"Weighty Issues"

Comment

Comment by Marissa on October 15, 2009 at 7:19am

Don- No offense was taken in your comments. I named it that due to the fact that most Americans will see that name and instantly "get it". I agree with what you are saying. I agree with the concept that we have that "thermometer" inside that needs a new thermostat. Something to regulate and control the issue. Out of respect for your feelings on the matter, I will rename the discussion. Keep sharing those links with us!

Comment by Lisa on October 14, 2009 at 11:00pm

Hi Don...

I'm reading what you're saying, and i don't find any offense in the biggest loser term. as someone who was 225 at one time...i SERIOUSLY needed to "lose big". :)

i hear what you're saying about taking a scientific approach, and you're correct, not everyone is meant to be "skinny". The goal in weight loss should always be to find our individual healthy weight and then maintain it.

i can't say i can agree on the obesity epidemic being misrepresented. i see it daily in children in my kid's schools and just about every day in my daily life. just in my town alone...they have built 5 fast food places all on the same street!! one of my best friend's wife is obese. it doesn't mean she isn't a dear woman...but the fact is she does NOTHING to make her body healthy. and in no way can she be healthy at that size. she eats fast food and junk food daily. she exercises none. and subsequently has lots of health issues.

when i see shows like the biggest loser, what i see in them is a sort of a hardcore boot camp like approach to losing weight because people like that sometimes NEED to be pushed aggressively in order to grab their attention as to the severity of their weight issue and get them to stop. and let's not forget that those on the show have signed up to it knowing very well what they are in store for. and in actuality, it's probably the biggest first step they've taken to lose the weight. how can we deny that it works when you see the results?

now it's i that digress. i just don't think we can easily dismiss that life choices play a major part in overweight people. and then because of the health complications that come with it, other biological issues surface.

where i see the problem being in our obesity epidemic is time, options and financial. we are a society that is always on the go. but our options for healthy, quick, on the go type of food is almost non-existent. and most things that ARE healthy are more expensive.

anyhow...i'll give your links a read and see what they are all about. i'm all for science stepping up to the plate and figuring out the formula for a healthy body. but until they do...the only thing that has ever worked for me is the basic caloric principle that you take in less than you exert.

thanks for the great discussion!!

Comment by Don Solomon on October 14, 2009 at 10:26pm

Dear Marissa and Group,
I had not realized that you had a support group named MT biggest Loser. I guess my comments came across as harsh. They where not ment to to offend members of this group just as an observation about the TV Game show.. However, I would encourage you to perhaps rename your group as I still feel that the name is very negative and what you are trying to do is noble. It would be a shame to be painted with the same 'Karmic Brush' (heh don't let your dogma get run over by my Karma :) )... I dygress,
If you get the time you may want to have a quick watch of a video interview with Dr Friedman that can be found at http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/media/friedman_bio-lg.mov
I am particularly interested in the idea of genetic control of weight. Further, He has takent the position that the Obesity epidemic is misrepresented. Indeed he says "There are alot of obese people and its an important public health problem. However, I think its been overstated in the trends (media) and more over if the perception is that there is a big increase in obesity it is easy to atribute this increase to lifestyle choices and not to biological differences (genetics) in people"
The Biological differences he is refering to is a powerful biological system which regulates weight in each individual. He goes on to say: "Therefore you have to understand the biological underpinnings of the system that regulates weight and how environmental factors might then modulate them". So in english: There is a thermostat that regulates a persons weight. We need to understand how theis thermostate works. We know that environmetal factors (Exercise, food intake, stress, type of food etc..) play a roll. But how much of a roll? Indeed, his position is that genetics play the major roll and that for instance, saying a person must be skinny is like telling a person with brown eyes that they should have blue eyes or a person with jet black hair that they should be blond (so change it without using dye.. Just will the hair to change colour). Genes regulate the thermostate and environmetal factors contribute to how the gene expresses itsself.. But how much????
On that note I'm gonna head to bed.. Night Folks
Don
ps I believe in creative spelling :)

