It is true that we live in a society full of gigantic portions and rampant obesity, but there is still a tremendous amount of societal pressure imposed on girls to be thin. I grew up in a wealthy white town just west of Boston. Eating disorders were so rampant that at any given time, one or two girls from my 500 person high school was probably hospitalized for treatment. Most girls stuck to diet coke and salad for lunch, maybe a plain bagel with no butter or cream cheese. It wasn't acceptable to be seen eating anything else in our cafeteria, really. There was competition to be thin and we fed off each other in a sick contest to see who could be the skinniest, who could fight their cravings, who could pass out at play rehearsal or sports practice because they hadn't eaten at all that day.

I also used to have an eating disorder (shocking, considering the high school I went to:rolleyes:. At my worst, I was 5'5" and weighed 95 pounds - not bad enough that I was ever hospitalized, but bad enough that one summer my parents gave me an ultimatum - start eating like a normal human being or I would be going to the hospital in the fall rather than going back to school. Even at that weight, I looked in the mirror and all I saw were imperfections and all I could think was that I was FAT. It didn't matter how many times I was called down to see my guidance counselor because a teacher had expressed concern about my weight loss. (Before I got sick, I weighed about 115 pounds). The first day I wore a sundress in the spring, twelve people commented on the fact that I was extremely skinny - and still, I thought I was fat. It's the other extreme for obesity, and I agree with whoever it was who said that our society has become polarized - increasingly, really thin is the ideal, really fat is the reality.

Even now that I am supposedly "recovering" - because anorexia, like alcoholism, is something from which you never really recover - I do not view myself in an entirely normal light. True, I am a normal weight for my frame, and most days, I am happy with my appearance. Yet, every morning when I wake up, I have to make the conscious decision to eat like a normal person that day - and by eating like a normal person, I mean eating what my body tells me to eat, and stopping when I am full. (Something most Americans don't do!)

I don't know what causes eating disorders - personally, I think some of it is societal (otherwise, why would it have been so rampant at my high school) but some of it must be genetic - my mother, my sister, and my father's sister have all also suffered from eating disorders. It's probably the same combination of factors with obesity. It really saddens me though that so many Americans have such a troubled relationship with food - from both sides of the spectrum.

What is more interesting is what is seen as the genetic drift from a low calorie--or no caloric intake--due to starvation vs. a high fat, high simple carbohydrate, highly processed foodstuff and the development of diabetic phenotypes...

As we age, things don't work like they were suppose to. Maybe, children in developed countries are born obese simply because women are choosing to have children later on in life, when the very enzymes metabolizing fat start to slow down... I dunno... But it would be interesting statistics.

More and more folks will die due to cardiovascular complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke than anything else. That is why being overweight has been deemed detrimental and a risk factor for these diseases by the medical community.

But maybe our whole environment, beyond anyone's control is changing. Maybe the planet is shifting in gravitational pull. The more gravity, the more mass one must have in order to survive... Maybe, there is a natural selection for the those carrying a lot of weight. Because most of the time, by the time obesity plays a role in most humans, it may be well after reproductive years--so it's thought by the medical community... But I dunno--what do I know...

A whole heck of a lot! :)

My most nerdiest post!!!
 

So okay, I'ma nerd!!! And I still love me!!! :)

Anyhoo, I have to start my research on my biological system that I study...

Since diabetes and cardiovascular disease plague my family and myself, I have made a conscience decision to study this disease process and try to find therapies or cures for it. (For those going into grad school, you have write chit like this in a statement of purpose...)

Anyhoo, my most nerdy techie geeky self has just come out... So like when I moved to Texas from California last year, I was at least 130 lbs... Not bad for a 33 yr. old woman... But now, since I have moved outta Texas, I have gained much weight!!! :eek: (I ain't gonna say how much, but it bothers me).

So I was thinking, since my paternal side of my family is genetically predisposed to type 2 diabetes and since the onset of the disease is usually when one gains weight and is considered clinically obese and poor diet is a contributing factor, I started to wonder if it was where I on Earth I chose to live that caused my increased and quite voracious appetite opposed to I was just lazy?

