Re: my thoughts on why people put on weight - my prediction for Steve

[Guest guest]

Gavin, That was very well said and I believe true. I, too, began my struggle with weight after a trauma...I didn't drink alcohol, smoke, or do drugs...I ate. I can really relate to what you said. Bethgavin_tsi wrote: Dear All,I have been a member of the group here for the past few weeks and have kept a breast of what is being posted on a daily basis.The interesting thing for me as I have read Steve's story and read diferent articles written about him, was to see the photos of Steve as a fit strong marine and in great shape. The question I always have in situations like

this is 'what happened to that person that made them change from fit to obese' In Steve's case his excess weight is obviously not a genetic factor as he wasnt overweight in his young adult years. The only thing I have been able to identiy as something that may have been an initiating factor was the tragic accident that Steve was involved in when 2 elderly pedestrians were killed (I'm not sure of the facts of this case as I read it in one of the articles). In my own expereince of being slightly overweight most of my life (20-30 lbs over target weight) and the expereince I have had as a Coach talking to many people who are very overweight like Steve was; is the main reason why we put on weight is because we have not dealt sufficiently well with some trauma that we have had in our earlier life.For me it was my parents splitting up and my mom leaving when i was 10 years old, for others it is often

some form of sexual or physical abuse that we try and cover up. We end up believing about ourselves is that in some way we are not good enough, deserving enough or valuable enough to be fit strong and healthy.We have all heard of people losing weight and then putting it back on again, I have done that a number of times in my life. My prediction for Steve is that what he is doing here will more than likely result in permanent weight loss and that is because in my opinion he is generating such a lot of positive feedback that he is an exceptional human being, he has a lot to offer the world, he can make a difference, people love him and respect him for what he is doing and that is the truth, his truth. That truth is inside all of us, that is the truth for everyone. That does not mean that we all have to get our sneakers on and start trekking across the continent, but what does have to happen though

is for any of us to make changes we have to have a group of people around us who will encourage us, support us, hold us accountable and not buy into our excuses of why we are overweight.Good on you Steve, I admire you and congratulate you on your results so far.Gavin Allinson

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[Guest guest]

Gavin (and the rest of you) I piled on 180 pounds after a serious road accident that left me with a shattered ankle, I am trying sooooo hard to lose this weight (and have managed 40 pounds in 4 years), Steve I think is an inspiration to us all to think that there is something that we all can do! The Dragon (aka High Priestess Enchanting Evenweave), stitching on RRs = Margaret Sherry and bell-pull also WIPs/UFOs = 3 x Wentzler, Celtic Summer

[Guest guest]

Gavin and Beth: Why should trauma make people turn to food rather

than to god? Do you think it's because people have lost their faith

in god? People in India for example have had so much trauma, yet they

do not have the weight problems we have in this country. Perhaps it's

because they turn inward for help rather than to fast food. Anita

[Guest guest]

I'm with you Gavin. I was molested as a child by my father only I went in the other direction. Skinny as a rail. After I got in my 30's and told people about it, I went the other direction and started putting on weight. It was the hardest thing to do to get it off and it's even harder to keep it off. It's all a mind set. I followed Dr. Malhotras book and I had to set my mind, because no one wants to talk about it. It's like it's taboo. A dirty word. It might rub off. So, you need to make up your own mind, no matter what anyone says or does and go for what you want. Steve had been a great influence on me regarding many matters with his writings. Thank you Steve. Thank you Gavin and everyone for your input. It has helped me a lot. Conniegavin_tsi wrote: Dear All,I have been a member of the

group here for the past few weeks and have kept a breast of what is being posted on a daily basis.The interesting thing for me as I have read Steve's story and read diferent articles written about him, was to see the photos of Steve as a fit strong marine and in great shape. The question I always have in situations like this is 'what happened to that person that made them change from fit to obese' In Steve's case his excess weight is obviously not a genetic factor as he wasnt overweight in his young adult years. The only thing I have been able to identiy as something that may have been an initiating factor was the tragic accident that Steve was involved in when 2 elderly pedestrians were killed (I'm not sure of the facts of this case as I read it in one of the articles). In my own expereince of being slightly overweight most of my life (20-30 lbs over target weight) and the expereince I have

