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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
Jimmy Moore, September 20, 2006 http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=5889 The following is a reprint from the blog "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb": Why can't society just accept fat people for who they are? They're human beings too and should not be scorned by others just because they carry around a few extra pounds. When are we going to stop begging people to lose weight when it is quite possible to be healthy at any size? Have you heard statements like these from some well-meaning people? The "fat acceptance" movement has taken root in this country with groups like the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance promoting their viewpoint that fat is beautiful and nobody should be forced into losing weight if they don't want to. I'm sure many of my longtime readers remember how this woman got so mad at me over this blog post because I dared challenge the premise that being fat is okay. The notion of accepting fat people for who they are sounds pretty good on the surface, doesn't it? If I'm fat, then it's my choice to be this way so LEAVE ME ALONE! Okay, fine. But as someone who used to weigh over 400 pounds, I not only have a right to speak out, but I would also say that it is my responsibility to share with others that remaining obese is not an option when there are viable ways to shed the pounds even when you think you've tried everything. Unfortunately, we have people pushing "fat acceptance" like Kim Barto who believe strongly that weight loss is overrated. She is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Asheville just up the road from my hometown of Spartanburg, SC and she recently wrote this op-ed piece for The Citizen-Times about this very sensitive subject of America's obession with weight loss which Barto describes as "urealistic" and even "harmful." Barto attempted to provide evidence to support her theory about American culture hung up on dieting by noting that eating disorders have risen sharply while more and more people express concerns about their weight. She contends that this is leading to higher rates of mental disorders that sometimes leads to suicide attempts and even death. Morbid thoughts indeed. But what Barto is conveniently forgetting is the fact that TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE and the rates keep going up and up! So it stands to reason that weight loss is on our minds as a country because it needs to be. We're FAT! In Barto's world, though, she doesn't see anything wrong with people remaining fat if that's what makes them feel good. "A wide variety of body types are normal, depending on one's bone structure, metabolism and genetics. It is fruitless and misleading to expect everyone to conform to the same weight. Whether you are naturally muscular, chunky, twiggy, curvy or tiny, trying to change your body can be frustrating and even dangerous." Now wait just a minute, Ms. Barto. What is so "dangerous" about someone trying to lose weight? When I weighed an abysmal 410 pounds at the beginning of 2004, many would say I had put myself in a bad situation, even a potentially "dangerous" one. My health was on the decline with breathing, blood pressure and cholesterol problems among other ailments. I was quite literally a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode. But then I started livin' la vida low-carb and changed my life forever. Sure, I could have just accepted my fat for what it was and begged people to not judge me for my weight. However, it wasn't about my image, but rather my health. It was better for me to go on the Atkins diet than to remain obese. I honestly believe I may not be here today had I not lost 180 pounds two years ago. Weight loss not only was a desire, but a necessity for me to survive. It kills me how people like Barto like to bring up the point about how 98 percent of dieters gain back their weight and then some within five years. To that I say SO WHAT?! What the heck does that have to do with the person who needs to lose 50, 100, 200 pounds because their health is in disarray because of their obesity? If diets fail then don't go on a diet. Instead, find a permanent lifestyle change you can do for the rest of your life. My weight loss is still less than three years old, so I suppose it is possible I have time to regain my weight, too. Should I just throw my hands up in the air and just assume the weight will come back on my body? Is giving up hope for lasting weight loss success the answer? Heck no, it isn't. Weight loss is a journey of choice that YOU and ONLY YOU must make for yourself if it is something you need to do. Fat acceptance is nothing more than a ruse to avoid necessary weight loss. PERIOD! The problem is that too many people are in denial about their weight problem to begin with. In other words, people HAVE too easily accepted their size and it is now taking a toll on their health. Rising obesity rates is creating financial problems for Medicare because of the extra healthcare costs that are involved with obesity-related diseases. The unintended consequences of fat acceptance is declining health among all age groups. Lamenting the weight loss profits totaling nearly $50 billion a year, Barto said this is all just so ridiculous and people