# Do anyone take weight management as seriously as I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002 "2025-12-24T00:31:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/61 "2025-12-24T19:36:48Z")
Look..being overweight can be and often is about how much you put in your mouth. Of course there are exceptions. Some thyroid things or simple familial genetics.(“You’re built just like Aunt Martha” kinda thing) Or in can be a mental problem. I don’t know your whole circumstance and maybe you done this; have the endocrinologists determined if you’ve jumped the shark to T-1 or some variant? Almost all diabetic conditions are your personal condition. Yours and yours alone. The pancreas is fickle with a little brain that tells it to kill a person. I curse mine everyday. I have a feeling it doesn’t care. I’m sorry if I insulted you. I was meaning, generally speaking, T-2 can be attributed directly to lifestyle in many many cases. Good luck on your journey. It’s tough. I know. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/62 "2025-12-24T19:44:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Look..being overweight can be and often is about how much you put in your mouth. Or, it’s complicated, and different people have different issues. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/63 "2025-12-24T19:47:43Z")
I’ll jump back to the OP. Are you just chasing a weight, or are you chasing a health state? Two very different things and some of what you write suggests one thing and some suggests another. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/64 "2025-12-24T21:06:35Z")
So true. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/65 "2025-12-24T22:05:03Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And probably also subject to how much you’ve eaten recently. And whether you fidget when you are “sitting still”. And what the temperature is. … > > Oh, and how many calories you just poop out. > > While there’s some truth to “calories in - calories out” i think it’s a gross oversimplification, and not helpful to everyone. interesting fact: drinking and peeing 1 Liter / quart of water, consumes 30kcal … (assuming the water enters your body at 10°C and leaves it at 40 … just warming that volume of water up uses 30kcal … not a trivial amount, spread out over a day, 4 liters of ingest might still be pretty normal → 120kcal ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/66 "2025-12-24T22:08:42Z")
Yes but. That 120 kcal is 120 dietary calories. Which is a couple bites of french fries. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/67 "2025-12-24T22:23:11Z")
My answer is no, I don’t take diet or weight management seriously. I’m a big believer in the idea of one’s body naturally telling you what’s good for it. For example, that juicy fruits like oranges and grapes are more thirst-quenching than Coke. In previous years I was a big fan of eggnog during the holiday season, but now my body is saying “no – too much fat or cholesterol or some other artery-clogging shit”. I’ve had some of it but will probably pour half of it out. And it’s a really good, tasty brand that I’ve always liked. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/68 "2025-12-24T22:27:09Z")
I find modern packaged eggnog is greatly improved by adding whole milk. Maybe 50/50, maybe 2/3 eggnog to 1/3 milk. Moves it back from cloyongly thick to just right. Plus booze, but that’s a separate dilution. You might try a serving that way before pitching it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/69 "2025-12-24T22:34:26Z")
I don’t usually have milk around. But, needless to say, eggnog heavily diluted with rum is _de rigueur chez Wolfpup_! 🍹 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/70 "2025-12-24T22:35:51Z")
I don’t obsess over the finer details, that seems like too much work for very little return. It’s much simpler to try and stick to general rules of portion control, and avoiding the obviously bad stuff. I think, aside from specific health situation cases, that’s plenty and should work for most people. Of course, the real challenge is sticking to those principles, because temptation is so easy to succumb to. I want to lose weight over the Xmas break, but being at home all day and lazing in front of the TV, with snacks so temptingly nearby, is not conducive to such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/71 "2025-12-24T22:45:46Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The fact that you don’t seem to feel like you’re out of control of your eating says a lot. If you’ve never felt that way, you’re doing it on easy mode. I have been on easy mode since the first day of my first and only diet. I did my research, knew what I had to do, and executed my strategy. If something is important enough, and what is more important than your health and well-being, I will do anything to achieve it. Once I make up my mind to do something, I always see it through, whatever _it_ is. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/72 "2025-12-24T23:26:35Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I want to lose weight over the Xmas break, but being at home all day and lazing in front of the TV, with snacks so temptingly nearby, is not conducive to such a thing. “I want to lose weight” and “snacks temptingly by (at home)” don’t really go together. The willpower needed to leave them at the store is barely 5% of the willpower needed to not eat them from your fridge or cabinet. IME IMO YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/73 "2025-12-25T00:36:23Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Once I make up my mind to do something, I always see it through, whatever _it_ is. Huh. That’s quite impressive. I’m sitting here typing in this thread instead of reading the actuarial monograph i ought to be reading. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > The willpower needed to leave them at the store is barely 5% of the willpower needed to not eat them from your fridge or cabinet. That is certainly my experience. There’s a lot of junk food that calls out to me at the supermarket that stays there. Although, i must be craving sweets and fats right now. I made chocolate chip cookies (nicely browned) the other day, and today I’m making a mixed berry pie. The pie won’t be too sweet (3 lbs frozen berries, ½ cup sugar, ⅓ cup tapioca starch, a dash of lime juice) but the crust will be very buttery, and of course, made with white flour. (250 grams flour, half a pound of butter, and very small amounts of salt and sugar, and water, of course.) And i may serve it with whipped cream. Unsweetened, but oh so much fat. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/74 "2025-12-25T01:52:32Z")
Anyway, sorry about the hijack. I do think there’s some truth to the idea that our bodies know what we need. But i think that truth is limited. I think it’s more true for some people than for others. I think many adults who grew up in over-abundance have, due lack of a better phrase, a damaged appetite, and don’t have a good feel for what they need. And even to the extent we do, that appetite is geared towards “getting enough”, not “avoiding to much”. I do think i crave fatty foods in the fall, to and fresh fruit in the spring, fwiw. But that’s just me. And humans are very diverse. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/75 "2025-12-25T16:57:50Z")
I started my adult life at age 17 with multiple psychological disorders and zero dollars to my name. Out of that, I spent painstaking years building a life with a supportive partner, a high-quality education, a meaningful career, and years and years and _years_ spent on improving my mental condition. I also finished a novel that took me eight years to write. Then I had a special needs child and that’s pretty much all my time now. If it were a matter of perseverance, it would have been done by now. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/76 "2025-12-25T17:08:15Z")
I applaud your achievements. You have climbed many mountains to get to where you are. If you’re happy with where you are, that’s good enough. Live every day to the fullest, and enjoy being alive for as long as you can. I wasn’t happy where I was and needed to make some changes. I got divorced and decided to lose weight and get healthy. Once I decided that, the die was cast, and I’ve dedicated my life to achieving that one goal. I wish I had done something about it much earlier, but there is no going back. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/77 "2025-12-25T17:12:51Z")
You have had a long, difficult trying young adulthood. No doubt. But, seriously weren’t you just putting weight issues on the back burner? You have to prioritize it because you do have the special needs child and the career. You need to be healthy, able bodied and happy. Stay alive longer that way. For the child, if you can’t do it for anything else. Just my opinion, not really knowing you. I have read, with interest, your experiences on the board, here. And it seems like to me the weight bothers you. The health bothers you. Maybe the New Year? A new plan. Good luck. You know all of us here on the Dope are in your corner. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/78 "2025-12-25T18:58:00Z")
I’m more aligned with @Wesley_Clark in that I don’t think permanent weight loss is achievable for most people (the evidence overwhelmingly supports that conclusion) but I do think improved health is possible for everyone, regardless of weight. The solution to better health will also be different for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/79 "2025-12-25T19:10:52Z")
I agree that most people don’t have the tenacity to do what I do every day to manage my weight and stay as healthy as I can. The fact is, most people don’t think that much about their long-term health and don’t want to trade the ability to eat and drink whatever they want for a longer, healthier life. I’m totally good with that since people have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. I was just curious how odd a duck I really was. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002/80 "2025-12-25T19:20:37Z")
You don’t seem odd.😀 I’m fine with whatever someone else does. But; Don’t question me, lecture or give me advice, “Aunt Sue was like you, she cured her diabetes drinking vinegar” (not you, but you would not believe the cures I’ve heard in the wild) O—kay. I think you @dolphinboy are doing what you need to do for health and weight and a longer life. Cannot be faulted..in my book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anyone-take-weight-management-as-seriously-as-i-do/1026002.md?page=5)