Twisting the knife. *Rant warning, avoid if necessary* The first thing I looked at online this morning was a news article on AOL (further twisting the knife by including a slim, trim model in the advert pic http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/obesity-advice-with-larger-clothes/article/20061214193009990005 It grabbed my attention because I sorta fit into that category. I am in the 'over 16 in clothes size' category (that's the British size 16, not sure of the American equivalent). The new proposal is really twisting the knife on the people who fall into this category. Do they REALLY think that people don't KNOW that they are at risk of health issues by being in their 'obesity' category??? Do they really think that people don't KNOW that they need to lose weight??? Do they really think that people CHOOSE to be in that category??? Do they really think that this will improve someone's self image when they go shopping for clothes??? I DETEST clothes shopping with a passion. It takes a lot for me to go clothes shopping. Things never seem to fit properly, I hate the mirrors, I wish I could fit into those slinky size 10 or 12 tops or trousers. I usually come out of the store feeling worse about myself. Sure, I know that it's the personality that counts but hey, when I see those women in the media with trim figures it hurts because one day I want to be able to wear those slinky things. Trouble is, not everyone gets to be 'bigger' by overeating. Some of us (including me) eat a very healthy diet (though often I undereat), and have health issues that make them gain weight - in my case, I have PCOS. Not only does it make you GAIN weight but it also makes it DIFFICULT to lose that weight. Another twist of the knife from earlier this year is that people with PCOS who need IVF if they want children are now starting to be DENIED treatment unless they lose weight. Duh?? If we didn't have PCOS we might NOT be at this weight in the first place! The Government admitted it's a financial issue - 'using the limited NHS resources effectively'. Fine, give me all the money back that I paid into the NHS if I'm denied treatment. Or, deny treatment to people who smoke, drink alcohol, speed and then crash their car too. Difference is, I didn't ask for PCOS. GRRRRR!!! Rant is over. :(
Grrr...I as well have severe PCOS. Weight is a huge issue with me along with some of the other common side effects of PCOS...you obviously know what those are but I'm a little too embarrassed to say them out loud here. The IVF part has me ticked off as well. Email me, my screen name for yahoo @yahoo.com and I'd be more than happy to vent with you about all our troubles we've been going through. edit: oh, and I meant to comment on that article as well...way to make the depression in people who are obese that much worse by putting a tag in their pants that basically says, "hey! you're fat!" That's really going to make those with depression because of their weight feel sooooooo much better about themselves...*grumbles and throws things* That just makes me mad.
Oopsie I really went off in a big rant didn't I? Last night before going to bed I was gonna ask flamey to delete this thread. Sorry to hear that you too have PCOS. Shana, we have too much in common lol. Yep it's not easy having PCOS - it totally messes your body around. Felt really rough with it this week too. Can't take a med for it due to family history, too risky, so basically all I can do is strip my diet to the most basic foods on the approved list and although it HAS helped, it's not completely under control. I bought a book about it - PCOS Diet Book by Colette Harris with Theresa Chung - it has definitely helped improve things for me, so I recommend that book.
Hey thanks! I'll have to check that book out. I recommend "What to do when the doctor says it's PCOS" by Milton Hammerly M.D. and Cheryl Kimball. It really helped explain a lot of PCOS to me...plus it has a section on alternatives approaches to managing PCOS which was helpful to me.
Thanks for the tip Shana! I prefer to try the alternative approaches too, rather than see my doctor abut this. No point bothering the doc anyway as I can't take the recommended med and I already refused surgery unless it's a very last resort. The diet changes I have made have really helped not just my weight (I lost some over the summer/autumn) but also other things that I can't really say here LOL. Suffice to say that the issues are still there but not quite as bad as last year.
