Obese people.

On my recent trip to Europe, something bothered me. For the first few days I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Something was missing. But what was it? Then it hit me - like 300lbs. of lard. There's no obese people in Europe! (and by "no" I'm mean practically no compared to the U.S.)
I don't mean to say that there are no fat/chubby people, but there are just no morbidly obese people in europe. At the airport back home in the U.S. it seemed like one out of every five people was incredibly fat!
Here's the thing that pissed me off though. Alot of fat people subscribe to the theory that being fat is genetic and they can't do anything about it. So do they intend to make me believe that all of Europe's obese came over on the mayflower? - I think not.
True some people have slower metbolisms than other people, but when you get down to it - most fat people are just lazy people who never do anything, and/or eat too much/unhealthy food.
Don't eat so much, and stop sitting on your ass and you'll downgrade from blimpish fatness to chubby in weeks. Is it really that hard? Do they know that the phrase "work your ass off" means more than just doing alot of paperwork?
Seriously, there's nothing wrong with being chubby, but I just can't stand people that are so fat thier health is suffering from it.
Don't know why I began thinking about this, but it got on my nerves today.

:iamwithst

It only takes a couple weeks to drop a couple pounds.

A friend of mine used to be about 290 LBS. I guess he took a look in the mirror one day and didn't like the way he looked. He is now at 190, and looks great. Still going for more.

Shit.. all you have to do is eat healthy at subway for 6 weeks.. That's all I eat since I started working there, and I've been very healthy.

Posting on AF kind of nullifies my good eating habits though.

As Jasper Carrott once said,"It's pretty simple isn't it - this hole[*points to mouth}is bigger than this hole[*points to backside]"


Or Billy Connolly......"Women will tell you that they *retain water*....they don't. They retain chips!"

taranaki: i love your quotes like a fat kid love cake.

i see fat people come into subway all the time, and you know they are thinking.. "oh yea, subway, i'm eating healthy". then they ask for double cheese, double meat and extra mayo.

Oh the lovely American diet- I almost died when I saw that a medium Coke at a North American Maccy D's was as big as a Large coke anywhere else in the world and the Large Coke was a Fucking BUCKET!!!!!!! don't even get me started on the fries...................I love my Eurpean ways- but I'm still going to BK for lunch today:bigthumb:

everything is super sized these days...thats a huge problem americans want all their food bigger and for an extra $0.39 we find it hard to resist, I personally avoid fast food most of the time but sometimes I gotta eat there

Only fast food I ever touch is Subway, Mickie D's is complete dogshit. The only fast food burger I'll eat now is A&W since its all real meat in it.

Hehe. I on the otherhand, am skinny as shit. I could take in 9000 calories a day and not gain a pound. I could lift weights for years and never bulk up. And i love it. Metabolism is in redline for me :) I am a "rotary engine" of people. I use a lot of gas with not much to show for it.

But I know what you mean about the obesity 2stroke. I also noticed the difference when i went to germany for a month and came back. There's a lot of fatasses here! And they try to blame their genetics, hell they even try to blame McDonalds for their fatness. Guess what tubby, you dont HAVE to order a supersized quadruple big mac with extra cheese. and 2 liters of coke. and about 6 pounds of extra salty fries.

But I dont really care too much as long as they dont bother me.

I disagree with the premise that exceedingly obese people blame genetics. Sure, there are some people who'd make that claim, but the few people I know that are truely fucking fat, know its their fault. Its just a matter of them finally getting the willpower to do something about it.

Originally posted by Amish_kid
Only fast food I ever touch is Subway, Mickie D's is complete dogshit. The only fast food burger I'll eat now is A&W since its all real meat in it.

Subway isn't fast food. It's a deli.. I would never work fast food. Plus.. we aren't that fast.

Originally posted by Prelewd


Subway isn't fast food. It's a deli.. I would never work fast food. Plus.. we aren't that fast.

