.
That’s just tragic. Hope she finds this site and is open to the information on it.
I posted it on her Facebook fan page. I’m sure she won’t be open to it all in the phase she’s in right now (practically living in the gym it appears and enjoying being able to do things she hasn’t been able to – like gymnastics and running great distances). And she may very well be one of the lucky ones who doesn’t see that weight start to creep back on, and on, and on in 10-20 pound chunks. I really hope so. Lugging around 314 pounds on a 5’5″ female frame must be hell.
It seems like the people from these shows who are the most succesful, with maintaining are the ones who build a career out of fat loss maintenance. I say fat loss but is it really gone? Shouldn’t we be saying fat shrinkage. Aren’t the fat cells still there just smaller? Which is why most of us gain it back?
Who ever figures out the right solution to keeping the body fat low, will win a Nobel Prize. And/or become really rich, if it is in medicine form. Great post, btw.
Genetics may load the gun, but LIFESTYLE pulls the trigger.
Most are already showing signs of weight gain and increased risk of obesity before they can walk or take solid food.
and babies are born into the same environment the parents are exposed to which makes them the way they are, just with a headstart on all the problems. until babies are born physically deformed (like, without a pancreas or some shit), the problems are more than likely reversible, it just requires more work.
Given the fact that the only television I like to watch is either The Daily Show or a rerun of the Dick Van Dyke show from a hundred years ago, I am actually surprized to say that I saw this very episode, on a whim while searching for weather radar. Shamefully, I got hooked on it (this episode only) and watched the whole thing… Meridith and all of her ups and downs. I found myself angry at Chris (her trainer) for allowing and encouraging her to continue running during that marathon when she was in so much pain! THAT IS EFFING TORTURE!!! And for what, for God’s sake? I am so saddened by the way we (as a society/culture) look at things. It ‘s so backasswards. Matt, be sure to let me know when you start your own country. I’ll follow you.
I find these shows incredibly disturbing, largely for reinforcing the idea that abuse is somehow helpful (and that obese people benefit from bullying). When I recovered from a period of starvation as a young woman and my weight jumped 30 lbs, I had a friend who decided to ‘help me’ with similar measures. Our friendship was over within the day. I can’t imagine being treated by ‘trained professionals’ with the same condescension.
And whats worse its stupid. Running marathons often causes weight gain (especially in first timers.) It won’t make you thin. It just doesn’t.
A couple of thought: First, brainwashed as the American Sheople are, they ignore the facts:
that up to 95% of people regain the weight- but it’s the body’s NORMAL response to rapid weight loss, and over-exercise. Your metabolism will slow down to the point that even the paltry amount your eating won’t allow more weight loss, and you need to drop another 30%! So once you start eating “normally”, the weight starts coming back fast. (just look up: “where they are now”: the past participants in this program)
The worst part is the blame and shaming put on overweight people: telling them that they got this way because they are lazy, and self-indulgent. It’s the one politically correct group you can still berate: the obese. The negative self-judgment of those who are overweight, along with the humiliation from public castigation makes the problem so much worse by creating a stressful environment in the body- and this just adds to the problem.
The biggest trial is forgiving yourself, and accepting your body, no matter what it looks like. Without feeling safe in your body, it’s going to be very difficult to lose weight and regain your well-being!
Wow, so that’s what I’ve been missing out on. I haven’t had TV in many moons, but I was wondering where all this kill-yourself-for-fitness shit was coming from. People with major knee injuries being encouraged to “push through” and run 26 miles anyway. Fucking ridiculous.
This article brings up a lot of questions I have for Matt or whomever..
1) Genetics: We have seen that with twin studies there is a genetic link for weight set point and twins. But what about non-twin siblings? Are their set points typically similar?
2) We see that dieting doesn’t work because people typically depress their metabolism on calorie reduced diets. Now, if someone were to change the composition of their food, switch to a sedentary life to a more active life, and lose weight that way.. Would we see a similar weight regain?
3) What if, like Meredith and most yo-yo dieters, they are at a higher weight than what is meant for their bodies thoroughly repeated diets and regains. In your research and experience is there any hope that they can return to their set points?
Or let’s say, someone has gained weight due to stress/sleep loss. If the stressor/sleep loss is removed, will they return to their original weight.. Or is the set point “doomed” to remain higher after stress/sleep loss/frequent diets?
**from a sedentary to a more active life
I think an obese person should work to maximize metabolic rate if needed, then eat to appetite of mostly clean foods while getting some daily exercise, try to de-stress and get extra sleep, and keep fingers crossed. That’s about all a person can do. I would consider most other methods to be tricks for “forcing” weight off instead of nourishing the body with good food and self care in hopes that the weight set point will spontaneously lower (something that some people have achieved, but most do not for various reasons).
For what various reasons? Are you referring to people you are personally in contact with, or the population in general? Are you saying that most people, despite doing these things (sleeping and eating well etc), will remain obese?
Yes, most obese people will remain obese forever. No one can argue against that because it is well-established fact. My point is that all other measures besides improved nutrition, exercise, and self-care are highly likely to backfire. Mastering fundamentals of health and being patient is the best menu option currently available. Things aren’t as bleak as they sound. One obese woman I’ve been working with is down 7 pounds this month already, and is no longer passing sugar in her urine. A little weightlifting in her home gym purchased off of Craigslist and a massive increase in her sugar intake (from fruit mostly) is all she’s doing differently.
I personally am a fan of bananas, but then I worry about that old saw ‘you are what you eat’ and I don’t know if being bananas is such a good idea.
