Is it Fatism?

Unfocussed Mike We live in a village but it has a Coop and Aldi within easy walking distance. Frequently, the Coop has a good selection of reduced fruit and veg. Aldi fruit and veg is good but does not keep well. No problem, just don't buy more than you need for the next day or two.

Our standard technique is not to set out to get the ingredients for a specific meal but to get what is good and design the meal around it.

Edited by bad john

Mmm….   I have a somewhat nutty young Welsh Cob filly that I am considering breaking for myself to ride at 69. Wife (ex-nurse) is asking if I shouldn’t consider a motorbike instead….  Much safer.

Huw Which is the reason for the advice: don't take up squash after 40. Another one is: don't play squash to get fit - get fit to play squash.

Some of the club members are over 80. Too many middle age men think: I need to be fitter, I'll take up squash; not a good idea.

My wife is also serious about exercise as well but her preferred form is loads of walking or long swims.

Edited by bad john

Huw I have given up motorcycling. I have never smoked but I can understand those who have successfully given up but say that years later they are still tempted. I get that feeling sometimes when I see a bike zooming along a nice road.

I gave up road biking long ago, it is far too dangerous. However careful you are, someone might pull out in front of you.

I continued off-road biking for longer. The level of danger is more controllable: trees and rocks don't pull out in front of you. So far, I am resisting the temptation of road biking.

Edited by bad john

When I was a young lad of 50. My BMI in those days was only 21.5. I am slimmer than I look. There is a kevlar breast plate under that jacket.

I reckon the reason for overweight is too much sugar, wrong diet, alcohol intake and little exercise. Now as the OP has mentioned slimmer elderly observation, when the doctor explains they are border diabetic, a good chance of having a stroke, a heart attack, will need by pass and their liver will take the knock they take better care of themselves. an easy to identify example here being Clarkson, by his own admission, I reckon you'll see an improvement in his appearance over the next couple of years, the bloodshot eyes, red face, enlarged abdomen and excess weight should diminish. I've used him as this example as it should be easy to visually track back, and he makes no secret of it. Then you get the benefit scooter driving overweight bunch, they stay much the same for fear of losing benefits. There is a proportion of people genuinely needing assistance and always has been, however, you have to ask yourself the question....where did all the others come from. The pavements around the town here are like the M6, yet they can jump off, waddle to the rear of the scooter and rummage through their picnic box.

MidgePhoto has it bang on with the fat kid analogy you usually had ginger and fat kids in equal proportions within most classrooms....we need a lot more gingers now.

I'm a guilty offender of bodily abuse. In my younger days a long distance weekend cyclist and non drinking martial artist training 4 times a week for many years. Then I gained the need for beer and takeaways and the only exercise was if I got lucky when I got my own place and lived on my own. Forward many years and Clarkson type lifestyle took hold and ballooned to 18st, so a few years ago I cut out sugar, booze and all that nonsense and I'm back to normal (ish) and a good few stone lighter, hoping for a smaller less expensive coffin.

Cakes, biscuits, ice cream, etc - never.

Other desserts - very rare.

Sugar in drinks - never.

Alcohol - some. I used to be close to the recommended limit but now I am below.

Complex carbs - lots. I don't see them as unhealthy as long as you burn them off.

Junk - seldom. The occasional curry or pizza. Never Starbucks, McDonald's or the lime.

Fat - quite a lot but the healthier stuff such as olive oil.

Meat - none.

Fish - occasionally but only the oily stuff.

Eggs - occasionally.

Dairy - rarely.

Fruit and veg - lots.

Edited by bad john

Back in 2016 I was obese with a BMI of 33. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I switched to a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet which reduced my HBA1C from 99 to 42 in 6 months (over 48 is diabetic, over 42 is pre-diabetic). My BMI dropped down to 28 as I lost over 12Kg. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but it was a side effect of the low carb ketogenic diet.

I discovered that body fat comes from excess blood glucose which is converted to fat via insulin. Carbohydrates are highly addictive, more so most people find it hard to reduce, which is why Ozempic is so popular for people without the self-control to change their diet to regulate blood sugar levels and weight loss.

