Do you really feel that you did this to yourself with all the evidence of a genetic/familial link?

Robyn

That's a good question. My mom was diagnosed with "Syndrome X" and later with Type 2 diabetes.
I now have pre-diabetes and "may" have metabolic syndrome (which i was told is the same thing as syndrome x so i'm confused). Also was told I "may" have PCOS... what the **** does that mean. I might have 2 things wrong with me, and I'm about to have another one wrong with me. I feel like they should just diagnose me with fat unhealthy crabby hormonal woman syndrome and be done with it. Sigh.

I do wonder how much is hereditary and how much the fact that my mom did things a certain way, i grew up with it, became an adult, and did those same things... and thus am following in her footsteps. Hmmm...

Either way, apparently once I lose weight, I'll be healthy, happy, and have no more problems... right?

I agree with lizziness ... there is a tenuous connection between familial/hereditary/learned behaviour. I don't think that because I am genetically predisposed to heart disease and adult onset diabetes that I will necessarily suffer from it. I can be more active than my parents, eat better etc.

I dunno about that last sentence tho' ... that's a pretty sweeping statement. We'll all be better off if we take care of ourselves. There's no doubt about that.

Do I honestly think I did that to myself ... yes. The only things I've changed are those four things in my signature (and I haven't done a super job of all of them) and I'm good now. Resting pulse in the low 60's, the last BP I took was 100/70. I now believe that I was given a marvelous machine (body) and that, treated well ... it'll keep well.


Here's one that scared the crap outta me .... have you read about sedentary death syndrome????

Well, with that last sentence, I was just being my usual sarcastic self. I know that weight loss is vital to my being healthy... I just wish that I wasn't overwhelmed with this feeling that it's the one and only answer to my life and that if I am not thin, I am nothing. Plus, I had a conversation about Dr's blaming everything on weight earlier today, and was still feeling steamed about it. *L*

Sedentary Death Syndrome. Looked it up. Find it both disturbing and honestly slightly amusing. Seems to me some things should be obvious - you are sedentary, your body will stop working. Um... duh? I guess people need to be educated, and if nothing else getting some attention on the problem might get P.E. and sports back in schools. I don't know how it is anywhere else, but even the after school sports and teams are starting to get axed here. It's sad.

Oh no honey! You are definitely something. Look what a nice dry sense of humour you have. It's great! That won't change if you're 400 lbs or 140 lbs.

It's a terrible muddy quagmire ... the whole sedentary, poor food choice thing. There is a fine line between what happened and assuming I'm just lazy. We have to be careful with the difference between assuming responsiblity and taking control and shouldering all the black blame.

And the sports? It's everywhere. Insurance, liability, cost ....

When I was in school, there were maybe two or three kids that you could consider obese. There were handfuls more that were overweight (I was one of them). Now I look at DD's school and clearly over half are either grossly overweight (more overweight than I was at that age) or severely obese. It's really sad.....

I have a predisposition to diabetes (type 1--so I'm pretty much in the clear for that, but could still get type 2 if I'm not careful) and heart disease. This has got to be the biggest wake up call. I certainly can't go back now.....I have to move forward!

Susan, I really thought your symptoms were diabetes. I'd never heard of a metabolic syndrome. And now this SeDs....Wow. What an eye opener. I printed one article and will make sure the others that are trying to lose read it as well (so we can spread the word). Thanks.

My kids both have been dx with Metabolic syndrome. Sean (14) has more of the cholesterol problem with it. He is currently on lipitor after welchol did not work for him. He is able to hold his weight in a good place by being farily active and being in the marching band at his high school. Rachel (12) has a much harder time with her weight. At her most recent check up she had gained 30 lbs in one year, in spite of the fact that she dances in a ballet company and takes hip hop and tap as well. She spends about 7-8 hrs a week on average at her dance school and has PE every other day at school. So she is now on glucophage in the hopes that it will help her insulin work more efficiently and help her lose weight. So far, she has lost two pounds, so we'll see.

Thinwithin225 ... you're a good Momma! Congratulations on working with your kids on this. They'll grow to be much healthier adults because of the good things you're teaching them now.