fat folks, how did it happen?

[KLin]

Food is tasty.

QFT

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

Drinks as a whole are a large part of why people gain more weight than they think they should. Beer, soda, juice (aka soda with vitamin C)...all very high in calories and/or sugar.

If you replace all this with water you will lose around 20 lbs after a few months even after keeping everything else in tact. Thats what happened for me. Coke is definitely a calorie grenade.

 

[shortylickens]

I dont know about the other folks but for myself:
At first you lose interest in serious exercise and stop worrying about your health. First 10 pounds or so you dont give a damn, or refuse to notice. After a bit you really stop caring and let it go on easily. You stop eating super healthy, stop the regular, strenuous workouts. You might get motivated once in a while and go on a diet or jog a bit, but its never regular and you cheat easily, so it doesn't work.

After a bit you get depressed, especially if your career or personal life goes downhill at the same time. Then you really dont give a shit. You spend a lot of time with empty carbs like processed sugar and starches. Soda is your best friend. Once is a while you may eat something healthy just to help with the process of lying to yourself. Eventually you start to hate your body and realize its holding you back. Then you get scared and motivated.
I am past that. I am now happy and motivated. I read inspiring stuff all the time to help encourage me, I hang out with fit people (if possible) and think about what life would be like if I was healthy again.
When I joined the Navy I weighed a hundred and five pounds. When I left boot camp I wieghed 110. The first few years I got bigger and stronger (Deck Department) and it was kinda nice. When I left the ship I didnt work hard anymore, and exercise didnt help. I left the Navy at around 190, and 3 years after getting out I hit 215. That was the day I said "NO MORE".

Lost 8 pounds since Christmas. Intend to lose 50 pounds this year. I like being here. Being fat and motivated is a lot better than slowly gaining weight and not caring. I have something to look forward to and thats enough.

Take care,

Shorty

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

my gf told me that she was fat before I met her. she is 5'5" and usually around 110#, but during her HS days, she ballooned up to 130#.
i didn't believe her until she showed me a picture, and i'll admit i wouldn't have looked twice at her if i had met her when she was in that state.

i asked her how it happened. how did she let herself go?
did she not own any mirrors? did she not notice her clothes were getting tight?

she said she really couldn't tell when looking at a reflection in the mirror, and clothing she just kept buying looser fitting clothing like sweats.

so my understanding is that if it happens gradually, you're less likely to notice how much of a lard you're becoming.
and i believe this varies per individually because if i see folds forming in my mid section, i know it's time to eat less and hit the gym harder.

so larger peeps on ATOT, share your experiences.

Wow, she ballooned up a whole 20 lbs? Honestly, that's relatively small in weight increases. I was unemployed, depressed and pretty much hated my life. I went from 200 to 295 in a year. I saw myself for the obese bastard I was and vowed to change my diet and lose the weight. It took a while but I dropped down to 220, I'd love to lose the last 20, but it's a royal pita, short of starving myself.
I'm over 40, and my metabolism is so damn slow.
Anyway, usually depression in collusion with using food as a substitute for friends/family/self abuse, etc is the cause for non-genetic obesity.
Some people are pre-disposed to weight gain through genetics or thyroid issues (or other legitimate medical reasons)
So the next time you see someone who's grossly overweight +50lbs the 'norm' don't judge them you have no idea why they are overweight (unless it's family and you see them feasting on twinkies and jolt cola for breakfast lunch and dinner)

 

[Gooberlx2]

she is 5'5" and usually around 110#, but during her HS days, she ballooned up to 130#.

Ballooned? 5'5" and 130lbs is like a size 6-7. Give me a fuckin' break.

...or she lied and was larger than 130lbs.

 

[silverpig]

I've never been fat, but I did gain a few extra pounds a couple of times. The first time I blame it on Oreos. They're good and they served as my staple snack for a while. The second time I was mostly just lazy and liked to eat.

I got up to 208 (I'm 6'3") at my max and then I decided to get in shape by running more. I had a little technique that worked well where I'd come home after work/school and when I started to get hungry for dinner, I'd drink a couple glasses of water and then go for a good workout. When I got home I only felt like eating salad.

