Interesting...

[undergroundpanther]

In the fight against obesity, we're told: 'Being fat is simply a matter of energy balance. It's easy to lose weight, just eat 3,500 calories less than you burn and you'll lose a pound. We've become a fat nation because we're eating more than ever before, and too much fat and junk food, and not moving.'

Of course, the real message is one of blame: 'You fat slobs! You are irresponsible, lazy, gluttons. You wouldn't be fat if you just didn't eat so much (or so much fat, sugar, and junk food) and got off the couch!
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=071403A

[whistle]

1. Ever notice how many republicans are obese?

[Redstone]

2. Ahem. "They" happen to be right in this case. Eat less,

exercise more, and lose weight.

It's the ONLY guaranteed method.

I know I'll get some flames about this, but you can't argue with thermodynamics, so I don't care if anyone flames.

Redstone

[BlueStateModerate]

6. Thank you!

My BS alarm started going off as soon as I finished the first paragraph of that article. People may be different, but if <b>you</b> eat less and exercise more, you will lose weight. End of story. Anyone who argues otherwise is just seeking to not take personal responsibility for their own choices.

[Redstone]

9. That's why there's no "Weight-Loss-Guarantee" book that would ever

sell any copies, if it were honest. Even if they only printed one word per page, it would only be four pages long:

1) Eat

2) less,

3) exercise

4) more.

Redstone

[laundry_queen]

26. I just have to say.

BS. I DID start to eat less, and exercise more. I mean a LOT more. 45 minutes of elliptical machine (on the second last hardest setting) is what I've worked up to. Oh and 15-30 min of weights. I'm very well versed in nutrition and portion size. I will admit to once every couple of weeks not being 'strict' ie having an extra piece of bread, or popsicle.
At first I lost 10 lbs in 2.5 wks. I haven't lost a pound since. I'm still considered obese.
For the record, I've gained wait on Weight watchers when I was a teen and very much by the book with weighing and measuring. The only thing that worked when I was a teen was skipping breakfast and lunch - which in retrospect was stupid - it probably messed me up, but hey I was a teen!

Explain to me why when 2 women that are 150 lbs are put on a 1200 calorie/day diet in a research facility (closely monitored, no cheating), one loses 20 lbs and one only loses 6?
There IS more to it than calories in/calories out. Saying 'if you eat less and exercise more you will lose weight' is insulting to those of us who DO that already and would like to see more research on metabolic differences.

BTW - I am at the point where I'm trying not to worry that my weight isn't going down, instead I'm going to continue to eat on my 'plan' and exercise. Because I simply feel better when I do.
My blood pressure is awesome and I'm healthy in every other way. However people look at my obese body and think 'what a slob' even though I'm in better shape than a good many of them. So I am a tad defensive on this subject (And am getting tired of it popping up every week here on DU).

[PWRinNY]

32. You're absolutely right

There's a hell of a lot more to losing weight than the old "eat less exercise more" routine. It might work for some, but mostly it doesn't work for most.

1. You eat less, you slow down your metabolism. Your body is like a furnace - it needs to be fed - small amounts, frequently.

2. Not all calories are created equal. Some foods actually burn more calories to consume than they put in you. One must be aware of WHAT they are eating. How much isn't nearly as much of an issue as is WHAT is being put in a body.

3. Exercising too much will actually cause more problems. Best to do 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week. Not only is that best for the body, it's also most natural, and most people will stick with it if the exercise isn't too grueling. Exercise doesn't have to be in a gym, on machines... all it has to do is get your heart rate up for 30 minutes. Best exercise incorporates both weight training and cardio in brief intense bursts. Tip: If you have kids - play with them. You get the best of both worlds - exercise you don't even realize is exercise, and quality time with the kids.

4. WATER WATER WATER!!! Can I say it enough? In case I didn't... WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER!!!

5. Prescription drugs. If you are taking certain prescription meds, it doesn't matter WHAT you do for diet and exercise, because you are SCREWED! Many Rx drugs will PACK the POUNDS on, and there is not a thing you can do. What's worse - you can take yourself off the meds, and it will still take a good year of NOT taking them before your body will let you drop the weight you gained. RESEARCH YOUR MEDS! The doctors WILL NOT TELL YOU the side effects. Unless you have one kick-ass doctor, in which case, I'd like the name and a referral, please.

