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Original poster

Why are you fat? Time for honesty!

238 replies

Time2change2 · 16/05/2020 20:56

COVID19 has brought obesity to attention. The greater risk of becoming seriously ill or dying with COVID19 if you are overweight cannot be denied.
64% of the UK is overweight or obese yet many seem to be in denial or not aware that they are in fact overweight.
Time for honesty- if you are overweight or obese, why? Is it will power? Money reasons? Lack of knowledge of health eating?
Have you been in denial about your weight? Has coronavirus alerted you to the fact you are indeed overweight?
I am speaking from experience as I was in denial for years - thought I could eat anything I wanted and didn’t put on weight. It wasn’t until I went with the friend to a WW meeting (only went to keep her company as she didn’t want to go on her own) and I got weighed and was shocked that actually I was overweight be a good 2 stone!
So- why are you fat and are you going to bother to do anything about it?

OP posts:
missingeu · 17/05/2020 07:39

I was put on diet by my mum at 11 and weighed constantly at home.
My parents value of me was by my appearence - it still is - although my mum won't admit it.
Now, I'm fat (obese) there's alway a remark when I see her.
Thankfully, due to a loving husband, stubborn mind and some amazing plus size influencer - I've learnt self worth and size isn't everything.
I never want my children to feel the insecurities I did.

I also eat bad food due to long work hours and love crisps.

TwilightPeace · 17/05/2020 07:47

if you are overweight or obese, why? Is it will power? Money reasons? Lack of knowledge of health eating?

You don’t mention emotional reasons which is THE driver behind over-eating.
Stress, depression, anxiety, sadness, trauma, childhood issues, being trapped in unhappy relationships, low self-esteem.
People aren’t just lazy gluttons, they’re eating for comfort, to fill an emotional hole. That’s why diets and exercising hardly ever work long-term. The emotional issues don’t get addressed and so the patterns of behaviour continue.

Willowmartha1 · 17/05/2020 07:51

I comfort eat through boredom and unhappiness, I lost my lovely sister four years ago to cancer and my mum is in the final stages of dementia we were all very close so it's devastating.

thunderthighsohwoe · 17/05/2020 07:53

I really like carbs, but have PCOS and carbs do not like me.

Godzillasonice · 17/05/2020 07:57

I lost 6 stone back when I was with my abusive ex but in the 3 years since I left him tasing 3 children alone and doing a very stressful job has lead to me to comfort/stress eat. Plus I really like ice cream. I am physically very active and never sit down so it’s all food on my part.

Ragwort · 17/05/2020 08:02

Twilight - I don’t think everyone who overeats does so for ‘emotional’ reasons.

I genuinely think I am a “lazy glutton”. I am confident, happy, have good self esteem, a loving family, great childhood etc etc but I just love food. I enjoy shopping for food, choosing it, deciding what to cook ... and eating too much .... plus I enjoy wine every evening.

chunkyrun · 17/05/2020 08:08

Portion sizes, snacks, calorific drinks.

thebear1 · 17/05/2020 08:09

I get a lot of pleasure from food. It is a little bit of short lived joy. Also in my head I look okay. I am 1.5 stone overweight but don't always see it when I look in the mirror. Also vanity sizing doesn't help, getting into an occasional smaller size helps with the denial.

JorisBonson · 17/05/2020 08:15

I eat too much and I never, ever exercise.

Frouby · 17/05/2020 08:17

Cos I like beer.

Genuinely eat fairly healthily. Odd takeaway as a treat. Odd pudding. Odd bit of chocolate which I would think was normal.

But I qm very partial to a few beers or wine.

Started c25k during lockdown. After a family funeral on Friday I am now spending the rest of lockdown focusing on fitness and health.

BillBaileysBum · 17/05/2020 08:22

Portion size, snacks and “treats”.

SiaPR · 17/05/2020 08:23

I drink too much and eat very late at night. However I did lose a stone just before lockdown and have not put any back on despite eating absolute shite. I do still need to lose a stone though, but am amazed I am not even fatter. (Cue a huge weight rush tomorrow)

Gallacia · 17/05/2020 08:24

I'm not "fat" but my weight steadily creeped but by a stone and I wasn't aware of it due to mat leave and lockdown I turned into a wanna be Mary Berry.

But seriously, my dad is fat. 30 stone kind of fat, his relationship with food is incredibly unhealthy and he's had so much support but it's as though he is addicted to food. If he gets corona, he would definetly die.

hayser33 · 17/05/2020 08:26

I'm fat due to my drinking which has spiralled out of all control since lockdown. I was drinking 4 bottles of wine before but have gone up to around 7.
In AA Now... Must not replace wine with food Sad

hayser33 · 17/05/2020 08:27

A week that is not daily Blush

avocadoze · 17/05/2020 08:28

Because I like eating.

EdwinaMay · 17/05/2020 08:33

Food is too available.
I suspect the biggest markup is on crap foods full of sugar so the supermarkets want to sell us that.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 17/05/2020 08:35

What about you OP, are you overweight? If so, why?

Miseryl · 17/05/2020 08:40

I'm obsessed with food and really greedy. I think about food all the time. I could eat all the time, whatever my emotions are or however busy I am. It fills a hole in me and is definitely a source of immense pleasure and a coping mechanism. I am about a stone overweight but always feel on the precipice of losing control and becoming really huge. I am a yo yo dieter and have been very slim and very fat. My BMI has stabilised at between 26-28 over the past few years which I can live with but would prefer to be slimmer.

Crystal87 · 17/05/2020 09:03

It's a mixture of having a lot of pregnancies in quick succession without time to lose the weight in between, stress, eating for convenience, lack of social life which I don't mind but it means I over indulge in food to make up for it as it's my own treat really, and just a general love of food.

MillieMoodle · 17/05/2020 09:12

I used to be able to eat and drink whatever, do no exercise and not put on any weight. I put on weight when expecting DS1 and didn't lose it. Then put on more weight when expecting DS2 and haven't lost it. I put on a stone since going back to work after maternity leave (he'll be 4 this year Blush). Mine's a combination of a desk job, large portion sizes, snacking and no exercise. I lost half a stone before lockdown but it's all gone back on again.

Sodamncold · 17/05/2020 09:31

All these people saying “I like food”

I’m very underweight following a serious illness but before then - I was also underweight. “I like food” too. And in very generous portions. The food I like is salads, lean meats, tuna, fruit etc so means you get quantity and absolutely delicious food (some amazing chutneys and relishes really add to salads!).

So liking and enjoying in food and NOT being overweight is possible!

PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock · 17/05/2020 10:01

So liking and enjoying in food and NOT being overweight is possible!

Well it depends what kind of foods you like , doesn't it?

bettertimesarecomingnow · 17/05/2020 10:03

Alcohol crisps and chocolate during lockdown have made me gain 4lb. So annoyed as I had got to my perfect weight and I was so toned from going to the gym.

Then my knee flared up, I can't run and I have been boozing and snacking whilst at home

Grrr....

HotCrossBungle · 17/05/2020 10:08

sodamncold why post that on a thread about being overweight?

Patronising much?