:lol:

While I feel for those who suffer from obesity the largest problem today is laziness. Technology is bigger part of the blame in my opinion not fast food. When I was growing up(born in 1981) I hardly spent anytime inside unless there was a thunderstorm. My friends and I would play baseball or do whatever in the rain we didn't care. During a typical summer day(mind you I live in Texas where its hot as hell) from 9am till 9pm I'd spend a maximum of 3 hours inside. Everyone I know was the same way. But today everything is so automated and luxurious that we feel more prone/comfortable to just sitting inside enjoying the a/c and playing video games. Parents don't lay down the law anymore forcing the kids to go outside and run around. Excercise is all that people who are concerned about their weight should have considered when they first started gaining weight. My former roomate and good friend is short and stumpy or use to be stumpy. He didn't want to be like that so he started running and he ran daily for two years and lost a substantial amount of weight. It's too easy these days to blame someone or in this case something for our own self problems.

Originally posted by TexasF355F1
While I feel for those who suffer from obesity the largest problem today is laziness. Technology is bigger part of the blame in my opinion not fast food. When I was growing up(born in 1981) I hardly spent anytime inside unless there was a thunderstorm. My friends and I would play baseball or do whatever in the rain we didn't care. During a typical summer day(mind you I live in Texas where its hot as hell) from 9am till 9pm I'd spend a maximum of 3 hours inside. Everyone I know was the same way. But today everything is so automated and luxurious that we feel more prone/comfortable to just sitting inside enjoying the a/c and playing video games. Parents don't lay down the law anymore forcing the kids to go outside and run around. Excercise is all that people who are concerned about their weight should have considered when they first started gaining weight. My former roomate and good friend is short and stumpy or use to be stumpy. He didn't want to be like that so he started running and he ran daily for two years and lost a substantial amount of weight. It's too easy these days to blame someone or in this case something for our own self problems.

:werd:

I remember growing up and everyday there was always something to do outside, like you said 9-9 I was out running around, riding my bike, playing football, and even the winter never stopped me I played hockey, road hockey and pond hockey sledding and just about anything imaginable. I find now that my town is dead when I'm out there are no little kids running out and about like I used to when I was younger. And I can only imagine it getting worse in the coming years.

Sounds like more parents should lock the TV cabinet these days (did any of you know kids who's parents did this?)

Oh, i dont blame the TV though. I spend countless hours in front of the TV as a kid, but i still ran around outside all day. I think its parents who would rather have their kids at home than risk having them hurt outside.

I don't think that TV makes people lazy either, but face it - lots of people just sit around watching TV rather than doing anything.
The best way to get kids to go outside? Buy them fireworks.

Some very interesting thoughts people. I have seen both sides of the fence. I was always just slightly chubby (never out of the normal range, but at the top end of it) as a kid. In the past 9 months, I started eating well and going to the gym 1-4 times a week (variable, mostly twice). I've now lost nearly 10kg and put on some substantial muscle. My BMI is 23.5 and in the 55th percentile, which I was thrilled with. The key was realising WHAT I didn't like and setting up things to change that. It's always hard to force yourself.

my BMI is 19.3, im almost underweight. To be honest, i wish i could trade with people who gain wait more easily. I cant put on ANY bulk, so i dont even try. but going through life ans "chickenlegs" and "toothpick" isnt easy either.

Originally posted by Steel
my BMI is 19.3, im almost underweight. To be honest, i wish i could trade with people who gain wait more easily. I cant put on ANY bulk, so i dont even try. but going through life ans "chickenlegs" and "toothpick" isnt easy either.

So I'm guessing you're a light-weight guy eh? It's a positive thing...your car goes faster :tongue:

Originally posted by Jimster
Oh the lovely American diet- I almost died when I saw that a medium Coke at a North American Maccy D's was as big as a Large coke anywhere else in the world and the Large Coke was a Fucking BUCKET!!!!!!! don't even get me started on the fries...................I love

hell you think the drinks at micky-D's are buckets.....try the KFC/Taco Bell half gallon Mega Jug....the thing is so big that it has it's own handle and it looks like one of those sand buckets....but wait there's more...7-11's Super Big Gulp...this thing has an even larger size compared to it's already large 64 ounces.......it looks like a small keg.....there's no way in hell that i can even fit that in my cup holders...i'd have to secure it in the passenger's seat with the damned seat belt...or have one of my friends hold it with both hands.......:tongue:

Originally posted by HogieGT-R


hell you think the drinks at micky-D's are buckets.....try the KFC/Taco Bell half gallon Mega Jug....the thing is so big that it has it's own handle and it looks like one of those sand buckets....but wait there's more...7-11's Super Big Gulp...this thing has an even larger size compared to it's already large 64 ounces.......it looks like a small keg.....there's no way in hell that i can even fit that in my cup holders...i'd have to secure it in the passenger's seat with the damned seat belt...or have one of my friends hold it with both hands.......:tongue:

I know I've seen them, but I have never seen someone actually buy one. They must be out there, but they're not moving fast around here.

