Willie, The kettle I decided to use is a 3L unit. If I filled it 3/4 full, that would be 2L. I plan to distill 23L of what I fermented. Would it be more practical to use something else that would be at least 4L?
The big difference is that Europeans have walkable cities and do their shopping on foot. I certainly wouldn't want to encourage people to shop this way from their cars. My MIL thinks she's very Euro because she drives to the farmer's market several times a week. Sorry, that's very energy intensive.
(I know from your other posts that you walk and bike extensively, so this doesn't include you, Philip. But I think this should have been a major point in your article.)
When you drive a car with manual shift and you are on a slightly downhill slope, put it in neutral and let it roll. Your RPM will be at idle while you still make good time. However, please don't try this on a steep slope. Your car might pick up too much speed and it will become hard to control. You might even want to put it in lower gear (to use the braking power of the engine). The car still will hardly use any gas (unless you step on the gas pedal).
For automatic cars, I usually just take out the overdrive to use the engine for braking (saves brake pads).
Philip Brewer is my favorite WB writer (and one of my favorite bloggers overall). His "Getting by without a job" series was especially excellent. I read it many times when I was facing unemployment, and it was a great help.
If you have an airlock on it, it'll be okay; it won't turn to vinegar unles some outside contaminants can get in and affect it, which they can't, through an airlock. Let it ferment completely.
Zorcy.. I think when the guy above says he has a kettle without a lid, my first thought was that he meant one of those one-piece jobs; you know the things I mean? Some of them used to have a whistley thing that came with them to grab your attention when it boiled? The only outlet was the pouring spout. I can't really envisage one of them being big enough to hild enough wash to use as a still unless you were running through VERY small amounts at a time.
I actually used a wallpaper steamer one time; connected it up to the worm/ condenser and ran a couple of bottles of Frosty Jack cider (that's hard cider to you in the USA) through it. Turned out good enough, but tends to foam a bit of wash through and spoil the taste.
Incidentally, my uncle Mick used to put a losd of bits of broken crockery in his pot-still when he made poteen; he said it stopped it foaming down the worm; anyone else ever heard this? Is there any correlation between this any the modern use of porcelain raschig rings, or whatever they're called, in a reflux still?
I first mixed my cornbrew to ferment 17 days ago. I let it ferment for 10 days, then I transferred it to my carboy to clear a bit because I got a lot of the cornmeal juice into the wort. It's been in the carboy now for a week, but there is still considerable movement still going on in the airlock and I can hear fizzing when I put my ear to the carboy. Should I wait until there is no movement at all? I feel that maybe I should let it go until all action stops in order to reach it's full strength before distilling. I just don't want the stuff to turn to vinegar if I let it go for too long. Thanks.
People are well numbskulls, I'm on disability and Netspend has treated me good for 3 years... Whoever wrote this post has a corn cob stuck in the wrong place, all ya gotta do is read between the lines LOL! I have lost my card and have been able to get ahold of an operator just about EVERY time I call them, the service is cool cause I get my check about a week early soooo. :P PS THERE IS NO HARM IN THE COMPANY SEND YOU A CARD THATS WORTH THE PLASTIC ITS PRINTED ON AND NOTHING MORE TILL -YOU- DO SOMETHING. EEEedeeeuts. PS PEOPLE LIKE THIS ARE THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO BURN.
I started using baking soda and vinegar on my very oily hair over a year ago, and now - for the first time since I was a small child - I can wash twice/week!
I chronicled the adjustment period on my blog, and I also learned the hard way how to do this with hard water. It's entirely different!
Having said that, I love the freedom I have now, and my hair has much more body. Not so silky, but better behaved and far more manageable. And my persistent dandruff has practically disappeared!
Thank you to those of you discussing this topic in good faith. There are reasonable arguments on both sides. I'm proud to see that our regular readers are able to talk about this sensitive topic with reason and sensitivity.
However, an outside forum has linked to this post and that forum is asking its members to ridicule the people in this thread. They are posting attacks calling people "fatties" and "idiots" faster than I can delete them. So I'm afraid I have to close down this thread.
To be clear, I'm not just closing the thread because I disagree with one side. Mac (Madsaver) has been pretty respectful in the way he expressed his opinions and he's not the reason why I'm closing this thread. I'm glad he shared his opinion and it is great that people from both sides are discussing his ideas seriously. The comments I'm deleting are a lot more hurtful. I'm going to read this thread more carefully and delete any comment that makes a personal attack.
