Training & Nutrition - I'm pretty mad.

It's a good thing that I was overweight once before. It's so much easier to see not only the flaws I've made in dieting and food choice, but the flaws that others continually show.

Yesterday, a friend of mine invited me to a networking event. I like these, since it gives me a chance to sharpen my conversation skills (and, well, meet people). Too bad that it smelled and sounded pretty much like your typical multi-level marketing scheme (MLM); they even referenced it in their presentation!

FTR, it was YOR Health (http://www.yor.com). Sounds like scam bait to me.

What upset me even MORE was that what this group was trying to pitch this time around was health products! Between all of the fluff about how rich one could get, they seemed to pitch all sorts of juices and shakes that could be used to 'live a healthy lifestyle.'

This made me think a bit (after ditching the presentation, of course). The food pyramid is so simple and old, but for the most part pretty much sums up how one should be eating! Coupled with an active lifestyle, going by the food pyramid and eating balanced meals works! The fact that I've been able to hold my weight at 155 lbs and look lean (not stringy or 'thin') testifies this (at least for me). Harvard even updated the pyramid to account for new research on food groups and incorporate exercise and living habits!

People look at me weird sometimes for boxing up three small serving trays for lunch every day. I think it's a really balanced lunch: one of them has greens and vegetables, the other has a type of grain (usually pasta or rice; I think they switched to whole grain pasta now!), and another has tuna or chicken, mixed with a bit of dressing (fat) and cheese (dairy). It tastes pretty good, is really simple...and doesn't contain any hidden surprises. (Possibly with the exception of oil in the pasta...but nowadays I make my own pasta to offset this). Compared to the cheeseburger and fries crowd, or those that aim for a 'tasty' (i.e. possibly unbalanced) lunch, it must be pretty weird.

Must also be weird that I'm also part of the minority of NON overweight/obese people at my company. Then again, I'm pretty sure that the average age of the employees at my work is around 35 or so, so a lot older than I am...but it's not like you automatically get fat after 23!

Then there's the MAJORITY who believe fervently in the religion of skipping the most wonderful meal of the day...but that's another rant.

Sorry for the rant; I've just been thinking a bit lately.

The funny thing about weight loss is everyone already knows the answer to lose weight; people just want a more efficient or easier way to do it.

What bothers me about this society we live in now is the fact that the obese are now the majority. Several times I've had to explain why I run and cycle, and several times I've been mocked (by overweight people) . The healthly and fit people are being ostracized for not being overweight.

I see that a bit and I live in a fairly healthy state.
Plus, I get the occasional bit about eating healthy and working out. Somehow folks don't seem to understand that for me both are intertwined.
-I work out. I crave healthy foods
-I eat healthy foods and have a better workout
-I loose more weight with eating good food and working out
-Working out enables me to eat more food since I enjoy it.
-The occasional cheating or rare binges minimally affect me due to working out and eating healthy.

Plus, I have a terrible stomach that has issues with fatty foods, lactose, and caffeine. Eating healthy helps me keep it settled.

It's interesting that you mention this. I was at the diabetes clinic today and a patient was saying how they were on a commercial weight loss programme. The programme short changes you on what you can eat and in turn they sell you supplements to make up the nutrients that you are not getting in your diet. After you lose the weight and start eating normally you end up worse than you started. Plus the supplements are over $50 a week. The worst part is that the diet was so deficient in carbs that the person was often in a state of hypoglycaemia.

It is sad to see that people will prey one ones desperation to lose weight at the expense of someones health. I guess thats what happens when salesmen plan a nutritional programme.

Is it really your coworker’s food preferences and assumed activity level that is bothering you? More than likely it is their appearance -and your stereotypes that you associate with that appearance- that is bothering you. At the very least you have a judgmental and self-righteous attitude towards those you deem less fit than yourself.

I wonder if visible differences have ever lead segregation and discrimination. Could trivial differences actually escalate into feelings of anger and hatred, even violence?

Heck now “I’m pretty mad” too, let’s go mock some disgusting fatties!

It never ceases to amaze me how many fat people are out there. I'm a minority, indeed.

Has anyone ever looked at the grocery store what they are buying? Real junk food. Next time you see a lard ass in line up look in their cart.............

It never ceases to amaze me how many fat people are out there. I'm a minority, indeed.

Has anyone ever looked at the grocery store what they are buying? Real junk food. Next time you see a lard ass in line up look in their cart.............