had as a Coach talking to many people who are very overweight like Steve was; is the main reason why we put on weight is because we have not dealt sufficiently well with some trauma that we have had in our earlier life.For me it was my parents splitting up and my mom leaving when i was 10 years old, for others it is often some form of sexual or physical abuse that we try and cover up. We end up believing about ourselves is that in some way we are not good enough, deserving enough or valuable enough to be fit strong and healthy.We have all heard of people losing weight and then putting it back on again, I have done that a number of times in my life. My prediction for Steve is that what he is doing here will more than likely result in permanent weight loss and that is because in my opinion he is generating such a lot of positive feedback that he is an exceptional human being, he has a lot to

offer the world, he can make a difference, people love him and respect him for what he is doing and that is the truth, his truth. That truth is inside all of us, that is the truth for everyone. That does not mean that we all have to get our sneakers on and start trekking across the continent, but what does have to happen though is for any of us to make changes we have to have a group of people around us who will encourage us, support us, hold us accountable and not buy into our excuses of why we are overweight.Good on you Steve, I admire you and congratulate you on your results so far.Gavin Allinson

[Guest guest]

Anita... I can't speak for others, but I know that I was (and still am) very spiritual...and prayed a lot about things I couldn't control (the trauma), but for some reason...I also used food. I'll never forget the first time I used food as a crutch...it was peanut butter...and I ate it with a spoon straight from the jar. I was 18 years old and had never looked at food that way before...from that point on my relationship with food was forever changed. I don't know about India...they do not eat meat...they have very difficult lives with little modern conveniences...I don't think they are the only country that doesn't battle weight control. It may have to do with Americans having the "time" to dwell on trauma instead of struggling with the day to day hardships of living. I just don't know...? Bethanita penner wrote: Gavin and Beth: Why should trauma make people turn to food rather than to god? Do you think it's because people have lost their faith in god? People in India for example have had so much trauma, yet they do not have the weight problems we have in this country. Perhaps it's because they turn inward for help rather than to fast food. Anita

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[Guest guest]

>

> Gavin and Beth: Why should trauma make people turn to food rather

> than to god? Do you think it's because people have lost their faith

> in god? People in India for example have had so much trauma, yet

they

> do not have the weight problems we have in this country. Perhaps

it's

> because they turn inward for help rather than to fast food. Anita

>

Hi, I am a weight management consultant and the author of Asian Slim

Secrets: Enjoy Food, Stay Slim Naturally!

When I came to the US 19 years ago, I put on 25 lbs within 3 months. I

always love to eat but in Asia, I don't have a weight problem. Simply

put, American food is fattening, it's very dense in calories. Asian's

food are bulky, rich in resistant starch, fiber and water, so it's

filling but not dense in calories.

I give out free chapters at Asianslim.com. I hope the information

helps!

Empower others!

Yo

author Asian Slim Secrets

[Guest guest]

Hi Anita,

I am new here nice to meet you. I noticed one thing in your post that

I find odd. I do not know if you are from the USA, but many, many

foreigners assume people here just eat fast food & thus gain weight.

I do not know if you have a medical or scientific background, but I

will say, many people get overweight by eating correct foods. A

calorie is a calorie. People gain weight with correct foods. Do not

make assumptions with this fast food idea.

Just wanting to set the record straight. A calorie is a calorie.

>

> Gavin and Beth: Why should trauma make people turn to food rather

> than to god? Do you think it's because people have lost their faith

> in god? People in India for example have had so much trauma, yet

they

> do not have the weight problems we have in this country. Perhaps

it's

> because they turn inward for help rather than to fast food. Anita

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Roper: This is Anita. You're right of course, a calorie is a

calorie. But when I stand in line at the checkout counter at most

markets, I can't believe what people put into their baskets. And I'm

sure that they think the cookies, chips and frozen pizzas are good

foods. I think the main difference in Western society is our car

culture. At least here in California, nobody walks to the stores or

post office. Nobody runs to catch a bus or train. That would burn a

few. Anita

[Guest guest]

,

I have to agree completely. I am living in Germany where more and more

people are becoming obese, but here the way of living is far away from

the habits in the States.

