Fat Chance

[BeadieJay]

There's a new t.v. programme in the UK called Fat Chance. It features two different families each week who compete against each other to see who can lose the most weight in 3 months. They're given the help of an obesity specialist and a personal trainer, and the chance of a free holiday for the winning family.

They're on to the 3rd week now, and so far each week there's been one diabetic in one of the families. Last week's family, the mum of one family of incredibly overweight boys (the 13 year old weighed 27 stone - 378 pounds) was not only a diabetic herself, but also a diabetic nurse. They filmed her doing a daily supermarket shop and she was stuffing her trolley full of non-diet fizzy drinks and cakes and desserts and chocolates - it was horrifying to watch (in a car crash sort of way!!)

The other 2 diabetics to be featured - one of them used to drink 21 pints of milk a day :eek: as well as eating loads of take-aways and other junk food, and the other guy would eat a packet of biscuits and cakes while watching t.v, as well as other junk food.

What shocked me so much was that none of them seemed to realise the harm they were doing to themselves. But the most shocking was the diabetic nurse who was on insulin and who had 3 huge sons (the 11 year old weighed 17 stones - 238 pounds at the end of the 3 month weight loss), and she was not only killing herself, but her sons as well.

I'm so glad she's not my diabetic nurse - cos I dread to think what advice she'd give me!! Why is it, though, that some people just don't seem to care about themselves? I know that I've been struggling, and someone could turn around and say that I'm no better than these people - and that's probably true, but I know that I'm hurting myself, and I desperately want to stop it, but they just don't seem to care, or to know what's right and what's wrong. Is it that food has become such a drug that they are totally addicted to it? At least one of the families has been on a reality t.v. programme before - I think they're more addicted to their 15 minutes of fame, than to losing weight - but that's just my opinion.

I guess my point is (after all this rambling) that it's shocking that these people have such abysmal control of their diabetes, and that it takes a t.v. programme to point out to them that they're killing themselves. But....also......overcoming diabetes (i.e. to have good control) is more than simply not eating the wrong things - some of us really are addicted to food, and maybe we need to find a way to deal with that first, and then we'll start having good control of our diabetes.

[archimeech]

People see what they wish to see. Quite a few wind up hiding in the bottom of a bag of snacks of sweets. They self medicate with food, to satisfy the issues they have with themselves and then that very same problem is then compounded by the eating disorder they develop.

Humans are masochistic by nature. It's very sad.

[mg_2204]

Hello Sue!

I've seen that show and that family! I was totally floored when I learned that she was a diabetic nurse. Do as I tell you and not as I do? Wouldn't want her as my diabetic nurse either. Didn't one of her sons have a heart condition too??!

You're making a good point by saying some are addicted to food. I believe that once one has found what triggers the overeating and snacking, the battle is half won. On a personal note, I find that high carb foods -a-r-e- addictive. Last week-end I did enjoy bread and rice (together!) and just wanted more and more and more...

Marie
:)

[BeadieJay]

Hi Archi - your comment about self-medicating with food, I guess that's the same as comfort eating. Unfortunately, unlike an addiction to tobacco or alcohol, we have to eat to live, and for those with a food addiction, there's no going cold turkey (excuse the pun!!!) You're right that people see what they wish to see.

Marie - yes, you're right, the eldest son did have a heart condition - he was probably the slimmest of the lot, but at 15 he weighed about 15 stone....how can a mother do that to her child?

I think I'm addicted to food.........hi, my name is Sue and I'm a foodaholic :eek: Seriously, I'm glad I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow - I'm going to ask for counselling about my eating problem - until I get this sorted I'm never going to be able to control my diabetes properly. I know what I need to do, I just don't seem capable of actually doing it - at least, not long term. I'm fine for a few weeks, but then I give into temptation. I guess I'm as bad as those people on that programme, only I haven't got the guts to go on t.v. to get help for it!!!

[Batty]

that's horrible but some people just don't realize that all those thigns that could go wrong..will go wrong for them if they don't follow their diet..

