Obesity

[Bottom_Feeder]

Though that is part of it, food addiction is very real. Sugar is addictive in that it gives a dopamine rush very similar to that of many street drugs. If someone has been conditioned to consuming a lot of sugar from a young age, it's quite difficult to simply stop. Unlike drugs, you can't just stop eating which is why it's considered the most difficult addiction to get rid of.

It's a compounding lifestyle that I dealt with myself. "I eat because I'm unhappy and unhappy because I eat." You feel down, a full stomach makes you feel good. You indulge. Over indulgence affects sleep making you more tired and down which makes you want to indulge more which makes you even less restful which makes you even more desperate for a dopamine rush and so on. It's much more psychological for many than just being lazy. They're conditioned and addicted to it which means gaining self-control is difficult. Effective long-term weight loss, for many, involves psychiatric care along with nutrition and exercise regiments. That itself is difficult to even get in this country with long waiting lists for treatment that your insurance will not want to cover.

This guy ^ gets it because he's lived it.

I'm in a very similar boat, and my over-eating issues are compounded by being prone to addiction and near-OCD levels of 'needing' to eat on a schedule regardless of if I'm actually hungry or not. Living in an apartment surrounded by restaurants doesn't help. Working in my company's fancy headquarters that has catered food for breakfast and lunch every day that also has a snack bar, in a 'town center' style area that is also surrounded by restaurants is a problem. It's all heavy food and it's expensive. But I'm down there in the cafe at least three times a day anyway, getting breakfast as soon as I walk in regardless if I already ate something at home, getting lunch at 11:45 to beat the crowd regardless if I'm actually hungry, and getting snacks with movie theater prices mid-afternoon just out of habit. And of course, because it smells good, it tastes good, and the dopamine hits are incredibly addictive. Food is pretty much the only thing in my life that does that for me.

I over-eat because I'm depressed. I'm depressed because I keep getting heavier (and older, among other reasons). Having to figure out a way to severely restrict the one thing I find some kind of pleasure in is ****ed near impossible. Many others are in the same situation.

No one wants to be overweight. No one wants to be unhealthy. No one wants to spend money on heavy, 'bad' food they shouldn't be eating. No one wants to be judged for their unhealthy habits and poor choices. No one wants to deal with the associated health problems. No one wants their relationships affected by it. No one wants to be treated differently because of their size (something I've been experiencing more and more). No one wants to be limited by their size since the world is not built for fat people.

Anyone who says, "How hard is it to just eat a salad and take a walk?" doesn't understand the psychology of obesity. To be dismissed as just being lazy and wanting an easy fix is infuriating. Willpower has nothing to do with it.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Also, the BMI chart is a joke and always has been. What a dumb way to organize and classify people in such a convenient way for the healthcare industry.

I'm 5'10. With my stocky, wide build, if I was 167 pounds I would look very ill. I got down to 180 when I was still a teenager and even then I looked unhealthy.

Being over 200 in our society is like some taboo line you shouldn't cross. I felt pretty good at 200 and looked and felt my best around 220. But unfortunately that was 25 years and 100 pounds ago.

 

[mitsuman47]

Who else just came over here from the McDonald’s thread?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Heading to Chipotle for lunch. Anyone need beans and rice with alot of cheese?

 

[Astro14]

The OP is not wrong.
I gained 30 lbs in past 2 years onto an already not too slim frame.

Eating on business travel is killing me.
Plus now I live in a foreign country and eat out often.

Only 5 years ago I was active duty level fit.

Be thoughtful about what you eat and why.

The travel, and fatigue, can cause you to “indulge” too often. Far too often.

I travel a LOT. More than most. I eat out nearly every day. Much of it in hotels and in foreign countries.

I am 61.

I am active duty fit. Weight, strength, and cardio. I still fit into uniforms that I wore decades ago. I have worn the same size jeans since 1984.

It is not the business travel that is killing you - how you are managing it is killing you.

Time for you to change course.

 

[vavavroom]

5'7" people at 160 pounds being considered overweight is crazy.

Without knowing a person's lean body mass it's impossible to determine where they fall on the body composition scale.

