And you're not even getting into the subject of different body types.

To pick an example that most people should be familiar with, the actor who plays 'Hurley' on the show LOST isn't terribly fat. Yes, he could lose a few pounds (and apparently has, in fact), but you can see that his body type is one of the heavier ones. He's more out of shape than he is overweight (another common failing and one that I'm guilty of as well). If he got with 50lbs of his 'ideal' weight his body would probably shut down from the abuse it took to get it there.

As to myself, my actual good body weight is about 50 lbs over what the various charts recommend. Unfortunately my current actual weight is significantly over that, but like you I'm stuck here in a chair for 10+ hours / day.

I've also know people who would be grossly overweight - for them - if they weighed what the various authoritative charts said they should.

One size does not fit all.

Who hid the 11' pole?

Beth, I tossed out that BMI garbage a long time ago---when I was in shape it said I was way to skinny, skinny onto sickness. Yes, as you age your basal metabolic rate slows and you put on weight by eating rather sensiblely because you don't notice that your daily caloreic intake goes down. If you're mentally comfortable with how you are and have no physical complications from it then more power to 'ya babe(back off John, lower that pistol 'cause I ain't hitting on your wife, 'kay?) 'cause you got a leg up on me.

Though if you do have some problems with joints brought on by weight may I recommend swimming? 15 minutes of swimming is about the eq of 45 minutes jogging or biking without the shock damage to the joints and back. Hey, I never take off my shirt at the pool either---I get part of the issue about swimming. Early morning's a good time to go. Just trying to be helpful in the possibility that you've got some joint problems(put the gun down, please, pretty please).

But, That $itch, La Schlussel, has something of a point about Monique and her movie(and only about the movie). We're taking Big is Beautiful too far. Getting beyond 'everyone must look like Barbie' is all to the better, but promoting morbid obesity or saying it's okay is dangerous. On the other hand this new reality show, 'Honey, we're killing our kids", is way too far in the extreme as well in the other direction.
Naturally stocky IS beautiful. But fat onto crushing your heart is not. There's a Grand Canyon of difference(and apparently La Schlussel missed that) between the two. Accepting of different body types is a good thing. Accepting overly indulgent behaviours is not a good thing. If you ain't the latter, and you aren't(well, if your blog posts are any indication you aren't with the exception of indulging yourself of John), who gives a fig what that rat bastard La Schlussel thinks?
(Okay, you can pick up the gun now. I've had my say. Do I get a blindfold?)

*LOL at Ry*

Don't have much to say except mention the jerks that called me "Fat bitch," from the other side of their rolled-down SUV window when I was out biking one day.

It's not just parental paranoia keeping the kids at home. I was told by someone who works for our county child protective services that they tell parents not to let the children go out in the neighborhood. If a child is outside, a parent should be able to see him/her from the doorway/porch at all times.

Our county is a mixture of subdivisions and farmland, and if that is the advice here I would imagine it isn't any better in areas with denser populations.

Amen, Beth.

I was just talking about this with my DH last night.

I dare ANY of those bitches to call ME morally corrupt.

I suspect they are insecure about their own bodies, and condemn us because they lack the cojones to examine their own self-worth...

Megan McArdle didn't say that, though.

In fact, she said But I don't assume that what is easy for me is easy for everyone--after all, most of my friends can smoke socially, while every time I've broken down and had a cigarette, I've ended up right back on a pack-and-a-half habit within a week. Unfortunately, my friends who struggle with their weight can't just go cold turkey, the way I did.

She didn't say it was easy. She did say anyone can do it, and, well, that's true, apart from very unlikely circumstances - as long as we remember she didn't say it would be easy to do. And she certainly said nothing about moral corruption.

I don't know what this Schlussel person said. Perhaps it's all her fault - from what people have been talking about her, she seems just stupid enough to have managed that.

Amen, Amen and AMEN
Beth, you have said it all, for many of us.

You know what, Beth......we are what we are. And we should like what we are. If nobody has a problem with you, at least those you care about........then let it go and be happy with what you are. I have lived long enough to know all have difficulties of different sorts. I was, and to a lesser extent, still am dyslexic; learning to cope with it on my own. I am also a fifteen year sober alkie, a former chemical waste dump. My eyes don't see as well as they used to, my joints require constant infusions of glucosamine and congroiten...what ever the hell it is. But it is not what defines a person....I have liked your shares and posts and would call you friend.

