BoatShoes;1443186 wrote:I agree with everything you are saying but it is definitely very difficult for a lot of people. It's not like the odds are not stacked against the average American to pack on fat. At my office we have food options in the break room and these are really just weapons of ass destruction. Terrible food. But people just want to grab a bite and get back to work. And then, most of these folks live a sedentary lifestyle and have to put in long hours and are tired when they get home. And, now there is evidence that suggests, once people start gaining weight that it is harder than previously thought to lose it. Then, you add in that the primary let loose pass time in America is alcohol consumption and it's like people are shooting up with estrogen with all this shat.

It is an uphill battle that requires more vigilance than the average guy/gal thinks they need to put in and it's hard to blame them.

So what you are saying here is that it's difficult.

I guess you could put me into the "average guy/gal" catagory. I think I get it. It's difficult. There's no finish line to the effort. It must be a forever, everyday, every minute, every second mindset....and yet people either choose to do it or they don't.

It's still a decision is it not?

Con_Alma;1443188 wrote:
It's still a decision is it not?

It is, but making a positive decision and executing on it is more difficult for some people. It is genetics and not simply a matter of willpower, as much as some want to continue to deny for reasons I won't bother to try to guess.

I understand that it's more difficult for some than others to act on such decisions. Isn't that the "willpower" that you are refering to?

Wouldn't it take greater "willpower" to overcome the "genetic" predispostion refered to above?

Doesn't that still leave the outcome ultimately up to the individual?

I like skinny genes.



Get it?

I used to be a fat shit but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

Con_Alma;1443190 wrote:I understand that it's more difficult for some than others to act on such decisions. Isn't that the "willpower" that you are refering to?

Wouldn't it take greater "willpower" to overcome the "genetic" predispostion refered to above?

Doesn't that still leave the outcome ultimately up to the individual?

As a 100% type of choice/outcome? No, it surely does not.

As you can tell, I feel extremely passionate about this issue. While that is the case, I'm not going to judge people. It's not our place to do so, it just drives me crazy when their is no accountability. I am by no means perfect, I have some issues (as we all do) in life, but at the end of the day, I can look at everything as a whole and say that almost all it is my responsibility.

As others have said in the last few posts, it's difficult. It's permanent. There's no way to really get away from changing ones mindset and outlook. This is what most people struggle with. Change, especially difficult change, is a major obstacle that can break someone.

The toughest part for people to lose weight is they expect results immediately. Which, is obviously, not the case. Best case scenario is you are not overweight but havent lifted since HS (or ever). You dont have to shed much body fat, but muscle definition will still take a few weeks to appear. That is about the best case scenario and not likely for most Americans.

Usually, you have to shed quite a bit of fat. This is going to take months just in itself. Then you couple with the fact you "dont have time" and you think its impossible. In reality, you dont have to go for an hour and a half run each day. 30 minutes 4 times a week will sowly make you feel better. If you dont have 2 hours of free time a week, I am going to simply call bullshit.

Yes, it is difficlut, especially if you are starting and are already extremely overweight. But it is posisble to shed pounds and get back to at least a healthy weight for your age. Excercise, eat healthy and drink water. It will to amazing things...it just takes time that most people convince theirselves they dont have.

justincredible;1443192 wrote:I used to be a fat **** but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

From one to another. I was born and grew up with numerous health problems, stemming from the environment I was conceived in and raised in. I'm not unique either, and this was almost 30 years ago...it's far more common today. I had the "woe is me" outlook for over 20 years, but at some point you have to wonder, where does that get someone? Nowhere. It's very difficult. Myself, and many, many others have made it part of their mission to try to help others achieve a similar path. It's a lot bigger than what diet you follow, what workout plan you adhere to, who you choose to associate with, etc...it's more about just finding what's best for yourself, committing to that while never being 100% set in stone and have accountability for those decisions.

Laley23;1443195 wrote:30 minutes 4 times a week will sowly make you feel better. If you dont have 2 hours of free time a week, I am going to simply call bullshit.

it just takes time that most people convince theirselves they dont have.

It's a matter of setting priorities. Sometimes I would rather just watch tv. But that is a choice that I am responsible for.

queencitybuckeye;1443193 wrote:As a 100% type of choice/outcome? No, it surely does not.

Hmmm. I guess I don't understand then. Are you suggesting that the situation can't be overcome by choices?

Con_Alma;1443190 wrote:I understand that it's more difficult for some than others to act on such decisions. Isn't that the "willpower" that you are refering to?

Wouldn't it take greater "willpower" to overcome the "genetic" predispostion refered to above?

Doesn't that still leave the outcome ultimately up to the individual?

When it's a person's willpower against their genetic code, billions of years of evolutionary history, societal norms, better and better tasting food that is worse and worse for you, a lack of information, jobs that plant them in front a screen, lack of time, etc.,...I almost consider myself a soft-determinist.

BoatShoes;1443201 wrote:When it's a person's willpower against their genetic code, billions of years of evolutionary history, societal norms, better and better tasting food that is worse and worse for you, a lack of information, jobs that plant them in front a screen, lack of time, etc.,...I almost consider myself a soft-determinist.

Does willpower have the ability to overcome those obstacles?

Laley23;1443195 wrote:The toughest part for people to lose weight is they expect results immediately. Which, is obviously, not the case. Best case scenario is you are not overweight but havent lifted since HS (or ever). You dont have to shed much body fat, but muscle definition will still take a few weeks to appear. That is about the best case scenario and not likely for most Americans.

