Stomach fat

Karen-- Weight maintenance is one of the most important physiological systems for our species, and because of famines and the hardscrabble existence of our ancestors, we have a bewildering array of redundant mechanisms that seem to conspire to send us this basic twin message: When food is available, eat as much as you possibly can, then take a nap. Obviously, some of us have stronger doses of these "survive starvation" genes than others, making weight loss a fiendishly difficult proposition. I spent 24 hours once in the indirect calorimetry chamber at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center (one of the top obesity research facilities in the world), and wrote about this experience and the various elements of metabolism for Men's Health. If you want, I can send you and anyone else interested a copy of the story-- drop me a line at jamesthornton1@comcast.net Some people, it seems, are preferential fat burners, while others burn their glycogen first in an effort to hold on to fat as long as possible. Though I suffer no end of genetic anomalies predisposing me to less than great conditions, from migraines to pathological whininess, I seem to have been spared some of the excessive fat-guarding that may be one of your genetic legacies. I think the big picture here is that we live in a can-do culture that lionizes self-reliance and control over your own destiny. Weight problems seem to be one of the last bastions where the "thin" are free to express their general condescension and criticisms of the plump. What a lazy pig? Etc. I think if the population at large had any idea just how incredibly difficult it is to lose weight and maintain this loss long term, there would be a lot more empathy for one another's respective plights. I am not saying to give up or surrender to the hopelessness of your situation. I am urging that you cut yourself a little slack, applaud your efforts, and don't criticize yourself for the difficulty you are having contending with physiological systems that never tire in steering you in the direction of eating and sleeping.

Karen-- Weight maintenance is one of the most important physiological systems for our species, and because of famines and the hardscrabble existence of our ancestors, we have a bewildering array of redundant mechanisms that seem to conspire to send us this basic twin message: When food is available, eat as much as you possibly can, then take a nap. Obviously, some of us have stronger doses of these "survive starvation" genes than others, making weight loss a fiendishly difficult proposition. I spent 24 hours once in the indirect calorimetry chamber at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center (one of the top obesity research facilities in the world), and wrote about this experience and the various elements of metabolism for Men's Health. If you want, I can send you and anyone else interested a copy of the story-- drop me a line at jamesthornton1@comcast.net Some people, it seems, are preferential fat burners, while others burn their glycogen first in an effort to hold on to fat as long as possible. Though I suffer no end of genetic anomalies predisposing me to less than great conditions, from migraines to pathological whininess, I seem to have been spared some of the excessive fat-guarding that may be one of your genetic legacies. I think the big picture here is that we live in a can-do culture that lionizes self-reliance and control over your own destiny. Weight problems seem to be one of the last bastions where the "thin" are free to express their general condescension and criticisms of the plump. What a lazy pig? Etc. I think if the population at large had any idea just how incredibly difficult it is to lose weight and maintain this loss long term, there would be a lot more empathy for one another's respective plights. I am not saying to give up or surrender to the hopelessness of your situation. I am urging that you cut yourself a little slack, applaud your efforts, and don't criticize yourself for the difficulty you are having contending with physiological systems that never tire in steering you in the direction of eating and sleeping.