People with type 2 diabetes can expect 10 fewer years life expectancy if they don’t get diabetes under control. As I am 71 now, I would have only another 5 years to live if didn’t control my blood sugars. I now have a Dexcom One+ CGM (continuous glucose monitor) which is a handy way to measure blood glucose all day. The reason why diabetics don’t live as long is because of glucose spikes. This video is quite interesting …

Edited by Tarmoo

Tarmoo said

Back in 2016 I was obese with a BMI of 33. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I switched to a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet which reduced my HBA1C from 99 to 42 in 6 months (over 48 is diabetic, over 42 is pre-diabetic). My BMI dropped down to 28 as I lost over 12Kg. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but it was a side effect of the low carb ketogenic diet.

I discovered that body fat comes from excess blood glucose which is converted to fat via insulin. Carbohydrates are highly addictive, more so most people find it hard to reduce, which is why Ozempic is so popular for people without the self-control to change their diet to regulate blood sugar levels and weight loss.

People with type 2 diabetes can expect 10 fewer years life expectancy if they don’t get diabetes under control. As I am 71 now, I would have only another 5 years to live if didn’t control my blood sugars. I now have a Dexcom One+ CGM (continuous glucose monitor) which is a handy way to measure blood glucose all day. The reason why diabetics don’t live as long is because of glucose spikes. This video is quite interesting …

 

Edited by Tarmoo

Ok, as somebody who had to and enjoyed to study biochemistry and physiology, I would like to correct things. This guy in the video is known to misunderstand facts and pathways so I will add my 2 cents for the ones who are interested.

1) Carbs, Proteins and Fats increase Insulin. All 3. The difference is in speed of absorption. What changes the balance in insulin spikes is fibre. Fruits when eaten as a whole won't create insulin spikes. A lean beef will. 

2) Glucose won't turn into fat. It is either burned or turned into glycogen or other sugars like joint fluids, nuclear sugars, Hyaluronic acid, connective tissue etc. The reason why kids get overactive or we can't sleep well with too much sugar is the body needing to burn it.

3) Fructose is the one that is converted to fat or Glycogen. Fructose is also necessary to free Testosterone in the blood stream. Low Fructose means less fun. Our older Photographers, this is my gift to you :)

4) Cakes, chocolate etc have high sugar and high fat, which is an unnatural combination for our metabolic signalling system. The sugar is burned as much as possible and the readily "packed and stored
 energy" in fat is just...well stored, since fat is already the safe and dense format we use to store energy.

5) Carbs are absolutely necessary for sexual health, DNA/RNA production, joint and connective tissue health, brain function and any explosive movement from lifting from your chair to climbing stairs. Fat will not do that for you. For more detail check Creatine Phosphate, Aerobic and Anaerobic ATP production and of course types of muscle fibres.

6) This one is for the people who really want to understand the role of Insulin and how Sugar is transported and used, why we call something Insulin resistance or Diabetes type II

Muscle and Brain Tissue run primarily on Sugar. To achieve that, there are tiny chemical helpers called GLUT4 (Glucose transporters. different tissues have different types) which are necessary to transport sugar around the cell.

Since the Brain and big muscle groups use the most sugar, they have the most glucose transporting units. The job of Insulin is to SIGNAL the intake of. sugar and other macros to the cells wall. It's like the delivery truck driver nocking at the door! Insulin is also a growth factor to increase muscle mass. It is used in body building for that.

When we consume high sugar and high fat at the same time,  the cells become unable to pick up all the energy sources. This confuses the cells and stops them from having enough GLUT4s ready to transport sugar. Also the position of the molecules change (closer to the door waiting becomes sitting and chatting somewhere else). So the amount of sugar circulated in the blood stream increases because the cells do not pick up the sugar. More insulin is produced to keep the door bells ringing. When the sugar is not picked up and more Insulin is needed, we call it insulin resistance.

