Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Heather Marsh — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:10:33 GMT

Kreative Keira

" Are there any healthy ways of getting rid of muscle? "

No- but by doing Callanetics you can make those muscles longer and leaner instead of short and bulky.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

infinity — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:15:20 GMT

Mira Alexy: I don't know where you live but the brands I'm faimliar with and use, in the NYC metro area, follow. I hope Dr. M. will not mind my giving you one name & info of a competitor.NOW, SOLGAR, Da Vinci Labs, Ortho Molecular, Douglas, Michael Murray, MD. All these firms have a web site, check them out for yourself -- most are very happy to provide lots of information, some even have newsletters. Dr. Murray has a newsletter similar to Dr. Mercola's, he has his own brand of supplements, and a great database on health conditions. I go online to write to many of thej producers/growers of the foods I eat/drink. They too, are a good source of information. I have an intolerance to oils, so I take dry E and A; also my Omega supplement is Bija Omega Truffles -- chocolate squares with the EFAs and Omegas in a light choc cream inside.

And to anyone who wants to put on weight as I do (and I'm gradually succeeding) use cream (yes, from cows) is classified by nutritionists as a FAT and not considered dairy in the same way the milk is; and lots of nuts and seeds. I don't drink cow's milk (I drink hemp milk by Living Harvest, delicious) as it does cause excessive mucus (in anyone, not just me) but the cream does not -- I use a small amount daily so I can digest it; I don't drink it of course! GL

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

infinity — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:01:49 GMT

Many people responding to the weight article have it right: exerecise not only keeps your heart/lung system healthy but also develops your muscles, so your wt APPARENTLY goes up. But it's more MUSCLE not more FAT. We're each individual, so it's OK to be a bit o/weight (who decides what that it?) or a bit u/weight (ditto), but beyond those limits either state is unhealthy. No one that I've read sd a/thing about needing (the right kind of) fat to digest protein, absorb certain vitamins, have a healthy immune system, a healthy & goodlooking skin/hair! Tthe food INDUSTRY does exactly what the tobacco INDUSTRY was/still is doing: making sure the foods they produce keep us addicted to fancy textures, appearance, salty/savory or sugary tastes, so we keep eating unhealthy foods which cost them pennies per lb to produce (you can't really say much of it is grown, it's too processed after harvesting). Read Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About (I forget the guy's name). I've read lots of other "health" writers too, who know what they're saying and I believe them. Everyone MUST take responsibility for themselves, educate themselves; even low income people can eat in a fairly healthy way, I have in the past, and as a snr cit now still do. I don't consider any food or special supplement I buy is EXPENSIVE, tho many are high-priced -- they deliver good health and that's priceless. One's mind set/attitude, are all-important in this. I'm about 25 lbs. u/weight, I'm super sensitive to refined sugar; I cd easily slip into diabetes -- after all, that's actually not a disease, you don't catch it, it's a symptom of your sugar metabolism malfunctioning or not functioning. I believe every physical checkup with a general doctor must include checking one's Hormone levels, one's toxic metals levels and parasites; & hormones are NOT just for SEX, they regulate all our body systems. JOIN or START a food co-op or buying club! GL

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Heather Marsh — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:05:43 GMT

Kreative Keira,

Perhaps you should checkout Callanetics. (I consider it Pilates for whimps) In the 1990s, during 5 weeks of doing 'Beginning Callanetic' I dropped 5 dress sizes without dropping much weight. Basically it lengthened and strengthened the major muscle groups. So my muscles became longer and leaner rather than bulky.

It also straightened out my spine a little - which has slowed considerably the progress of the scoliosis with which I was born.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

ThomasT — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:22:13 GMT

To the poster with MS, H Clark, PhD ND has identified the causative organism as mycobacterium phlei. Read up on colloidal silver reduced to nano size by aerating the process with an aqauarium pump for the CURE.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Don Fletcher — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:11:44 GMT

When I consider the difficulty most people have in correcting the deficit, being thin and unfit is likely more easily resoved than being fat and fit.

It appears to be that unfit thin people can become fit thin people more readily than fat fit people can become thin fit people.

And, no, I am not saying a thing about mis-diagnosis of being fat. Start from the assumption that I am talking about a truly fat person and a truly unfit person. The unfit person may not have enough testosterone to permit ready building of any muscle, and I will grant there are a few other problems that make it difficult to build muscle. All the attempts at vigorous exercise may be in vain, so my position has to be taken as excluding people with such problems.

