Obesity, is it really an illness or a lifestyle choice?
Discussion
dmahon said:
CrunkleFloop said:
To change a lifetime of habit and lifestyle whilst still being bombarded by temptation and marketing to "eat more of these delicious things" takes a huge amount of effort and should be applauded.
I need to lose around 1.5 stone, drs orders. Feels pretty bloody intimidating, and then keeping it off, despite how simple it is. If you had to lose a huge amount it must feel like a mountain. Randy Winkman said:
My advice is that when you lose the 1.5 stone you should be doing it by eating pretty much the same diet you plan to have for the rest of your life. You might only lose 1 pound a week so it'll take you half a year but it will be sustainable and will keep you healthy because you'll only be losing the fat and not the muscle.
Agreed GloverMart said:
"Can I lose 2 pounds a week by consuming less & doing lots of walking (nothing strenuous like cycling or running)?" The answer to that is also "Yes"
If it was me I'd want to be factoring some decent exercise in that significantly raises the heart rate while losing 8 stones - you're doing it for health reasons after all, so why not exercise properly as well? Good luck though
Fast and Spurious said:
But that's how you should look. 13.5-14 stone is a good weight for 6'4".
But society these days associates lean with weak rather than lean with fit and healthy and strong.
That is a very good point. We are used to seeing overwieght peopla and bulky (and often unrealistic and pharmaceutically assisted) is seen as the ideal. Look at fit men from the 1960s by comparison.But society these days associates lean with weak rather than lean with fit and healthy and strong.
smn159 said:
GloverMart said:
"Can I lose 2 pounds a week by consuming less & doing lots of walking (nothing strenuous like cycling or running)?" The answer to that is also "Yes"
If it was me I'd want to be factoring some decent exercise in that significantly raises the heart rate while losing 8 stones - you're doing it for health reasons after all, so why not exercise properly as well? Good luck though
Using an app like my fitness pal is useful for keeping any eye on what is good or not good. Helps stay focussed.
Being a fat git I feel I can answer part of this question.
For most people (I'd hazard a guess the VAST majority) it's a case of too much in one end with not enough expenditure of said calories (got a right b
king for saying this was the reason I was fat at a slimming world)
The sad thing is that a lot of quick food (in my case bread) and/or breakfast (I've got to stop with the Jordan's country crisp) is loaded with sugar (as are ready meals, not that I eat many of those). IIRC the eating exercise ratio for weight loss is 75% eating 25% exercise... in other words you have to sort your grub situation out first otherwise your training won't really make the impact you want.
As you get older it's also harder to lose weight, get into the good habits before you hit middle age and it'll stand you in good stead.
For most people (I'd hazard a guess the VAST majority) it's a case of too much in one end with not enough expenditure of said calories (got a right b
king for saying this was the reason I was fat at a slimming world)The sad thing is that a lot of quick food (in my case bread) and/or breakfast (I've got to stop with the Jordan's country crisp) is loaded with sugar (as are ready meals, not that I eat many of those). IIRC the eating exercise ratio for weight loss is 75% eating 25% exercise... in other words you have to sort your grub situation out first otherwise your training won't really make the impact you want.
As you get older it's also harder to lose weight, get into the good habits before you hit middle age and it'll stand you in good stead.
Thanks to all for their comments, every one is appreciated... 
In 2019/20, I lost five stone in eight months, predominantly by improving my diet and walking lots. As the weight came off, I pretty much completed Couch 2 5k (albeit the last run was a split between run and walk!). I don't feel comfortable in more ways than one in running at 23.5 stone; it will kill my knees. My income is also quite limited and about to become even more limited as I'm losing my job at the end of August so anything that will cost me money (Noom, gym etc) is out the window so the plan is to follow exactly what I did last time and it should come off again quite easily.
Re my target weight. Yes, ideally I would get down to 13.5-14 stone and it's certainly the long term aim. For now, maybe losing 2 pounds a week just adjusting the diet and walking WILL work and I'll post updates once I get started. On my mantlepiece is a picture of when I was best man at a wedding in 1999; I was 15 stone 6 then and looked really good. That's my aim for now, I can always adjust later when I get down to 15 stone 6.
I used myfitnesspal before and it is really helpful, will use it again.
Thanks again for all the advice. If it makes any difference to your advice, I'm 53.
