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ORIGINAL: DeviantlyD

SteelofUtah: I'd suggest you view it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. Start off slow. Make some manageable changes. For instance, soft drinks. Can you eliminate those altogether? If not, try eliminating it from one part of your life - for instance, have water with dinner instead of a soft drink. Or instead of having a Big Gulp, downsize. Instead of having two bags of chips a day, have one. Once you start getting used to downsizing the bad stuff, I would suggest replacing it with some good stuff. If you're miserable going the deprivation route, it's never going to work. I firmly believe it's about making changes, but doing it slowly so you don't feel like you are denying yourself. And if you slip up, don't beat yourself up about it (no pun intended) because it's going to happen. As for eating good stuff, it's amazing what is touted as good that isn't. I have a lot of suggestions. Please contact me, if you'd like! One suggestion that may or may not work for you is to make dietary changes without announcing it (except possibly to your significant other). I didn't want to hear the "how is the diet going?" or "how is the eating?" or the "are you supposed to be eating that?" because I saw it as a set-up to failure. No one has to know you're making lifestyle changes, except the people you live with. No one said anything to me until it was obvious I'd lost weight and by then I was already firmly entrenched in what I was doing. It isn't going to be easy, but it can be done.

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ORIGINAL: beargonewild

That is just like telling a bulimic person not to purge their stomachs and you will be fine, you have to find why they are bulimic and treat the cause.

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ORIGINAL: Daddysredhead

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ORIGINAL: SteelofUtah

Yes he is Unhealthy and Yes he is Fat but he is still a Human Being and should not be treated like he is somehow sub-human because of his weight.

I'm inclined to agree with this, especially after a conversation with a few of my girl friends today.  We were talking about about body image issues and how hateful people can be with respect to people who are a little overweight, not to mention morbidly obese.  If this were to happen to your child, you would be devestated as a parent.  There's really no difference, these people are still someone's kids.

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ORIGINAL: VirginPotty

Steel,
That's a great post but as a 1st responder I'm going to have to disagree with accepting people's sizes.  I've seen a few men/women have to leave the service on disability because of hurting their backs trying to carry/or pick up an obese person even with extra manpower. Yes I know, use your legs but that doesn't always work.  Personally, I'd get a bit pissed off if I have to call for extra hands because the person is too heavy for my crew & me to manage.  That's putting another unit out of service because someone can't manage their weight. 
I remember one guy who was 500 lbs and there were several units onscene trying to get him downstairs. I had to remove the cot & place him on the floor of the ambulance lying on tarp.  Afterwards we were all debriefing after the call & ironically all of us were thinking the same thing on scene....."If this guy codes here he's dead cause there's no way we can load & go". 
There's a special WIDE unit in the County for anyone too big in the ambulance so there's extra cost for the unit & the staffing, all because someone couldn't manage their weight.
I know some weight issues are medical issues and beyond patient's control but truth be told the majority of these issues are because the person couldn't control their food intake.
The "monkey on your back" may serve a short term purpose but you have to think about the long term affects but you're right in saying I don't know what's going on in your head so I'm probably just speaking out the side of my neck at this time.  I do know this, you overcame an almost impossible addiction to overcome & you're a better man because of that. I just KNOW you can beat the food cravings. 

Just my

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ORIGINAL: WyldHrt


*smooch* I lubs you, Linea 

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ORIGINAL: LinnaeaBorealis

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ORIGINAL: DeviantlyD

SteelofUtah: I'd suggest you view it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. Start off slow. Make some manageable changes. For instance, soft drinks. Can you eliminate those altogether? If not, try eliminating it from one part of your life - for instance, have water with dinner instead of a soft drink. Or instead of having a Big Gulp, downsize. Instead of having two bags of chips a day, have one. Once you start getting used to downsizing the bad stuff, I would suggest replacing it with some good stuff. If you're miserable going the deprivation route, it's never going to work. I firmly believe it's about making changes, but doing it slowly so you don't feel like you are denying yourself. And if you slip up, don't beat yourself up about it (no pun intended) because it's going to happen. As for eating good stuff, it's amazing what is touted as good that isn't. I have a lot of suggestions. Please contact me, if you'd like! One suggestion that may or may not work for you is to make dietary changes without announcing it (except possibly to your significant other). I didn't want to hear the "how is the diet going?" or "how is the eating?" or the "are you supposed to be eating that?" because I saw it as a set-up to failure. No one has to know you're making lifestyle changes, except the people you live with. No one said anything to me until it was obvious I'd lost weight and by then I was already firmly entrenched in what I was doing. It isn't going to be easy, but it can be done.

I read this advice that was directed at Steel & the hackles on the back of my neck went up.  Unless you have first-hand knowledge that this is his diet--several soft drinks, Big Gulps & 2 bags of chips a day--I'd have to say that you are making a very large assumption.  I am morbidly obese & I don't drink any soft drinks, nor do I eat chips.  I eat whole grains rather than white flour.  I eat fresh, organic produce when I can.  I eat no products with High fructose corn syrup, but look for those sweetened with agave, fruit juice or organic sugar or completely unsweetened, as I often prefer.  I have quite a healthy diet & yet I am still morbidly obese.  Mine started when I took a medication that "might cause a little weight gain" & I gained 100 lbs in 10 weeks without increasing my caloric intake.  I have never successfully kept any weightloss for any period of time since, no matter what I have tried.  So I will continue to eschew the things that I know are bad for me & eat what I know is good for me so that I can continue to be as healthy and as active as possible at my weight.  I currently have wonderful lab test results & low blood pressure.  The only reason I would like to lose weight is that I know it's easier on my lower joints.  I also enjoy feeling strong & mobile.