True Happiness

[Hemidakota]

I'm sitting here listening to Elder Uchtdorf's talk, while catching up on threads (I'm been out of town for a week). I just finished reading yet another thread on fat people, and why they apparently suck. Someone mentioned that fat women shouldn't just be content, but that they could be happy all the time.

I'm so sick of hearing that. I'm overweight. I'm not fat. I'm heavier than "ideal" but I am not disgusting.

I'm not content with my weight, but I am very happy in life.

As I closed the window, I heard Elder Uchtdorf say "the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings true happiness." The timing was perfect.

Why can't a person be fat and still be happy? Why are those mutually exclusive? Any number of descriptives could replace the word "fat" in that sentence.

What makes YOU happy? Is it looking in the mirror every day and saying "Dang, I look gooooood!"? Is it having a great house? Is it your family? Is it the Gospel?

If it's the mirror option, good for you. But I would suggest that perhaps your priorities are out of line. If it's a house, I wonder why. Is it because you are able to shelter and provide for your family, and able to serve others as your needs are met? Or is it just because it's bigger than the neighbor's house?

I am happy because I have a good life. I have an absolutely wonderful and amazing husband who treats me like a daughter of God. When he finds fault with me, he helps me to correct my behaviors in a way that will be beneficial to us both. I have a beautiful daughter who teaches me everyday about unconditional love. I have the Gospel in my life, and a knowledge of eternal families and eternal life. I have a best friend who is truly a blessing in my life. I laugh, I love, I learn. All these things make me happy.

To those who think that fat people aren't or can't be happy, I say this to you: we have had enough. Get off our backs.

Agreed. I don't see where a few GA's, including the Prophet, Apostles, and few notable Seventies, who are overweight are not content with there current life. The measurable goal is not body size or weight but what are we doing in building and preparing the kingdom for the Savior's return.

[Guest]

Again... not to Offend...

but you are misinformed. I am 30 lbs overweight. I gained this weight after bearing two children (which I believe is more important to my eternal happiness than maintaining an "ideal weight".) I exercise in a gym 3-4 days a week for 45 min - 90 min each time depending on the day. I do not gorge myself but yes OCCASSIONALLY I run thru a drive through... I drink plenty of water. I get the best rest possible with two very small children. Yet - my body maintains my weight. I contacted a physican who ran test and found out.. (even though I knew this... from looking at every one of my ancestors) that my metobolism only functions at a 30% ratio. All efforts through physicans and dieticians have failed as I only got up to a 32% functionality.

So to say....

IF YOU are overweight.... you MUST be over-eating... you MUST be abusing your body... you MUST be less-active (as in exercise not faith)... and that if you are overweight you will eventually become spiritually inferior to thinner people is just...... is well, WRONG. DEAD SET WRONG! Your MISLED, FALSE remarks would say to YOU and others - I do not honor my body and I Do not do the best I can to stay healthy...and for that, you would be wrong and in my personal opinion is something that would need an act of repentence to be overcome. I know that sounds really harsh but FINALLY - I was validated this conference when we were warned NOT to judge others but to persuade others by our faith and actions. But traveler, I love ya and I would just like you to know that you can NOT possibly see the road a person has travelled, or what they have overcome...by how much they weigh on the outside.

Feel grateful and THANKFUL that you are BLESSED to be able to have a body that responds to these things - and stop assuming everyone has this luxury.

I am assuming you must not be aware of this... or perhaps you think this is an exception - but in truth it isnt... And what do you say to the people that are working 2-3 jobs to pay the bills - living within their means and still finds they can feed their family IF they purchase food from the middle of a grocery store (also known as the junk food isles) than the perimeters where there is fresh, healthy food (that by the way cost 2x more!).

Are there things that people can do better? YEP. But those without bad habbits/lack of adherance to all the gospel principles... go ahead an cast a judgement (or stone).

WOW Wignut.. you got me ALL fired up! lol

I don't think you understand what The Traveler was saying. How do you know you are overweight? Who DECIDES what overweight means? I think what Traveler meant by overweight is "unhealthy weight". It's not measured by pounds or a round figure. Queen Latifah says it in her commercials - something about not looking at a scale to determine her ideal weight but by looking at the quality of her health.

But, it is true that the body's proportion can be a determining factor of overall health. I'm not talking about bulging muscles and a washboard stomach. I'm talking about overweight as the type of weight that your ankles and knees and especially your heart are not equipped to support.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those "stick figures" that are not healthy either. Name it - anorexia, bulemia, etc. So, she's 5'4", 100 pounds when wet... with stomach ulcers and gastric disorders from lack of nutrition. Not healthy either.