#1 reason for insulin resistance is high body fat and lack of explosive movement. Emptying the glycogen in the muscles and reducing the intake of fat that is stored around the muscle cells makes the muscle hungry again, which increases GLUT4 production and reduces the need of insulin signalling.

Long story short: Reduce fat, eat fruit, have fun and move. 

My eating habits have had to change over the last couple of years because I noticed a change after I turned 30. Gone are the days when I could go out boozing and eat what I want and not worry about it. Even though I don't smoke and rarely drink now, the weight doesn't just creep on it stacks on if I'm not careful. Part of it is probably because I'm a woman but part of it definitely due to an office job and no longer playing sport competitively means a more sedentary life.

But, I do think that people's perception of size has definitely changed over the last 10 or so years which I think has made a difference to what we see as 'thin'.

Despite the fact that I'm nearly a stone heavier than I was at Uni and I'm a size 10/12 at 5'3.5 (the half inch matters!), people often refer to me as thin. I'm not fat by any stretch but I'm certainly not thin and wouldn't have been described as so a decade ago.

It's also evident in the clothes that are made now. I like vintage clothing but when I get clothing that's from the 60s/70s, I'm at least one size 'bigger' than I am in clothing with current measurements.

The world is getting bigger is almost every way. Cars, clothes, bigger portions etc. It's often cheaper to eat processed food than make from scratch, and people are busy so look to convenience which often isn't great nutrition wise.

Tarmoo said

... The reason why diabetics don’t live as long is because of glucose spikes. This video is quite interesting …

...

Tarmoo said

...

I discovered that body fat comes from excess blood glucose which is converted to fat via insulin. ...

Spikes: probably area under the curve, hence the preference for glycosylated Haemoglobin levels and such indicators of damage to proteins from sugar by those who don't have gadgets or sticks to sell.

Spikes don't have much area. Small elevations over long periods have a lot.

People with islet cell failure have to actively control rapid excursions in real time, so devices are very useful.

Insulin is the hormone of plenty*, when there is food our ancestors** stored it up, when there were lean times they burned it. Our hungry quarter largely isn't now. Winter isn't as cold, either - not so much because of global warming which acts differently, but due to more clothes and insulated heated housing. Body fat is a useful insulator in the temperate to polar zones, and again selection linked characteristic habitus to habitats.

* There's more to it than that, but...

** Selective pressure acted against those with less tendency to, more in some areas, such as Polynesia, making them less ancestral.

bad john my wife made me promise to give up motorbikes at 20 (she was nursing in Bristol).  She had no idea how much more dangerous horses were,so I said fine.    ;)

Metabolism….  We vary. I am around 5-10 kg over ideal weight; drop weight reasonably easily by going onto an Atkins high protein no carb diet. Only problem is slower thinking when ketotic. 

Usually 2 litres of full fat milk per day, plus meat and eggs. Veg when I’m told to….

My cholesterol is ok, my healthy eating wife is on statins for her high cholesterol. I find that amusing, her not so much…..   ;)

Huw said

...

My cholesterol is ok, my healthy eating wife is on statins for her high cholesterol. I find that amusing, her not so much…..   ;)

Genes, innit.

Careful choice of parents helps.

Huw I gave up regular road-biking in my 20s but would rent or borrow up to my 40s. Off-road for a bit longer. I can easily resist road biking but I get the occasional temptation for off-road.

I haven't ridden a horse since a few lessons as a kid. My younger sister wanted to learn and I tagged along for a while. It never appealed to me.

I eat what I like and as much as I like. I'm lucky that what I like seems to work for me. No issues found in my latest MOT (Well Man's Check-Up).

My half-brother also has a healthy lifestyle but is less lucky. High cholesterol and heart issues. Probably from his father (who was not mine).

Theta Aeterna said

Tarmoo said

Back in 2016 I was obese with a BMI of 33. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I switched to a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet which reduced my HBA1C from 99 to 42 in 6 months (over 48 is diabetic, over 42 is pre-diabetic). My BMI dropped down to 28 as I lost over 12Kg. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but it was a side effect of the low carb ketogenic diet.