(puts arm around sigvald's shoulders)
You just don't get it, do you? YOu're messing with a woman's body image here. That's some serious voodoo you're playing with. YOu cannot forget that element to the equation when you're discussing this. YOu're messing with some powerful emotions----which is why I expected to be shot, and still expect to be shot, at Beth's convenience.

The closest analog I've ever come acrossed for men is penis size, particularly if you're smaller than avg. And it still doesn't come close to the pressure women face/have faced on this issue(hey, I coached hs track and cross country as recently as 1994. Girls still felt the pressure even as recent as that.)

And you can't forget that SWWBO has a point, which I highlighted with the 'Honey, we're killing the kids' show. It's playing right back into the stereotype that nothing but Barbie is beautiful/healthy and nothing but Tom Brady is what men should strive to look like. The putting extra healthcare costs onto people just because they don't match what a bmi chart says is also generating a situation where people who aren't going to be Barbie regardless of efforts to be healthy have abuse heaped on them for no good reason. Particularly when people I know who have worked out to stay thin all their lives are taking more joint pain meds than SWWBO proll'y ever will---they cost more than she does---as milage tends to damage knees and other joints(I'm just waiting for pilates to be around for a decade, so we can see what repetitive use injuries it causes. TANSTAAFL.). It's an unfair stigma and financial burden on non-meso morph somatotypes, not to mention utter bs as well. So, while McArdle didn't go way out like La Dummy she did say this, 'That said, I also assume that people who struggle with their weight have some different, stronger signals in their brain telling them to eat than I have.' Which does imply that those who do have trouble losing weight is because they can't control themselves.
Beth, if at all, isn't that far outta line for taking exception to that. YOu should go back and read her archives and her husbands archives about the measures they've taken to control eating and weight. These aren't spineless people. Far from it. Given that, I think Beth is well within rights to take exception to essentially being called a weak willed flabby body.
Just not in the face, okay Beth? Always wanted to be able to have an open casket funeral.

I'm about the same size as you. I too hope to lose more weight. I walk anywhere from 1 to 2 miles a day. I spend an average of 45 minutes a week on a Step Master. Even at work, I'll get up from my desk and do stretch exercises. I control what I eat. It doesn't seem to do any good as far as the weight is concerned. I'm healthy and have a fairly active life style. It used to bother me a lot about the comments and some looks I would receive because of my weight.

It doesn't any more because I am who I am. If people cannot see beyond how I look I don't think I would want to associate with them. It's not a persons weight or appearance that counts, it's what is in their heart and soul.

And from reading your site and John's, ya'll have big hearts and souls.

C'mon,sweetie - let's go walk down the sidwalk arm-in-arm and sweep 'em free of skinny-folk and joggers like minesweepers clearing a field.

And we can sumo any people like us we run into for passage rights!

Well, in my case, Ry, they *are* correct, I do cost more. I smugly accept that $1200 a month disability payment - which essentially is their admission that the health care system failed me because it was diagnosing improperly, and it'll kill me quicker - and because all the things I was doing - working out harder and harder (to less effect) were actually making the problem worse, due to how hypothyroidism works.

But you're correct on the joint injury thing as well, Ry - over half of my contemporaries have had knee surgery on at least one knee by their mid-40's, because their knees had been pounded to flinders.

And their pain-killers cost a *lot* more than my synthroid.

Of course, the whole issue is much more complicated than individual cases. I'm just tired of the fat nazis. Fuck 'em.

Hallelujah brothers and sisters!!!!!!!!!

Preach it! yes!

You guys start a cult group I am with you :)

I'm in your park SWBO. I got the same type of sit behind a desk, stare at a computer for 16 hours type job that just does WONDERS on my deriere. Among other things.

They say inside of every fat person is a skinny person trying to escape. I think my fat kid ate my skinny person.

Screw'em.

Hey Beth,

I fought weight control from its initial implementation in '80 or '81 until I retired in '95. Along the way, like John said, I "pounded my knees to flinders." When I retired, I promised myself 10 years with no worries about weight or working out. Well, that passed, and I have begun the distasteful task of becoming less physically unfit. However, I am stretching quite a bit, exercising lightly, and watching my diet. What I lose, I lose. I don't get wrapped up in it. I am doing this for me, not anyone else. Anybody runs the "fat boy" line on me, I "accidentally" step on. Makes a real impression on them.

Sapper Mike

You know what? John said it best:
I'm just tired of the fat nazis. Fuck 'em.

I hope the Cupid Stunt (DS) gets knocked up and gains 200 pounds. People like her need it.