I am able to buy pants and shorts in "normal sizes" but due to no fault of my own other than genetics I have DDD breasts.
Define "normal sizes". My wife has 38C breasts and on her small frame all tops feel tight and has to buy a one size up on shirts. Not a big deal. She's 5'3" weighing in under 130lbs. I find natural DDD breasts hard to believe on someone who's not overweight. A Size 12 is not "normal size". Under 25% body fat for a woman is approaching normal size.
Greg, Some people have to take steroids or other medication. It causes them to gain weight no matter what they eat. Really.
My wife is also on thyroid medication due to having Hashimoto's Disease or something very similar. She's still a normal person and average weight with average fat percentage. So really, it's the abundance and overeating of cheap refined food is the problem. I guarantee you that any woman eating 1,400 calories in a day would lose weight no matter what they ate as long as it was 1,400 calories or less thyroid problem or not. I'm willing to bet money on this one actually!
When you see someone in walmart in a rascal who is obese, it's likely because of a genetic problem rather than work ethic. Just because they continue to eat unhealthy foods doesn't mean its the cause: rather, they have resigned themselves to their genetic fate (which isn't their fault) and are enjoying what they can
Another copout. God, genetic fate, big boned, thyroid problem. I have heard it all. These don't exist. Feeding your kids sugary cereals for breakfast, mac&cheese for lunch and pizza for dinner with 3 servings of caffeinated soft drinks is not a genetic problem.
I'm willing to bet money on that I could provide any of these people "with terrible genetic fate that they had succumbed to" with a food and exercise plan that they could and would follow they would all lose fat. Has any of you not seen the Biggest Loser? Those people are EXTREME! And their changes are EXTREME! And some of them lost less weight on the show than I have on my own in 5 months with no help from doctors, nutritionists or personal trainers. I don't even have a gym membership!
We realized she was disposed to obesity genetically because she constantly wanted sweets, candies and fats, and in our household we give our children what they want as otherwise would be to ideologically shackle them.
No comment. If you can't see the forest from this big fat tree (no pun) then no one can help you.
Don't assume larger people are fatter people. I an overweight now, but when I was younger I was normal weight. I am 5'9" woman with broad shoulders and long arms and legs.
You are a minority and the people I'm picketing against are not you. Or at least not the younger you. It is a valid point but I wouldn't expect large companies to tailor for such minorities. Folks like that, just like little people, have problems with the supply of clothing or pretty much anything that would be specific to their needs. But to expect someone to be forced to or even demand special support for them is ridiculous.
Before you look down your nose (and that's what you were doing), consider possible reasons for needing plus-size clothes.
I've lost 25 pounds so far. Could you do that?
Considering I have lost 60 lbs in 5 months I think I have the right to "look down my nose". I certainly speak of personal experience. It's not the case of "I knew someone who's done it". I AM someone who's done it!
I bet the moralizers are thinking of plus-size women, not men.
I actually criticize men and women equally. And considering the types of message boards I visit I criticize and see a lot more fat guys than gals.
Until recently, I never knew so many of us average sized people were so violently opposed to obesity. It seems like a creepy obsession.
So, there are some health/cost issues that society has to deal with. Societal costs occur with most poor personal decisions. Why the fire and brimstone for this one in particular?
I, personally, am not going to turn this into a political debate, but obesity is not the only thing I have issues with in terms of societal costs. It's just one of many. And with the health care bill just about to pass I think my incentive to turn people around just got real. Very real!
I guess we disagree then. Unlike you, I don't insist anyone do anything other than keep their hands off my property and don't physically harm me. Otherwise, they're free to do whatever they want to do whether it's a bad decision or not. They can believe Jesus is coming over the next hill or that their thyroid doesn't work as well as mine. It's not my business.
Ditto! Live and let live! As long as it doesn't cost me a red cent you can do whatever the hell you want for all I care!
I am very sorry to hear that your mother is in pain. However, losing weight would likely help her joint and back pain by reducing the pressure on these areas. I understand she can't get up and go running - I can't either, due to two bad knees. Restricted movement does not have to equal obesity, it simply means she cannot consume as many calories as she would were she more active.
I would be more than happy to speak to your mother about ways she could improve her health and well being. It's sad that you think this is some sort of insult. Is it an insult to tell someone they have cancer and need treatment?
"Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either."
Calories out > calories in and she will lose weight. Bad knees and a bad back make her eat more than she should?
If she does not exert herself physically as much as other people, she does not need to eat as much as other people.
Not all large people are obese or unhealthy. Some people just have larger frames. Personally, I'm a woman who is and always has been built like a nice, big, sturdy, armoire. I'm healthy. I work out for about 90 minutes a day, five days a week at a moderate to high level of intensity (and have the comments and compliments from the fitness staff to prove it). I eat a balanced, healthy diet with 6-8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, mostly lean protein, very few processed foods. My blood pressure, cholesterol and other health numbers are not just good, they are fantastic according to my doctor. And while I could stand to loose a few pounds (I also have a weakness for baked goods, particularly cookies), I'm never going to be less than a size 14 or 16. I'm just a big person.
To say that all people who are of large frames need to diet and exercise more so that they can achieve some sort of, for them, unattainable and/or unhealthy body size is not only uniformed and rude, it's also a good way to potentially drive people towards eating disorders.
A person's clothing size, in many instances, does not correlate with their level of health.
Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either. Oh well I am not one of those people I am 6'4" 245lbs and I exercise every day. I would love to see you say something like to my mother in front of me. Probably never happen though you are probably just an internet tough guy. I doubt very seriously you would say that to someones face. Just my thought.What do you think. Oh I am sorry you probably do not have a brain. I on the other hand will be happy to buy you a plane ticket to come here and see if you have the nerve to say that to someone I know.
I guess we disagree then. Unlike you, I don't insist anyone do anything other than keep their hands off my property and don't physically harm me. Otherwise, they're free to do whatever they want to do whether it's a bad decision or not. They can believe Jesus is coming over the next hill or that their thyroid doesn't work as well as mine. It's not my business.
I spotted a different problem on the M1PR as of March 25th: Line 11 has the incorrect amount from what I entered on an earlier Turbotax panel where it asks for line 1 of statement of property taxes payable in 2010 - it was about $73 less than what it should have been.
Eddie Bauer has clothing in plus sizes, as does Travel Smith. While Lane Bryant has some style issues to work out in numerous areas, they are getting better about keeping a few classic styles in the line from season to season. Jeans, smoother camisoles, decent tee shirts, etc. For a few years there, they were totally off the rails but things seem to be improving again.
Without getting sucked in to the above debate (really people, how much free time can you possibly have to devote to weight bashing), I would like to point out that I've been at both ends of this spectrum, wearing from a size three up to a size eighteen. I point that out because (and this is probably WAY too much information) even at the teenier end of the spectrum, I always had to purchase larger tops. The women in my family are stacked and packed, if you know what I'm saying. Larger breasts just don't fit into teeny little tops. That's all there is to it.
Brian, I don't have a problem with obese people - I have a problem with anyone spouting made up facts and statistics to excuse their lifestyle. I have a problem with the prevalent feeling in the US that we are entitled to everything and accountable for nothing. In my entire life, including my year-long attendance at Weight Watchers, I never once met an obese person who believed their weight problem was completely out of their control. The suggestion is simply insane.
I have nothing against the people who battle every day against terrible odds to defeat this problem. People like Greg are my heroes. But why should we have any tolerance for someone who claims they cannot help being obese than for the alcoholic who comes from a family of drunks? We don't just accept that they are going to be drunk for life - we insist they get help for the debilitating problem they are, unfortunately, predisposed to.
Until recently, I never knew so many of us average sized people were so violently opposed to obesity. It seems like a creepy obsession.
So, there are some health/cost issues that society has to deal with. Societal costs occur with most poor personal decisions. Why the fire and brimstone for this one in particular?
I bet the moralizers are thinking of plus-size women, not men.
How many time have you heard over-sized men with large beer bellies making nasty comments about even slightly larger women? "What a cow!" "I'd never do her." There's a major gender bias, which is why men's clothes in XXL are sold along with S, M and L.
As to size 12 being overweight, I'm 5'11 and wore a size 12 for most of my adult life. My doctor kept encouraging me to gain weight because he felt I was unhealthily skinny.
Willie, The kettle I decided to use is a 3L unit. If I filled it 3/4 full, that would be 2L. I plan to distill 23L of what I fermented. Would it be more practical to use something else that would be at least 4L?
