Quote From: junecflPeople feel that overweight is self inflicted because of stereotypes. They think all obese people are just gluttons who eat a ton of food every day and never get off the couch. They figure we did it to ourselves with our 'bad' behavior. They don't want to look at it as the eating disorder that it is.
Anorexia is the other side of the coin but, anorexics are pitied and offered all kinds of help while, if your eating disorder happens to be eating too much instead of not enough, you are ostracized and criticized for being a pig with no self control.
Many parents are overweight and pass this on to their kids. Unhealthy eating habits that start in childhood are hard to break. Some parents force their children to eat everything on their plates. Some new moms use baby formula instead of breast feeding. It is so easy to overfeed a baby on formula. When junk food is made available to young kids, that's all they want to eat. When kids have their own money, the first things they want to buy are candy and Mc Donalds.
Parents, when you are trying to lose weight, the family must also change their eating habits...smaller portions...healthy snacks with small portions. AND limit the TV time. Try going for an evening walk as a family...or playing games outside...or bicycling. It seems so easy, but it is so easy to fall back into old habits. Finding out the source of the problem is the most important. Have a thourough checkup. If you are excessively tired during the day, ask your doctor to refer you to a Sleep Specialist. There are over 200 sleep disorders. People with a sleep disorder tend to be overweight. I have Narcolepsy and used to need to sleep all day, in spite of getting a full night's rest. My husband has sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, which were waking him up over 300 times a night...he never got past phase I sleep.
Thyroid disorders can also cause Obsesity. Ask for a complete blood work-up.
Also, review your medications with your doctor. There are many meds out there that cause weight gain. I was on meds for Bipolar Disorder that caused me to gain 50 pounds in 9 months and then was changed to another med that also caused weight gain. The meds made me hungry all the time and caused extreme sweet cravings. When I changed meds, I was suddenly not so hungry and had more energy.
Since being treated for Narcolepsy with Provigil, I don't need to sleep all day anymore. I also was changed to Bipolar meds which do not cause weight gain. I have lost 50 pounds in the last year. I still have 20 to go. I need to exercise more...a hard habit to maintain. My weight loss has slowed way down, but at least I'm not gaining. Since losing all that weight, my cholesterol has come down to almost normal.
Also, take an honest look at your eating habits. Read Dr. Phil's book. There is a lot in there about finding the root cause of your obesity. You are not a fat pig. You are a person with a disorder that needs to be treated. Many insurance companies will now cover seeing a doctor for obesity. Be completely honest with yourself, so you can be completely honest with your doctor.
Good Luck
(Original Air Date 01/04/06) Have you ever stepped on the scale and thought, "That number can't be right"? You don’t have to wait until the new year to resolve to lose weight or eat healthy. Kristine stopped making excuses for her weight and lost over 100 pounds, thanks to Dr. Phil's words of wisdom. See what Dr. Phil has in store for her. Then, Nicole is only 25 but morbidly obese. After a wake-up call from her family, friends, and Dr. Phil, will she find the courage and motivation to get healthy? And, is it possible to reach your weight loss goal and still be miserable? See one woman's shocking reality. Through the stories of these three women, losing weight becomes an emotional as well as a physical journey. Share your weight loss stories and challenges here.
