Often, I think I'm in the wrong line of work. Pretty much anything other than what I'm doing now, but specifically, the business of telling people things that are discovered by big government or private funding agencies. Like this:
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Eating heart-healthy, low-calorie foods and exercising is the key to losing weight regardless of levels of protein, fat or carbohydrates, a new study has found. The research, funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, seems to argue against blanket use of diets that do not necessarily limit calories but call for eating certain foods such as vegetables or proteins, at the expense of others.
To recap: Eating fewer calories than you use will make you lose weight. It's a new study. That's my favorite phrase, "a new study." In a new study funded by the National Institute for New Studies, researchers found that exposing your skin to the sun causes sunburn. A new study funded by the National Institute for Research has discovered that ice is cold and fire is hot.
Give me the money.
The story later goes on to tell us that sixty-six percent of US adults are overweight and of those, 32 percent are obese, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show. That's pretty easy to see.
Sixty-six percent. Research shows that's almost 7 out of 10 people. The next time you're out wandering around, take a look at people. We're a fat bunch of bipeds, you know. So much so that people who are a normal weight are stand-out's. It's a shame. We spend so much time sitting around so that almost everything we eat is helping us get fatter.
I think it's partly due to advancements in medicine. People feel like they'll just take a pill or have an operation rather than exert themselves. In addition to some other things, I do a killer exercise class on Thursday night. After the last one, I muttered to myself that if my doctor told me I had to do this four days a week or risk dying of coronary artery disease, I'd have to think about it.
I think most people are thinking about it.
13 comments:
i use to be thin...then i had kids and ate 1/2 gallons of ice cream a day. [that was with adam-damn cookies and cream ice cream] and then with abbie i ate a doz. blueberry glazed cake donuts a day. little did i realize that all of that would stay with me long after delivery.
i was one of those people you speak of with weight loss surgery [if that's who you meant for those who feel they'll "just take a pill or have an operation rather than exert themselves"]i had tried every diet probably known to man and i'd lose weight only to gain it back in 6 months. but know this dear anthony, please don't ASSUME those who choose to have any type of weight loss surgery does it with no sense of knowing it's not the quick fix. i have worked out more and consistantly since having weight loss surgery than i have ever done in my life. and my food choices have definitely changed. if i want something sweet instead of going for the chocolate or cake or ice cream i choose fruit of some sort. there's alot more to surgery [be it weight loss or tummy tuck for example] that you may not realize my friend.
just sayin'.
everything else you speak of, i agree.
If I've learned anything over the course of these years, it's when someone ends a comment with "my friend" they're kind of pissed over something I've written.
I've written about this subject a few times in the past. Just today I saw a guy on the leg lift machine doing something that barely defied gravity. "Put some Goddamned weight on it" I said to myself. I think that's what I wrote before, too.
Mostly, what I see of people who exercise is that they aren't doing enough to make a difference because they don't understand the principles of what they're trying to accomplish - that is, to make their body work a little.
Exercise and diet are more than just words. I see people on the treadmill or exercise bike doing little more than necessary to keep them upright on the thing. If you asked them they'd probably say they were "working out" but there's much more to it. Most of us aren't athletes, but exercise takes a lot of athleticism.
I think that's where people fail. They think they're doing enough when they aren't really doing anything. They're talking on cell phones, watching TV and reading magazines. I'm sorry, but you can't "work out" and read a magazine. If you can read you aren't working hard enough.
Surgery becomes a fix but if I had a choice between somebody cutting my abdomen open and working a little harder I wouldn't want a knife in my guts.
If I was a personal trainer, I'd be a total bitch.
Trust me, your words do not piss me. It's the mentality that goes beyond those words that makes me cringe. Not in anger, in sheer disbelief that people actually think like you do at times.
My point was, if you think weight loss surgery is an easy fix-then you are seriously mistaken. That's all I was sayin'.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm just not big on telling one person what they choose to do with their life or their body is right or wrong. Or if they choose to read a magazine while walking on a treadmill is not exercising.
And I have to agree with you again, if you were a trainer, you would be a total bitch. But I guess that just shows your passionate about what you believe.
Truthfully, if you are capable of reading while exercising you aren't exercising. There are simple mathematics involved.
You have to work at 75% of your maximum heart rate (220 minus your age times 75%) to be doing cardiovascular work. Below that you're not doing enough to burn calories. Reading doesn't enter into it. Leave the Goddamned magazine at home.
I don't mean to say that surgery is "easy" only that it's an easy alternative. If that Thursday exercise class is as hard as surgery, I'd still do the class. Don't cut me if I can do it myself.
And trust me, we can all do it ourselves it we have enough inner strength.
Ok so here's the thing. Its hard when ur obese to sit and know all you need to do to lose weight and then make ur body and mind follow. I know. I was there. No one thinks I was as big as I was but ill tell u here I was. I was pushing 200 pounds and a size 16-18 in womens.
It was hard ass work getting to a sz 0-4 let me tell u. It takes a total mind change, and motivation. And u don't and can't do it for anyone but you.
Having said that, I can see both sides here. There is no quick fix. However for the morbidly obese that have hundreds of pounds to lose, weight loss surgery is a jump start for them. Many who have it don't just have it and then continue to sit and eat waiting to be skinny and yet changing nothing. Most doctors now monitor, their patients are given nutritionalist, therapist (cuz why they were over eating will still be an issue), and exersize programs all things they wouldn't get prior on their own.
