Topic : Obesity

My professor wants me as well as the other students in the class to collect as many responses on the Internet (completely anonymous) as we can and then compare the answers to one another and then analyze the answers. It is sort of a way for us to be able to see if we can analyze and help our clients once we practice psychology.

STORY ONE: Is Carlys mom saying that Carly was overweight before and now Carly is skinny or is Carly reading too much into this: STORY : Carly is THIN and A FEW DAYS AGO when Carly came home from work she changed into a tee-shirt but wore the same pants she wore to work. Carlys mom asked her as they sat down to eat if Carly lost weight, and Carly said no, but this upset Carly. Carly said to her mom that her mom always tells Carly she looks beautiful. Her mom said you do look beautiful but your pants look bigger. And she told Carly that Carly is skinny enough.”. (OK KEEP IN MIND THAT LAST WEEK WHEN CARLY AND HER MOM WENT TO VISIT CARLY’S AUNT IN ANOTHER STATE THEY TOOK THE BUS. (CARLYS AUNT GAVE A DESCRIPTION OF CARLY TO THE CAB DRIVER PICKING CARLY AND HER MOM UP AT THE BUS DEPOT BY SAYNG CARLY IS VERY SKINNY. (AND THE LAST TIME THE AUNT SAW CARLY WAS A YEAR AGO.)

STORY TWO: QUESTION I AM ASKING AFTER YOU READ THE STORY IS WHY would SANDY (a chunky girl ) tell MARY (a thin girl who is always told by strangers, relatives, friends she is thin/skinny, looks like a size 4) that Sandy thinks Mary is average and size 8,then pauses and adds in size 10. MARY (who is THE friend I am asking about) IS UPSET AS TO WHY SANDY WOULD SAY WHAT SHE SAID WHEN EVERYONE IS ALWAYS TELLING MARY SHE IS THIN/SKINNY AND SINGLE DIGIT SIZE. HERE IS THE STORY: Mary (very thin) and Sandy (chunky)met in the hallway, Mary told Sandy she got a parking spot right across the street. Sandy said to Mary Exercise. And the reason Sandy said she mentioned exercise because she is concerned about her heart. Mary decided to ask; Sandy do you think I am thin; As Sandy was putting stuff away Sandy replied to Mary; You are average, size 8 paused and added size 10;Mary left and went back to her desk. Four co-workers saw Mary and asked Mary what was wrong Mary told them the story. Her co-workers said to her; Mary you are thin/skinny and cannot be more than a size 4, and not more than 110 pounds. Then Mary said; So why did Sandy say average and size 10 if everyone sees me as skinny/thin size 4;They replied; Sandy is jealous; Do you agree/concur with Marys friends? Here are some things her co-workers and friends said after Sandys remark: Audrey: Mary you are so skinny Billy: Mary you are thin. Jill: No wonder Mary you are so skinny Tom: Mary you cannot weigh more than 100lbs Yvette: Thin I want to feel you Mary Sara: Mary you are thin Petunia: Thin not just saying that you Mary are thin - cannot weigh more than 90lbs Doris: How do you Mary stay so thin and you have to be a size 4; Joanne: Mary you are so thin Leslie: Mary is a thin person Helen: How skinny do you Mary want to be Arlene: He is a big man, however, you Mary I can push Iola: Mary you are very thin

STORY THREE: MY QUESTION: after you read the story: DO you agree with Susan that all Kerry is saying is that Patti is thin with shape STORY: The two players are Kerry and Patti. Kerry and Patti who were having a conversation about many things and then all of a sudden the following happened. Kerry said: Patti I think you are a size 5/6 in clothing, even the temp that works for me said you have to be a 5/6 in clothing. Patti didn't say anything. Kerry said; you have hips, but they are NOT big. Look at my hips, my hips are big yours are not; Patti just listened and didn't say anything.. At 5:00PM as Kerri ,Patti and Susan walked to their cars together Kerry told Patti again that Patti looks like a 5/6 in clothing. Patti asked Susan (a person who witnessed the conversation) Does Kerry think I have big hips; Susan replied; No Kerry does not. Kerry even told you that she doesn't think you have big hips. All Kerry is saying is you are thin with shape. "

STORY FOUR: MY QUESTION after you read the story: Did I give the right answer? STORY: My friend Peggy was out sick for two days in a row with food poisoning. When Peggy came back to work she met Tania by the ladies room at 9AM. Tania said; girl you are skinny, you lost weight. Peggy thought Tania was implying that Tania never thought Peggy was skinny before her two day illness (everyone is always telling Peggy she is skinny - all of her). Anyway around 3PM Peggy was in Tanias office and Peggy asked Tania did Tania think that Peggy still looked sick and does Tania think Peggy look pale. Tania said Peggy you do look pale. Then Peggy said to Tania did Tania think Peggy looks drawn like Tania told Peggy earlier. And Tania said she didnt say that. What Tania said she said was that Peggys face looked like it lost weight and when one isnt smiling and one looks pale their face looks thinner. That night Peggy called me on the telephone and told me the story and asked me was Tania implying that she never thought Peggy was skinny before her two day illness. And I told Peggy that Tania wasnt saying that at all, all Tania said was that Peggys face looked skinnier.

