America's Fattest Cities... Houston TX

Pecos said:
I don’t know very much about weight control except for one narrow aspect and that is the role of hormones.
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For the most part- portion control is the key to weight control. But, hormones as you mentioned, play a part. Cortisol, originally I thought Cortisol was just some jargon in a gimmicky weight loss product advertisement. The advertisement was indeed gimmicky, but
Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including:
Regulating your body’s stress response.
Helping control your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism.
Suppressing inflammation.
Regulating blood pressure.
Regulating blood sugar.
Helping control your sleep-wake cycle.
 

Nathan said:
For the most part- portion control is the key to weight control. But, hormones as you mentioned, play a part. Cortisol, originally I thought Cortisol was just some jargon in a gimmicky weight loss product advertisement. The advertisement was indeed gimmicky, but
Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including:
Regulating your body’s stress response.
Helping control your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism.
Suppressing inflammation.
Regulating blood pressure.
Regulating blood sugar.
Helping control your sleep-wake cycle.
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Yes, such a good point you make about portion.
 

I was a chubby kid who wore Husky jeans and was frequently harassed. When I shot up during puberty, I made a point of going on a strict diet because I was determined to be accepted. And I was an effeminate kid, so yes, there was trauma there. I didn't eat to overcome the trauma. I ate unhealthy food like Swanson's TV dinners and my mother's Southern cooking. When I graduated from high school, I was 5'8" and 135 lbs. I've gone through periods of putting on a little weight but have never been significantly overweight since then. Today, I am 5'8" and 165 lbs, a more normal weight than I was when I was younger.

My nephew was a fat kid who sat around all day playing video games. He was getting to the point where his weight was unhealthy. My sister-in-law bought a treadmill, but he stopped using it. Then she suggested he go into the Navy. Not only did it give him a purpose in life, he is happy and in good shape.

I also have a good friend whose husband insisted she be overweight because he liked her that way and was jealous that other men might be attracted to her if she were thin. They got divorced for obvious reasons, she took off the weight and has been in good shape ever since. I definitely think there was trauma and emotional abuse involved in her weight gain.

Since I was the OP, I will say that I'm not insensitive to people who are overweight. I know there are many reasons for this, but I think in most cases where there's a will there's a way. I've said before that I so admire the members of my gym who are overweight and are making a significant effort. I want to hug them.
 
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I was about 190lbs when I was 20 and I'm about 200lbs now at 64, maybe 205lbs, and I'm 6'1", so not too overweight. I think it was comprised of more muscle when I was younger even though I ate a lot more fast food. Our metabolism changes as we age.
 
hollydolly said:
The biggest lady (Diane) in the video.. I have never seen anyone that big in real life ( only on American TV shows 600 pound teens etc).. until yesterday. I was in the shop, and she was walking bent over the trolley ( cart).. with her husband fetching all the different items from the fridges..

He was tall and slim, and I kept thinking he might be a feeder.. . She was enormous, as wide as she was tall. which was about 5'8''.. and when she walked in the aisle no-one could get passed so we had to wait until she moved on.. I thought she must be very embarrassed,.. but then maybe not.. :unsure:

All that said.. it has recently been reported that the UK is the fattest nation in Europe.. more Obesity and Diabetes here than anywhere else in Europe.. I can believe it. Not very many seriously obese people around here.. but there are areas in the Uk where the people are very obese, they tend mostly to be in so called deprived areas
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I think the reports that you have heard are correct.

 

​

Back to the title;

America's Fattest Cities... Houston TX​


I got interested in this thread because when I was in Houston I sweated my ass off
Couldn't overeat if I wanted to

Thought; the fattest? no way

But...then there's air conditioning
I didn't have that when I was down there
Just a steady drip of sweat dripping down my chin

....as far as people?

We come in all sizes
 
A lot of us eat as a form of comfort. I am miserable when trying to eat right and work out because I am hungry all the damn time and grouchy. I work in a job that is very physically demanding so I am too wiped out to bother working out when I'm off. I have other things to get done. Maybe when I retire I can work on taking better care. The pandemic really slaps a new perspective on life in general and my desire to care. I figure if there's a chance I'm going to get something hideous and die I don't need to be skinny to do it. 🤣
 
MarciKS said:
A lot of us eat as a form of comfort. I am miserable when trying to eat right and work out because I am hungry all the damn time and grouchy. I work in a job that is very physically demanding so I am too wiped out to bother working out when I'm off. I have other things to get done. Maybe when I retire I can work on taking better care. The pandemic really slaps a new perspective on life in general and my desire to care. I figure if there's a chance I'm going to get something hideous and die I don't need to be skinny to do it. 🤣
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Yes, the pandemic, and additional stress that came along with it, brought about a new perspective... I understand what you are saying. We all need each other for comfort.
 
