My weight and fitness

[AMMoffat]

What I get from reading this thread is an insight into how we are all different, both in terms of what works for our biology and as a strategy.
For me, getting obsessed about it is very effective, writing everything down, planning meals, counting calories, weighing everything, planned exercise.
It's good to see all the different approaches, maybe try a few and find what works for you, less good to have anyone tell you there's only one way to achieve what you want.

You are of course correct and if the detailed approach works for you (and others) then great. My point was that such an approach could be, for some, counterproductive.

I'm also sure that you are not at all like the friend from my teens who counted every calorie down to the individual pea but somehow would forget to record the Mars Bar or packet of crisps consumed when out and about and then couldn't understand why she was not losing weight

[whoof]

The main causes of type 2 diabetes (in no particular order) are age, genetics and ethnicity none of which you can do anything about, the final one is weight.

No it's not.

The final one is being overweight for your body size ................... not weight. Taller people are heavier than shorter people? Wider people are heavier than narrower people?

I said a Happy Weight. It's being happy and active that counts. Not just "happy", because you can be happy and obese. You need to be happy AND active.

Basically, you need to know what your weight is, but there isn't a specific weight that you should (or must) be. Tell Geoff Capes that he was too heavy when he was at the top of his game.

Being over weight depends upon an individuals weight. The country is not awash with people who do not give a toss what they weigh and have the physique of Olympic athletes they are just overweight. There are also plenty of overweight active people.
There is a misconception with health that there is some form of bartering system. I've eaten a whole packet of biscuits so better I have an orange as that's health. Being overweight and active is better than overweight and sedentary but it's not the same as not overweight and active. I know people who are very active and smoke but their cells aren't going to decide not to mutate because they ride a bike or go to the gym.
Your choice of Geoff Capes is an interesting one. When he was at the top of his game he was World's Strongest Man in 1983 and 1985 and second in 1986. In 1984 and 1986 Jon Pall Sigmarrson won the title, Sigmarrson died of a heart attack at the age of 32. Sigmarrson won his third title in 1990 beating O D Wilson in the final event, Wilson died of a heart attack aged 37. Very active full time athletes but not at all a healthy way of life.

[Mark1978]

I general athletes are not the people you want to be comparing yourself against. They specifically train their body to excel at a particular sporting activity, and take that to the extreme. They may well be extremely fit, but being fit doesn't equal being healthy. Sensibleness in all things.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Arnie refuted claims he doped, but later admitted it, he had heart operations.
I think Sigmarrson etc took drugs.
Capes seems to of escaped all that but I worked for a copper who knew Capes and he suggested drugs, no evidence of course.

[whoof]

Hi,
Arnie refuted claims he doped, but later admitted it, he had heart operations.
I think Sigmarrson etc took drugs.
Capes seems to of escaped all that but I worked for a copper who knew Capes and he suggested drugs, no evidence of course.

My point was there are a number of factors that can affect health. Doing one thing that might be deemed as healthy does not necessarily counteract another factor.
If some strongmen had taken performance enhancing drugs or not being active did not stop them from having heart attacks. George Best was an active professional athlete and not over-weight but alcohol still destroyed his liver. If people wish to eat or drink what they will, take various substance or have a certain body shape that's up to them. But I feel they should make these choices based upon the knowledge of what possible health affects may result and not believe that in terms of health that being active and happy is all that counts.

[Mick F]

Whoof

I don't actually disagree with your sentiments, I really don't.
I do disagree that weight as a physical property is the be-all-an-end-all of it.

Happiness comes into the equation. We are not on this earth to be light and lithe - but at the same time sad and stressed about health.
We are on this earth to be happy .............. and to procreate.

Also, you cannot state that "weight" is important without knowing the stature and body-frame. There has been much talk of BMI but it's well recognised that BMI doesn't work at an individual level, but as a population/race as a whole.

I weigh 12st and a bit. You don't know my body shape or musculature, so cannot comment on my weight, same as I cannot comment on yours.

[NUKe]

Surprised no bodies mentioned the new advice on Alcohol

[Mark1978]

Surprised no bodies mentioned the new advice on Alcohol

Before today's advice my consumption was approximately zero. After today's advice my consumption will be approximately zero.

Sugar, on the other hand..

[mjr]

Surprised no bodies mentioned the new advice on Alcohol

http://www.itv.com/news/2016-01-08/alco ... lth-risks/ Down from 21/week for men to 14/week, same as women. Not really earth-shattering unless you normally drink more than a glass/pint/measure most days, is it?

Still full of internal contradictions, such as saying you should have several alcohol-free days a week, but also not save your units up for a few days, so I expect most people will continue to ignore it (as in, be unaware what the current advice is, rather than exceed it).

[PH]

Just watched The Truth About Calories on iPlayer, interesting stuff including how sustained moderate exercise (Like housework) can burn more calories than higher intensity (Like a gym session)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 2-calories

[Mick F]

Surprised no bodies mentioned the new advice on Alcohol

I had an appointment with a dietician yesterday afternoon at Plymouth Derriford Hospital.

I told the truth ................ and she said how it was a breath of fresh air, and that she rarely hears the truth from her clients.

I told her that I have two or three pints of (normal strength) beer a day, and sometimes four or five at the weekends. I never drink to excess, never binge-drink, and don't drink late into the evening and rarely drink enough for a hangover.
All-in-all, she was pleased with my alcohol intake and saw no problem.

There you go. Words from a professional dietician.

[Mark1978]

Just watched The Truth About Calories on iPlayer, interesting stuff including how sustained moderate exercise (Like housework) can burn more calories than higher intensity (Like a gym session)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 2-calories

Um. It can't. I think the idea is that you do a lot of little stuff throughout the day rather than a half hour banging gym session.

It's certainly true a lot of people think exercise = going to the gym.

[PH]

Just watched The Truth About Calories on iPlayer, interesting stuff including how sustained moderate exercise (Like housework) can burn more calories than higher intensity (Like a gym session)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 2-calories

Um. It can't. I think the idea is that you do a lot of little stuff throughout the day rather than a half hour banging gym session.

It's certainly true a lot of people think exercise = going to the gym.

Thanks for stating the obvious, I recommend watching the programme.
One couple spent the morning doing housework, another couple went to the gym. No, the couple at the gym didn't spend the entire morning doing high intensity stuff, they wouldn't have been capable of it. Whereas the couple doing the housework did it all morning and would have been able to continue for longer.
The conclusion challenges the no pain no gain idea that has been put forward here, and the notion that low intensity exercise has no effect on weight loss.
In cycling terms, I can go out all day at a moderate level, around 100 miles in 9 hours, or I can go out and push hard for as long as I can which is at most two hours. I believe the former is a way for me to burn more calories, though the latter is probably better if my goal is to improve fitness, I enjoy both.

[Mark1978]

Thanks. I did watch the programme when it went out. I think you're trying the start an argument in an empty room approach.

[Eyebrox]

I have two or three pints of (normal strength) beer a day, and sometimes four or five at the weekends. I never drink to excess.

This doesn't quite add up if they're saying the advisory limit should be 14 units (or 7 pints).