The big difference is that Europeans have walkable cities and do their shopping on foot. I certainly wouldn't want to encourage people to shop this way from their cars. My MIL thinks she's very Euro because she drives to the farmer's market several times a week. Sorry, that's very energy intensive.
(I know from your other posts that you walk and bike extensively, so this doesn't include you, Philip. But I think this should have been a major point in your article.)
When you drive a car with manual shift and you are on a slightly downhill slope, put it in neutral and let it roll. Your RPM will be at idle while you still make good time. However, please don't try this on a steep slope. Your car might pick up too much speed and it will become hard to control. You might even want to put it in lower gear (to use the braking power of the engine). The car still will hardly use any gas (unless you step on the gas pedal).
For automatic cars, I usually just take out the overdrive to use the engine for braking (saves brake pads).
You may decide to trade the car yourself and take out a personal loan to cover the difference in the amount you owe.
Philip Brewer is my favorite WB writer (and one of my favorite bloggers overall). His "Getting by without a job" series was especially excellent. I read it many times when I was facing unemployment, and it was a great help.
i just tried the apple cider vinegar....and then aloe vera cream... now itches.... bad is this normal??
If you have an airlock on it, it'll be okay; it won't turn to vinegar unles some outside contaminants can get in and affect it, which they can't, through an airlock. Let it ferment completely.
Zorcy.. I think when the guy above says he has a kettle without a lid, my first thought was that he meant one of those one-piece jobs; you know the things I mean? Some of them used to have a whistley thing that came with them to grab your attention when it boiled? The only outlet was the pouring spout. I can't really envisage one of them being big enough to hild enough wash to use as a still unless you were running through VERY small amounts at a time.
I actually used a wallpaper steamer one time; connected it up to the worm/ condenser and ran a couple of bottles of Frosty Jack cider (that's hard cider to you in the USA) through it. Turned out good enough, but tends to foam a bit of wash through and spoil the taste.
Incidentally, my uncle Mick used to put a losd of bits of broken crockery in his pot-still when he made poteen; he said it stopped it foaming down the worm; anyone else ever heard this? Is there any correlation between this any the modern use of porcelain raschig rings, or whatever they're called, in a reflux still?
I just bought the Maui Aui!! I hope it works. It was $13 incl. S&H. :)
I first mixed my cornbrew to ferment 17 days ago. I let it ferment for 10 days, then I transferred it to my carboy to clear a bit because I got a lot of the cornmeal juice into the wort. It's been in the carboy now for a week, but there is still considerable movement still going on in the airlock and I can hear fizzing when I put my ear to the carboy. Should I wait until there is no movement at all? I feel that maybe I should let it go until all action stops in order to reach it's full strength before distilling. I just don't want the stuff to turn to vinegar if I let it go for too long. Thanks.
People are well numbskulls, I'm on disability and Netspend has treated me good for 3 years... Whoever wrote this post has a corn cob stuck in the wrong place, all ya gotta do is read between the lines LOL! I have lost my card and have been able to get ahold of an operator just about EVERY time I call them, the service is cool cause I get my check about a week early soooo. :P PS THERE IS NO HARM IN THE COMPANY SEND YOU A CARD THATS WORTH THE PLASTIC ITS PRINTED ON AND NOTHING MORE TILL -YOU- DO SOMETHING. EEEedeeeuts. PS PEOPLE LIKE THIS ARE THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO BURN.
I started using baking soda and vinegar on my very oily hair over a year ago, and now - for the first time since I was a small child - I can wash twice/week!
I chronicled the adjustment period on my blog, and I also learned the hard way how to do this with hard water. It's entirely different!
Having said that, I love the freedom I have now, and my hair has much more body. Not so silky, but better behaved and far more manageable. And my persistent dandruff has practically disappeared!
Hi guys,
Thank you to those of you discussing this topic in good faith. There are reasonable arguments on both sides. I'm proud to see that our regular readers are able to talk about this sensitive topic with reason and sensitivity.
However, an outside forum has linked to this post and that forum is asking its members to ridicule the people in this thread. They are posting attacks calling people "fatties" and "idiots" faster than I can delete them. So I'm afraid I have to close down this thread.
To be clear, I'm not just closing the thread because I disagree with one side. Mac (Madsaver) has been pretty respectful in the way he expressed his opinions and he's not the reason why I'm closing this thread. I'm glad he shared his opinion and it is great that people from both sides are discussing his ideas seriously. The comments I'm deleting are a lot more hurtful. I'm going to read this thread more carefully and delete any comment that makes a personal attack.
