# How Fat is Too Fat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622 "2012-11-30T22:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/181 "2012-12-04T04:39:49Z")
There is, btw, a real entity of “exercise addiction.” It is not however defined by hours but by mindset. The screening questionare is 6 questions that are ranked 1 to 5 strongly disagree to strongly agree: Strongly disagree Neither agree or disagree Strongly agree 1 2 3 4 5 1. ``` Exercise is the most important thing in my life. ``` 2. Conflicts have arisen between me and my family due to the amount of exercise I do. 3. I use exercise as a way of changing my mood. 4. Over time I have increased the amount of exercise I do. 5. If I have to miss a session I feel moody. 6. If I cut down on the amount of exercise I do I start again and end up exercising as much as before. 24 and over is considered “at-risk.” I just skate by at 23 myself. Whew. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/182 "2012-12-04T09:03:02Z")
If walking isn’t exercise, explain how I lost 15 pounds my first semester of college? I didn’t change my habits a bit (and still ate like crap, back then). I didn’t “work out”, didn’t go to the gym, didn’t play a sport. But my dorm was located at the opposite end of campus from the class buildings, and I had to walk 10-15 minutes to and from several times a day. I didn’t do _anything else,_ and lost 15 pounds in three months, without making any particular effort to achieve this. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/183 "2012-12-04T11:32:06Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I just watched it again. At 0:21 it clearly states that “Jim lost 109 lbs” and “Laura lost 53 lbs” Regardless. That’s not what I saw, but this point isn’t the hill I want to die on. > [@](#): > > Yes of course. But it doesn’t change the fact that they are promoting a mentality which is counter-productive. Which would be what mentality? That weight loss is a bad idea unless you do it for just the right reasons? Weight Watchers sells weight loss, period. They don’t sell sex or promise six-pack abs and a rock-hard ass. They sell weight loss and promise that, if you do their program, you will lose weight. Their major selling point is that their program is easier to follow and therefore stick with. > [@](#): > > I don’t know. What difference does it make to my point? It would be nice if you could please enlighten us with what that point is. Until then, I’m through arguing with you. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/184 "2012-12-04T11:56:06Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > If walking isn’t exercise, explain how I lost 15 pounds my first semester of college? I didn’t change my habits a bit (and still ate like crap, back then). I didn’t “work out”, didn’t go to the gym, didn’t play a sport. But my dorm was located at the opposite end of campus from the class buildings, and I had to walk 10-15 minutes to and from several times a day. > > I didn’t do _anything else,_ and lost 15 pounds in three months, without making any particular effort to achieve this. I shed 25 lbs over the course of several months once I took up walking. I wonder if **Modern Master’s** misconception is widespread. If I believed that exercise has to be strenuous and uncomfortable for it to “count”, maybe I wouldn’t bother with it. And I’d almost certainly be overweight. ---
**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 4, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/185 "2012-12-04T12:49:13Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I shed 25 lbs over the course of several months once I took up walking. > > I wonder if **Modern Master’s** misconception is widespread. If I believed that exercise has to be strenuous and uncomfortable for it to “count”, maybe I wouldn’t bother with it. And I’d almost certainly be overweight. Walking is probably the safest and most natural form of exercise one can do, and it’s perfect for beginners/the very overweight who want to avoid injury. I would hate for anyone to be discouraged from taking up a walking routine out of the belief that it wasn’t really exercise. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/186 "2012-12-04T13:01:17Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Regardless. That’s not what I saw, but this point isn’t the hill I want to die on. Maybe it’s not what you saw, but it looks to me like you owe me an apology. Would you mind looking at the video at 0:21 and quoting exactly what appears on the screen? > [@](#): > > Which would be what mentality? That weight loss is a bad idea unless you do it for just the right reasons? See Item number 1 in Post #97. > [@](#): > > Weight Watchers sells weight loss, period. They don’t sell sex or promise six-pack abs and a rock-hard ass. They sell weight loss and promise that, if you do their program, you will lose weight. Their major selling point is that their program is easier to follow and therefore stick with. They also promote a mentality which is counter-productive. From the capitalist point of view, it’s a reasonable thing to do. Let’s suppose they showed commercials where a 5’4" girl went from 200 pounds to 180 pounds and maintained her weight for 10 years, thus avoiding the need to get a butt wand and a mobility scooter. If they did that, their service wouldn’t sell as well. But that doesn’t change the fact that the mentality they promote is counter-productive. > [@](#): > > It would