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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:03:58 PM   
cyberdude611


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I know there is a theory out there that claims seeing someone overweight triggers an immune response because it is associated with infection, therefore it is natural and evolutionary to dislike the obese. That's a bunch BS in my opinion. And those that push that theory are only trying to justify their disgust for fat people. My point is that it is a learned behavior. We are taught by the media, our peers, and our parents to dislike and fear the overweight.

And this is the reason why diseases such as anorexia and bulimia are almost exclusively found only in western societies where a person's weight is given so much importance. Go outside the western societies and eating disorders are practically non-existant.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:10:32 PM   
Termyn8or


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I hope you didn't mean me when you said there was someone you would rather not hear from. I do not recall picking on overweight people so here goes.

I think that no matter what anybody does, alot of Men are going to see being overweight as a negative thing. Some can get over it, some can't. While I can't speak for everyone I say - We are sorry.

Tell you this much, if those who can't get past it reject you because of it, the remainder of the people you meet will probably be a better crowd. The ones hooked on looks are watching the models. Not so long ago they came out with a size zero dress. More recently they came out with a size double zero. It truly is getting ridiculous.

I saw a couple of models on TV the other day, I don't even know what channel it was on, but to me they looked anorexic or something. You should not see the ribs so well on them. They are not bodybuilders, I could understand that. They are models and their primary platform is aesthitics. So why look like a famine victim ?

So it's not only the guys now, teen girls are on strict starvation diets to look like their "idol".

As far as the physical aspects, in your case I can only make a very limited comment because I am not familiar with your condition. It is possible that a good portion of the weight is water weight. If so an effective diruetic may help, but I would look into something natural if possible rather than their pills that destroy your liver like Lasix.

I took off about 50 and kept it off, I took more off but have gained some back in more recent years. You don't do this for anyone else, when you get rid of it you almost feel like a kid again. I did.

Saturday mornings I research stuff like this, if I remember I will look for answers, if I find them I'll let you know. I can give you a quick hint though if you decide to do research, if you catch a URL ending in au, go there. Their system is alot different than here and I firmly believe that their medical community is light years ahead.

So, be well. Blow the assholes off and don't think twice. They not not worth giving them the time to prove themselves to be assholes.

T

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:14:03 PM   
defiantbadgirl


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Society is obsessed with weight because of the media. Only 5% of women naturally  have what is considered the perfect body. As a result, women spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery and starvation diets. For those who promote these unrealistic images, it's all about the money. Another good example is how much money is being made off of Valtrex for a virus almost everyone has. 

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:14:37 PM   
girlygurl


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Well, first off I'll say thank you for sharing apart of yourself Kalista.  I too get pissed off at the mentality of those that don't walk in "my shoes".  Who are they to say, "just eat right" or "exercise more".  Honestly, why the F does anyone care?  Oh sure, I can hear it already... insurance rates and the like... blah blah blah.... I hate going clothes shoping and I mean hate!  When I was a size 7 it was all about the clothes... and now, well now I'm just thankful if I can get a pair of pants that look semi decent. 

Why does society fixate on weight? ummm cause we (society) have been taught that skin and bones is much more attractive than curvy (or what ever you want to call it).  I heard your frustration loud and clear and I'm with you. 

edited to add:  and what about the F-ing BMI (body mass index) who the shit makes those numbers up any way?  To look at me you wouldn't think I'm obese or severly obese... but looking at the chart... oh yea I'm there!
girly

< Message edited by girlygurl -- 2/6/2008 11:20:16 PM >


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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:17:27 PM   
popeye1250


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quote:

ORIGINAL: faerytattoodgirl

so...we're not going to focus on finding me a gf??? i thought u wanted to change the subject :(

dang.



LOLOL, Faery, sure, you like 'em with a little meat on their bones?

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:18:26 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kalista07

*Sadly off on yet another tangent i'm afraid*

Here's something esle i don't comprehend.... Many medical professionals will tell you the best long term weight loss solution is to follow a program such as weight watchers....However, will my insurance cover it? No....



Why would insurance cover an eating plan? Do you not regularly go to the store and buy groceries?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kalista07

And then there's the whole concept of the doctor telling You to exercise...But will an insurance company assist you in paying for that? No...Despite the fact that in the end it would probably highly reduce their premiums......


Here again, why does it take money to exercise? Millions do it for free everyday. There's running, swimming, pushups, sit ups, walking, basketball, tennis, etc, etc. Why do any of these have to cost money beyond purchase of the clothing to wear and the racquets or balls used to participate?

As for your original rant/question I wil say this:
While there are many who suffer from an as-yet-undetermined ailment and thus are just naturally large, those people sadly become lost in the sea of the fat people who are fat simply because they are lazy, can't stop eating, or both. You know who I mean, I'm sure you've seen them. They roll into taco hell and order $10 worth of food (for themselves) and then a diet coke. I mean seriously. Why diet? Do you have any idea how much taco hell food comes with $10 and they think a diet coke is going to matter? Sheeesh. If even half of those people exercised a lil self control now and again, they wouldn't be so prevalent. And thus, those who are large because of a disorder, would not be ridiculed in the same way because people might have a better understanding of why they are the way they are.