So a little "Google" searching and I determined the Earth's geoid--or gravitational pull changes throughout the Earth... That these changes are marked by oceonographic and climate changes. Then I read something about microgravity or weightless and the havoc it wrecks on astronauts' bodies. Then I started thinking:

What if the Earth's gravitational pull--no matter how slight--affects human biology and genetics so much so, that it affects the diabetic/obesity response genes? And what kind of responses are we seeing? Hmmmm...

For those who want to philosophically discuss this, please respond... I welcome the debate... Especially those biologists, chemists, medical doctors, physicists, engineers--anybody with an interest!!!

I think guys have it worse than any of you girls. I don't know any guy that supersizes or doesn't sit there worrying about his weight lately.

-Rudey

Maybe it's getting more equal (guys are catching up with girls as far as worrying about their weight) but there's NO WAY that guys have it worse. Think about the stuff attractive girls have to wear- tight jeans, short, leg-baring skirts, little tank tops, bikinis, etc. Women's bodies are just so much more on-display all the time.

And just look at the incidence of eating disorders- women get them at least 10x more than men.

Anecdotal evidence: My parents came up to my college for graduation, and my dad remarked that he was surprised at the number of slightly chubby guys he saw, especially compared with the girls (most of whom, while not looking like supermodels or Playmates, are reasonably slim and cute and dress nice and wear makeup daily). The guys just don't have as much reason to care if they're carrying around 10 or 20 extra beer pounds. The same extra weight on a girl could make or break her hotness.

I am not sure about that, but it is very prevalent in our society once college is left behind. I know a good deal of older people from my hometown who went off to school and gained a bunch of weight and used it as a trophy that they were having a god time. Now, they just look like fat men trying to work their job in a new fat body that doesn't handle real life as easily as it did in the college world. It is sad.

That said....

Sometimes post that are too long are daunting, so...
 

I have a big problem w/ the way that we deal with diet in America. There is nothing wrong with eating sweet/high-fat foods, as long as they do not become the basis of your daily diet. Just like drinking beer, if you sit around and drink 12 soda's a day, you will get big. But, one coke every other day is not going to hurt you. Matter of fact, the same goes for candy and other sweets. If you are constantly depriving yourself of something, you are going to have a mental attraction to it. It becomes compulsive. Automatically want it when you see it. That is why we are such a fat country, we are always trying strange diets and developing so many weird OCD problems. I am serious. Look at how many people are on the Atkins diet, the most unnatural and unhealthy thing you can do. Think about it. Yeah, it may take a few pounds off, but unless you are a cardiac patient, those should be lost through exercise and moderate eating habits. They will be re-gained w/ Atkins. I think depriving yourself of something for too long causes emotional issues.....

What say you Monet? Am I on target?

Eat right and exercise.

This topic hit a nerve with me.

All of my life I've struggled with weight and food issues. My family is rather screwed up. My dad used to be an alcoholic and when he drank he would become emotionally abusive. I spent my childhood and part of my adolescence being berated for being darker than my dad, for being what he considered fat, and for being born basically (now, things have changed.) I was never fat as a child, I just carried a lot of baby fat, some of which I still have now. When I hit middle school and was teased by my classmates for being a nerd, I started to eat to cope. By the time I was in 8th grade, i was 13 wearing a size 16. High school, I went to a school for the first time that wasnt majority black. Many of my classmates had issues with their weight and there was pressure to be thin. I started to starve myself during the day and at night I would eat a small dinner so my mom would think I was eating regulary. By the time I graduated, I was a size 10 but my metabolism was screwed up. After starting college, I started to eat normally again and I regained weight. I'm now a size 14 but I'm 5'8 so I look more like a size 12, but my metabolism is slow.