There are plenty skinny people with too-high body fat - they simply lack muscle mass and may have a lot of visceral fat that won't show.

 

[Pablo]

Heading to Chipotle for lunch. Anyone need beans and rice with alot of cheese?

Never enough MEAT!!!!!!!

 

[vavavroom]

Never enough MEAT!!!!!!!

You got the short loin?

 

[doitmyself]

This guy ^ gets it because he's lived it.

I'm in a very similar boat, and my over-eating issues are compounded by being prone to addiction and near-OCD levels of 'needing' to eat on a schedule regardless of if I'm actually hungry or not. Living in an apartment surrounded by restaurants doesn't help. Working in my company's fancy headquarters that has catered food for breakfast and lunch every day that also has a snack bar, in a 'town center' style area that is also surrounded by restaurants is a problem. It's all heavy food and it's expensive. But I'm down there in the cafe at least three times a day anyway, getting breakfast as soon as I walk in regardless if I already ate something at home, getting lunch at 11:45 to beat the crowd regardless if I'm actually hungry, and getting snacks with movie theater prices mid-afternoon just out of habit. And of course, because it smells good, it tastes good, and the dopamine hits are incredibly addictive. Food is pretty much the only thing in my life that does that for me.

I over-eat because I'm depressed. I'm depressed because I keep getting heavier (and older, among other reasons). Having to figure out a way to severely restrict the one thing I find some kind of pleasure in is ****ed near impossible. Many others are in the same situation.

No one wants to be overweight. No one wants to be unhealthy. No one wants to spend money on heavy, 'bad' food they shouldn't be eating. No one wants to be judged for their unhealthy habits and poor choices. No one wants to deal with the associated health problems. No one wants their relationships affected by it. No one wants to be treated differently because of their size (something I've been experiencing more and more). No one wants to be limited by their size since the world is not built for fat people.

Anyone who says, "How hard is it to just eat a salad and take a walk?" doesn't understand the psychology of obesity. To be dismissed as just being lazy and wanting an easy fix is infuriating. Willpower has nothing to do with it.

Gonna open a can of BITOG worms. Some here will say that it is simply about choices we choose to make. Pull yourself up by the bootstraps. They believe a person can choose not to commit suicide. A person can "will" themselves better regarding mental challenges (depression, drugs, alchohol, etc.) and their consequences. I contend no, many people cannot do that. Mental issues can be a chemical/physical problem of the brain (think bad/shorted wiring) not unlike conditions such as diabetes, etc. that you also cannot "will/think" away and/or may not control through diet/exercise choices alone.

Good of you Bottom_Feeder to acknowledge and share your story. I did the "NOOM" computer app. last winter to shed a few pounds. It is mostly psychological education/training to slowly and permanently change lifestyle habits. Off my pedestal now.

 

[Pablo]

You got the short loin?

I just plain get shorted at Chipotle. Pay the big girl prices, look down and where is it?

 

[thunderfog]

I just plain get shorted at Chipotle. Pay the big girl prices, look down and where is it?

You can ask for more on the beans and rice for no charge.

 

[BISCUT]

This guy ^ gets it because he's lived it.

I'm in a very similar boat, and my over-eating issues are compounded by being prone to addiction and near-OCD levels of 'needing' to eat on a schedule regardless of if I'm actually hungry or not. Living in an apartment surrounded by restaurants doesn't help. Working in my company's fancy headquarters that has catered food for breakfast and lunch every day that also has a snack bar, in a 'town center' style area that is also surrounded by restaurants is a problem. It's all heavy food and it's expensive. But I'm down there in the cafe at least three times a day anyway, getting breakfast as soon as I walk in regardless if I already ate something at home, getting lunch at 11:45 to beat the crowd regardless if I'm actually hungry, and getting snacks with movie theater prices mid-afternoon just out of habit. And of course, because it smells good, it tastes good, and the dopamine hits are incredibly addictive. Food is pretty much the only thing in my life that does that for me.

I over-eat because I'm depressed. I'm depressed because I keep getting heavier (and older, among other reasons). Having to figure out a way to severely restrict the one thing I find some kind of pleasure in is ****ed near impossible. Many others are in the same situation.

