Reasons for being overweight.
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
United States
January 28, 2007 6:16pm CST
So many people have said that being overweight is either a choice or a medical condition. Personally, I would have to disagree. Although I am not grossly obese, I am severly overweight. (meaning at least 30 pounds.) However, this did not occur until about a year and a half ago. I went from being a size 12 to a 16 in that amount of time. Was it laziness? In part. But here is where I stand.
Two years ago I was working full time, a 9-5 job. I was very active, and rarely had time for laziness. I was constantly on the go, shopping, walking, playing. I was somewhat overweight (no more than 10 pounds), but overall happy with my appearance.
Today I am a full time student taking 6 classes with a complicated schedule. I also work full time nights. In between working and school I try to eat, sleep, and do homework. And on average I get about 3-6 hours of sleep a day, depending on what my days school schedule consists of. My eating schedule is a mess, as sometimes my breakfast is at 5 in the evening and my dinner is at 4 in the morning. I rarely have time to go to my gym, or even participate in my pilates video. The time I have on the weekends is spent doing homework, sleeping, and spending time with my family. (Did I mention I am married and an every other weekend stepparent?) I ask myself where all my time goes, and then laugh that I really have to ask.
Yet so many people have asked me how I gained so much weight? Realistically, I tell them, all I do is work, school, homework, sleep and eat. 90% of my time being spent sitting. Now I ask you... what do you do to stay thin? How do you lose what you have gained? Why have you gained? Is it pure laziness? What are your reasons, and do we dare call them excuses?
6 people like this
14 responses
@jayveedee (94)
• Philippines
29 Jan 07
I considered being overweight, especially when it is associated with thyroid disease, as a disease condition but it is very often that an abnormal health condition which is the result of nutritional diseases. The important factors that concerns your body is the measure of your overall weight. Being underweight or overweight may also an indication that there is really something wrong with your body.
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Yes, that is true. Thank you for the response!
1 person likes this
@MissRissa74 (472)
• United States
29 Jan 07
As far as whether it's either a choice or a medical condition...I have no clue to be honest. I do know, however, that since having children, my weight has gone up, a lot. I'm not happy with it, at all. I've tried a couple of things, one of which I'm on right now, but it's hard. I realize that a lot of it probably has a lot to do with being busy (aka lazy), but it's hard to get motivated sometimes. Right now, I've reduced my intake of sugar, especially cutting out my iced tea that I love so much. I have been drinking water now for almost a week, other than a gatorade yesterday and 2 glasses of severely diluted kool-aid! We should talk though, because maybe we can figure something out between the two of us!
2 people like this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I have cut down my calorie intake... down to 1000-1500 a day. It seems to be helping a lot!
1 person likes this
@simran1430 (1790)
• India
12 Feb 07
Deprivation is the downfall of all diets. You can have a small portion of dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth and still stick to your diet. You just don’t want to eat a large portion, or more! Food is pleasurable for many people. So, treat yourself but don’t overindulge. You can create a diet that lets you eat a sweet once a day or once a week. Dieters who deprive themselves tend to go overboard when they have candy, cake, or cookies. So make a good choice of what you include in your diet. Maybe you can have a small dessert after dinner or lunch.
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Thanks! I have implemented a "snack day" into my diet, allowing myself to treat on Sunday. It seems to work and does a great job of acting as a reward!
@Tarrish (562)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Being a sociology major I've learned that the simple is never really that simple. Many people do choose horrible styles of eatting, but where has this been learned and or taught? I think it's sad when you can buy a double cheeseburger for a buck, but if you want a salad from the same place it will cost you about six dollars. You might say, "That's only five more dollars.", but to one who is short on cash that five dollars is the world.
There is also factors like depression that come into play. I'm not sure whether you consider that a "real" medical problem, but I assure you it is.
Just wanted to throw that out there.
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Depression plays a large part in obesity... a lot of people don't realize that, thanks for pointing it out!!!! And I totally agree, society doesn't cater to the people who wish to be thin, they cater to the people who want the fatty foods!!!!
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
15 Feb 07
It is so horrible when that is the way it is. It is often true that we do it to ourselves, but what others don't realize is that WE don't realize how hard it will be to lose it after we have gained it!
@Rittings (673)
•
12 Feb 07
It sounds like you have gained weight they same way I have. It's purely because we do not have time to stick to a routine of eating and exercising. I agree that it's not always "our" fault, and by people blaming us (which leads to us having lower self esteem which makes it even harder for us!) we blame ourselves and become very low. There are no "definite" reasons for gaining weight, but there are usually multiple reasons.
One of the reasons I gained weight was due to excessive weight loss prior to gaining it. I was once 28 stones, and I lost 15 stones in 10 months because I didn't eat hardly at all. I did no exercise, but stuck to the Slimming World plan rigidly. After this time I started to eat normally (as everyone else would eat) and I gained a massive amount of weight again because my metabolism had severely slowed down. Even exercising for 1 hour everyday has not shifted the weight.
But I will keep on and hope that I can, but I don't care if I don't lose it too much. I want to lose it, but will not be upset if I don't. You have to try to find your happiness, and from your picture you look very beautiful and should be very proud of yourself for your looks and the fact that you can juggle so many things happening in your life, that shows just how great you really are!
Be happy, and love and light to you.
