More on the fat gene...

15th February 2008

Good Lifers speak out!

Hi Ray,

First off I must thank you for your emails, you have certainly made me think more seriously about my health.

I had a Heart failure Christmas 06, after all the scans possible including Neuclear dye injection scans. Fortunately you and a Doctor Al Sears in Florida have put me back with a healthy Ticker, you give quite a lot of common sense views and the Doc has almost got me off taking stupid dangerous drug, Statins to name one.

Yes, fast foods are really a culprit, although I never did eat many of them, I do eat good meat and above ground veggies also keep away from the carbos.

Once again I do enjoy your e-mails.

K. Rgds,

John B.

Dear Ray,

I read your newsletters because I really do try and lead a healthy lifestyle, so any hints or tips are received with
enthusiasm.

But the one about the fat genes didn't please me so much, as you see I am one of those people who are overweight, yet follow a healthy diet of fresh fruit and veg every day.

My meat is grass fed only and sourced in Scotland, and I pay more because of that. Even my coffee is fresh, of which I only have one cup a day.

I detest anything processed. In fact I've just thrown away all the chocolate that people bought me for Christmas in the bin because I really don't like it that much. My vice is a glass of red wine each evening with my dinner, or if I'm really naughty, two glasses.

I take regular exercise at my local gym, and at home.

I lead an active life because that's the way I like it. But still I cannot shift the extra pounds that I put on years ago through food abuse.

I assume if the scientists have found the fat gene they could actually find it in the people who reckon to have it, that way eliminating the ones that haven't??

Therefore if someone uses this as an excuse, a simple test will tell the doctor if its true whether they are overeating or not.

But to be fair on you, I can see where you are coming from and that there will always be people who claim to have the fat gene who haven't. Send em to the doctors for a test that's what I say, then surely there can be no argument and no excuse based on that.

At that I really must go now to do my hours exercise before work.

In the meantime keep up your normally good newsletters, but please don't tar every overweight person with the same brush.

June R

Dear Ray

Re: The Fat Gene

I couldn't agree more! It bothers me what they are telling people about cancer too. It's in the genes!

Your newsletters are so brilliant and make so much sense.

By the way, love the lemon book!*
regards

Jacqueline S

Ray,

I was born with the fat gene.

I have battled the fat problem my whole entire life.

It is not some big happy excuse for me to blame my weight on and then let go of the battle it is just helpful to understand why I need to watch everything I eat and make sure I keep moving because there is no margin what so ever for me to let my guard down.

I am aware that some people with the fat gene are just not realizing this as serious a problem as it is. I did later in my life.

I spend everyday at weight loss because there is no cure for the person born with this tenancy there is only control...those of us who are watching their weight and are still not thin...we have got a 'tough row to hoe' no doubt about it !

So I would appreciate if you could represent us too in your article and ones like yours...there is always this dread attitude that we are looking to get off the hook for being fat.

Lack of knowledge on both sides is a bad problem.

I for one am not excusing but still even though I battle by watching and counting points with Weight Watchers customized plan and do some Low Carb eating I still and always will be somewhat fat this simply is not true for those who do not have this gene tenancy.

And lastly our body goes into stalls where if you do no have this gene it does not stall ...

There is a terrific lady in my Weight Watchers meeting that lost 100 lbs with exercise and her customised plan she weighed 206 for one year and was not eating anything off plan but she stuck tyo her plan and finally after one year she did have a decending woosh and lost more lbs but she is still battling just like me.

Do you know how it feels to eat right and not lose weight exercise daily and see four weeks of no move on the scale?

We who have this fat gene do know it has made controlling our weight very difficult. The ones who don't watch end up in bed weigh 700lbs and more they did not co operate with the knowledge that they cannot have anything to eat off plan and would have to live the rest of their life on plan it is a personal choice.

This is getting long and there is so much more first hand experience to be understood but please be careful not to join the quick impulsive conclusions because there is legitimate cause for special education for people who have the fat gene and it is not being addressed we all have huge lots to learn about Obesity and all obese are not equal!

Sincerely,

Carol Ann

Dear Ray

I think you may like the quotation from the late, and great, Harry Secombe

'My diet allows me to eat as much as I like of whatever I want but I am not allowed to swallow '

Regards

Brian M