I have 5 kids, from 13 years to 14 months. The TV isn't on much, at my house. There are only the VCR and Playstation II connected to it, anyway.

I kicked the networks out of the house long ago. My kids don't miss it. There is always something to do: Friends, play outside, yada yada.

All are lean and strong for their size/age: My two boys, 10 and 11, are getting pretty tough for me to pin down when we rough-house! :bigthumb:

I DO BLAME THE GODDAMN FUCKING TELEVISION!!! :tongue:

wow, PS2 as a substitute for TV, great! :smile:

They won't see much of that violence with the PS2...unless they play 'Grand Theft Auto:3/Vice city', but then agian, that game was meant for adults:cool:

Yeah; between PS2 games and movies, and the Internet (computer's in the living room! And monitored) they get all the screen time they need.

And they read books. So do my wife and I. Lots of great book series to read. Plus the trampoline and the swimming pool.

Wintertime means raging snowball fights, one fort against the other. I pull in after work and get out of the car, I'd better be ready for war - 'cause I'm a legitemate target until I reach the porch!

Life in a small town is great. :bigthumb:

Originally posted by Dan_in_WA
the Internet (computer's in the living room! And monitored) they get all the screen time they need.


You're depriving your kids of pr0n? And you still think they'll grow up OK? :biggrin2: :iceslolan

Originally posted by Oz


You're depriving your kids of pr0n? And you still think they'll grow up OK? :biggrin2: :iceslolan

Same thing I was thinking

Obesity - it sounds pretty obvious but it's because the calorific intake > the energy demands of the individual. Now reduce the calorific intake or increase the energy demands all things being equal then eventually the individual is likely to reduce in mass.... well kind of - for plenty of reasons this doesn't work - some folks metabolisms simply slow down, while there are some other issues that complicate things.

Okay, so why do some countries have a predominance toward obesity and worse still morbid obesity than others. Well it comes down to a lot of factors - genetics does play a part, but also the cultural effects of diet weigh heavily.

As an aside, the average Sumo wrestler lives on a diet of mainly fish and rice - but it is the quantity and frequency of eating that results in their mass. These individuals are very fit and strong but perhaps not aerobically more anerobically - their training is power based not based around cardiovascular endurance compared to say a distance runner.

Now some of you know I have a dark history of having worked in marketing and a significant reason for obesity is essentially marketing. From the day you were born, you were fed images and messages from a variety of sources associating foods with what tasted good. Now for instance there are foods such as kippers (pickled herrings) which to some cultures are mighty tasty but to others the smell and flavor are repugnant. The taste buds aren't any different - it's the social conditioning that makes the difference predominantly.

In the western world - "we" in marketing have programmed you to associate sweet as a pleasuresome flavor, we have also associated the taste of fried foods and those rich in fat as having intensity of flavor that you like - as opposed to healthier but more bland foods such as vegetables. We've also associated your selection of fruit and vegetables not around food value or taste but around appearance - which is why some of the more flavorful but less attractive varieties are no longer available commercially.

Nowhere is this more pushed than in the US - however, the marketing images have crossed borders and in countries where obesity was not an issue (in fact more like malnutrition until recently) we have seen obesity becoming more prevalent eg Japan.

Also cultural changes in parenting (working parents and lack of access to grandparents) and cultural changes have meant children are no longer as active as they were before.

When I was a kid, we didn't wear hats, wore no shirts and never used sunscreen - yet spent our summers playing around at the beach or in the park whereas now kids are sheltered from the dangers of the sun...

Sport has ceased to be about winning and spending time learning skills to be competitive but more about participation so the motivation to spend hours honing skills has disappeared. Kids now associate themselves with sporting idols by buying merchandising rather than spending hours grinding skills out in a variety of sports.

