overweight-obese people

[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.

[LoraJR72]

I've tried to get my "office spouse"..lol, to try low-carb for a while and offered him my DANDR book to read, but his Doctor has brainwashed him on the "low-fat" plan.

Every day he eats those Smart Choice or other frozen entrees for lunch. He told me he eats those for dinner sometimes, too. Guess what? He's gaining weight!

[TaDa!]

I see a lot of people at my gym ... not all of them obese, but maybe overweight ... some of them workout effectively and some are just wasting their time exercising as if they were shopping. Yeah, everyone has to work out to their own fitness levels, but some of these folks are not even doing that.

Others work out ***really*** hard. There are even folks I have seen there for years at the gym, and the secret I want to whisper in their ears is: Food Matters. Calories Matter. All "diets" work to some degree, but exercise alone (especially lame exercise for those to whom it applies) just will not cut it.

When asked, or the topic is brought up by someone else, I do give my opinion, but otherwise I keep my mouth shut ... I know exactly what you mean!! lol!!

[Alcmene]

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.

TOTALLY!

I see people in the supermarket in front of me that are very large and have awful skin, and their children are falling down that same spiral, and you look at what they are buying and I just feel like saying something but I don't.

Any chance you could befriend her? Maybe be her gym buddy?

[LoraJR72]

Yes, I've seen big girls and guys at the gym on stationary bikes or treadmill usually looking confused and rather frustrated. I'll see them for a couple of weeks, a few days here and there and then they disappear. Very sad. The only way to get sound nutritional help is to spend $$$ from a Master Trainer at my gym.

[Su11]

I think that some of these people are like me, people who have gotten so out of shape that it will take years of bumping against the realities of their bodies and changed body systems to lose pound by pound. I'm still on my journey, but looking back over the past 3 years, I've definitely made good progress. I worry sometimes that people don't keep trying new options because each weight range and age range has it's own 'magic potion' to lose and sometimes it is hard to listen to your body and make those changes.

But at least that heavy person is getting some exercise and usually that's not a bad thing.

[scandalouslyglam]

Some times I feel like that "overweight" person. Standing in line buying my Cheese, heavy cream, Veggies, Hamburger, mayo, EGGS and :gasp: pork rinds. The Lady in back of me is thin and buying all the low fat things, Lara bars, smart water, weight lean cuisine, snackwells. I feel guilty-ish. Granted I'm not that overweight, but I'm not in shape and I'm eating MEAT, RED MEAT. It's a mind set. And Low fat does work for some, not me. But Some. I guess the same could honestly be said for most diets IF YOU CAN STICK to them they will work.

[flatferenghi]

but when asked i tell them Atkins. I love to see the expressions on their faces. They are mystified. Love & profits: FLATFERENGHI.

[jezzie]

The problem is so complex there is no one answer. That's the biggest part of the problem.

I knew one successful Atkins maintainer in real life. He lost 200 pounds in '92 - '93 on the 1992 plan.
I ran into a former employee of mine a few weeks ago. The success story has put on about 30 pounds
over the past year or so.

I still know two 'over one hundred pounds lost' WW's maintainers. (And seven who didn't make it.)


.

[ItsToni]

I have to admit that I am guilty of looking at other people's groceries Why? I dunno - it's really none of my business. What I do know, is most of the time, all I see is a pile of preservatives. That really bothers me since I know it is going in the mouths of the little ones. Not that my son doesn't ever eat a can of ravioli - but for the most part, foods don't come from mixes and boxes at my house. But...that's just me.

I guess, also, we have to remember that everyone is at a different place in their journey of health/weight loss. Some people might be at the gym just to get exercise or just for a social outlet - not necessarily to lose weight. Some people are happy at a heavier weight, but exercise for good health. We all have different goals There's more to weight loss than just eating atkins and exercising. If it were that easy, none of us would be on this board. Yes - that may work for some, but not all. Someone in an earlier post said that any plan will work if you stick to it. The problem is finding one you CAN stick with!

[WendyK1974]

I'm the opposite. I notice thin people and wonder what they do to be thin/stay thin.

But really when it comes down to it, I don't care about people's weight. I am more likely to remember what someone said than what they looked like. I just don't notice those things about people.

[AllieCat0817]

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.

Yes I feel bad. And they have no clue. And if anyone ever brings the subject up with me (such as 'why are you in here... why are you drinking a protein shake-- you are skinny already!'....) then that is my opportunity say 'actually I was 220-235 most of my adult life until 2003.... and that leads into it. Otherwise I keep my trap shut and keep it movin.

[JerseyGirl1969]

Yes, but I know that just as much as I hated anyone who dared offer me poor advice without my asking for it, another would hate good advice if unsolicited.

Remember the Challenge I did at the gym? I was talking with one of my former teammates this morning. We separated our efforts at the end of that challenge. I went back to solo training with a new trainer, they stayed with my old one. So this morning she was saying how fantastic I look. I'm over 55lbs down and heading to 60 by my anniversary of a year of training. Though they continued training none of them managed their food well. All too influenced by the taste of bad foods, the lure of fun foods. They haven't achieved anything in the last 3 months.

Hey, I've gone off plan too, but it's one meal and then back on. I understand it's not easy. But I do believe that low fat/low cal makes it harder on you than it has to be and easier to fail.

I bite my tongue but will free it only if I'm asked, what are you doing? People presume it's low cal, low fat, hard work. They're shocked when I say it's more food, high fat, fun.

