Why so many fat bass players?

[Mudfuzz]

Why so many fat bass players?

The more to sit upon you my dear....

 

[JAGGL3S]

Im 250 at 6'.
idk? i guess its just kinda fits? either your a twig or your fat as a bassist?

 

[Joe Nerve]

As long as we're talking about being fit... I'm in pretty damn good shape. I get annoyed sometimes hearing the metabolism rants. I can't tell you how many times I've been offered a piece of cake, said, "No thanks", and had someone start commenting in the vein of, "Look! The people that CAN afford to eat this stuff turn it down." And they'll go on to say stuff like, "You're lucky. You can probably eat anything you want and still look like that." "You're one of those people with a fast metabolism." No! I can't eat anything I want and look the way I do. I look this way because I say NO. I'm a vegetarian for one, I don't eat any (or eat very little) processed sugar, I pretty much only drink water (and coffee ), I try to balance my diet and meals as best I can, and I'm conscious of what I put into my body. On top of that I spend 8 to 10 hours a week in the gym or running. If I didn't do all that, I'd be fat. Period. Very fat. I know it cuz I was well on my way 15 years ago. Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes also runs in my family. Everyone but me has one or all all of the above.

People make a billion excuses for being out of shape. I can't do this because of my bad back, knees, shoulder, ad infinitum. I also had all of the above and over time made all those parts stronger. I still struggle at times with pain in certain areas, but I work with and/or around it. If someone wants to be fit, they'll figure out a way. They'll make time for it too. Research has proven countless times that the slow metabolism and medical reasons for being fat are incredibly rare. Most peole are fat because they have unadressed food addictions, they don't exercise, and they don't care. And that really might not be such a terrible thing.

If someone's happy that way then I think that's great. As far as I'm concerned the most important thing for any of us is to be happy. If we've got that, we don't really need anything else. Unless I guess if we're making others unhappy... but then we couldn't really be happy could we? Hmmm...

What's my point? I dunno. Rant over.

 

[peledog]

Why is there a thread about this? Who cares?

 

[Joe Nerve]

Why is there a thread about this? Who cares?

Because some of us like to have fun. Now go pull your stick out of that mud pile and come play.

 

[GregC]

Good question, Joe. Of course it's very unhealthy to be overweight and I imagine all of these overweight bass players are diabetic with bad cholesterol, etc, and require daily medication. I would not live like that. I work out three times per week and eat right. I'm 170 and 6 feet tall -- have been for the past 12 years. I'm 40 years old, btw.

While I'm sure not all overweight people are diabetic with blood fat issues it is no generalization to say that being overweight creates a greater likelihood of having these health issues.

Ok so its not a generalization to say being overweight increases risks for several conditions. But clearly that was not your original comment. Since you imagine all us overweight bass players are diabetic with health problems and medical issues let me assure you that while I am 5'11" and weigh an even 300lbs, I have an ideal cholestral level, perfect pulse, my liver function, blood sugar, and every other stat check out absolutely perfect. I exercise regularly, play bass with passion, and other than my weight I am in perfect health.

I'm going to assume based on your screen name that you are 31 years old. All of that extra weight is probably going to catch up with you as you get older.

I'm going to assume you are unwilling to admit that you dramatically overshot in your first post.

 

[Snipper!]

The bottom line here and one of the most important things in life is Self Discipline, you either have some or you don't.

 

[Joe Nerve]

The bottom line here and one of the most important things in life is Self Discipline, you either have some or you don't.

I'm not sure if self discipline is the answer. I believe there's is such a thing as addiction, and unless you've ever had any true addictions or have a hardcore addictive personality there's no really understanding it. People sneaking cigarrettes while dying of emphysema is a classic example, and I've seen that happen more than once. These people aren't stupid, and they aren't lacking discipline. They have some serious type of psychological, emotional or spiritual ailment.

The part that I don't understand however is the unwillingness to get help. If someone's habits are uncontrollable and it's making their lives and those around them miserable, then admit defeat if you can't stop and get help. There's LOTS and LOTS of help for every addiction under the sun these days, and if the people are willing - the help usually works.

My brother is 4 years younger than me, looks 15 years older, is about 100 lbs overweight, is on countless medications, yet has every reason in the world to keep treating his body the way he does, or should I say to NOT seek help, or change his lifestyle. Not enough time, only fast food places where he works, physical ailments that he claims keeps him from exercise, etc, etc.

I don't buy the self discipline stuff though. I think it's an entirely different ballgame. My brother's an intelliegient person. The only thing that I think makes him an idiot is his unwillingness to seek help. Then again, some people would rather swallow a handful of pills every day than change their lifestyle. That's what I'm pretty sure doctors are there for.

 

[Snipper!]