I'm currently on a plan to lose weight (20 lbs by Thanksgiving, lost 6 already!) after both of my parents were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes runs on both sides of my family tree so I need to lose the weight NOW and keep it off to lessen my chances of getting it. Even though ppl in my family say I don't need to lose weight. :rolleyes:

The problem with America is that everything has to be bigger and faster and it has to be here now. I'm still learning portion control but its hard with all of the commericals for 20 oz coke and supersizing and stuff.

I couldn't agree more. So many people are looking for the easy way out and to place blame on other sources while the only real solution is to eat right and exercise.

A Good Point...
 

Perfect Point Optimist Prime...


One thing to note BlueGBI. I don't think you can really blame this on the 20oz cokes. These things do not just appear in your hand. You can get a diet coke. That is an argument I do not comprehend.

I know a girl who is obese, literally obese, and drinks like 5-6 "code red's" a day. Well, these are 20oz and she is taking in 1650 calories from code red alone. this is more than she should be having anyway, and she still eats all the time. I feel bad for her, but she doesn't exercise, is lazy, a slob, and extremely nice, so I feel bad using her as an example.

The point is, this is ridiculous... it is purely her fault. She can have A "code red", but not a freaking dozen every two days. I am telling you, she realizes what she is doing. If she ever tried to blame the soft drink companies, it would be just stupid. I do not think anyone should be able to do that... ever.

Junk food...
 

Well, the research is suggesting that it is one's genetics that plays a significant role to the response to obesity and all the compendium diseases...

There are some people that have high metabolic rates and can eat all the junk they want and NEVER EVER get heart disease or type 2 diabetes... But they probably would get cancer, but not diabetes...

Whereas, there are those who can exercise regularly--in fact in great atheletic shape--Hell, they are atheletes and these same persons keel over with a heart attack... :eek:

Aside from the congenital hypertrophy these folks might have, there is also, hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes with hypertriglyceridemia...

bluGBI--

What you may want to do is have a full hormonal blood work up... I will cost at least $2K without insurance. I know of a Dr. who does this sort of thing in Texas and will refer you to someone in your area... One of your hormones may be off that is causing you that massive imbalance. It may have something to do with your thyroid... The thyroid is a master gland regulating many things--one of them being appetite suppression... Your body is thinking it does not have enough nutrients so it is mis-signalling to your brain telling it--hey, eat more--anywhere--particularly carbs!!! Rather than eating like carrot sticks--you desire the rapid fire sugary drugs--Coke's, candy bars, etc. I know, been there, done that...

On top of that, you have had NO emotional support, so your self esteem is evaporated. You need to be around folks who will help you throughout your desired transition. So seek the kind of objective help that you deserve.

The weight management folks suggest keeping a food journal... That is one way to do it... But you must determine why you desire such foods, what time you desire them and how much do you eat??

Hey, refined sugar is close to that being a narcotic. Everyone is addicted to it. Try not eating sugary foods and one will go through withdrawal symptoms similar to that of a heroin addict...

On top of that most of our foods are highly processed to protect us from massive food spoilage, rot, infestation and infection... That was good when food was scarce, but now, food is not so scarce and those processing practices have not changed in the last 20 years or so...

I.E. High fructose corn syrup...

And if one is a vegan in Texas, they'd die...

Eating properly is a good mantra, but what does that really mean? Dieticians are finding they have to redefined that concept of the food pyramid...

Exercise is excellent always, but what difference would it make if one keels over and dies from cardiovascular disease?

IMO, eating a diet mostly of green veggies, lean cuts of proteins, high fiber grains and some good lipids (omega 3 FA's and flax seed oils) is a safe bet... The more veggies, the better. Research has shown that 5 mini meals a day are good... Moreover, eliminating processed foods from a diet helps... But this may be difficult in some areas...

IMO, exercise for the appropriate body type, not the "no pain no gain" mentality... For some people, it is cardio high impact aerobics. For others it is walking. But as long as you LIKE IT and desire to do it, I would think that would be what is best for you. Consistency is important. You cannot workout for 3 months, lose the weight you need, then stop cold turkey. It is a lifestyle choice. This is what you do when for the "me-time" self care--this is how YOU choose to take care of yourself for the rest of your LIFE!!!