[Bassic]

41. If you do cardio, your 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week are just fine

that's true. It just takes time, it doesen't work fast.

[Bassic]

40. No, it's not BS

Eating less, eating right and exercising is the only sure way to lose weight. The problem that some people just can't lose it all that fast either because of their metabolic rate or some other biological factor. I know, I am one of these people. It can take may months, even a few years before you see a significant difference. Of course that's not very glamourous compared to all those "Lose 20 pounds in 10 days" types of diets or weightloss programs, but it's also the surest way of keeping the weight off, since you gradually change your whole lifestyle and end up much less likely to go back to the old lifestyle.

[LostinVA]

63. Keep this post handy, okay?

And post it whenever any of these "weight wars" threads come up. It knocks sense into both sides. Very good, sensible post.

[Bassic]

77. Why thank you LostinVA

:) :hi:

[BlueStateModerate]

72. Show me one starving person who is obese

If you don't eat very much for an extended period of time, you will lose weight. It's thermodynamics. Yes, some people have more efficient metabolisms, but in the end, you will drop weight.

[PWRinNY]

74. Sure, if you're going to starve to DEATH

As soon as you start eating again, not only will you gain all the weight back, but you've wrecked your metabolism, lost muscle tissue (which is essential for burning fat), and you will gain back fat in place of muscle, making it harder to lose the weight again. Ever.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. True

but to stay healthy, it is very very important that the little bit you do eat not be junk, but contain vitamins, minerals, and proteins. I mean, I've heard that people who eat a total McDonald's menu wind up not only fatter, but in poorer health because of the quality of food they have consumed.

[undergroundpanther]

17. Don't EAT

This ,or that Check the transfats and calories and chemical composition where it was made, ect.ect.ect..before you defile yourself with evil,Oooh it's deadly..and for GODS sake,stay away from whipped creme.. It's of the Devil.It'll make you Faaaaaat..
LOL..

Nazis coincidentally were health nuts, and they hated whipped creme too.Made nazi culture too soft sweet and decadent.Too effeminate .They thought..

Enjoy your lettuce! And don't pass out for want of calories,you might get sick and you might wind up like terri shiavo..Another unproductive useless eater put to sleep..

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

37. You've got to eat something

or at least take in the vitamins and minerals you need each day. But one thing most people don't do enough is drink enough water. Not milk, not tea, not soda pop, just water. It helps to put about a teaspoon of salt in a two liter bottle of water-if you use sea salt, you get a few minerals, and it makes it easier to drink more water.

[LostinVA]

47. People don't seem to understand how to eat to lose weight

Lettuce? Yes, you should eat that, along with many other fruits and vegetables. But you, and others, who think that a "diet" means lettuce and low calories are totally wrong. You have to eat to lose weight. Period. Not eating enough can make you GAIN weight. You just have to know how much to eat compared to your activity level. A good sports nutritionist will tell you this. You just have to eat healthy 90% of the time, and exercise. Eat some whipped CREAM every now and then. Just stay away from trans fat most of the time. No big deal. I personally cut out all sodas and most sugar out of my diet -- I have hypoglycemia, so that was the smart thing for me to personally do. My energy level immediately shot up.

An hour of enthusiastic (for YOU) cardio 3-5 times a week si optimum: aqua jogging, jogging, erg, walking, whatever floats your boat. Lots of local walking and running groups for all fitness levels and genders (I've met some great friends that way). Get outdoors. Women should also lift weights, no matter what their age: it helps our bones. Start out slow and small: 15 minutes of quick walking. That's cool. Going out fast will cause injuries and discouragement. I started out like that, and now can go out running in the woods for most of a Saturday morning if I want.

Some people DO need more than a "diet" (a word I HATE: it's just beating healthy, people... it's not a diet!!!), but most people just need to do what Redstone says: eat less of everything, especially bad stuff, and exercise. It really si as simple as that for most people. But... it isn't a quick fix. I think that's where people get confused. It may take a year or more. But, it's so good to feel healthy.

And, wtf does Mrs. Schiavo have to do with any of this? Leave the poor woman alone.



on edit: I lose "fat" weight very, very slowly. Years of smoking and yo-yo dieting screwed up my metabolism badly... so, I'm not someone who lose bad weight easily, or who can eat anything... ha! I've just learned to eat healthy, eat so I'm NEVER hungry and have enough energy, and not count out stuff I like alot (chocolate, pizza, pasta, ice cream). It takes a while to do.....

