Re: Women
Reply #366 - April 10, 2010, 07:30 PM
I want to actually squash this back and forth argument about fat people, and fat jokes.
I've read both sides of the argument thoroughly, and while I agree with both sides, I want to point out that both sides have some very faulty arguments; which really is making everything confusing and dragged on more than it needs to be.
First I'll begin with the side that argues that some people can't lose weight due to different reasons be it health oriented or lifestyle oriented. Most of you who know me here. know that I was a personal trainer for two years and I worked at a GNC selling sport supplements. A lot of the customers and clients I'd get, their goal would be to lose weight. But therein lies the misunderstanding:
-Weight is composed of everything you have--your fat, your muscles, the water you're holding, your organs, your bones, the waste that you have holding in your intestines, etc. When people argue that it's impossible for people to lose weight because of any medical reason, to someone like me, it doesn't make sense because 'losing weight' is never the goal anyways. People refer to 'losing weight' as burning fat--which I must stress are completely different things.
-Fat is stored energy--that's it. It only makes up a small portion of your weight believe it or not. For example, a male can weigh 200lbs. but can still be significantly healthy due to the fact that he has very low body fat percentage and thus most of his weight comes from his muscles. Burning fat while preserving your muscles is the goal when fitness is concerned. And doing this is not a matter of calories in v.s calories out. You also have to dial in your macro-nutrient ratios; which I'll not be going into. Exercise is the last part of the equation.
-That being said, I want to say to those who are arguing that there are medical reasons why someone can't 'lose wright'--if you by 'losing weight' you mean burning fat, then you're dead wrong. There are no medical reasons which cannot be treated and keep a person helpless in regards to getting fit. One quick example that comes to mind is Thyroid problems. I've trained women who had busted thyroids because of pregnancy, but they certainly were not helpless. They watched what they ate, took their medication, and exercised well--and within six months, they had a great body. However, if by 'losing weight' you really referring to total body weight--then you may actually have a point. Water retention, is a big part of weight gain. A lot of meds. unfortunately makes a person gain tremendous amounts of water which they can't control. This is just the reality. Also, doing a full body detox is also very common amongst women. This is fine, but the problem is that they have the wrong expectations. They believe that with the detox formula, one can lose about 10lbs. and weight 10lbs. less forever. Believe it or not, I got these kinds of customers all the time. A detox can very well help you lose 10-15lbs. of waste from your intestines, but that weight will come back within time, and it'll be even quicker if you go back to eating like shit.
-In regards to StarDust's arguement about people having busy lives I want to say that this really is a poor excuse. It's true that exercising 45min.-1 hour each day is highly beneficial, but working out 10min. per day is good as well (given that you are eating healthy and staying away from constant consumption of alcohol). There is no excuse that can be made for a poor, and unhealthy lifestyle. I'm not criticizing those who honestly cannot make the time, but you really are not helpless.
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That being said let me actually talk to those feel it's okay to make fun of someone for being overweight. While it's true that most overweight people are not helpless, it certainly is faulty thinking to believe being overweight is the cause of laziness, and procrastination. Bad eating habits is pretty relevant to everyone who is overweight, but there are other psychological, and biological factors that surpass the control of will power alone. So while I do believe it's funny to make fat jokes, given the appropriate context and timing, I don't think it should be a 'in your face' way to promote people to be fit. Because then you're just proving to someone like me, that you really don't understand the issue yourself either.
Call me TAP TAP! for I am THE ASS PATTER!
Topic: Women