why we do this stuff!

I was pondering at camp this weekend WHY I was very happy that I work out and eat right. As much as it can feel like drudgery and constant suffering (just being dramatic here), I am GLAD when I go places like camping where everything is harder than normal. Walking to the bathroom is like 150 steps each way (yes, i counted them OCD has nothing on me). Most of my buddies are motor home types; we still set up camp with tent, stoves, etc. It was tiring even as okay of shape as I am in. Trust me, my bigass was in bed by 9:00 most nights. My point is that too often, i percieve that fat peeps react by NOT doing this type of thing.  Really, they should do it every weekend til they get it right and it comes easy.  Do you agree? Do you avoid things that are just too hard because you are not in shape? Am I being fair?  I realize that not every body loves camping, but any physical thing could be inserted here!

I know what ya mean, and it's true.  A lot of people use obesity as an excuse.  Either that or some other problem they have.  But on the other hand slim people do too, when it comes to things they don't like to do! I think it boils down to 1) motivation, if the person is willing to go the extra 150 steps to make it happen, or go pee in this case.  2) persistence, I know if I try to do something I cannot do one time and I fail horribly I most likely won't do it again.  That is why the key is to find things we like to do.  Or just realize it is a HAVE TO DO.  3)  Scared or denial, I think we all tend (or some) are scared of failure.  I know I am!  I hate to think that I'm going to fail this new plan that I'm trying out.  I'm already wondering if it's the right one and it's only been two days.  I'm scared of getting on a bike again, afraid that I will fall off, or break the bike.  Know what I mean?  Think this one falls into the gym for instance...a lot of fat people are scared of people looking at them, or not being able to do anything.  So what do they do.....don't go.  For me I really don't care what people think of me, I'll go if I want.  But people are scared of change, and scared of failure. As for camping, I wish I was there, I would go with you in a heart beat!

Oh you would have a blast! Hey, who knows...we are west coasters...maybe one of these days that could happen! AK is on my list of things to see.  And isn't that too bad that most of us are like that - afraid of failure. I've tried so hard in my life to be the fat chick in the race, hell no, won't win by a long shot, but at least no one can say i don't TRY.

Hey Neecee - I definitely avoid things because I'm fat.  I avoid them like the plague if I feel I'm going to embarass myself by being too slow, too out of shape or too "behind" the others participating in whatever activity we're talking about.  I shouldn't, because I'm missing out on life.  But part of me would rather miss out on life, then feel embarassed.  It's crazy, I know. 

Hey....  I know that I've forgone what could have been pleasurable activities because of my sheer MASS.  I didn't walk through my own woods because of the fear of not being able to get out.  I couldn't go to a mall because I couldn't drag this ass more than 20' without looking for a place to sit because my back was just screaaaaaaaaaaming.  Sometimes size alone makes activities impossible.  I would look down this country road, but when I had tried to walk it, the pain was phenomenal. I must say though, that at 325 lbs, I laid on a blanket, on my belly and built a sidewalk!  The motivation:  walking around to the back of the house to come in via the deck was ARDUOUS to say the least at that size... the walkway gave me easier access... <-- so was laziness the motivation?? See.. now even at that weight I would do the 150 steps..  but not if it was up and down hills, on rough terrain, or on sand.. lol  I believe in PUSHING, but we gotta pick the activity wisely.  I started with the lifecycle... 3 minutes.... arghhhhhh.. pushed and pushed and now I can actually get on the eliptical and treadmill..and go at it as long as I want.

I hear you Neecee. It's especially awkward for me because of my age I should be able to go out do things that others my age do. I've passed on kayaking, river rafting, Six Flags...you name it because I was a) didn't want to be the biggest girl there  b) didn't want to have to die trying to keep up  c) scared because I was worried that I actually wouldn't be able to do it (like fit in a roller coaster for example)  I look forward to the day where I can do whatever I want and not even have to consider that my weight might hinder my experience!

