Re: Overweight

I never associate overweight people with people who over-indulge - because god knows I over indulge & I dont consider myself overweight (although Im sure I am technically). I associate it with body types & possible medical conditions. My mom has a thyroid condition and her weight fluctuates like crazy.

Re: Overweight

No, I don't equate being overweight with being lazy. its the same as being underweight. i don't think all girls that are underweight or skinny have eating disorders.

Re: Overweight

I'm overweight and there are so many factors. 2 children in 2 years. My love of cooking and eating. Kidney troubles and lots of meds. I don't exercise as much as I should, and I have bad eating habits.

I used to be a size 6 or 8, and I know I can get there again, but I just have no motivation. Overall I am very healthy, except my kidney, and I need to get my act together and lose 20-30 lbs.

Re: Overweight

Re: Overweight

Yes, society associates weight with laziness. Like not going to the gym. Unfortunatelly that could not be more wrong.

Yes, it's calorie vs. calorie out. Weight gain is NOT just about laziness or eating too much.

But there are so many factors. I have a very overweight co-worker who actually does not eat enough. She is terrified everytime we go to a social setting or lunch meeting that people would say she is fat because she eats too much. I told her metabolism was totally shut down. She is used to be a very skinny tall girl. Then she had 2 children then a hysterectomy. She could never lose the weight. Her DH LOOOOOVES her. She always dress very well, etc..

I used to be skinny. But I had to watch everything I ate. Cooked and counted calories/planned everything that went into my mouth and did TONS of cardio and lifting weight. That was a huge commitment. That was my priority at the time. I was young, single and not a care in the World. Then I started working 40+ hours, went back to school while working FT. Got married and now with a baby there is no way I can spend time at the gym. I am already running like a mad woman, totally sleep deprived. And yes, we do eat take out (not fast food though). I just cannot keep stressing about every little "details". I try to be careful. I avoid the vending machine at work. I eat cereals for snacks at work.

Re: Overweight

I'm overweight and I *don't* love food
and I'm also not at all lazy.

I like to cook, but I don't eat a lot. I often get comments about how little I eat (i guess compared to how much I LOOK like I eat). I think I just have a slow metabolism and I don't *need* a lot of food, but I'm in a habit of eating what may be a normal amount of food for most people, but is too much for me. I've gained 70lbs since getting into a car accident and injuring my back. Prior to that I was actually already considered overweight, but I was extremely active.

I don't want to blame my parents because it's my responsibility to monitor what I eat now but I was very very tiny skinny child and while the doctor said it was ok my parents got upset because I didn't eat a lot, so they would bribe me to eat by giving me junk food. I'm not a huge junk food eater today, but it did set me up for a lot of bad eating habits. I think the reasona lot of people have trouble losing weight is environment. My mom knows I'm trying to watch what I eat, but she is always pushing me and trying to get me to eat more food. My family is full of big eaters and I'm not one, but when you're sitting at a table for hours with family, it's easy to just pick on food or eat things you shouldn't.

I don't think it has to be either way. I don't think being overweight means you're lazy, and I don't even think it means you're addicted to food, there can be a lot of factors.

Re: Overweight

For me personally, gaining weight is about my being lazy, but not physically lazy. It takes more effort to plan out meals & to make a healthy choices. I'm definitely a physically lazy person, but if I want to maintain my current weight, every day I need to make an effort to mentally figure out meals ahead of time.

Actually an overweight person exerts themselves more than a thin person by virtue of the weight they carry around all day. Their bodies are also more efficient than a naturally thin person. It uses less energy & stores the excess food as fat for later use.

Re: Overweight

The only problem I have with people who are overweight (and this goes for thin people too) is if they complain about it constantly or make their entire lives about the fact that they are overweight or unhappy with how they look. Whether it is 5 pounds or 150 pounds- just love who you are no matter what. If you are, for some reason, unhappy- then change what you are doing and work towards a goal. If you are satisfied- work it!

I know so many people who are very sensitive about being overweight, compain about it constantly yet never do anything to change it and continue to eat to an extreme... and I'm not talking about an "indulgence" here and there- I mean, really going overboard and then crying when they are in the plus sized section. Then, there are women who were just BORN larger- they will never be that size "six" that they idolize so much... but does that mean there's something "wrong" with them? Maybe Vogue mag says so but in reality- if you are a size 10, 12, 14... whatever you CAN still be attractive- it is all in your attitude and how YOU feel about yourself.

I don't think it has anything to do with laziness- I know people who are stick thin and lazy- I just wish everyone would be content being who they are-- you don't have to think you are the best person in the world b/c I'm sure everyone has SOME insecurities no matter what- but if everyone could just be somewhat content and stop putting SO much emphasis on weight/looks then overall, I think a lot of people would be much happier.

That being said- I have a friend who is plus-sized and I think she is more attractive then most size four people I know. That's right, papaya!

Message edited 10/30/2007 2:32:13 PM.

Re: Overweight

I am lazy, I love food, and I go to the gym.

If I don't go to the gym, my laziness and love of food would make me gain weight.

I know beautiful people who are overweight, and make up for it with their personality and upkeep (makeup, hair, clothes etc).