I’d rather go bananas than be a nut or a vegetable.
I’m not sure I understand your thoughts behind sugar. How exactly would sugar help someone to lose weight?
I agree that starvation and overtraining is definitely the worst thing for anybody, I believe that overeating and doing minimal exercise won’t fix overweight people. Nobody should guilt themselves into terrible situations just to look like a fitness model. Nonetheless being obese is far From good either. I believe low or high anything isn’t good whether its calories, carbs, fat, etc… Eating plenty of saturated and monounsaturated fats is very important for hormones. Adequate protein is important and should be of higher priority than carbs. That said, I believe that starches should be consumed to appetite at the end of meals. As far as exercise, EVERYBODY benefits from short-intense weight training two to three times per week. Long walks and occasional sprint-type exercises are also very important. The biggest mistake is the do more exercise and eat less approach, not the amount or difficulty of training. Stuffing yourself with carbs and being inactive simply isn’t good for you even if your temps are above 99. I agree that one should definitely indulge themselves in life’s pleasure foods at times and never stress over diet or count calories, but some structure and hard work is very rewarding and goes a long way towards better health and well being and nobody should shy away from it.
I agree with much of this. Overfeeding and no exercise are supposed to be short-term stints only for people recovering from starvation. (Although I see no problem with lots of carbs, ever)
While if someone is naturally obese, they are not likely to ever be skinny, I don’t think anyone should feel they can’t achieve a more fit and toned state and feel better by exercising and listening to their bodies, eating healthily, reducing stress. And be on the lower end of their set point range, rather than higher.
That’s exactly my point. I was very heavy growing up and felt terrible about myself and was teased to no end by friends and family. I went to every extreme and became very thin and maintained it for several years and then gained again. I turned to bodybuilding and lived on steamed chicken and broccoli for several years and was always sick and miserable but I had insanely low BF and that was most important to me at that time. Since…I gained back some weight and tried all the major diets…Atkins, south beach, paleo, etc…all made me unhappy and weak and I had super low testosterone. I finally accepted that if I want to look like a fitness mag I could at the expense of health but I knew I couldn’t ever be happy being obese, so now in my 30’s I am heavier than my 20’s and definitely not ripped, but strong as an ox and very solid with great energy and high testosterone naturally through diet. I researched many things and 180 degree health was the missing link. By combining my research and experience and using the ideas from Matt’s research I have accepted that I am not meant to be skinny, I am designed to run fast and lift heavy things and eat like a beast…not look like Brad Pitt. I just pay attention to balance and eat a bit more fat than carbs but still plenty of rice and potatoes and only eat sweets a couple times per week and train hard and rest harder. My routine isn’t necessarily for everyone else, but it seems to be a balanced approach and Matt helped me not to fear dessert or guilt myself over things that don’t matter.
That’s great, Derrick! Matt should have you do a blog post. Sounds like you’ve found a really good balance. From the female perspective, I’m much more attracted to a guy who is strong, solid and testosterone-driven than one with low body fat anyway.
Amen to that Amy, I was going to say exactly the same thing: I don’t want my men to be ultra skinny, its a turn off. I want him to be healthy, fit, and above all masculine. Some extra pounds are not a turn off.
Me too. No skinny men for me. I like ’em ‘beefy’.
Shows like this are deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. So if discrimination towards certain groups of people in our society. The second I gained over 150 lbs I started having shin splints. I can’t imagine running when carrying weight, their methods seem so stupid, it’s beyond me.
Guys, I have a question not related to the post. Maybe someone has some insight? All in all, was feeling really great, eating and exercising, but then decided restrict for a month and a half (old engrained behaviour relapse). I went on a 40km bike ride on Wednesday, and since Thursday night, I’ve been feeling really whoo-whoo, confused, dizzy, difficulty concentrating, extremely fatigued, kind of sweaty, and really emotional. I’ve eaten less in the past and never had this type of feelings. I’ve been eating well and sleeping lots since Wednesday, trying to fix the issue. Still feel off though…maybe it could be a new prescription med I’m taking (Nexium – apparently causes malabsorbtion of nutrients?)? I called health info to see if they have some insight but they just thought I was depressed. Huh?!
I think a sudden jump into a long ride like that can cause problems if you aren’t acclimated to it. I’m sure if you slowly build back up to being able to do a ride like that you’ll be fine, and your body won’t freak out in response to a sudden increase in demand for physical activity.
If it was food you decided to restrict, it would seem that’s the cause of your feeling off after physical activity. I’ve done far less than a 40 km bike ride and feeling like that afterwards (though I’ve never intentionally restricted, but always been a fairly small eater). Like a tango dance lesson, or prepping wool for carding:). It can take a few days to recover, as long as you’re getting lots of rest. Yeah, the emotional aspect is always there for me. Wish I knew exactly what was happening. Some hormonal reaction I gather. And yeah, first time I checked with a doctor, and he gave me a happy pill prescription.
Do not underestimate the effects of a medication. Nexium can cause dizziness and confusion and drowsiness, and jitteriness, too. Look it up.
Not saying restriction is helping, so good you are listening to your body again, but some meds can do even worse things to you, and these meds that block stomach acid are really dangerous drugs long-term, too.
Yes, that’s true. I am weaning myself off of them now. I’ll try to find other ways to solve the issue. I hadn’t looked up the side-effects because I usually do and never take them lol. This time I just trusted the doc. When I looked it up and was kind of stunned that they prescribe this to everyone!
