overweight-obese people

[lowcarb0rbustmypants]

Originally Posted by painted_klown

And to lowcarb0rbustmypants thank you for sharing your story. It really puts more light on a subject that we all are learning about. I sincerely hope that you overcome ALL of your health issues and live a long and happy life. Good luck and good thoughts be with you.

Thanks so much for your kind words klown! Much appreciated.

I had to come back and post because I read my previous post and I sound so high and mighty and that was not my intention. I must be honest and say when I did low carb and was successful and had no idea of my disease, I myself thought I had found the perfect diet for everyone. I preached lowcarb as well as a Baptist preacher in Alabama could preach. I ran around with DANDR like it was my personal bible. I had seen the light. I turned my nose up at people in the grocery store with what I considered to be "crap" in their buggy.

At the gym, a girl came up to me one day and said, "You are such an inspiration." I was like ? Then it hit me. I was a fat girl at the gym working out. I was trying to do something about my weight and that was acceptable and inspiring. Losing 86 lbs was inspiring.

Flash forward to now. I have learned alot from my illness. I am noone to judge anyone. I can't sit here and decide what is right for anyone in their journey we call life. Everyone is different and I am thankful for it. The world would be one awful place if it were full of me. Do not get me wrong. I am one heck of a person, but I do like diversity.

Do I believe that lowcarb works? Most definitely. Is it right for everyone? In my own opinion, No. But I no longer am able to sit here and decide I know what is right for everyone, because I have seen the light.

Everyone has to figure out what is right for them. You can tell people what you have done, but don't assume you know it's right for them. Tell your story and let them try it for themselves. Be a great example, but don't judge. Never judge.

[Yojee]

When I did LC before some of my fat fell off (hope it falls off again)!

On a more serious note, I read the first post a little bit differently. I understood it to mean that you can't really tell people about LC or share information without risking serious backlash, so you keep it a secret. I haven't lost much yet, but I am hoping to lose some so that some of my colleagues and friends might inquire as to how I lost it, and then I can tell them my secret. I am thoroughly convinced that LC is the way to go for weight loss and good health, but I don't feel I can share it with the mainstream population yet.

[pooticus]

Shauna you RAWK! My thoughts EXACTLY!!!

You see Suzzaneyea, I too lose weight on LC SOOOOO SLOWLY to be almost non-existent at times! And for now the exercise is in baby steps cuz of health problems for me as well.

How do you THINK we feel? We are bombarded in the press. We are made to feel responsible for the whole world goin to hell and for global warming. We have to put up with the rude stares or worse, the pseudo sympathy or repulsion from the skinny world. The world is built for thin people. So how do you THINK we really feel? Not only is fat-bias and fat-bashing the last acceptible form of discrimination, it's actually encouraged by our society and our children are being conditioned to hate fat and feel disgust for fat people. Sometimes, I am frankly surprised they haven't figured out a way to blame the Iraq war on the obese!

I don't really care if we got fat from shovin' bon bons in our mouth while watching Oprah on continuous re-runs or if we got fat cuz of a malfunction in our body chemistry. No one has the right to make anyone else feel sub-human. To judge. To be superior. The Indians had a saying...never judge a man till you've walked a mile in his moccassins. The world would be a lot better off if we all practiced that motto. No one deserves to be too embarrassed at what others think to leave their house, to eat out at a restaurant or to go to a gym.

Here's a novel approach. Maybe you should try being her friend instead of looking at her as some "obese" specimen...you just might learn something from her...like maybe how to take care of that huge ole plank in your eye before worrying about the splinter in your brother's eye...

As a matter of fact let me pose an illustration to you that may help you understand how us "obese/overweight" people "feel":

"You know Suzzane, I see from your avi that you have at least one kiddo, maybe two...tell me you poor dear, do your hemmorhoids still bother you much? You poor, brave, remarkable darling - kudos for you for exercising with them!"

We as fat people where our metaphorical "hemmorhoids" for the world to see, to pity and to ridicule. Makes ya happy to be alive, Suzzane. It's a special day here at Walmart. Thanks for askin.

[MarblesLongGone]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

I see this over weight woman (obese really) at my gym every morning and she is really trying, but she has not lost any weight. Do you guys ever feel bad? I see her looking at me and is probably thinking "skinny ***** has no clue how hard it is to lose weight." I want to scream, actually there is a secret to being thin! It is Atkins! I feel sometimes like I have this little secret I cannot share.