Usually, you have to shed quite a bit of fat. This is going to take months just in itself. Then you couple with the fact you "dont have time" and you think its impossible. In reality, you dont have to go for an hour and a half run each day. 30 minutes 4 times a week will sowly make you feel better. If you dont have 2 hours of free time a week, I am going to simply call bull****.

Yes, it is difficlut, especially if you are starting and are already extremely overweight. But it is posisble to shed pounds and get back to at least a healthy weight for your age. Excercise, eat healthy and drink water. It will to amazing things...it just takes time that most people convince theirselves they dont have.

I think it's very difficult for people to accept that diet and sleep is probably 90% of the equation. You can achieve incredible health if these two things are completely dialed in and you don't spend the rest of your waking hours sitting. Just standing and walking COULD suffice for activity, nothing more is really needed. It seems people add in exercise (and many times, in-excess) because they have been trained to think you can make up for the poor diet choices and lack of sleep with activity.

BoatShoes;1443201 wrote:societal norms, a lack of information, jobs that plant them in front a screen, lack of time

These are nothing but excuses. Someone who is dictated by societal norms, lacks information and finds themselves in a job that plants them in front of a screen is fine, but these are choices. If they are being blamed for a lack of health, fine, but realize there needs to be some self-responsiblity.

justincredible;1443192 wrote:I used to be a fat shit but now I am not. I agree with pretty much everything Azu has posted in this thread.

According to the CDC the obesity rate in the US is 35.7%. What percentage of those folks can claim bad genetics? It seems like we have a laziness/ignorance problem more than a bad genetics problem.

It's an ignorance problem. People don't really know what they're doing to themselves when they pound down a Java Chip from starbucks and think a couple of minutes on the elypitcal machine is all they need.

People can overcome it with vigilance, willpower and effort...but I can't blame em when people say "Fuck you Boatshoes and your Vegan smoothie...I'm going to eat my bacon ice cream and enjoy it even if my heart is a ticking time bomb and I've got diabetes".

Con_Alma;1443199 wrote:Hmmm. I guess I don't understand then. Are you suggesting that the situation can't be overcome by choices?

In all cases, no, it cannot.

Azubuike24;1443205 wrote:These are nothing but excuses. Someone who is dictated by societal norms, lacks information and finds themselves in a job that plants them in front of a screen is fine, but these are choices. If they are being blamed for a lack of health, fine, but realize there needs to be some self-responsiblity.

I agree it's an "excuse" but who can blame most people when you take into account the self-discipline required. Some people would rather be fat and happy and it's hard to blame them. A lot of people who are "obese" or "overweight" on BMI scale are like "really, I've only got this beer gut".

Con_Alma;1443203 wrote:Does willpower have the ability to overcome those obstacles?

Yes and a 2/7 off suit can beat pocket aces too. Can't really fault people who fold.

queencitybuckeye;1443207 wrote:In all cases, no, it cannot.

That's the part that I don't understand. There's clearly more that hasn't been explained in this thread...at least to me, lol, that I don't know about. How can a genetic predisposition dictate the type and volume of food consumption?

BoatShoes;1443210 wrote:Yes and a 2/7 off suit can beat pocket aces too. Can't really fault people who fold.

???

I don't fault anyone.

What you're saying is different than what QCB is saying. Folding is a choice. Is it not?

BoatShoes, you made a good point before. From a survival standpoint, being able to store fat (and utilize it for energy) was a major advantage. Those who were unable to do so, even as little as a few hundred years ago had a greater likelihood of dying during times of famine. So when someone is trying to get extremely lean and look a certain way that society might think is "healthy" or "attractive", they are fighting against their genetics. This doesn't at all imply that the species wants you to be obese, but it's very, very easy to see how it can get to that level.

BoatShoes;1443210 wrote:Yes and a 2/7 off suit can beat pocket aces too. Can't really fault people who fold.

To a degree, you can, but that isn't enough for those who seem to be saying something on the order of "I'm not fat, you are, therefore, I'm better than you".

FatHobbit;1443198 wrote:It's a matter of setting priorities. Sometimes I would rather just watch tv. But that is a choice that I am responsible for.

I agree. I dont really like to go lift and work out my legs/arms/whatever, but I just make myself do it 2-3 times a week. I go running 3-4 times a week (either separate days or after a lift). It not only makes you feel better, it gives you so much more energy to do other stuff in life. I lift simply because it is often a better way to decrease body fat and get your heart rate up.

People think running is the only way to do that, and its not true. In fact, if you run too fast, you arent really burning fat. At that point you are burning a lot of protein. When you hit VO2 Max, you no longer are using fat stores, you are breaking protein down to be burned. It takes a long time before you can run faster without being out of breath...until then, slow the pace to burn the fat (laymen terms).

Con_Alma;1443213 wrote:???

I don't fault anyone.

What you're saying is different than what QCB is saying. Folding is a choice. Is it not?

I think there are indeed some folks who simply are a prisoner to their genes/fate and it is their destiny to be overweight but that's not the majority. However, a lot of people fold and that is a choice...but it is choice that is easy to make.

A majority of people are free to choose not to be obese but in making that choice they are choosing a difficult grind of an existence surrounded by temptation with the odds being ever, not, in their favor.