The Greatest Fear In The World

[Dreamliner]

No, it's not the fear of having to tackle Tebow in the open field. It's not even the fear that you'll turn on the TV and find Will and Grace reruns on three separate channels. It's the fear of rebound weight gain after losing weight.

On first blush, the fear would appear to be well-founded. UCLA researches examined 31 separate studies and found that fully 80% of dieters had gained back MORE than what they'd lost withing five years. So, if rebound is inevitable, why even bother losing weight ?

Well, that's what some people are actually suggesting. A fairly well-known trainer I know is arguing that it would be a "better world" if we'd just stop haranguing obese people to lose their flab. He wants to see the rest of us adopt the recommendation of losing 10-15 pounds of weight ... and holding for six months, so as to stave off the probability of rebound weight gain.

After all, it has been shown that very modest weight loss tends to hold better than pronounced weight loss. By the same token I would argue that half-assed accomplishments are bound to be far more prevalent than whole-hearted accomplishments.

But, he's right in pointing out that significant health benefits can be had simply by losing a few pounds. That said, I don't have fat people beating down my door to pay me for taking 5-7% off their bodyweight. Rather, they don't want to be fat anymore. Personally, I think it would be a "better world" if lard-asses weren't taking up all our sitting space.

And it's not like the gurus are helping much. Used to be there were two categories of books in the diet section: (1) "Go on this diet to look like Lee Ann Rimes in a bikini" and (2) "Go on this diet, RIGHT NOW, or you're going to die."

But now there is a new kid on the block. The new manic preoccupation is with "satiety." In other words, there is a New Commandment: "Thou shalt not go hungry."

I may be off, but in my mind it is a HUGE mistake to apologize for hunger pangs. People who lose weight are GOING to experience hunger. As far as I'm concerned, you're just setting people up for disaster when you convey there is something abnormal or untoward about experiencing hunger pangs as they struggle to swim upstream in a society that so fears eating less and constantly acosts them to eat.

Your thoughts ?

[Emmitto]

I recently lost around 15 pounds with really modest methods. To break it down science-like, I eat less (fewer caliries.) And I'm hungry from time to time. And I find that it's really no big deal. There's a big difference between starving and being hungry. I actually like being hungry (within reason.) I imagine I can feel the fat being forced into action. My changes are easy and sustainable, I won't be going back. I'm lighter now than I have been in 20 years. It appears that I've reached "the bottom" with these changes and am contemplating additional steps.

I still eat pretty much whatever I want for breakfast. Then I have a really light lunch, maybe nothing at all. For dinner I eat vegetables and fruit for sure, with a pork chop or chicken breast or something comparable. No sodas, plenty of water or 0 calorie Sobe, no fast food. If I just HAVE to snack (I usually don't) some fruits do it. On weekends I'll still eat out and don't really pay any attention to it other than slightly smaller portions. I find I actually eat less naturally anyway, I simply don't want as much as I used to.

I consider those easy changes that just about anyone should be able to make with minimal pain. I lost about 8% of my body weight that way.

[Dreamliner]

Good going! I'm with you on the difference between hungry and starving. We're 'starving' because it's 1pm and we haven't had lunch yet. Little Muhammed is starving because his mom and dad have been killed in the civil war and he hasn't had anything to eat for a month.

[oI2ange]

I think the reason why we see the 'fear of rebound weight' is due to the disgusting popularization of super diet/lose weight fast systems. People see pills/workouts/videos/food that will 'make them lose 15 pounds within 1 month!'. But that weight off is not legit, and it's not really tackling the real problem- diet and exercise.

My mom told me she was thinking about taking this pill that could guarantee 10+ pounds off in a short amount of time. I told her she just needs to up her workout intensity and fix her diet a bit (she already works out better than 95% of the U.S. population).

People want the results but they don't want to work for it. It's a total lifestyle change...if you don't want to get the weight back, then continue your workout/good diet habits/etc.

[Dreamliner]

People do want the Big Red Easy Button. But another reason for the rebound fear is because they've lost weight and they've gained it back. So, naturally they expect it to happen again. Or they simply conclude that it's not in the cards for them.

What infuriates me is that there are professionals in my field who would agree with them.

[LeafUF]

My mom yoyo dieted for years trying one fad after another and they all worked but once she reached her goal she stopped eating that way and ultimately put the weight back on. And sometimes even more. Not this time though, because this time she didn't try any fads and she didn't really give anything up to the point where she got to go "off the diet" once she reached her goals.

In less than a year she went from 181 to 135 and from a size 12 to size 8. All by watching what her portions, no exercise whatsoever. I am still trying to get her to at least take walks in the evening and I am hoping that she will eventually start doing that.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

My mom yoyo dieted for years trying one fad after another and they all worked but once she reached her goal she stopped eating that way and ultimately put the weight back on. And sometimes even more. Not this time though, because this time she didn't try any fads and she didn't really give anything up to the point where she got to go "off the diet" once she reached her goals.

In less than a year she went from 181 to 135 and from a size 12 to size 8. All by watching what her portions, no exercise whatsoever. I am still trying to get her to at least take walks in the evening and I am hoping that she will eventually start doing that.

Good for Mom! And much to her credit she didn't make the mistake of associating exercise with weight loss. Hopefully she'll do it for its documented health benefits and because it may actually be more important for maintenance than weight loss.

[ATL_Gator]

I read once that 'hunger is the body starting to eat itself'...



Seriously.

I have lost 55-60 in my lifetime just watching portion sizes / controlling calories. I have maintained my final weight (which isn't necessarily my goal look, but still) for years, by mostly continuing the changes I have made.

