XP: Are you overweight or obese AND homestead or work hard?

I posted on the other thread...

When I think obese, I'm not thinking husky, big boned, or a "deer gut" ((Far Side Cartoon... two grizzly bears snickering at a third bear's 'deer gut')). I'm thinking a couple extra hundred pounds.

I know from personal experience that being obese can be a bonus... my mother was able to stick around a couple extra months, simply because she was carrying about thirty extra pounds.

In a shtf scenario, an obese person very well might survive longer, if their bodies could metabolize the extra fat. My concerns, in the hypothetical case, revolved around several different triage cases, one being an obese mother of 4... my vision of this person was in the 400lb range, not ~180, or thirty or forty extra pounds. Two major concerns would be could she work (I know it's backbreaking sweat drenching work to weed and hoe a field) and could she 'adjust' to lighter than normal (for her) rations. Folks that store food for a shtf scenario might have extra food on hand for additional people that might prove useful... but someone that eats two shares and provides only one set of hands... this would be a disadvantage.

I know some big people that can carry their weight. oops, a pun.

I'm really not wealthy enough to have my own little survival retreat group. If I were, I'd look at that persons skills more than their looks and BMI/obese index. If a 400lb gent showed up, and was an experienced emergency room doc (with his own tools and a ton of medicine), could sharpen crosscut saws, scrub pots, and wrangle a mule, he'd be a shoe-in. A thin supermodel, with no skills but cuteness... well... sorry mam, we have no room. An average weighted supermodel might be ok for general labor.

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stan, I'm NOT talking about merely being thin, sure there are plenty of skinny fat people who's health sucks too. I'm talking about a person in healthy to very well conditioned cardio health/capacity and also well balanced and usable muscular strength, endurance and agility(I am also NOT talking about body builders). Native peoples were all exceptional in these areas through the nature of their hunter/forager lives, I would daresay these people could also teach us a thing or two about surviving and thriving in their land.

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This is unmitigated BS. Anthropological evidence suggests that many "native" people survived not only debilitating illness but also crippling injuries. If the S ever does H the F you will find the survivors are not the Mad Max types, with a 4WD converted into a tank/flamethrower, but the clever and determined type who can adapt to any situation.

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Flaming Xtian
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Libertarindependent

I know what you mean about skinny fat. After DH was injured in Iraq, I dropped too much weight (stress, not eating enough, didn't exercise as much), and I was definitely skinny fat. I lost muscle mass, at that time I wasn't good for much. When I started eating healthy again and got back into exercising and physical activiites, I gained my muscle mass back. Even though I was considered a "normal" BMI, I don't think it would have taken much, illness or physical labor, to knock me down. Obese by BMI standards is not obese by mine either. I consider obese to be when the quality of life of a person and their abilities is severely impaired by their weight.

Strength and agility does not necessarily mean an expectation of a body builder. I remember watching Frontier House on PBS and Mr. Clune complained that he was "wasting away." When the doctor finally comes in, they tell him he's healthy based on a muscle to fat ratio.

A person's weight isn't the only factor, it's their health, strength, and physical capabilities. Their weight only matters when it severely impairs them.

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I also don't think the BMI is the best way to determine a proper weight. There are more variables to consider. Being healthy is the most important thing. When I put on weight in 2008, I didn't feel good, but sluggish and working did seem harder (it was 20 pounds, not considered substantial by any means, but I could sure tell the difference). I dropped only the sugar and empty carbs out of my diet and actually increased my food consumption. There was no change to my physical activity and I did lose the weight in a month. Between wanting to get back in my clothes (couldn't afford to replace an entire wardrobe) and wanting to feel better? Those were my reasons. DH never said a word. Dropping the sugar did something else- it substantially decreased the FMS/CFS symptoms. I have pushed myself for 18 years to stay in shape despite FMS/CFS. Now, I am happy to just maintain an active normal (for me) lifestyle that can still include hiking and doing everything I enjoy. I also think the Kefir Smoothies (every day) have helped, too!

I am with Texican on the term "obese." I don't consider anyone obese unless weighing more like a substantial amount over.

