If you are overweight, what, in your opinion, made you that way?

[SistemaAddict]

There's been lots of threads recently about weight inspired by the government trying to crack down on obesity yet encouraging us to eat out and posters bemoaning the lockdown lard/pandemic pounds. There has been lots of discussion about the causes of obesity or being overweight due to societal and financial factors but I wanted to ask what posters think made them either overweight or obese because reasons will vary. Certain medications and conditions can cause weight gain and/or make it harder to lose weight and the peri-menopause/menopause doesn't help.

I stopped breastfeeding a year ago and my appetite didn't return to normal after stopping so I gained weight. Then my asthma was bad from October onwards and my ability to go on bike rides was limited. Then lockdown and shielding and my 5 mile school hike up and down big hills went out of the window and I ate too many biscuits and chocolate and would eat in the evening while reading or watching tv. I gained around a stone and that took me into the overweight category.

In June I decided enough was enough and started 16:8 and limited myself to around 1250 calories a day. I bought a fitbit and started using my fitness pal. Both encouraged me to go on walks with the dc and to take more trips up and down the stairs than were necessary to meet my target of 25 flights a day. I stopped eating after dinner, watched my portion sizes and cut out most of the junk I was eating. I'm now a normal weight with a BMI of 24. I'm carrying on with my healthier lifestyle and improved habits but it's hard especially in the evenings when I want chocolate. My aim is to get to a BMI of 23 as that is where I look and feel best.

I don't want this to be a judgemental thread, or for anyone to fat shame posters, I just wanted to share my own reasons for weight gain and ask others' experiences because it's a very individual thing beyond "too many calories in vs calories out" and it can be very complex.

Interesting thread thanks op. So many psychological facets to weight gain by the answers to your original question. Mine started after my sister died and then I was recently diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS which was a big shock.

Boredom, greed and laziness

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

I’m just a hungry Horace. I’ll hold my hands up.. If it doesn’t move I eat it.

I like your honesty there.

Haven't rtft.

I'm about 10stone overweight.
For me its a combination of things.
Medication makes me hungry and makes me gain weight. However the positives outweigh the negatives

I'm an emotional eater with no willpower.
I like carbs. A lot.
Boredom. Especially in the evenings.
Poverty. Biscuits are cheaper than apples.
And I'm lazy. I hate exercise.
Plus my anxiety makes it hard to go out so going for a walk isn't as simple as it sounds :(

I have severe ME and have been bedridden for 7 years, housebound for even longer. So although I was v active before getting ill I have been unable to exercise for the 22 years I have had ME. I so miss an active lifestyle. The medication I am on for pain and sleep increase my appetite too. I tried intermittent fasting and I felt so ill weak and starving I couldn’t manage the diet.

For the first seven years of ME when I was moderately affected - still couldn’t exercise beyond a ten minute walk - I managed to not put on weight and had a healthy BMI, but as I got more severe and my medication increased which in turn increased my appetite further the weight piled on. My self image is rock bottom.

Finally, I have a sweet tooth and although I try and limit it I still have a bit daily. I know it’s excess calories that I shouldn’t have. I know it is believed the best way to manage a sweet tooth is to go cold turkey and ride through the sweet cravings. (I managed it once for 12 weeks, over ten years ago, it was hard). However, I have a psychological block I think to even try again as my daily sweet treat is the one pleasure in my life and I am scared of losing it.

Eating to cope with emotions following severe abuse. Being fat also makes me less of a sexual target, vile comments and judgment yes, but not sexual.

For me, I ballooned during university due to drinking etc, and also had some minor health issues at the time. Trying to lose weight I then did low calorie for YEARS, and would lose a little but then plateau - think SW, WW etc, tons of jacket potatoes etc.

It was only when I saw a private fertility specialist and was diagnosed with PCOS that I learnt how to lose weight - high fat, low carb and fasting to combat the insulin resistance. I can eat loads of cheese, nuts and meat but potatoes, bread and pasta pile on the pounds.

I’m still heavier than I would like, but I now know why!

Exhaustion with 3 under 5’s and no help - was so tired I ate and ate to try and create some energy to get through the day.

Living in poverty growing up (I'm early 60s) and eating junk and sugary food. I had very sweet tea from very young. Food was a pleasure and a reward, also a relief from boredom and bad times. I'm not sure I've ever moved out of that mindset.

I think it's easy to become slightly overweight without even eating that much extra or even noticing. However, I think there's very few morbidly obese people who haven't experienced some trauma in their lives which has led to their weight gain. I have heard that victims of sexual abuse often overeat and put on weight as a form of protection. It makes me so angry that so many people can be so cruel to people who are very overweight when they don't even know the reason they are like that.