Were you ever really fat? I kept one of my fat pictures in my gym journal when I took off 80 pounds. Great inspiration.... Also helps in conversations.

[wifezilla]

[Tazcat]

This board is full of people who either have had or have challenges with weight - many of them have been thoughtlessly labeled - and doing so on a board that supports weight loss is a big turn off IMO.

It's also disrespectful to many people who are trying hard to change their lives and their size.

And to say it comes off as a bit holier than thou is an understatement.

[suzanneyea]

Gosh, I had no idea people would take my post this way, what a shame. How sad to call me names. First, I did lose over 60 pounds, so I was pretty close to 200 pounds. I just kinda feel like Atkins has been this miracle secret in my life and why have I been so lucky to know this secret, while another over weight person does not know. I certainly did not mean to offend anyone and apologise for the wording of my post, but please stop with the mean and sacastic comments.

"You know Suzzane, I see from your avi that you have at least one kiddo, maybe two...tell me you poor dear, do your hemmorhoids still bother you much? You poor, brave, remarkable darling - kudos for you for exercising with them!"

We as fat people where our metaphorical "hemmorhoids" for the world to see, to pity and to ridicule. Makes ya happy to be alive, Suzzane. It's a special day here at Walmart. Thanks for askin."
That was just mean, if your point was to hurt my feelings and make me feel really bad, you have succeeded. I can honestly say, it was never my point to hurt another person of this board, just to talk about the miracle of LC and Atkins and how lucky we are to know about it.
As for having fat pictures of myself I do not have any and have told other people to make sure to take before pictures for that reason, I was too embarressed to let anyone take a photo of me at that weight and I really regret it

[skeopple]

Suzanne, I didn't take your original post that way at all. I know what you meant. When we find something that works for us, we want to share it with the world. What I dislike (hate) is when somebody asks how I'm losing this weight and I tell them "Atkins" and then they act like I am dumb as a rock and it's not going to work in the long run, etc., etc., yada, yada. BTW, Suz, you look awesome!!!

[pooticus]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

Gosh, I had no idea people would take my post this way, what a shame. How sad to call me names. First, I did lose over 60 pounds, so I was pretty close to 200 pounds. I just kinda feel like Atkins has been this miracle secret in my life and why have I been so lucky to know this secret, while another over weight person does not know. I certainly did not mean to offend anyone and apologise for the wording of my post, but please stop with the mean and sacastic comments.

"You know Suzzane, I see from your avi that you have at least one kiddo, maybe two...tell me you poor dear, do your hemmorhoids still bother you much? You poor, brave, remarkable darling - kudos for you for exercising with them!"

We as fat people where our metaphorical "hemmorhoids" for the world to see, to pity and to ridicule. Makes ya happy to be alive, Suzzane. It's a special day here at Walmart. Thanks for askin."
That was just mean, if your point was to hurt my feelings and make me feel really bad, you have succeeded. I can honestly say, it was never my point to hurt another person of this board, just to talk about the miracle of LC and Atkins and how lucky we are to know about it.
As for having fat pictures of myself I do not have any and have told other people to make sure to take before pictures for that reason, I was too embarressed to let anyone take a photo of me at that weight and I really regret it

Then you should have worded your post differently so as not to offend or put yourself in a superior/judgemental position. I understand you found success through Atkins. That's wonderful. Congratulations. Glad it came off without too much pain.

But what you MUST remember is that many of us are farther down the disease path with insulin resistance, diabetes and even endocrine or thyroid disorders and that Atkins may still be slow going for us but it doesn't mean we haven't "found the way" or that you are superior to us and have answers we know nothing about. You don't know her. Maybe she's already following Atkins? Maybe she's already lost 100 lbs, 200 lbs?

Who knows. The point is that you would look at a person and make a categorical judgement in the first place was really shocking. I'm already furious about all the stuff we put up with in society and the media, then to come to a weightloss support board and read this poorly worded thread just completely got my goat. I apologize for hurting your feelings.

The hemmorhoid illustration was an ILLUSTRATION of what you were doing. The only difference is your hemmorhoids are invisible to the whole of society so it doesn't make you an easy target for judgemental behavior from your peers.

[BeThin]

I have two friends who is really over weight....