I got down to about 185 that way, but now I'm back up to 192 or so. Not fat, just carrying a little more than I'd like to.

 

[MetalMat]

I think that beer is my biggest problem. I go to the gym about 3 times a week and do cardio, and the best i can do is stay in my mediocre shape. If i cut beer out though I would definitely start to shape up and look real good. but that's really tough to do.

I cut beer out of my diet for the time being, hell I drink maybe 20% of what I used to. At the clubs or bars I will stick to scotch or whiskey & water. Of course everyone makes mistakes, especially when ur drunk.

 

[Dirigible]

Job got more demanding and time consuming. Had two kids in quick succession - the older one is still only two. Am getting old, harder to stay in shape.

Went from having lots of time to train for and compete in mtn bike races to having zero free time and getting far too little sleep. Calories in are lower but didnt drop fast enough. Am stressed out and tired and don't have the energy to pay attention enough to diet.

Result? I gained more than 30 pounds. Seem to have stabilized at this weight though.

Lately the demands of the little ones have gotten a bit easier and I have just started to be able to put them on the bike and go for a little spin. Will I lose weight again? I dunno. As long as I don't get morbidly obese, losing weight is not at the top of my list of concerns.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Well you said this to your GF:

Pretty harsh for her just gaining 20 lbs. Surprised she didn't dump you 😛 - I guess she gains 20 lbs and all of a sudden you're dating Kristie Alley

read my post. i didn't say i was going to dump her. i said she would not have caught my eye at that size.
lets not kid ourselves, who goes around hunting for fat chicks as potential gf's?

as for now, she could gain 50# now and i wouldnt' dump her.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Gradually over time because of lack of exercise and sitting behind a desk for a few decades 🙁

I was a svelt 170-175lbs with a 30in waist when I graduated highschool, 30+ years latter I fluctuate between 195-205lbs with a 36-38in waist 🙁

 

[surfsatwerk]

I blame the decline in smoking.

 

[Matthiasa]

130 pounds at 5'5 is not exactly fat... Which means either your.. umm blind... or she lied about her weight.

 

[skace]

It usually happens VERY gradually. A lot more so than you are thinking.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

good for you.
i think often times, after finding a mate and getting comfortable, we become complacent and let ourselves go.
breaking up, esp. if dumped, is a great motivator to kick yourself back into shape.
i was in a similar position, except i didn't get fat. i just lost all muscle and definition.

That's the unfortunate irony of being in a comfortable relationship. People let themselves go, to the detrimant of their sex appeal. After the couple breaks up, he/she loses all the weight to attract a new partner.

People ask me why I bother going to the gym or dessing nice. Who am I trying to impress? My current girlfriend, obviously. It's important to me to stay the person that attracted her in the first place. If only she afforded me the same courtesy...

 

[skace]

Lost 8 pounds since Christmas. Intend to lose 50 pounds this year. I like being here. Being fat and motivated is a lot better than slowly gaining weight and not caring. I have something to look forward to and thats enough.

Wise words 🙂 Your current weight matters little when you've got the motivation to change. Knowing something better is on the horizon is a great feeling.

 

[bigrash]

Ballooned? 5'5" and 130lbs is like a size 6-7. Give me a fuckin' break.

...or she lied and was larger than 130lbs.

the op has a habit of doing this: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2053771&highlight=

 

[nageov3t]

5'5', 130 lbs is not even overweight, much less "fat."

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Some people are pre-disposed to weight gain through genetics or thyroid issues (or other legitimate medical reasons)

.00001% of the population has weight related thyroid issues and all of a sudden everyone is quoting this as if it were the #1 reason.

i hate this cop out excuse.
for 99.9% of people, you're eating too much and exercising too little. it's that simple.

 

[Kanalua]

marriage.

 

[edro]

Lifestyle changes and your mood changes.

Most people who lose significant weight gain it back.
Once they drop off the fitness wagon, and gain a few pounds, they get depressed.
When they get depressed, it accelerates the weight gain.

The key is to stay active and eat healthy, no matter how futile it seems.

I have a very low metabolism and will gain fat easily if I let me diet or exercise slack.