be nice if you could please enlighten us with what that point is. Lol, it would be nice if you actually read my posts with a modicum of attention before responding to them. > [@](#): > > Until then, I’m through arguing with you. Suit yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/187 "2012-12-04T13:58:18Z")
This is mostly irrelevant except for the Weight Watchers’ reference, but it’s sort of humorous. Or just weird. An acquaintance of mine has been with WW for about four years. Every week she posts, “Down 2 pounds at weigh-in this week!” on Facebook. Or 1.2 pounds or 1.5 or whatever. Every single week. The thing is, she was only about 30 pounds overweight to begin with, so by my calculations she should currently weigh about 20 pounds. She doesn’t, she’s just slightly lighter than when she started with WW. What’s the point in this?? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/188 "2012-12-04T14:53:01Z")
Social involvement is a very important part of maintaining weight loss, that’s why the WW meetings were so successful back when they started. You had to be accountable to people besides yourself, you had a social network of support and encouragement. Posting her results on FB are a way to get positive reinforcement for the behavior which leads to continuation of the behavior. I do the same thing with my running. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/189 "2012-12-04T15:24:40Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I just watched it again. At 0:21 it clearly states that “Jim lost 109 lbs” and “Laura lost 53 lbs” > [@MsRobyn](#): > > Regardless. That’s not what I saw, but this point isn’t the hill I want to die on… Could you please just admit you were wrong? Failing to do that makes it difficult to read the rest of your arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/190 "2012-12-04T17:42:07Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Social involvement is a very important part of maintaining weight loss, that’s why the WW meetings were so successful back when they started. You had to be accountable to people besides yourself, you had a social network of support and encouragement. Posting her results on FB are a way to get positive reinforcement for the behavior which leads to continuation of the behavior. I do the same thing with my running. I understand that, but my point is that she claims to have lost at least a pound a week for over four years. That’s roughly 192 pounds, for someone who was about 170 when she started and looks like she now must be around 155 or 160. Why the lying? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/191 "2012-12-04T17:53:48Z")
She’s probably not advertising the weight she gains back. Wild guess. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/192 "2012-12-04T18:15:49Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Walking is exercise? Since when? I would never classify walking as exercise. I guess I exercise whenever I walk to the store or get out of bed. Does getting out of bed count as exercise too? This is rich! Every thread here that ever discusses anything having to do with diet, exercise or fat always includes these 3 points: 1. Someone pops in and says they lost tons of weight by just walking, starting with short distances. (see [post 20](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15751052&postcount=20)) 2. People in cities (especially in Europe) are thinner/people in the old days were thinner because they walk everywhere and don’t drive big gas-guzzling SUVs. (see [post 73](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15753547&postcount=73), hinting at it) 3. People could lose tons of weight if they just got up and walked around their house (see [post 121](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15755603&postcount=121)) “Walking is exercise” is definitely a prevailing opinion around here, and I don’t disagree with it. In fact I’d go so far to say it’s a fact, not an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/193 "2012-12-04T18:40:18Z")
Just noticed Monstro already pointed out the obvious here. I’ll leave my response to clarify, and to remind me to read all posts before jumping in with a response. > [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I call bs on bullet point letter b because if you indulge you’re probably regaining the calories you burned plus more. Which is the whole point in burning the calories through exercise. Maybe there is some misunderstanding. First, I am not obese. I am within 10-15% of my recommended bodyweight. Second, by indulge I do not mean gorge. I mean indulge. A serving of chocolate ice cream once or twice a week. Not a bowl full every evening. Third, I am practicing a weight maintenance, not a weight reduction program. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/194 "2012-12-04T19:00:15Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I shed 25 lbs over the course of several months once I took up walking. > > I wonder if **Modern Master’s** misconception is widespread. If I believed that exercise has to be strenuous and uncomfortable for it to “count”, maybe I wouldn’t bother with it. And I’d almost certainly be overweight. There is a lot of “no pain, no gain” mentality associated with dieting as well as the gym. Which is a misconception in its own right. It should be “if you really want to go the extra bit above and beyond, you are going to have to push yourself into uncomfortable territory” But most take it as “if I want to change, I must suffer” ☹ I probably set Modern Master off on the “exercise” scrutiny. Like Monstro I frequently participate in activities that are active and good calorie burners, but strictly speaking some would not typically describe as exercise. Some but not all things that fit that category for me: I paddle my kayak around the lake weekly. I mountain bike several times a week in a fairly intense fashion with friends of similar ability. I play ice hockey between one and three times a week in league will getting up there in age is stilled comprised mainly by former D-1 and D-3 players. I walk 15-20 miles a week. To me this is “play time” not exercise. But the result is the same as if I had jogged on the treadmill for an equivalent calorie burn. Just a lot more enjoyable. And easier to keep going back to. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/195 "2012-12-04T20:06:00Z")
To understand how walking can contribute to weight loss, it’s important to understand how your body uses fuel at different levels of exertion. At low levels of exertion, your body burns available carbohydrates. It will burn fat only if the supply of available carbohydrates is not sufficient. At high levels of exertion, your body burns available carbohydrates in the bloodstream along with body fat. It burns fat because it needs a high level of energy, not because there isn’t enough carbohydrates. Low level exertion’s effect on weight loss is more like dieting where you reduce the available calories to force your body to switch to fat stores. High level exertion forces your body to burn fat because it needs to create energy faster than it can from just carbohydrates alone. At the end of a 200 calorie walk, you will have less carbohydrates in your blood but the same amount of body fat. At the end of a 200 calorie run, you will have less carbohydrates and less body fat. So this means walking is like enhancing your dieting. If you need to reduce your calories by 500, you can do that with any combination of food reduction and increased walking. But like dieting, the reduced calories may make you feel hungry. At high levels of exertion, the fat is literally burning out of your body. If you burn 100 calories of fat, it’s not like you feel 100 calories of hunger. So from a craving point of view, it may be easier to burn 500 calories through high exertion exercise than by using diet and walking. But one of the great things about walking is that it can burn those excess calories that would otherwise be turned into fat. If you have an extra 200 calories floating around your body, much better to walk them off than have them turned into fat stores. ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/196 "2012-12-04T20:54:42Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > To understand how walking can contribute to weight loss, it’s important to understand how your body uses fuel at different levels of exertion. > > At low levels of exertion, your body burns available carbohydrates. It will burn fat only if the supply of available carbohydrates is not sufficient. > > At high levels of exertion, your body burns available carbohydrates in the bloodstream along with body fat. It burns fat because it needs a high level of energy, not because there isn’t enough carbohydrates. > > Low level exertion’s effect on weight loss is more like dieting where you reduce the available calories to force your body to switch to fat stores. High level exertion forces your body to burn fat because it needs to create energy faster than it can from just carbohydrates alone. > > At the end of a 200 calorie walk, you will have less carbohydrates in your blood but the same amount of body fat. At the end of a 200 calorie run, you will have less carbohydrates and less body fat. > > So this means walking is like enhancing your dieting. If you need to reduce your calories by 500, you can do that with any combination of food reduction and increased walking. But like dieting, the reduced calories may make you feel hungry. > > At high levels of exertion, the fat is literally burning out of your body. If you burn 100 calories of fat, it’s not like you feel 100 calories of hunger. So from a craving point of view, it may be easier to burn 500 calories through high exertion exercise than by using diet and walking. > > But one of the great things about walking is that it can burn those excess calories that would otherwise be turned into fat. If you have an extra 200 calories floating around your body, much better to walk them off than have them turned into fat stores. Everything I have read says that fat burning occurs at low intensity and carbohydrate at high intensity, and that it doesn’t really matter anyways for weight loss. > **[Fat Burning Vs. Carbohydrate Burning | Livestrong.com](https://www.livestrong.com/article/32587-fat-burning-vs.-carbohydrate-burning/)** > > When it comes to burning carbs vs. fat, it doesn't make any difference when you're trying to get to or maintain a healthy weight. It's more about total calories. > **[Burning Fat: Myths and Facts - IDEA Health & Fitness Association](https://www.ideafit.com/burning-fat-myths-and-facts/)** > > A popular myth is that there is a specific range of heart rates in which you must exercise to burn fat. Even many cardio machines display a > **[Exercise & Movement Articles - dummies](https://www.dummies.com/category/articles/exercise-movement-34166/)** > > Hold still while you read these articles on cardio, strength training, yoga, and (almost) every other fitness activity known to man. Then get moving! ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/197 "2012-12-04T22:18:21Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > There is a lot of “no pain, no gain” mentality associated with dieting as well as the gym. Which is a misconception in its own right. It should be > “if you really want to go the extra bit above and beyond, you are going to have to push yourself into uncomfortable territory” > But most take it as > “if I want to change, I must suffer” > ☹ > > I probably set Modern Master off on the “exercise” scrutiny. Like Monstro I frequently participate in activities that are active and good calorie burners, but strictly speaking some would not typically describe as exercise. Some but not all things that fit that category for me: > I paddle my kayak around the lake weekly. > I mountain bike several times a week in a fairly intense fashion with friends of similar ability. > I play ice hockey between one and three times a week in league will getting up there in age is stilled comprised mainly by former D-1 and D-3 players. > I walk 15-20 miles a week. > > To me this is “play time” not exercise. But the result is the same as if I had jogged on the treadmill for an equivalent calorie burn. Just a lot more enjoyable. And easier to keep going back to. I never said walking wasn’t good. I think it’s great that people are active. I’m not sure why people are assuming that I don’t think walking a lot is a good thing. I just wouldn’t consider it exercise. Yes, it does burn calories, but I still wouldn’t classify it as exercise. That’s just me though. For example, if I were to walk to the store, I wouldn’t tell someone that was exercise. If I walked back from the bar after a night out on the town, I wouldn’t tell someone that was exercise. If I walked to work and back, I wouldn’t tell someone that was exercise. If my girlfriend and I went for a romantic walk, I wouldn’t tell someone that was exercise. Understand? ---
**Author:** ![thenonepercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@thenonepercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thenonepercent)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/198 "2012-12-04T22:24:40Z")
It’s cool to have your own definitions of common words, MM, but it makes it difficult for others to communicate with you. For the sake of everyone knowing what the fuck you’re talking about, what is the Modern Master definition of “exercise?” Just so we know what criteria you require for an action to fall under your term there. ---
**Author:** ![Modern\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@Modern\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modern_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/199 "2012-12-04T22:31:41Z")
> [@thenonepercent](#): > > It’s cool to have your own definitions of common words, MM, but it makes it difficult for others to communicate with you. > > For the sake of everyone knowing what the fuck you’re talking about, what is the Modern Master definition of “exercise?” Just so we know what criteria you require for an action to fall under your term there. So every time you step outside, you tell people that you are exercising? Give me a break! Every time, you move, you tell people that you are exercising? According to your definition, I exercise every time I’m not sitting down. Does that even make sense? Shame on me for believing that exercising is more than just walking! ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/200 "2012-12-04T22:35:33Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > I probably set Modern Master off on the “exercise” scrutiny. Like Monstro I frequently participate in activities that are active and good calorie burners, but strictly speaking some would not typically describe as exercise. Some but not all things that fit that category for me: > I paddle my kayak around the lake weekly. > I mountain bike several times a week in a fairly intense fashion with friends of similar ability. > I play ice hockey between one and three times a week in league will getting up there in age is stilled comprised mainly by former D-1 and D-3 players. > I walk 15-20 miles a week. > > To me this is “play time” not exercise. But the result is the same as if I had jogged on the treadmill for an equivalent calorie burn. Just a lot more enjoyable. And easier to keep going back to. Which all goes back to what I’ve been saying regarding: 1\> needing to build physical activity into your daily lifestyle, and 2\> in order to succeed at that for the rest of your life, you need to find an activity (or a few) that you really enjoy. I don’t exercise at the gym. Gyms are boring, they cost money, it adds an extra hour to my work-out time to accommodate travel to and from. I run, outdoors, because I can literally just walk out the door and start my workout, it’s meditative, and good gosh, the scenery changes while I move. I’m not staring at the timer on a treadmill agonizing over when it’ll be over. I bike in warm weather. I take an aerial circus class instead of pushing things around on weight machines, because it’s a hell of a lot more fun (and challenging, especially mentally). I had a double-scoop ice cream cone last week. Oddly, I didn’t gain weight from that indulgence. It might have something to do with my physical activity level. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=11)