70 percent of the weight you are is attributable to genetics. Seventy percent. And any acid reflux I have (yes, I'm fat) is probably rooted in the occasional bouts of reflux I had when I was still a skinny kid or the asthma inhaler (and yes, the asthma started before I gained weight too) I use, which weakens the esophogeal flap.
The trouble with "preventative" medicine is that so much of it focuses on things which we cannot change without side effects and, sorry to be the one to tell you, weight is one of those things. With diet I might lose, and be able to keep off, about five to ten pounds. More than that and it will be back within five years. And it's been demonstrated, repeatedly, that yoyo weight loss is worse for you than fat.
Should I exercise more? Sure. Strength, flexibility, stamina -- all of those are "use it or lose it" propositions. But becoming essentially anorexic, or deliberately mutilating my body so that I deal with malnutrition all the rest of my life aren't things I ever intend to do. Quality of life counts too. I don't want to waste all my time and energy thinking about food.
High blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, vascular problems, strokes... they all happen to skinny folks too. But the diet industry can't make any money off of them. (And gosh, we can't make fun of people for their ethnicity or race any more, we've got to stress them out because of SOMEthing they got from their parents.)
no subject
The trouble with "preventative" medicine is that so much of it focuses on things which we cannot change without side effects and, sorry to be the one to tell you, weight is one of those things. With diet I might lose, and be able to keep off, about five to ten pounds. More than that and it will be back within five years. And it's been demonstrated, repeatedly, that yoyo weight loss is worse for you than fat.
Should I exercise more? Sure. Strength, flexibility, stamina -- all of those are "use it or lose it" propositions. But becoming essentially anorexic, or deliberately mutilating my body so that I deal with malnutrition all the rest of my life aren't things I ever intend to do. Quality of life counts too. I don't want to waste all my time and energy thinking about food.
High blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, vascular problems, strokes... they all happen to skinny folks too. But the diet industry can't make any money off of them. (And gosh, we can't make fun of people for their ethnicity or race any more, we've got to stress them out because of SOMEthing they got from their parents.)