Struggling with weight gain: How to manage unwanted weight?

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Scott Allen10 said:I'm watching you....🙂....if you suddenly drop some ad for some "miracle" water, or a magic powder, or a link to some god-given weight loss formula....you're getting banned from the digital universe immediately.

Chill out, man... if I'm not actually trying to sell anything and I'm just sharing my progress, there's really no reason for you to kick me out into deep space.

Nathan Moore95 said:just chill out, man... if I'm not actually trying to push some product and I'm just sharing a win, there's really no reason for you to be riding my case in this digital space here

Look, as long as you aren't acting like a total bot trying to hawk some cheap junk from Gap or whatever... then we're pretty much good, and you're basically one of my closest buddies...😍....

Check out this great article on weight loss - it’s not some fluff from a women's magazine or just another diet plan. It breaks down three main reasons why people gain weight, and if you don't fix those, no diet is going to work...

I’m a super sensitive person, and honestly, I think that’s one of the main reasons I struggle with my weight. I pick up on everyone else's vibrations and frustrations, and the only way I know how to shield myself from all that noise is by building this physical barrier—which ends up being fat. For me, food isn't even about pleasure; it’s just a tool. I don't even particularly love eating, and I'm not some huge sweets person or anything. I’ve just realized that whenever I lose weight, I start feeling exposed and small, so I end up gaining it all back almost immediately. After sitting with this for a long time, I finally realized the issue isn't actually the food or an inability to diet; it’s that I keep putting the weight back on because I desperately need that protection.

What do you guys think? Has anyone else gone through something similar? Is there any other way to build a shield against negative energy so I can finally let go of the extra weight?

Here’s an article I found online to get the conversation started:

Check your sensitivity. Do you hate crowds? When you're surrounded by pessimistic people, do you feel drained and defeated? You may be energy sensitive, meaning you soak up the energies of those around you, and subconsciously want to pack on weight to act as a buffer against negative vibes, says Louise Hay, MD, author of The Secret. Many of Hay's sluggish, overweight clients engage in what she calls "energy-defensive eating," adding pounds to protect themselves from overwhelming vibes. "Early 20th century faith healers were renowned for being grossly obese to avoid absorbing their patients' symptoms," she says. Overcoming bad energy is as easy as taking a few deep breaths. "Breathe in vitality," Hay advises. "Breathe out fear."

Does anyone know if this book is available anywhere around here?

In my experience, weight gain is much more often a byproduct of everything else going on in life rather than just pure enjoyment of food.
That being said, I have certainly heard plenty of different excuses for why someone "has" to be overweight.
I have to admit, though, that the reason mentioned above is one of the more imaginative ones out there.

I was browsing online and saw she has quite a few books out there... Maybe someone kind enough could share a link to one? I know a couple of them have been released here in the States too.😁

...which then provides protection through muscle engagement and a toned physique...

A topic for anyone with a slightly higher Body Mass Index, assuming there aren't other underlying health issues involved.
Do you think obesity is actually a disease of the modern age? Or is it just a byproduct of how society is set up?

If I recall correctly, Professor Rosanda Mulić and her research team recently published findings suggesting that certain genetic markers play a significant role in determining waist circumference and body fat distribution. Interestingly, these genes don't seem to be tied to metabolic rate, but rather to how the brain processes reward signals and addictive behaviors.

It appears that for many, obesity isn't just about willpower; it’s conditioned by subtle biological differences in how their internal "hunger" and satisfaction mechanisms are wired. Some individuals develop a genuine dependency on the dopamine hit received after eating, which traps them in a continuous cycle of overconsumption.

On the flip side, anorexia might stem from a reverse calibration of this very same mechanism in people carrying a different variation of the gene.

I’ve been watching this documentary on one of the Discovery channels lately about the microorganisms living both on and inside our bodies.
It featured a fascinating segment on the "good" bacteria residing within our digestive tracts—essentially little biological factories tasked with producing enzymes to break down nutrients that our own bodies can't process on their own. A lot of research has shown that some people carry an overabundance of these specific bacteria. Because they're so efficient at extracting maximum nutritional value from the exact same amount of food, these individuals tend to be heavier than someone who lacks that bacterial surplus. They actually proved this using mice; researchers transferred bacteria from one "gifted" mouse into one that didn't have them, and even when fed the same caloric intake as before, the second mouse developed obesity.
In a different era, having those kinds of microbes would have been a survival advantage, allowing you to squeeze every bit of sustenance out of meager rations during a famine. But in today's world of constant abundance, that evolutionary edge has clearly backfired.
A massive amount of current research is focused on targeted therapies designed to eliminate this excess of bacteria. For now, antibiotics aren't really a viable option because they act like a nuclear bomb, wiping out everything in their path instead of just the specific targets we want to hit.

Paul Miller64 said:...Supposedly, those genes aren't actually about metabolism, but rather linked to the brain's reward system and addictive behaviors....

Yeah, that makes sense to me. Addiction is a disease, after all... and food addiction that leads to obesity fits right in.

First off, we’ve gotta realize that today’s standards on body weight are completely backwards because people are out here calling a totally normal, curvy figure "overweight."
But when we're talking actual obesity, what Angela Wright is saying is pretty damn interesting.