No one wants to be overweight. No one wants to be unhealthy. No one wants to spend money on heavy, 'bad' food they shouldn't be eating. No one wants to be judged for their unhealthy habits and poor choices. No one wants to deal with the associated health problems. No one wants their relationships affected by it. No one wants to be treated differently because of their size (something I've been experiencing more and more). No one wants to be limited by their size since the world is not built for fat people.

Anyone who says, "How hard is it to just eat a salad and take a walk?" doesn't understand the psychology of obesity. To be dismissed as just being lazy and wanting an easy fix is infuriating. Willpower has nothing to do with it.

Add to this honest post that big agri is also ensuring addictive properties are added to your processed foods to ensure you keep seeking that dopamine hit.

 

[RDY4WAR]

I hate BMI with a passion. I was in good shape in high school through my time in the army. My senior year of high school, I played outside linebacker. I was 5'8" and 165 lbs with good muscle definition. The state sent someone to the school to get height and weight on students for statistics. Per BMI, I was put down as "overweight" even though I calipered at <10% BF and had good ab definition. Our middle linebacker was a beast who went on to play at Ole Miss. He was 6'1" and 230 lbs of just muscle. His veins bulged in his arms, yet he was categorized as "obese" by the state because the BMI scale said so. It's horribly inaccurate.

At my peak, my 4th year in the army, I was 172 lbs. I scored at 292/300 on my PT test, maxing pushups and situps and 2-mile run in under 13 minutes. Yet, I had to get taped every time and barely pass tape simply because I had good core definition and a small neck. I hated it. My command would frequently tell me to not practice situps or any core excersizes and instead work on building neck muscles. Why? That does nothing for my job or benefit me physically in any way. Why? So I can fit some stupid standard? /rant

Then I got badly hurt with a torn MCL, 2 fractured ribs, 2 herniated discs in my lower back with 2 more pinched, and took a bit for me to even be able to walk again without pain. I still can't walk 100 ft without pain.

Here's the thing, I ate a carb heavy diet because I was bulking. I ate a lot of pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc... When I got hurt, that didn't exactly stop. I was very bummed about my injuries and medical discharge from a life I intended to be a career to retire from. The incident also left me with PTSD and severe depression. I was lost and the only thing I still had accessible from that life was food. I kept eating the heavy carbs because they made me happy... until they didn't. Fast forward 6 years, I'd gained 115 lbs, was type 2 diabetic, and disgusted with myself. I wanted nothing more than to stop eating, but it was the only thing that made me happy. I was an addict. I'd be comfortable and happy when I was eating, but when my plate was done, I'd feel sad and disgusted with myself for gorging myself and indulging in something I know is killing me. How did I get that unhappy feeling to stop? By eating more. It's a viscous cycle.

I've lost 60 lbs of that weight, diabetes in remission, and gradually becoming more active. It took years of psychiatric help and group therapy to break that cope and separate food from my mental health. I still struggle with it every day. There's a Krispy Kreme not far from me that I have to drive by every time I go into town. I see that "hot and ready" sign on and start salivating, and the craving hits hard, and it takes everything in me to not stop in there. I have cried because I kept driving past it and wanted it so bad.

So when people say "stop being lazy", it makes my blood boil. It's no different than telling a heroine addict to just stop. If it was that d*** easy, nobody would be fat.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

More thoughts.

I had a friend whose wife was fit and healthy and she barely ate anything. On many occasions all she would eat was like an apple or orange, maybe some cheese, with some hot tea or even just a mug of hot water and she was perfectly satisfied. Her life just didn't revolve around food like mine did/does. Eating was almost an inconvenience for her, having to put aside time to do it. The very idea of that is completely foreign to me. I simply cannot understand what that would be like and I'm very jealous of anyone like that.

Maybe I'm wired more like cavemen were, whose sole focus was acquiring food in order to survive, even though there is no more reason to do so but that switch in my head is still turned on. I've been like this as long as I can remember. If I can see it or smell it, or even just know it's nearby, I'm going to seek it out.