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Thank you so much for the encouragment! We need that now and then! ;) You also don't look as though you are "overweight" from your picture, but look quite handsome! And you are right, the more we are blamed by others, we blame ourselves. The more others put us down, the more we tend to put ourselves down. I always laugh at people who critisize others for being overweight, but do not encourage weight loss. What a horrible way to be!
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
9 Feb 07
Well as I see it you could ask anyone who is overweight by any amount if they want to be fat and their answer would be no they don't want to be fat but things just don't work out for them. I am very obese and need to lose alot of weight but am I fat by choice I say no to others it may seem that its all my fault but it's not. I am thinking that Hypnosis would be a great thing to help us suppress our emotions so we can untangle our selves from the web of obesity and get our lives straightened out. Because as long as we let our emotions rule us then we will continue to stay fat. And I think that is why hypnosis would be perfect if it wasn't so much money for sessions.
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
10 Feb 07
I haven't tried hypnosis for my weight. I did try it however, for smoking. And it worked for a while, about 3 months actually. But then I went right back to smoking. So it might work, but I am not so sure I would be willing to spend the money on something like that. Instead I have started counting calories.This last week was a 4 pound week, meaning I lost 4 pounds!I am pleased, Now if I can stick with it I will be great! Good luck to you!
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
10 Feb 07
to me being over weight is a result of eating more than you burn off in activity, either limit your food intake, which is deemed too difficult or burn the calories off which is prefered but cant always be done. The one thing to keep in mind is that the hole the food goes in through is larger than the hole it comes out of. Limit the intake and weight falls away, change nothing and it keeps going on
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Thank you for your response... and nice way of putting it! ;) I will have to remember that one!
@kerbausama (1335)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 07
me not too fat but just pre-overweight.this is also bad..i hink me is because of slow metabolism....
.
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Well, I would rather be pre-overweight than overweight. It is a lot easier to keep it off than to get it off once you have gained it! Eat Breakfast within 1/2 hour of waking up, boosts your metabolism!
@AmberNormandin (883)
• United States
8 Feb 07
wow, you are busy! i sure couldnt function with that little of sleep! i was never over weight until i got pregnant with my first child. i ate ALOT of ice cream. I tried hard to lose it after she was born and didnt lose much. then i got pregnant with my 2nd and weirdly enough, i had to FORCE myself to eat. I didnt have an appetite for most of my pregnancy and i'd feel full after just a few bites of something. I had to eat though for the baby, i just didnt eat much. i gained 25lbs and had lost 10 by the time i left the hospital 24hrs later. Now im still up 15lbs from that pregnancy (which just ended 2 months ago btw) and im up still about 40lbs total from both pregnancies than where i want to be. ive been doing crunches and im going to start walking, possibly jogging (ive got a pelvic problem since my last pregnancy and its hard to do much with it) when it gets warmer. i'd like to get an excersize bike also.
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Exercise usually helps. Congratulations on your most recent child!!! Don't worry, I am finding out that if you want it bad enough, you can lose it! This week was a 4 pound loss week! Thanks for your response!
@pure_pinklaydee (827)
•
10 Feb 07
I think being overweight is a question of choice unless there is something pysically wrong with you. Its a question of willpower. I think its also down to our stressful lifestyles (you sound like you have a lot to juggle). I'm not overweight but would like to loose half a stone. I know whats holding me back is lack of energy and tiredness. Also I find it hard to eat well as my family and friends eat a lot of junk. Holidays don't help- I always gain half a stone of christmas or if I go abroad. You have to want it 100% to loose weight and I don't think most people honestly want it that much- thats why they fail.
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
11 Feb 07
I agree with you. It is about willpower! I am hoping that I finally have enough to do something!
@ladybella (77)
• United States
9 Feb 07
The sad truth is that that's a pretty normal lifestyle today. Mine is similar, except that I work during the day and try my best to make sure that my daughter and I are in bed by 9:30 every night, and I just let everything else go. When you get out of school, things will get easier in some ways and more hectic in others. One of your problems could be your lack of sleep. Your body needs the rest to help it recooperate and keep your metabolism running as normal. Make time for sleep! Also, try not to eat for about 3 hours before you go to bed, whenever that may be! One of my problems is my thyroid. I developed that problem when I was pregnant, and it makes it very difficult to lose any of the baby weight.
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
10 Feb 07
Thank you for responding... You sound just like my doctor who got on my case for not getting enough sleep. And I have started not eating right before bed! Life is hectic for everyone in different ways... we just have to learn to adjust... and that is where my trouble is...
@thecaitycat (267)
• United States
9 Feb 07
Here's why I'm fat (the term "overweight" is such a relative term... I'm really just fat.)
1) Medications I was on that ruined my metabolism/weight (this has been confirmed by doctors)
2) Weird class/work/eating schedule
3) Unwillingness to risk another kidney infection by going on Atkins
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
10 Feb 07
You had a kidney infection from Atkins? I have never heard of that before... I guess that would make you not want to go there again. Hope you can find something that works for you!
@limphaiksee (134)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 07
I am overweight and I have this problem since I was young. The main reasons for me being overweight is simple, I tend to eat alot, without execising and lazy to move
1 person likes this
@fieryeyedwriter (614)
• United States
10 Feb 07
Och, the truth of the matter... if we are overweight, we eat too much! Thank you for responding!