"The part that I don't understand however is the unwillingness to get help. If someone's habits are uncontrollable and it's making their lives and those around them miserable, then admit defeat if you can't stop and get help. There's LOTS and LOTS of help for every addiction under the sun these days, and if the people are willing - the help usually works."

I understand and respect what your saying, the kind of self discipline I mean is in regard to all things in life, if your actions or attitude affect others for example, then only you can really address it, I have worked quite a bit with substance misuser's whom have serious issues with Heroin, Crack, etc. I only know that in spite of whatever help is available, it has to come from YOU, and you need to want that change 99%, no one else can do that for you.....you need the self and some control for that.

 

[king_biscuit]

I'm going to assume you are unwilling to admit that you dramatically overshot in your first post.

Really, so you think people who are overweight are generally healthier than people of proper weight? Of course not every overweight person has current health problems related thereto, but when I see an overweight person that is the first thing I think about. So since my first post was a description of my initial perception of overweight people, I'm not sure how I overshot anything

 

[NickInMesa]

This is one of the most ridiculous threads *ever* on this site and I have started many.

 

[GregC]

Really, so you think people who are overweight are generally healthier than people of proper weight? Of course not every overweight person has current health problems related thereto, but when I see an overweight person that is the first thing I think about. So since my first post was a description of my initial perception of overweight people, I'm not sure how I overshot anything

Get a grip! Calling this

I imagine all of these overweight bass players are diabetic with bad cholesterol, etc, and require daily medication.

dramatic does not in any way lead to this:

you think people who are overweight are generally healthier than people of proper weight?

Oh, it's all clear now. I was wrong, your first post was not dramatically overwrought. Your assumptions are.

To turn the tables: I'm not typically considered fat/obese, but I'm overweight and out of shape. And yet when I see a very fit person, I don't automatically assume they are pleasure-avoiding ascetics who look at fat people and sneer in disgust. An open mind is a healthy thing.

 

[tastybasslines]

I'll check in.

I'm fat too. Not that I love it tho...

 

[Joe Milstein]

Flea, Paul Simonon, Geddy Lee. My 3 idols. Thin, thinner and thinnest.

 

[Snipper!]

Final thoughts on this........

Try and respect anyone until they prove you wrong.

We're humans not machines.

Let him without sin cast the first stone.

 

[Burlington]

Fat people are awesome.

 

[5StringBlues]

Fat people are awesome.

Reading this and looking at your avatar...................kinda creepy!

 

[Burlington]

...................kinda creepy!

That's just how every girl I've ever met says I am.

 

[king_biscuit]

Get a grip! Calling this dramatic does not in any way lead to this:



Oh, it's all clear now. I was wrong, your first post was not dramatically overwrought. Your assumptions are.

To turn the tables: I'm not typically considered fat/obese, but I'm overweight and out of shape. And yet when I see a very fit person, I don't automatically assume they are pleasure-avoiding ascetics who look at fat people and sneer in disgust. An open mind is a healthy thing.

Greg, I think you are the one the needs to get a grip. If you are fat, so be it, but don't be so sensitive. I don't find it disgusting, really, but I do think it is unhealthy. Sorry for my first post, and the hyperbole. btw, I don't deprive myself of things, but I enjoy them in moderation, because almost nothing is more important than good health -- certainly not McDonalds with desert!

Also, btw, I never made any judgment about the source of the fat -- that is, I never said anything like I think fat people are lazy and can't control their urges. All I said was that I imagine fat people have health problems and I'm doing what I can to avoid getting fat; I'm not sure why you are so offended by that. It's not my judgment, assumption, or opinion, but rather a medical fact that being overweight increases the likelihood of all kinds of bad stuff like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, etc...

 

[GregC]

Greg, I think you are the one the needs to get a grip. If you are fat, so be it, but don't be so sensitive. I don't find it disgusting, really, but I do think it is unhealthy. Sorry for my first post, and the hyperbole. btw, I don't deprive myself of things, but I enjoy them in moderation, because almost nothing is more important than good health -- certainly not McDonalds with desert!

Also, btw, I never made any judgment about the source of the fat -- that is, I never said anything like I think fat people are lazy and can't control their urges. All I said was that I imagine fat people have health problems and I'm doing what I can to avoid getting fat; I'm not sure why you are so offended by that. It's not my judgment, assumption, or opinion, but rather a medical fact that being overweight increases the likelihood of all kinds of bad stuff like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, etc...

Sensitive, offended? Nah. As I said, I'm not typically considered "fat". I have some extra weight I want to shed, but my height pretty much hides it. Furthermore, I think any sensible person acknowledges that, on average, carrying a lot of extra weight can lead to health issues--I found it strange that you jumped to the conclusion that I was arguing otherwise. And I found the hyperbolic assumption that all fat people already have this issue and that and the other to be out of line, so I'm glad you finally apologized for that.