Halloween and Christmas are the worst times for me as there is always cookies and candy everywhere in the office. I cannot walk by a box or plate of treats and not grab something, and I do it multiple times a day. Even making special trips to walk by and grab something.

And that addiction is compounded by my OCD compulsions of it now being a loose end that needs to be resolved. A few cookies left in a tin? One last piece of a coworker's birthday cake left when I already had one? Two donuts left in a dozen box that no one is apparently going to eat since it's now after lunch? I'll eat them just so it's done, just so feel the relief of no longer thinking about them, a task I can mark off the to-do list. That by itself is its own kind of dopamine hit.


An example to illustrate what a depressed food addict's thought processes are:

A few weeks ago, after eating far too much for lunch at a local restaurant to the point that I felt completely disgusted with myself and more down than usual, I stepped off the elevator to my floor only to smell all the expensive catered food that was set up for a big meeting that was happening. And even feeling like I did, as full and depressed as I was for doing that to myself again, the absolute first thought that went though my mind, my first instinct, was, "Wow, that smells fantastic. I sure hope they have leftovers so I can grab some when the meeting's over."

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I hate BMI with a passion. I was in good shape in high school through my time in the army. My senior year of high school, I played outside linebacker. I was 5'8" and 165 lbs with good muscle definition. The state sent someone to the school to get height and weight on students for statistics. Per BMI, I was put down as "overweight" even though I calipered at <10% BF and had good ab definition. Our middle linebacker was a beast who went on to play at Ole Miss. He was 6'1" and 230 lbs of just muscle. His veins bulged in his arms, yet he was categorized as "obese" by the state because the BMI scale said so. It's horribly inaccurate.

At my peak, my 4th year in the army, I was 172 lbs. I scored at 292/300 on my PT test, maxing pushups and situps and 2-mile run in under 13 minutes. Yet, I had to get taped every time and barely pass tape simply because I had good core definition and a small neck. I hated it. My command would frequently tell me to not practice situps or any core excersizes and instead work on building neck muscles. Why? That does nothing for my job or benefit me physically in any way. Why? So I can fit some stupid standard? /rant

Then I got badly hurt with a torn MCL, 2 fractured ribs, 2 herniated discs in my lower back with 2 more pinched, and took a bit for me to even be able to walk again without pain. I still can't walk 100 ft without pain.

Here's the thing, I ate a carb heavy diet because I was bulking. I ate a lot of pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc... When I got hurt, that didn't exactly stop. I was very bummed about my injuries and medical discharge from a life I intended to be a career to retire from. The incident also left me with PTSD and severe depression. I was lost and the only thing I still had accessible from that life was food. I kept eating the heavy carbs because they made me happy... until they didn't. Fast forward 6 years, I'd gained 115 lbs, was type 2 diabetic, and disgusted with myself. I wanted nothing more than to stop eating, but it was the only thing that made me happy. I was an addict. I'd be comfortable and happy when I was eating, but when my plate was done, I'd feel sad and disgusted with myself for gorging myself and indulging in something I know is killing me. How did I get that unhappy feeling to stop? By eating more. It's a viscous cycle.

I've lost 60 lbs of that weight, diabetes in remission, and gradually becoming more active. It took years of psychiatric help and group therapy to break that cope and separate food from my mental health. I still struggle with it every day. There's a Krispy Kreme not far from me that I have to drive by every time I go into town. I see that "hot and ready" sign on and start salivating, and the craving hits hard, and it takes everything in me to not stop in there. I have cried because I kept driving past it and wanted it so bad.

So when people say "stop being lazy", it makes my blood boil. It's no different than telling a heroine addict to just stop. If it was that d*** easy, nobody would be fat.

I'm very sorry to hear of your experiences. Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[Astro14]

I hate BMI with a passion. I was in good shape in high school through my time in the army. My senior year of high school, I played outside linebacker. I was 5'8" and 165 lbs with good muscle definition. The state sent someone to the school to get height and weight on students for statistics. Per BMI, I was put down as "overweight" even though I calipered at <10% BF and had good ab definition. Our middle linebacker was a beast who went on to play at Ole Miss. He was 6'1" and 230 lbs of just muscle. His veins bulged in his arms, yet he was categorized as "obese" by the state because the BMI scale said so. It's horribly inaccurate.