Let me illustrate my point like this:
Let's say, for example you have a group of maybe 100 people. Let's say 5 need a scooter to get around because....I don't know...they're legs don't work or whatever. So they get a scooter to move about. That'd only be 5 scooters. Now some others see them and think "hey, what a nice way to get around" so they get them too. Soon, 30-50 people or more are riding them and clogging the thoroughfare. Suddenly people have to say "hey, what's with all the freakin' scooters??? I can't even WALK here!!!"

Well, now the 5 who NEED the scooters are going to feel picked on and slighted because they are now, un-intentionally part of a group that is annoying people.

A very similar thing is happening today. You have people who are just big. They can't change it, can't do anything about it...it's something illness-wise or genetic or whatever. They'd be a relatively small part of the population. However, since we, as a country have collectively gotten progressively lazier and more fast-food inclined, the number of larger people is growing astromically. Now they are taking up too much space on planes, regular chairs can't hold them, etc ,etc and people are getting sick of the epidemic. They are not sick of people who have a medical issue. They're sick of all the rest who have no control, and unfortunately, without bloodwork or a microscope, it's impossible for the average person to tell why the person next to them is fat. And, people being as they are, they don't really care. All they care about is the effect it's having on "THEIR lives," which is sadly the way the country is going, fast.

As for me, I will say that more often than not, a person's size doesn't affect me in the least. I have bigger-sized friends and I have tiny friends and I have in-between friends. I will say that I am not phsyicaly or sexually attracted to someone who's fat, but that's something I can conciously control about as much as a person can control what gender they are attracted to or whether they get off looking at high heels. I am how I am. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't have a bigger person as a friend. I do, in fact. I've even dated them, of course that's how I found out where my attractions begin and end.

I think more research needs to hurry and be done to find the causes of obesity in the 'naturally larger' categories of people. And when it is, THOSE people should have thigns like surgery or treatment covered by their insurance, most definitely. But the ones who are the way they are because of laziness or lack of control....no.. I see no reason why the collective insurance rates of the country should rise to help them find control or the will to get off their ass and do something physical.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:23:29 PM   
Feric


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I find it amusing that there is so much emphasis placed on being thin when, 100-odd years ago, being fat was a status symbol!  Think about it. If you were overweight, you were obviously prosperous because only someone with money could afford so much food. I have even read about Westerner who was in China in the 1850's and caused a street riot; Chinese natives were mobbing the man, because he was over 300 pounds. Their thinking was that if they touched him they would be similarly blessed with good fortune!

So, don't worry. The pendulum will swing back, eventually.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:25:44 PM   
popeye1250


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quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

Society is obsessed with weight because of the media. Only 5% of women naturally  have what is considered the perfect body. As a result, women spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery and starvation diets. For those who promote these unrealistic images, it's all about the money. Another good example is how much money is being made off of Valtrex for a virus almost everyone has. 


Defiant, is it only 5%?
Man, we need to get that number *way* up!

< Message edited by popeye1250 -- 2/6/2008 11:28:32 PM >


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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:31:47 PM   
Kalista07


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117

Why would insurance cover an eating plan? Do you not regularly go to the store and buy groceries?


hm..Honestly, not very often...Why? Because the shame, guilt and looks of horror i get from people as i'm purchasing groceries fuck me up...so frankly, i try to stay away from the grocery store...My personal best of not eating is 12 days....


quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117
Here again, why does it take money to exercise? Millions do it for free everyday. There's running, swimming, pushups, sit ups, walking, basketball, tennis, etc, etc. Why do any of these have to cost money beyond purchase of the clothing to wear and the racquets or balls used to participate?


Actually it doesn't cost me anything to exercise...i do it for free...But, my question was more about the fact that all of these insurance companies who are soooo willing to cover all of these "obesity" surgeries are the same ones turning down requests for similar programs...Requests, in my mind, that would produce more long term results..



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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:32:48 PM   
Kalista07


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Termyn8or,
No. You could never be one that i would hope not to hear from... *smiles* And frankly, any or all information and or suggestions You can come up with for me would be much appreciated...
Kali


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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:32:51 PM   
sweetwenchie


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Now i am going to have to find out what percentage of men have perfect bodies. 

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:34:20 PM   
Kalista07


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girly,
LMFAO at the whole BMI bullshit thing...My bestfriend/roommate who's all of maybe a size 2 came home from the gym whining last night about how high her BMI is...Now, i've seen this woman naked (repeatedly) and there's maybe 4 inches of fat on her entire body....i was simply like WTF ever..
And i hear ya about clothes shopping..i hate it...grrrr...


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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:35:30 PM   
girlygurl


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117

As for me, I will say that more often than not, a person's size doesn't affect me in the least. I have bigger-sized friends and I have tiny friends and I have in-between friends. I will say that I am not phsyicaly or sexually attracted to someone who's fat, but that's something I can conciously control about as much as a person can control what gender they are attracted to or whether they get off looking at high heels. I am how I am. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't have a bigger person as a friend. I do, in fact. I've even dated them, of course that's how I found out where my attractions begin and end.