Thank you for your patience.
Will
I am able to buy pants and shorts in "normal sizes" but due to no fault of my own other than genetics I have DDD breasts.
Define "normal sizes". My wife has 38C breasts and on her small frame all tops feel tight and has to buy a one size up on shirts. Not a big deal. She's 5'3" weighing in under 130lbs. I find natural DDD breasts hard to believe on someone who's not overweight. A Size 12 is not "normal size". Under 25% body fat for a woman is approaching normal size.
Greg, Some people have to take steroids or other medication. It causes them to gain weight no matter what they eat. Really.
My wife is also on thyroid medication due to having Hashimoto's Disease or something very similar. She's still a normal person and average weight with average fat percentage. So really, it's the abundance and overeating of cheap refined food is the problem. I guarantee you that any woman eating 1,400 calories in a day would lose weight no matter what they ate as long as it was 1,400 calories or less thyroid problem or not. I'm willing to bet money on this one actually!
When you see someone in walmart in a rascal who is obese, it's likely because of a genetic problem rather than work ethic. Just because they continue to eat unhealthy foods doesn't mean its the cause: rather, they have resigned themselves to their genetic fate (which isn't their fault) and are enjoying what they can
Another copout. God, genetic fate, big boned, thyroid problem. I have heard it all. These don't exist. Feeding your kids sugary cereals for breakfast, mac&cheese for lunch and pizza for dinner with 3 servings of caffeinated soft drinks is not a genetic problem.
I'm willing to bet money on that I could provide any of these people "with terrible genetic fate that they had succumbed to" with a food and exercise plan that they could and would follow they would all lose fat. Has any of you not seen the Biggest Loser? Those people are EXTREME! And their changes are EXTREME! And some of them lost less weight on the show than I have on my own in 5 months with no help from doctors, nutritionists or personal trainers. I don't even have a gym membership!
We realized she was disposed to obesity genetically because she constantly wanted sweets, candies and fats, and in our household we give our children what they want as otherwise would be to ideologically shackle them.
No comment. If you can't see the forest from this big fat tree (no pun) then no one can help you.
Don't assume larger people are fatter people. I an overweight now, but when I was younger I was normal weight. I am 5'9" woman with broad shoulders and long arms and legs.
You are a minority and the people I'm picketing against are not you. Or at least not the younger you. It is a valid point but I wouldn't expect large companies to tailor for such minorities. Folks like that, just like little people, have problems with the supply of clothing or pretty much anything that would be specific to their needs. But to expect someone to be forced to or even demand special support for them is ridiculous.
Before you look down your nose (and that's what you were doing), consider possible reasons for needing plus-size clothes.
I've lost 25 pounds so far. Could you do that?
Considering I have lost 60 lbs in 5 months I think I have the right to "look down my nose". I certainly speak of personal experience. It's not the case of "I knew someone who's done it". I AM someone who's done it!
I bet the moralizers are thinking of plus-size women, not men.
I actually criticize men and women equally. And considering the types of message boards I visit I criticize and see a lot more fat guys than gals.
Until recently, I never knew so many of us average sized people were so violently opposed to obesity. It seems like a creepy obsession.
So, there are some health/cost issues that society has to deal with. Societal costs occur with most poor personal decisions. Why the fire and brimstone for this one in particular?
I, personally, am not going to turn this into a political debate, but obesity is not the only thing I have issues with in terms of societal costs. It's just one of many. And with the health care bill just about to pass I think my incentive to turn people around just got real. Very real!
I guess we disagree then. Unlike you, I don't insist anyone do anything other than keep their hands off my property and don't physically harm me. Otherwise, they're free to do whatever they want to do whether it's a bad decision or not. They can believe Jesus is coming over the next hill or that their thyroid doesn't work as well as mine. It's not my business.
Ditto! Live and let live! As long as it doesn't cost me a red cent you can do whatever the hell you want for all I care!
I am very sorry to hear that your mother is in pain. However, losing weight would likely help her joint and back pain by reducing the pressure on these areas. I understand she can't get up and go running - I can't either, due to two bad knees. Restricted movement does not have to equal obesity, it simply means she cannot consume as many calories as she would were she more active.
I would be more than happy to speak to your mother about ways she could improve her health and well being. It's sad that you think this is some sort of insult. Is it an insult to tell someone they have cancer and need treatment?
"Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either."
Calories out > calories in and she will lose weight. Bad knees and a bad back make her eat more than she should?
If she does not exert herself physically as much as other people, she does not need to eat as much as other people.
Mac
Not all large people are obese or unhealthy. Some people just have larger frames. Personally, I'm a woman who is and always has been built like a nice, big, sturdy, armoire. I'm healthy. I work out for about 90 minutes a day, five days a week at a moderate to high level of intensity (and have the comments and compliments from the fitness staff to prove it). I eat a balanced, healthy diet with 6-8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, mostly lean protein, very few processed foods. My blood pressure, cholesterol and other health numbers are not just good, they are fantastic according to my doctor. And while I could stand to loose a few pounds (I also have a weakness for baked goods, particularly cookies), I'm never going to be less than a size 14 or 16. I'm just a big person.
To say that all people who are of large frames need to diet and exercise more so that they can achieve some sort of, for them, unattainable and/or unhealthy body size is not only uniformed and rude, it's also a good way to potentially drive people towards eating disorders.
A person's clothing size, in many instances, does not correlate with their level of health.
Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either. Oh well I am not one of those people I am 6'4" 245lbs and I exercise every day. I would love to see you say something like to my mother in front of me. Probably never happen though you are probably just an internet tough guy. I doubt very seriously you would say that to someones face. Just my thought.What do you think. Oh I am sorry you probably do not have a brain. I on the other hand will be happy to buy you a plane ticket to come here and see if you have the nerve to say that to someone I know.
I agree completely with the article. I am always embarressed when I shop for plus size cloths,
so I am always shopping in a way you can't detect.
I guess we disagree then. Unlike you, I don't insist anyone do anything other than keep their hands off my property and don't physically harm me. Otherwise, they're free to do whatever they want to do whether it's a bad decision or not. They can believe Jesus is coming over the next hill or that their thyroid doesn't work as well as mine. It's not my business.
I spotted a different problem on the M1PR as of March 25th: Line 11 has the incorrect amount from what I entered on an earlier Turbotax panel where it asks for line 1 of statement of property taxes payable in 2010 - it was about $73 less than what it should have been.
So . .. back to the actual topic . . .
Eddie Bauer has clothing in plus sizes, as does Travel Smith. While Lane Bryant has some style issues to work out in numerous areas, they are getting better about keeping a few classic styles in the line from season to season. Jeans, smoother camisoles, decent tee shirts, etc. For a few years there, they were totally off the rails but things seem to be improving again.
Without getting sucked in to the above debate (really people, how much free time can you possibly have to devote to weight bashing), I would like to point out that I've been at both ends of this spectrum, wearing from a size three up to a size eighteen. I point that out because (and this is probably WAY too much information) even at the teenier end of the spectrum, I always had to purchase larger tops. The women in my family are stacked and packed, if you know what I'm saying. Larger breasts just don't fit into teeny little tops. That's all there is to it.
You can also follow me on Twitter and Trek Hound.
Brian, I don't have a problem with obese people - I have a problem with anyone spouting made up facts and statistics to excuse their lifestyle. I have a problem with the prevalent feeling in the US that we are entitled to everything and accountable for nothing. In my entire life, including my year-long attendance at Weight Watchers, I never once met an obese person who believed their weight problem was completely out of their control. The suggestion is simply insane.
I have nothing against the people who battle every day against terrible odds to defeat this problem. People like Greg are my heroes. But why should we have any tolerance for someone who claims they cannot help being obese than for the alcoholic who comes from a family of drunks? We don't just accept that they are going to be drunk for life - we insist they get help for the debilitating problem they are, unfortunately, predisposed to.
Until recently, I never knew so many of us average sized people were so violently opposed to obesity. It seems like a creepy obsession.
So, there are some health/cost issues that society has to deal with. Societal costs occur with most poor personal decisions. Why the fire and brimstone for this one in particular?
if you stop being fat it is easier to shop for clothes
I bet the moralizers are thinking of plus-size women, not men.
How many time have you heard over-sized men with large beer bellies making nasty comments about even slightly larger women? "What a cow!" "I'd never do her." There's a major gender bias, which is why men's clothes in XXL are sold along with S, M and L.
As to size 12 being overweight, I'm 5'11 and wore a size 12 for most of my adult life. My doctor kept encouraging me to gain weight because he felt I was unhealthily skinny.