One told me I had nothing to worry about because I was thin.... I just let her in on my secret... I explained to her how I was 250 lbs at one time and now I am 178... I told her about ATKINS and told her if she was interested to read the book.... She lost 29 lbs so far but swears she is not doing Atkins.... I think she just does not want her family to know.

My other friend is very happy at the weight she is.... SHE does not consider her self big even though I know she is pushing 350.... I would NEVER offer her advice on weight lost.


Perhaps at times we can just go up to someone and tell them to keep up the good work and let them know that we have walked in their shoes. I think we can all tell when someone wants advice and when they want to be left alone.

[suncstgirl]

I always feel sad when I see a line of obese people going through the McD's drive thru. They don't seem to be trying at all.
I talked my entire family into doing Atkins, they all lost the weight... before me!

[JerseyGirl1969]

OP, I didn't take your post negatively or as if you feel superior. I think wanting to help and share what we know has worked for us and can work for many yet will be perceived negatively is a challenge.

For me, low carb is a miracle. To be nearing 60lbs less than this time last year is wonderful. The thing is, I KNEW the frustration of "why isn't the weight coming off" with low fat/low cal and lots of exercise, so I know when I see another person of size, particularly one wanting to lose weight (by being in the gym), you want to ease that frustration and know that your little secret could be the ticket.

I see so many people at the gym that haven't changed in the last year. And then there's me. I guess now 60lbs is dramatic, though not as dramatic as say 100lbs or all my excess weight. I guess 60lbs is just a different place than say 15lbs. I use that as an example of the women that were on my Challenge team. That's what they lost and haven't really lost more but need to. You want to share your success, KWIM?

Anyway, it's not arrogant, IMO, it's perhaps more empathetic because you've BTDT and would like to help others. But as with anything, help is best only when asked.

I take the point of your post as this, plus the LC miracle that isn't accepted in the public as such.

Last words to add, I understand the points others made--particularly you don't know this other person, what they've done, where they've been. Someone could meet me today and think "poor dear, if she only lost 60lbs," not knowing I have accomplished that much already. It's wise words to encourage us to remember you can't judge a book by its cover, but I don't feel in my heart that's what you were doing.

[Diana]

Originally Posted by Tuscanytrace

Your liver?!? That's a myth I haven't heard about before!

Next thing you know, LC will destroy your...oh, pick a body part...spleen. Or cause macular degeneration and adenoiditis.

Originally Posted by a_thinner_rach

Your fingers will fall off!

Yes, just last week, I grew an arm out my back from all the excess proteins and fat... but I did lose a few toes. Matter of fact I should be dead by the end of the year.... let the count down begin!

[Diana]

I didn't take your post as rude, like many here... Every once in awhile you will have someoe who will disagree and get their panties all in a knot... blow it off and move on. We can't always agree, so we move on. Don't jump to their level and fire back... You can always *Ignore * them.

[MarblesLongGone]

The first controlled carb diet that I did was a modified bodybuilders diet, and it worked beautifully. It was very restrictive, but very simple. If it wasn't on my sheet, I didn't eat it. I lived on it for a few years. It can be a great start to controlled carbs, without that scary Atkins name, with all of the negative connotations that people have built of that.

[Califrog]

Suzanne - I read your original post and never once thought you were being judgemental or cruel. I have often had the same thoughts and the wish to share the good things in my life with people - whether those things are low carb, homeschooling, God, dog training...

There are some wonderful "teachable moments" that come up in our lives where we truly can use the wisdom we have gained in whatever area to help someone else.

And of course all of us have issues we struggle with as well - and I never saw you claim to be perfection embodied so I'm not sure why the attacks, except that sometimes folks are having a bad day, or are just super-sensitive on a particular topic and that's one of their issues to overcome.

I suppose we could all just walk around never thinking we had anything good to share with someone else, but that's not the way I roll either!

[cleochatra]

I'm in a support group locally for weight loss and see this all the time. It's hard for people. Told that they must cut calories and fat is not a normal way for our bodies to handle food. So many of these ladies deprive themselves, and I'm dropping pounds most of the time. They look at me and I just tell them the truth: I eat a whole foods plan with organic, delicious meals. If I even uttered the "A" word, there would be a lot of chaos. So I don't. I'm slowly easing in.

At this point they know I don't eat processed foods and have cut out sugars (save for the natural ones).

[AllieCat0817]

Originally Posted by MNLisaB

I have had to hold myself back at places like Sam's Club. Carts piled high with the processed, carby foods, most of them pushed by fat, panting folks who don't have a clue!! Some of it low fat- how's that working for ya??

