<p>There is also a huge difference between “slightly overweight” and obese. There is nothing healthy about being obese.</p>
<p>^ I am not “aware of the glycemic index of foods.” I very well aware that miy, Blood Sugar fluctuate with my weight and nothing else (I do not have diabetese), the same is for my H and my cousin, both with Diabetese. The same goes for BP and cholesterol for all of us. We measure all on a regular basis.</p>
<p>So Miami, let’s talk about older folks - not kids. We all know, for most, it’s hard to keep weight down as we age. For some, the pounds creep on even though activity is high and the diet is good. </p>
<p>Actually, I think that we tend to reduce health to very simplistic terms that do not apply to all generically. We are all individuals and we need to take into account our unique needs. As someone mentioned before, asthma, depression and other conditions, along with the medications involved may cause weight gain. Knowing your family is prone to diabetes, Miami, you are extra vigilant about your weight and that is to be commended. But another person may carry 5-10 extra pounds and be just fine…it happens and I don’t believe it’s the exception. You are the one on these boards telling folks not to stress. Well lots of people DO stress about weight…and in my opinion…perhaps it’s healthier to keep fit, eat reasonably and not worry about a few extra pounds. Especially if your numbers are good. I don’t think anyone here is advocating for obesity.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity4 raises a good point. Sometimes you have to make hard choices. When one of my kids was quite young, he suffered terribly from migraines. He was totally skinny when the decision was made to put him on medication. In a matter of about five weeks he gained nine pounds. Each time the dosage was increased, his weight had a dramatic increase – it was a complete correlation. By the time he went off of it a few years later (he outgrew the migraines), he had a weight problem. The doctor told me, “This isn’t water weight. It won’t go away magically. As he gains height, it will improve, but it’s a problem.” He did slim down quite a bit as he grew but not to the point he was before he started. But, honestly, I don’t know what we could have done differently – leave him in pain? There were few migraine medications that were then approved for kids. He needed to be able to function at school, etc. Another one of my kids has a chronic illness that has involved a couple of courses of steroids in the last few years – which make you ravenously hungry and cause weight gain. I understand your point, MiamiDAP. My husband is a diabetic and had a heart attack last year. But diabetes is not the only illness out there – there are others that require people to take medications that impact their weight, including those who take anti-depressants which can cause weight gain.</p>
<p>mimk…you make some excellent points. But I don’t think it’s just those who take medication that should be “excluded” from the weight rule. One of my dear friends was very much overweight for years and has worked very hard to lose pounds. She lost a LOT but is still about 10 lbs overweight and has kept there for 3 years. She looks great. Her numbers improved dramatically and are in the healthy range. I KNOW she eats less than I do and works hard exercising every day. But I don’t know if it’s hormones or… perhaps her system was messed up from being obese…but those 10 pounds would mean extra sacrifices that just doesn’t seem to make sense. In any case, I think she is doing a terrific job. She shouldn’t feel bad because she’s slightly overweight.</p>
<p>^^And maybe the stress of trying to lose that final 10 pounds would be harder on the body than the 10 pounds themselves. Stress has been linked to serious health problems.</p>
<p>Toneranger - you are so right about each person’s ability to carry weight and still maintain health. </p>
<p>My SIL’s family tends to be overweight. Not one of them has high blood pressure (which I am fighting), or high cholesterol (which my DH battles) or diabetes, or anything else I can think of. They have been blessed with a genetic predisposition to health and probably a long life. It is really comical. We go to a family gathering and they are eating all sorts of things that would clog up DH’s arteries in a month. </p>
<p>By the way - slightly off topic - but in no way do either of us ever think it is unfair that he has to work so hard to keep his heart healthy, it was just the genetic roll of the dice. In fact, it actually makes us far more sympathetic to people who struggle to keep their weight down. We figure if it is this hard for DH to keep his cholesterol down, there may very well be a genetic resistance to losing weight for other people.</p>
<p>wip…do your SIL’s family members live in Italy? I saw a Frontline a few years back. Focused on this Italian family. They eat WHATEVER they want. Sausage. Cheese. Lots of pasta. Meatballs. And they were all relatively thin (some a bit ow) AND their numbers were great. All of them. Lots of really old family members too. I remember the commentator said that they had “roto rooter” genes. Wow… I would love to have some of those. Yeah, we’re all different. What works for one doesn’t work for all.</p>
<p>All true that genetics plays a large role in how much we weigh, and even more specifically, where our bodies put on body fat. When I gain weight, it goes primarily to my abdominal area. Excess abdominal fat carries significant health risks. Those of you who complain about your big tush and thighs can at least feel the satisfaction that your pear figures do not put you at risk for serious health problems to same degree that apples likey myself face.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>While I don’t doubt what you relate, it should be noted that the traditional Mediterranean diet is much healthier than the American version of Italian eating. They eat a lot more fresh veggies, fruits, and seafood than their American counterparts. While pasta is a staple, their serving sizes tend to be MUCH smaller than what you typically find here. And they use a lot of olive oil vs. other sources of fat. Therefore, they stay thinner and healthier than we would expect if we are thinking of Italian eating the way we often see it served here.</p>
<p>Nope - they are all from good Pennsylvania German stock. </p>
<p>maybe some of those Germans have the roto-rooter thing, too!</p>
<p>This study was mentioned but I wanted to post a link to give more specifics.
