Obesity Epidemic and Fat Acceptance

[Matt Mortem]

You know the interesting thing about being fat? There are varying degrees apparently. I just saw my medical records and according to the professionals I am in "remarkable shape for being overweight". So I am among the obese in the nation, but I'm far from the wheezy sweaty fat guy stereotype. What I want this country to do is promote prevention programs. Start a young age. I wished I had the proper information when I was younger. I didn't know eating a **** load of McDonald's was bad for you. Nickelodeon is off to a good start, they shut themselves off either on Friday or Saturday so kids have to go outside and exercise.

 

[Lantern Venom]

You know the interesting thing about being fat? There are varying degrees apparently. I just saw my medical records and according to the professionals I am in "remarkable shape for being overweight". So I am among the obese in the nation, but I'm far from the wheezy sweaty fat guy stereotype. What I want this country to do is promote prevention programs. Start a young age. I wished I had the proper information when I was younger. I didn't know eating a **** load of McDonald's was bad for you. Nickelodeon is off to a good start, they shut themselves off either on Friday or Saturday so kids have to go outside and exercise.

Weight/body fat increases risk factors but it isn't the final word on fitness. There is a guy who works out at my gym who has to be pushing 300 lbs. He comes 3 times a week and, according to him, has been seriously overweight since the age of 40. Now he's 82, still mentally sharp and still mobile.

There are numerous reasons to live in a healthy manner, appearance being far from the most important. Keep doing the best that you can, Matt.

 

[BlackLantern]

yea Mortem....getting across a healthy mindset to kids at a young age should be the priority

 

[Matt Mortem]

Healthy living and not appearance should be the focus for kids. If they stop worrying about whether or not they'll turn heads at a damn swimming pool and worry about their overall health they'd be much better off. I have a buddy thats pushing 350 and he's a goddamn tank. He runs everyday and lifts weights like nobody's business. Medically he's classified as morbidly obese and high risk so he's been turned down for health insurance, when in fact he's extremely athletic, he's just massive. Muscle weighs more than fat anyway.

 

[E-Man]

yea Mortem....getting across a healthy mindset to kids at a young age should be the priority

I think that kids know what healthy eating is. When I was a kid we always understood that certain foods were bad for you, but we weren't in control of what we ate anyway. I don't think that it's the kids that need getting across. It's the parents that buy them and feed them the food portions. Kids don't feed themselves unless the parents let them.

 

[SuperFerret]

I agree, but we live in a culture that is dripping with bad habits. Fun is advertised as drug-fueled sex romps, jazzing your heart up on energy drinks so you can attend a loud concert and the all-night after party, and drinking yourself into a stupor at the game on Sunday. Balanced = square, Excess = cool.

[YT]Oe3Hh8nvn4k[/YT]

 

[Timstuff]

That was like 4 years ago. My body does not react well to aspartame. I just time my sweets (pre-workouts), or only use honey to sweeten things up. Like a bowl of oatmeal or quinoa. Quinoa is king.

Aspartame is worse for your body than actual sugar. I say don't eat or drink ANYTHING that has aspartame in it. Splenda is much safer and on top of that tastes better. Once you've given up sweets for the most part though, you'll likely find that you do not crave them nearly as much as you did before. Until the cravings go away though, the splenda substitutes are fine for weaning you off of sugar. I recommend Jones Zilch and Pepsi One. Some regions also have diet coke with splenda instead of aspartame, too.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Aspartame is worse for your body than actual sugar. I say don't eat or drink ANYTHING that has aspartame in it. Splenda is much safer and on top of that tastes better. Once you've given up sweets for the most part though, you'll likely find that you do not crave them nearly as much as you did before. Until the cravings go away though, the splenda substitutes are fine for weaning you off of sugar. I recommend Jones Zilch and Pepsi One. Some regions also have diet coke with splenda instead of aspartame, too.

Stevia > All other sugar substitutes

 

[AndThePickles]

Agave nectar is another great substitute.

