The Great Weight Debate

[hella314]

I have to admit that I've seen all those Tyra shows you were talking about, and couldn't agree more.
Although I can eat anything I want and still keep my figure (to die for?) lol, I have a sister who eats WAY less than I do and is (for lack of better word) fat, hehehe, sounds funny. Anywho; yeah it's BS how that works. Yeah, people do over eat though, especially in America, it's sad, because you know it's a form of depression, they eat their emotions, then because they don't have a social life, food is their biggest comfort, heaven.
All my life (19yrs old) I've always been really active myself, big runner, and I think that's just what people need more of, but I understand how it can be hard, with TV, internet, gaming, and cars. Want to know what I think is the real issue here? Hollywood, and models, you know....
Because if you go back in history, before, say...ancient roman's time era, the women were all very voluptious, and I do mean VERY, and that was the standard of beauty right there, what was considered 'healthy'. Now I weight around 120lbs, am 5'6", so for a female I'd say that's pretty good, maybe not the average, think that's like 180lbs, 5'4", lol idk, haven't really been checking out statistics here, so excuse me if I'm wrong. Whoa! It's already pass 3am now, can anybody day I N S O M N I A C ? So yeah...better think about sleeping, maybe.

[ash_wednesday]

It takes more then just eating less to say thin. You have to eat healthy, and be physcially active. Drink lots of water. See with you, you are very active (and young) which helps.

Now when your sister eats less, is it healthy food or just junk? Also, is she physcially active?

[westsidewolf]

Ash

It takes more then just eating less to say thin. You have to eat healthy, and...

Yes but genes make up a huge factor. I am pushing 40, smoke, eat garbage, exersise little and drink nothing that doesnt have alcohol, caffene or sugar in it. I'm still thin and have people act with utter disbelief when I tell them my age. Will it catch up with me? Hell yeah, its already started to. Up until a few years ago people thought I was in my early 20's. My lifestyle has added up and cost me. Then again the wrinkles and snow on the roof are dead giveaways as well.

I got good genes. I got lucky. I know guys who are twice as fit and twice as fat as me. Of course these guys are what I refer to as "linebacker fat". You know, the kind of fat dude that holds the extra pounds well (most likely due to the muscle underneath it), still looks good and has that "never ever mess with me" air about him. These guys got bad genes but are vastly healthier than me despite their extra bulk because of the good lifestyle they live.

Really what it comes down to is how you feel. If you are thin but feel like crap, have no energy because you dont live well are you really better off than a big person who lives well and feels great despite of an extra 10 (or even 20) pounds?

Genes will help you look good but lifestyle will help you feel better and up your quality of life.

Of course we could get into a sexism debate here as well. Dudes can look good even when overwieght, our society (and yes my pigish self) say ladies cant. I'm not saying a curvy girl looks bad (far from it) but an overweight girl is never going to look good to the general populace. Its not fair but its true. Then there is the age thing and the "Sean Connery factor". "Sean Connery factor" you ask? simply put it says men can age well because as men age they tend to look more like Sean Connery. Women, on the other hand, cannot age well because as women age they tend to look more like Sean Connery.

[SGT.Wincal]

I got the bad genes in the family... I am the only one besides my sister who gains weight when I over indulge.
I still manage to stay in shape (and NO that shape is not round!) but the pounds start adding up.

[eyeq360]

Genes can play a major role in health, particularly the epigenome. It's kind of scary because what you do now can have an effect on future generations. I saw NOVA on PBS and they did a show on epigenomes and it was quite enlightening.

[ash_wednesday]

Yes but genes make up a huge factor.

That's true.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 090815.htm

I am pushing 40,

Wait...you're older then Gramps???

I got good genes. I got lucky.

I hate you.


And sarge. I know how you feel. I got the same thing going. If I don't work out, I palc on the pnds by just looking at junk food.

[westsidewolf]

Ash

That's true.

Thank you.

Wait...you're older then Gramps???

Yeah, but who is Gramps? Ya know, I like being my age. I like being set up, having nice stuff, not having to scrape by. Tell you the truth its cool not having to worry about, and put up w/, all the crap I had to when I was younger. Also I avoided getting married and kids and that so I can do things I want and not for the family, because I dont have one. Of course genes come into it there as well. If I looked like most guys my age (pudgy, balding, etc.), which is caused in large part by genes, I'm sure I wouldnt be so happy about it. When I run into people I went to high school with, oh man, I think "what the hell happened to you, train wreck?".

I hate you.

Well...maybe you can get together with the rest of the crowd that feels the same (its a big one) and start a club or myspace page or something devoted to your hatred of me. PM me and I'll give ya a few more ideas. It could be fun.

The thing about the genetic lottery is this. No matter how good you scored, somebody scored better. I scored, sure, but just this saturday I ran into an old friend of mine at a local. She's 45, thin, great skin, no wrinkles, looks like shes 20. I swear, she never seems to age. "Sean Connery factor" does not apply to this girl. Some people just get lucky like that. As far as weight, genes are a big part. The whole package is attitude though. I'm firmly convinced of that. If you let the world and the bastards who run it grind you down its gunna show. If you laugh it off all that shows is that you are laughing.

[ash_wednesday]

Well I'm not much of a myspace.com person. And gramps is Vamp...

[RickyStrange]

It seems that if you are born with those pesky chunky genes, as i am, you gotta' keep it moving.

I do OK as long as i walk a lot and just eat what i need as opposed to what i want. Eating slower helps with that.

I've just finished my first vampire novel. Two years and twenty pounds later I've finished the ms and almost finished me at the same time, from sitting at this damned computer eight to twelve hours a night in my obsessive attempt to become what I call a "real writer".

But I not only gained twenty lbs I also lost muscle tone something bad so it will take twice as much effort to get back to normal.

Ye old bod is there to be used and it falls apart when you don't, says he who is falling apart.

[Star Eagle]

I know several girls who are worried about their weight and yet are in the lighter ends of healthy... this can be kind of annoying as TBH them complaining about their suposed (ficticious) weight problem makes other girls who aren't as skinny feel bad, and guys who find them attractive think that the girls think they're stupid for being attracted to them.

rant over

Weight is less of a problem than it's made out to be, sure if you actualy are unhealthy, loose some weight to improve your quiality of life, if not carry on the way you are.

Exercise is better than diets aswell TBH

[exile27]

I agree, weight is not everything. I was just watching some show about being healthy, and they were comparing sumo wrestlers to those guys that can eat whatever they want, don't exercise, yet remain thin. Despite the sumo wrestlers appearing to be in worse shape, they were actually much healthier and in much better shape than the other guys.

I'm a short and stocky guy, always have been. I'm 5'6" and like to weigh about 165lbs, but recently I have packed on a few pounds and am walking around at about 180lbs. I don't feel like I look fat o anything, but it bothers me that I know I'm not in as good of shape as I used to be. So now I'm hitting the gym to get back to where I want to be.

It's as simple as that. If you're happy with yourself, then no worries. If not, get to work.