Originally Posted by lemonboy
I just can't look at a person who is that overweight and attribute their problems to food and a simple lack of exercise. That may have been what sent them down that road but something else kept them there. I think the way American's are eating is changing pretty quickly though, especially in young people who care about their image. The low-carb revolution has helped remove a lot of excess sugar from our everyday foods and we are ingesting a lot more whole-grain than in recent years. I see this boom in whole foods continuing because at the end of the day they really do taste better and are more satisfying.
I've had a weight problem for most of my life. I've never been one to snack or eat a lot of junk food but I was just inactive. When I was a kid my parents got divorced, I became quiet and introverted, and stopped playing with kids. Getting fat was a result of these things. It became a lasting problem that seemed to be both the cause and the result as I got older. Putting me on a diet and forcing me to run around the house a couple of times a day would have probably done a lot of good, but they wouldn't have cured the unhappy child underneath the flab.
I'm comfortable saying those things because things are much different for me now. After dealing with my internal issues I've been able to lose weight pretty easily. From my experience, weight loss completely boils down to personal commitment. You can go through the motions and count all the calories, carbs, and fat grams you want but until you decide you are going to lose weight at the very core of who you are, it isn't going to happen.
I've lost over 80lbs since last January. I never, ever over eat and I drink a lot of water. I pay a lot of attention to my blood sugar and keep it level by eating more frequently and in smaller portions. I don't sit on my ass all day when I have free time. It's just become my lifestyle now and while I've read a lot I'm not following a specific program.
For parents it is important not to be an enabler when it comes to obesity. Raise kids with whole foods and just don't keep the other stuff stocked. Give them the ability to make choices so when they are away from the house they will be more apt to make good ones. Kid's don't belong on diets and exercise regimens though. If that is what is required to keep their weight in check then consider the probability that the excess weight is a symptom of a more serious issue.
I'm finally starting to blend into the skinny crowd and it's great but it's not because I just started eating salads and running 10 miles every morning. Not everyone's body falls into the one-size-fits-all mentality afforded as a luxury to the naturally skinny. Anyone who has ever lost a significant amount of weight knows this.