The shame of this is that junk food is cheaper to buy than "real" food. This is especially true in poor/bad neighborhoods where there are plenty of fast food places but few grocery stores.

Is it really your coworker’s food preferences and assumed activity level that is bothering you? More than likely it is their appearance -and your stereotypes that you associate with that appearance- that is bothering you. At the very least you have a judgmental and self-righteous attitude towards those you deem less fit than yourself.

I wonder if visible differences have ever lead segregation and discrimination. Could trivial differences actually escalate into feelings of anger and hatred, even violence?

Heck now “I’m pretty mad” too, let’s go mock some disgusting fatties!

I won't disagree; I'm pretty judgmental when it comes to this. When I do start to make judgments, I always think of the exceptions: What if that person medically cannot lose that weight? What if there were or are circumstances that force the person to be that way?

However, I was in that 'majority' myself (I don't agree with the notion that obese people are the majority, though I think there is a growing obesity trend at hand). I was very much overweight, but pretty much for the reasons that I've listed. I was pretty sedentary (compared to how I am now) and ate without minding much conscience to my health. On the other hand, I was young and was never in a family that was conscious about that (now we are). Most of the people I knew that were also overweight or obese were so because they led the same lifestyle that I did; eat lots (of bad food), but do little to work it off. It couldn't have been a trend just in my social circle, when this lifestyle is televised, publicized and, by some, criticized. Furthermore, all of the people I knew that were leaner and at least looked fitter seemed to exercise and keep active (though there are the people that can eat anything and remain skinny, but not lean). Their eating habits might be suspect, but I definitely knew that they weren't professional couch potatoes. There must be some correlation, right? :)

So then is it my assumptions that base my anger or the reality that I've seen (and you may have not)? I'm more than happy to talk about the little I know about nutrition or maximizing one's health with others that are interested, regardless of what you look like. I will, however, still be upset about the fact that a life of convenience, stress and laziness in regard to one's health is what continually fuels a multi-billion dollar 'health and wellness' market that wouldn't exist (or be nearly as large) with a little bit of moderation. :)

I used to go to work brownbagging it everyday with very healthy stuff. Probably cost 2 to 3 dollars a day. It was great. So often people would comment, "you eat like I should". After a while I stopped even trying to talk with them. After all, if you know what you should be doing, and don't do it, who's fault is that?

Excercise is a key, it controls appetite. I swear, if I stop, I can just eat and eat and eat. Doesn't seem logical to me, but it is definitely true.

I am willing to give obese people the benefit of the doubt. Genetic disorders that lead to obesity are more prevalent than we realize. It really is much harder for some people to use the "eat less/exercise more" approach to any effect.

Having said that, there are a ton of reasons that I exercise as much as I do:

- I love getting outdoors for as long as I can. The better my conditioning, the longer I can enjoy it.
- I want to remain active as late in life as I can. I want to be cycling, hiking and backpacking when I'm in my 70's.
- I want to be thin enough that I fit comfortably into airplane/bus/train seats and theater seats.
- I want my health to be as good as it can be. I hate being sick and I hate being injured. Obese people tend to suffer from lower back and knee ailments among a litany of other things.

I've probably forgotten a few. Often I'll see someone who is obese and they're having a hard time trying to do something due to physical limitations. Mentally I add that activity to the list of things I'd have to give up if I let myself go.

New ground breaking research - Exercise Can Overcome Obesity Gene
Study Shows Physical Activity Can Offset Genetic Predisposition for Obesity

read it here - http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20080908/exercise-can-overcome-obesity-gene?src=rss_facs

Who would have thought?

You know why healthy people are so thin?



Because health food tastes like $hit!

You know why healthy people are so thin?



Because health food tastes like $hit!

Incorrect.

Couldn't be more incorrect.
Health food is nummy.

Hah... health food tastes bad???

Name one person who doesn't like water.

And for the food, if you must nit pick... personally, apples are great- plus it's been proven that the average person who would have an apple a day, have tendencies to eat healthier and be healthier in general- not everyone mind you, but the majority... In fact... name one unhealthy fruit that tastes delicious.... That I have to see...

Unhealthy fruit...?

Hah... health food tastes bad???

Name one person who doesn't like water.


sadly i can. actually i know a lot of people that avoid water - drinking tea, sports drinks, coffee, juice, etc. instead.

i like a tall glass of plain 'ole water.

Unhealthy fruit...?

Deep fried..... um....pears!