It's all "look at me, I'm so wonderful" with these people. THEY lost weight, therefore everyone else should. Like ex-smokers, except worse because smoking is always unhealthy (yes, I still smoke). THEY lost weight and think they're superior. Or they've always been thin are just assholes. I see more of this in people who have lost a lot of weight though, like they're proof THEIR way always works.

In DS' case, she's probably just trying to get fawning male attention (as usual), trying to "prove" she's attractive (as IF). "Hate Fat Chicks," she says. (Who the fuck doesn't she hate?) Hate fat chicks. She's the most appalling piece of filthy white trash I've ever seen on the internets.

It's White Trash Wednesday at MVRWC, so maybe my WT alter-ego might have to open a can o' whoop-ass on her. She's "fatter" than I am, so maybe I'll just GO there. Screw her, with a goddamned chainsaw.

And Ezra Klein? What a eunuch. That douchebag makes me want to vomit. Sorry, but any "man" (I'm being generous here) that preaches about how "easy" it is to lose weight and why doesn't everyone else just do it, needs his ass kicked hard.

ry: Thank you for acknowledging the crap with body image women deal with. Good analogy, too (and it's probably what Ezra Klein is overcompensating for).

"And we can sumo any people like us we run into for passage rights!" I wonder how John will handle my 100 hand slap technique? Proll'y just grab one of my hands and crush it. Then apply healthy amount of Giant Boot.

Beth C., no problem-o. Once in a while my brain will actually function and I'll write something intelligent.

"But you're correct on the joint injury thing as well, Ry - over half of my contemporaries have had knee surgery on at least one knee by their mid-40's, because their knees had been pounded to flinders.

And their pain-killers cost a *lot* more than my synthroid."

Which highlights one reason why, when I used to be a disgusting twig ;) and did some coaching and personal trainer moonlighting, I recommended and still recommend that people do stuff like swimming or aqua-aerobics instead of running or biking or high impact aerobics; which can blow out knees, compress vertebrae or other nastiness(don't even want to think about what it does to hips, trust me). So you don't pound your knees to flinders---though you put your shoulders at risk, but a rotator cuff is nothing compared to torn ligaments or menisci in your knee given the weight bearing of the joint---and still get the benefit.

The hard part is that the best exercise is the one that carries the most emotional threat. If it really matters to you to lose some weight, for medical reasons, screw cosmetical ones, swim a couple of laps every day. Good cardio(which helps raise the metabolism in probably anyone but John.). Takes off some weight to help the joints a bit. Putting on that bathing suit is a real bitter lemon though.

*shudders at thought of donning a bathing suit*

My parents come from BIG MOMMA'S. I mean BIG. And so are some of my best friends. I guess that's why I don't have preconceived ideas about overweight people being "stupid" or "lazy". I know better.

I am lazy. Not just a little lazy, but a total slob. I have three monitors, and im rarely away from them. Outside? Well, ive heard of it... O go there so rarely, my skin is pale.

I remain a reasonable weight only because I eat next to nothing.

If you want people to exercise, its going to take more than time to make some of us leave out comfy chairs.

I have been fighting my weight issue since 4th grade. Because I want to stay in the Reserve as long as possible, I continue to fight it. I know I HAVE to watch what I eat (and who, but that's a whole different story.. hehe..). I HAVE to work out. I work 12-hour shifts, day and nights, THEN go to the gym. It used to kill me to watch the skinny fucks walk in and do a PT test without any prep, and I bust my ass to barely pass. Now, I haven't maxed it yet, but I score a lot better than the minimum. And, now, I have a new reason to keep in shape. I still have another 50 or 60 pounds I'd like to lose, but I'm not killing myself to do it. I am who I am, fat, skinny or in between

And what a CUTE BABY! (nudge nudge, c'mon people!)

She's an adorable baby, John- that's for sure! Perhaps we should have a baby picture show n tell?

"Fat Bottomed Girls make the rockin' world go 'round..."

Dunno if that's quite PC, but I don't mind a lady with a bit of meat on her bones.

Just be healthy, that's all I request; do what can be done to balance size versus strains upon the body's systems...

And be true to yourself. That's far more beautiful than any shape, weight, or size...

Yep, a very cute, healthy-looking baby. Love those apple-cheeks!

I speak from the other extreme. As an almost 100% pure ectomorph (all skin and bones and nerves) I've been sensitive about my scrawniness all my life. I can't float in fresh water.

"We slender, nervous people" was how Barney Fife put it, as I recall.