[Overweight</a> Septuagenarians Live Longer](<a href=“http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_stories/Overweight_Septuagenarian/2010/01/29/312562.html]Overweight”>http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_stories/Overweight_Septuagenarian/2010/01/29/312562.html)
Hmmm…When I turn 70… I am planning to stock my pantry with dark chocolate pecan cookies and keep my fitness routine going strong. That should do it…</p>
<p>Key point in this study:</p>
<p>“Although excess pounds reduced the risk of death among both men and women over 70,** a sedentary lifestyle **was found to double the risk among women, and to bump it up by 25 percent among men.” </p>
<p>As I suspected…</p>
<p>
I’m afraid I can’t remember where I read this… maybe NYtimes online? but a few months ago I remember reading that weight training wasn’t the best way to increase bone density, but that shocks to the bones (like that caused by jumping up and down) was. I think this was a rat experiment, but they were suggesting it was applicable to people, too. So, since I’m too lazy to go lift weights, I am jumping up and down for a few minutes every day. (And now, I should go out and buy those Calcium and Vit D pills I’m supposed to have been taking these last few years…) Does anyone want to try and chase down that article to which I’m referring?</p>
<p>^^^^But that doesn’t help someone with regard to upper body. Weight training for upper body does cause “pull” on the bones, which helps strengthen them. Pushups would be good, too, I would imagine.</p>
<p>Any trainers who can answer the question?</p>
<p>How can burning more calories NOT help with weight loss? I do think it’s helping me, personally, and am going to be sticking with my plan.</p>
<p>Regarding gaining bone density, Miriam Nelson (Tufts) has done significant work in this area.</p>
<p>[Strongwomen.com</a> - Your Virtual Trainer with Dr. Miriam Nelson](<a href=“http://www.strongwomen.com/strongbones/sboverview.htm]Strongwomen.com”>http://www.strongwomen.com/strongbones/sboverview.htm)</p>
<p>anxiousmom, ‘planks’ are great for core and upper body–support your body weight in basically the push-up position, weight is supported by forearms, and hold–Not necessary to go to a gym.</p>
<p>[Top</a> 10 Most Effective Ab Exercises - Plank](<a href=“http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm]Top”>The Best Ab Exercises You Can Do)</p>
<p>Chest press and bent forward flys can easily be done with fruit/vegetable cans and also will strengthen upper body and contribute to building bone tissue… </p>
<p>Plyometrics–another great weight bearing exercise that’ll help with bone density–jumping…Double dutch, anyone?!</p>
<p>Interesting, anxiousmom. I hadn’t read that about jumping, but it makes sense. Maybe that’s why many of Jillian Michaels’ workouts involve lots of jumping. The jumping makes many of the exercises much more challenging than they would be without it, but it’s a great workout.</p>
<p>On Demand TV has dozens and dozens of free workout videos, and that’s where I found the Jillian Michaels’ jumping videos. They typically change monthly, but she has an especially challenging one called “Boost Your Metabolism” that seems to appear pretty often.</p>
<p>Here’s one of JM’s exercises for the upper body that I really like: Get in plank position with hands on the floor. Go down on your forearms, one at a time, and then back to plank position, one arm at a time. Do 20 reps. Repeat 3 times.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links and info, Panhandlegal.</p>
<p>“We all know, for most, it’s hard to keep weight down as we age.”</p>
<ul>
<li>I found out that after certain age it got much easier, after my estrogen was gone, I am not as deparately hungry as I used to be and sometime if I get busy, I might forget about food. I also started eating differently for some reason. Well, all in all, I lost about 20 pounds without much changing of life style, it goes up and down 6-7 lbs from summer to winter, but stays in normal range for my height.</li>
</ul>
<p>Lest we think it’s a given that we can’t build/retain muscle into our golden years:</p>
<p>[Flex</a> Appeal :: Philadelphia City Paper. 25 Years of Independent Journalism.](<a href=“http://citypaper.net/articles/2006-08-03/naked.shtml]Flex”>Flex Appeal :: Philadelphia City Paper. 25 Years of Independent Journalism. - Philadelphia Weekly)</p>
<p>She was 86 years old in this photo!</p>