Are You Happy Being Fat?

the more appropriate question, as you know Cheryl, is...are you happy with your self???

Cheryl there are men out there that are obcessed with large women and vice versa. I had an aunt who's husband was like that, the fatter she got the happier he was. There are BBW & BBM groups everywhere. Check sites like Yahoo groups and you will find hundreds of them.

I absolutely agree with everything you said in this article. I have been both overweight and underweight, I prefer somewhere in the middle.

Nice thanks for sharing

i'd prefer to be the healthiest person i could be. if being overweight wasn't making you unhealthy (i can't see how), then i'd be ok with it, i guess. great topic, cheryl!

I am also overweight but if I could lose I would. It is not that easy.But I have to say my husband loves me no matter what.

I weigh about 250 pounds, which is 100 pounds overweight. I am not totally happy with my weight, but I am not any unhappy person. I wouldn't want to gain anymore weight. I don't look down on people who are overweight. It is just part of life. I do not, however, like to see overweight people dressed like they are skinny with all the rolls of fat hanging out. That is just plain gross. Overweight people do need to dress more appropriately, and then maybe others won't look down on them so much.

Cheryl,
This is a very interesting topic because as a fitness-oriented person I am constantly wondering whether everyone else is happy with themselves. Some days I spend roughly three hours at the gym and for me that is what it's taking right now to maintain my weight where I want it and still be able to eat "trash".
In the back of my mind I always wonder why anyone would stay in a body that they are not happy with because there is so much information out there, people just need to commit to change and move forward with it. That sounds like Bush's plan in Iraq, forward…

There are those days, like last night when I kept looking at the time and it seemed to be going backwards and I really didn't want to do it anymore, in all honesty I would have been fine getting off and going home but I just felt that if I start letting myself not finish what I started it might be easier for me to say no the next time.

I work very hard to stay at the peak of physical condition and that is where I want to be right now but that is personal choice and I believe that all people make that choice in some way or another.

Great Article!

At 52 years my energy level has waned. I reserve my energy for the things that need to be done like work, house work, hobbies and starting over again the next day. Do I need more exercise? Absolutely? Do I try? Yes several times a week. I walk and do some light weight bearing workouts. All short but I try. I feel there is a balance to be struck. Too much exhausts me for days. Too littel and I feel as though I have done too much. But I remember my father saying "There is a reason there are no 50 year old football players."

So with my normal blood pressure and ok cholesterol, I have to be satisfied with the extra pounds. I think I am doing OK.

apologies I am not the lady you requested. Ladies? You're next.

Their lips say I'm happy, but their hearts are screaming "Help"

No

Cheryl, I didn't read the other comments because I didn't have to to form MY comment. Hell no, I'm not happy weighing in at 225. Every freaking time I lose weight I gain it back and then a few more pounds. I'm a yo-yo dieter from hell. After my first diet I lost down to 108. That was too skinny. But 120 was perfect for my 5'5 small frame. Now if I ever see 140 you will see me kiss the ground and never hear a foul word about my weight cross these lips. I'm sorry there are too many health benefits that come with being physically fit and I am tired of being lonely. No one looks my way at this weight were as they did at 130 before. Now that I am older I believe 140 should probably be exceptable. It is a hard fact of life one has to face. Just like you have to work to eat. You can't drink everyday and have fun. You have to pay your bills. You have to realize if your single and 40 and fat your chances at finding a man are drastically decreased. So, come January and I have the money, once again my ass will be back in the gym sweating to the oldies trying to live a little longer. This is because not only does good physical health lead to longer life but also healthy emotions lead to longer life.

It's all relative. I'm only concerned with staying healthy.

To the women 200pounds and over who posted picture on here I think you have beautiful faces and hearts to match. I hate to sound cheesy but would rather have a man who did not judge a book by it's cover. I do not know one woman who is happy with their appearance. I think the ladies you saw on the show just wanted to enjoy the airtime exposure and did what they did for the show.

John....Yes, I am happy with myself, but that does not mean that I cannot still do things to improve myself...especially healthwise. I believe as well that we actually must be able to love ourselves as we are before we can actually make any lasting changes.

Carolyn...You are so right about the men who love larger women. And there are also many men who love them, but are afraid to actually admit it.

Vicki...Congratulations on your weight loss after your surgery. And most importantly, congrats for keeping it off!

