Overweight?

Question

I would like to start out by saying--I am not trying to be rude or give the impression that I dislike overweight people. My whole family is and I really could care less what a person looks like. I just was wondering:

Are you overweight?

What do you believe is the cause?

Did you become overweight due to having your child?

Do you feel you are looked down upon for being that way?

If you aren't overweight, do you look down upon people who are?

--AND--

What is your best advice to not gain the weight in the first place?

Again this is not meant to offend anyone. If it does offend you please just skip the question--you do not have to answer! Thank you in advanced for your responses!

I guess you could call me young--and I've had my son. I am not overweight but I gained about five pounds since I gave birth.

I am nineteen--I had my son at eighteen. Why?

Answer 1

Interesting question - and nicely put.

I am overweight. I am not sure what the cause is, although I do believe that genetics has a bearing on it. I know on both sides of my family women have a major weight problem. All I can say is, I am really glad I'm not as heavy as many of them are/were. I have dieted off and on, some with success. I reached a point where I was comfortable with it, because I had learned how to deal with a size difference. I turned my fat into muscle, and without turning into something unnatural, kept up with a program that kept me active, and strong. When I stopped putting a lot of effort into it, I gained weight again, and reached nearly 270 lbs. I realized I couldn't do that to myself, and not long after meeting my husband, and then taking him and his two boys on, I began loosing weight. I managed to loose a little over 60 lbs, and then I got pregnant, and ended up gaining it all back.
Because I was no longer allowed to lift anything, I was basicaly babied, I lost my strength, my muscle tone, a lot of my energy lol. I am pregnant with my 2nd and have found an entirely new set of problems, in which I started off at 278 lbs, and then lost 14, and in the last couple months have gained 9 back. One more month to go and perhaps I will be able to gain back only what I lost, and nothing extra.
In looking back, I know I was looked down on for being overweight, it was a constant issue in school. Looking back at my pictures however, I don't understand any of it. I did not look overweight at all. I looked the same as most of the other kids, except a bit of a pudgy belly on me. My mother had me on diets from a very young age, likely because of that.
When my husband and I took custody of his two boys, there was a very serious weight problem. Their mother overfed them to the point that our oldest, then 5 years old, weighed 140 lbs. The doctors were scared that he was going to have a heartattack at any time, he couldn't exercise. He couldn't breath, his asthma was very active. His brother, a year younger, was steadily showing a weight increase although not as dramatic. We started working on them both right away. Cut out all sugars, all heavy greasy foods. Smaller portions, regular meals. No snacking, no juice. Water or milk only. And milk only became allowed at bedtime. My husband began a very steady exercise program of mainly toe-touchers, squats, sit ups, and a couple others. 6 months later, the doctors had released them both from monthly visits. They were both in the clear. We have lightened up, as they are growing boys, but the younger also was diagnosed with ADHD. He is very skinny, and has issues with food. The older, still very much loves food and occasionaly sneaks it.
As my husband is a junk food addict..and is amazingly skinny, I can not find any kind of particular pattern to the issue.
Possibly a metabolism issue that is begun at an early age. Certain foods will slow down your metabolism and cause your body to store fats instead of expel.
Something else I have noticed is that how people view you, really can depend on where you live- and your age.
I grew up in California, where people are overly health conscience, and yes, they are terrible when it comes to seeing people overweight. The comments are terrible sometimes.
Where I live now, it's very very different. It's not a terrible thing to not be skinny. Here people are always trying to pack more on lol. My husband finds me attractive, which is something I still have problems comprehending.
I still make the effort to not overeat, and while I very much enjoy food, I keep myself from eating things I know are very fattening, especially in large amounts. I am aware of the dangers of allowing myself to eat any way I want, and I have to experience the physical breakdown of different parts of my body because of my weight. I just know that unlike some, I have the ability to fix the problem. I know what I am capable of.
I do look down on people who refuse to care for themselves, because they simply don't understand how much it shortens their life. I don't understand living with the pain it causes, or the frustration. Clothing is a horrible thing to have to look for. Shoes even are difficult sometimes.
There are people around here, who think its ok to have their fat hanging out of their shirts, or who think that tight shirts - still look good. I think my biggest issue is that I know it is possible to dress yourself nicely, modestly, and yes even in a 'sexy' way, when you are overweight, without showing off your um..assets lol.
There are some people who I do understand have an actual problem. And I think people don't entirely think about that issue. Your thyroid can actually cause an obesity problem, and unless you get help, you are going to have a horrible time of it.
My only advice to people is get educated, make some effort, and if you need it, get help. I think that would be an awfull way to loose your life, and even more so if it can be prevented.

Answer 2

I am not overweight but I have hit some heavy spots in my life, I used to have an extraordinarily awful diet, I could count the foods I would eat on my fingers. I wasn't eating any form of fruit or vegetable and would eat mostly Pasta and Cheese and A LOT of sugar. When I was 7 was the time I was at my worst I was around 68 pounds and VERY VERY short. I was bullied a lot, for my weight and more. I have come a long way from there, I am currently an average- low weight I could be a little taller but I am average weight otherwise. I eat MUCH healthier thanks to the various people in my life who helped me extend my diet. I in no way look down to those who are overweight or obese, I have an Obese aunt and many eating disorders in my family, everyone is beautiful just the way they are Skinny Obese or otherwise. The best way to avoid gaining weight is to avoid Soda and Candy, eat healthy,workout and love yourself no matter what the number on your scale reads.