At my peak, my 4th year in the army, I was 172 lbs. I scored at 292/300 on my PT test, maxing pushups and situps and 2-mile run in under 13 minutes. Yet, I had to get taped every time and barely pass tape simply because I had good core definition and a small neck. I hated it. My command would frequently tell me to not practice situps or any core excersizes and instead work on building neck muscles. Why? That does nothing for my job or benefit me physically in any way. Why? So I can fit some stupid standard? /rant

Then I got badly hurt with a torn MCL, 2 fractured ribs, 2 herniated discs in my lower back with 2 more pinched, and took a bit for me to even be able to walk again without pain. I still can't walk 100 ft without pain.

Here's the thing, I ate a carb heavy diet because I was bulking. I ate a lot of pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc... When I got hurt, that didn't exactly stop. I was very bummed about my injuries and medical discharge from a life I intended to be a career to retire from. The incident also left me with PTSD and severe depression. I was lost and the only thing I still had accessible from that life was food. I kept eating the heavy carbs because they made me happy... until they didn't. Fast forward 6 years, I'd gained 115 lbs, was type 2 diabetic, and disgusted with myself. I wanted nothing more than to stop eating, but it was the only thing that made me happy. I was an addict. I'd be comfortable and happy when I was eating, but when my plate was done, I'd feel sad and disgusted with myself for gorging myself and indulging in something I know is killing me. How did I get that unhappy feeling to stop? By eating more. It's a viscous cycle.

I've lost 60 lbs of that weight, diabetes in remission, and gradually becoming more active. It took years of psychiatric help and group therapy to break that cope and separate food from my mental health. I still struggle with it every day. There's a Krispy Kreme not far from me that I have to drive by every time I go into town. I see that "hot and ready" sign on and start salivating, and the craving hits hard, and it takes everything in me to not stop in there. I have cried because I kept driving past it and wanted it so bad.

So when people say "stop being lazy", it makes my blood boil. It's no different than telling a heroine addict to just stop. If it was that d*** easy, nobody would be fat.

I appreciate the frank, open sharing of your experience. I’m so sorry for your injury. I understand what it’s like to have a career taken from you.

I don’t think anyone was saying, “stop being lazy”.

You yourself have proven that change is possible.

Nobody said it was easy.

I think what was being offered were tips, techniques, perhaps examples, of how to manage the problem.

 

[Nick1994]

I hate BMI with a passion. I was in good shape in high school through my time in the army. My senior year of high school, I played outside linebacker. I was 5'8" and 165 lbs with good muscle definition. The state sent someone to the school to get height and weight on students for statistics. Per BMI, I was put down as "overweight" even though I calipered at <10% BF and had good ab definition. Our middle linebacker was a beast who went on to play at Ole Miss. He was 6'1" and 230 lbs of just muscle. His veins bulged in his arms, yet he was categorized as "obese" by the state because the BMI scale said so. It's horribly inaccurate.

At my peak, my 4th year in the army, I was 172 lbs. I scored at 292/300 on my PT test, maxing pushups and situps and 2-mile run in under 13 minutes. Yet, I had to get taped every time and barely pass tape simply because I had good core definition and a small neck. I hated it. My command would frequently tell me to not practice situps or any core excersizes and instead work on building neck muscles. Why? That does nothing for my job or benefit me physically in any way. Why? So I can fit some stupid standard? /rant

Then I got badly hurt with a torn MCL, 2 fractured ribs, 2 herniated discs in my lower back with 2 more pinched, and took a bit for me to even be able to walk again without pain. I still can't walk 100 ft without pain.