I feel really bad for these folk. Not that I am better than them but just feel bad.

[AllieCat0817]

Originally Posted by lowcarb0rbustmypants

I am not quoting you to single you out, but wanted to post in regards to this.
I could have been that woman you are talking about. There are so many reasons why some people are overweight/obese. Not all of them include overeating or eating the wrong thing. I weigh 396 pounds now. Down from 421.6. I did lowcarb in the past and lost 86 lbs, this was during a remission in my Cushing's disease. I lowcarbed, Jenny Craiged, nutrisystemed, Weight Watchered, and returned to lowcarbed myself up from 300 lbs to the highest I have ever weighed (421.6 lbs). I have an endocrine disorder (Cushing's Disease) that caused me to be unable to lose weight and to even gain weight no matter what I ate or how hard I exercised. I had a pituitary tumor removed in April and am on steroids to replace the hormones my healing pituitary tumor is unable to make. Weight loss for me right now is extremely difficult, but I am managing.

I have been told on more than one occasion that I would lose weight if I did......(insert your idea of what you need to do to lose weight here). It has been one of the hardest times in my life. To feel like you are crazy! You gain so much weight and you are dieting and exercising. Everyone around you is judging you and deciding in their own minds what you have done to get to the size you are.

I will honestly say that I will never look at an overweight/obese person and decide what I think is right for them to do in order to be acceptable to society, because I don't know their story.

I will however say kudos to the girl for trying. She will hopefully figure out what she needs to do for her to get to where she feels right.

I am sorry you are going through this.

[jezzie]

Originally Posted by lowcarb0rbustmypants

I will honestly say that I will never look at an overweight/obese person and decide what I think
is right for them to do in order to be acceptable to society, because I don't know their story.

[BrandNewMe2004]

I didn't take offense at your post. I was one of those gym rats who didn't lose weight despite 3-hour workouts - because I was still eating a high-carb diet. I've found my trifecta - intermittent fasting, low-carb, and exercise (lots of swimming and walking) and have lost nearly 20 pounds in just over a month. Still a long way to go, but I already want to shout it from the roof-tops. I am sharing in a more sedate way w/ ppl I know. Trying to be the example. It's also accountability. I don't want to be the poster child for failing. I want to be the poster child for success. I've put my LC @ss on the line.
I know how you feel so well. I see overweight ppl all the time and every cell in my body wants to go up to them and share with them the secret I've learned works for me. But, there is no telling when they'll be ready to hear that message. Or if it would work for them. I know we all think LC is the end-all-be-all for health and weight loss, but maybe it's not for every body on the planet. That's so hard to say.. lol.
Keep on keeping on. Project openness, not pity. Maybe that lady will approach you, or maybe you can casually work out next to her and strike up a conversation. Make a friend. Find out more about their journey and then share yours.

[CrzyCatLady]

I didn't take what you meant out of context either. You just wish that you could shout from the roof that Atkins/LC worked for you.

I did however take another comment offensively but I will not quote it here. I believe that by looking at her stats that she just worded what she wanted to say poorly.

[LoraJR72]

I started another thread about William Banting - Letter on Corpulence (Fourth Edition - 1869) and written in his booklet he lists how he lost the weight, and the doctor who recommended to him. For over 140 years people have been struggling with corpulence and obesity. Is it because of civilized society? Or merely flour, sugar, and starch? Maybe, the slow down of metabolism as we age?

Here's a paragraph from his booklet that should interest you.

"I have been in dock, perhaps twenty times in as many years, for the reduction of this disease, and with little good effect - none lasting. Any one so afflicted is often subject to public remark, and though in conscience he may care little about it, I am confident no man labouring under obesity can be quite insensible to the sneers and remarks of the cruel and injudicious in public assemblies, public vehicles, or the ordinary street traffic; nor the annoyance of finding no adequate space in a public assembly if he should seek amusement or need refreshment, and therefore he naturally keeps away as much as possible from places where he is likely to be made the object of the taunts and remarks of others. I am as regardless of public remark as most men, but I have felt these difficulties and therefore avoided such circumscribed accomodation and notice, and by that means have been deprived of many advantages to health and comfort."

He mentions having a hard time with this putting on his shoes, and going down stairs, "slowly backwards". He said these are things only the corpulent can understand.

________________________

I can relate to that!