Owhell, you well-padded people may well have the last laugh as Western Civ. collapses around our ears; skinny high-burn-rate folks like me are always first to go in a famine.

May I brag about the Sweety here? She's a very womanly-looking woman, with the absolute ass of Venus!

"*shudders at thought of donning a bathing suit*"
But you shouldn't. And that's what's got SWWBO pissed off----dingbats make you so self conscious that you won't. Shouldn't be that way AFSis. Beth and any other woman should be as cool with going to the pool in swimming attire as I am(well, not me, 'cause I'm not that cool about going to the pool) or anyone else.
And it's good for you too. I don't know how many wallflower girls I coached who once they got over that initial shock became so comfortable with themselves that they would wear just the sports bra and track shorts to work out in(one even went on to become prom queen as a senior in HS after being an utter wallflower who wore mens XL shirts as a freshman to hide as much of herself as possible). It's scary as hell, but you should do it(wear the bathing suits, ladies---quit 'yer drooling, pervs. Well, I guess John can drool, he is married to her after all. Need a mop?). The moonbats won't change, but you can build your self confidence---which is why Mo'nique isn't entirely a bad thing---to the point where you trully don't f'n care what they think or how they look at you. It's a useful endeavor IMO.

how adorable the baby picture is

ry, good advice for all of us.

Seawitch! Ssshhhhhhh! His head's big enough, on that scrawny neck! It might fall over and paralyze him!

When have I ever been right? Name one time? Huh? I dare you.
Read the fine print. Only Old Pharts and Pretty Ladies are allowed to be correct.

I'm still perfect. Perfectly wrong, but why mess with perfection?

And you're one to talk about large heads, Mr. I-Had-To-Constantly-Try-To-Get-A-Bigger-Brain-Bucket-While-I-Served-Because-My-Mellon-Is-Ginormous. phhhllllpppppt.

Read "SugarBusters".
The villians are white sugar and it's derivatives, corn sweeteners, white flour, white rice, potatoes (which have Solanine and aggravate Arthritis), carrots, beets, corn and corn products and processed foods.

When I switched from potatoes to brown rice (which has compounds in the hull which are beneficial to Arthritis) and cut out the high glycemic crap I had lived on my weight dropped 40 pounds and my Arthritis quit bothering me. My health improved and my cholesterol dropped by almost a third.

High glycemic foods convert to sugar and are stored as fat. Low glycemic foods metabolize fat and break down cholesterol. At age 57 my blood pressure now averages 120/70 and some mornings is 110/60.

Or you can stay overweight and unhealty.

This kind of thing makes me furious.
I could care less how much someone weighs. I am only interested in the heart and soul of a person. The inside not the outside. Too many times and 8X10 glossy is just that and nothing more. They are boreing and shallow.

You are a wonderful person and that is a fact! I am glad I got to meet you online and look forward to knowing you even better. It is an honor!

Like John of Argghhh! said........ FUCK em!

Chrissie

I, too, couldn't care less how much a person weighs. But I do care how much they cost the public, taxpayer-funded health service here. While heart-attacks are a cheap way to die, diabeties is not.

So... you cant force people to exercise. Not once they leave school anyway. Perhaps someone will invent a fat-removing miracle pill, but until then perhaps the best approach is to regulate their diet - produce some formal standard to define 'fatty' foods, and then require that they be not only clearly labeled, but taxed as well.

The tax alone isn't going to work, of course - time is worth more than money. But it will be a nudge in the right direction for buyers, and encourage manufacturers to get back below the threshold.

Ry,
You're right. I know it in my heart, but my mind just won't follow down the same road. I don't want to be skinny- I like being curvy. I just don't want to be quite so lumpy, lol. Besides the fact that being large busted makes it hard for me to find a modest suit- I tend to hang out of a lot of them, lol.

Anywhoo.... You are right about it, and I do need to get over it and just put the damn suit on and enjoy the pool.

"Anywhoo.... You are right about it, and I do need to get over it and just put the damn suit on and enjoy the pool."
Well, only if you really do enjoy going to the pool. Should I follow around behind with a mop and bucket for all the male Denizens who'll tend to drool?
And don't say I'm right. That'll spur The Armorer into anti-ry insurgentcy operations--and they hurts ussss, gollum.

Unlike you, Ry - I've met AFSis.

Yer right.

Get over it. "Even a broken clock..." etc.

8^ )

"Get over it. "Even a broken clock..." etc.

8^ )"
Great. This just means the next time The Boot comes down it'll be real hard. Do you know how hard it is to get that bootprint off of my shirts, well, do ya?