Last summer I was in Tokyo for three weeks again. Even I ate sometimes

not so healthy foods and drank a lot of beer I only gained one pound.

The reasons: the portions are much smaller than in the US. For example

a cheese cake is just a third in size compared to US. And of course I

had a lot of low calorie foods, like Miso soup as starter to almost

every meal, sushi, and e.g.

From Tokyo I travelled to the States and I was shocked again about the

size of the meals. I presume that every meal has one third or more

calories compared to Japanese food (and Thai food as well) and the

portions are also considerably bigger than in Europe. Additionally I

made the same experience like Steve: often it is extremely hard to

find healthy, low calorie food.

When I go to the US it is almost impossible not gain weight, since you

need a lot of self control not to order the fatty calorie rich foods

and not to empty the huge plates - which I often don't have since the

fatty foods are mostly very tasty :-(.

IMHO it is extremely difficult not gain weight US with all the junk

food and huge size of the meals available.

To make it worse in the media in Europe and the US (advertising,

magazines e.g.) there is so many misleading information about weight

loss offering pills, powders, pseudo healthy foods (low fat/ low

carb), and e.g.

It took me three years and several kind of diets (low fat/ low carb)

to learn that both extremes are nonsense and that almost *ALL*

processed food (diet or not) contain either too much fat or too much

sugar.

Finally I learned the basics about the right way of eating from Tom

Venuto's book " Burn the fat feed the muscle " . Unfortunately this book

has one shortcoming as well: it requires preparing fresh meals

yourself every day with veggies, white meat, e.g. which is very

difficult for me...

Best

Ferdinand

> >

> > Gavin and Beth: Why should trauma make people turn to food rather

> > than to god? Do you think it's because people have lost their faith

> > in god? People in India for example have had so much trauma, yet

> they

> > do not have the weight problems we have in this country. Perhaps

> it's

> > because they turn inward for help rather than to fast food. Anita

> >

>

> Hi, I am a weight management consultant and the author of Asian Slim

> Secrets: Enjoy Food, Stay Slim Naturally!

>

> When I came to the US 19 years ago, I put on 25 lbs within 3 months. I

> always love to eat but in Asia, I don't have a weight problem. Simply

> put, American food is fattening, it's very dense in calories. Asian's

> food are bulky, rich in resistant starch, fiber and water, so it's

> filling but not dense in calories.

>

> I give out free chapters at Asianslim.com. I hope the information

> helps!

>

> Empower others!

> Yo

> author Asian Slim Secrets

>

[Guest guest]

Ferdinand: I believe that the food companies in this country and the

weight loss programs are in collusion. One keeps the weight up by

providing unhealthy, fattening foods, and this in turn keeps the gyms

and weight loss programs in business. Anita

[Guest guest]

thats very insightful and the synchronicity in it all is amazing. we

are doomed from both ends thats why we need to step out step outside

and not stay in our homes watching television!

>

[Guest guest]

Anita,

It is no wonder that the country with the most obese people of the

world (isn't it around 67%?) has the biggest health industry.

But I don't think that they work together actually, there are just two

sides of the coin. While people are more or less obsessed with

(unhealthy)food they are obsessed with health as well. That's why you

find GNC and similar stores not far from fast food restaurants.

You could compare it to what I did today: I had a maxi menu at

Mcs (1500 cals) with a diet coke. This is a kind of

schizophrenic behavior: I had junk food with a pseudo healthy drink,

as if the diet coke would do me any good, since _both_ the junk food

and the drink are industrial products which didn't contain any healthy

ingredients and I had too many calories anyway (~ 2/3 of my daily

calorie intake)...

There are several reasons why I am so impressed by what Steve is doing:

On reason that his adventure is showing much more clearly than usual

that his obesity is the result of internal and external causes which

are way too complex to be cured with a simple solution. Even his

extreme physical activity alone could not reduce his weight in a way

he had envisioned.

Ferdinand

>

> Ferdinand: I believe that the food companies in this country and the

> weight loss programs are in collusion. One keeps the weight up by

> providing unhealthy, fattening foods, and this in turn keeps the gyms

> and weight loss programs in business. Anita

>