From the NAAFA

I had a wee look through a page on the NAAFA (National Association to
Advance Fat Acceptance), and I found the following on
http://www.naafa.org/documents/brochures/nextdiet.html . I found it so
comical that I had to share it with you, and I have responded to each point
they make too. It does show how you can twist statistics though . . .

------------------------------------------------
*Before you start your next diet. . .*

You should ask yourself these questions:

*Are you naturally fat?*

NAAFA: If you've been fat for most of your life and several other family
members are also fat, the odds are that your natural body size is larger
than average. Children with one large parent have a 40% chance of being
large, and children of two fat parents have an 80% chance of being that size
also. Current setpoint theory states that everyone has a natural weight
which their body will automatically protect. Diets are nothing but voluntary
starvation. The body protects itself from perceived famine by increasing
energy efficiency and raising its set-point even higher. This theory
explains why diets more frequently result in weight gain than in permanent
weight loss.

ME: Wrong. People are not naturally fat - they are fat because they
eat the wrong things, or too many things, or both. Okay, your body size can
be larger than average, but that is no excuse to be fat. I will accept
their point that children who have one large parent have a 40% chance of
being large themselves and that those who have two large parents have an 80%
of being fat themselves. However, this is not genetics. It is solely down
to their fat parents teaching their kids fat eating habits. Diets are not
"nothing but voluntary starvation" (sorry for the double negative). You
need never be hungry if you follow a diet, and will probably only be hungry
if you choose a severe or senseless diet. However, most people can eat
plenty without getting fat - they get fat because of WHAT they eat. The
body does protect itself by increasing energy efficiency, but only if you
drop your calorie intake to starvation levels (under around 1200 kcal per
day - I never drop below 1400). Diets DO more frequently result in weight
gain rather than permanent weight loss, but only because most diets are not
learning how to eat properly; they are punishing yourself until you can't
take any more. Then you go back to the three sugars in your coffee and
proper butter on your scones.

*Do you currently have an eating problem?*

NAAFA: Not all binge eaters are fat, and not all fat people are binge
eaters. On the average, fat people eat the same amounts and types of food as
thin or average size people. Instead of being a cure for binge eating,
dieting can actually cause binge eating. Bingeing or "overeating" is a
natural reaction to food deprivation. The dieting process itself often
starts a vicious "binge/purge" cycle which can lead to serious eating
disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. If you suspect that you have
an eating disorder, contact your doctor, counselor, or a support group.

ME: I agree with the first point. I also (kind of) agree with
the second point. However, what NAAFA fails to realise is that there is a
way out of it: exercise. Anyone can basically eat any amounts of healthy
food they want and as long as they do enough exercise (not an extreme
amount) they can stay trim. The binge/purge cycle does exist, but only to
those who haven't educated themselves prior to starting a diet. I'll say it
again: dieting is not starvation.

*Do you enjoy high risk activities?*

NAAFA: You have about as much chance of winning the lottery as you do of
permanently losing weight by dieting. Over a five-year period, only 2-5% of
dieters succeed in keeping their weight off. and over one-third of all diets
result in long-term weight gain. Would you accept a treatment for any other
medical condition that had those "success" rates? If you've dieted
frequently in the past, what makes you think this time will be any
different? You may be wasting time, money, and energy, and risking your
health if you go on another diet. Are the odds worth it?

ME: Permanently losing weight by dieting isn't something that
happens by chance. You make it happen by designing a diet that is
acceptable to you in terms of how quickly you will lose weight AND THEN go
on a weight maintenance diet once you're there. I would say that
deliberately being fat is risking your health a lot more than losing weight
by dieting. The analogy comparing dieting to a medical treatment is false -
YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR DIET! I reckon the 'odds' are worth it, yeah.
Frankly, I don't see the risk if you're intelligent about it.

*Will this be your first diet?*

NAAFA: If you're planning to go on your first diet, make sure that you
also plan to make it your last. Many of the 2-5% of successful dieters are
those who have never dieted before. If you have a particular medical
incentive for dieting, this may be just what you personally need to beat the
odds. But if you've never dieted before, also be forewarned of some of the
possible side effects: tiredness, irritability, mood swings, obsessing about
food, and inability to concentrate.

ME: No, if you're planning to go on your first diet, make sure
that you also plan it to be a lifetime eating plan. You got fat because you
ate the wrong things - now learn what the right things are. The side
effects don't exist if you plan a diet that will not starve you. Just don't
lose your weight too quickly and ensure you get your vitamins.

A little further down the page . . .

*Blame the dieting process, not yourself!*

NAAFA: If you do go on another diet and the lost weight does reappear,
don't just blame yourself or your lack of willpower. The dieting process
just does not work for the vast majority of dieters. Relax. Reread this
brochure. and consider joining NAAFA . Accept yourself at your current size.
And get on with your life !

ME: Ha! Sometimes free speech isn't such a great thing after
all, eh?


Good luck with your eating plans.

MadJock
204/191/165 - and feeling a lot better already

"Ignoramus20526" wrote in message
...
good post madjock.. but heed the warnings: keeping your weight off is
difficult!

I didn't say it wasn't difficult - I'm just laughing at their opinion that
your weight is decided by 'chance'.

