# 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:** 12
**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, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/221 "2012-12-04T23:12:22Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Now people are thinking I’m obese. Good Lord! Well, you do seem rather resistant to the the idea of incidental exercise. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/222 "2012-12-04T23:14:09Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Now that I know that walking is exercise, I will be able to brag to people when I walked to the toilet. if your primary concern is bragging points, I suggest you need to grow up. > [@](#): > > I will be sure to use the furthest one from me in order to tell people that I’ve burned lots of calories. great job knocking down that strawman. ---
**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, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/223 "2012-12-04T23:15:18Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Well, you do seem rather resistant to the the idea of incidental exercise. So, now the definition of obese is people who think walking is not exercise? Wow. This is in the OMG funny range. Carry on. ---
**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, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/224 "2012-12-04T23:16:55Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > if your primary concern is bragging points, I suggest you need to grow up. > > great job knocking down that strawman. I stopped taking the conversation seriously. At this point, it isn’t worth it. And now I’m just here for the LOLs. ---
**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, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/225 "2012-12-04T23:17:54Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > So, now the definition of obese is people who think walking is not exercise? Whoa, you’re just the strawman psycho-killer. All strawmen fear you. Good job. Those strawmen don’t stand a chance. ---
**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, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/226 "2012-12-04T23:19:29Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Tell them you burned ten calories rather than five - I’m sure they will be impressed. > > Walking is exercise. Do enough of it to actually burn a significant number of calories (say, 2 to 3 miles per day) and you’ll improve your cardiovascular fitness and **possibly lose weight**. Why are you so insistent on denying that fact? Bolding mine. Now, this is getting funny. You even admitted that there’s only a possible chance with losing weight. Combine that with the fact that people are now claiming that I’m obese because I don’t think exercise is walking and you have a recipe for denial of certain “facts.” ---
**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, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/227 "2012-12-04T23:19:53Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > 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? I’m good with that. Personally I would consider any physical activity not necessary for your day to day living to be exercise. Typically I wouldn’t refer to a walk as “going out to exercise” it would be “going out for a walk”, however in casual conversation I might say to someone that I got some exercise today walking to the work instead of driving. ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/228 "2012-12-04T23:20:59Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Whoa, you’re just the strawman psycho-killer. All strawmen fear you. Good job. Those strawmen don’t stand a chance. Why thank you. And good luck with those facts of yours, especially when they indicate that I’m obese because I don’t believe walking is exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/229 "2012-12-04T23:21:10Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Ask him what exactly? > > Hey doc, is it exercise if I walk to the bathroom or to my car? > > No son, it’s non-physical activity (non-exercise). Of course that isn’t exercise…but it does burn calories, albeit slower. But you can get some cardio benefit if you DO walk briskly, and for longer periods of time…just Google “aerobic walking”. As in other threads, I stated that I prefer using my elliptical to exercise (because of my bad knees) over walking or running, but I do enjoy an occasional hike in the desert hills near my house…it’s just that my knee pain flares up after a hike, so I have to be careful not to overdo it. Someday, I would like to hike the taller peaks in my area, such as San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, Mt. Baldy…and then if I’m feeling adventurous, some Sierra peaks…Mt. Whitney would be a worthwhile goal for a guy like me. ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/230 "2012-12-04T23:22:17Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Now, this is getting funny. You even admitted that there’s only a possible chance with losing weight. Are you seriously convinced that adding 3 miles worth of exercise a day wouldn’t result in weight loss? > [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Why thank you. And good luck with those facts of yours, especially when they indicate that I’m obese because I don’t believe walking is exercise. Woosh. ---
**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, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/231 "2012-12-04T23:23:18Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > I’m good with that. > Personally I would consider any physical activity not necessary for your day to day living to be exercise. > Typically I wouldn’t refer to a walk as “going out to exercise” it would be “going out for a walk”, however in casual conversation I might say to someone that I got some exercise today walking to the work instead of driving. Right, but people in this thread believe that it would be acceptable to say that in normal conversation. I can tell you it’s not, but I’m stupid and obese. /s LOL ---
**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, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/232 "2012-12-04T23:24:23Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Are you seriously convinced that adding 3 miles worth of exercise a day wouldn’t result in weight loss? Are you saying that it would? Is it 100% effective? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/233 "2012-12-04T23:24:29Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > 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 enjoy any of it. All forms of exercise are unpleasant (at best) work to me. 🙂 And I acknowledge that - a big part of being a mature and responsible adult is doing stuff you don’t want to do. But it doesn’t help my motivation any (thus my other IMHO thread). ETA: If it matters, not overweight, but my eating habits aren’t the best, so diabetes is probably an issue. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/234 "2012-12-04T23:26:22Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Now, this is getting funny. You even admitted that there’s only a possible chance with losing weight. Because that is true for ANY exercise (not just walking). Diet, not exercise, plays the primary role in weight lose. Exercise improves fitness, and can help a person maintain a weight loss, but most people won’t lose weight by exercise alone if they’re also not watching what they’re eating. ---
**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, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/235 "2012-12-04T23:29:27Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > Are you saying that it would? > > Is it 100% effective? > [@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. … ---
**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, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/236 "2012-12-04T23:30:53Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > … Oh good grief, man. So, you’re saying it’s 100% effective because YOU LOST WEIGHT? I don’t even. Okay, so you’re saying you lost weight because you started walking more. I might be able to believe that. However, it’s not 100% effective for everyone just because you lost weight. I mean I might be able to believe you lost weight because all you did was walk just because I don’t know what you’re diet was like or what else you did throughout the day. ---
**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, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/237 "2012-12-04T23:35:31Z")
I haven’t been debating the effectiveness rate, dear. I’ve been asserting that walking, and other forms of incidental exercise, are indeed exercise. (Incidentally, moving the goal posts is a disingenuous way to debate.) You’re the only one asserting that a physical activity has to be 100% effective for it to “count” as “exercise.” Which is ridiculous, since given how complex the issue is – which we’ve already discussed _at length_ in this very thread – there is no single thing that’s 100% effective for every human on the planet. Not even the stuff that _you_ would classify as exercise. You know what my diet was like and what else was involved because I said so in the post you quoted. I don’t know why you’d need me to repeat it a third time. ---
**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, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/238 "2012-12-04T23:37:11Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > I haven’t been debating the effectiveness rate, dear. I’ve been asserting that walking, and other forms of incidental exercise, are indeed exercise. (Incidentally, moving the goal posts is a disingenuous way to debate.) > > You’re the only one asserting that a physical activity has to be 100% effective for it to “count” as “exercise.” Which is ridiculous, since given how complex the issue is – which we’ve already discussed _at length_ in this very thread – there is no single thing that’s 100% effective for every human on the planet. Not even the stuff that _you_ would classify as exercise. Then, what was the point of quoting yourself? What point were you trying to prove by that? And please, don’t call me dear. It’s neither endearing nor amusing. And good grief again. NO, it doesn’t have to be 100% effective for it to count as exercise. Holy Christ. ---
**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, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/239 "2012-12-04T23:46:19Z")
> [@Modern\_Master](#): > > I stopped taking the conversation seriously. At this point, it isn’t worth it. And now I’m just here for the LOLs. Some of us are here to learn and don’t appreciate your hijacking the thread with your idiocy. Why can’t you just knock it off and leave the thread to those of us who want to take eating well and exercise (in whatever form we choose) seriously? Geez. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622/240 "2012-12-04T23:47:08Z")
hey, Modern Master - why don’t you start a pit thread about this? you otter! 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fat-is-too-fat/642622.md?page=13)