I have a great deal of compassion for people who struggle with weight problems. Virtually everyone has tried to lose weight and knows how difficult it is.

On the other hand, the "normalizing" of massive body size is quite disturbing. While the humans inside may be wonderful and admirable, let's stop kidding ourselves or joining the "let's pretend" game. The truth is that there is nothing normal, healthy or admirable about morbid obesity (BMI 35+), severe obesity (BMI 40+) super obesity (BMI 50+) and beyond. A woman featured in that video had a BMI over 100(!!), needed an aide to put on her shoes, and a mobility cart to get around but claims that she has no problem with her size.

Instead of normalizing the modern unprecedented, extraordinary march toward higher levels of human obesity, we should be spotlighting the companies that have eagerly fanned these flames in the pursuit of higher profits.

In my opinion, commercial food processors, fast food outlets, restaurants, etc., should be heavily taxed with "sin taxes" (like alcohol and tobacco) and publicly shamed for the health crisis they are quite deliberately helping create.
 
win231 said:
There is no bigger lie & there is nothing more phony than a seriously-obese person saying "I'm OK with size" or "I'm proud of myself, or
"I'm comfortable the way I am."
The heavier they are, the harder they work to convince themselves of that lie.
That lie is a fat person's way of avoiding dealing with the problem, which takes work & determination & LOTS of stubbornness.
A young person who can't walk, can't bathe, can't go to the bathroom without help, can't live without a nurse is miserable - not the least bit comfortable.
And, No, I NEVER told any of those lies to myself or others at my previous weight 45 years ago (405 lbs.) In fact, I went to bed every night, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning.
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I remember a few years ago, the propaganda out there to justify fat. They said, "Fat is Beautiful" Suits were sold for "Mr. Big and Tall." "Big Daddy" became something of a folklore. It is all Bull. Fat is not beautiful from a medical view point. There is a very good reason doctors will tell you to lose weight if you are over weight.

As for diabetes, a relative of mine had it; not because he was fat but because he watched 12 channels of sports everyday and never exercised. Anyone who thinks diabetes is fashionable, cool and wonderful needs to have his/her head examined.

I believe if you study the matter you will find out that fat is hard on your heart. Your heart has to work so much more. It is also hard on your legs because you must carry all that extra weight. Furthermore, some people have lost their leg due to diabetes. Not a laughing matter, medically or otherwise, speaking.
 
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StarSong said:
I have a great deal of compassion for people who struggle with weight problems. Virtually everyone has tried to lose weight and knows how difficult it is.

On the other hand, the "normalizing" of massive body size is quite disturbing. While the humans inside may be wonderful and admirable, let's stop kidding ourselves or joining the "let's pretend" game. The truth is that there is nothing normal, healthy or admirable about morbid obesity (BMI 35+), severe obesity (BMI 40+) super obesity (BMI 50+) and beyond. A woman featured in that video had a BMI over 100(!!), needed an aide to put on her shoes, and a mobility cart to get around but claims that she has no problem with her size.

Instead of normalizing the modern unprecedented, extraordinary march toward higher levels of human obesity, we should be spotlighting the companies that have eagerly fanned these flames in the pursuit of higher profits.

In my opinion, commercial food processors, fast food outlets, restaurants, etc., should be heavily taxed with "sin taxes" (like alcohol and tobacco) and publicly shamed for the health crisis they are quite deliberately helping create.
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well put....
We all can sympathize as many have had struggles with weight but this is NOT normal or healthy and causes so many issues....
no matter how they pretend......

i am a fitness tracker wearer and the accompanying app has many before and after photos as well as personal stories .... each day i read as people lost weight they dropped off medications one girl was off 5 prescriptions after her loss......
think about how much money...... that 5 drugs monthly that she had been on for a long time were making for pharma.
 
dseag2 said:
We were just at the Galleria in Dallas and I said "these are all future diabetics". They seem to be proud of it.