 

[nageov3t]

speaking for myself, I was always a big kid... I hit the 200 pound mark around 4th or 5th grade, 300 by the time I graduated high school, and 400+ by college graduation.

my parents were complete and total food nazis... the way my parents were about things like soda or candy was kinda like how other parents are about drugs and alcohol. I got in more trouble for the time my parents found a bag of chips in my backpack than the time I came home drunk in junior year. so spending my allowance on junk food was like my version of teenage rebellion.

after being told for my entire childhood and adolescence that no one would ever love a fat person, eventually my attitude was just fuck it and I stopped caring. after college, I got a job working overnights and my roommate and I did nothing but smoke pot and eat pizza/hot pockets.

when you're that big, it's kinda shocking how much food you require just to not be hungry. an average lunch for me would have been a 12" sub (with mayo, natch), 20 oz bottle of mountain dew, and a slice of cake or a candy bar. and good luck exercising when you get tired just walking down the stairs.

it took some not-insignificant events to kinda like wake me up from my fugue state... I don't know for sure what my highest weight was because I didn't have a scale that could measure that high, but I'm guessing it was in the ~450 range. currently down to 165.

 

[alkemyst]

You're not a dick at all. He is just mad that he is big boned.

 

[Kirby]

I'm guessing it was in the ~450 range. currently down to 165.

Damn!

Good job! :thumbsup:

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

speaking for myself, I was always a big kid... I hit the 200 pound mark around 4th or 5th grade, 300 by the time I graduated high school, and 400+ by college graduation.

my parents were complete and total food nazis... the way my parents were about things like soda or candy was kinda like how other parents are about drugs and alcohol. I got in more trouble for the time my parents found a bag of chips in my backpack than the time I came home drunk in junior year. so spending my allowance on junk food was like my version of teenage rebellion.

after being told for my entire childhood and adolescence that no one would ever love a fat person, eventually my attitude was just fuck it and I stopped caring. after college, I got a job working overnights and my roommate and I did nothing but smoke pot and eat pizza/hot pockets.

when you're that big, it's kinda shocking how much food you require just to not be hungry. an average lunch for me would have been a 12" sub (with mayo, natch), 20 oz bottle of mountain dew, and a slice of cake or a candy bar. and good luck exercising when you get tired just walking down the stairs.

it took some not-insignificant events to kinda like wake me up from my fugue state... I don't know for sure what my highest weight was because I didn't have a scale that could measure that high, but I'm guessing it was in the ~450 range. currently down to 165.

now that's a transformation. good job and good luck keeping it off.

 

[Auggie]

I'm right at 300lbs now.

I've been a big kid all of my life. I remember the first thing that any kid told me the first day of kindergarten was "You're fat!" right when I sat down. I remember the kids name and what he was wearing.

Anyhow, I've played 4 sports (soccer baseball wrestling football) and have been very active almost my whole life, a big and muscular guy.

I was really alright being a "big guy" through college, because I was still attractive enough to be the big guy that all the girls (well, a few at least) really liked. Basically, it never really impacted me - I never had a big gut, rolls around my midsection, etc. Even now, at 300 lbs, many people pet my weight around 230-250 because much of my mass is muscle... however the gut has started creeping up, I'm no longer exactly flat in the front. Got a bit of a bulge around my belt when I wear dress clothes which I resent seeing and the bitch tits are becoming more pronounced.

Anyhow, now I'm in grad school (biochem and cell biology PhD) and at 28 years old, spending 60hrs/week working in the lab makes it really hard to stay active, some years I do better than others as far as making sure I get out and stay healthy, active, and maintain my muscle mass.

There has been a large amount of research into obesity, both because it's a public health concern and because Americans are going to be interested in treatments to combat obesity just like they are willing to spend billions/year to maintain their erections. Leptin feedback loops and insulin signaling are both key to regulating appetite, and are very screwed up and different between overweight people and fit people. Also, the bacteria that live in your guts are widely different between overweight and normal people. Depression also drives people to eat, both as a comforting, positive action. Not that I'm onboard with the APA's agenda to describe half of the population as 'depressed' but I do know that for many people (especially with the stresses of university life) around me eat because they're pissed off/scared/depressed with having to work very hard without much prospects for good future employment.