# Stoid, Are You Still Confident that You Know a Lot about Diet and Obesity? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 12, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100 "2013-02-12T18:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/321 "2014-11-05T13:22:38Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Well the thing about diet discussions is that what happens long term is absolutely critical. > > \< snip \> > > I wouldn’t, and that’s a problem with a lot of research, both formal and informal. Of course this isn’t the only discussion I’ve had with others about this topic. Protip, Stalker-Boy: obsessing on one person for a year and a half is not “research”. It’s creepy stalking. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/322 "2014-11-05T14:29:47Z")
I am hardly a fan or defender of brazil84, but I am a fan and defender of accuracy and specificity, precision, and truth. I don’t think it is at all accurate to accuse him of being a “stalker”, that’s actually kind of silly. His claim about being interested in the topic is backed up by his posting: While he does contribute To a variety of threads, the only obviously repeating theme is obesity and related topics. If he is “stalking” anything, it isn’t a person, it’s a subject, for whatever strange reason. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/323 "2014-11-05T14:53:50Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I don’t think it is at all accurate to accuse him of being a “stalker”, that’s actually kind of silly. Well, ok, if we’re going by an “According to Webster” definition, no, he’s not a stalker. Still creepy and obsessive as all hell, though. And more than a bit racist and self-important, among other failings, based on this thread and many others. Even if not accurately called a stalker, still gives out that creepy stalker vibe. I guess there’s a distinction there, but it’s a distinction without much difference. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/324 "2014-11-05T20:27:58Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Protip, Stalker-Boy: obsessing on one person for a year and a half is not “research”. It’s creepy stalking. Pro-tip, Moron-Boy: Don’t assume that **Zuzu** is the only person I’ve followed up with in weight loss discussions. Let me ask you this: Do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/325 "2014-11-05T20:30:47Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > It’s an indicator not proof. I basically agree with that. And it does raise an important question: What is the critical difference between weight loss through caloric deficit and weight loss through surgical removal of fat which seems to result in more health benefits in the first case? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/326 "2014-11-06T03:57:29Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Let me ask you this: Do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? Be awfully strange if he didn’t, seeing as how science has concluded that significant weight loss is virtually impossible to maintain in the long term, the instances of success being so rare as to be statistically non-existent. (yes, I recall that brazil84 has decided I no longer exist so no I don’t anticipate a response, just taking the opportunity…) ---
**Author:** ![btthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@btthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/btthegreat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/327 "2014-11-06T04:40:50Z")
here’s how I do the weight loss thing. First I change it to a 'healthy eating thing" and moderately reduce sugars , processed starches and some of my fat consumption. I figure the ‘binge me’ ate about 2600 calories a day to get this way, so if I end up eating about 1900-2300 calories and use the same energy, I will inevitably but slowly lose weight. If I stop with concentrated sweets, and cut my portions down on those white processed starches/ saturated fats I’ll be cutting back about 200 calories. If I reduce the portion size of meats/ dairy and whole grain starches to 1/4 or 1/3 cup portions, there’s 200 calories lost. I eat these in 4 small meals. Being as I have changed my goal from losing wt, to eating healthier in my mind, I don’t need to test my theory on a scale. That’s right. I refuse to own a scale and will not step on one outside a doctor’s office because what it tells me, is irrelevant, distracting or worse depressing and counter-productive. Plateaus do not discourage, because I don’t know when I am in one. Once I have established this general pattern of new habits ( yes, it is essential that you excuse yourself and have 1/2 a donut, or a cookie or a 1/4 cup of dessert, whatever each day, to avoid feeling deprived of those rich sugary foods. Feelings of hunger and craving are outright enemies to your success, not frenemies, but outright enemies. ) After about a month of success, I start on the exercise side of things so i am not trying to change too many habits at once. I first know things are going well, because others will notice and mention it or my clothes start getting loser. I have done this successfully twice with excellent results and it lasts longer than obsessing about that scale. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/328 "2014-11-06T09:53:56Z")
> [@btthegreat](#): > > yes, it is essential that you excuse yourself and have 1/2 a donut, or a cookie or a 1/4 cup of dessert, whatever each day, I think that for a lot of people, this is roughly equivalent to a quit-smoking attempt which entails one cigarette a day. Or a recovering alcoholic who has a beer each day. In other words, for a lot of people, certain foods have addictive properties and consuming them on a daily basis is counterproductive, even in small quantities. As far as using a scale goes, I believe that the NWCR research is pretty positive about using a scale. i.e. they surveyed successful weight maintainers and for the most part they weighed themselves on a regular basis. > [@](#): > > I have done this successfully twice with excellent results and it lasts longer than obsessing about that scale. Roughly how long? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/329 "2014-11-06T13:23:32Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Yes, it’s extremely creepy to be curious about peoples’ weight loss efforts. When you don’t know them personally and spend a year waiting to quiz them about it again - yes. That’s correct. > [@](#): > > Please show me where I misquoted you. What are the exact words which I claimed that you posted which you didn’t actually post? Person/Persons. The value of a poll is that they ask many people, turning, one would hope, accurate anecdote into data. With weight loss, for example, asking a large number of people how their efforts went and what methods they used could well be useful and important in discovering answers about the subject - with more experimental controls, of course. Asking _one_ person provides no particular insight into the subject; only into the person. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/330 "2014-11-06T16:40:29Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > When you don’t know them personally and spend a year waiting to quiz them about it again - yes. That’s correct. Why? And do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? > [@](#): > > Person/Persons. The value of a poll is that they ask many people, And guess what – I have asked many people about their weight loss experiences. And done so some time later. But I doubt you care about that – instead I suspect you are just looking for evidence to support your pre-determined conclusion. Anyway, please answer my question from before: Show me where I misquoted you: Please provide the post number where I quoted you and the exact language which I presented as yours which is incorrect. Failing that, please admit that I did no such thing and apologize. Also, would it change your mind to learn that I have asked follow up weight loss questions of many people? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/331 "2014-11-06T16:49:51Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Pro-tip, Moron-Boy: Don’t assume that **Zuzu** is the only person I’ve followed up with in weight loss discussions. So, you stalk _multiple_ people and somehow you think this is a _defense_ against you being creepy beyond belief? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/332 "2014-11-06T16:53:13Z")