Hate to say it but the nexium could Be the culprit. A lot of people including me seem to get very odd side effects that you wouldn’t expect from a stomach acid drug. The other problem is that nexium is a short term solution ( 4 to 8 weeks max) but most doctors like to keep people on it indefinitely. There is a web site where people list there opinions and side effects of prescription drugs they are on. Granted things will be slanted more to the negative since people usually post more if they are having problems but it is quiet interesting the amount of psychological issues people have on this drug
Thanks for the input! Luckily, I’ve only taken it for 6 weeks and now will be stopping gradually. I was also getting the muscle twitching that I usually never get, apparently due to low magnesium. I also feel much more dizzy! Like I’m not thinking straight. Whether it’s due to the drug or not, I still can’t believe this drug is prescribed so freely. When I asked the pharmacist how to wean myself off, since I tried to stop and got horrible rebound heartburn (never felt it before, was taking it because of a sore throat), she said its probably the most popular drug. Quite appalling!
Thanks Matt, makes sense, it was in fact longer of a bike ride than usual. I had to get to a meeting in the next town without a mode of transport lol. I’m just thrown off by how out of wack I feel, was getting too comfortable with feeling awesome and invincible all the time I guess :), but it does make a lot of sense.
I am an identical twin and can attest that our weights are very similar, and have been our entire lives, despite very different diets and exercise routines. For several years I worked out high-intensity and weight 3-4 days a week and was nearly the same weight as my twin, despite her working at Starbucks and rarely working out. I weigh a bit less than her now but I suspect that this is related to my breastfeeding and not being on hormonal BC, as opposed to her being on it for the past 7 years. Even with that we’re probably only 10-15 pounds different, and that’s after 2 kids for me and no kids for her.
I’d probably feel as annoyed with this show as I do with TLC’s Birth Story shows, which make me throw things at the TV, so I’m not allowed to watch them.
As an overweight adopted kid in a fairly skinny family (mom and sister were both size 0 til I was 24), I totally empathize with the strain of being different, especially in a society that makes body normalization a measure of morality. Shows like this are especially troubling, although more interesting sociologically for the context they give that the group weight loss competitions (like the biggest loser) don’t. I’ve been her. And you’re right, the behaviors here will yo-yo her completely. I know my bio-family now, and they’re also built large. It’s harder to convince your body to stay smaller, but it seems to have more do do with regular healthy non-processed meals and moderate activity than crazy training and reduced caloric intake. It’s just scary what we do to ourselves, and now workplaces are modelling ‘incentive’ programs after reality tv like this.
I have a sister by another mother (same Dad) and we are the same height but totally different body composition. I have huge bones (think Bronze era Gauls) and brown hair and fair English style skin. My sister has typically Irish style petiteness and red hair, freckled skin. I put on weight extremely easily, both fat and muscle. She doesn’t. I hit the 200s at the age of 16. Its been really hard being the fat one.
New tv show: “After the After Picture” – See how that starvation weight all came back along with reinforcements.
Follow that up with “The Slowest Loser” about people who lost fat reaaaally slowly and kept it off without missing any meals.
Time for your own tv network, Matt.
I’ve actually been approached by a tv station recently, lol. In Canada. Slowest Loser is a good idea. I wanted to do an eating disorder rehab show called The Biggest Winner maybe. See who could gain weight the fastest and highlight lots of bizarre eating behavior.
That’s cool. Just don’t let them turn you into a corporate cardboard cutout.
I like the Biggest Winner idea, too.
I’d love this. Time for some real TV:)
I would totally watch that show. “After the after”.
I remember seeing the documentary on David Smith. Didn’t know he had gained back weight. Sad to see this. Seeing his story, I can’t help wonder how much mental and life issues are involved, that is, people using food like a drug because of their problems. On the other hand I’ve know pleasantly plump types that are happy and full of life. But I can’t help wonder, maybe just attacking it from a physical standpoint of nutrition and activity is insufficient for some, and maybe therapy would be an important factor.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/06/david-smith-regains-weight_n_1574170.html
I think, in most cases, that repeatedly dieting creates the “food addiction.” Nothing makes me more compelled and erotically aroused by food than to restrict it and/or overexercise.
Me too, restricting foods causes cravings. When I stopped restricting the type of food or macro ratios everything mellowed out and I didn’t feel like I had to fight the grocery cart, that probably lowered my stress level. When I just ask my stomach: what do I really want? I often get back surprising answers: steak, salty pasta, half/half (i know, its weird, I drink organic half/half sometimes.) lots of avocados, lately I’m on a major olive craving (I love the kalamata ones from trader Joe’s in the jar.) The trick is making sure I eat enough.
I do not want to destroy my metabolism anymore. I’ve been an extreme dieter since childhood. Every diet results in more weight gain. I don’t even have the strength or will power to restrict anymore. So, I’m not loosing. But I’m not gaining anymore either. My doctor just prescribed me Phentermine. Is this going to be the final blow to my metabolism? Will I wind up worse on the other side?
Megan, as far as I know, I’m pretty sure Phentermine won’t do you any good. Maybe what your body needs is you to stop trying to lose weight, and just focus on nourishing yourself and resting.
That probably won’t help.
Don’t do it Megan… You could have all sorts of health problems from this drug. Phentermine is used to suppress the appetite but will also release more cortisol, epinephrine, speed up your heart rate, and make it work harder then it should. You could get an enlarged heart, go in to a fatal arrythmia, burn out your adrenals. It could lead to hormonal hell! It sounds like you have made alot of progress with your metabolism if you aren’t gaining any weight. Don’t undo all of the work!