I discovered that body fat comes from excess blood glucose which is converted to fat via insulin. Carbohydrates are highly addictive, more so most people find it hard to reduce, which is why Ozempic is so popular for people without the self-control to change their diet to regulate blood sugar levels and weight loss.

People with type 2 diabetes can expect 10 fewer years life expectancy if they don’t get diabetes under control. As I am 71 now, I would have only another 5 years to live if didn’t control my blood sugars. I now have a Dexcom One+ CGM (continuous glucose monitor) which is a handy way to measure blood glucose all day. The reason why diabetics don’t live as long is because of glucose spikes. This video is quite interesting …

 

Edited by Tarmoo

Ok, as somebody who had to and enjoyed to study biochemistry and physiology, I would like to correct things. This guy in the video is known to misunderstand facts and pathways so I will add my 2 cents for the ones who are interested.

1) Carbs, Proteins and Fats increase Insulin. All 3. The difference is in speed of absorption. What changes the balance in insulin spikes is fibre. Fruits when eaten as a whole won't create insulin spikes. A lean beef will. 

2) Glucose won't turn into fat. It is either burned or turned into glycogen or other sugars like joint fluids, nuclear sugars, Hyaluronic acid, connective tissue etc. The reason why kids get overactive or we can't sleep well with too much sugar is the body needing to burn it.

3) Fructose is the one that is converted to fat or Glycogen. Fructose is also necessary to free Testosterone in the blood stream. Low Fructose means less fun. Our older Photographers, this is my gift to you :)

4) Cakes, chocolate etc have high sugar and high fat, which is an unnatural combination for our metabolic signalling system. The sugar is burned as much as possible and the readily "packed and stored
 energy" in fat is just...well stored, since fat is already the safe and dense format we use to store energy.

5) Carbs are absolutely necessary for sexual health, DNA/RNA production, joint and connective tissue health, brain function and any explosive movement from lifting from your chair to climbing stairs. Fat will not do that for you. For more detail check Creatine Phosphate, Aerobic and Anaerobic ATP production and of course types of muscle fibres.

6) This one is for the people who really want to understand the role of Insulin and how Sugar is transported and used, why we call something Insulin resistance or Diabetes type II

Muscle and Brain Tissue run primarily on Sugar. To achieve that, there are tiny chemical helpers called GLUT4 (Glucose transporters. different tissues have different types) which are necessary to transport sugar around the cell.

Since the Brain and big muscle groups use the most sugar, they have the most glucose transporting units. The job of Insulin is to SIGNAL the intake of. sugar and other macros to the cells wall. It's like the delivery truck driver nocking at the door! Insulin is also a growth factor to increase muscle mass. It is used in body building for that.

When we consume high sugar and high fat at the same time,  the cells become unable to pick up all the energy sources. This confuses the cells and stops them from having enough GLUT4s ready to transport sugar. Also the position of the molecules change (closer to the door waiting becomes sitting and chatting somewhere else). So the amount of sugar circulated in the blood stream increases because the cells do not pick up the sugar. More insulin is produced to keep the door bells ringing. When the sugar is not picked up and more Insulin is needed, we call it insulin resistance.

#1 reason for insulin resistance is high body fat and lack of explosive movement. Emptying the glycogen in the muscles and reducing the intake of fat that is stored around the muscle cells makes the muscle hungry again, which increases GLUT4 production and reduces the need of insulin signalling.

Long story short: Reduce fat, eat fruit, have fun and move. 

That's interesting, thanks. So a whole orange is healthier food than orange juice, even if the juice is extracted from the orange you would have eaten whole?

What counts as explosive action? The term makes me think of a 100 metre runner coming off the blocks or a cyclist sprinting for the finish. It would be interesting to know where the threshold is, since there are reports that it is the 'explosive' exercise done in relatively small doses that does the most good.

Ie, I chop my own logs, which seems quite explosive to me, but would it meet the threshold?

Edited by Mark671

Edited by Mark671