But we may have a problem like dietary habits that put one on a high and deep roller coaster of sugar, insulin, hypoglycemia, eating sugar.

You can switch donuts and jam sandwiches for sugar. What I am saying is that a lot of overweight and obesity is defined in this roller coaster. The other way this happens is that one continuously snacks to keep from ever having a shortage of food comfort. If a food comfort eater were to have subcutaneous fat injected into their abdominal fat, can we imagine that their need for that food comfort would disappear?

I have observed that when I consume 1/4 cup of flax seed freshly ground as my morning breakfast (not added to the breakfast, but the main dish) then I can work all morning, walking for 5 hours behind a lawn mower, and not feel hungry. I can not imagine this would be totally healthy, but as an experiment it does tell me that breakfast that would normally put me on a hypoglycemic roller coaster does not when my main dish is freshly ground flax. seed. I have not experienced this with cold pressed or hot pressed flax seed oil.

Just as an aside, while walking behind that mower I am not wearing a shirt and I have developed a nice tan.

Any advice?

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Mira Alexy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:27:52 GMT

Hi Inkha,

What do you think is the best vitamin and mineral cap...I have tried so many and I am looking for the best

thank you

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

ThomasT — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:02:13 GMT

Can one be fit and fat, or unfit and slim? Obviously YES. Logically there are more fat and unfit, than thin and fit. However FIT does NOT correlate with health, or unfit with poor health. Examples. In 1978 I attended a Fitness Conference in Hawaii. The local papers then reported a 28 year old competitive marathon runner had just died of a heart attack. One of his coronary arteries was already blocked, and one then blocked to cause his death. Probably he was on a low fat, no supplement diet as was, and still is the rage of all registered dieticians, trainers, and medics. He would have had a high level of any of the 3 main heart disease causing factors. 1. homocysteine, (reduced with vitamins B6,B12, and folic acid) 2. tri-glycerides , (high carbohydrate/sugar/alcohol intake) and 3. lipo-protein alpha, (reduced by Vitamin C) The dead marathon runner was fit and slim. My dad was obese round the waist all his life, a heavy smoker till 92, occasionally slowly doing 5 minutes on a stationary bike. He lived to 97. His arteries were clean due to his lifelong high vitamin C intake. As a Hungarian, every main meal had a large plate of fresh green peppers to finish off. He had greasy meals with loads of butter, (synthesising Vitamin B6 thru the good intestinal bacteria, reducing homocysteine) He had little sugar or alcohol, (low tri-.glycerides). He was fat and unfit. These two extreme examples show health and fitness dont always correlate, ie fit does not necassarily mean healthy, and unfit does not always mean unhealthy. Even with previous heart protection omissions, arteries can still naturally be cleaned out with EDTA, anally, oraly or on a drip. Next.for health comes cancer prevention, a 2007 science through drclark.com, For diabetes prevention and cure, Mercola the leader, and so on..So, irrespective of whether you can run a marathon, or just occasionally sit on a stationary bike and slowly pedal, there are other factors to consider.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

ChrisS — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:26:44 GMT

It has been found that Japanese Sumo wrestlers are superior athletes and have only subcutaneous fat. There is little to no penetration of the muscle tissue of the torso or extremities by the fat tissue. It has been found that penetration of the muscle tissue by fat reduces strength and produces unhealthy acid buildup in the muscle tissue. In essence, they are physiologically just like any other lean athlete. The fat layer that they have just below the skin seems to function as a protective padding without the ill health effects of modern obesity.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

EastDallas — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:55:31 GMT

I think studies like this are very irresponsible.

First, the premise of the study implies that it's possible to be obese and healthy. While this might be possible in the short-term, the long term effects of eating the excessive number of calories required to maintain an overweight body will almost certainly result in heart disease, diabetes, or any of the other diseases related to obesity.

Secondly, we don't know the other risk factors that were associated with each person in the study. People who participate in these kinds of studies tend to be poor, whether they are students, homeless, or the working poor. This increases the likelihood that the thinner people were suffering from other diseases, using drugs, or not eating a healthy diet because they couldn't afford to do so.