Hey for some folks it is Yoga with some Pilates--others its bench pressing 300 lbs 100 times... Either way, find what makes you happy... Not everyone is triathelon material--I know I am not... However, I love to dance, so aerobics is more for me--specifically adult ballet class makes me estatic...

Remember, nothing is going to come naturally to you without you getting up and doing something about it. One has to find that motivation from every inkling in his or her body...

Re: Junk food...
 

Thx for your response!

I never thought of getting the full hormonal blood work done. I know that if I ever started anything like Atkins again, I would have to get that and all of the other tests done.

My problem is that I eat when I'm sad. It doesnt matter what it is, if its there I'll eat it. The biggest thing that I've done is eliminate most refined sugars out of my diet. I don't have that much of a problem with refined flour, rice, and pasta. The only thing with refined sugar I'll eat is ice cream. Today I had some cupcakes and I now have a headache since I haven't had cupcakes in about 4 months. I eat alot of veggies and fruits but I don't really eat that much eggs and meat so I'm upping my protein levels by eating eggs at breakfast and lean meats during lunch and dinner.

My family situation has become better with my father no longer drinking like he used to. Its still screwy but its much better than what it used to be. I'm also involved with my church group here at school and I know they have my back.

I'm registered on ediets.com and I also have a food diary. The biggest thing is that refined sugar is in almost everything! Especially on campus because they tend to serve the food you DONT' need.

Re: Re: Junk food...
 

Now you know what you MUST work on...

Why are you sad? Do not answer that question to me, just ask yourself that...

Are you sad because you eat, or eat because you are sad?

If you do suffer from depression, then it is possible that your thyroid hormones are off... The Dr. Rose from Starcare.com says "when you think depression, think thyroid..."

The cupcakes you ate, did they contain chocolate? If so, chocolate has caffeine it it, which can cause headaches... The jury is still out on the benefits of caffeine and chocolate in terms of research...

I suggest you limiting you eggs... Eat egg beaters or egg whites--buy an egg separator... NO salt--use salt free spices... Salt is another foodstuff narcotic.

I really suggest to STAY AWAY FROM THE ATKINS UNLESS YOUR DR. MAKES YOU DO IT!!!

If you MUST have a breakfast and some people do, the regimen of breakfast is important. First, have a ton of water--at least huge bottles by your bed and drink that when you wake up, after you brush your teeth and before you eat breakfast.

Then if you MUST eat meat, then choose like fish... Because really, biochemically, you may be craving the oils not the "fat"... The meat producers just have not engineeried lean cuts of breakfast foods--that is just the way it is... These foods are highly processed, too much sugar and salt and are just plain nasty when you determine how they got to your table... I'd say eat them at your own risk--but I do not eat that kind of food--I like Morningstar Veggie Sausages... But Lox is pretty good for a breakfast... Especially with some type of bonafide fruit juice, like OJ or Cranberry (Rasberry) juice...

But your body will NEVER have a lack for water...

Also remember, food culture--the way you eat--is a learned behavior... Some did not teach you properly... Moreover, you probably will need to un learn your poor eating habits and learn new eating habits...

Stay away from those cupcakes unless they are the real vegan style ones--sweet and uncooked made without things that have faces or dairy...

Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

If you MUST have breakfast? breakfast is the most important meal of the day. i know it might be hard for some people to believe but it is possible to eat three full meals a day and still lose weight and be healthy. Moderation is the key, you can eat most anything you want as long as you don't go over board and get exercise. its not good to cut whole meals out of your schedule to lose weight.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

Word. I eat breakfast every day (usually 1 cup of whole grain cereal with berries and 1/2 tablespoon of slivered almonds), and I've lost an entire person. :D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

I dunno, but for me, I am unable to digest and keep down food if I eat early in the morning. I usually have to wait until 10 AM before I can keep food down. 9:30 AM at the earliest.

The reason I say this is because there are some people, like me, that have an unsettled stomach when they wake up in the morning. At best, I can only drink water without upsetting my stomach.

