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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boris declares war on fat

865 replies

Weallhavevalidopinions · 15/05/2020 09:25

Boris has said his being overweight contributed to his problems with Covid-19.
Stories this morning suggest he will wage war on fat...

What type of help do you think might be suggested?

Have you decided to lose weight due to Covid-19 worries?

YABU - no I will not lose weight due to Covid worries
YANBU - I will lose weight due to Covid worries

OP posts:
StayinginSummer · 15/05/2020 10:01

I’m happy to lose weight. Although I’m in healthy BMI I still have to be careful.

However I would not be losing weight because an overweight politician who bungled the uk pandemic response asked me to. As if the pandemic is somehow my fault?!

deydododatdodontdeydo · 15/05/2020 10:01

Voted YABU - I don't have much weight to lose. I have maintained a healthy weight up to age 45.
However, if I was overweight, I would seriously consider losing some and getting to a healthy weight.

LycraLovingLass · 15/05/2020 10:01

I am already losing weight, I am a healthy weight already but could lose another stone and still be in the healthy band.

Covid has made me worry for people I am close to that are over weight though.

There is not much you can do though, how many times can you say you woukd be healthier if you were mire active before you are being rude.

randomer · 15/05/2020 10:01

Do you actually think even one person is likely to be motivated by that idiot telling us to lose weight?

The bellicose language is becoming tedious.

What we he declare war on next....people who eat Pringles, people who have untidy fron gardens, people who call their kids Wayne? I wonder?

Original poster
Weallhavevalidopinions · 15/05/2020 10:02

Thanks for the inspiring shares from those of you with success stories and thanks for sharing various information to help.

I am overweight and need to lose weight. This post is really just to see if other people feel the same as me that Covid fears (irrational or not - although the stats provided by a poster up thread show increased risk of death or complications due to obesity) might make me and some others take a more serious approach to weight lose and general fitness.

OP posts:
NerforMuffin · 15/05/2020 10:02

Yes. My BMI was 40.1

Ive lost 11lbs. Its now 38.4

Long way to go but Covid was definitely the bum kick.

JoeExoticsEyebrowRing · 15/05/2020 10:03

The portly tosser should start with himself.

Fat wanker!

Um, I think that's the point! He has recognised that he is a fat wanker and is going to lose weight and wants others the to do the same?

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/05/2020 10:03

You do realise that this post makes you look both stupid (for missing the point of the thread completely) and ignorant for flinging abuse. Nice one.

You're welcome, ducksback

Kazzyhoward · 15/05/2020 10:03

Covid is killing obese younger people today. The unhealthy young think they'll sort themselves out before the risk years of the 50s+ - it's the "I'll diet tomorrow" mentality. That's the difference. Covid is highlighting that an unhealthy lifestyle can hit you at ANY age whereas diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity are usually seen as a long term problem that's easier to push to the back of your mind.

nevertrustaninja · 15/05/2020 10:04

I'm hoping that Boris's intervention will put pressure on councils to sort out cycle lanes and safe cycling routes before the traffic descends again. I've been cycling daily during lockdown and it's really helped me to maintain my weight.

I'm no Boris fan, but this is an issue where he could make a real difference. Let's hope that it's not just empty words.

PixelatedLunchbox · 15/05/2020 10:04

My brother is a physician in North America. He said 90% of the people they have on ventilators are male and overweight. Being obese is considered comorbidity.

Honeybee85 · 15/05/2020 10:04

Current BMI 22.8

Before the birth of DS I had a BMI of 20.5 so I want to get back to that point again.
Has nothing to do with Covid though.

Deathraystare · 15/05/2020 10:04

That's Boris the sylph like Super model, yes?

I probably could do with losing 5 stone. However I have the usual excuses. Plus I have been very stressed awaiting the removal of a total shite from our flat. He has now left so I can cook and eat normal food again, not quickly micro a packet of instant rice and dash back to my room before he starts bellowing and slamming doors and spraying air freshener everywhere because he hates other peoples' cooking smells.

He is someone elses problem now. My brother reckons I will see him hanging out one of the other tower blocks courtesy of his next room mates!!!