STORY FIVE: MY QUESTION after you read the story:: Do you agree/concur with Ramona's friends that Ramona should not be bent out of shape because the clerk could not see what she looked like due to the fact she was standing behind the partition and all he could see was her neck and face and she was wearing a coat. Ramona and the store clerk are the two people in the story. THERE AREABSOLUTELY NO SECURITY CAMERAS OR MIRRORS. STORY: Ramona came in and purchased her herb tablets. She asked him how much should one take. The clerk said to her that most women should weigh a 160 pounds, however, she weighs a little less so she can take less. The little less bothered her so she asked him to clarify what he thought she weighs he said 130 pounds. She replied you don't even know what I look like and he remarked that I see you come in here; Telling her that he thought she weighed 130 upset her because everyone always tells her that she looks like she weighs 110 or less.Also keep in mind that he wasn't facing her when he said this and there was a partition blocking his view of her so all he saw was her face and neck. When Ramona told her friends the story all of Ramona's friends said she should not be upset because when the clerk made the comment she was standing behind a partition and all he could see was her neck and face and Ramona was wearing a coat. KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING:(1)RAMONA WAS WEARING A COATWHEN SHE CAME INTO THE STORE THAT DAY(2)LATER ON WHEN THECONVERSATION TOOK PLACE SHE WAS STANDING BEHIND A PARTITIONAND ALL THE CLERK COULD SEE WAS HER NECK AND FACE(3KEEPIN MIND EVERY ONE ALWAYS TELLS RAMONA SHE IS THIN/SKINNY ANDWEIGHS NO MORE THAN 110 POUNDS(4)THE CLERK ONLY SAW RAMONA ATOTAL OF FIVE TIMES SPREAD OUT OVER THE YEAR AND EVERY TIME HE SAW HER SHE WAS WEARING A COAT:(5)There are absolutely no cameras or mirrors

STORY SIX: MY QUESTION after you read the story: Do you concur with Colettes friends that Josie only said; Well; in a hesitant voice was because Josie never saw Colette standing, Josie only saw Colette sitting so Josie never realized how thin Colette is. STORY: Colette (who is very thin) went to a coffee shop for lunch and a girl who is there was eating lunch with her brother. The girl who is mentally challenged saw Colette eating a bagel and cream cheese and said; You shouldnt eat that;. The brother explained that his sister just came from a nutrition lecture. Colette told a co-worker the story and said; Do I look fat; The co-worker said; Colette you are very thin.; Later on Colette went to make Xerox copies of a report. Colette was standing on one side of the Xerox machine and Josie on the other and all they could see of one another was from the waist up. Colette and Josie exchanged small talk and then Colette said; Josie do you think I am thin?; Josie hesitantly said; Well, and then decided not to wait to make copies. Colette finished making copies went back to her desk. Late afternoon Colette got up to do something and Josie ran over and said to Colette; I only saw you sitting down, my god you are thin.; Colette that night got together with a few friends and in passing told them what transpired between she and Josie and all Colettes friends said ;the only reason Josie said; Well; in a hesitant voice was because Josie never saw you (Colette) standing she (Josie) only saw you (Colette) sitting so she (Josie) never realized how thin you (Colette) are and she (Josie) even admitted when she (Josie) saw you (Colette) standing that you (Colette) are thin.;

STORY SEVEN: MY QUESTION: after you read the story: Did I give Patricia the right answer. STORY: Today at work an elderly customer asked Patricia if she lost weight and Patricia told her no. The customer said that Patricias face looked like she lost weight, but maybe Patricia was tired. Then as they started to walk toward Patricias coworkers desk the elderly customer told Patricia that Patricia is so skinny. Patricia said to her that that Patricia was always skinny. The elderly customer replied you are like me you lose weight in face but gain in stomach. The stomach part bothered Patricia. Patricia said to the elderly customer that Patricia is skinny everywhere. The elderly customer told Patricia that Patricia is skinny every where. That the elderly customer does not want Patricia to get fat but Patricia should gain five pounds. The elderly customer said that the elderly customers stomach is big since the elderly customer retired. AND THE ELDERLY CUSTOMER THINKS PATRICIA IS SKINNY EVERYWHERE AND EVEN PATRICIAS HANDS ARE TINY. Patricia called me and told me the story and I told her that all the woman is saying that it looked Patricia lost weight in the face and Patricia is skinny everywhere including Patricias stomach, but the elderly lady has a big stomach.