It is sad that our society glorifies thin and glorifies weight loss. I hope this girl can find her way to maintain the weight loss. Best of luck to her. I know from personal experience that weight loss is a lot easier than keeping the weight off. It seems like everyone is training for a marathon these day, and I do not understand why. The original marathon runner died.
This is so freakin’ sad…
Matt, a question:
What happens when an overweight person starts losing weight involuntarily, effortlessly and without hunger? Should we worry that he’s sick or something like that? Is he likely to gain that weight back, like these people you talk about?
Thanks.
Hi Fab
I just thought I’d chime in with my own anecdote. I was overweight when I became pregnant with my first child. The pregnancy nausea made me hate sweets which I had always been a big fan of – I couldn’t eat them, but I managed to eat plenty of veg, protein etc. I weighed less after my baby was born than before I conceived. Then, I got hyperthyroidism. No matter what I ate and how little I exercised, I lost weight. As soon as I got treated, my appetite reduced, I ate less, exercised again and steadily gained weight. At that piont I realised what a huge impact the state of our thyroid plays in our appetite/weight. I had another bout of hyperthyroidism after my second child and the same exact pattern of weight loss, treatment, weight gain. Once I had re-gained the weight, I got a very nasty intestinal parasite that saw me lose about 30 pounds in 3 months. Got rid of that, ate to appetite, got back to my normal weight. The only time I lose weight is when I’m not well. When I’m well, I’m fatter than I’d like to be and when I’m sick, I look “just right”. I know that doesn’t really answer your question in general, but I find it interesting how my body tends to feel better heavier than my mind and ego would like it to be and gets thin when I’m sick.
Thank you, Jude.
I guess our bodies just know better, and the important thing is just to feel and BE healthy.
Thanks, Jude, for sharing; I’m similar and it’s gratifying to read about it in someone else: Like you said, “When I’m well, I’m fatter than I’d like to be and when I’m sick, I look ?just right?.” Less clue-ful people make the stupid have-you-lost-weight “compliments,” but good friends notice the circles under the eyes, the pallor, the too-tired-to-go-out that have accompanied those rare times in my life when I’ve been thin. Thoughtful people do understand that one size is not healthy for everyone, but there are still plenty of the Great Brainwashed out there.
I had the same experience after my first child was born. My thyroid went hyperthyroid and I lost all of the weight I had been trying to lose and then some, felt miserable, of course! I was finally feeling really good about my weight (but had started regaining a bit) when I got pregnant again. My son is 15 months old and I finally lost most of the weight that I gained during pregnancy, but I’m still 15 pounds heavier than where I would like to be. I don’t think that I will ever be that weight again and also be healthy, though. I really feel like my body wants to be just a but heavier than I would like, but I’m healthy, so I’m trying not to care too much. I’m definitely not going to fall into the same dieting and overexercising that I used to do.
I don’t watch these tv shows, but when “the Biggest Loser” was on here, they totally overdid it with the ads, so even if you just wanted to watch the news, you were forced to watch it. If that was not enough, the ads featured the contestants being verbally abused, even shown during kiddies program times. This caused a stir, so it was picked up by the stations current events programmes and morning shows, where the trainers justified their actions by stating that these people have been spoilt for all their lives, or something along those lines.
This is why I prefer to watch shows on the internet.
So, I’m 47 and have been overweight my whole life. I recently got desperate and lost 67 pounds, the bad way, apparently. Well it’s starting to come back. I’m up to almost 220 again! Im scared for me and my son. He is following in my footsteps. He’s 12 and overweight. He would eat all day if we let him. I don’t care about numbers so much but I want us to be healthy. My blood pressure is high and my joints hurt. My son is still in good health so far but struggles to be active. What can I do so we don’t end up on a biggest looser show? From the comments, it seems kind of hopeless.
Hey, Julia, there’s hope. I condensed the information I’ve learned over the last year on my blog. Just click on my name and it will take you to the information you need to know. Be sure to read the very first link (all the links are in red); that’s a good place to start. Good luck.
EmmaW
Thanks! I’ll check it out. I need all the help I can get!
Thank you, Emma, I read quite a bit of that, too.
Honestly the best thing you can do is keep things simple. Try to eat 3 Large square meals per day. The meals should be based around high quality proteins like whole egg, grass-fed beef, etc…plenty of starches from potatoes, sweet potatoes, white long grain rice and some colorful veggies. Some fruit is fine but not necessary and starch is much better for most people. Load up on butter and coconut oil for cooking and flavor, also use some olive oil. Minimize all other fats. Keep sugar and fructose as low as possible. Enjoy homemade desserts or high quality ice cream 2 to 3 x/ week. Two to three intense workouts of 20-30 mins. Per week are perfect but make sure you focus on resistance training and sprint type workouts and keep them challenging. Walk for fun as often as you can but only for enjoyment and overall health, NOT to accelerate weight loss. As for your son, I was just like him at that age. He should learn his habits from you, so teach him these habits now and don’t ever make him afraid of food, instead encourage him to be active outdoors and offer to have him exercise with you. Turn off the TV and go to bed as early as possible and most importantly, enjoy life. I spent many years struggling with these issues and I just decided to accept myself and do the best with what I’ve got. Weight is only a number. I have gone from fat to skinny to fatter to buff back to fat and so forth. I am now active, strong, athletic and happy all with NO six-pack abs…I am not meant to be thin, I have broad shoulders and a solid frame and being under 200lbs isn’t healthy for me. That fine with me…I am able to run fast and lift heavy weights and play all day long with my 3yr old and still have energy at the end of the day. Hope this helps some…Good Luck!!!