But for the simply obese of us. They need to know their is no special diet, no pill. Its simply burn more than u take in. That's the secret. But like with anything to work, it takes motivation and commitment.
But your right Anthony, no one wants the obvious answer, if it means work. But kimmy's right too, no one eligible for weight loss surgery goes into it thinking it won't be work. Weightloss surgery is different from tummy tucks. Tummy tucks are pointless unless u have the muscle under the lose skin, which takes work, its a clean up, a perfecting surgery after u work ur ass off to build that muscle. No one loses weight from tummy tucks. Weight loss surgery however, for the morbidly obsese is their last chance at life. I agree with it then, its hard with out help to lose 300 pounds when ur 500 pounds and can barely move, and those who have never had a weight issue don't really understand just how hard.
Xoxoxoxox
But how do you get to be 300 pounds to begin with? That's another subject. How people can be so out of touch with themselves to allow them to get there is beyond me.
I get worked up over an extra 3 pounds because I know it's cumulative. A year's worth of "3 pounds" is hard to erase.
Food is good, but there are consequences. Modern medical techniques give people an alternative that they tend to lean on. Altering ones lifestyle is harder.
Oh lordy.
When I had weight loss surgery I weighed 226 pounds. I've said that before it's not a secret. I am short. I had tried every diet known to man (including pills). I was a size 7 before I got pregnant and believe it or not, I gained a shit ton of weight (80+ pounds) with both of my back to back pregnancies. I ballooned up to a size 20 and then down to a 18 after having my children. Poor eating habits when I was pregnant like I said. Half gallons of ice cream every 2 days with Adam and a dozen donuts a day with Abbie. The idea of eating both of those things makes me cringe. I had no idea in my head what I was doing until it got to the point where I was diagnosed borderline diabetic and then it clicked. I had children and I wanted to be around to watch them grow, etc. So I tried to lose weight, but honestly I couldn't do it. I would yo-yo diet every year. So I had weight loss surgery. I've lost over 100 pounds now and trust me, the weight just doesn't fall off like you may think it does. You have to change the way you think, what you eat, how you live, exercise. Do you know that people can gain their weight back if they don't choose a new life after weight loss surgery? It's a complete mind game losing weight. It may not be that way for all (especially men) but ask any woman who has lost weight if they don't fear gaining 3 pounds if they 'cut loose' and splurge one day. It's a fearful mind game.
As far as having my tummy tuck, I lost a total of 3.5 pounds.
AND for the record, I hate the word obese. It's such an ugly word. It's a hurtful word.
But how can you think that eating half gallons of ice cream and dozens of donuts is a good thing? That's what I don't get.
Pregnant or not, it ain't right.
I'm a bitch.
As far as "obese" is concerned, it's a word that medical science has applied to people where a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively affected.
It might be offensive to you, but it's a medical condition that needs to be addressed.
How did they get to the point of needing to lose 300 pounds? Same way the alcoholic got to a 24 pack a night, its an addiction. Only there's u can see.
Some of it is genetics, both my parents are overweight and have been since they were kids, I was a chubby kid, and no we didn't live on junk food, parents couldn't afford it.
And another big part is motivation and commitment and fear. Its a daunting task.
I personally knew I had to do it on my own. It had to be a life style change that you keep. And I knew if I accomplished my 70 pound goal, on my own, I'd be more successful in keeping that life style. Knowing how hard it was to accomplish it. However its sooo empowering when u do. Or almost do (I have 10 more pounds lol).
I think what's upsetting to kimmy is you have the "always been thin" person thinking here. You've never been overweight, so it hard to understand the struggles completely.
But I agree with you in that I think what u are trying to say is unless you work hard to accomplish it, you won't maintain it.
Surgery is expensive, I would love a tummy tuck for all these stretch marks and loose skin from losing 60 pounds, but I can't afford it. I can however keep working on my abs with my 10$ stability ball every night. I know it won't take away the loose skin or the stretch marks, but if I ever get to a point where I can have that fixed I'll have even more muscle to support it hahah.
Basically Anthony, people do what they know they have to to accomplish their goals. Weather agreed upon or not.
For me I always figured if I'm still walking to get that snack, then I can get my ass on a treadmill and work it off. But then again I'm a stubborn fucking bitch who if I start something and I want it bad enough I WILL accomplish it. And I wanted muscle tone so I knew I couldn't do anything where I dropped a tone real fast.
Anthony, its a hard world out there for women, but I agree with u, most just need to get up off their ass and stop complaining about it and do something about it. As most aren't really in my opinion overweight enough for weight lost surgery. Its so dangerous. Treadmills and weights are generally safer.
Xoxoxoxox
I also think babe ur point here is the importance of a good heart pumping workout, for everyone. Not just those trying to lose weight.
As I tell the boys dad, just cause you're skinny doesn't mean your healthy.
What a trainer friend of mine calls 'fat skinny' people. Good hard cardio is good for the heart no matter ur size or goals.
People need to make their health a priority, yes babe that is so true.
Xoxoxo
Well, every now and then I poke the hornet's nest with a stick.
We unduly complicate physical fitness and diet. In fact, it isn't anyone's "opinion" that you should eat less and exercise more. It's simple fact.
We've gone from an agrarian society to one of service and convenience. We don't work very hard anymore, and our free time is spent on our asses doing this, mostly.
So, it's no wonder that 66% of people are overweight and almost all of us are heavier now than we were 10 years ago.
I am happy to say I am thinner now than I was ten years ago. And I plan to keep it that way hahah
People complicate things that aren't that complicating in general. I always wonder why this is.
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