I think for me it comes down to energy level and emotional desire/motivation. Sometimes I have a lot of energy and I just want to do something, anything. These are the times when I clean out the garage or do that project I've been meaning to do forever.  Other times I just really want do something extremely bad despite my energy level so I do it. It's tiring and arduous but because I want the thing to be done so badly I push through it.  Then there's times when I have lots of energy and I'm excited about getting a task done. Those are the great times!  Most of the time however I just don't have the energy and the desire is not strong enough. Those are the days I sit in the house and mope around. Those happen more often than not. Not to blame everything on my thyroid but fatigue is one of the biggest symptoms of hypothyroidism. In my teens I never had these problems with fatigue and I never backed down from hard work because of my size. I backed down because I was truly being lazy or I just had no desire to do it. Even now my size doesn't stop me. At 320lbs I was in the front yard rolling around 100+ lb logs. However, those logs sat in the front yard for over 2 months with me wanting to get them moved but just never had the energy. Anyways. :) Just thought I'd add my comments. :P

You know, I did avoid a lot of life due to my weight....especially when my kids were growing up.  We would go on vacations to the beach and I would sit in the condo doing puzzles cause I was too embarassed to be seen in a bathing suit or afraid I would die of a heart attack in the sun.  I never went on the rides with my kids cause was afraid I wouldn't fit and I'd embarass them.  I really avoided a lot of physical activity because I was afraid my heart wouldn't take it with my weight. It wasn't until about six years ago when I lost 70lb and got down to 218 that I had the freedom with my body to do anything.  I was like a little kid in a candy store and did EVERYTHING!  I went swimming with my granddaughter and played with my nieces and nephews....tag and baseball.  I played in the ocean, jumping in the waves; I laid out in the sun and loved every minute of it....gardening and lawn work.  I joined the Y and worked out on the treadmill and with weights and walked and walked and walked. Even when I put the weight all back on (and then some)...it didn't stop me from enjoying that freedom.  I still go to the Jersey shore with my girlfriends and we lay on the beach and play in the waves....don't care if I look like a beached whale....I missed out on that for too many years.  I continued to do the gardening and yard wor****il my knee gave out.  I realize I could have been enjoying life all those years when I was so afraid and embarassed. As we age, we realize just how precious this life is and we shouldn't let anything put us on the sidelines.  It all goes by too quickly and those missed opportunities are gone.  Maybe if I hadn't been so sedentary, the weight would not have become such a problem.

You said it...sedentary.  We don't move!  Well I shouldn't say all of us, but I would have to say probably the majority of us.  I like what you had to say, it made a lot of sense.  Still doesn't help the thought of squishing your eight year old on a ride.ha  300 vs 49 pounds doesn't seem very safe.  But I know what you mean.  I have been thinking of this exact thing a LOT lately.  My dh is an avid game player on the computer.  He LIVES for his computer, which makes me sit at mine.  I know I have the option, but I get all mad if I don't do what he does.  I end up mad at him, etc.  Think I need to look even harder.  I keep saying I want it to stop, but it never does.  It's gotten better, but then slides back in the same ol' groove.  Life passes us by so fast.  I keep on thinking I'm going to regret it one day if I don't do something NOW.  Somehow NOW seems to sneak up on us and never happen.  Think it's time to stop making excuses and live how we wanted to live yesterday, because we might not have a tomorrow! You remind me of me when I loose weight.  I can hear your positive, energized, and postive outlook just reading it.

I was embarrassed of my weight when I was gaining it. I'm not embarrassed now that I am losing it. Weird huh? I mean after all I am only 56 pounds lighter than when I started.  To answer you tho, I have let my weight stop me from doing a lot. I have skipped out on fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, and a ton more things. Sad part is that my skipping out also caused my daughters to do the same and as a result none of the 3 are overly outgoing and definitely not into sports AND they are all 3 overweight.  I do find the more I do and the more I find I CAN do, the more I WILL do and without goading and even being asked. I'm the one out there saying, "LET'S GO!"  It's a weird game we play with ourselves. Unfortunately, it is also one the most detrimental games we play, almost as dangerous as Russian Roulette.