Another vote for creepy stalker. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/333 "2014-11-06T16:57:04Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > So, you stalk _multiple_ people Lol, I knew you were going to make that argument. Here’s what you said before: > [@](#): > > obsessing on **one person** for a year and a half (my bolding) So rather than admit you are wrong, you just shift the goalposts. Anyway, please answer my question. It’s really a very simple yes or no question: Do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? It’s an extremely simple yes or no question. Why won’t you answer it? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/334 "2014-11-06T17:26:02Z")
If we’re taking a poll :rolleyes: Not creepy, not stalkery. I’m not precisely a huge **brazil** fan, as I’m sure he’ll readily acknowledge (and I’m sure the feeling is mutual). But this is neither creepy nor stalkery. Sure, it certainly looks like he’s hoping for a years-later “gotcha.” And that’s arguably a little dickish. But that’s the extent of it. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/335 "2014-11-06T18:16:49Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Lol, I knew you were going to make that argument. > > Here’s what you said before: > > (my bolding) > > So rather than admit you are wrong, you just shift the goalposts. No, weirdo, you’re kind of a retard so I’ll explain: You: I obsessively follow someone Me: Following someone? That’s just creepy. You: It’s not actually just one person. I stalk multiple people Me: That’s even creepier :eek: You: YOU FOOL! YOU’VE FALLEN INTO MY TRAP. > [@](#): > > Anyway, please answer my question. It’s really a very simple yes or no question: > > Do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? > > It’s an extremely simple yes or no question. Why won’t you answer it? Because your question is A) retarded and B) incomplete. also C) Retarded. To answer the question as it should have been asked: For a scientific study with control groups, HIPPA compliance, a reasonable sample set? Sure–there’s value in looking at a possible mismatch between short and long term weight-loss results. On the other hand, you obsessively stalking a small set of people? Not so much. It’s kind of like the difference between a hospital doing a research study on the effects of some kind of medication on a large group of women’s private parts, and you randomly e-mailing a bunch of women asking for pics of their privates. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/336 "2014-11-06T22:06:59Z")
That is some impressive stretching going on there, F… > [@andros](#): > > Not creepy, not stalkery. > > … > But this is neither creepy nor stalkery. > > Sure, it certainly looks like he’s hoping for a years-later “gotcha.” And that’s arguably a little dickish. But that’s the extent of it. This. And I’d say rather than “a little dickish”, “brimming with dickitude” - it bespeaks a degree of commitment to the gotcha game, seeing as how that’s the whole reason for the thread itself… apparently he’s always casting about for someone to play that game with. Which is a lot of icky, but again, not in a creepy/stalkery way, just a dick way. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/337 "2014-11-06T23:02:13Z")
So how much weight have you lost since last year **Stoid**? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/338 "2014-11-06T23:15:10Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Why? And do you agree that in terms of diet and weight loss there is often a mismatch between short term results and long term results? To the first; the stranger part makes it creepy because it’s a personal topic that you’re singling a specific person out on. It is a matter that should be inconsequential to you for those reasons; yet the effort to which you seek out the information is out of whack with the extent to which it pertains to you. Likewise, the time difference is another indicator of effort; that you have gone to effort in order to remember the person in question and the date you first asked so that you could ask again at the time you desired to, and that you then ensured that you’d remember or be reminded at that time. > [@](#): > > And guess what – I have asked many people about their weight loss experiences. And done so some time later. How many? > [@](#): > > But I doubt you care about that – instead I suspect you are just looking for evidence to support your pre-determined conclusion. What’s your suspicion based on? > [@](#): > > Anyway, please answer my question from before: > > Show me where I misquoted you: Please provide the post number where I quoted you and the exact language which I presented as yours which is incorrect. > > Failing that, please admit that I did no such thing and apologize. I _already_ answered your question; you quoted it in your response. You misquoted \*person \*as _persons_. > [@](#): > > Also, would it change your mind to learn that I have asked follow up weight loss questions of many people? It would depend on the number of and manner of your asking, to be honest. I can see situations where the number could change my mind, though, yes, or at least alter it. That’s why I consider it an important misquote. Not to mention, of course, that it allowed you to make your suggestion that I disapproved of polls. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/339 "2014-11-06T23:40:39Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > So how much weight have you lost since last year **Stoid**? You cart your balls around in a wheelbarrow? ---
**Author:** ![btthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@btthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/btthegreat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100/340 "2014-11-06T23:58:37Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > :shrug: Whatever, it’s an interesting topic to me; with weight loss, long-term follow up is a critical issue. If you think that’s weird, then so be it. > > :shrug: It’s an important question to me. But I’m sure you also disapprove of polls, i.e. asking unimportant questions of random persons on the internet you know nothing about who you have no way to ascertain accuracy from about a personal matter. If you could provide a link to this study showing routine weekly or monthly weights on a scale provide better results, outside of a program like Weight Watchers, etc, I’d like to see the data. I am curious to know if my way works better or worse than the normal method. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stoid-are-you-still-confident-that-you-know-a-lot-about-diet-and-obesity/650100.md?page=18)