With what I know about genes and the circadian clock regulation, not everyone's is the same. Generally, folks should eat breakfast to get their day going. I dunno how hearty that breakfast ought to be, but generally speaking, it is right to feed folks at least 30 minutes after they have arisen...

Whether on not one MUST eat breakfast as a health related issue, then for me, I would have to see the data on that. Because, eating breakfast may not have anything to do with one's health, predisposition to obesity or cardiovascular diseases.

Moroever, studies in aging in transgenic mice suggest the opposite, that limiting caloric intake increases longevity...

So, who knows...

Wouldn't it be best to eat breakfast when you start feeling hungry, rather than as soon as you get up. Some people may or may not be hungry when they get up. I know I am not usually hungry when I get up, but that's mostly because I usually have some sort of bedtime snack because I am a diabetic and it keeps me from having a hypoglycemic reaction in the middle of the night.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

Like AKAMonet said, some people just can't eat breakfast. Mr Munchkin can't keep anything down if it's the first thing he eats; if we wake up around 8, he won't eat until 12. Keep in mind, he does eat three meals a day. We've been fed the whole deal about breakfast being "the most important meal of the day," but it just doesn't work like that for a lot of people.

Think about it--it doesn't seem very healthy to down something fatty or extra sugary as soon as you wake up, does it?

I think the research is suggesting that those who can make that distinction to eat when they are hungry rather than eat because folks say they must...

I know that it is unwise to grocery shop while one is hungry...

But that is different than eating when one is not hungry...

There are folks who have "Prader-Willi's syndrome" where food must be locked up because these folks cannot control their appetite and eat all the time. The defect can actually be measured neurologically... So these unfortunate individuals hoard food and find it impossible to turn off the ability to not be hungry...

In the weight management business, the idea to make money may not encourage folks to know when they are hungry or not... It may be an ugly secret...

But in the obesity research field, the idea to make money is to allow folks to eat whatever, whenever but never suffer the consequences...

I dunno which is worse...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

I seriously thought I was the only one whohad that problem. I can drink a small glass of orange juice in the morning (but generally not until i've been awake for at least an hour), but anything else will make me feel sick for the rest of the day. It's nice to know that other people can't eat breakfast.

The reason for eating breakfast as soon as you get up is that, after eight hours (or twelve, or even more) of not eating, your metabolism has slowed to a crawl. By eating first thing in the morning, you "wake it up" and it starts burning more calories than if you wait until 11 to eat. It goes along with the theory that eating six mini meals a day, instead of three big ones, keeps your metabolism burning longer and thus burns more calories.

Of course if there's a medical reason why you can't eat breakfast then you shouldn't. But if you're looking to lose weight, eating breakfast as soon as you get up as opposed to later could help you out.

1. Atkins gets a really bad rap. There haven't been enough studies showing the long term effects in people who follow the diet PROPERLY (and don't just stop eating carbs). Folks who do it properly can eat healthy carbs like veggies (maybe not fruit), they just cut out high starch high cartb foods that if we're honest, NOBODY needs. People are generally scared off by induction, or take that to be representative of the entire diet and that's just not true.

2. Studies are showing, and people who lose a lot of weight seem to be responding to the idea that six meals a day makes it easier to lose weight. It's kind of a way of life, once you start it you will always eat smaller meals. You're never huingry so you "binge" less (emotional eaters exempt, because that's a case when it doesn't matter that you're not hungry)

3. Fructose is evil, and it's everywhere. It used to be recommended to diabetics because it didn't cause a spike in your blood sugar level, but more current studies show that your body does not process it as a regular carbohydrate and use it to replenish glycogen stores in general, instead it replenishes only glycogen stores in the liver. The rest goes straight to fat storage. Some health professionals who sell diet plans (Scott Connelly) link the increase in fructose use in food preparation to the increase in obesity in Americans. Try to go a day without eating eat, look for fructose in your foods. You will be surprised at how much is in food items- it's in bread for Pete's sake!