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

66. Thanks for some great ideas

I am going to listen to a guest speaker on nutrition-she says that its food choices and exercises choices that make the difference in losing weight, and that you have to know you body. I have hypothyroidism-the one time in my life when it was easy to lose weight and to have energy was when my thyroid kicked in and worked on its own. Alas, when I reached middle age, it stopped working again (no change in diet or exercise at that time-I just started gaining weight). And if you are glycemic sensitive, as you are, that's another factor to take into consideration. What might be great for one person to eat might actually make another gain weight.

[undergroundpanther]

8. No it's not

Diets FAIL...
90-95% of people who lose weight with diet gain most of the weight back within 3 to 5 years. Often times more body fat, or weight is gained back due to yo-yo dieting.
http://www.exrx.net/FatLoss/WhyDietsFail.html
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0826/is_n1_v10/ai_14674478

Ever hear of the New Food Pryramid..This is how BIGOTED and messed up it is...
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=061505F
To illustrate MyPyramid's caloric underestimations -- which become increasingly extreme the larger and more active people get -- adults 31 to 60 years of age active more than 60 minutes a day, are allotted 2200 calories if they're women and 2800 calories if they're men. According to the USDA/ARS calculator, however, those are the minimum calories recommended for a comparably active 77 pound woman (BMI 13.2) and a 110 pound man (BMI 15.7). MyPyramid underestimates the calorie needs for most of these active adults by as much as 49% for women and 24% for men.

The discrepancies for senior citizens are more frightening. For those over 60 years of age active more than 60 minutes a day, for example, MyPyramid allows the women 2000 calories and the men 2600 calories -- the amount actually needed for a comparable woman weighing a mere 65 pounds (BMI 11.1) and a man 105 pounds (BMI 14.6). Thus MyPyramid "allows" most of these active seniors only a fraction of the minimum calories they require according to the Dietary Guidelines: as little as 70% of the women's and 62% of the men's.

As if this weren't bad enough, MyPyramid accentuates the calorie shortfalls by being one-size-fits-all and gender biased and misleading us to underestimate our physical activity. Unlike the Dietary Guidelines, MyPyramid disregards height and weight, assuming everyone of a certain age, gender and activity level needs the same number of calories. That's not scientifically sound.

[Bassic]

42. Yes diets fail, because they are meant to work on the short term

and do nothing to change the eating habits of the participants. Changing the way you eat and what you eat without going for the easy and rapid weightloss, though it takes more time and effort and is consequently unpopular, will work in the end. That and regular exercise.

[LostinVA]

49. Bingo n/t

[LostinVA]

48. Because people shouldn't diet, they should eat healthy

90% of the time. People want a quick fix -- it doesn't work that way. It took nine months for me to lose 25 pounds and muscle up, and go from walking for 15 minutes to being able to run for +hour five times a week. I ate -- and eat -- plenty, and I certainly eat ice cream and stuff... I just know how to portion it so I'm SATISFIED... not eating it just to eat.

Any active person who knows anything about sports nutritions KNOWS you have to eat a decent amount of food every day. It's not dieting, it's just being healthy. If you have health insurance, go to a sports nutritionist. If not, see if you have any endurance athletes in your area (cyclists/triathletes, ultrarunners, etc.)... they are excellent sources of how to eat right. That's who really turned my head around on alot of this.

Weight Watchers is a great organization, but.... I think the amount of calories they allow you is really, really low... especially if you;'re active. South Beach Diet is decently sensible, but again -- you can't do this and be properly active.

[SmokingJacket]

25. Okay, but...

(and I have no personal bone to pick, being of perfectly average weight)

it is clear that some people burn MORE calories simply living than others. My mother, after decades of dieting, has a base metabolism that is extremely low. But my husband can lose ten pounds in a few weeks by skipping his night time snack.

I have two boys, both thin, but one eats -- really! -- about twice as much as the other one. Plus he's younger and smaller. I keep waiting for the big eater to get fat, but he's actually got the "family body," just like his brother.

I believe that over thousands of years of evolution, the human body has adapted itself to survive during famine seasons and seasons of plenty by cranking up or down its furnace, and we still haven't totally figured out how that works.

Yes, 3500 calories equals a pound -- but whether that 3500 calories is used up or transferred right to the butt depends on a huge number of variables.