Julia –
For most people I’ve spoken with, their overweight was precipitated by a stressful event. There’s even long term studies that shows that children who were abused and even neglected; those who suffered from humiliation, have a higher incidence of health problems including obesity later in life. It doesn’t even have to be big “T” trauma.
But the good news is, you can change your mindset, and then start repairing your relationship with your body AND food. Start by accepting yourself, forgiving yourself, and stop blaming your body. There are wonderful tools to do this effectively. Food becomes something for self-nurture, and pleasure; and not a drug of choice from dealing with stress. And slowly you’ll see a change in your body, your health and your well-being!
Interesting point: when I took the psychology of women in college, the stand out statistic that made me gulp was that 2/3 girls have been sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday. I don’t know what the statistic is for boys. With that number being so high I don’t know how relevant it is that most people who are abused also become obese in adulthood. From what I understand thats a global statistic, not just in the developed world where the obesity epidemic has happened.
Great story, but the fact remains that people are people and they ultimately do what they want to do. Whether something is bad or good for them, there are many people who do not even bother about it ? they will only do what they like to do.
As such, even though many people are aware that there are foods that make them obese and unhealthy, this will not serve as a deterrent to them. They will continue to eat these foods ? just because they like to eat them.
And so the issue of obesity continues to grow LARGER, all over the globe.
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Regards.
Ricardo
i am intrigued by the heredity part of this. can you inherit cellular low energy from your mother?
i remember reading something in dr. mark star’s book on hypothyroidism type 2. it was about how the dna you only get from your mother… mtdna was it? (can’t find my book right now) has mutable information about energy usage in the cell. i’m going from memory here but i THINK it theorized that if the info was down-regulated in the mother… it was sent on to future generations that way.
so, is it very important to wake your metabolism up before reproducing?
my mother is thin– so am i, my brothers and my 2 children (who are in their twenties).
my mother-in-law is heavy and has all the signs of low thyroid. (as did her mother and maternal aunt) 4 of her 5 children including my dear husband have trouble with extra weight and thyroid-type issues. of course, most are “within normal thyroid range” on blood tests. his sisters have had 8 children and 5 have weight problems. even the sister who doesn’t have trouble with weight has 2 children who are thin and one with weight problems.
Yes, that’s mitochondrial DNA. There are other things that program one for fatness prenatally and immediately after birth as well, such as the composition of breast milk or formula. The fact of the matter is that it is hugely influential – more than any other factor by far. Shows like Extreme Makeover Weight Loss really enforce that too. I watched another episode where the fat person was the only fat person in the family. The rest of family could eat the same foods as the fat girl, but the fat girl was over 300 pounds and her sisters were like 125. I’m willing to bet you could detect the difference in body composition at 30 days after birth if not sooner.
My sister, brother and I are all thin. My mom is not, but her brother has always been thin, and so was one sister, while another used to be obese but is now thin. My grandma was fairly thin her whole life. What gives here?
The unspoken factor here: my mom has been on anti-depressents for years, known to cause weight gain. Her sister who was obese was on lithium. Now she is not anymore. Lifestyle, and meds especially, really do make huge differences. I’m still convinced that antibiotics, birth control pills and anti-depressents explain much of the obesity epidemic in our country.
Definitely a huge factor. There are hundreds of “obesigens,” the earlier the exposure the more significant they are.
I have a lot of sensitivities not just from food but also EMF, fluorescent light, different materials like plastics and metals, pollutions. Things like walking in a big city, driving a car, being in a store with fluorescent light can get me fatigue and depression. Avoiding problematic foods and things surely makes me feel better but that doesn’t really solve the problem. I don’t know why I have all these sensitivities, maybe could be because long time emotional stress but I don’t know for sure.
I agree completely about the weight-loss show. And it is awful how so many people are sure they know just what someone who is “overweight” needs to do in order to lose weight, and thus they feel entitled to judge and ever berate that person. The mainstream approach to dieting and health is pretty disastrous.
But I find some of the reasoning in comments here a bit problematic as well. A lot more people are “overweight” now than when I was a kid in the 1970s or a young adult in the 1980s. If it were just a matter of genes (as the NY Times article linked to on Emma’s site basically said), this would not be the case. I don’t pretend to have all the answers to this, but I have to wonder about various changes in what people in the U.S. consume (as water and food) now compared to before. Most of us have been drinking fluoridated water all or most of our lives (since it was added to our water supply in the late 1950s). They know it suppresses thyroid function. Then there are the various toxins that inundate our environment, such as perchlorates from jet fuel and other sources that hit the thyroid so hard.
When I read people talking about never restricting any food, I really question this advice. For one thing, nonorganic foods (i.e. so-called ‘regular’ food, meaning food that is different than what humanity ate for all their existence until the past century when the ‘experts’ started inundating our food with chemicals at every step of the way) have chemical residues that can act like super-estrogens, which could contribute to weight gain. For another, when you take that and combine it with created foods that are so far from what humans would eat in a more natural lifestyle (as varied as that may be), people’s bodies may respond to these by gaining a lot of weight. (I mean things like soda, donuts, fast food, etc.) What about the movie “Supersize Me”?
