WOW, you posted again!!!! I already told you that you're one of the reasons I got back on LJ-- give me sumtin!
One of the most beautiful people I've ever met was an overweight girl in college. She ran, did aerobics 4 or 5 times a week. Her blood pressure was low, her heartbeat was low, she had cottage cheeze but she was healthy as a horse (without broken ankles anyway).
She was overweight but she was beautiful and had this mane of wild curly hair. She ended up going on the Atkins Diet and lost a lot of weight quickly. Her triglycerides shot up, her liver started acting up, her blood pressure went up, and her hair started looking like dry straw.
She was so thrilled that she had lost weight, but she looked terrible and was less healthy than before.
Image is a funny thing. If I had a dime for every time someone told me "you'd be hot if you gained weight" I'd be retired by now. I'm one of those weird people who lose weight from burning calories by eating. I need to go on a bear diet:)
Yeah, it's one thing if something about you keeps you from enjoying things that you would like to do, and it's another to change yourself because you think that is what is the "right thing" to do.
It's not all just about self-image, though. I've got a friend who had horrible form when sitting at the computer. She followed all the ergonomic advice and immediately got bad carpal tunnel. Seems the way she had been sitting and typing was just fine for her body, and the "official" way of doing it was bad for her body.
What would it be like to live in a society where being just like everyone else wasn't such a strong sentiment.
The biggest loser on TV is always about them losing weight. Granted, the beginning is good, but after a while, you're gonna put on muscle, which weighs more than fat. Let the mirror be your guide.
Or, choose a goal that fits what you really want. For some, it's about how they look. For others, it's about being able to walk distances without collapsing.
You've written a thought provoking post. I found Weight Watchers enormously useful in terms of teaching me to pay attention to caloric, fat and fiber content of food, which in my humble opinion is basic common sense, and much needed information given a world where over-abundance of calories and fat is the norm and yet our bodies are still wired for the caveman days of scarcity. The weekly weigh-in's, on the other hand, were embarassing psychobabble to me, although they appeared to help some people stay motivated and I don't knock it if it works for them. I would usually just get weighed and then leave - strange to pay money for that, but I also found the discipline useful
( ... )
What I find most astonishing is that some people actually believe that there really is a small number of chemicals that are causing the good or bad effects of a certain food and that our current level of science can determine this (and "correct" the food) -- even though the track record when it comes to nutrition and health really shows just the opposite.
I can't make up my mind as to whether this is a natural tendency towards wanting a simple solution or our societal indoctrinization that scientists are always right.
My guess is it's mostly laziness, and the desire for a quick easy fix. If it was the scientist thing we wouldn't still be arguing about "intelligent design."
One thing I forgot to mention - I never lose weight by exercising, and yet (unless I seriously overdo it) it makes me feel like I am becoming healthier.
My personal experience is that weightlifting doesn't drop the scale number for me. Whether that is because I'm gaining muscle & losing fat, or because I'm eating more to compensate whatever gains I got, I'm not sure.
I lost a maximum of 30 pounds within 3 months when I switched to a vegan diet. I did not plan on losing the weight. I just wanted to help a dear friend accomplish his goals. My cholesterol in the process went down to 137 from 170. I started it last summer, I seem to have settled at 180-ish lbs (about 25 less from my original wt). I call myself a quasi-vegan and enjoy my veg food very much. I'm sad that some of my favorite shirts are now a size too big.
I'd lose a lot of weight on a vegan diet, but only because there are so few vegetables and fruits that I like to eat that I'd be eating almost nothing. I grew up eating only meat, potatoes, and corn. I've branched out a bit, but still don't eat many things that would be healthy for me. I envy people who actually enjoy eating things like blueberries and carrots and beans.
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One of the most beautiful people I've ever met was an overweight girl in college. She ran, did aerobics 4 or 5 times a week. Her blood pressure was low, her heartbeat was low, she had cottage cheeze but she was healthy as a horse (without broken ankles anyway).
She was overweight but she was beautiful and had this mane of wild curly hair. She ended up going on the Atkins Diet and lost a lot of weight quickly. Her triglycerides shot up, her liver started acting up, her blood pressure went up, and her hair started looking like dry straw.
She was so thrilled that she had lost weight, but she looked terrible and was less healthy than before.
Image is a funny thing. If I had a dime for every time someone told me "you'd be hot if you gained weight" I'd be retired by now. I'm one of those weird people who lose weight from burning calories by eating. I need to go on a bear diet:)
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It's not all just about self-image, though. I've got a friend who had horrible form when sitting at the computer. She followed all the ergonomic advice and immediately got bad carpal tunnel. Seems the way she had been sitting and typing was just fine for her body, and the "official" way of doing it was bad for her body.
What would it be like to live in a society where being just like everyone else wasn't such a strong sentiment.
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I can't make up my mind as to whether this is a natural tendency towards wanting a simple solution or our societal indoctrinization that scientists are always right.
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My guess is it's mostly laziness, and the desire for a quick easy fix. If it was the scientist thing we wouldn't still be arguing about "intelligent design."
One thing I forgot to mention - I never lose weight by exercising, and yet (unless I seriously overdo it) it makes me feel like I am becoming healthier.
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