I played cricket, soccer, rugby union, volleyball, field hockey and cycling competitively when I was a kid - and now I rollerblade, cycle, ski, scuba dive, sail, play squash, soccer and golf as an adult. Which means that I have to stay reasonably trim to be competitive (and when I did blow out to 180 lbs I did something about it to trim back to 155lbs).

As a kid I don't think I ever watched a sporting game live - I watched them at home on the TV occasionally but I'd more likely to running around the park playing cricket with the rest of the kids at school. I was never particularly gifted at sport - but I grafted and ground my way to being competitive but unspectacular but I had the satisfaction of knowing that despite a lack of any real talent I worked at it harder than others did...

And those that market have programmed you all to buy the best equipment in order to be successful - I'm a sucker for equipment. And the marketers have also programmed you that a game console is ubiquitous in a kid's household...

I found that about the states. When I went we were like HOLY FAT PEOPLE BATMAN!!!!!!!


Im thin, well, Im a cyclist, and I have ALWAYS eaten healthy, its not just to not get fat, which I cant do, but to feel better.. And hell, for me, cycling is the shit. A good mountain climb then a fast decent, like flat out, sliding corners, man, thats the shit for me. :iceslolan

Yeah another thing, liek what replicant mentioned; when i was a kid, i ran around in the sun all day without sunscreen. why the hell is everyone so sheltered these days? It's sickening. The sun is bad cause it causes cancer, sports are bad becasue kids get psychologically damaged when they lose, yadda yadda. its such bullshit these days.

Im not going for big, just toned, Steel, want motivation, lookit this pic. (no this isnt for a homosexual reason) but Hugo, even CK are using these thin guys now, just toned, sure they got perfect skin, and tans, but are they big? nopes...

http://www.fann.sk/bossinmotion/img/on_vizual.jpg

And for the more traditonal style of motivation, get fit, get these:
http://models.com/oftheminute/archives/images/christy100.jpg

Anbother thoroughly excellent and enjoyable post to read Rep, that's spot on the money. I've just got back to the uni computers after 1.5 hours at the gym (and a 1/2 hour shower on their money :iceslolan ). Fell better for it, get over illness fastewr, feel fit and toned for the majority of the time. And THEN there is the chick factor - Howq does 4 in 10 days sound fellas :icesangel :biggrin2: !

Gav - you wouldn't recognize me these days. We should organise to go on a day long bike ride. I guarantee I can keep up.

Grant I am so up for that. Would be awesome!!

Nice one, Bruvva :bigthumb:
If you can find me a bike to ride, pick a day late November to mid December and we'll go for a blast along the beach or up in the Blue Mountains.
:biggrin2: Loving it.

Originally posted by Oz
And THEN there is the chick factor - Howq does 4 in 10 days sound fellas :icesangel :biggrin2: !


Sounds like "Herpes" to me.

But I do ride my bike alot, but never really considered it exercise (it's convenience mostly - that and it save wear on my cars engines, gas money etc. I know I'm lame)
Anyways, the point being that people are just lazy, rather than ride a bike or walk two miles to their friends house, they'd rather fire up the SUV and go there sitting on their (fat) ass in air-conditioned comfort.

:werd:
I used to be tipping the scales at about 220lbs(i'm 6'2).After realizing that I had stopped working out and that I was fat, I decided to cut out junk food, fast food and most sugar. I don't touch sweet tea or sodas now, nor caffiene. Water and milk only. I'm down to about 190 and I feel alot better. Whereas when I first started I couldn't even go on a 1 mile run without stopping to rest on the way, now I'm working on lowering my time for a 3 mile run :) So to fat people who make excuses I give a big :thefinger You can change if you want, just drop the twinkies and strap on your jogging shoes.

:werd: :werd: :werd: :werd: :werd: :werd: :iagree: :1: I was a little chunky, but since cutting the shit foods, and micky D's ive lost a few and its great. I cant stand people that want to sue the foo industry cuase there to fuckin lazy to get off their fat ass and do sumthin about it. :mad: :smile:

Originally posted by slave
And for the more traditonal style of motivation, get fit, get these:
http://models.com/oftheminute/archives/images/christy100.jpg

Hehe, my g/f has that EXACT same body type.

Ohh its so nice!:biggrin:

Originally posted by Steel


Hehe, my g/f has that EXACT same body type.