I had been struggling with weight for years (mostly after my third pregnancy), and I tried various ways of eating and living (nothing extreme, at least not any grueling regimens). Finally a few years ago, I cut out all grains for a while, cut out chemicals to the extent that I could (organic food, no additives), started eating more fat (salmon with the skin on it each morning, cooked in coconut oil and vegetables cooked in that oil as well), went gluten-free, and slowly lost weight. At the same time, I went back to school and was really excited and happy about what I was doing. I kept roasted salted sunflower seeds with me in case i was somewhere and got really hungry (NOT roasted with soy oil – just sunflower oil). All of my old hypoglycemia was gone and I felt way better. Over the course of about 1 1/2 years, I lost 60 pounds.
I kept that off, even adding in some grains after a while (still gluten-free). I know my eating was fairly low in carbs, so that was probably part of the weight-loss. In the past 6 months, I’ve gained some of that back (about 20 pounds). I was really stressed (and I know stress plays a huge part in this for me). I was too inactive. (I don’t do well with grueling exercise, but if I do need to get out and walk to feel better). I’d changed what i ate for lunch. And the thing is that I was feeling worse. So now I’ve gone back to eating how I was before. I never felt hungry and my calorie intake was not low when I was very slowly losing weight.
Someone can say that in some sort of imagined “end,” this won’t “work” for me or there will be some problem, but I don’t see it that way. I feel a lot better when I eat few grains, no junk food, a good amount of the healthy fats, vegetables, some fruit (not all – with some I don’t feel too good), no juice, no alcohol (I like it but it makes me feel lousy when I have even a little), and so on. I’m not saying how I eat is the exact way everyone should eat, but had I not kept searching for a way to lose weight (a healthy way), I wouldn’t have found this way of eating. At the same time, I think we should all be fighting like crazy the continued bombardment with chemicals, fluoride, etc. we are forced to endure. (I also put in a reverse osmosis system with a fluoride filter to try to deal with some of this.) I should add that our income is pretty low (mid $30Ks for a family of four) so I do have to use a much higher percentage of that income for our food than what many people are willing or able to use.
What I’ve described may sound like its own kind of extreme makeover for people who are used to eating and living very differently, but I don’t think it’s extreme in terms of its effect on my body. I think that instead our society is putting an extreme amount of stress on our bodies with the umpteen toxins we’re all dealing with. In a society like this, I don’t feel comfortable going out to eat at most places, but I’m happy to invite people over to eat or to meet them at a co-op organic restaurant or to bring food we can share somewhere that we meet. Anyway, sorry for the long rant and probably too much info on what I’ve done. But I just wanted to explain enough so that it wasn’t too vague. I am still looking to learn more, which is why I have started reading info on this site. Thanks, Matt and others.
A couple other things I meant to say… It’s so true that weight loss or thinness in and of itself as a measure of “health” can’t be relied on. When we see or hear about people eating the same junk food and some weighing so much more than others (who remain thin on that food), it doesn’t mean it’s not taking a toll on the health of those who are thin. But our society is so focused on appearance (and thus weight) that people often assume everything is fine with someone’s health just because that person is thin. This perception harms everyone, thin or not.
The other thing I forgot to say is that I do have hypothyroid issues and have been on Cytomel for that for about six years. But the medication didn’t change my weight as I initially hoped it would or my other symptoms (cold attacks, depression, etc.). My doctor was the one who later suggested going off gluten because he said some university studies have suggested that for people with auto-immune issues, going off gluten may reduce those problems.
Actually, one last thing… I usually don’t think about food much. That has been freeing. I eat mostly the same things, and feel good that way (I know some people enjoy much more variety, but the routine frees me to focus on things I most want to focus on – relationships, studies, writing, activism, growing food, etc.). But I still want to understand a lot more about these issues, so I don’t at all mean to sound like i have found “THE” answer. Just sharing where I’m at now in case it is of use, and bringing up some thoughts I have about what some of what I’ve read here.
I didn’t say “genes,” I said heredity. Big difference.
I totally agree with what you said, Lass. As Matt points out, epigenetics could be having an effect. I also believe the chemicals in our environment play a big part, as well as pharmaceuticals.
Amy- very interesting point. My brother and I were poisoned in utero because my Mom was drinking pesticide laced water at her job at the airport. He got the worst of it and has experienced a lifetime of horrendous problems, starting from birth. In the same office, 7 other women had a horrendous time conceiving, and then when they did give birth it was to severely deformed babies, one was born without a cranium, she died within an hour of birth. There were babies born without limbs. I was born two years after my brother and I did not have the level of learning disabilities, but now I recognize my own limitations and wonder where they came from, my own genetics or the poison.
One more thing: in that way they think of the two of us as miracle babies. Both of us, my brother and I, have proven to be extremely tough and even though our lives have not been perfect, I think of us as being like Harry Potter: we are the babies that lived. I survived horrific burns over most of my body; he survived the poison.
Wow … that’s an amazing story, Alisha. Did your mom or the other workers ever get any compensation or at least an apology for that? Where and when did that happen? That’s really terrible that your family and the others were exposed to that. We like to think it couldn’t happen today, but sadly it probably could.
No. No compensation. No lawsuits. No evidence, except for the dead babies and the miscarriages.
It happened in Northern CA at a small airport. My Mom worked there along with several other ladies in the same office. It is very sad and I sincerely hope that it never happens to anyone else.
Any thoughts on Seth Roberts Shangri-La Diet at reducing peoples weight sets points.
http://www.amazon.com/Shangri-Diet-Hunger-Anything-Weight-Loss/dp/0399533168/ref=ed_oe_p/002-0885004-4236054
I did a video on that several years ago and have discussed that kind of thing in posts extensively, like “Dopamine and Weight Loss” and other posts.
