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Being fat is a trap

federicopereiro.com

331–340 of 373 posts

Re: Being fat is a trap

#331
post #42

The article is basically describing one's addiction to anything. It can be any habit at all. So whether it's a fat trap or any other trap the way out is always the same - willpower. And it comes from the sincere desire for something. I spent overall around 5 years quitting smoking. It was extremely hard, for the most part because of the mental trap. Physically I got rid of the addiction in a couple of weeks. And phys…

> So whether it's a fat trap or any other trap the way out is always the same - willpower. Which is completely wrong according to science on the topic. Trying to willpower your way out of addictions is a recipe for failure. It's been shown over and over again. People who are aren't addicted don't have more willpower. They have to exercise their willpower far less than someone who struggles with addiction. Identifying…

> Identifying and eliminating environmental triggers

That requires a lot of willpower, which is why that advice typically doesn't work.

Dieticians are often fat so you know there is more to it than just knowledge, there is a big willpower factor to it still.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t want to disagree with you but I have a hard time with preaching that people are not be personally responsible for themselves. I get your point that genes are important and some are blessed while others are not. But regardless what your genes are, you need to find a way to take care of yourself. You are not entitled to someone else taking responsibility for you and your problems.

> you need to find a way to take care of yourself Here's the crux of the issue; for most people who are fat, finding a way to take care of themselves is so onerous, complex, and difficult that they're not technically stuck, but they're effectively stuck. If you need to drive more than an hour to get access to food that won't be terrible for you, it's not surprising that so many people have a problem.

Their choices led them to get stuck and their choices are the only thing that can get them unstuck. Maybe they don’t want to get unstuck, who are we to tell people how to live?

Re: Being fat is a trap

#333
post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you’re working 16h per day, every day, you have time to cook. if you are single, sure. but as soon as you have family, those calculations go out the window. worse if you are a single parent. long commutes, a stressful job... 8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 1 hour commute, 1 hour lunch, 1 hour in the morning, 1 hour spending time with my kids (means i do what they want), 1 hour TV to relax. 1 hour exercise/go for…

> 1 hour spending time with my kids Cook when you do that. > i love cooking This is probably the problem, you try to cook fancy stuff rather than things that are easy and fast to cook. Cooking barely takes any time if you cook easy things.

i knew someone was going to suggest to combine cooking and kids, which is why i added that parenthetical: spending time with my kids (means i do what they want) which could be playing a game with them, or some other activity. but most certainly not forcing them to hang around in the kitchen with me (unless they want cook, but then it will take even longer). besides, if i do anything else while i am cooking then i am most likely going to burn the food. it just doesn't work that way.

and no, i am not cooking fancy stuff. but i am using fresh ingredients which take more prep time and also require me to go shopping more often because you can't keep vegetables fresh for long. meat at least i can freeze.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#334

I have extremely lucky genes and have managed to stay just within the green BMI range despite eating all the carbs and fats you can imagine and at times consuming 200-300g of milk chocolate a day. Some of my friends are obese despite exercising heavily every day. Finding ways you enjoy to keep an active lifestyle is a great idea, probably the highest impact thing you can do for your long term well being (for people i…

I had an overweight BMI when I could run a sub 3-hour marathon, I’ve concluded my body just doesn’t match the normal range.

Or BMI is a bullshit health metric. Ask any bodybuilder or powerlifter.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#336
> Now, I believe the body positivity movement is a great step forward. Body positivity is about accepting others’ bodies, as well as your own, without regard to size, shape and gender. For those inside the fat trap, this brings tremendous relief. Being judged for being fat, or for being obsessed about fat, is almost always extremely counterproductive. It is harmful. If you are a non-fat person that goes around judging fat people, it might astonish you to find out that most fat people are painfully and constantly aware that they are fat, as well as the fact that that’s bad for them and they should make a change. There is nothing to be gained and everything to lose by judging someone for being fat.

LOUDER for people in the back.

Some people are hungrier than others. Some are more predisposed to weight gain than other.

All bodies are good.

Also, stock inventory for bigger people in clothing stores, for fuck's sake.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, because you'd be trapped in a cult of selfishness. A religion of self is a very bad place to be. I am not a self-contained sovereign god-being who just miraculously actualizes the positive reality I envision. Yes, positivity is essential, and negative thinking is also a trap , but this "Believe In Yourself!" and "Follow Your Passion!" is rotten fruit from the $16 self-help bookshelf in the public library.

But isn’t the advice of if something sucks in your life, attempt to take action to change it the only thing that actually works?

... "something"? Like, anything at all? Or within the context of this article?

But no, that is not the only thing that works. If anyone despairs or believes such as this, then refer back to "cult of self" we're trapped in.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have friends or family? This is a ridiculous proposal for 99.9% of people.

Just don't eat when they do? Its not hard to say no, I do that a lot.

Nice! Given that good advice is something that people can follow, this is still terrible advice.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#339
post #44

> but you have the choice to step out of the fat trap. People should also talk about the volition trap. I'm 40 and it feels like I've had more than a life's worth of people talking about how "you can do it if you just try!" > ... advertising signs that con / you into thinking you can do what's never been done / meantime life goes on all around you The sheer scope of the obesity pandemic should make it clear that we a…

There is a blame industry and an excuses industry in an arms race with each other.

Re: Being fat is a trap

#340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have extremely lucky genes and have managed to stay just within the green BMI range despite eating all the carbs and fats you can imagine and at times consuming 200-300g of milk chocolate a day. You’d be surprised just how little you eat. I’m also like that, thinking that I eat shitton and don’t get fat at all while my friends can’t lose 5 kilo. When I’ve started counting, even with all the junk food, I’ve been b…

Yeah this is correct. I eat whatever I want, snack a lot, etc. Never been fat because I just don't eat that much in aggregate.

Right, me too, which lead me to one conclusion: the root cause of obesity isn't overeating, it's a propensity to overeat. I don't have that propensity so I'm not obese, and probably won't be, unless that changes.

It's the same way I kind of view alcohol. Alcoholics are always alcoholics, even if they don't drink. Because drinking isn't alcoholism, having the desire to drink to the point of self-destruction is alcoholism.

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