Ohh its so nice!:biggrin:

I always hear about hotties out in the eastern US.. that true?

Most of my weightloss is for the girls.

:frown: I dated my best friend for a bit who looked as good as her. :'( But its all good, my Amy is a hottie... (actually better than my ex) yummmm

Originally posted by replicant_008
...

In the western world - "we" in marketing have programmed you to associate sweet as a pleasuresome flavor, we have also associated the taste of fried foods and those rich in fat as having intensity of flavor that you like - as opposed to healthier but more bland foods such as vegetables. We've also associated your selection of fruit and vegetables not around food value or taste but around appearance - which is why some of the more flavorful but less attractive varieties are no longer available commercially.
...

This statement is inaccurate according to most things I have seen/read. Are people influenced somewhat by marketing? Yes. But is it the reason why people prefer greasy, sugary foods? I say no.
Back when food was less readily available, due to droughts, lack of suitable food storage, etc., it was hard for people to maintain an adequate caloric intake. Whilst vitamins and antioxidants (the main benefit of vegetables) are very necessary for proper growth and nutrition, they are NOT as absolutely necessary for survival as calories are. For this reason, the human body recognises and desires calorie-rich foods (sugar, fat) as those are the foods that ensure survival in lean months.
Since those foods were more necessary, mother nature (or call it evolution) saw fit to favor the people who were attracted to those foods - and survived.
However, as of lately, a sedentary lifestyle has led to a prevalence of calories, and less energy is expended to obtain them. Gone are the days of herding cattle and threshing wheat. Our slow metabolisms have become a liability instead of a lifesaver.

Has anyone else noticed the link between obesity and poverty? You might argue that link is caused by the low cost of fat and sugar - let's face it, 50¢ buys you a heck of a lot of calories in the form of margarine - OR, is the link because the same people who prefer cheap, taste-good, bad-for-you-in-the-long-run food act the SAME way when it comes to financial planning. They choose cable TV and booze over investmests, etc. They choose feel-good-now over feel-good-in-the-long-run. Just something to consider.


I saw a show on Discovery channel a few months ago that touched on some of the mental problems that may or may not contribute to obesity. The show focused on an obese woman and her healthy-weight daughter. The woman had that stomach-restriction surgery (I forget the name, but they put a band around your stomach so you can't eat diddly-squat).
After having the surgery, her weight dropped rapidly, and she actually began to feel MORE insecure because her defense mechanism was gone. She had been sexually abused as a child, and had always believed herself worthless. As she got older, she thought, "If only I can lose this weight everything will be perfect."
After losing 230 lbs, she finds that fat was NOT her only problem. She still feels worthless. She still is poor. She still has problems relating to people. All her life she had been using fat as an excuse for all her problems, and it is depressing to find that this is not the case.
She substitutes another addiction (alchohol) for the original one (food). She begins to go out drinking every night, and her relationship with her daughter languishes.
Ironically, left alone many nights, her daughter begins overeating.

Not to say that every fat person has this problem, but I have heard of some of these cases where a person unconsiously, but deliberately, maintains obesity BECAUSE then they can blame that instead of acknowledging the real problem. They can say "people don't like me because I'm fat", etc.

More to think about.

Emily

:thumbsup:

talk about sum it up, nice post Em.

Originally posted by boingo82

Has anyone else noticed the link between obesity and poverty?

Wait - as in there isn't one? I don't think I've ever seen a fat hobo or homeless person, even in London the homeless were skinny. (maybe it could have somthing to do with the fact that although lazy, they don't snack on food all day long?)
As for the using of being fat to substitute for another shortcoming you can't deal with, that's true, it's very much like the dog owner who says "I don't fly because Fido doesn't like it" when they are actually the one who is afraid of flying. But that's certainly not the majority.
The majority are probably "snackers" most people snack as children(it's almost necessary for small children to have something between the three large meals of the day), and many people as they grow up stop having snacks between meals - but some, and probably a large deal of them are overweight continue snacking right through adulthood - as a habit they'll have some sort of food around to munch on between the main meals - even if they aren't hungry.
But let's not blame the problem on "genetics" or psychological quirks. That is the easy way out of just about anything - something else other than yourself to blame, and it sure doesn't help to pawn it off on these things and then say "I can't help it."

