A Newbie's observation
 

I'm not sure I agree, maybe those stand out to you. I think I see a larger proportion of women that ARE doing it for their health...they realize they have a family history of diabetes, etc. There do talk about how they feel like cr**, and want to feel better, and look better.

One would probably assume that because I was "only" 144 lbs at the start of my journey, that I was doing it for looks alone. I wasn't...but, yes...that is part of it. All of us want to be comfortable in our own skin. But also, I now can jog a 5K, when I couldn't do a mile when I started. My emotions are more stable, I don't get sugar spikes/crashes all the time (cuz I don't eat table sugar anymore!!). My blood pressure and cholesterol were good before I started, so that wasn't an issue.

But BOY, do I feel SOOOO much better, both physically and emotionally.

Now, I will admit, there's a few on here that their goal is a BMI that's considered "underweight". It's hard to be supportive/understanding of that....

Health definitely is a reason for me, although I didn't include that on my initial post. (I think I'll go back and edit it to include it!)

Both of my parents are diabetic, controlled by medication and diet. If they'd both lose weight, the diabetes would disappear. My brother had the same thing, and he's lost weight and improved his health and it's gone. My 74-yr old father had a triple bypass 30 years ago, and has had a couple angioplasties since then. He doesn't eat properly or exercise, but he's still kicking, through the grace of God.

For me, the weight affects my sleep, which affects my overall health. I'm tired, run-down, and it's a never-ending spiral downwards into worse health. My cholesterol is barely within limits; my blood sugar is OK (for now), but I know that I could have serious problems down the road.

I love my husband and children dearly, and I want to be around well into old age to be with him, and with our grandchildren some day.

I think you may be noticing only certain areas of the boards or perhaps certain age groups mainly.

Many of our younger members who, luckily, have not yet developed serious health concerns are perhaps more likely to be thinking from a vanity angle, but as our members get older and/or develop other problems, the focus definitely changes.

Have a look at our Dieting with Obstacles area . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14 . . . and, of course, the Diabetes Support Forum . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=203 . . . as well as the 40-Somethings . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=216 . . . and the Age 50+ . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=217 . . . Forums

I notice that you have been to the Diabetes Support Forum and have posted your bio over there, but most of your other posts have been in Introductions and 20-Somethings -- of course, that doesn't mean that you hven't been reading everywhere else -- but it is a very big site. :yes:

BTW . . . Coppertop . . . Diabetes, unfortunately, does not 'disappear'. Once you have it it is yours forever -- it just becomes easier to control and the continued need for medications may disappear. The condition known as pre-diabetes (insulin resistance) can be totally reversed and the final diagnosis of Type II Diabetes avoided. You are definitely right that the very best thing any Diabetic can do for themselves is to get down to and maintain a normal weight.

No need to slink away; you are allowed to have an opinion!

Honestly, I think part of the reason you may be noticing people talking about how they want to look, etc, is that it really goes without saying that we are almost all doing this for our health first and foremost. To prevent health problems later in life, or to ameliorate pre-existing conditions. And then it's an added bonus if we "look good in that slinky little number." ;)

Regardless, :wel3fc:

Yeah health is the major reason for almost everyone here. Me, I just want that sexyness :) I've never had any health problem due to my extra pounds (well, for now) and I can do any activities. I know I've risks anyway but that's not my major reason right now. I'm doing it for my peace of mind and self confidence... I lack of those and yeah, that makes me sick.

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I look at it the other way around. I want to lose weight to look good now. I know my health will be better later in life as a consequence of taking care of myself now, but that's not why I do it.

I am focused on being happy today!

hello everyone...............I am from michigan,,,,,,,,,,,and need a person I can check in with on our dieting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,connie

I think as you read more here and participate more, you'll find that this is one of the few forums (in my experience) where being healthy as you lose weight - and losing weight to be healthy - is an integral part of every single post.

If you read the advice given to newbies here, it almost always starts with talking about lifestyle changes and being healthy, rather than just working to lose weight as quickly as possible.