4. I tend to think that most diet plans will work to some extent for different people simply because it forces them to pay attention to every bit of food they put in their mouths. Of course I am still firmly committed to a high protein, high-fiber diet for KEEPING weight off, but if it's just about losing body WEIGHT and not FAT almost any program that calls attention to food intake will work. Calories in < calories expended.

I cannot follow any conventional diets due to the physical alterations made to my system.

The one thing that I find to be wacky is when they say things like"Don't eat (insert item here) after/before (insert time here) because (insert study finding here)." I don't know what to believe anymore!!!

Thank you. I was so skeptical of Atkins before I tried it. Now, I look at what's IN my food, not just calories/fat. A lot of the foods on the diet are much more natural than traditional low fat, low calorie "prepared" foods.

Now, my diet consists mostly of very lean ground beef, tuna, chicken, medium eggs (not those freaky estrogen enhanced XL eggs), nuts and salads. Much more natural than the crackers I used to eat all the time that were filled with partially hydrogenated oils and weird chemicals.

Take a look at what's in butter vs low fat margarine. The fat and calorie content is about the same, but the ingredients in the margarine creep me out. I like that butter has 2 things in it: cream and salt.

I still eat carbs. But its not the bulk of my diet like it was before.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Junk food...
 

Same here! I actually had been avoiding this thread, but just checked in to see what was up.... and I found a legion of others like me! :)

I cant eat breakfast as well. I need to be up for at least two hours before I cnat eat any kind of food.

Are y'all joking me?!!! I would die if I didn't have a healthy breakfast with protein and coffee/green tea!! I am such a breakfast obsessive!

The thing is, you can have an effective eating plan without going on Atkins or anything like that.

The secret is exercise - having a consistent schedule that includes both resistance training and cardio. If you do that, and limit the sugars and excess fats in your diet, you WILL lose weight and get into shape. Maybe not movie star or pro athlete shape, but you'll be healthy.

I've lost around 30-40 pounds since sophomore year of college, and am now a solid 170-175, depending on the week. I still give into my cravings once in a while (cookies, ice cream, a beer once in a while), but I've also taught myself to resist those cravings.

For most people (and I say most - I know some people must diet through more extreme means), eating reasonably healthy and excercising will get results.

That is just plain wrong. Every guy I know seriously has to work hard to be fit. A girl just starves herself and can look good. I keep a food journal (thanks for the tip James), I drink powders at work and get made fun for it, people have no idea why I eat my meals in halves every couple of hours, and sometimes I even want to cry because I can't enjoy a damn beer.

Most of the guys I know work very hard to put on lean mass without getting bellies. When was the last time you hooked up with a guy with a flat chest? Probably never. When was the last time you hooked up with a guy who was fat? Probably never.

-Rudey
--If you're a guy and want to be in shape, you can't just starve yourself.

If you're a girl and you starve yourself you won't be in shape either. The girl might be thin, but she's not in shape if she's starving herself.

Very very true, and I think a point that a lot of people miss.
It's tough to draw the line between gaining quality mass and gaining too much mass. That's the point I'm at now - I'm at my ideal weight, but would like to get stronger, so it's tough to figure out what to eat or take to help make that difference.


You just always try to avoid what I call "fat belly-skinny arm" syndrome.

I'm lucky in that I have a girlfriend who honestly still would be with me if I was too heavy - but the truth is that if you are carrying too much, girls won't even look at you. When I was even a little chubby (as I said before, about 40 pounds more than I am now), it was tough to get girls to take a second look. Since I've been in shape, that has not been the case.

Collin

In reference to being treated differently when you are thinner/in shape - completely true....


