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Author: Shari 250/166/125
Date: 07-10-03 03:44
I was giving some thought yesterday to my body shape and family history/genetics. I made some rather remarkable discoveries, though, they are somewhat depressing.
I have the exact same shape as my grandmother (my father's mother). I remember her being overweight, large-breasted and having massive skin and/or fat hanging off her arms and abdomen. She never dieted, didn't believe in it.
My mother weighed over 200 pounds most of her adult life until my dad divorced her (stress) - now she weighs approx. 150 and has maintained that for 10 years.
My aunt (mother's sister) has always been overweight (300+ lb) and has been on every diet you can think of. She's 65 now and has to have her knees replaced from carrying the weight around all her life.
I also found out I had a great aunt on my mother's side who was so overweight (400-500 lb) that she couldn't walk. She had to use a wheelchair to get around.
Now I can see why I've had weight problems and continue to have weight problems - it is partly genetics. I guess I'm just gonna have to roll up my sleeves and start fighting to get it off and keep it off!!
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Author: vicki247/213.50/200
Date: 07-10-03 04:29
I agree completely.
I have 5 brothers, no sisters and I am the youngest and the only girl. Okay there are 3 of us in our family that are tall like my dad, one brother is 6'3" and weighs 275 and another brother who is 6'2" and probably weighs at least that. I am 5'11" and weigh over 200, my brother next to me is probably 5'9" and weighs maybe 200 and then we have 2 brothers that are shrimps, at 5'7" or 5'8" and who knows what they weigh!
My mother was heavy most of her adult life, now she only weighs about 140 pounds and she is about 5'2".
My dad was 6'4" and weighed at one time in his life close to 300 pounds, when he died he weighed probably half that.
Genetics plays a big part in that I guess, that's why you have to don the boxing gloves and combat it.
take care.
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Author: Doug 272/158/170
Date: 07-10-03 05:38
You should see a picture I have of the last family reunion on my mothers side of the family. Being overweight definitely runs in the family.
While genetics plays a role I think the real culprit is my great Grandmother’s cookbook. Fat, starch and plenty of it. Any time members of that side of the family get together massive eating ensues. This culture of eating is a much bigger factor than genetics.
From what I have read genetics will affect how much you want to eat, not how efficiently you can convert food into energy. Some people are lucky enough to be able to eat a reasonable amount of food and feel completely satisfied. When people say they can eat all they want and not gain weight it usually means they do not want to eat as much as those of us prone to being overweight, not that they magically burn off more calories.
Genetics can be overcome, it just makes things a bit harder.
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Author: BFL Michelle 139/130/105
Date: 07-10-03 07:41
I refuse to believe that I will look like my family due to genetics. If I let myself believe that, then I might as well just give up. I take after my mothers side and everyone is short and fat. I know genetics play a role, like Doug said but I won't give in. I think genetics can be overcome.
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Author: glunky - 266.236.165
Date: 07-10-03 07:53
My thoughts exactly Doug,
Genetics would make one a little bit more receptive to loading on the weight, but it isn't going to defy the laws of thermodynamics and biochemistry to MAKE you fat. THe real culprit, as Doug said, is more than likely the eating and cooking behaviours that have been passed down the family for generations while the energy we spend to complete our day to day lives is being reduced more and more by technology.
We don't have to break into a sweat to make a loaf of bread now, we have bread machines and mix masters, in our air conditioned kitchens. Yet the recipe is the same and we eat the same amount.
There was a special on Discovery Channel a while ago with Alan Alda and he was looking at a First Nations Group in New Mexico that has a very high obesity rate, largely due to the decrease in physical labour required because of machines and technology. It was a very interesting special and really had some simple, good points.
:-)
N
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Author: Matt 244/232/165
Date: 07-10-03 08:32
I think that genetics play the ultimate, bigger role in weight loss/gain/maintenance.
This just my theory, based upon 27 years of observation, etc., but I think it has held-up pretty well.