Comment by Marissa on October 14, 2009 at 3:35pm

Welcome new members. Again, thank you for sharing with us.
Don- Yes, shows like the Biggest Loser are done incorrectly. It most definitely is not the correct way to lose weight. The heart of it is that these people have something "wrong" with them that they are trying to fix. A lot of times, there are underlying issues that need to be addressed. If they can actually do a show based on scientific results of weight gain and how to address it naturally and realistically, I know that there are a lot of us that would be all ears. So far, will power, tenacity, portion control, moderate exercise, everything in moderation is what has been the name of the game for this group. It's not an overnight thing and it takes commitment. The "MT Biggest Loser" challenge we created for this group is more of a support meeting to cheer each other on. There is no time constraint, there are no "trainer jocks" breathing down our necks, and unfortunately no monetary rewards. It's reward in itself. It's support from others in similar positions to become extended family, confidants, and personal "coaches" to aide us in a healthy lifestyle choice/journey.

Comment by Don Solomon on October 14, 2009 at 10:29am

Dear Group
I don't know about you, but I abhor shows like the biggest loser. Even the name is a negative jab at people of size. As a Therapist I watch the people on that show, driven to do physical acts that are well beyond their conditioning. Not only from a muscular stand point but from a fascial stand point as well.. You can actually see the fascia ripping. The fundamental principle that these 'so-called fitness professionals' are completely ignoring, when prescribing the exercises to theses unfortunate game show participants is the principle of progressive conditioning. Indeed, Progressive conditioning is absolutely central to the rehabilitation process. As far back in 1985, As Director of Yale's Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjabi established that in order for stabilization rehabilitation to occure 3 area subsystems needed to be addressed 1) Passive subsystem(shape of the joint, health of connective tissue ligaments etc..) 2) Active subsysytem (strenght of muscles, health of muscles etc..) 3) Control Subsystems (health and size nerves that connect to and from the sensory and muscular system plus the coordination with in thoses neural pathways for example: firing sequenses).. So why would you ask a 300 lbs person to do jumping jacks, run up a hill (or stairs) It defys all logic (I guess it looks good to have a trainer jock beat up on a fatty though).. This cycle of abuse just keeps repeating itsself! Its perpetuated by shows like the biggest looser... For once I would like to see a show based in science that seeks to undersand the behaviors behind weight gain.
There is mounting evidence now to suggest that exercise actually increases caloric intake (Time Aug. 17th 2009 The myth about exercise By John Cloud). Then there is the ground breaking work by Dr Jeffery Friedman at the Rockefeller University. He has done work on the molecular mechanisms that regulate food intake. What he and his team discovered was that there is a hormone released by fat cells that regulates our food intake, choises, physical activity etc... put anothert way there is a biologic thermostate that regulated out weight.. Read more at http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/friedman.html
or check out: Obesity it mab be the way we are wired at: http://www.hhmi.org/news/pdf/friedman5.pdf
Bye for now
Yours,
Don Solomon, RMT (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Comment by Marissa on October 14, 2009 at 8:40am

Great job Darcy! You didn't deny yourself and you didn't over do it! Congratulations on your self control!

Comment by Marissa on October 14, 2009 at 8:39am

Mike- I'm on it! If someone decides to try to sell us the newest cure all pill, I know just where that pill will go! ;)

Comment by Lisa on October 13, 2009 at 11:41pm

one thing that got me through my 2 year weight loss (70 lbs) was reminding myself that it's the bigger picture you need to remain focused on. if you have some cheese cake today (for example) it's ok...cause it's the big picture. you can't beat yourself over the head any time you slip because in the end that will be the cause of your downfall.

also, when i first started out, to help motivate myself i began keeping track on a calendar by doing the following:

on days i ate well (this meant no junk food) i put a diagonal slash across the day. on days where i exercised...even for 10 minutes, i put a diagonal slash the other way. in the beginning there were many days that had nothing. but over time more slashs appeared. and the more that appeared the more motivated i became. especially at the end of the month when i could see that for the most part, i did something healthy for myself.

Comment by Darcy Neibaur on October 13, 2009 at 8:56pm

Well I did have a piece of Blackberry Cheese Cake tonight for dessert. I figured since today was National Dessert Day that I would go all out just for fun. It was really good. I did share it with a friend, so I only ate half.

Comment by Mike Hinkle on October 13, 2009 at 4:24pm

If advertisers attack your groups, the group originator has the ability to click on that discussion in the top right corner. No one other than the originator and the author have this ability. If you wanted to go back and delete your comments in any discussion, you can.

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