Obesity Support Group
This community is dedicated to those of us struggling with obesity. Obesity is thought to be a significant risk factor in certain health conditions, leading to increased mortality. Find the support you need by sharing your story, asking questions, and learning from others on how they have coped.
Ok, so has anyone ever watched those shows about people that are like 700 plus pounds? Well, they showed how what you think is not alot of food all adds up to like thousands and thousands of calories. I didn't relize how everything adds up like that I think one guy ate 33,000 calories a day. They said the calorie difference in an obese person and a not obese person is about 1000. That is a big mac, large fries and a large coke.
I believe it is important to love your body and try to be happy whatever size you are. There are a lot of more important things to think about and worry about than weight and I don't believe hating your body or being unhappy about being fat achieves anything other than encouraging more bingeing.
Also, saying 'fat people' or 'overweight people' or 'obese people' includes a lot of people who all have different experiences and different lives and are very different weights, from those who are just a few pounds or a stone overweight, to those who are physically immobile. I don't think you can speak for that number of people.
I also disagree when you claim all fat people are unhappy. Most people do have times when they dislike their body or parts of it, even thin people. It is natural to go through phases of being happy and sad, nobody thin or fat is happy all the time, apart from anything else that would be meaningless and boring. But what I dislike most about it is that it deprives these people of any comeback - whatever they say you have decided they are unhappy even though you do not know them. How can you make such a sweeping statement? You base it on your own weight and experience but not all overweight people have the same experience as you, we all have different lifestyles. Just because you suffer pain and unhappiness due to your weight doesn't mean all obese people do.
Basically what I am saying is you cannot speak for all obese people to say if we are healthy or happy or not. Some are, some are not. The same person might feel low about their weight one day and happy and voluptuous the next. Each of us needs to find for ourselves the best way of being healthy and happy.
I was not generally saying that all obese people are happy or not. My post was saying that most obese people only eat about 1000 more calories then not obese people. My post was about a t.v program, it was not intended on being a obese bash. In a rebutle, I do think that 700 pound plus people that are unable to walk , get up, or even do anything by themselves are unhappy. As far as being healthy, I never said anything about health. I think that large and small people have different health concerns, but larger people have a higher risk of diebetes and heart problems, sleep problems and fatigue.
I will agree to disagree with you. I do not believe anyone overweight, obese, pleasantly plump, a little chubby is happy about that. That is my opinion mind you just as you have yours and I am not here to debate with you. If anyone wishes to express their own personal opinion on that matter I would love to hear from them.
When referring to the word healthy it can symbolize many different aspects of health. I also stand firm that if you are over weight you will have some health issues that's the fact. You can be thin as well and not be healthy. I am not out to convince the world that every person that is overweight is unhealthy but I am going to stand firm and say they will have health issues because of it. I need not be a doctor to make that call as again my opinion only.
So we can agree to disagree about that topic as I will stick with my thoughts and you should do the same. Another thing you mention is that I am speaking for other people well no I am not I am speaking for me and my beliefs as I stated right off the bat. I would kindly suggest that if you wish to respond to my post and my opinions please do not say I am speaking for other people or I am out to generalize anyone as these are my thoughts and my opinions only. It is my own personal thoughts on the issues I have listed and MINE only. It is how I see it. If you see it differently not a darn thing wrong with that. If you are happy with your weight and healthy well awesome for you:)
Also I had to chuckle at your statement that said "Just because you suffer pain and unhappiness due to your weight doesn't mean all obese people do". Goodness are you not doing the same thing you asked me not to do? lol Was this an opinion or merely a statement you felt the need to make because I perhaps touched a nerve with you? None the less like I said speak for yourself and how you personally see things I have no problem with that. Again tell the world how happy you are with your ownself and your weight do not tell me other people are happy because how would you know that? My point being here don't critize me nor my opinions on how I see the obesity and health issues in the world today. Disagree with me that's fine but lets keep it logical and intelligent and respect the thoughts and opinions of everyone.
In all aspects some will agree with me and some will agree with you but I would much rather hear people's own opinion on the matter and not accusations that I speak for everyone. I do believe my opinions might have struck a nerve with you just a bit but again I would rather hear your opinion. I would much rather hear you say I personally am happy being overweight. I personally do not have any health issues because of my weight. This would be more logical when responding to my post as I get to hear from you and not a debate that just isn't going to happen lol.
I was responding to Katie's post not yours.
Katie
I am depressed right now but that is to do with my job not my weight. It is a very stressful time right now for a lot of people with money and their jobs, I am far from alone in this. In terms of my weight I could not care less frankly, I have more important things to worry about and if others do not, they should count themselves lucky in the current climate with war, terrorism and financial crises and job losses. Weight is the least of anyone's worries at the moment. If you asked me what my feelings were about being fat, I would say I do actually quite like it. I would rather be me than someone else. I like my big breasts and my voluptuous shape, and it makes me happy that my boyfriend likes those things too. I would rather look like me than like a coat hanger with all bones and no womanly curves. I identify myself with being fat and would not feel right if I was thin.
Again I do have health issues - I am type 1 diabetic - but that is unrelated to my weight. The doctors do pressure me to lose weight and yes that makes me unhappy. But I do not have any weight related health issues. And the unhappiness caused by the doctors is separarte from my own feelings about my weight, it is an outside pressure which can affect my emotions temporarily, but the doctors do not know me and cannot tell me what to do, I ultimately have control of my own body. They can only advise from one perspective, the medical perspective, which can be useful but should be considered at the same time as other perspectives to gain an idea of the whole picture.
