I hate normal people

I used to snicker when I saw a fat person running or trying to workout. Now I think it is wonderful that they are trying. I think this comes with maturity.

I've discovered that when I see something annoying in someone else that it's probably something that I'm seeing that reminds me of some aspect of myself that I'm not satisfied with.

[rbuchman]

My main complaint is because there are so many people who absolutely don't care (enough to do anything about it just complain) about thier health that it makes it hard to be a fitness freak in a fat world. If more people where health conscious it would be better i.e. there'd be more healthy choices at resturants, more than one selection of diet beverage, and people wouldn't order pizza for group meals at meetings assuming "everyone likes greasy pizza with fatty sausage and thick white flour dough"

[vegan]

Originally Posted by pseudonym

As for having compassion for a person lacking willpower ... not a chance, willpower is totally self-made, anybody who says they cannot stop eating or cannot get 'psyched' about exercise enough to actually do it is pathetic and worthy of deepest revile. A person lacking support is less pathetic IMO (bordering on not pathetic at all ), but it is not that hard to go it alone, lots of us do.

There are a lot of reasons people don't change even when they know what they are doing is harming them. People eat what they are used to and they don't typically want to change. It's very much a cultural thing. Someone who was raised on high fat foods (fast food, dairy, etc) will get used to the fat and salt and it will seem 'normal'. The fat is easily stored as fat b/c it already is fat. People get addicted to fat. Meat and animal byproducts are typically high fat foods. Are people who like meat simply addicted to the fat? Try going without meat and other high fat foods and check how you feel. Do you get cravings for meat just like a smoker who gets a craving for cigarettes? People aren't getting obese and developing heart disease from eating whole foods such as zucchini, rice, beans or potatoes. Why would anyone think that they can consume a diet centered around animal foods and not develop a whole host of chronic diseases? When people are overweight, it becomes more difficult to exercise and that makes the problem even worse.

Set aside the compelling health and food safety reasons to avoid animal products for a minute and look at the economics. It takes 8 to 16 pounds of plant protein to produce one pound of meat, depending upon the type of meat. It takes 10 to 20 times as much fresh water. The simple fact is that meat and animal byproduct production is a very inefficient way to produce protein for human consumption. It would be much more expensive if all of the government subsidies for grains, dairy, water, etc. were eliminated. There simply aren't enough resources around the world to put everyone on an American-style meat-based diet. The health costs to society are enormous. So logically you could say this is reason enough to reduce or eliminate meat from a person's diet - but that isn't happening to any large extent, so there must be something else going on.

I disagree that obese and chronically ill people who can't find the willpower to change should be reviled. They need help, understanding, compassion and good examples to follow. We've developed a high fat, meat-eating culture so it's going to be a very hard habit to kick.

[candyass]

I don't let dumb people bother me. If they dont want to keep themselves healthy then thats their problem.

[Rats!]

Originally Posted by pierini

I used to snicker when I saw a fat person running or trying to workout. Now I think it is wonderful that they are trying. I think this comes with maturity.

I've discovered that when I see something annoying in someone else that it's probably something that I'm seeing that reminds me of some aspect of myself that I'm not satisfied with.

123

If I'm driving and see an overweight person jogging I smile because I know that used to be me. One year ago I would have scoffed. Also I'm very keen at pointing out others' flaws that I also share. For example I have some slight gyno, so when I look at a guy with it, it's very obvious. But my family and friends wouldn't see it.

[Rats!]

Originally Posted by rbuchman

My main complaint is because there are so many people who absolutely don't care (enough to do anything about it just complain) about thier health that it makes it hard to be a fitness freak in a fat world. If more people where health conscious it would be better i.e. there'd be more healthy choices at resturants, more than one selection of diet beverage, and people wouldn't order pizza for group meals at meetings assuming "everyone likes greasy pizza with fatty sausage and thick white flour dough"

Then why don't you do the group a favor and offer to pay for Subway or something healthier at the next meeting? I'm sure your co-workers and managers will appreciate it, and if they like it then maybe they'll start ordering healthier food for future meetings as well.

[Klinger]

Intolerance is a form of judgment, and I try to stick to judging myself and only me. There is no way of knowing what circumstances led this person or that person to the place they are at in their lives.

I would have scoffed at me four years ago. Just another sheep sucked into the 5-for-$5 deal at Arby's. My former life is a reminder to try to be more sensitive and less exasperated by the choices of others.

[maverick]

5 for 5, mmmmm.... much more appealing than 5x5

[Maxgain]

Originally Posted by vegan

People get addicted to fat. Meat and animal byproducts are typically high fat foods. Are people who like meat simply addicted to the fat? Try going without meat and other high fat foods and check how you feel. Do you get cravings for meat just like a smoker who gets a craving for cigarettes? People aren't getting obese and developing heart disease from eating whole foods such as zucchini, rice, beans or potatoes. Why would anyone think that they can consume a diet centered around animal foods and not develop a whole host of chronic diseases? When people are overweight, it becomes more difficult to exercise and that makes the
problem even worse.