should stop trying to lose weight while lining the pockets of those who don't care about their health. "What a paradox, that dieting should be such a lucrative industry in a country with such high obesity rates. Someone is obviously profiting from fat phobia in a big way. Take a nation of insecure people, bombard them with images of impossible beauty standards, and they will greet the latest fad with open wallets. Couldn't those billions of dollars be better spent? Instead of trying to buy happiness, think of all the good that money could do if diverted to cancer research or stamping out hunger." Oh please, Ms. Barto. There's no conspiracy to trick people into thinking they are fat to get them to buy weight loss products. Have you looked around lately? There are a LOT of people who are FAT! It literally breaks my heart to be in a public place like a restaurant and see someone whose belly sticks out in front of them at least two feet. My first thought is, "God, I can't believe that's how big I used to be." Then I remember the hard work I put into losing my weight and wish so desperately to help these people get healthier, too. While everyone is trying to get their piece of the proverbial pie in the diet industry, it is up to the consumer to be smart about what choices they make regarding their own health. They can't rely on a company like Nestle to provide them quality products for a healthy diet. Misleading marketing ads exist out there and people need to educate themselves about what is best for them. This blog post was the perfect illustration of the business model for being in diet market. Barto contends that people can be in "good health at any size." "Too many dieters harm their bodies and psyches by skipping meals, purging and popping pills in the quest for skinniness. We should eat for nutrition and well-being, not solely to lose weight. Amidst all the deprivation and guilt associated with eating, we often forget that fresh, simple food is a joy in itself." Does carrying around a big pot belly cause harm to our bodies, Ms. Barto? It most definitely does, which is why people need to lose weight. I don't advocate starving yourself, throwing up or taking the latest magic weight loss pill to get there. But a healthy low-carb lifestyle has been proven to be the most nutrient-dense and balanced nutritional approach I have ever come across in my life. There's no deprivation, but rather indulgence to the max on this amazing way of eating. Concluding her article, Barto said it is time for a "change in mindset." "Let's embrace diversity of size and question the source of our insecurities. Find the weight that's healthy for you, individually, without comparing yourself to the skeletal models on TV. Life is too short to hate your body." I agree with the point that the warped image of what "normal" is from Hollywood is wrong. But there are ways to deal with your weight problem and get healthy that fall outside the realm of these unrealistic images. http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=5889 |
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
On 2006-09-20 09:14:03 -0400, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!"
said: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss [snip, not because I disagree, but because it's long] This article is, in my opinion, an accurate statement of the way things should be. (Pace, Rush Limbaugh.) Obesity IS a problem, and those who claim the "right" to be obese and think they're OK anyway need to get their heads on straight. One of the things that go with this cockamamie attitude is the demand that they be allowed to sit next to people of reasonable weight in narrow airplane seats without hearing complaints. What selfishness! |
#3
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-20 09:14:03 -0400, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!" said: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss One of the things that go with this cockamamie attitude is the demand that they be allowed to sit next to people of reasonable weight in narrow airplane seats without hearing complaints. What selfishness! Why do the trolls always try to resurrect the fat people and airline seats crap? Hasn't this subject been beaten to death yet? Ragnar |
#4
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
On 21 Sep 2006 06:43:16 -0700, "Ragnar"
wrote: sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-20 09:14:03 -0400, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!" said: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss One of the things that go with this cockamamie attitude is the demand that they be allowed to sit next to people of reasonable weight in narrow airplane seats without hearing complaints. What selfishness! Why do the trolls always try to resurrect the fat people and airline seats crap? Hasn't this subject been beaten to death yet? Ragnar Well, I never participated in those discussions. Nor would I be participating in this one if the dickhead who started it hadn't cross-posted. Hopefully, neither of us will see this response. But, for the benefit of the fat-acceptance mob, it changes your point of view on the matter when you are wedged in for five hours next to a guy who can't put the armrest down nor can he move his massive leg from off your seat and taking up half your space for your own legs; in a plane that sat on the Ohare tarmac for nearly an hour in 104F heat before takeoff with the airconditioning off to save fuel. I am now firmly in the "you must buy two seats if you can't fit in one" camp. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1000mg, ezetrol 10mg -- Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. |