I look at it as part of the words of wisdom. I think I've mentioned it before, there's no point to avoiding coffee if you remain unhealthy in other aspects. I don't think it is right to say, "but the words of wisdom didn't say not to eat 20 donuts a day"...

Edited April 6, 2009 by anatess

[Guest missingsomething]

I don't think you understand what The Traveler was saying....

I guess I got thrown off by the comment about doing a lot of traveling and knowing who was american because they are always overweight...and then followed by the statement if you dont care about how much you weigh and being overweight then your weight will eventually affect your spirituality.

But you made some excellent points. One body size does not fit all

[pam]

One body size does not fit all

This just brought something to mind a bit off topic. I like how most things that used to say "One size fits all" now says "One size fits most"

[Elgama]

Personally I am content with who I am - I am overweight, and maybe one day I will get round to dealing with it but right now have more serious aspects of my life I want to perfect, I am fortunate that Heavenly Father gave me nice skin, beautiful hair, kind eyes and a youthful for age look, its nothing I can take credit for, my beauty regime consists of a shower, some deodorant and some mosturiser takes about 15 minutes.

Like my Gran used to say your fairly pretty, I love you, you know you are doing OK by yourself and God what else matters in life?

-Charley

[Guest queries]

And what do you say to the people that are working 2-3 jobs to pay the bills - living within their means and still finds they can feed their family IF they purchase food from the middle of a grocery store (also known as the junk food isles) than the perimeters where there is fresh, healthy food (that by the way cost 2x more!).

As usual miss I agree with almost everything you said, but this one I have to take issue with - fresh fruits/vegetables/meats are, in my experience, less expensive than pre-processed foods, and can be prepared as quickly for those of us working several jobs. Plain carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, pasta) are less expensive and feed more people, pound for pound, than prepared boxed stuff (rice-a-roni or whatever). Unfortunately a lot of junk is very cheap - soda, cookies, chips, etc etc etc - it tastes really good and is easily affordable even on a tight budget. That's the stuff you gotta watch out for IMO.

[Guest queries]

I was (this time) specifically referring to this thread (which actually, never had an appearance by "that person"), and in particular to this post, where someone writes "Come on girls, you may be content. Why not be happy all the time?"

Oooohh, I've noticed just from the little excerpts on the home page that there are threads I don't even want to bother with... not worth the energy... some people might be better served with my grandpa's advice, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt."

(I unfortunately don't follow that advice as often as I should.)

[Newcomer4831]

as a PERSON.. a HUMAN.. this bothers me! And honestly - it SHOULD bother you...everyone.

Its like saying people with dark hair cant have fun... or blonde people are stupid... or tall people cant be graceful... or even attacking a religion.

I would say to those who look at others that are not "ideal" in YOUR OPINION... I'm absolutely gonna LOVE listening to you try to explain yourself on judgement day - but I didnt MEAN to call them FAT... if they had only LOVED you more they would have eatten carrots instead of fries....

Well are you having fun? As long as you are having "fun" then it doesn't make sense to say that you aren't having fun? You are only causing problems for yourself, you are letting the ignorant people get to you.

[Traveler]

Hmm...have you met President Monson in person lately?

If your post referred to my post (#13) you missed my point completely.

My point was not to try to find someone to compare to or to find fault with. It was posted for each individual to see themselves. In addition I do not believe happiness can ever be found by trying to compare oneself with anyone else. Nor do I believe that happiness can be found vicariously through others. It must come from within.

Shakespeare once said, “To thine own self be true and it shall follow as the night the day, thou cannot be false to any man.”

In general I believe that those that respect themselves respect others and are happy. I have yet to find someone that is disappointed with themselves that is happy.

The Traveler

Edited April 6, 2009 by Traveler

[Guest missingsomething]

If your post referred to my post (#13) you missed my point completely.

My point was not to try to find someone to compare to or to find fault with. It was posted for each individual to see themselves. In addition I do not believe happiness can ever be found by trying to compare oneself with anyone else. Nor do I believe that happiness can be found vicariously through others. It must come from within.

Shakespeare once said, “To thine own self be true and it shall follow as the night the day, thou cannot be false to any man.”

In general I believe that those that respect themselves respect others and are happy. I have yet to find someone that is disappointed with themselves that is happy.

The Traveler

Ahhh - now this... I get!