Yes, I agree with Indygardengal:

and especially like:

There are problems trying to establish healthy weight. When you are very small boned, what is actually a healthy weight? How about very large boned? These extremes seem the most inaccurate in the charts. A few years ago, I took my 6'4" DS in to see the Dr. and I was told he was overweight (still trying to figure out where he was hiding much fat). He was healthy and large boned. I didn't want him losing weight! Then, there is me. I am very small boned and I've been told most of my life I was "too thin." Yet, I was always very healthy, hardly ever contracted any illnesses, and was physically fit. When I did get sick, I bounced back quickly and seldom lost any weight. I learned all I had to do was "sleep it off." That prevents weight loss, too.

I haven't had the flu in ten years and haven't been sick in five years. Since I am at the weight that is healthy for me, I am neither planning on gaining or losing at all. The relative most built like me? Lived to the age of 94. We had a number of relatives who lived into their 90s. Some were overweight, but most weren't. All were optimists and brilliant people.

There is talk about thin or slender people losing too much weight after surgery, illness, etc... Not so in my case and I don't know why (I don't consider myself too thin, either, but just my healthy normal weight that does seem to agree with avg weight in the charts---surprisingly they match even). I have had 2 c-sections, 1 abdominal surgery, and a few hospitalizations for other issues. Each time, I healed well, didn't lose weight, and was back on my feet ahead of schedule. Must be all that sleeping, LOL. I have never eaten more than half what other women do my size (regular avg weight women, by the way), so I don't think it would make any difference in survival. I'd last longer with less food than other women my same size. So the weight thing doesn't apply with me so much.

I have a good friend and also a sister who are both obese. Both of them are genetically predisposed towards this. My friend is now diabetic and on multiple medications. She used to be just overweight and looked healthy then. No longer is she healthy, has high blood pressure, bad blood levels, the works (her frame can't support the weight very well). My sister is pre-diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and on multiple meds. She is heavier than my friend and also a little more physically capable. She has always been large boned, but in order to be healthy, does need to lose weight. Her ankles are swollen and she has to limit her walking and much of what she can do. I want my sister back! She used to be able to hike with me

I reckon I am pretty useless, I am overweight, about 50 lbs worth. However that is not the problem. I am simply useless for manual labor due to heart issues, and other damage done by cancer treatments a few years back. I dont think however I would be too quick to throw me overboard just yet. There are other qualities that count besides fetch and tote labor. I have a lot of knowledge that I have accumulated over the years that can be quite valuable in a variety of situations. In a group setting someone needs to do some thinking or nothing gets accomplished.

Now before the serious health issues developed, I was still overweight, but I generally could do the work of two or three others, without even breathing hard. Its not about a few extra pounds, its about endurance, and willingness to get the job done along with knowing how to work effectively.

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

I fall in this catagory too. I have been the same pants size for years. I walk everyday besides doing other chores. When pregnant I did not gain any weight with any pregnancy. My kids were all big babies, one of them 10 pounds. Had the babies & went right back to the same weight as before I got pregnant. As long as I can continue to do my work, I am not too concerned. When I am too fat to get out of a chair, then I am obese.

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I can't believe I deleted it!

Uummm ...... it is not BS that natives were exceptional. Recent scientific evidence shows that native people, especially those living in colder conditions, generally have more healthy brown fat and less unhealthy white fat. Brown fat helps prevent loss of body heat, white fat does not. Brown fat helps the body to utilize calories more efficiently and prevents you from shivering and thereby wasting essential calories. White fat doesn't stop you from shivering. Brown fat aids in circulation, rapid regeneration and healing, white fat does not. Scientists are now trying to develop medication that can help to convert white fat into brown fat.

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You are missing the point entirly. When the SHTF fat aint gonna matter. There won't be any for long. In a good winter most natives hunkered down in their wigwam, or cave, or yurt and ate, drank, and told stories. I had a friend from Mali in college. She told me that in Mali a skinny person (especially a woman) was considered unhealthy and unfit as a mate. All this obcession with body weight is culture and media driven.