STORY EIGHT: MY QUESTION after you read the story DO you agree with what we said to Lucy? STORY: My friend Lucy was sitting at the dining room table with her cousin Eileen. Eileen turned to Lucy and said: Lucy you are a size 8 in clothes and Lucy replied; Yes I am.” Eileen said: I thought you are a size 8 but I could not remember if you told me you are a size 8 or 10. The next day Lucy told me and few of our other friends what Eileen said and Lucy asked us does my cousin think I am higher than a size 8 and we told her that no that Eileen does not think that at all

STORY NINE: MY QUESTION after you read the story do you agree with Jennifer’s friends? STORY: Lets say two people (Katie and Jennifer) worship in the same place. However, they really don’t come in contact with one another in the place of worship or any other place for that matter, but one day they meet in the parking lot in the shopping center in town. And Katie says (in a surprised voice) Jennifer you are so skinny. However, Jennifer is/was always skinny. And when Jennifer told her friends what Katy said her friends said to Jennifer: Katie never looked at you ever so that day in the parking lot she finally saw what you looked like and until that day she never realized how thin you are

STORY TEN: MY QUESTION after you read the story is do you agree with Mimis friends: STORY: Mimi is a size 6 but LOOKS SMALLER and she went to a flea market and a woman was trying to sell a pair of jeans. The woman turned to Mimi and said you are a size 10 ;my daughter is a size 10. That night when Mimi went home she told her friends what the vendor said and her friends said to her: the vendor just wants to sell her jeans, she would say the same thing to a size 2.

STORY ELEVEN What I am trying to ask is: that Patricia is telling Betty look how can I think you have plumb legs when I have never, ever seen them and it was only a dream nothing more. Here is the story again: "I know that Betty is reading into it: KEEP IN MIND IT WAS PATRICIA THAT HAD THE DREAM, NOT BETTY. PATRICIA HAD THE DREAM ABOUT BETTY and a Rock group. MY QUESTION: Can Betty accept the fact that Patricia does not think Betty has plump legs and it was only a dream.? The two players are Patricia and Betty. Betty always wears long wide skirts. Patricia and Betty were having lunch. Patricia told Betty she had a dream about a rock band that she and Betty love. The dream was as follows: Patricia and Betty were on a double date with John and Steve (two of the male rock stars). Patricia was with John and Betty was with Steve. Steve said I only like girls with plump legs and Patricia replied Betty has plumb legs. END OF DREAM. This dream got Betty upset and she asked Patricia are you saying my legs are plump. Patricia said NO I HAVE NEVER SEEN YOUR LEGS AND IT WAS ONLY A DREAM.

I'm a 43 yr old male, married, and I'm fat... my weight seems to range between 285lb and 300lbs.  I've always been a big person though I was a tiny baby.... when I was born I was 4 1/2lbs and dropped to 3 1/2 lbs while in the incubator.  I sure made up for it as I grew. 

My first recollection of being a 'fat kid' was in public school when other kids would pick on me in gym class.  We would play a sport and one team would be shirts, the other, skins.  One time I had to be on the skins team and all the boys would make fun of me because I had 'tits.'  From then on, if I was put on the skins team, I refused or I'd refuse to play sports.  Issues progressed from there.

Being severely asthmatic at the time, I wasn't allowed to play team sports and would have to sneak out to go play road hockey with friends.  My only real physical activity, apart from walking to school, was riding a bike.

When I got old enough to drive, the bike was dispatched to the garage and my weight started to grow.  However, I was old enough to make my own decisions about what I could and couldn't do so, I played sports with friends when I could and, spent one year in high school playing football.  After high school I joined a baseball team and did well and really enjoyed myself.  My weight, in my 20s, levelled out at about 225lbs (I"m about 6' tall) and I felt relatively comfortable, though still felt fat.

In my mid 20s I was injured in a flying accident with the Canadian mlitary reserve and though, initially, I didn't have any real issues except occasional pain, things eventually changed.  In the late 90s the pain increased and my mobility and flexibility decreased.  I reached a point where it was difficult and very painful sitting, standing, walking.. doing everything. 

I used to love flying but found that, standing around on the airfield all day, plus getting in and out of the glider and sitting in the glider for 2-4 flights at a time was, at times, excruciating though I made sure nobody knew.  However, as my activity level decreased, my weight increased and I reached a point in 2001 where I was too heavy to be able to 'legally' fly the gliders we were flying.  My weight grew from there to the point where I am now.  My cholesteral is high, my blood pressure is high, and I know I suffer from some depression, at least, I think I do. 