It did seem to me you were speaking for everyone when you said "when watching these programs I see some of the obese people say they are happy to be fat. I don't know I have a hard time believing that because of how our society is today. It is not accomodating to obese people at all. So I feel they put on a happy face but honestly I do not think they are happy about being obese no matter what they say."
And when you said "I have yet to be convinced that anyone is truly happy being obese. I also debate the fact that some say you can be overweight and healthy."
Even in your second post you say "I do not believe anyone overweight, obese, pleasantly plump, a little chubby is happy about that."
That sounds a lot like you are speaking for these people and saying whether they are happy or not, which was my point. Like you say yourself, it is one thing saying what your feelings are about your own weight and another saying what other peoples feelings are about their weight. I still do not believe that you can say whether or not *all* fat people are happy or healthy.
I am going to respond one more time back to you here and if you wish to address me then take it to my What's on your mind group as I am sure jax did not put up this post to watch us debate.
I stand firm that when I see obese or overweight people they are not happy about their weight. It is how I see it black and white and plain and simple. And yes I do believe people who are overweight that say they are happy with being overweight, well sorry but that just does not not convince me. However I never asked anyone to try and convince me of their happiness. If a person wants to state they are happy with being overweight I have nothing against them nor their thought on the matter however am I convinced? Nope I surely am not. Again it is how I see things.
You may not be happy about how I see obesity and being overweight in our society today, however that is my opinion on it. If you wish to percieve that I am speaking for all people that is also your choice to do so. And certainly if you wish to state that you do not care about your weight or what others think about it well by all means you should state it but will I believe it? Nope and it shouldn't matter to you because you could care less about your weight. Those are your words not mine.
None the less the debate ends here. Like I said if you wish to address me more on the topic it will have to be taken to the group I mentioned above. As I do not wish jax's post to be filled with debatable issues between you and I. I have watched several of your posts in the past and I have watched you address many people with your opinions. Many were offended by some of your statements. I however was not. None the less sometimes it is wise to not respond to certain posts if they are going to bend you out of shape or get you all worked up. Just remember the key is to respect everyone's opinion not agree with it just respect it. Cheers!!!
Kate
you are right! I did not post to cause a debate, I just wanted to bring up a point. I am not happy being my size. I am happy with my life and myself, but not my weight. Truth be told, if obese people were truly happy being obese, then america would not have weight loss products out the wazu, gyms on every corner of the same street, weight watchers, jenny craig, diet drinks, crystal light, salads, wii fit and well the list goes on and on. As a matter of fact, I dont think this support group would be here if obese and overweight people were truly happy being heavy. I AM NOT saying all obese people are unhappy, but the majority are. I want to be maybe 150 pounds. Then I will be happy with my size.
Lizzie, you are intitled to your opinion and I respect you for having your own opinion. Katiebell is intitled to have her own opinion as well.
My post was simply saying " hey, did you know that maybe a bite of food here, and a meal and snack there, adding those snacks and sodas all day really add up." That was all I was trying to say. I didn't realize that, and I found that very interesting.
I don't think you have the right to decide when a debate ends. This is a public place, it can be seen by anyone and comes up in search engines, it is free to join and so anyone can respond with anything they like, no member has the right to say what another one should or should not do or where a discussion should end. Only the moderators have the right to do that. Yes Jax started the thread but that does not mean the thread has to go on discussing the same thing it started out with, online and face to face conversations and discussions often move from one subject to another. And if anything you were the one who mentioned about saying fat people could not be happy. You changed the topic of the thread and I responded to your post.
You say people should not respond to posts that bend them out of shape. Well first of all, what is the point of having a discussion board if people cannot discuss things and they only post to things they agree with? Also, why do you keep responding? Maybe you should take your own advice.
"I never asked anyone to try and convince me of their happiness. " Well yes actually you asked me.
"I have watched several of your posts in the past and I have watched you address many people with your opinions. Many were offended by some of your statements." I think that is for them to say. If someone is offended I expect them to let me know themselves, it is not your place to say that. Certainly none of these people were upset enough to bother to tell me. If you do not want to see my posts, I suggest you use the ignore function.
"will I believe it? Nope " Why enter into a discussion then if you cannot be prepared to open your mind and potentially change it, and learn new things? If your opinions are so set in stone and even when someone is talking about their own feelings you do not respect them enough to believe them, why come on a discussion site where those opinions will be challenged? What will it achieve for you if you have already decided something like this?
But right before surgery I moved into my friend,s house for some help to get back on my feet.so we only been watching her DVD's at night. Durring the day I have Library books on CD I been listening to while doing work on my computer.
Lizzie: Now now behave yourself if you wish to continue addressing me read my post again I will and am ending this debate you have with me on this thread and not a darn thing you can do about that lol. Sorry jax this is my last response regarding this issue to Lizzie as she perhaps did not understand my words the last few times about addressing me in another group.
Anyway you are correct jax it is amazing how many calories can be accumulated in the foods we eat and how it adds up so very quickly. I know that from watching some of these programs I was shocked to see what some of the servings actually added up to in calories made me think well I won't have that much again of that particular dish lol.