Thanks Matt I’ll check them out..
Matt, I agree with most everything you said in this post. I hate extreme weight loss shows for the same reasons you mention (though, being the soft-hearted person I am, I get wrapped up in the stories and end up in happy tears along with them, even though I know better!). My question to you is this… What is the RIGHT way to go about weight loss for the obese? Not all obese people got that way from yo-yo dieting, right? For instance, the kids who are obese didn’t get that way because of ruining their metabolism by extreme dieting and over-exercising. I do know of people who are extremely obese who barely eat and/or don’t even eat daily. My husband met someone just this past week who used to weigh 500 pounds and was a personal client of Dr. Atkins during her weight loss (she’s less than 200 now). She rarely ever ate, thinking that if she stopped eating, she’d lose weight. I understand why that backfired. But, what is the answer?? Just curious! Still trying to wrap my head around all of this stuff! Thanks!
I’m going to re-post something that Carbosaurus Rex posted a long time ago. I bookmarked it because I thought it was so smart, and I think it shows some possibilities:
I USED to be a certified personal trainer and holistic nutritionist. Over the last few years I’ve been approached by quite a few people about how to lose weight. And only one person has been able to lose fat in a healthy way. Ive seen her everyday for 3 years here is her story.
When i met her she had some bad habits. Drinking, smoking, eating junk, stressing out, not sleeping well, etc. She was at her highest weight at that time 3 years ago with about 50 extra pounds of fat.
When she asked for my advice, I gave her general recommendations. Eat to appetite of any food you think is good for you. Do moderate weight training. Sleep more. Watch less t.v etc. She began eating more often, and being more active. In a year she was riding her bike to work. She cooked her own dinner almost every night. Got into a stable relationship. Got into school, got a raise at her job. She only kept friends around who were positive.
Time past and she would ask for a tip here and there, but mostly she did all the work herself. About a month ago I noticed she looked really good! Her hair was glossy, skin clear, good.posture , and a bright attitude. She told me she had lost about 5o lbs !
Granted , she is a young woman. She probably has a hormonal advantage , but she did it the SLOW way. Over three years she did a complete 180 ! And bit by bit the weight came off without resorting to restriction or extremes. I think weight loss is a result of living the best life you can.
Thanks, Amy! Good re-post.
Thank you for posting that! Great story. Makes sense.
I just saw this comment also on the NY Times, in response to a story on calorie counts at restaurants, which shows the benefits of a slow lifestyle change, and getting rid of junk food. She lost more than half her body weight over 6 years, and it’s still off 5 years later. So much healthier than Extreme Makeover.
I’ve lost 170 pounds and kept 160 of it off by NOT calorie counting or weighing myself. I slowly stopped eating the junk that I had been grazing on daily: Doritos, Cheetos, frozen pizza, bags of mozzarella cheese, Hot Pockets, soda. Nowadays, I basically eat the same thing 5 days per week with some variation on the weekends. My only real vice is diet soda. I weigh myself at most 3 times per year (I don’t own a scale). It took around 6 years to go from 300 to a little over 130. I weigh in the low 140s now, 11 years after I started changing my life. My main exercise is walking.
I feel that there are too many food choices. I mean, really, how many different kinds of chips do we need? Why are there so many types of cookies? Why is all of that necessary? Never mind the abhorent racial mess — why is (diabetic) Paula Deen championing cheeseburgers with donut rolls?
Cake, which used to be a special treat for birthdays is now at the checkout counter of more than one grocery store in my suburban town. Why?
Food is still the center of my life. But I will not let my life be ruled by the numbers on the calorie count or the scale.
Question, Amy… Who/what is “Carbosaurus Rex?” I assumed it was a blog, tried Google, but didn’t come up with anything.
Carby Rex is a young guy who has followed this site for a few years now. And left some incredible comments along the way.
Yup. Here’s the thread he posted in that I quoted:
http://180degreehealth.com/2012/03/lose-weight-and-get-healthy
Hi Amy, I am very happy for you and jealous! I’m right now at your same starting weight and would do anything to be even at about 200 pounds. However, I can’t do what you did to lose weight because I already eat a very clean diet, about 90% homemade. I rarely eat any junk food or fast food or prepackaged food. I am also pretty active, cleaning home, walking/shopping frequently, trail walking and light hiking at least 2 times per week, and lots of walking on the weekend since my family usually goes and does something fun. I only watch about 2-3 hours of TV per week. I have no health problems, but I want to look good. My son is also very heavy, which is heartbreaking because I know how much suffering he has ahead of him. He has no health issues either.
I am very happy for you that you were able to change your weight so dramatically and keep it off. I wish I could do the same!
Oh, just to clarify, that was the NYT commenter, not me. It sounds like you have a healthy lifestyle, which means good things about your state of health, whatever your weight. I hope you can find a way to focus on that. I know it’s tough in this society we live in.
Just recently i’ve ben reading bunch of testimonials on edible clay on aboutclay website and people are reporting weight loss, and most importantly reduced sugar craving which is most likely due to minerals helping regulate blood sugar. The calcium bentonite clay is incredibly rich in magnesium, calcium, manganese, chromium….it’s a big deal in m y opinion.
They also report change in pets behavior and dogs not wanting to eat food anymore unless it included some hydrated clay.
Regarding “weight set point”, what roll does thyroid play in this, and wouldn’t increasing active thyroid hormone with natural dessicated thryoid at least help to increase energy expenditure? Whether thyroid was congenitally low, or reduced due to various stressor?