When I was in high school, I was on the drill team and worked out like nothing else. I was 5'3" (on a good day) and weighed about 125, all of that muscle. I was also living in a small Texas college town.......not a good combination. Doors were opened for me, clerks practically tripped over themselves to help me, and waiters spent extra time at our table. Ha, now the flip side of that ~ older, married, and one baby later.....lets just say that 125 is a memory. I work out, try to eat right, but unfortunately it doesn't work like it did when I was in high school. It makes me sick that our society is so weight oriented when so many of us are overweight. Like another poster said - the ideal body weight for height I don't believe matches up. For example, 5'3" should be 130 max. For most people thats an unattainable goal so they don't even try.

oh and don't even get me started on the "mighty kids meal":rolleyes:

It is really important to eat a balanced breakfast, when you can. You obviously don't want to shove food down your throat if you are not hungry. All this talk about foods being "Evil" is absurd though. I will say it one more time... If you go around cutting things out of your diet, entire food groups especially, you WILL mess your metabolic rate up. Now, you do not have to listen to me, but I have so many relatives that have problems w/ weight, and I studied plenty of nutrition in school. I may not be as learned as AKA Monet, but I will tell you that if you don't EVER have certain foods, such as your favorite junk foods, you will drive yourself nuts, and end up binging on them. I have seen it happen so many times. My aunt told me that she went on the "protein diet" in the seventies, and lost weight, then gained more back when she began eating sensibly again. folks... you cannot be active w/out carbs, you cannot be healthy w/ being active. Good luck to everyone though.

OKAY PEOPLE...
 

MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO A TRAINED MEDICAL DOCTOR FOR ALL CHANGES IN YOUR HEALTH!!!

I cannot stress that enough...

The Everything in Moderation works for those who are "relatively" healthy. In so many words, they are regular--in more ways than one...

However, for the morbidly obese--the stomach staple people--and those suffering from genetic diseases, or eating disorders, I MUST EMPHASIZE that although the research is abundant and confusing--and might be inconclusive, that ONLY YOU CAN CHANGE YOU HABITS WITH THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL SUPERVISION...

Yes, I read Science and Nature. No I do not subscibe to the JAMA and all the other medical journals. But I am around enough medical doctors to that they are required to know at least where you can get help if they cannot help you... They do work very hard--even the med school students...

I would say, that in the future, there will be this "subculture" of folks that do all this self-research, by reading all that is out there and trying to make sense from it--much like those folks that suffer from cancer do when they try to find experimental drug trials. I think the same thing is going to happen to obesity and all the other diseases that come along with it...

All of us have Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in our genes that make us fat, thin, whatever in between. The regulation of that process is just personal...

LOL.

I don't think you realize how difficult "starving yourself" can be.

Starving oneself is unwise
 

Watch that starve conditions...

I am telling ya there is talk... Not proven, but talk that starving conditions in you body can cause like that of a nuclear winter...

What your body does is hoard all the fat it can muster and stuffs it away for the long winter when you starve yourself.

Now, I ain't talkin' 'bout us folks who be missing breakfast... 'Cuz I sho be makin' up for it at lunch... I am talkin' like you are pretending to be Ghandi and full on cold turkey fast. Some folks can do that, not eat food for days with no repercussions. But most "regular" folks will get sick. And folks suffering from cardiovascular diseases, might die...

So watch that starving conditions...

Yeah, seriously.

And most "really hot" women (actresses, models, people in Playboy) work out a whole lot, beyond just watching their diets to stay slim. A woman who just doesn't eat much, so is skinny, probably won't look that great without any muscle tone or firmness. Sure, some girls get away with being skinny but unfit, but especially with age their good looks are usually not sustainable.

Basically, to address Rudy, if I had to be a slightly chubby person, I'd rather be a chunky male than a chunky female. A chunky guy can get quality women if he's funny, rich, etc. I know guys who are a lot less than perfect, physically, who consistently get girlfriends at least a few notches more attractive and fit than they are themselves. You might be surprised how many women will overlook that if other important qualities are there in a man (money, social status, even a great personality). Sure, sometimes men overlook a little chub too, but I'd say not as much. It's men who trade in their spouses for the younger, thinner, hotter version- trophy wives- not the other way around.

It's so sad that even in weight there's this double standard. There are a lot more women willing to overlook appearance and physical condition, than there are men.