My wife has lost 22+ lb so far this year doing the same. She is planning on doing the same thing I have done, continue the changes she has made to drop the weight to begin with. Much like Leaf's mom, my wife hasn't done any extra/dedicated exercise yet.

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for what it's worth, not that it's related to this, other than the fear bit.. One of the greatest fears is public speaking.. greater than death. Which, if you think about it, says that people would rather be IN a coffin rather than above/beside it delivering a eulogy (sp?). LOL.

[LeafUF]

My little sister hates public speaking, has straight up panic attacks. Was the maid of honor at our other sisters wedding and was nearly incapable of giving a speech. She sucked it up though, vodka helps.

[Dreamliner]

I do speak publicly from time to time and certainly get butterflies like everyone else. Two things that always help are overpreparation and - this is REALLY important - engaging the audience. Make it interactive.

In a couple of weeks I'll be conducting another fitness seminar. I have 1:15 allotted. I plan to inform the audience that I am just the warmup act and THEY are the principal speaker. I further plan to inform them that I get to speak the first 15 and they HAVE to speak for an hour.

[holloffamer]

I also agree with the difference that you guys pointed out. Nice!

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Good going! I'm with you on the difference between hungry and starving. We're 'starving' because it's 1pm and we haven't had lunch yet. Little Muhammed is starving because his mom and dad have been killed in the civil war and he hasn't had anything to eat for a month.

[Emmitto]

Check out HBO's "Weight of the Nation." It's four parts but worth it.

Spoiler alert!!!

If you don't have the time (or HBO), the really short gyst is: eat fewer calories. Use exercise for maintenance. Without the calorie reduction, losing weight through exercise alone is a beast. Americans underestimate their calorie intake and overestimate how many calories they burn and even how many calories are burned during exercise in general. IOW, very similar to Dream's stances.

There's also a lot of info on legislation, healthcare costs, food lobbyists, etc. For instance, 50% of all US farmland is either corn or soy because subsidies make them the money makers. Less than 3% is fruits/vegetables, they aren't subsidized and thus artificially lower cost/higher profit like corn (sugar) and soy beans.

Anyway, check it out if you can. I found it helpful to refocus me on my dietary aspirations.

[LeafUF]

Emmitto I caught some of it last night and while it was nothing new to me I am glad it is being discussed for more people. Here is an article I recently read that basically says the same thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/sc...sity.html?_r=3

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Emmitto I caught some of it last night and while it was nothing new to me I am glad it is being discussed for more people. Here is an article I recently read that basically says the same thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/sc...sity.html?_r=3

Indeed, it's consistent with your posts also, as well as others. I mentioned Dream because he gets the bulk of the blowback, from time to time.

I agree that the news here is the potential for the knowledge to reach a wider audience. And possibly more insight into how our food is all about chasing dollars, although I suspect most people who are already in tune with the reduced calories concept are also aware of the food industry's tactics.

Thanks for the link.

[LeafUF]

Originally Posted by Emmitto

Indeed, it's consistent with your posts also, as well as others. I mentioned Dream because he gets the bulk of the blowback, from time to time.

I agree that the news here is the potential for the knowledge to reach a wider audience. And possibly more insight into how our food is all about chasing dollars, although I suspect most people who are already in tune with the reduced calories concept are also aware of the food industry's tactics.

Thanks for the link.

Yeah, I actually first got onto the food industries less than stellar practices by watching Food Inc.

I am not opposed to businesses putting profits first and working toward that goal. Its not a corporations job to make sure people are healthy. The government on the other hand providing subsidies that makes it easier for them to make profits in conflict to trying to promote healthier lifestyles is complete bs.

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Yeah, I actually first got onto the food industries less than stellar practices by watching Food Inc.

I am not opposed to businesses putting profits first and working toward that goal. Its not a corporations job to make sure people are healthy. The government on the other hand providing subsidies that makes it easier for them to make profits in conflict to trying to promote healthier lifestyles is complete bs.

Yes, make (generic) your dollars, I'm all about it. But the market is being manipulated, coming and going. I blame both sides, it's a huge scheme that each profit from. I would actually be in favor of subsidies for healthy foods, especially now that we've subsidized ourselves into a nation of fat sickos.

Ideally, we'd not subsidize at all. As the guy at the convenience store says, he knows his store would sell more broccoli than corn chips if broccoli cost less. If I'm forced to pay people to eat something, at least make it something that costs me less later (in health costs and the related losses of productivity that goes with it.)

[Dreamliner]

I've read most of the book. It does offer hope for the obese. More than that it constitutes a sober warning never to become obese. It cites studies that show that when obese people lose weight neither their hunger nor their satiety return to pre-weight loss levels, not even after ten years!

Of course this doesn't mean you can't keep the weight off. But it is what it is.

I do think it's off-base where it gets into food recommendations.

[Zendra]

Well, I've heard a lot of stories and versions of when it comes to weight loss. It has always been good advice to be healthy. But the problem is that we often equate being healthy with being thin. The fact of the matter is that being healthy comprises a lot of things. Some of these things is eating right, getting adequate rest and sleep; eating on time, a well-balanced meal, exercise, and maintaining a desirable weight. Most of us are so conscious when it comes o our weight. Scientifically, the desired weight of a person is based on his/her height and age. If you are so worried about a rebound weight gain, you must realize that starving yourself is not the solution. Eat right, on time, and eat healthy. Plus, there are a lot of workouts out there that will surely be helpful in helping you trim down or maintain your current weight status.

[Dreamliner]

You make some fair points, Zendra. There are a lot of people out there who are obsessed with being thin but look fine (and are healthy) just the way they are.

On the other hand - and this is addressed in another thread - there are also a lot of people who are in denial about how heavy they are and the potential health risks it involves.

I'd say I've met my fair share of people in both categories.