[painted_klown]

You are all awesome! Such an inspiration to everyone, I love reading threads like this.

I am working to get to that point where I can be a "spokesperson" for low carb eating. No one is going to take "diet" advice from me right now. Well those that do not know me anyway.

Actually, just yesterday my uncle and his girlfriend were asking me what I had been doing AND they wanted to try the "diet" I was on!!! The coolest part is that that they had ran into me at the store, noticed my weight loss, and had talked about how good I was doing so far. I wasn't even aware that they were talking about it and I was over visiting my parents yesterday when my mom had mentioned it. Well she called up my uncle's GF and she was asking me all sorts of questions about what you can and cannot eat. She had already tried to her own version of low carb'ing but had it a bit mixed up. Anyway, I cleared it up and she seemed genuinely excited to get started on doing it correctly. I am happy forthem and hope they stick with it for a while.

That made me feel really good that they would come to me for weight loss advice. Plus I am helping advise family on how to live a longer happier life.

Thanks for reading.

[JerseyGirl1969]

almost 30 lbs? PK, you too are an inspiration! Don't sell urself short

[painted_klown]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl1969

almost 30 lbs? PK, you too are an inspiration! Don't sell urself short

Thanks, I am trying...I have been going for 2.4 mile walks every night to help speed up the weight loss and I have had a few friends want to go walking with me. I suppose I don't think about those things until they are pointed out to me. So, yeah, the other day my friend Ben went walking with me. (he is rail thin and doesn't need to but just wants to help motivate me) Another friend Travis (also thin) said he would go walking with me, just to give him a call. And tonight my friend Christy is supposed to go walking with me. She has struggled with her weight as an adult after having a super thin childhood. So I have sort of inspired her in a way....she still refuses to low carb though...I don't get it. Her twin sister low carb'd and lost a good amount, she sees me losing weight and gaining energy, and yet she still does the low fat/low calorie thing. She has had success with that method though so I guess if I was her then I would stick to what has worked for me too...

Thanks for the kind words, it really makes me look at the "effect" I have had on my friends and family and that makes me smile.

[hummingbird11]

I think we need to all wear T-shirts that say on the front:

The REAL "secret" to weight loss & lifetime fitness??

and on the back:

ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS ASK.

[SweetAsSplenda]

I am guilty of peeking in other folks' carts at the grocery store. I see a lot of 2-liters of Coke or Mountain Dew, Doritos, frozen stuff like biscuits, Hot Pockets, sometimes whole cakes from the bakery. Usually they are overweight or obese and have their kids with them too (who are sadly headed in that direction). I see that a lot more often than the low-fat stuff (Snackwells, etc although I'm sure it's common).
I wish I could let them know that they can have REAL food and still lose weight. But that is not my place, unless I am asked I don't say anything.

[g8rchic]

Sometimes I wonder if people think that about me. I have been going to the gym for about a year now 4-5 times a week. I work out really hard but my weight loss is very slow. I know my body composition has changed but the weight is still there. I have lost about 40 lbs in that year but when you see someone everyday you don't notice the loss much when it is slow. I have only been LC'ing for the last 3 months but still weight loss is very slow. I figure the exercise is still great for my health even if it's not making me shed weight quickly. Some people are self conscious when overweight and going to the gym, thinking people are judging them. I have always thought that people would think "good for her, she is trying". OK I think I am just rambling now...

[WendyK1974]

Originally Posted by SweetAsSplenda

I am guilty of peeking in other folks' carts at the grocery store. I see a lot of 2-liters of Coke or Mountain Dew, Doritos, frozen stuff like biscuits, Hot Pockets, sometimes whole cakes from the bakery. Usually they are overweight or obese and have their kids with them too (who are sadly headed in that direction). I see that a lot more often than the low-fat stuff (Snackwells, etc although I'm sure it's common).
I wish I could let them know that they can have REAL food and still lose weight. But that is not my place, unless I am asked I don't say anything.

I admit I do this too. I'm always amazed when someone is really thin and has that crud in their cart. LOL I wanna know how they do it!!!!!

[CrzyCatLady]

I'm guilty too. I look at other peoples shopping carts. I see all of the processed, sugary, salty, food that they consume. Sometimes it's thin parents with these chunky children. Just because they can eat the junk, they must think their children can too. Of course I also wonder what they are thinking about me. I'm overweight, not as much as I was of course. Buying bacon, cheese, cream, beef...... I wonder if they think "that poor girl should eat low fat?" Maybe to make myself feel better in the store I should wear a shirt - I've lost over 50lbs! Fat rocks!!!

[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??

Lots of folks at work ask me how I have lost my weight, I will tell them only when asked, don't want to come off as obnoxious or prosteletyzing (sp??). Sure know how to lose after more than a year and a half into it, and it surely didn't happen by eating only popcorn and apples.

[JerseyGirl1969]

I too am a Cart CHecker, I think most of us are. I often get people looking to see what the fat girl is buying and then they look at their cart. Or I look at the thin folks and see so much...not just processed food but Junk Food (chips, etc.) that I am astonished.

Also happens when I eat out--like at the cafe at the gym I've heard more than once about my breakfasts "I could never eat that, how is it that you lose weight"--my typical breakfast? S/F tea, whole egg omelette with green peppers, chicken breast, onion, tomato and cheddar.

[lowcarb0rbustmypants]

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.

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.