Cake and wine and zero exercise!

I generally eat well.
But without exercise I gain weight.
Ive zero motivation to exercise, I need to loose 5 stone.

Ive completed Marathons and other long distance events , but train up for them, conplete them, then stop🙄

Alcohol.
Whole family seem to have issues with alcohol dependence and whether it’s learned or inherited I have the same demons

Some years I lose lots of weight because I am happy and cope without

Other years are full of stress or sadness and alcohol dependence increases and I put on weight

When my weight has changed not due to what I am investing it’s down to Graves’ disease which can mean I sometimes am hypothyroid and put on weight or hyperthyroid and lose loads

I also hate exercise. I’m short and don’t need the same calories that teller friends or family need but I eat the same

Why does anybody care why us fat people are fat? Honestly. Endless threads and they always end up the same.

I eat too much. I’m very fit though so 🤷🏽‍♀️

Put on weight
I got to feeling very low recently and over consumed. Wine every evening and cheese after dessert.
Reason for change
Realised I was in danger of having to buy size larger trousers AND not being able to get into 2 very nice suits. (Bought when flush with bonuses).
Decided it must CHANGE.
We are now following the Michael Mosely 800 a day. but only beating ourselves up if over 1000.
It works, of course it does.

Pregnancies. I put on 2 stone with each pregnancy but only lost one stone afterwards.
I’ve always been able to eat what I liked and lost weight pretty quick if my size 8/10 jeans (in old non vanity sizing) ever got tight.
Now, I can’t seem to cut down my food enough to get down to a healthy size.

Citizen maybe because it's a massive problem, affecting a lot of people's health and happiness, and affecting all of us in terms of the costs of healthcare?

People discussing the many reasons why it happens, and being honest and open, helps us to be less judgemental and more understanding of each other - and feel less judged and more understood. There is also a lot of info here that can help us to help our DC to avoid some of the factors. It's interesting and useful.

@CitizenCandyKane this thread is nothing like any of the others I've read on the subject. I think it recognises how complex weight is and not as simplistic as eat less, move more.

@CitizenCandyKane

Why does anybody care why us fat people are fat? Honestly. Endless threads and they always end up the same.

I'd normally agree but I don't think this one is the same actually. I think it is interesting. Nomally the threads are all about 'what should be done' which always leads to a bun fight and lots of opinions and insults. Thisthread is about people sharing their experience. I think that is much more interesting that the usual shite posted on the 'We are going to hell in an obese handbasket' ones.

The thing with food is it's a very easy, very accessible, cheap, socially acceptable way to get a dopamine fix.

It was a chain reaction.
First a house move led to unhappiness (and lost my workout friends)
Then DH had an accident- the first time I was out with new friends. Leaving him alone with broken leg with our then 4&6 year olds. I had extreme guilt for not being there... Leading to depression. I only went out to go food shopping or to do school runs- and bought myself treats to boost my mood. So no exercise, and far too much too eat.

I'm in a lot happier place now... But the 5st+ weight gain is a lot to reverse. The first stone has gone though. I'm trying.

It was eating too much and not doing enough, but there were reasons behind it I needed to cope with first.

@Bercows Just read your review of reasons, interesting. I am sure one of my friends uses her appearance including extra weight as a test.
A test of friendship, Does this make any sense to people here?
Somehow she thinks that if we like her as she is then we can be true friends. Valuing her for her true self not as a scruffy great lump. Would she attract shallow people if she went to a hairdresser?
I hope this doesn't hijack your thread. mike

Mum clearly had an undiagnosed eating disorder - 1 pack of crisps in 3 days then binge eating over 1day - she was always severely underweight for her height, and looked it. Father was obese and always on a fad diet, cabbage soup, Atkins, special k, slimfast. I spent my childhood seeing their food issues.

I started binge restricting at 13 and stayed a tiny size 6 until I was 19 where anxiety and antidepressants took over. Became overweight in my 20s lost it all again through severe restricting and a binge/purge for weekends.
Pregnancy wrecked me weight wise. Gained to the point I was obese after, and gained more. Lost 20lbs on and off for the last three years (lose it gain it back) and spent lockdown back in the old ways of serious restricting and lost 50lbs. To scared to stop now, as I don't want to regain, which I inevitably will.

So I'm not overweight now, but my food issues are causing a lot of stress.

I just love food. It's a fact that sugary and fatty foods taste better.