For one, not not
all of us are saying the same thing on this subject.
And since this thread was specifically about fat, it is unlikely that the subject of smoking and alcohol would come up, though as a segue, beer, ale, malt liquor, and some other alcoholic beverages contain a lot of empty calories and will certainly contribute to a weight problem.
So, if you (the general you, not you Terry) knock a few back after class or on frequent basis, even you are not getting wasted, it is impacting your caloric intake in a big way.
Conversely, a lot of people gain weight when they quit smoking; apparently, smokers do not snack as much? Models also smoke to stay thin, as nocotine boosts the heartrate. Of course, smoking is full of its own inherent health risks.
Whether or not you are involved in martial arts, smoking is just plain silly and taking it up in the first place is just plain stupid, especially if you have taken it up within the past forty four years after they started putting surgeon general warnings on the darned packages back in 1965.
Smoking elevates the heartrate and constricts blood vessels, thus making the heart work harder. They also have an adverse effect on one's breathing. Given that circulatory and respiratory systems are both taxed in the practice of a martial art, and indeed, any athletic event, the foolishness of smoking is self evident.
But then, so what?
The fact that smoking at all and drinking too much are unhealthy does not alter the effect that excess fat has on the human body, irrespective of how well one can still practice their art.
What about them? They are idiots who sacrifice their longterm health for quick benefits and competition victories, possibly risking legal consequences and sanctions from whatever organizing body they compete in.
The fact that performance enhancing drugs are illegal and unhealthy does not alter the effect that excess fat has on the human body, irrespective of how well one can still practice their art.
Not everyone's attitude is disgusting. To be honest, I do not know that any of the opinions expressed in this thread could be classified as disgusting, though I am not going to go through each response again to verify.
Pretty much everyone, regardless of weight, seems to agree that excess fat is usually the result of greater caloric intake than exercise and that there are some people who have a weight gain for other reasons, such as genetics, medical complications, or medication for other maladies that have the side effect of adding weight.
I also would like to point out that a good number (not a majority, but a good number) of people who overeat do so due to depression and use food to self medicate, so to speak (eating makes them feel better) and generally choose comfort foods, such as macaronni & cheese, chips, fries, etc., all of which tend to be fattening.
Someone earlier pointed out economic reasons. Healthy food costs money and if you are unable to afford it, you eat what you can and deal with the consequences.
I hear you. Though I do not have quite so many years in, I have enough to remember when that kind of training was commonplace. With the amount of training that I do, combined with my age, I do feel it and can relate.
Well, I think that what you pointed out is certainly legitimate and indeed, is food for at least two or three threads.
That is every day for smoking, as I am not nor have ever been a smoker, and most every day for drinking, as I drink very little.
As I stated earlier, the only time that I see excess weight as being an issue for a martial arts instructor to be specifically physically fit (as opposed to fit for fighting) is if the school literature touts physical fitness, specifically weight loss. And personally, I think that use of weight loss and fitness as a means of bringing in students has a negative impact on the martial arts because it brings in people who really have no intention of being competent aikidoka/hapkidoin/karateka/kendoka/taekwondoin/whatever; they just want to get into shape and do not want to go to the gym. By and large, these are the wrong type of customers unless your school is Taebo.
The above is just my opinion, though I try to be as objective as possible.
Daniel