#5
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
On 2006-09-21 09:43:16 -0400, "Ragnar" said:
sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-20 09:14:03 -0400, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!" said: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss One of the things that go with this cockamamie attitude is the demand that they be allowed to sit next to people of reasonable weight in narrow airplane seats without hearing complaints. What selfishness! Why do the trolls always try to resurrect the fat people and airline seats crap? Hasn't this subject been beaten to death yet? Has it been SOLVED yet? |
#6
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-21 09:43:16 -0400, "Ragnar" said: sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-20 09:14:03 -0400, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!" said: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss One of the things that go with this cockamamie attitude is the demand that they be allowed to sit next to people of reasonable weight in narrow airplane seats without hearing complaints. What selfishness! Why do the trolls always try to resurrect the fat people and airline seats crap? Hasn't this subject been beaten to death yet? Has it been SOLVED yet? No it hasn't, and it is going to be anytime soon. Most airline seat sizes are based on a Harvard train passenger study performed in 1950, which claimed the average passenger only needs 18" max. of seating space. For your information most adult males have shoulders that extend well beyond the 18" mark. Unless of course you are some pencil necked geek. BTW if it is so abhorrent for you to touch another individual while sitting in coach, then try first class. Just reach in and let the moths out of your wallet and pay the higher price. If you can't afford it then take the bus with the rest of the plebes. Ragnar |
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
On 2006-09-21 13:34:59 -0400, "Ragnar" said:
sechumlib wrote: Has it been SOLVED yet? No it hasn't, and it is going to be anytime soon. Most airline seat sizes are based on a Harvard train passenger study performed in 1950, which claimed the average passenger only needs 18" max. of seating space. For your information most adult males have shoulders that extend well beyond the 18" mark. Unless of course you are some pencil necked geek. BTW if it is so abhorrent for you to touch another individual while sitting in coach, then try first class. Just reach in and let the moths out of your wallet and pay the higher price. If you can't afford it then take the bus with the rest of the plebes. From your defensive, belligerent attitude I gather that you're one of the overweight slobs who think they should be cosseted instead of being encouraged, in ways both pleasant and unpleasant, to lose some weight and live in the same space as those of us of normal weight. It's definitely people like you who force airlines like Southwest to require overweight people to buy two seats rather than making the rest of us hold our breaths for the whole flight. |
#8
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
sechumlib wrote: On 2006-09-21 13:34:59 -0400, "Ragnar" said: sechumlib wrote: Has it been SOLVED yet? No it hasn't, and it is going to be anytime soon. Most airline seat sizes are based on a Harvard train passenger study performed in 1950, which claimed the average passenger only needs 18" max. of seating space. For your information most adult males have shoulders that extend well beyond the 18" mark. Unless of course you are some pencil necked geek. BTW if it is so abhorrent for you to touch another individual while sitting in coach, then try first class. Just reach in and let the moths out of your wallet and pay the higher price. If you can't afford it then take the bus with the rest of the plebes. From your defensive, belligerent attitude I gather that you're one of the overweight slobs who think they should be cosseted instead of being encouraged, in ways both pleasant and unpleasant, to lose some weight and live in the same space as those of us of normal weight. There is nothing belligerent or defensive about my attitude, I'm just calling it for what it is. You asked a question and you got your answer. If you can fit comfortably in an 18" space for hours at a time without EVER encroaching on your neighbor, then you can open your mouth. But even if you are a normal sized individual I seriously doubt you can. It's definitely people like you who force airlines like Southwest to require overweight people to buy two seats rather than making the rest of us hold our breaths for the whole flight. How did you arrive at that bit of logic? I'm not the one complaining, you are. I believe it was whiny little pukes like you whom Southwest got tired of dealing with that caused them to enforce the two-seat rule. BTW as far as the "overweight slob" comment goes, you're wrong again. Ragnar |
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
[Default] On 20 Sep 2006 06:14:03 -0700, "Sweet Zombie Jesus!"
