Hm... I do look a little like an albino oompa loompa although I do my best to eat balanced, regularly, and attempt to sleep on occassion in between school, work, and dogs. Are dog people fatter than others? I think it pretty well reflects the rest of the population fairly well. Everyone is pretty fat right now in the US.
I envy anyone who is able to work out at a decent rate. Much beyond the walks, short hikes, bird hunting, fishing, and fetch sessions is near impossible for me due to some chronic lung issues. Rule one of life, respirate regularly.

I almost got an heartattack here! I am very critical about my weight plus I am really lazy. This is why I need (yes, by now I have the need) to own a dobermann to drag my lazy behind off the sofa on the field and to the forest. I don´t think I am overweight, just whould like to fit in those nr. 36 jeans again (having kids isn´t all that positive if you from that perspective...).

Fortunately I could only think of a couple training buddies and fellow dobie owners that should be slimmer and only one that is truly overweight. My friend lost about 15 kg after she became a dobermann owner, I have owned dogs so long, I don´t even know how fat I whould be without them. Because even if I forget that I should be eating healthy, at least I am not eating when I am training or taking the dogs for a run.

So what better strategy than to deny that there is a problem and just carry on as I used to (though I will be taking a banana instead of a candy bar on my next trip to the kitchen).

 Quote: Terry Devine

Face the facts my friends, most of us need to shed a few pounds, especially me. I have been a Physical Education Teacher for more than 20 yrs and I can assure you that not only are dog people fat but so are their children. Childhood obesity is through the roof. There are many reasons for this problem, but only one answer:
get up and MOVE.

Exactly! A friend of mine is always making excuses for being overweight (she might have this or that, or it's raining this week, etc.) I suggested that she eat less, and then move around more.

Fortunately my daughter is tall, slim, athletic and really into sports, thereby avoiding the 'weeble' gene :-)

 Quote: Cindy Easton Rhodes

Roni and I just got back from the gym, we were feeling pretty good and then we looked at Valerie's photo..........

We've got work to do!! lots and lots of work.

Congrats Valerie, that's very impressive.

Thank you very much, the show was a lot of fun, driving and parking in NY really stunk LOL!!!!

I for one love it when people say I look like my dog...he's built like a little tank!!!!

You would think it would be the oppisit. Having to keep up with the dog should help keep a person in shape.

I know whileI was nursing I put on the puonds. At first when I moved in with my husband I got super skinny because if I was not riding I was working the dogs or teaching the kids. Always outside.

We do not go on the road as much with the horses so I no longer look like a twelve year old boy but far from fat.

Phew! Am I ever glad I didn't get burned at the stake for asking that question! I got a little more serious about shedding my unwanted pounds today

 Quote: Ingrid Halonen

Phew! Am I ever glad I didn't get burned at the stake for asking that question! I got a little more serious about shedding my unwanted pounds today

I think it was a valid question/discussion actually. I am on my last 7 pounds to lose....gained 11 over winter even though I worked out and tried to eat right.... But now, I am all business about it.

I have worked with people that are heavy and cannot keep up with their dogs and have to break the dog so they can rest, even though the dog does not need a break.
Discussion on the fact that they need to get in shape is always a difficult one, but they need to realize that in our line of work that being in shape is a necessity since we are searching for lost people.

 Quote:

Face the facts my friends, most of us need to shed a few pounds

Is right on. I have found that if you take any group of people dog people, cat people, rc people, what ever their hobby is.. You will find that 40% of them are over-weight, 10% are a-holes, and 5% are saints, while the rest fall somewhere in between and even have the ability to slide into one of the above categories - lol.

I do however take care of my dogs before I take care of myself. Much to my chagrin. My girlfriend often jokes that I will spend 25 min preparing meals for the dogs, supplement, vitamins, and so forth. Then come in sit on the couch and say " K, the dogs are fed let's order a pizza!"

I am slowly changing my style - not sacrificing my care of the dogs - just making better decisions for myself.

Jason

I know someone who was overweight and a smoker. She used to smoke around her dog and she became concerned that the smoking was causing her young dog to be winded more easily in fetch.

So she quit smoking and as a result she became WAY more active with her dog...she told me she finally had the energy to do more. I know most people gain weight when they quit, but she gained enough energy to do more physically with her dog (she traded most of the fetch games for walks and took up agility with her dog) and she actually lost 40lbs and her dog is also in great shape now. What she couldn't do for herself, she did for her dog!

I know of elderly people who have been advised by their doctor to get a dog to encourage them to walk...and it worked!

Personally, I think my dogs motivate me to be active. Of course I care about my physical well-being too, but I won't be impossible to live with if I don't get enough exercise but my GSD will! It's that knowledge that gets my butt out in the rain and snow, I admit it: self-preservation is a powerful motivator!

I agree Amber that our dogs motivate us to be active. Im a dance teacher on sabatical, and I was concerned about how much exercise I would get this year. Well, enter one GSD puppy and I have all the exercise I need. The motivation, as you say would be one bored 8 month old dog if I didnt get out with him!!