MadJock

The problem with fat acceptance is that they are not looking
ahead. They are putting themselves at risk for diabetes,
heart attack and stroke and they are ok with that since it
hasn't happened yet. These people need help to understand
why they don't want to do something for themselves that will
have positive benefits all down the line in the future.
"diets are nothing but voluntary starvation." Everybody here
knows that starvation ruins your health, I've read the postings.
We all are working for good health. I've read the postings.
We know nutrition and exercise are crucial to that. I've read
the postings. It's scary that people with a mindset that says
it's ok to kill yourself as long as it isn't obvious, want
to be accepted. It makes me so sad.

MadJock wrote:

I had a wee look through a page on the NAAFA (National Association to
Advance Fat Acceptance), and I found the following on
http://www.naafa.org/documents/brochures/nextdiet.html . I found it so
comical that I had to share it with you, and I have responded to each point
they make too. It does show how you can twist statistics though . . .

------------------------------------------------
*Before you start your next diet. . .*

You should ask yourself these questions:

*Are you naturally fat?*

NAAFA: If you've been fat for most of your life and several other family
members are also fat, the odds are that your natural body size is larger
than average. Children with one large parent have a 40% chance of being
large, and children of two fat parents have an 80% chance of being that size
also. Current setpoint theory states that everyone has a natural weight
which their body will automatically protect. Diets are nothing but voluntary
starvation. The body protects itself from perceived famine by increasing
energy efficiency and raising its set-point even higher. This theory
explains why diets more frequently result in weight gain than in permanent
weight loss.

ME: Wrong. People are not naturally fat - they are fat because they
eat the wrong things, or too many things, or both. Okay, your body size can
be larger than average, but that is no excuse to be fat. I will accept
their point that children who have one large parent have a 40% chance of
being large themselves and that those who have two large parents have an 80%
of being fat themselves. However, this is not genetics. It is solely down
to their fat parents teaching their kids fat eating habits. Diets are not
"nothing but voluntary starvation" (sorry for the double negative). You
need never be hungry if you follow a diet, and will probably only be hungry
if you choose a severe or senseless diet. However, most people can eat
plenty without getting fat - they get fat because of WHAT they eat. The
body does protect itself by increasing energy efficiency, but only if you
drop your calorie intake to starvation levels (under around 1200 kcal per
day - I never drop below 1400). Diets DO more frequently result in weight
gain rather than permanent weight loss, but only because most diets are not
learning how to eat properly; they are punishing yourself until you can't
take any more. Then you go back to the three sugars in your coffee and
proper butter on your scones.

*Do you currently have an eating problem?*

NAAFA: Not all binge eaters are fat, and not all fat people are binge
eaters. On the average, fat people eat the same amounts and types of food as
thin or average size people. Instead of being a cure for binge eating,
dieting can actually cause binge eating. Bingeing or "overeating" is a
natural reaction to food deprivation. The dieting process itself often
starts a vicious "binge/purge" cycle which can lead to serious eating
disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. If you suspect that you have
an eating disorder, contact your doctor, counselor, or a support group.

ME: I agree with the first point. I also (kind of) agree with
the second point. However, what NAAFA fails to realise is that there is a
way out of it: exercise. Anyone can basically eat any amounts of healthy
food they want and as long as they do enough exercise (not an extreme
amount) they can stay trim. The binge/purge cycle does exist, but only to
those who haven't educated themselves prior to starting a diet. I'll say it
again: dieting is not starvation.

*Do you enjoy high risk activities?*

NAAFA: You have about as much chance of winning the lottery as you do of
permanently losing weight by dieting. Over a five-year period, only 2-5% of
dieters succeed in keeping their weight off. and over one-third of all diets
result in long-term weight gain. Would you accept a treatment for any other
medical condition that had those "success" rates? If you've dieted
frequently in the past, what makes you think this time will be any
different? You may be wasting time, money, and energy, and risking your
health if you go on another diet. Are the odds worth it?

ME: Permanently losing weight by dieting isn't something that
happens by chance. You make it happen by designing a diet that is
acceptable to you in terms of how quickly you will lose weight AND THEN go
on a weight maintenance diet once you're there. I would say that
deliberately being fat is risking your health a lot more than losing weight
by dieting. The analogy comparing dieting to a medical treatment is false -
YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR DIET! I reckon the 'odds' are worth it, yeah.
Frankly, I don't see the risk if you're intelligent about it.

*Will this be your first diet?*

NAAFA: If you're planning to go on your first diet, make sure that you
also plan to make it your last. Many of the 2-5% of successful dieters are
those who have never dieted before. If you have a particular medical
incentive for dieting, this may be just what you personally need to beat the
odds. But if you've never dieted before, also be forewarned of some of the
possible side effects: tiredness, irritability, mood swings, obsessing about
food, and inability to concentrate.

ME: No, if you're planning to go on your first diet, make sure
that you also plan it to be a lifetime eating plan. You got fat because you
ate the wrong things - now learn what the right things are. The side
effects don't exist if you plan a diet that will not starve you. Just don't
lose your weight too quickly and ensure you get your vitamins.

A little further down the page . . .

*Blame the dieting process, not yourself!*

NAAFA: If you do go on another diet and the lost weight does reappear,
don't just blame yourself or your lack of willpower. The dieting process
just does not work for the vast majority of dieters. Relax. Reread this
brochure. and consider joining NAAFA . Accept yourself at your current size.
And get on with your life !

ME: Ha! Sometimes free speech isn't such a great thing after
all, eh?

Good luck with your eating plans.

MadJock
204/191/165 - and feeling a lot better already