Re: Overweight

In no way do i think overweight people are "lazy". Honestly, for me taking off the last few pounds from pregnancy has been hard but it's hardly from the fact I am "lazy" or "letting myself go". It's more I don't have time to make healthy meals after working all day and feeding my children and I don't have an hour a day to put aside on weekdays to get out an go for a run since I get maybe an hour or two to do stuff for me and exercise isn't always at the top of my list.

I actually was thinner when i had a lot of time on my hand to focus on cooking healthy and getting out for a run 3-4 times a week. Just can't do that right now.

That being said I did work for someone a few years back that had a food addicition. I have never seen someone eat food the way he did. He would go out and buy the staff a box of chocolate fudge and then walk out about 15 times a day and eat the entire box. I never saw someone eat like he did.....lunch was like a major production and he was very overweight so while I don't think he was lazy I did think he had a major issue.

I think you can't group overweight/underweight people into an one catagory. There are a hundred different reasons why one can be either/or. I try not to judge anyone.

Re: Overweight

Posted by KittyTheStray

Posted by rojerono
but I think that society doesn't see it the same way. The words "Fat" and "Lazy" seem to go hand in hand. ANd 'Slim' and 'Beautiful' also seem to be a matched set. Nice to know that not everyone here feels that way.

I totally hear what you're saying - I think it's a stereotype and a prejudiced judgment just like every other stereotype

Re: Overweight

Posted by DaniRella

The only problem I have with people who are overweight (and this goes for thin people too) is if they complain about it constantly or make their entire lives about the fact that they are overweight or unhappy with how they look. Whether it is 5 pounds or 150 pounds- just love who you are no matter what. If you are, for some reason, unhappy- then change what you are doing and work towards a goal. If you are satisfied- work it!

I know so many people who are very sensitive about being overweight, compain about it constantly yet never do anything to change it and continue to eat to an extreme... and I'm not talking about an "indulgence" here and there- I mean, really going overboard and then crying when they are in the plus sized section. Then, there are women who were just BORN larger- they will never be that size "six" that they idolize so much... but does that mean there's something "wrong" with them? Maybe Vogue mag says so but in reality- if you are a size 10, 12, 14... whatever you CAN still be attractive- it is all in your attitude and how YOU feel about yourself.

I don't think it has anything to do with laziness- I know people who are stick thin and lazy- I just wish everyone would be content being who they are-- you don't have to think you are the best person in the world b/c I'm sure everyone has SOME insecurities no matter what- but if everyone could just be somewhat content and stop putting SO much emphasis on weight/looks then overall, I think a lot of people would be much happier.

That being said- I have a friend who is plus-sized and I think she is more attractive then most size four people I know. That's right, papaya!

Message edited 10/30/2007 3:15:45 PM.

Re: Overweight

no, it doesn't mean that for every body.

I would mean that for ME, b/c I love food as well (as you know) and I KNOW that in order to keep myself at a weight that I am healthy and fit, I have to get out there and exercise. When I don't, I gain (like I have recently and am not too happy about...so I am kicking my own arse again and getting back to working out)

I think a lot of the responses on that thread were taken personally, but they were not "public" opinions...they were personal to the specific poster and their situation.

I know some overweight women that I think are beautlful. I know some skinny/slim women that I do not find attractive.

Re: Overweight

Posted by DaniRella

That's right, papaya!

Re: Overweight

For ME, I tend to gain weight because I am lazy (don't feel like exercising) and lack self control (I like sweets WAY too much). I know those are the two things I need to change when I want to lose a few pounds.

However, not everyone gains weight for the same reasons, so I definitely don't generalize that all overweight people are lazy and lack self control. I know a whole lot of people who have thyroid problems, or injuries that prevent them from being active, or lead such busy lifestyles that they can't fit in healthy cooking, or are major foodies, etc etc. In fact, I even know some people who appear heavy, but are very into fitness and exercise.

To me, a person's size is part of who they are, but I don't really think about why they are that size on a regular basis. In my mind, being overweight doesn't automatically come along with a negative connotation at all.

Re: Overweight

Re: Overweight

I'm overweight and lazy, but also I love my food and to be honest, often I don't know when to stop eating.

But I do love food.

Re: Overweight

Re: Overweight

Re: Overweight

I don't think overweight means you are lazy.
Although I am not overweight by the BMI standards, I have gained 20lbs and am not comfortable with it.
I am one of those people that can't just sit still.
However, I love to eat and that is why I have gained weight.

Re: Overweight

I'm overweight by about 30 pounds, and I work out 6 days a week, work 65+ hours a week, ride my horses 3-4 days a week, and still make time for cooking, cleaning, etc. I'm far from lazy. I have made poor food choices, and I'm working on those. I'm making changes that are working.

But by no means is being fat a sign that you're lazy. It could mean you have an unhealthy relationship with food (like an addiction) that must be tended to, it could mean you have a medical condition, and heck, it COULD mean you're letting yourself go -- but it doesn't necessarily mean you're definitely lazy and letting yourself go.

I know plenty of lazy people of ALL shapes and sizes.

And I have no idea why fat people are automatically ugly either.

Message edited 10/30/2007 4:32:38 PM.