Many of the forums are dedicated in their entirety to healthy lifestyles; whole foods, exercise and fitness, etc.

And I thing for many of us, because the attitude of "be healthy" permeates the whole of 3FC, we don't feel the need to explicitly state it every single time. We are all comfortable enough around each other to talk about the more "surface" reasons ... like looking good in our jeans, having better sex, being more attractive to our SOs, etc.

FWIW.

.

Being healthy is a huge factor, looking better and wearing smaller size clothing is a bonus.

Hmmm. I find that I'm _afraid of_ things like diabetes and joint problems and all the other weight-related stuff, and that's definitely a huge motivator. But it's a lot more fun to talk about those boxes of "thin clothes" in the attic!

Welcome, Mollikins, and don't slink! I don't think anyone was offended by your post; it reminds us that maybe we do need to be make the implicit explicit sometimes.
anita

Well, I would disagree with the assertion that wanting to look good HAS TO BE for someone else's benefit... losing weight, at least for me, is more than just so that I can look good to other people -- it's so I can feel better, about myself -- emotionally, physically, everything. My motivations to lose weight are 100% for my benefit.

In terms of health... well, I'm 24 years old now. When I first began taking my weight problem seriously, I was 19 (about to be 20). Even at 264lbs and 5'4" tall, although I felt terrible about myself and all, I had normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol, no diabetes or heart problems, no breathing problems, no knee or joint problems, etc etc. I wasn't (yet) experiencing any negative health affects of being obese. That's not to say that, given time and some aging, i wouldn't have developed them, but at that point, I had no immediate health reasons to lose weight. Also, when you're 19... I mean, I'm a pretty cautious person, but who worries about what they're health will be in middle age when they're 19 years old?

But even though 99% of my desire to lose weight was for "superficial" reasons -- wanting to look and feel better physically -- I still did it completely and totally for myself.

And some of us have discovered that healthy IS sexy ;)

:high: great comment, Chickie.

And some of us have discovered that healthy IS sexy

Love this!!!LOL Certainly helps to get gloser without the gut in the way

Isn't obesity a health issue on its own? Think of all the health problems come hand in hand (or least one's probability to end up with) cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer - to name just a few. My health was definitely a strong factor in my decision to lose weight. I am not saying it was the only one, I, too, want to look better and sexier yadi yadi yada, but as someone who inherited genes for varicose veins, HBP and breast cancer, health was high on the list of my reasons.

Vanity can be a motivator for sure ;) Nothing is wrong at all about that. I want to look good for myself and reap all of the healthy benefits that goes along with losing weight. That is not saying this is the only reason that I want to lose. There are so many things that losing weight can and will help in the long run.

I have heart disease and other misc things that run in my family and that is always on the back of my mind. It doesn't however keep me motivated.

Welcome to 3FC :) The more you get involved the more you'll see that we all have different things that are making us want to lose the pounds but it's all for the common cause!

Tomato- I think I'm the only who thinks this- lol I don't believe Obesity is a health issue on its own, it is rather a symptom... I find that most people don't just get fat because they're happy healthy people, you tend to gain weight as a result of something else in your life. Whether it be genetics- health problems, or emotional ones... I think the weight loss journey itself is a way of dealing with the other issues in our life. Meaning, we try to get our weight down so that our blood sugar stays level, etc :)

I lost 6 stone and looked much worse afterwards due to saggy skin! To be honest I was so disheartened that I think that may have been one of the reasons why I let four of those stones creep back on...Now I am doing it purely for health - but if my face looks better for the loss then I will be pleased. I know that the rest of me won't but I can live with that!

I'll admit that vanity is probably at least 50 % of the reason I want to lose weight. I wish I wasn't that vain, but I am. When I was younger, vanity was 100% the reason, though. As I've gotten older, I've started thinking about my health more and about the fact that many people on my father's side of the family have diabetes (and I take after him)!

I think one of the reasons people tend to lose weight to look good (rather than specifically for health reasons) is that our society is so image-conscious.

Welcome!