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just a shot in the dark; do you know of any Houston based message boards dedicated to sharing tips on using current electronics for seniors? Thanks, Tim L..
 
StarSong said:
I have a great deal of compassion for people who struggle with weight problems. Virtually everyone has tried to lose weight and knows how difficult it is.

On the other hand, the "normalizing" of massive body size is quite disturbing. While the humans inside may be wonderful and admirable, let's stop kidding ourselves or joining the "let's pretend" game. The truth is that there is nothing normal, healthy or admirable about morbid obesity (BMI 35+), severe obesity (BMI 40+) super obesity (BMI 50+) and beyond. A woman featured in that video had a BMI over 100(!!), needed an aide to put on her shoes, and a mobility cart to get around but claims that she has no problem with her size.

Instead of normalizing the modern unprecedented, extraordinary march toward higher levels of human obesity, we should be spotlighting the companies that have eagerly fanned these flames in the pursuit of higher profits.

In my opinion, commercial food processors, fast food outlets, restaurants, etc., should be heavily taxed with "sin taxes" (like alcohol and tobacco) and publicly shamed for the health crisis they are quite deliberately helping create.
Click to expand...
We have normalized everything else in this world. I'm not saying it's right I'm just saying it is what it is. As we age some of us put on weight as well. I don't deliberately set out to be overweight every day. There's reasons why I am not able to diet and exercise the way I'd like to. But I'm not trying to make eating my superpower. 😁 If you pay attention to the media at all they are working on a world of mass acceptance. It came alone with all these anti-bullying campaigns. Now we're just supposed to accept everyone as is. I'm not saying that is a bad thing just saying this is what is happening. We are normalizing behaviors that used to be frowned upon. I worked with a lady that was probably 3 of me. She had all she could do to walk. In the 5 years I worked with her, I only saw her eat at work once. And that was a free holiday meal. I'd like to lose weight. Trying to find clothes to fit is a problem sometimes.
 
This week there was a segment on tv about a man eating so many hot dogs in a National contest. It was disgusting. He was not eating, he was stuffing and forcing the hot dogs down his throat and mouth. Why is this entertaining? I just watched a couple of seconds of it and had to switch channels. How can people do this or watch it?
 
MarciKS said:
We have normalized everything else in this world. I'm not saying it's right I'm just saying it is what it is. As we age some of us put on weight as well. I don't deliberately set out to be overweight every day. There's reasons why I am not able to diet and exercise the way I'd like to. But I'm not trying to make eating my superpower. 😁 If you pay attention to the media at all they are working on a world of mass acceptance. It came alone with all these anti-bullying campaigns. Now we're just supposed to accept everyone as is. I'm not saying that is a bad thing just saying this is what is happening. We are normalizing behaviors that used to be frowned upon. I worked with a lady that was probably 3 of me. She had all she could do to walk. In the 5 years I worked with her, I only saw her eat at work once. And that was a free holiday meal. I'd like to lose weight. Trying to find clothes to fit is a problem sometimes.
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Times have changed so much, and that's about all I can say with certainty anymore. Is there a handbook to explain what words are used to replace the old ones and so on? At first, I wondered if all of the new lingo is for real? I guess so. In other words, trying not to offend others can go too far, but where to draw the line? Maybe we are all lost without Ann Landers. People who struggle with weight often have something to contribute, like everyone else, so I try to focus on that aspect of the person. Didn't Ann Landers say that people know if they are overweight, so no one needs to remind them? I think she made a good point.
 
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terry123 said:
This week there was a segment on tv about a man eating so many hot dogs in a National contest. It was disgusting. He was not eating, he was stuffing and forcing the hot dogs down his throat and mouth. Why is this entertaining? I just watched a couple of seconds of it and had to switch channels. How can people do this or watch it?
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Yes, disgusting it is and has always been. These type of show usually come out of the US. For some reason eating 50 hot dogs is some sort of badge of honour. You have got to be kidding! A pig has more brains than to eat 50 hot dogs yet I have seen this sort of garbage pushed as entertainment. Give me a break! I don't know who is to blame? The man who stuffs himself sick or society that watches this sort of disgusting behaviour?
 
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