I think I have mentioned before my friend who is 26, nearly 6' 5", and is skinny, sinewy, muscular --- and does absolutely nothing for it. Has a sit-down job (actually, he drives around all day for his job). And then in the evening and on the weekends he sits and watches tv or plays video games. When he eats - he eats. Often when we get together, we bake some frozen pizzas. I have to stop after eating 1/3 to a half of mine. He can eat all of his, down a few beers (or sodas), and be ready to eat again in a few hours. But, like I said earlier, to look at him, you'd think he ate like a bird and went to the gym three times a week. But it is genetic. His dad was the same way, until age fifty, and then the metablism slowed down, and now he has internal (heart-related) health problems due to years of bad eating (even though he "looked good").
Another friend of mine is 28 years old, 6'2 and has ALWAYS weighed between 130 and 140 lbs. And I can tell you, he is a BIG eater. A typical meal for him consists of multiple items on a menu (restaurant or fast-food), and the meals are always accompanied by shakes or malts (depending on the availability). He never goes above 140 lbs., and has natural muscle tone - like my other friend. It runs in his family.
I have a couple other friends that are like this. Same thing with them - families are like that.
On the other hand, I have friends (and myself) who come from "large-sized" families, and we have to REALLY watch what we eat, if we want to lose weight --- or not even gain weight. And, of course, this runs in the family.
I think some of the best evidence for the genetic link has come from the adoption studies. Many children who are adopted into families, eat the food the families prepare, and take-on their lifestyle, do NOT see changes in their weight - either up or down. There have been many documented cases of a child who comes from a genetically "thinner" pool, being adopted into a "large build" family, who eat the "bad foods", and too much of them, and the adopted child never becomes large. They stay thin. And this is with them adapting to the new family's eating habits, etc. To me, that is a very good indicator for the genetic theory.
Are we a slave to our genes? Not necessarily. But does it mean that, if we are genetically hard-wired to have a slow metabolism, or to have something else within us which turns food to fat more often than others, we will have to work harder at being thinner and in-shape than other people? Yes, unfortunately.
But, in a way, that's good. It forces to be more conscious about what we put in our mouths. And, in many ways, it makes us to turn exercise more than it would someone like the first friend that I mentioned. I've known too many "thin" people who, because they stayed thin and muscular despite what they eat, dropped dead from heart attacks in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. They were beautiful on the outside, but rotting on the inside. It's brutal, but it's the truth. I don't want to lose anyone else like that.
Just a few ponderings...
Take care.
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Author: miranda 230/145/140
Date: 07-10-03 09:04
Yes, you can beat genetics. I'm going to agree with Doug and disagree with Matt, at least to an extent. I used to be one of those people who appeared to be able to eat like a horse and never gain a pound. People commented on it all the time. The fact was, though, that I only ate like a horse when other people were around; when I was alone, I made up for it by consuming far less calories. It was only when I started eating voraciously all the time, even when I was alone, that I became overweight. I believe that some people do have slightly "faster" metabolisms than others, but these differences are relatively small (like 10% or less, I've read); the bigger factor is how much you want to eat, as Doug says--the appetite part of your metabolism, as opposed to the fat-burning part. This is also what my doctor thinks--he's told me that some people just have to learn to deal with chronic hunger (depressing, but it makes sense). So genetics can saddle you with some obstacles to overcome, but with reasonable effort, you can learn to live with your appetite and control your weight. I also think that the eating habits you were taught by your family may play an even larger role than the genes your family passed on to you.
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Author: Matt 244/232/165
Date: 07-10-03 09:17
I did not say that you can't beat genetics.
I think it's pretty obvious:
Some people are more naturally (genetically) prone to be able to eat what they want, and not gain a pound (in fact, have EXCELLENT muscle tone).
Others (like myself), may eat the same as they do, and gain weight like mad. What is the difference? Genetics. Can it be controlled? Of course. That's what I said.
I'm not sure you can "beat" genetics, persay, but you certainly augment them. The thin friends that I mentioned are very good friends. And have social issues where they like to be around other people A LOT. Therefore, I get to see how they eat, and know what their eating patterns are. Believe me, they eat QUITE a bit.
If I were to only eat one whole pizza a day, and drink beer the way some of my friends do, believe me, I would be gaining weight slowly but surely. Also, I do not work out, just like they do not work out. I am flabby. They are are toned as all get-out.
Let's be realistic here, ok?
Genetic pre-determination can be altered, yes. Changed completely? Not totally. And I'm not just referring to weight here.
Take care.
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