Wow. Not something I thought I’d ever see in the media
The stock article in the NY Times on obesity ends with this conclusion:
The research is just beginning, true, but already it has upended some hoary myths about dieting. The body establishes its optimal weight early on, perhaps even before birth, and defends it vigorously through adulthood. As a result, weight control is difficult for most of us. And obesity, the terrible new epidemic of the developed world, is almost impossible to cure.
The point that it makes is that the brain tends to have an optimum weight that it tries to maintain, making someone lower than that hungrier and someone over it loose their appetite. Also that moderate exercise does not really work–a leisurely stroll after dinner for 20 minutes only burns maybe 100 calories. I do more than leisurely stroll, but I may not be hitting the intensity I should in exercise. I think the weight lifting is working (my muscles are rock solid, but still covered in many inches of fat), but not the cardio. I’m thinking about paying for a session or two with a personal trainer. We’ll see. I just know I haven’t really been working hard enough on the weight thing the last couple of weeks and the scale responded immediately. It’s too bad I can never slip…well not for extended periods of time anyway.
rosessupposes said,
October 29, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Did anybody notice how terribly ironic this post is? I go from quoting a source saying that we have an optimum weight we seem to stay at and then go on to obsess about my weight. My body image does seem to drain all the logic out of my brain as soon as it pops in for a chat. Speaking of which, I have managed to avoid the Halloween candy all week, but now I am at home and there is nothing else to turn too. Not going to give in!