Originally posted by 2strokebloke


Wait - as in there isn't one? I don't think I've ever seen a fat hobo or homeless person, even in London the homeless were skinny. (maybe it could have somthing to do with the fact that although lazy, they don't snack on food all day long?)

One need not be homeless to be in poverty. I guess I should have said "lower class", as in those who are eligible for welfare. There seems to be more obesity in the 15,000-30,000 income bracket than in the 80,000-100,000 bracket.

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
...
But let's not blame the problem on "genetics" or psychological quirks. That is the easy way out of just about anything - something else other than yourself to blame, and it sure doesn't help to pawn it off on these things and then say "I can't help it."

Wasn't intending to blame it on anything other than personal problems. My point was merely that there are other factors involved besides laziness and overeating.
(For the record, I am not overweight, nor is anyone in my immediate family. However I have the most "potential" as I tend toward a "curvy" body type as opposed to the rest of my family, who are sticks.

I am curious about the causes in a coworker of mine, who is VERY large (300+) and has a hefty wife, though he earns $8 an hour and is the sole breadwinner for his family of eight. I have watched his eating habits and he consumes quite a bit of fast food, more than I do, actually, and my household earns more than twice that much for 2 people. I wonder how he can afford it. I think, in some ways it's very selfish for him to be eating out 3x a week when his children are living in poverty. Hmmm....

Originally posted by boingo82

One need not be homeless to be in poverty. I guess I should have said "lower class", as in those who are eligible for welfare. There seems to be more obesity in the 15,000-30,000 income bracket than in the 80,000-100,000 bracket.


But don't you think this just might have something to do with being lazy? (or for that matter, that the 80,000-100,000 bracket is filled with people who are more likely to pay for use of gyms and fitness programs?)

I don't know if the poverty and obesity level thing necessarily relate to eachother other than both are caused by excessive laziness. Get off your ass and earn some money/Get off your ass and work out.

Same damn thing.

Being broke makes me frustrated though, and frustration leads to comfort food. I think this is best handled on a case by case basis as there are several possible reasons as to why people are fat and broke.

Originally posted by Prelewd
...
Being broke makes me frustrated though, and frustration leads to comfort food....

Sure, we all do that from time to time...however, there's a difference between people who'll eat a few chips and those who'll eat the whole goddamn bag.

I agree though, I don't think there's one single cause of obesity but rather it's a combination of many factors.

Just a note, Steel mentioned that he CANNOT gain weight no matter what. I know people like this and so do you. So why do we all find it far-fetched when someone CANNOT lose weight?
Of course, I think it's because far too many people use this excuse.

Don't know of any parents that used to lock up the TV when I was a kid but ours used to mysteriously 'break down' right around the end of school and then, just as mysteriously 'get fixed' right before school started again. Learned later that my dad was pulling one of the tubes out of it so it wouldn't work.

Now I don't know about Steel in particular, but I too could put myself in the same position if I wanted too. Gaining weight is hard for me to do, but not impossible. Although I do eat junkfood all time, I still have practically no body fat (about 7%) and if I accepted some things, such as riding my bike or walking places as facts of life (and I don't consider either as exercise - it's just what I do to get around), I could very well say that it'd be impossible for me to gain weight - just as if I were overweight, and I accepted eating a large meal, then watching TV, then going to bed directly after as facts of life, I very well may have a hard time losing weight.
It's just that everytime somebody who is overweight says that they can't lose weight - and then they try - they do lose weight.
Like my Friends father, everybody in his family is at least a little chubby, and both of his parents were grossly overweight. His Father had a heart attack and then had bypass surgery and had to lose weight. He thought that he couldn't do it, after all everybody in the family was at least a little fat - so maybe they couldn't lose fat? Well he actually tried, and he's no longer a human blimp (though chubby, but at least he's a respectable human being now)
So somebody who actually cannot lose weight, is probably a very very rare person.

Originally posted by Prelewd
I always hear about hotties out in the eastern US.. that true?


Mine's a Boston Babe, born and raised :) If i can find a good pic. . .

Also, i guess i can't say it would be "impossible" for me to gain weight. If i did absolutley nothing except for eat and not move, maybe, but my body's running so fast that even routine actitivies burn a lot of calories. I kinda hope it never ends though. I like my body, and so does my g/f.