I’m sure it’s more complicated than that, but wouldn’t that at least help?
I don’t know what the answer is. I have been very heavy my entire life. My mom was very thin and father was heavy. My mom’s family was all heavy also. My highest weight was 380, which was very much over my “set point.” I got down to 250 and as chronically hungry. I got back up to 270 and felt okay, but then had my son (2nd child) and then had sepsis. Since the many antibiotics last year, I haven’t felt right at all. I weigh close to 300 pounds again and know I’m over my “set point.” I think my personal set point is around 270…that was my weight at age 18. It’s still very high, but my body seems to return there. I even had weight loss surgery (I wish I hadn’t) and couldn’t get below 250. I have Hashimoto’s (diagnosed in my teens), but I’m not sure how much that has to do with my weight.
I think I believe that people who were naturally thinner as children can lose weight a lot more readily than people like me, who were never thin. My brother is a prime example. He was very thin as a child and then gained a bunch of weight, ended up at 265. He is effortlessly maintaining a weight of 160 now. And he does ultramarathons (ugh). He eats tons of food. But as a teen/young adult, he wasn’t obese. I think that plays a role in it. Both my brother and I lived in the same house as my second cousin, who had to be “fattened” up with milkshakes in order to make weight for football. Go figure.
It’s the prevailing theme isn’t it, some put on weight incredibly well (obese) while others need to resort to chugging milkshakes and still resist. All due to so many factors in-versus-outers don’t wanna know about.
I think you are confused here. Running ultramarathons does not qualify as “effortlessly maintaining.”
Also, your weight set point is your weight when eating to appetite and not doing any unwanted exercise. Few people are ever above their weight set point unless they forcibly overeat against their will. That weight fluctuates. It is not static for everyone. For chronic dieters it is quite volatile.
Matt, am I reading you right? These sentences: “Few people are ever above their weight set point unless they forcibly overeat against their will. That weight fluctuates. It is not static for everyone.”
Do you mean that set points themselves can fluctuate quite a bit?
So basically if I eat when I’m hungry, stop when I’m full and exercise when I want to, I will, over time, end up at my body’s “set point?”
I see what you mean. Though I would say my brother isn’t doing any unwanted exercise. To his body, maybe it’s unwanted, but he loves it. He eats a ton of food and runs a ton. I’m not sure what would happen should he stop running so much. Though, I will say, he doesn’t run ultramarathons to maintain his weight. He runs them because he “loves to run.” I’ll never understand it, but we have completely different body types.
Let’s just say what these shows really are: subjugation and abuse of others with traits we do not wish to see in ourselves. The point is that the subject get caught up and enrolled in her abuse such that she becomes a participant and the nature and severity of the abuse become obscured. There will not be any search for real solutions, any compassion, or any ability to help others when this is occurring. These shows reflect and also exacerbate a national phenomenon and are part of our mental unwellness at the national level.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-study-finds-it-is-impossible-to-lose-weight-no,32770/
Supposed to be satire, but seems to be almost 100% true.
I think that the heredity + environment equation is very compelling. It’s interesting that Native American populations are more susceptible to diabetes and obesity, but it isn’t really clear why. Chief said it probably has something to do with the particular stress burden that population carries, but I think it probably also has to do with their lack of adaptation to a western diet and lifestyle.
Heredity may place a population or an individual at greater risk of obesity, but I’m uncertain it would be an issue if that person’s genes weren’t ill suited to our westernized lifestyles and diet. Obesity may be an irreversible, heritable trait, but it may also represent an innate sensitivity. I remember Seth Roberts talking on his blog about how a study was done on rats where they were exposed to light at inappropriate times of day to see if it would disrupt their sleep schedules. Most rats were fine, but a few suffered sleep problems. Seth highlighted that this didn’t point out a major genetic fault in the mice who’s sleep was disturbed. Rather, it showed that minor genetic differences, which would never have revealed themselves in a natural setting, become “major genetic differences” only when an unnatural stimulus is introduced.
Check out this article. A former cast member of season 1 (from Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition) is calling them out and whistleblowing on all the unhealthy, extreme, and fake methods they used on all of them. It’s horrible how they abuse these poor people!
http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/health-on-the-small-screen/former-extreme-makeover-weight-loss-edition-cast-member-blows-whistle-on-shows-practices/
Wow. Good read. I myself, am trying to get back to 150 pounds. Right now I’m at 180. I’ve heard and seen so many ridiculous stories of people losing weight extremely fast. It saddens me that people are more focused on losing weight as soon as possible rather than losing weight the “healthier” way. As that saying goes “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” but everyone wants immediate gratification. I have never watched a single show, nor do I ever plan to. For me, I’m going to reach my goal in a steady pace. I honestly think that there will be complications if people were to lose weight extremely fast.
I loved your post, a lot of good points! I also want to say, though, I disagree with your “random thought” towards the end drawing connections between what they do on this show and telling people that it’s not okay to be who you were born. Obesity is a disease–this woman weighed over 300 lbs, which is so overweight that it was extremely damaging to her overall health and wellbeing, and if she is in a position where she can make things easier for herself, lose the weight and become healthier, then why shouldn’t she? It’s definitely NOT the same as a black person becoming white, because she’s not losing her identity or anything, she’s trying to make herself better. I definitely agree that they should find other methods for achieving weight loss and should focus on improving her health than thinking about body image and all that stuff, but like I said, obesity is a disease and isn’t the same as being like…black, or puerto rican or whatever.