In 2019/20, I lost five stone in eight months, predominantly by improving my diet and walking lots. As the weight came off, I pretty much completed Couch 2 5k (albeit the last run was a split between run and walk!). I don't feel comfortable in more ways than one in running at 23.5 stone; it will kill my knees. My income is also quite limited and about to become even more limited as I'm losing my job at the end of August so anything that will cost me money (Noom, gym etc) is out the window so the plan is to follow exactly what I did last time and it should come off again quite easily.
Re my target weight. Yes, ideally I would get down to 13.5-14 stone and it's certainly the long term aim. For now, maybe losing 2 pounds a week just adjusting the diet and walking WILL work and I'll post updates once I get started. On my mantlepiece is a picture of when I was best man at a wedding in 1999; I was 15 stone 6 then and looked really good. That's my aim for now, I can always adjust later when I get down to 15 stone 6.
I used myfitnesspal before and it is really helpful, will use it again.
Thanks again for all the advice. If it makes any difference to your advice, I'm 53.
GloverMart said:
Thanks again for all the advice. If it makes any difference to your advice, I'm 53.
You're 3 years behind me. I too have shot/st knees as well as a back condition, losing weight will help my back - however my back means certain exercises are out (spinning, rowing for example leave me in agony). Not looking for 'miracle diets' I just need to relearn my relationship with food (I guess looking at sugar content is massively high on that list!)Have a read of this Mart - might give you some free pointers if joining Noom not an option.
https://lalymom.com/noom-weight-loss-app-full-revi...
Good luck
https://lalymom.com/noom-weight-loss-app-full-revi...
Good luck
I found a few things worked for me, at least for a while.
Firstly, data. Get a smartwatch that tracks your activity. I went for Garmin in the end (though I have an Apple watch too). Weight yourself as often as possible (you can get connected scales that upload stats to your phone. You can then see what you are doing and the effect it is having. For me, it spurred me on - have I reached my targets for the day/week/month.
Secondly, calories. Start recording what you eat. It is a pain but most of the apps allow you to scan barcodes or have the foods already loaded up. Again this is part of the data but it focuses the mind on how many calories something has. If you are trying to stay below, say 2000 calories, does that pint of beer look worth 10%? Just understanding what is going in (and what it takes to burn that off) is a good incentive to eat better.
Thirdly, walking. Walking is something almost anyone can do. It is surprising how many calories we consume doing it - a 5km walk burns a big chunk of what a 5km run would burn (albeit it takes twice as long). You can add walking into you day relatively easily. I stopped using the tube in London and walk everywhere. My normal commute was 20mins but I could walk it in 40min. So, for 20min of time, I could get 40min of exercise. I also did a lot more exercise on top of that but only when my weight came down - I wanted to be lighter before I hammered my joints.
Fourthly, 5/2 diet. Not for everyone, but it was good for me. Two days a week, you eat 600cal. The other days you eat your normal allowance (c2,000). I found this easier to live with as I didn't feel I was permanently starving.
I went from 92kg to 78kg.
I then had a few injuries, lockdown, wife's cooking rather than sorting myself at work. Weight back up to 88kg. But now coming down again as I get back into the exercise.
Firstly, data. Get a smartwatch that tracks your activity. I went for Garmin in the end (though I have an Apple watch too). Weight yourself as often as possible (you can get connected scales that upload stats to your phone. You can then see what you are doing and the effect it is having. For me, it spurred me on - have I reached my targets for the day/week/month.
Secondly, calories. Start recording what you eat. It is a pain but most of the apps allow you to scan barcodes or have the foods already loaded up. Again this is part of the data but it focuses the mind on how many calories something has. If you are trying to stay below, say 2000 calories, does that pint of beer look worth 10%? Just understanding what is going in (and what it takes to burn that off) is a good incentive to eat better.
Thirdly, walking. Walking is something almost anyone can do. It is surprising how many calories we consume doing it - a 5km walk burns a big chunk of what a 5km run would burn (albeit it takes twice as long). You can add walking into you day relatively easily. I stopped using the tube in London and walk everywhere. My normal commute was 20mins but I could walk it in 40min. So, for 20min of time, I could get 40min of exercise. I also did a lot more exercise on top of that but only when my weight came down - I wanted to be lighter before I hammered my joints.
Fourthly, 5/2 diet. Not for everyone, but it was good for me. Two days a week, you eat 600cal. The other days you eat your normal allowance (c2,000). I found this easier to live with as I didn't feel I was permanently starving.
I went from 92kg to 78kg.
I then had a few injuries, lockdown, wife's cooking rather than sorting myself at work. Weight back up to 88kg. But now coming down again as I get back into the exercise.
