As my weight creeped up, I began to see that I was being treated differently. (Age could have something to do with that, too, though.) Although my primary reason for wanting to drop 30-40 pounds is health, it’s going to feel good emotionally to get back into old clothes (that I’ve saved!) and start looking like my old self. I’m willing to bet that I also get different treatment from strangers when I’m out and about.

Sadly, appearance is VERY important in our society.

Actually Jermaine, obese people do face discrimination and mistreatment, as someone who used to have a weight problem, I can tell you that many people I knew when I was fat have treated me much differently when I lost the weight. Its sad but true in this world that people misjudge others by what they see on the outside and its wrong to mistreat another human being because of how they look on the outside, that is the very definition of discrimination.

Also exercise does not help you lose weight, in fact, you could gain weight by vigorous exercise because you will get hungry. Exercise is useful only after you lose weight to maintain your weight loss. This is key. Things like going for walk or light jog are better than torturing yourself in a gym. Also gyms and personal trainers in my opinion are useless and often prey on people with weight problems, taking advantage of their insecurities. Diet accounts for 85 percent of your weight loss progress not exercise.

Of course, it’s not as good a salad with lots of raw veggies, easy on the dressing.

Historically speaking, the natural human form is a lean and fit one. Our hunter and gatherer roots were based on an active lifestyle that ate fruit, vegetables, and meat without processing and a host of other chemical impurities. We are meant to be lean, active creatures. Sitting at computer eight hours a day and then a tv six more hours is not natural. Donuts aren’t natural, pizza’s not natural, and neither is ice cream. The body wants to be exercised, it wants to eat basic, low processed foods. The heart and joints don’t want to labor with the burden of weight they aren’t evolved to handle. Doing without a one of the best lessons any over indulged culture can participate in. Lessons in humility and restraint allow us to grow and focus our energy on less egocentric pursuits.

Now, I do have a few medical issues that make this harder – high insulin, low glucose, and auto-immune thyroid disease.

What I wonder about this epidemic is this: What’s behind the lack of desire to lose the weight?

For me (until a few months ago), I thought I was just destined to die fat, lonely, and sad. I was HOPING it would end soon. I hated my life. Now, I don’t really love it NOW, but it’s a little better.

I still have no social life, and I’m still fat and ugly.

Maybe if we stopped looking at people as FAT and looked more at the REASONS why they’re fat, we can get a handle on this “epidemic”.