..i really hate it when diabetics are protraided like that in the media..i hope if they have another family with a diabetic in it..that they actually take care of themselves and don't appear as complete pigs >.<

[Harold]

Accross the big pond from you TV has a new show called 'The Big Loser' or close to that with the same premise. Have not seen it, just the ads. I won't be seeing it since I'll be at work, but thought it would be interesting to compare the number of food ads associated with the shows. Maybe someone else can take note and post results. Which brings me to another reason people over eat. TV ads for food shopping, for eating out, feeding your children, and snacking while watching the big game... etc. The power of suggestion probably has more to do with over compulsive eating by more people than an actual food addiction.

[BeadieJay]

Originally posted by Harold
The power of suggestion probably has more to do with over compulsive eating by more people than an actual food addiction.

Harold, that is so true - even when I'm watching the programme I start to think about what I can eat - I'm watching these people make pigs of themselves (as Batty put it so well), and I want to eat - it's ridiculous........I should be running to get the salad instead of thinking about how yummy a bar of chocolate would go down right now - as I watch them sink their teeth into something that will do me (and them) much more harm than good....it makes me so mad :mad: ........ but I think I feel mad at myself as much as the advertisers.

[Belinda]

I've seen the show Harold but like always was reading my book during commercials...will have to pay attention if I see it again!!!

[rzrbks]

Well, I Personally Blame JK Rowling.

She has the people eat chocolate :eek: as a Magical cure for most maladies. ( I do firmly believe that it's truly an effective curative)

And, well, since I too live at Hogwarts, It's Her fault



AND them ^%%^$( Hobbits with their 6 meals a day:eek:

[mg_2204]

My husband says his addiction to food is all my fault. I'm too good a cook he says! I've pointed out to him I've never actually made crisps or chocolate bars or ice cream... but he says that's completely irrelevant. :rolleyes:

It's true how tv is pleagued with food ads. I've noticed because at first, with Metformin, I wanted to throw up all the time. Food all over the screen ACK!!

... and chocolate WAS used as a cure for many ailments in the past. Learned that in the chocolate museum of Brussels. They'd even make you taste diff kinds of chocolate. Interactive learning. My kind of museum :D

About food shopping, I don't know if there's anyone else like me out there... but I feel awful when there is too much junk in my trolley. If there's more healthy food than junk in my trolley, I'm ready to go to the till. My kids tease me so much with that, you have no idea! I really feel bad when I see all my stuff on the counter. When the kids have a party, I'll buy in advance and make two or three trips to the shops because a trolley full of sodas, savouries, and junk makes me uncomfortable beyond what I can express. I must be nuts.

Marie
:)

[BeadieJay]

I understand what you're saying Marie - I used to be like that, thankfully I don't have that problem any more - hubby does all the shopping LOL :D

I asked my doctor why Metformin wasn't suppressing my appetite, and he said it wasn't supposed to. Apparently, it's a side effect that some people have, but he said that if Metformin did suppress appetites, it would be prescribed to all sorts of people. I don't get any of the good side effects - I didn't lose loads of weight before I was diagnosed with diabetes, as many people do, and I never felt sick, and therefore off my food, with Metformin {sigh} :rolleyes:

Apparently I can't be put on a regular appetite suppressor because I'm also on Fluoxetine (prozac) and the two don't go together. I've been told to increase my dosage of Fluoxetine to see if that will help with the depression. I'm a little nervous, because the last time I went up to 60mg a day I became suicidal. Doc is hoping this won't happen again, so we shall see....I've got to go back in 2 weeks.

I know this is off topic, but I can't be bothered to look for my other post about my gp (too lazy LOL).....but there's no way I can find another doctor, my gp might be a bit slow in commenting and offering suggestions, but he's a nice guy and when it counts he's an excellent doctor - when he diagnosed the diabetes he was like another person - so professional and diligent. I guess my going to talk about my depression is difficult for him to deal with, cos basically there's not a lot he can offer me.

(and he's still incredibly gorgeous, and do I really want to go and see an old ogre, when I can sit and look at a hunk!!!)