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Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

I've always wanted to be "skinner", but it was never in the cards for me. Been "chunky" all my life...and that ain't going to change now...that I'm in my early-fifties. As long as my lovely "teenage bride" of 32 yrs, lets me catch her when i chase around the kitchen table life is wonderful!

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Dave

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded" (2 Chronicles 15:7)

it really does not matter if you are in "good shape" and all that. If you are carrying around a lot more weight then your body was designed for, you are putting way more straing on your internal organs and bone structure.

I keep hearing of active, "healthy", younger folk having heart attacks, and in almost all cases you find out they were heavy. Many could have worked circles around me, but the human heart and internal organs simply were not designed to work under that type of load and surrounded by fat.

I'm not talking about being 10- 20 lbs "overweight" I'm talking about those that are near twice what the books say they should weigh.

BTW - I work for an organization that helps Native Americans, and they are also now having the difficulties associated with less work and more food, especially junk food. It's called "commod bods" - what you get from eating the commodities the Federal government passes off as "food". And they are now having a lot more problems associated with excess weight and sedendary living.

My Dad was always on the heavy side, but never "fat" meaning no rolls or extra chins or "flabby" anything. But he worked 40 hours a week on his feet, and ran a farm in the evenings and weekends until he got his 30 years in, then he "retired" to farm full time. He ate good home cooked meals and occasional deserts.

Ok - I'm a food nazi - I admit it. Now I'll go back to canning up my seasoned beans and the forming my 12 lbs of pork/veni sausage into breakfast patties for the freezer.

Cathy

It is so personal to the individual it is not black and white in numbers.

when younger, sure you can carry around heavier weights and do hard work easy
when older, not as easy

when you are in a healthy status, sure you can handle that heavier weight and it does't impede
when older and in bad healthy state, sure obesity is a factor in determing your recovery etc

sure body frame matters when noting someone's actual weight on the scale
sure muscle needs to be added into all those stats


this is a subject you can never pin down to "follow this stat and rule".


It comes down to "how do you feel"

when heavier most people "know it and feel it" thru the body and especially during physical labor. or thin people who never do physical work, have to do some and breath hard...lol

so many factors involved.

In 2002 after having a baby then moving north where it was winter and I knew no body I weighed 300lbs. Now I weigh 195lbs and am 5'5. I work at a feed store and lift 55lb bag of feed on my shoulder all day. I am soon to be 43 and a woman. So i would say yes to the poll.

i've always outworked all the other people around me..my entire life..i'm 58 and still do

Unless she had her children and then gained tons of weight, it would be very unlikely that she was 26, had 4 kids and weighed 400 lbs. While not every 400 lb woman is going to have fertility problems, many of them are. I really think the fact that she's had 4 children indicates she's healthier than people think.

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Me I've worked both ways.When i was first married I weighed 145 poundsw,worked as hard or harder than anyone.Weighed 300 pounds still work circles around younger Guys.

Started having Health problems not all of them to do with my weight and the ones that did didn't effect my work.

I have been losing weight the last year to turn some of my problems around which is helping.

big rockpile

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I answered other.

I'm 5'7" with a 24.19 BMI (as of today on the Wii Fit Plus) and look like Kim Novak in the figure. 41-27-37.

I'd have to say that the 25 number really doesn't cover everyone..wouldn't you?

BUT, though I'm very strong and do work hard, my endurance isn't what it once was. That may be simply a matter of getting older and adjusting to not being able to run a marathon and then party for 3 days afterward. It could also mean I need to work on cardio more.

Not sure where I'd fall in that.

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Christy
Growing Human
http://growinghuman.blogspot.com

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6 Ft tall and 170 to 190 lbs all my life. I contribute that to a 20 year regimen of running and exercising more or less forced upon me by the USMC that I no longer am required to do. I now stay in shape by physical labor but my days of running are over. Although I'm thinking of starting again, but not like I used to.

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I answered other too.

yup, work on your cardio, just do it....maggot!

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According to that chart I am overweight.

This is me (the one on top ) The other Tiempo (the one on the bottom) is 900 pounds

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