Nel....I admire your dedication to you fitness soo much. I am such a yo-yo fitness person. I will do really well for about three months....walking and weight training.....at least 5 to 6 days a week. And then something will happen to discourage me, and I will just stop it all for several months. I would love to keep the momentum going like you do.

Layla...I agree. Being healthy should be the first concern...no matter what weight we are.

Cheryl,
Keeping the momentum going can be an extremely difficult thing to do, especially if you don't see immediate results and the work is so very hard. When ever I see a person that is over weight at the gym I admire them, because there doing all that work with what I would call sand bags on their body, people may not believe it but its 100% harder to even get started for anyone that is starting from scratch, the muscles are usually suffering from atrophy and when their stimulated the pain can linger for days, if not weeks.

I have worked with people in all walks of life as a sort of personal trainer on many occasions, I can see the true desire in their eyes to want to pull themselves forward but their minds cannot so easily over come their bodies limits. There are very few of us that are trained mentally like Iron-Man athletes that can push the endurance of their bodies to the limits.

When I think of this type of scenario I am always reminded of a mountain biking trip to Carefree Arizona where I faced a couple of hundred yards of steep uneven terrain going up, it was hard to hike it let alone try and ride a bike up it. I started out slow trying to conserve energy but balancing the bike and navigating the terrain was incredible difficult, the last fifty yards I wanted to put a foot down because I was done, I didn't though and when I got to the top a couple of hikers looked at me and then looked down and said you're an inspiration to us all. It was a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

Cheryl,
Great post. I was quite heavy as a child (210 lbs. when I was 12). I went to T.O.P.S. with my mom, who was also heavy, during my grade school years and was heavy until I went to college and had no money for food. You would never believe that I was a fat person to the core to look at me today. At 41, I am healthier and more fit now than when I was in my 20's. I do not spend nearly as much time as nel l (I haven't been to a gym in 20 years), but I do manage to walk 30 miles a week and do a little bit of weight training a couple times a week (to prevent bone and muscle loss, mostly). That coupled with gardening and handyman work is enough to keep the weight off.

I exercise mostly to keep fit enough to play with my daughter and maintain a high level of energy. I know from experience how being inactive and a bit overweight can turn into a vicious cycle where it becomes more and more difficult to get exercise. Walking has been a Godsend to me, and when I am travelling and don't get around to it, I immediately gain weight. My body has developed a dependence on walking to be able to metabolize the amount of food that I like to eat.

Walking also has a lot of positive mental benefits that will help someone who is trying to improve their diet. Ways of thinking have a lot to do with weight problems. We have to quit thinking in terms of fat or thin and start thinking in terms of health, diet and fitness.

Thanks for the post. Even though I am thin on the outside, I am still touched by these issues on the inside.

Good write up. Never have been happy as such and never will be. I haven't taken time to read all te comments so I may be repeating. My feeling on women who go on TV at such weights saying they are "happy" and trying to get fatter is that they are miserable at that weight (it's not comfortable!). We live in culture where there is this voyouristic inclination that's encouraged through media and TV (Jerry Springer comes to mind). There will always be plenty of people ready to make a buck no matter how foolish it makes them look.

I mean nothing bad here.. but I do notice that it is usually black woman who like being fat... they are rasied with their moms feeding them lots of food and telling them fat is healthy.. they are neevr put down for their weight as kids, so have positive attitudes about being fat.

Me I would give my husbands left nut to be the perfect weight,,,, any woman who disagrees is LIEING>

I agree with you, these women are happy within themselves and that is great but to be one hundred pounds more than they are already, I find that hard to believe. I know that I would never want to be, I have too many conditions now because I am obese.

Nel....thanks so much for your inspirational comment here. Your experience with the mountain bike is a perfect example of how I often feel in my struggle with losing weight. I lost 60 pounds a few years ago in the wrong way and for all of the wrong reasons. I lost it by taking that very dangerous drug Ephedra, and I was doing it for reasons other than health. I had so much energy....(due to the fact that Ephedra is basically speed). I was always exercising, and food never entered my mind because my mind was racing so fast. I had to actually remind myself to eat. When I started having heart palpitations from the drug and it came to light how dangerous it was, I stopped taking it. And within seemingly no time, I gained the weight back and felt like a total failure. I now realize that there is so much involved in the entire process. I did not gain the weight instantly, nor am I going to lose it instantly. I have also come to realize that there are so many emotional factors tied up in my weight. I have used it as a friend, as a protective barrier, as an excuse not to live my life. I also realize that as I work toward a more healthy body, I must work on a healthier mind. The two go hand in hand. Somewhere over the years, I have learned to stuff down my feelings with food. I have learned to comfort myself with food. So just like a child, I am having to learn how to nurture myself in other ways, and I know that until I do, any weight I lose I will eventually gain right back.