[Brent44a]

Well BJ, my diabetes team is also gorgeous, except for the endo, who is just great. <<<LOL>>>. After going on insulin recently, I've finally started to gain back some of the weight (30 pounds down to 150 at 5'10") I lost at diagnosis, so I'll be watching more closely how much I eat. Cutting out the chocolat was difficult, but I did make the switch to a much more healthy diet and hope to stay that way. I still have an occassional small chocolat item if my BG reading looks ok as a kind of reward, but I must admit that the attraction has waned somewhat. Now with Holloween approaching, who knows.....

[LauRa Lu]

I think alot of famillies, in the UK anyway, just arn't educated enough when it comes to food. I mean alot of it is comon sence but then there's alot of people out there with out any... :rolleyes: So if they're not educated about what food can do then they're never going to know.

As diabetics we tend to know alot more about sugars and carbs and how they'll affect us. There's alot I know now that I didn't know before I was diagnosed. My mum and dad also know alot more now than they used to because of me, and their diets have changed quite a bit.

I chose to do food technology in school which also taught me a great deal, but it was a very small class of students so a large majority of my friends in school wouldn't of learnt what I did about food, which is a shame...because as boring as it can be it's still extremely important.

I haven't seen much of the show that BJay has mentioned.... think i may have caught one eposode. The mother of that one familly sounds shocking!!! she should know better! :rolleyes:
But I have seen 'fat nation' which is another show. its about a whole street of people trying to not just loose wieght but to also get fit. There's parts of the show that I think are silly, but the main part of the show I think is great.... it's educational and helps viewers learn things they may never have concidered b4.

(sorry about my spelling :whistling )

Laura lu xxxx

[archimeech]

BJ, if you're having emotional issues I encourage you to seek some kind of counseling, Even if it's a good long talk with a friend. Most of the drugs we take for mental anguish don't solve the problem, unless you are truly chemicaly unbalanced. They are just really good at drugging you up so you don't feel the pain anymore. If they legalized pot, the drug companies couldn't compete in that market. I fear there are underlying issues that your general practitioner just isn't capable of helping you with. He sounds like a very good and compassionate doctor, but you need an expert of some kind to help with the emotional. Diabetes can cause depression, let's face it life is sometimes hard enough and then you're thrown into all of this!
My dear, take care of both selves. Your emotional good health goes a long way to helping your physical health. It is very hard for either to exist without the other.
By all means, don't beat yourself up, you can't jsut turn a switch and change years and years of condintioning yourself to live the life you have. it takes small steps every day to change your lifestyle. Make sure you change it for the better and that your doing it for yourself. That's the only way it will succeed.

[BeadieJay]

~ Brent ~ I'm glad you've got a gorgeous team helping you - it makes all the difference LOL Good luck with keeping up the healthy diet - just don't get down on yourself if you slip up occasionally, and like you said, Halloween's coming - a small chocolate won't hurt.....as long as you can say no to more that is!!

~ Laura ~ I agree with you that many people are not educated about food issues - I don't remember being taught anything useful when I was at school. However, I consider myself to be fairly smart, and as such I do know what food does to my body - but when you're comfort eating or addicted to the good feeling that eating temporarily gives you, all the education and advice in the world mean nothing. I know when I stuff my face with chocolate or a cream cake (in the past - not doing the cream cake thing any more, sob!!), I knew it wasn't healthy, especially as the rest of my diet wasn't healthy either - but I didn't care. I just wanted the buzz that came from eating all that sugar. I wish there was more emphasis on helping people find the cause of their overeating rather than simply telling us that if we don't look out we'll all become diabetic :mad:

I asked my doctor yesterday if I could have counselling for food addiction, to find out why I'm overeating, and he said it was because I'm depressed. Yep....but why am I depressed :eek: He's increased my prozac, but forgot to comment on the counselling :rolleyes:

~ Archi ~ I'm going to ask my doctor again (in 2 weeks' time) to refer me for counselling. I know for a fact that I can see the local counsellor at the surgery, as I saw her months ago, but I wasn't ready to talk to her at that stage, and she said that I could come back any time.......just need to arrange it through my doctor. The more I look at my life, the more I realise that I need help!!! Thank you for your kind words :)