Maniacally Screamed the following like a drunken "Sweet Zombie Jesus!" into the madness of usenet: Fat Acceptance Troll's ISP OrgName: GTIS OrgID: GTIS Address: PWGSC/GTIS PDP III 3A2 City: Hull-Gatineau StateProv: QC PostalCode: J8X-4A6 Country: CA NetRange: 198.103.0.0 - 198.103.255.255 CIDR: 198.103.0.0/16 NetName: NETBLK-CDAGOVN-C NetHandle: NET-198-103-0-0-1 Parent: NET-198-0-0-0-0 NetType: Direct Allocation NameServer: RELAY.SRV.GC.CA NameServer: RUSTY.SRV.GC.CA Comment: RegDate: 1993-03-25 Updated: 2003-05-05 RTechHandle: HOSTM227-ARIN RTechName: Hostmaster RTechPhone: +1-819-956-1180 RTechEmail: OrgTechHandle: HOSTM227-ARIN OrgTechName: Hostmaster OrgTechPhone: +1-819-956-1180 OrgTechEmail: |
#10
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Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss
Sweet Zombie Jesus! wrote: Fat Acceptance Is A Ruse To Avoid Weight Loss Jimmy Moore, September 20, 2006 http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=5889 The following is a reprint from the blog "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb": Why can't society just accept fat people for who they are? They're human beings too and should not be scorned by others just because they carry around a few extra pounds. When are we going to stop begging people to lose weight when it is quite possible to be healthy at any size? Have you heard statements like these from some well-meaning people? The "fat acceptance" movement has taken root in this country with groups like the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance promoting their viewpoint that fat is beautiful and nobody should be forced into losing weight if they don't want to. I'm sure many of my longtime readers remember how this woman got so mad at me over this blog post because I dared challenge the premise that being fat is okay. The notion of accepting fat people for who they are sounds pretty good on the surface, doesn't it? If I'm fat, then it's my choice to be this way so LEAVE ME ALONE! Okay, fine. But as someone who used to weigh over 400 pounds, I not only have a right to speak out, but I would also say that it is my responsibility to share with others that remaining obese is not an option when there are viable ways to shed the pounds even when you think you've tried everything. Unfortunately, we have people pushing "fat acceptance" like Kim Barto who believe strongly that weight loss is overrated. She is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Asheville just up the road from my hometown of Spartanburg, SC and she recently wrote this op-ed piece for The Citizen-Times about this very sensitive subject of America's obession with weight loss which Barto describes as "urealistic" and even "harmful." Barto attempted to provide evidence to support her theory about American culture hung up on dieting by noting that eating disorders have risen sharply while more and more people express concerns about their weight. She contends that this is leading to higher rates of mental disorders that sometimes leads to suicide attempts and even death. Morbid thoughts indeed. But what Barto is conveniently forgetting is the fact that TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE and the rates keep going up and up! So it stands to reason that weight loss is on our minds as a country because it needs to be. We're FAT! In Barto's world, though, she doesn't see anything wrong with people remaining fat if that's what makes them feel good. "A wide variety of body types are normal, depending on one's bone structure, metabolism and genetics. It is fruitless and misleading to expect everyone to conform to the same weight. Whether you are naturally muscular, chunky, twiggy, curvy or tiny, trying to change your body can be frustrating and even dangerous." Now wait just a minute, Ms. Barto. What is so "dangerous" about someone trying to lose weight? When I weighed an abysmal 410 pounds at the beginning of 2004, many would say I had put myself in a bad situation, even a potentially "dangerous" one. My health was on the decline with breathing, blood pressure and cholesterol problems among other ailments. I was quite literally a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode. But then I started livin' la vida low-carb and changed my life forever. Sure, I could have just accepted my fat for what it was and begged people to not judge me for my weight. However, it wasn't about my image, but rather my health. It was better for me to go on the Atkins diet than to remain obese. I honestly believe I may not be here today had I not lost 180 pounds two years ago. Weight loss not only was a desire, but a necessity for me to survive. It kills me how people like Barto like to bring up the point about how 98 percent of dieters gain back their weight and then some within five years. To that I say SO WHAT?! What the heck does that have to do with the person who needs to lose 50, 100, 200 pounds because their health is in disarray because of their obesity? If diets fail then don't go on a diet. Instead, find a permanent lifestyle change you can do for the rest of your life. My weight loss is still less than three years old, so I suppose it is possible I have time to regain my weight, too. Should