PicsInRed · 15/05/2020 10:04

I predict significant weight gain by leftists.

JoeExoticsEyebrowRing · 15/05/2020 10:05

Do you actually think even one person is likely to be motivated by that idiot telling us to lose weight?

Er yes actually. He ended up in hospital in a pretty bad way, and his weight very likely played a large part in that. So people who want to reduce their risk of ending up like that may well start taking steps to lose weight.

LivingOnAnIsland · 15/05/2020 10:05

Does anyone know if Boris smokes? Apologies if the statistics are readily available but I wonder how smoking affects recovery.

Bleepbloopblarp · 15/05/2020 10:06

I’ve already lost over a stone since March and although it wasn’t initially because of covid, it’s certainly helped with my motivation!

I‘ve now gone into the healthy category from an overweight BMI.

No one is responsible for your health but you and if what’s going on at the moment isn’t going to give people the incentive to get healthy I don’t know what is!

ZaraW · 15/05/2020 10:06

Boris needs to loose the weight himself before he can dish out advice.

1forsorrow · 15/05/2020 10:06

I think he should have to do a public weigh in once a week as he is known to fib, his weight loss could then be an inspiration to us all.

It could be like before heavy weight boxers have a weigh in before a match, he could come in skipping in his shorts, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab carrying his towel and water bottles, Matt Hancock as health minister could conduct the weighing. It could be a big event with everyone having to go out and clap and scream if he's lost weight, boo if he's gained any.

It will bring us all together, raise morale, save the world.

JoeExoticsEyebrowRing · 15/05/2020 10:06

That's Boris the sylph like Super model, yes?

Woah, if missing the point was an Olympic sport there would be some great contenders on this thread!!!

BadBear · 15/05/2020 10:07

a) BMI is a terrible metric to define health

b) If you look at the report from Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre of ICU patients in the UK, there's no impact of BMI on mortality rates

I wish people would stop manipulating and interpreting the data however it suits them just to serve their narrative. Data is constantly coming in and being analysed. Fat stigma is very much here and it's real, does an authority figure need to make it worse amid a crisis?

Kazzyhoward · 15/05/2020 10:07

I've been losing weight VERY slowly for many years. At my worst (20 years ago!) I was 22 stones. Before Covid I was 17 stone. Now I'm 15 stone and hoping to lose a couple more stone this year. Covid has really given my weight loss a boost. From one angle, I'm more aware that my risk of dying from covid will be less if I continue to lose weight, so that's helped motivate me to exercise and watch my food intake more. From another angle, all my favourite "naughty food" places are closed, so I can't get my morning bacon buttie or my favourite flavour of crisps. I hope that I can keep it up long enough so that my new good habits stay for the long term and I don't creep back into my old ways when the "naughty food" shops open again!

F0RESTGRUMP · 15/05/2020 10:08

I’ve been dieting like a mad thing the last 3 weeks but it’s frighteningly hard when you’re post menopausal. I mean literally frighteningly hard.

I’m sticking religiously to 1000 - 1200 calories a day but it’s coming off painfully slowly.

Kazzyhoward · 15/05/2020 10:08

Do you actually think even one person is likely to be motivated by that idiot telling us to lose weight?

Why not? All those sleb idiots with their fad diets motivate people to lose weight don't they!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/05/2020 10:09

FWIW I agree that many people are overweight - but I also think that

a) most are unhappy with this and are at least trying to lose it (as we will all know it's easier said than done)

and

b) being stuck in lockdown can make it even harder for comfort/boredom eaters to cope

No-on WANTS to be fat, no-one WANTS to be unhealthy - there are just so many issues (psychological, medical, educational) around weight that it isn't a quick fix.

He'll probably lose his blubber - he's got money for really good ingredients, he has chefs to prepare delicious and inspiring meals, and he isn't barred from the shops and looking in the fridge to find two potatoes, half a packet of bacon, and 2 oz of cheap cheese, and then turning in misery to the kids' snacks. Nor is he having to prepare food from a limited store for other people, and find something they are all prepared to eat.