Angela Wright said:Lately, I’ve been catching this documentary on a Discovery Channel about the microorganisms living in and on our bodies.
It was a pretty cool segment on the "good" bacteria inside our digestive systems—the ones tasked with producing enzymes to break down nutrients our bodies can't handle on their own. Research shows some people just have an abundance of these specific bacteria. Because they’re so efficient at squeezing every last drop of nutrition out of whatever they eat, these individuals tend to be heavier than someone lacking those microbes. They actually proved this with rats; they transferred bacteria from a "highly efficient" rat to one that didn't have them, fed them the exact same amount of calories, and the second rat ended up gaining weight too.
Basically, back in the day, these types were built to survive famines because they could maximize tiny amounts of food. But in an era of endless snacks and abundance, the whole thing has flipped on its head.
A lot of current research is focused on targeted therapies to kill off that excess bacteria. Antibiotics aren't really an option right now, though—they're more like an atomic bomb that wipes out everything you actually wanted to keep.

Super interesting. It's basically scientific proof for that old saying: "We eat the same thing, but it goes straight to their hips instead of mine."

Chloe Campbell85 said:Really interesting stuff. This is classic proof of that old folk wisdom: "We're all eating the exact same thing, yet they somehow absorb less than I do."

I'm trying to dig up the episode right now—if I can track down the link, I'll drop it here for you guys. It’s a fascinating watch.

Sure 🙂

What do you all think about this whole "fatorexia" thing? It’s basically just pure self-delusion. I was reading this article about a woman who didn't even realize how much weight she'd actually gained—I think she was well over 220 lbs—until she saw a photo of herself. She genuinely thought she had a totally normal build until that moment of total shock. Honestly, I feel like there are times when I don't even recognize my own extra pounds until I see a picture of myself...

Alright, now that we’ve touched upon potential causes—personally, I don't believe there's just one single reason; what applies to one person doesn't necessarily apply to everyone else.

If we look at an American teenager who grew up eating McDonald's and massive amounts of other junk food, I'd assume their weight is the result of a combination of socially accepted unhealthy, fatty, and sugary foods, alongside the habit of overeating (which is also socially conditioned, since portions can be up to five times larger than what a person actually needs).
Overeating can also stem from psychological states, just as avoiding food can.
For some people, perhaps an excessive appetite is triggered by an underlying physical disorder.

But the question still remains: is obesity itself a disease? I recently watched a show about obesity where they stated that in obese individuals, there is an inflammatory process occurring throughout the entire body. If I recall correctly, they were discussing this as a cause, not a consequence.

Since I’m not a doctor, I don't quite understand exactly what kind of inflammatory process that is, or how one would go about treating it.

I would say we can categorize the causes of obesity into psychological, physical, and social (lifestyle) factors. Once obesity has set in, is it a disease in and of itself (for instance, due to that inflammatory process), or can a person be perfectly healthy and "just" have excess adipose tissue?

Does a disease cause obesity, is obesity a disease, or is obesity not a disease itself but rather a generator for other illnesses (like high blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.)?
It's certainly an interesting topic to dive into.

Melissa James70 said:Alright, we’ve touched on potential causes—personally, I don't buy the idea that there's just one single reason; what applies to one person doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.

If you take an American teenager raised on McDonald's and massive amounts of other junk food, then I assume obesity is the result of a combination of socially accepted unhealthy, fatty, and sugary foods paired with the habit of overeating (which is also socially conditioned, given that portions can be up to five times larger than what a person actually needs).
Binge eating can stem from psychological states, much like food avoidance can.
In some cases, an excessive appetite might even be triggered by a physical disorder.

But the question remains: is obesity itself a disease? I recently watched a show about obesity where they concluded that obese individuals experience systemic inflammation throughout their entire body. If I recall correctly, they presented this as a cause rather than a consequence.

Since I'm not a doctor, I don't quite grasp what exactly this inflammatory process entails, nor how one would go about treating it.

I'd say we can categorize the causes of obesity into psychological, physical, and social (lifestyle) factors. Once obesity sets in, is it a disease in its own right (like that inflammatory process), or can a person be perfectly healthy and "just" have excess adipose tissue?

Does a disease cause obesity, is obesity the disease itself, or is obesity not a disease but rather a generator for other conditions (like high blood sugar, cholesterol, or blood pressure)?
It's an interesting topic.

Obesity isn't a disease; it's a condition, or a disorder.
From that state, all sorts of other diseases and disorders can develop.
Conversely, certain illnesses and disorders—whether they are mental or physical in nature—can lead to obesity.
For instance, there is a very rare genetic disorder called Prater Willi syndrome, where a person is born with a genetic deficiency that manifests as a total lack of satiety, leaving them perpetually hungry. Unless this disorder is properly diagnosed, these children typically gain weight and eventually develop diabetes and other life-threatening complications.

A perfect example for me is my brother-in-law's father; the guy is quite overweight, yet he's absolutely bursting with health. His cholesterol is non-existent, his blood pressure is perfect, his heart is great, his lungs are clear, his liver is fine—everything is textbook ideal.
Who knows? 🤷