I just throw my hands up in the air and just assume the weight will come back on my body? Is giving up hope for lasting weight loss success the answer? Heck no, it isn't. Weight loss is a journey of choice that YOU and ONLY YOU must make for yourself if it is something you need to do. Fat acceptance is nothing more than a ruse to avoid necessary weight loss. PERIOD! The problem is that too many people are in denial about their weight problem to begin with. In other words, people HAVE too easily accepted their size and it is now taking a toll on their health. Rising obesity rates is creating financial problems for Medicare because of the extra healthcare costs that are involved with obesity-related diseases. The unintended consequences of fat acceptance is declining health among all age groups. Lamenting the weight loss profits totaling nearly $50 billion a year, Barto said this is all just so ridiculous and people should stop trying to lose weight while lining the pockets of those who don't care about their health. "What a paradox, that dieting should be such a lucrative industry in a country with such high obesity rates. Someone is obviously profiting from fat phobia in a big way. Take a nation of insecure people, bombard them with images of impossible beauty standards, and they will greet the latest fad with open wallets. Couldn't those billions of dollars be better spent? Instead of trying to buy happiness, think of all the good that money could do if diverted to cancer research or stamping out hunger." Oh please, Ms. Barto. There's no conspiracy to trick people into thinking they are fat to get them to buy weight loss products. Have you looked around lately? There are a LOT of people who are FAT! It literally breaks my heart to be in a public place like a restaurant and see someone whose belly sticks out in front of them at least two feet. My first thought is, "God, I can't believe that's how big I used to be." Then I remember the hard work I put into losing my weight and wish so desperately to help these people get healthier, too. While everyone is trying to get their piece of the proverbial pie in the diet industry, it is up to the consumer to be smart about what choices they make regarding their own health. They can't rely on a company like Nestle to provide them quality products for a healthy diet. Misleading marketing ads exist out there and people need to educate themselves about what is best for them. This blog post was the perfect illustration of the business model for being in diet market. Barto contends that people can be in "good health at any size." "Too many dieters harm their bodies and psyches by skipping meals, purging and popping pills in the quest for skinniness. We should eat for nutrition and well-being, not solely to lose weight. Amidst all the deprivation and guilt associated with eating, we often forget that fresh, simple food is a joy in itself." Does carrying around a big pot belly cause harm to our bodies, Ms. Barto? It most definitely does, which is why people need to lose weight. I don't advocate starving yourself, throwing up or taking the latest magic weight loss pill to get there. But a healthy low-carb lifestyle has been proven to be the most nutrient-dense and balanced nutritional approach I have ever come across in my life. There's no deprivation, but rather indulgence to the max on this amazing way of eating. Concluding her article, Barto said it is time for a "change in mindset." "Let's embrace diversity of size and question the source of our insecurities. Find the weight that's healthy for you, individually, without comparing yourself to the skeletal models on TV. Life is too short to hate your body." I agree with the point that the warped image of what "normal" is from Hollywood is wrong. But there are ways to deal with your weight problem and get healthy that fall outside the realm of these unrealistic images. http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=5889 please try and get it Zombie. no one ever said that being fat is a good thing, but, do we deserve to be treated with any thing less than respect. do we deserve to be mooed at or the looks of digust, ugly comments etc. ad nauseum? airplane seats in coach are to narrow, even for the normal person, so i try to fly first class whenever possible, where the seats are roomy enough to accomadate me. I still feel that rude people need to curb their impulses. do you call a mentally challenged person a retard? do you point and stare at people in wheel chairs? is the N word in you vocabulary, no? then why deride the fat person? your criticism serves nothing but to send us to the fridge to assuage out depression over this situation. if you can not be kind in your assessments then do not post here. courtesy is very important. in the past i have been quite aggressive towards the meaness of some of the trolls who post here, and with good reason. i will not be a doormat for ugly comment, simply because i am not of normal weight. Comments and criticism are best made when kindness and courtesy are employed.... if you can't do that, then no obese person in their right mind will ever pay your comments serious attention.......jenius |
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