Some people are overcomplicating this.
I found that my cutting down on snacks I was less hungry, maybe i was confusing sugar comedown for hunger.
Started having fewer sandwiches for lunch and still didn't feel hungry.
Got into the habit of a half hour walk most evenings and maybe a bit further at weekends.
In less than 6 months gone from 114 KG to 90.
I found that my cutting down on snacks I was less hungry, maybe i was confusing sugar comedown for hunger.
Started having fewer sandwiches for lunch and still didn't feel hungry.
Got into the habit of a half hour walk most evenings and maybe a bit further at weekends.
In less than 6 months gone from 114 KG to 90.
sevensfun said:
Randy Winkman said:
My advice is that when you lose the 1.5 stone you should be doing it by eating pretty much the same diet you plan to have for the rest of your life. You might only lose 1 pound a week so it'll take you half a year but it will be sustainable and will keep you healthy because you'll only be losing the fat and not the muscle.
Agreed When I try to be more “balanced” I just have weeks of disappointment. As the other point mentions, the jeans become looser and I look better but the scales appear stuck. I assume water weight is a factor in all of the above.
dmahon said:
sevensfun said:
Randy Winkman said:
My advice is that when you lose the 1.5 stone you should be doing it by eating pretty much the same diet you plan to have for the rest of your life. You might only lose 1 pound a week so it'll take you half a year but it will be sustainable and will keep you healthy because you'll only be losing the fat and not the muscle.
Agreed When I try to be more “balanced” I just have weeks of disappointment. As the other point mentions, the jeans become looser and I look better but the scales appear stuck. I assume water weight is a factor in all of the above.
MC Bodge said:
That is a very good point. We are used to seeing overwieght peopla and bulky (and often unrealistic and pharmaceutically assisted) is seen as the ideal. Look at fit men from the 1960s by comparison.
I saw this photo a couple of days ago. https://imgur.com/xiDtPCQ Presuming the caption is correct, that's very fit and by our standards very lean.Lost ranger said:
Some people are overcomplicating this.
I found that my cutting down on snacks I was less hungry, maybe i was confusing sugar comedown for hunger.
Started having fewer sandwiches for lunch and still didn't feel hungry.
Got into the habit of a half hour walk most evenings and maybe a bit further at weekends.
In less than 6 months gone from 114 KG to 90.
Certainly for me sugary snacks are really unhelpful. I lost 5 Kg during March-May last year just because casual shopping was unappealing so I didn't snack, and that was despite spending the time sat at a desk pretty much all my waking hours.I found that my cutting down on snacks I was less hungry, maybe i was confusing sugar comedown for hunger.
Started having fewer sandwiches for lunch and still didn't feel hungry.
Got into the habit of a half hour walk most evenings and maybe a bit further at weekends.
In less than 6 months gone from 114 KG to 90.
Crook said:
eldar said:
Adverts for unhealthy foods banned pre 21:00.
Anti-obesity drive: Junk food TV adverts to be banned before 9pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57593599
I honestly don't think this will make any difference at all. If you walk into somewhere like Asda it's appalling that the lowest price food, which is located at the end of aisles and particularly in the main route in, is the most calorific junk that 'tastes' nice and is easy to consume.Anti-obesity drive: Junk food TV adverts to be banned before 9pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57593599
There is a lack of food education thing going on that is probably closer to willful ignorance and a lack of willpower over the convenience of crap.
It's also not made any easier in sandwich shops (or the sandwich aisle of the supermarket) for those getting their lunch on the go - options are limited for a healthy sandwich that isn't a low calorie tasteless thing if you don't want something that has more hidden calories than a burger and that isn't some sad piece of ham or chicken.
The other thing I've learned is not to place too much faith in doing lots of exercise without paying attention to diet. The calories in versus calories out thing is clearly true but it's easy to overestimate the effects of exercise and simply build up a hunger and have an excuse to eat more food. Then, if you're not on some sort of diet you can easily end up eating more calories, and just as importantly, less healthy food.
Currently, I'm the joint carer of my elderly father, work 3 days a week and try to do a moderate amount of exercise too. I rarely sit still. But I drink too much, my diet is c**p and I'm putting on weight. Obviously, I'll start sorting it out tomorrow.
Currently, I'm the joint carer of my elderly father, work 3 days a week and try to do a moderate amount of exercise too. I rarely sit still. But I drink too much, my diet is c**p and I'm putting on weight. Obviously, I'll start sorting it out tomorrow.
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