In an earlier post someone mentions that doctors are trying to scare us by saying that a majority of the population may suffer from hypertension. Why does this seem so implausible? 60% of our population is obese, that alone tends to support the claim that the average person may have high BP.

People, like Tyra Banks, who are out there telling the public that it's OK to be obese are sending the wrong message to our society. She'd rather trade the health of her viewers for television ratings.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

webwitch6 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:31:37 GMT

Have you all seen the propaganda commercials for how safe HFCS is?? People are going to be bulldozed even more about what is acceptable to put in your body. Isnt the obesity problem and lard buttitus issue ONLY IN AMERICA?? I hate the media. I just got finished explaining the problem of HFCS to my hubby, and that commercial came on, with the girl giving her guy a red #40 colored HFCS poisoned ice pop.

If being overweight was a virtue, more of the world would be fat. It just seems to be the United States.

And yes, I am a fat person. Damn High Fructose Corn Syrup!!

(yeah, my fault too, I know. but I had to vent.)

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Rett — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:32:40 GMT

Moses lived 120 years and he died. His vision and strength had not weakened. No processed foods, fast foods, fake oils, or pasturized dairy and no sugar laden desserts. No high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. AND NO SOY. :)

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

SMH2112 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:11:12 GMT

If we eat the foods that nourish us, that we are designed for... If the foods are grown in real soil, that is soil that is fully mineralized with say crushed glacier rock and the soil is balanced, if the foods are in season, grown pretty close to locally, are organic, vegan composted and no-tilled farmed - in other words mostly low-fat, raw vegan healthy foods that are sustainable - then I think that if we add fresh, pure water to bathe in, drink, clean with... Add an extended PACE program, The Genius of Flexibility... Well, you get the idea here that if we eat real food and exercise then all of the nonsense published will amount to naught.

Two books of great interest to me are The Alternate Day Diet and the 80/10/10 Diet if anyone is looking for something doable.

Cheers,

Stephen

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

Mamachibi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:22:07 GMT

If you saw me on the street, you'd think I was a billboard for every cholesterol/BP drug on the market. My doctor certainly thinks so, he keeps trying to push pills at me even though my "numbers" (other than weight) are great. And, at 5'4" and 235 lbs the drug reps tell him I'm a good candidate. But my resting heart rate is under 60, my BP averages 90/70 (the nurses always ask if I'm feeling dizzy), my cholesterol is good, even my triglycerides are better than average. My blood sugar tests out just right. I can't walk a quarter mile for the pain and inflammation in my knees (caused by 13 knee surgeries of dubious quality in the 1970's.) But I eat very, very well when I can afford to, work out strenuously when the pain allows, and am always learning. Just like we had to overcome the color barrier, I think it's time we start peering over the "fat wall" and seeing people as persons rather than walking diseases.

re: Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?

MrsC — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:08:12 GMT

I think the problem with articles like this is that readers don't tend to get the intended message.

I have been 'overweight' my entire life, but now that I've done some testing, I now know that it is body fat percentage that I need to focus on (and I believe others should consider that shift in mindset). At 5'6" tall, I have about 135 lbs of LEAN body mass! That means if I had 0% body fat, I would still be a minimum 135 lbs, and probably would look sick. With the recommended 20% body fat for women that brings my 'healthy weight' up to around 167lbs. However, on most medical charts that is still considered to be 'overweight'. BMI is even worse because it just takes your height, age, and weight into account. Body builders are often charted as "obese" on that scale. If I were at 167lbs I would be in excellent health, but the "charts" would say otherwise.

I think the medical profession would be doing the world of 'fat' people justice if we were taught more about body fat percentages, our PERSONAL body composition and not just "average" numbers on a chart, that a lot of people just don't fit into.

I think the most important thing to remember is that weight is JUST weight. It doesn't tell you what's in the mix. You could have 2 people who are the same height and weight and they may look very different; one might be 'stalky' or 'chunky' and the other very fat. It all depends on lifestyle, body composition, and genetics.

And in the end, we are all at risk of developing so-called "preventable" illnesses because it is vitually impossible to avoid everything. Very few people die of 'old age' these days. And until man can find the cure for death, I think we should all focus on what is best for each of us (by finding out what you personally need to do to be healthy and reduce your risk factors) and for some of us that means abandoning the medical field's explanation of what is "overweight" and ditching the scale altogether. It is pure evil. hahaha ;o)