Set aside the compelling health and food safety reasons to avoid animal products for a minute and look at the economics. It takes 8 to 16 pounds of plant protein to produce one pound of meat, depending upon the type of meat. It takes 10 to 20 times as much fresh water. The simple fact is that meat and animal byproduct production is a very inefficient way to produce protein for human consumption. It would be much more expensive if all of the government subsidies for grains, dairy, water, etc. were eliminated. There simply aren't enough resources around the world to put everyone on an American-style meat-based diet. The health costs to society are enormous. So logically you could say this is reason enough to reduce or eliminate meat from a person's diet - but that isn't happening to any large extent, so there must be something else going on.

I disagree that obese and chronically ill people who can't find the willpower to change should be reviled. They need help, understanding, compassion and good examples to follow. We've developed a high fat, meat-eating culture so it's going to be a very hard habit to kick.

I have got to disagree totally without going into a huge discussion humans are natural hunters and for optimum strength and development require class 1 proteins. Meat is not necessarily high in fat with a lot of red meat i eat being 97% lean and even still meat is not the reason at all for the obesity and ill health I would not even consider it a factor.

Also zucchinis my god I cant stand them

[fitricise]

my favorite reason why one of my friends doesnt lift: "when I stop lifting it will all turn to fat"

[Klinger]

Originally Posted by fitricise

my favorite reason why one of my friends doesnt lift: "when I stop lifting it will all turn to fat"

HA! That's what my wife says when she thinks I'm getting too big. "If you keep adding muscle, it will turn to fat when you quit lifting." Yeah, like I'd quit.

She's daft, but I love her anyway.

[Maxgain]

Yeah heard that today as well hilarious, I cant even be bothered to explain it sometimes

[tim_mcf]

Originally Posted by Maxgain

I have got to disagree totally without going into a huge discussion humans are natural hunters and for optimum strength and development require class 1 proteins. Meat is not necessarily high in fat with a lot of red meat i eat being 97% lean and even still meat is not the reason at all for the obesity and ill health I would not even consider it a factor.

Also zucchinis my god I cant stand them

I'm with you. Except I like zucchini.

Vegan...boy. I hesitate to even say this, because it sounds like I want to get in an argument, and I totally do not... but I don't think your crusade to convince people to adopt a vegetarian diet is going to work here. I call it a crusade because it seems that every time I read one of your posts you go on and on about how bad meat is, and how "the man" is trying to keep us all down by feeding us meat (I'm paraphrasing). I respect your moral decision to not be a party to the pain of innocent and enslaved animals...but to most of us here, it's just protein, and the moral argument isn't really relevant.

Why do you think you have canine teeth?

Anyway, that's really a tangent from the original discussion. Rbuchman, it absolutely is hard to be a fitness freak in a fat world, but we're doing it, aren't we? It seems to me that the best way to change the world is one person at a time...be willing to share what you know in a positive and supporting way, don't respond like, "Well, you fat slob, what's your problem, anyway?"

[rbuchman]

Interesting question given the chance would you rather

A. Live in a very fitness minded town
B. Live in a place where people could care less

A. living healthy would be easier (resturants would cater to you more, there'd be more bike trails and charity 5k's) but you'd be less exceptional and it'd take even more effort to be on the top of the food chain

B. Living healthy is difficult no peer support, fewer gyms/fitness facilities but a little effort makes you truly exceptional against back drop of fat slobs.

[vegan]

Originally Posted by tim_mcf

I'm with you. Except I like zucchini.

Vegan...boy. I hesitate to even say this, because it sounds like I want to get in an argument, and I totally do not... but I don't think your crusade to convince people to adopt a vegetarian diet is going to work here. I call it a crusade because it seems that every time I read one of your posts you go on and on about how bad meat is, and how "the man" is trying to keep us all down by feeding us meat (I'm paraphrasing). I respect your moral decision to not be a party to the pain of innocent and enslaved animals...but to most of us here, it's just protein, and the moral argument isn't really relevant.

Why do you think you have canine teeth?

Anyway, that's really a tangent from the original discussion. Rbuchman, it absolutely is hard to be a fitness freak in a fat world, but we're doing it, aren't we? It seems to me that the best way to change the world is one person at a time...be willing to share what you know in a positive and supporting way, don't respond like, "Well, you fat slob, what's your problem, anyway?"

No crusade intended. What I had suggested in my postings was compassion and understanding - hardly a crusade. People come here to gain a better understanding of diet, fitness and health. The opinions offered here range from the well informed to the very misinformed. So who and what to believe? I share information that I have gained from years of studying issues of diet and health and from the experience of changing my diet as a consequence. In any case, enjoy the zucchini!