Here's the thing, I ate a carb heavy diet because I was bulking. I ate a lot of pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc... When I got hurt, that didn't exactly stop. I was very bummed about my injuries and medical discharge from a life I intended to be a career to retire from. The incident also left me with PTSD and severe depression. I was lost and the only thing I still had accessible from that life was food. I kept eating the heavy carbs because they made me happy... until they didn't. Fast forward 6 years, I'd gained 115 lbs, was type 2 diabetic, and disgusted with myself. I wanted nothing more than to stop eating, but it was the only thing that made me happy. I was an addict. I'd be comfortable and happy when I was eating, but when my plate was done, I'd feel sad and disgusted with myself for gorging myself and indulging in something I know is killing me. How did I get that unhappy feeling to stop? By eating more. It's a viscous cycle.

I've lost 60 lbs of that weight, diabetes in remission, and gradually becoming more active. It took years of psychiatric help and group therapy to break that cope and separate food from my mental health. I still struggle with it every day. There's a Krispy Kreme not far from me that I have to drive by every time I go into town. I see that "hot and ready" sign on and start salivating, and the craving hits hard, and it takes everything in me to not stop in there. I have cried because I kept driving past it and wanted it so bad.

So when people say "stop being lazy", it makes my blood boil. It's no different than telling a heroine addict to just stop. If it was that d*** easy, nobody would be fat.

Agreed. People who haven’t been there don’t know the struggle.

I’m down almost 115 pounds still. It is absolutely a daily struggle.

The literal solution is to eat in a calorie deficit, but that’s easier said than done. And hearing people yap and yap saying “it’s the carbs”, “it’s the sugar”, “it’s the processed food” just make me want to roll my eyes to the back of my head. They have no clue.

 

[Pablo]

Agreed. People who haven’t been there don’t know the struggle.

I’m down almost 115 pounds still. It is absolutely a daily struggle.

The literal solution is to eat in a calorie deficit, but that’s easier said than done. And hearing people yap and yap saying “it’s the carbs”, “it’s the sugar”, “it’s the processed food” just make me want to roll my eyes to the back of my head. They have no clue.

Excellent. You are correct, of course it's "calorie deficit". Congrats and keep it up! That is huge!

However, it does depend on what those precious fewer calories are. Because ultimately your body, like or not, does process different macro types of foods differently. Yes you can lose weight if your, say, 1000 kcal day is a donut and nothing else. But not only will it not work in reality you will be pretty darn unhealthy. Compare that to a generous pile of vegetables, salad and a piece of lean meat with some calories to spare. So sure it's over simplification to say just drop the carbs, because it makes no sense. OTOH it really is the sugar and the processed foods with seed oils because these things work so hard against your body.

 

[Nick1994]

Excellent. You are correct, of course it's "calorie deficit". Congrats and keep it. That is huge!

However, it does depend on what those precious fewer calories are. Because ultimately your body, like or not, does process different macro types of foods differently. Yes you can lose weight if your, say, 1000 kcal day is a donut and nothing else. But not only will it not work in reality you will be pretty darn unhealthy. Compare that to a generous pile of vegetables, salad and a piece of lean meat with some calories to spare. So sure it's over simplification to say just drop the carbs, because it makes no sense. OTOH it really is the sugar and the processed foods with seed oils because these things work so hard against your body.

A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

Weight loss and being healthy are not synonymous. If the goal is to lose weight, whether you eat 1,500 calories a day of vegetables or 1,500 calories a day of McDonald’s fries dipped in mayonnaise isn’t going to matter that much in the grand scheme of things when it comes to weight loss. Of course your body will be malnourished with the latter. But in the end, you’ll end up a walking stick either way. I’m living proof of that. I didn’t eat horrible during my weight loss but I certainly didn’t lose it by eating salads and carrot sticks.

What’s a more “realistic” way of losing weight is a completely different conversation than “how” to lose weight.

 

[doitmyself]

Interesting. I think the answer lies somewhere between your's and Pablo's opinion. Sure a calorie is a calorie, but the body processes those calories differently. And, a "realistic" way will vary for everyone. I'm not promoting the NOOM program I mentioned above. It worked for me because the interactive phone app. and approach worked for me (my preferences/tendencies) I could see many people not liking it. It really focused on psychology and developing life long habit changes (VERY difficult). Not excessive diet changes, exercise regimens, etc., but rather moderation. And yes, overall good health is a better target rather than just weight loss.