Your mountain bike example was a perfect description of how I feel in regard to exercise. I remember sitting in the parking lot of the local YMCA, absolutely mortified to even walk in the place. I had no idea how I would be received in a place where most of the people are trim and fit and beautiful. I truly thought I would be laughed at. When I got inside, I was so surprised. Everyone was so nice to me. I met with a fitness expert who gave me a tour and showed me which machines were good for a beginner. She helped me get started and was an awesome support to me. And I was so enthusiastic in the beginning months. But we live a life of wanting instant everything. And when the results were not as quick as I thought they should be, I slowed down. And that totally changes your mentality. I started beating myself up emotionally for slowing down, and this only made me feel guilty, which triggered me to eat more. Your example shows that it is all about taking those baby steps....a little at a time.....and not letting the bumps in the road stop you. Thank you, Nel....for the inspiration.

Mary....thanks for your comment. I also believe that a closer walk with God is so important. When we make food our God (and that is what we do), all it does is distance us from the REAL God. Rather than using food for comfort, we need to turn to God. I'm so happy that you have been able to do this, and see the positive changes in your life. I have moments where I am able to do this, and it makes so much difference in my life. Thanks for the great comment.

It is best to be happy with oneself. We all know people who are way too skinny and unhappy with themselves; ideal weight has changed in recent years to be heavier than it once was. By that I mean, at 5 foot 3, my ideal weight used to be considered at 125. When I was in college, I was about 105. As I excercised, I gained muscle and took the same size at 125 at 40 as I did in college. 20 years ago, the average woman was a size 12 and 140. Now, the average woman is a size 16 and 165 or so pounds.

If people have a choice between being 300 pounds or so and 120 pounds lighter, it is better to be somewhat fat than morbidly obese. 180 or 150 is better than 250 or 300, for health reasons.

i still have a few pounds to go to get back to my college weight. I spend too little time exercising and too much time on other things such as...

It is best to be happy with oneself. We all know people who are way too skinny and unhappy with themselves; ideal weight has changed in recent years to be heavier than it once was. By that I mean, at 5 foot 3, my ideal weight used to be considered at 125. When I was in college, I was about 105. As I excercised, I gained muscle and took the same size at 125 at 40 as I did in college. 20 years ago, the average woman was a size 12 and 140. Now, the average woman is a size 16 and 165 or so pounds.

If people have a choice between being 300 pounds or so and 120 pounds lighter, it is better to be somewhat fat than morbidly obese. 180 or 150 is better than 250 or 300, for health reasons.

i still have a few pounds to go to get back to my college weight. I spend too little time exercising and too much time on other things such as...

When I was 6, I had a cute but slight padding of baby fat--my 1st grade picture is cute and according to the therapist to whom I showed it, I was not fat, just still had a touch of baby fat and was cute. My father called me 'fatso' for months and seemd to have forgotten my name. He encourged my brother to do the same. My mother took me to a doctor and had me put on diet pills. When I did the natural thing, got speeded out, I got belted black and blue for high-strung behavior.

Any idiot that makes a child take speed to lose weight deserves what they get for it! The child is innocent.

Now I am truly fat, and don't give a damn about losing weight. If you can't love me fat, I don't want your love skinny. Love me as I present myself or not at all: I really don't give a damn.

Dorine...what an awful experience for you to have gone through as a child. The damage to a child's self -esteem is so real, and can come with one word. And then to have been put on diet pills...wow.

I'm so glad that you see how insane that was...and I am so glad that you can love yourself just as you are. I think that is wonderful.......

I am overweight I am a size 14 and I lost 2 pant sizes in these past few months. I was a size 18 and although my husband loves me it made me feel good to lose weight and buy new smaller clothes. It also made me feel great having everybody notice the change. I gained 60 lbs from my first pregnancy and still have yet to lose it all but seeing the change and the effect it has had on me shows that maybe I wasn't as happy as I once thought. Just my 2 cents ;)~

You have to be happy with yourself or you won't be happy at any weight!

that being said, I'm a happy person and in a great relationship - but I am currently losing weight to have a better life! I have lost 14 pounds since January! It's not been easy but it's been totally worth it!

A size 12 or 14 is NOT overweight. You guys look fine. :-)