My wife has been ill for 5-6 years and our only income is a small disability pension for her from the government, and my veterans disability pension, which is smaller than her monthly pension.  On that money, we manage a mortgage and monthly bills, including $40/week for groceries.  I try to make sure I buy fresh fruit and veggies but it doesn't leave much for other things so, some of what I buy is probably not the healthiest but, without that stuff, we choices are limiited, especially since my wife's food likes/dislikes are rather limited.

The only exercise I get is the occasional walk, 30-45 minutes, when my back and/or the weather allows for it.  I try to avoid 'bad' foods but, admitedly, I will buy some things and 'hide' them away and when I get down, I will eat.  I'm don't really have any friends and we have virtually no social life.  We live 30+ minutes from town so we can't afford to drive into fitness/health clubs and, I'm not sure I'd use them as I am VERY selfconscious.  I don't like being around people, even shopping, let alone working out.  If anything happens to my wife, I have talked about disappearing into the remote wilderness and living out my life by myself.  I'm not sure where to go, what to do, how to do, how to afford it, and where to turn to get help.  My Dr is all but useless.  I get little to no help from veterans affairs (Canada) and don't know where to turn.

I feel for these kids on the Dr Phil show who are so fat/obese at a young age because, though I was never as big as them at a young age, I was heavy enough to know what they go through and how they are teased and picked on by other kids.  I wish I could help them, but, I can't even help myself!

The best piece of advice I can give you is, google: overeaters anonymous and find out where a meeting in your neighbourhood is. If there is no meeting in your neighbourhood, you can find support on the internet.

I feel so hopeless.

I am a 27 yr old female.  I have struggled with weight before in my life and then I lost 76 lbs. 

 I felt absolutely great, and I met this (what I thought) was a fantastic guy after 2 very bad relationships.  He convinced me that for us to be together I had to leave my home town, leave my job, and stop contact with all my dear and close friends (that I finally made when I was healthy).  So like a moron, I did.

Those 3 years in Toronto were the worst years of my life, I hated the city, I hated my life and myself; and that fantastic guy?  Well, I should have seen it coming- he was abusive.

While I was in the city I gained 70 lbs, putting me at around 200 lbs. 

Then I got pregnant.  I eventually made the decision to leave him and move back home with my son (who is my saving grace!)

The problem?  SInce I have moved back, I have gained EVEN MORE weight, I was 217 (!) when I moved back, and now I am jusr over 300 lbs and that was in less than 1 year.

I think about food, my weight and eating every single second of the day.

I know what my obstacles are: 

1.  In order to leave my abusive ex I had to go on welfare to survive - I have barely have enough money to cover the rent, I can't get a bus pass to go to the gym, I cant afford a gym membership anyhow, and I don't know what healthy and low fat foods I can buy with my budget.

2. I am raising my son completely alone, no childcare, no family, no friends that can help me.  He is 2 years old, how can I excercise?

I asked myself the other day (while in the shower) why are you so fat?  The answer: Because at night time I go on these crazy binges.  It starts as soon as my son is in bed at 8pm.  I get a snack for myself.  The problem is that snack turns into a sort of non-stop grazing until bedtime, around 2 am!

I can't seem to stop myself, I have been in tears eating before.  I don't have the money to eat like this, it's not just physically draining it's financially draining as well.

When my son goes with his dad on weekends I get a 2liter of pop and a family size bag of sour cream and onion chips and order 1 medium pizza and sit down and eat it -ALL. 

My health is really starting to suffer.  I have lost feeling in part of my left theigh and the last 2 fingers of my left hand from the weight on my nerves, I have an average blood pressure of 150 over 100 (did I mention I am 27?)  I have an artificial bone/joint implant in my ankle from a car accident when I was 15 and I worry about the strain on it.  I don't want to die, I want to play and run and be there for my son.  I can't even sleep comfortably anymore, I sleep on my stomach and now my stomach gives me discomfort because it has grown so large.  I have back strain from the bulges on my back and because I never quite fit into chairs properly anymore. 

I have always struggles with social aspects of life, and now it is even worse, now I hate leaving the house at all because I am so digusted by myself.   I hate myself.  But I have a 2 year old - how is that screwing him up?!!

So the other day (while I was in the shower) I was thinking about all this and I realised something.  I asked myself, "why do you eat?" and the answer came so simply and easily.

If I eat no man will be interested in me.  If no man has interest then there is no tempatation for me, and no one can hurrt me or my son ever again.

Except the "cure" is killing me.  I am desperate for this to all stop.  Lately I have started to even think about purging, but I just don't have the guts to.  I am afraid of ruining my teeth and esophogus (and of dying!). 

I have a little boy to take care of - I can't be having these problems, I dont have room for them in my life!  What do I do?