 

[Carcharodon]

Aspartame is worse for your body than actual sugar. I say don't eat or drink ANYTHING that has aspartame in it.

I think that's a load of ****, personally. I came across a study that gave people doses of aspartame in pill-form that were the equivalent of drinking ten liters of diet soda every day for six months, and no ill effects were reported.

The claim that aspartame is bad for you has yet to be verified at all.

Stevia > All other sugar substitutes

I came across the actual plant when I worked at my first job as a vendor for a garden company. I ate a leaf and was dumbfounded at the sweetness...it's nuts.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

You know the interesting thing about being fat? There are varying degrees apparently. I just saw my medical records and according to the professionals I am in "remarkable shape for being overweight". So I am among the obese in the nation, but I'm far from the wheezy sweaty fat guy stereotype. What I want this country to do is promote prevention programs. Start a young age. I wished I had the proper information when I was younger. I didn't know eating a **** load of McDonald's was bad for you. Nickelodeon is off to a good start, they shut themselves off either on Friday or Saturday so kids have to go outside and exercise.

I think these two things are squarely on the head of parents. When I was a kid I didn't care about my eating habits, I thought McDonald's tasted good, so I wanted to eat there, but my parents made sure I didn't always eat there.

Parents should also encourage their kids to go outside instead of spending all day in front of the TV. I used to always watch Saturday morning cartoons, but also had a number of activities going on outside the house when I was in elementary. In Junior High, I used to play a lot of videogames, but was also on a bunch of recreational sports teams or just playing pick up games with friends. I'd say with my friends it was a 70/30 split between playing outside/being physically active vs. watching TV or playing videogames.

 

[Timstuff]

Agave nectar is another great substitute.

It's not really a sugar substitute though, since its sweetness comes from the natural sugars in it. In that sense it's similar to honey in that it's a natural sweetner good for use as a sugar, however for people trying to cut down or cut out sugar, calories or carbs it's not particularly useful.

 

[Manic]

I don't drink diet sodas made with aspartame. You know what they say about that stuff. [blackout]It makes soda taste like crap.[/blackout]

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I think all diet soda tastes horrible

 

[SuperFerret]

It does, and being healthy is one thing, but I'm not going to remove the pure creature comfort of a good tasting beverage or meal from my life.

 

[Paradoxium]

Aspartame gives me furious gas.

 

[ChickenScratch]

In before Chicken Scratch says something that'll no doubt piss me off.


The way I see it, being fat due to unhealthy habits is like smoking. Chastising doesn't work. Making fun doesn't work. Inspiration and fear, however, work wonders. I started hitting the gym because I talked to people who lost a lot of weight and thought "Why not me?" People who go around saying stuff like "YOU'RE DISGUSTING AND EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY" send me into a fit of depression that can only be cured by ice cream. I'm serious. Reminding me how fat I am only makes me reach for comfort food. And quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if that was true for others.

A certain level of vanity also works. When I stopped going to the gym for a few months, I went right back as soon as I had to start sucking in my gut just to button my vests.

I do agree that fast food is far far too available. Drinks are too sweetened, too. Have you seen the amount of sugar in your average bottle of pre-made iced tea? There's no way in hell I'd use that much sugar if I brewed my own. Also, I'd use real sugar.

LOL. I'm being referenced in a thread I've never even visited till now!

I think a lot of it is upbringing as many have mentioned. I'm 29 and have yet to eat Mcdonalds or most fast food from franchises I can think of. But there are some who give this stuff to their kids. My dad and uncles were athletes so as a result so was I along with my cousins. I don't go a day without working out, while some can be pretty sedentary and be happy with it till there is some health scare.

 

[Kane52630]

I think I found the cause

 

[Ahura Mazda]

At the end of the day it is all a personal choice if you have the money and the time. It is always easier to buy unhealthy foods and often cheaper. One has to care enough to eat healthier items which may not taste as good as the unhealthy ones. Most imprortant of all, all excesses should be eliminated which is not as easy as it may seem.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Eat less, work out more. Problem solved.