OK, so I may be reading this wrong, and excuse me... but, are you fucking kidding me?  You have "bigger-sized friends"  What? are they giving out awards for big sized friends?  I have to tell you, your comments smell of something similar to "oh yea, I have friends that are Catholic, or Jewish..... and this makes what you say and who you are OK. 

I got it, I got it... we all have our views on this and I also got that I may be reading this way off... but for the first time in 500 something posts.... you dear smith are the winner!  I let you get under my skin.  Be well
girly

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:39:16 PM   
Kalista07


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See girly, the part that killed me was where he compared weight issues to scooters....So, what now people are gaining weight and stuff cause they want to be cool like me??? WTF??!!

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:46:43 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kalista07

quote:



hm..Honestly, not very often...Why? Because the shame, guilt and looks of horror i get from people as i'm purchasing groceries fuck me up...so frankly, i try to stay away from the grocery store...My personal best of not eating is 12 days....

Actually it doesn't cost me anything to exercise...i do it for free...But, my question was more about the fact that all of these insurance companies who are soooo willing to cover all of these "obesity" surgeries are the same ones turning down requests for similar programs...Requests, in my mind, that would produce more long term results..




Well here's the problem with things like that. They should cover the treatments that are the underlying cause, definitely. But the problem is there's more than one cause and most we realy have no clue about. I agree that covering the surgery only is just a bandaid on an open head wound.

Why do you let shame stop you from buying groceries? I felt a heavy dose of shame thanks to the 'in crowd' in high school. I let it stop me from having a social life until my early 20s. Then one day I woke up and said "fuck 'em if they don't like me, I don't give a rat's ass because I never cared for them either." And things got dramatically better.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:49:12 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: girlygurl

OK, so I may be reading this wrong, and excuse me... but, are you fucking kidding me?  You have "bigger-sized friends"  What? are they giving out awards for big sized friends?  I have to tell you, your comments smell of something similar to "oh yea, I have friends that are Catholic, or Jewish..... and this makes what you say and who you are OK. 

I got it, I got it... we all have our views on this and I also got that I may be reading this way off... but for the first time in 500 something posts.... you dear smith are the winner!  I let you get under my skin.  Be well
girly


Yep. You're reading it wrong, not that it wasn't expected but congrats on recognizing that as a possible cause for the misunderstanding. Many don't.

I said what I said simply to illustrate that I do not consider size when I choose my friends. Lovers, yes. Because I am attracted to what I am attracted to and I make no apologies for that. Nor do I make apologies for my point of view on the matter. I believe we all have some common ground here and that's a good start. I'm not going to agree 100% with you or the topic creator and honestly if we all agreed 100% that'd be kinda boring. Don't you think?

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:51:40 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kalista07

See girly, the part that killed me was where he compared weight issues to scooters....So, what now people are gaining weight and stuff cause they want to be cool like me??? WTF??!!


That's not exactly the point I was making. I was using a far-fetched analogy that was un-related to the current topic to make a point.

That point is, you have people who are legitimately fat for a reason. They have an underlying cause for their obesity and THAT is what needs to be addressed. However, in this day and age, we have those people, and we also have a growing number who are fat just because they are lazy and in love with McDonald's. Those people give the medically-caused obese people a bad rap, because people as a whole don't discern WHY a person is fat, they only see that they are fat. And thanks to the lazy ones, they see those people with an exponentially increasing regularity.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:54:03 PM   
MidMichCowboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: sweetwenchie

Now i am going to have to find out what percentage of men have perfect bodies. 


None of us do my dear. If we are chiseled and buff, our wieners are shrunk from the steroids. If we are functional there, we are pot bellied. But in our minds .. each of us is perfect.

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/6/2008 11:55:31 PM   
Sasy


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Some times it is best to walk away from a conversation before the prejudices you are trying to hide are fully confirmed by  your own words

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RE: Why are we obsessed with weight? - 2/7/2008 12:02:41 AM   
MissMagnolia


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Here was my answer in another thread about weight:

Meh, I never did parade around in a bikini telling everyone how fabulous and sexy I was

I agree with you though, they perpetuate the myth (especially to the very young and usually females) that if you get gastric surgery and get thin, you will be sexy, happy, rich, have no troubles, a successful career, marry a millionaire, daily rose deliveries, no bills and have men queuing up to get your autograph.

I think more people need to look at self esteem, not surgery. Self esteem makes women feels sexy and gorgeous, not their size.


I have teeny tiny friends who are forever unhappy because they don't have good skin/hair/jobs/cars/boyfriends/blah/blah/blah. I have teeny tiny friends who are happy because they survived cancer/got the best job in the universe/etc. I have overweight friends who are also either happy or unhappy for simliar reasons.

A persons worth is not to be measured by weight/looks/material goods. A persons worth is measured in how they live their lives and their character. The most beautiful and perfect person in the world can be ugly, if they are ugly inside. Beautiful is a feeling, not a look.

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