Doctors say I'm overweight and need to lose weight, but I feel less motivated to because most Americans are way fatter than me? What should I do?

[Anonymous]

So for reference I'm 5'7" and weigh 260 pounds. All fat and practically zero muscle. To all you non-Americans that may sound extremely fat right? Well I constantly see people around me who make me look tiny, people who weigh 500+ pounds, and though I'm shorter than average they don't look proportional in the slightest. They look even fatter than me. Heck I've even seen 10 year olds fatter than me.

And then there's stuff like body positivity, healthy at every size, fat acceptance, love for dad bods, love for plus size women, etc. And it's gotten to the point that a lot of women actually prefer extremely obese men and I've been shot down for being "too skinny" and told they refuse to date any man lighter than 350.

Whenever I lost like 10 to 20 pounds from 260 people have actually commented on me looking sickly and too skinny and told me I need to go back to eating more.

I've been having some health problems pop up. Stuff you might expect for a young person my weight. High blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, occasional strokes or heart attacks, etc. And yet it feels like nothing because people fatter than me have way more health problems.

And overall it kind of feels like why be healthy when no matter how much I eat I most likely won't be fatter than 500+ pounds? If that's the bar American society has set and there are people much worse off why should I care?

So what should I do? Accept the fat American lifestyle or try to be healthy despite discouragement?

[Anonymous]

You're first off too young to be having health issues that can be controlled if you just diet and exercise. I know it's hard believe me I do. I am sitting at a very high weight of around 325.

But I'm fighting to get the weight off. I'm not comparing myself to any other person because the truth is they don't matter and won't be there when I'm laying in the hospital bed fighting for my life fighting heart disease because I refused to fight obesity.

You have to start now with walking, swimming, and weight training as well as eating a very clean diet. The weight will start coming off in no time with you being a male. For me, it's unfortunately going to take a lot longer being female and being a lot bigger than you are. But I am fighting my hardest to make it happen because I can't do this anymore. It's not fun being in your early 20s with backaches.

[lilBigPotato]

Your body, your choice. But having health issues from being obese but then ignoring it because "other people are fat and unhealthy too" is just an incredibly stupid way of looking at it.

[Asker]

I don't disagree. I have always been one big fat follower. Just following the crowd to fit in and have validation from others even if the majority of people in question are in the wrong. Not fitting in and sticking out can be scary, even if you stick out in a positive way it can still be negative if people get jealous and try to bring you down to their level.

[DryGermanGuy]

First of all, stop listening to obvious idiots. Then cut the sugarwater and the junkfood and go swimming twice a week. Do that for six months and report back your numbers.

[Asker]

That sounds like good advice. Most of the human population in general are idiots, though in America it seems to be even more severe. Yeah sugar water and junk food can even lead to cancer in some cases. Yeah swimming sounds like good exercise for someone who never exercises. It's pretty beginner friendly.

And yeah it'll be good to report back my numbers. Just gotta make sure I'm not eating as much as I'm exercising because then I'll never lose weight.

[DryGermanGuy]

As a motivatonal story, I had a fat colleague (~160 kg), who lost 50 kg slowly over 18-24 months. He just stopped with the junkfood and persistently went to a fitness studio, every two or three days. He had to rebuy his whole wardrobe. :-)

[AngryCarl3]

The average American is not a good role model because they will get type 2 diabetes and other shit and most of them can't even afford medical bills.

[Asker]

That is true. The average American also seems to be dumb as fuck. As far as I'm aware American education has fallen off hard. And then you have foreigners and tourists being doctors and lawyers meanwhile actual Americans are stuck in fast food work or manual labor.

Seems like the choice is mine to follow on the same path or be different and better. So far most responses to this question say be different and better.

[MrChinaski]

I don't see how other people's obesity should affect yours. That's pretty twisted thinking.

Be healthy for your sake. Or not. Only you care.

[Anonymous]

Why am I not in the least bit surprised you have some serious health issues.

Try getting off your lazy bone idled backside, exercise more often, and eat more healthy.

[Asker]

Yeah I'm not surprised either. I'm not surprised for most Americans either. That sounds like pretty good advice. The average American is fat and lazy as fuck and I'm not that much difference but I can change so things don't get worse. After all I'm only 29. As I get older things will probably get harder and harder if I don't get my shit together.

Being obese in your 20s is different than in your 30s than in your 40s etc. The older I get the more pain I'll be in. So your advice is good advice.

[Opinion Owner]

So start today by doing something constructive about it... Good Luck.

[Asker]

I will. Another user suggested swimming which is beginner friendly. Thanks and good luck to you too in whatever you're doing.

[Opinion Owner]

Just an idea for motivation... To keep us up to date, why not set up a monthly progress chart!

[Asker]

Hm yeah that's not a bad idea. Keeping track of progress is never a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Woman like big dudes. They give strong masculine vibe

[Asker]

That's what I've heard. The real question is how big though. Are we talking 200 something pounds? 300 something pounds? 500+ pounds? And is it supposed to be fat mixed with muscle or just fat?

[Opinion Owner]

Henry cavil body is perfect

[Asker]

Henry Cavil body. Yeah he has a good body. Not what I meant when I said overweight in my question though. Henry Cavil is more muscular. I meant fat as in more Nikocado Avocado or Boogie2988 when they were at their heaviest.

[Opinion Owner]

Nope

[Opinion Owner]

That’s definitely not ok

[Asker]

Yeah I agree. Now that we both know which kind of fat we're talking about lol. It looks like Nikocado Avocado and Boogie2988 have improved somewhat since their heaviest but at one point I before they were literally bedbound and had to carry around hospital equipment everywhere such as ventilators and shit.

Probably not a path I should go down if I plan to making it past 40.

[NathanDavis]

lose weight

[Asker]

Yeah that's probably good advice if I wanna make it past age 40.

[Anonymous]

Run 5 miles a day like Americans

[Asker]

Not sure how feasible 5 miles is for someone like me who never exercises but another user did suggest swimming which is more beginner friendly.

[Opinion Owner]

Work out to it start walking, then run a little bit until you get used to it