Answer 3

I am overweight for my age, body type and hieght.
I think stress is one of the causes, while left over pregnancy fat is the other.
With my 1st child after her birth I went right back to the 125 lbs that I was before her birth. However with Summer I went up to 175 lbs and right now I am at 160 lbs give or take a few pounds as I havent weighed myself in a while.
I wear a size 8 in jeans, a medium in a shirt, sometimes a large.
My arms and hands ar small and slim, my boobs are small, and then from there down everything seems to just plump right out!!!

I guess it depends on the person and their ability to lose and maintain a healthy weight, so sometimes I do and sometimes I dont.
Excersiexe while pregnant, continue after the birth of your child. Dont drink soda or surgary drinks. Do drink plenty of water. I have been buying bottled water for the last month and although its a chance, it makes all of us feel better.
Stay active, even if it means just walking a an hour a day.

Answer 4

I think I am overweight I had my son a year and a half ago I gained 45 pounds with him and lost it all but I still feel fat and overweight. I believe the cause is I love to cook and eat. I don't feel I am looked down upon because of my weight most guys tell me I am not fat just that I have nice curves. I feel bad for people that are extremely overweight. Food is like Alcohol to certain people. You say you are young how old are you?

Answer 5

I am not currently overweight but pregnant.

I was overweight but lost 60 pounds about 2 yrs ago.

I just failed to lose the weight I gained with my first pregnancy due to not eating right.

I dont feel as I was looked down upon but personally I feel much better about myself since losing the weight.

I do not look down on people who are overweight because I know how easy it is to gain and how hard it is to lose.

Best advice not to gain weight is eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and stay away from processed foods.

Answer 6

Yes, I'm over weight. Always had a weight problem, but was always able to lose weight. That was until I had children. The cause of my weight problem has been depression. Easing my pain and worry with food. Not a good idea I know. I don't feel like anyone looks down on me, but also I don't let my weight hold me back from living life. Best advice for not gaining the weight...realize five pounds can turn into fifty pounds real quick. Don't minimize the situation by saying it's only five pounds. It adds up real quick.

Answer 7

I was overweight a few years ago. I lost over 60 pounds. I do not "look down" on people who are overweight. It is their body they can do whatever they want. I do look down on people who feed their kids a totally unhealthy diet. I see kids all the time that are 20+ pounds overweight eating junk food. That kind of food is OK every once in a while, but not as their sole diet. My advice is to eat less and move more! Cut out drinks with sugar and drink more water. Watch what you eat and the amount you eat,

Answer 8

I weighed 125 before I got pregnant a couple of years ago. When I found out I was going to have a baby, I accepted a desk job (I worked in a fast paced restaurant before then). I gained about forty lbs during my pregnancy and have still not been able to lose it. I blame my job, as I sit all day and by the time I get home and cook dinner, give my son a bath, do any laundry that needs to be done, clean, do dishes, etc., there is no time to work out. I used to get up before sunrise to go to the gym, but my b/f got a job earlier this year that requires him to be out of town all week, so I can no longer do this. I know that if I really, really wanted to lose the weight, I could. The key is finding the time and the energy to change the way you live. One day....!

Answer 9

I'll answer your question....yes i am overweight but i dont look as overweight than i really am...I was in a very bad abusive relationship for about a year before i met my husband so I ate to comfort myself....when i got pregnant i actually lost 23 lbs during and about 10 after..but still medically considered overweight...I KNOW alot of people talk about me being fat..but i dont care..the people who make fun of me just have a low self esteem about theirselves!...The best thing to do in not gaining weight is to eat 4-5 SMALL meals a day to reagin your metabolism...get rid of sugars and fried food..also no sodas, try drinking Crystal Light..its good and only 5 calories for 8oz glass

Answer 10

Yes, I weigh approximately twice what I should. I never had a child. Of course I am looked down upon for being fat; I look down on myself for it. I feel the main cause has been eating too much for exercising too little, along with a genetic makeup that was developed out of piling on the fat to protect against the cold winters, and eating habits developed out of a hard-working farmer society (Pennsylvania Dutch) that turned much of what they ate into hard muscle, and stored the rest as fat against the cold winters.

Remember, too, that over-eating many years ago will still show on my body, because now I am old enough that getting the exercise I need is twice as hard. Just walking is about all the exercise I get.

My best advice for young people is to be sensitive to your body's needs, and don't assume they are the same as everyone else's. For example, women really need far less to eat than men, unless they are pregnant or lactating. Mother Nature did it that way on purpose, to promote child bearing and child rearing.

Also, people who roamed the desert with their meals on the hoof beside them going "baaa" did not store fat on their bodies because they would be too hot. People who hunted in frozen forests in the winter needed that kind of fat layer to protect them from the cold of winter. Those very different types are in our ancestry, and make for different types of bodies. Aristocrats did not have to turn food into muscle and labor, so they developed lean as whippets, and much of the food they ate went into brain power to maintain their aristocratic hold over the peasants, who ate mostly to work, and put most of their food went into muscle.

Anyway, young ones, use me as an example of what NOT to do, and be active and energetic, and eat no more than is good for you of high quality protein and fiber.

Answer 11

I'm considered over weight but i work out everyday my doctor says its not fat its muscle but still it weighs more then fat

the cause of me being over weight is i was born without a tyroid which produces a hormone that makes your grow and keeps your metabolism up

i gained lots of weight from having children but i don't think i kept it on that long

i could care less what people think about the way i look i feel if you don't want to look at me then don't

my best advice not to gain weight is water excises eat lots of small meals throughout the day watch your carb intake and your fat intake