[undergroundpanther]

31. and until the calories in and out

Mantra and the"success" stories of look everybody at what I did!!(applause)..game dies down to a dull roar in the background..,people will not be able to see the forest because they are staring at one tree and the obesity issue will remain the same.

[readmoreoften]

38. Ah, the experts. Maybe you shouldn't give out medical advise.

Funny, my personal trainer has me eating MORE. After working out 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, eating under 600-800 calories a day and only losing 3 pounds in 3 months... then gaining 20 pounds when I lost my gym membership and didn't change my eating habits... let me give you a heads up.

This is what happens when overweight people, usually women, constantly diet:

If you don't eat enough, you slow your metabolism to the point where you can't lose weight.
If you do too much cardio at too high a heart rate, you burn muscle instead of fat so you can't lose weight.

I have been instructed by my trainer to eat MORE. MUCH MORE. And to work out for less time, but in very specific ways. I'm finally getting in shape. I only had to take out a $2000 loan to do it.

So yeah, there are lazy people who eat donuts all day and never get off the couch. Then when they clean up their diets they lose weight 10 pounds and start preaching about how other people need to do the same. But for those of us who've been battling with weight issues our whole lives-- particularly women over 30-- you have no idea if you haven't lived it.

So stop giving medical advise.

[Bassic]

43. Well, with that amount of working out, yes you need to eat more

to keep your body fueled up and to keep your muscles growing. The average person who works out for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week, however, really does need to eat less, albeit conscientiously and regularly. Also, I doubt your personal trainer is making you eat a lot of junk food.

[LostinVA]

50. Actually, Readmoreoften is right

I love you Bassic! I'm not fighting, I promise!

People need to eat less junk, for sure. And, fewer calories if they are eating, say, [phone] a day. However, people do need to eat more to lose weight, for the reasons the above poster says. I eat alot more than I used to because I do alot of running, and I need the calories, literally. But, even if you "just" walk or run two miles a day, you need to eat more than most "diets" tell you to, even Weight Watchers... you either don't lose weight or you start losing MUSCLE (ie the thin "fat" look).

So... it depends on your current eating habits (ie sodas, trans fat, etc.)

And, all readers remember: trans fat is basically an INVENTED fat. Don't eat nasty processed stuff, and you won't eat trans fat.

[Bassic]

52. It depends on more of what.

You can eat, for example, truckloads of salad if you want, but you have to be careful about, say bread or things like that. Meat as well, but if you buy good meat, trim the fat and dont fry it, it's good for you.

p.s.: Don't worry, I don't get all stuffed up at the first sing of opposition ;) :hug:

[LostinVA]

61. Sorry -- I thought I said that in my post

I may not have -- I've only had one cup of caffeine (hey! I need at least ONE vice!). Right -- that's what I meant. I was just trying to highlight what the other poster said: thinking that eating ALOT less (like under 1200 calories) is a good thing is wrong... you won't lose weight (well, you could starve to death, but you know what I mean). You have to eat MORE. People starve themselves, are hungry and dizzy and unhealthy, then just upset and discouraged because they aren't "losing weight." Ugh. Be healthy! Don't EVER be hungry.

Have you quit smoking yet? I know you were talking about it (evil giggle -- I'm teasing you!)

[Bassic]

67. I'm on my final pack

And that one was a relapse because a buddy offered it to me.

After that, no more smokes. I hope I don't need patches, cause I hate that, but I'll use 'em if I have to.

[PWRinNY]

71. Great post!

Everything you wrote is absolutely true. There's, unfortunately, no one single plan that works for every person, but as for your post, I just have to say BINGO!

[Quakerfriend]

3. You got that right, undergroundpanther! Not to mention the fact

that our gov't subsidizes the multi-billion dollar sugar industry- and pushes high fructose corn syrup on us.

Did you know many other countries do not allow commercials that advertise junk foods, sugary breakfast cereals and etc. to be played on TV during the hours that most toddlers watch TV.
Just the opposite is true in the good old US of A. Marketing matters NO MATTER WHAT! $$$$$$$

[undergroundpanther]

13. The companies

That control the food supply ,also control the fashion industry and the medical industry and the diet industry,they are scratching each others crusty wealthy backs as they make billions off of our unhappiness insecurity and the damage done by bullying one another.

You heard about the company that made breast cancer medicine also made a carcinogenic pesticide?

David R. Bethune, president of Lederle Laboratories, a multinational pharmaceutical company and a division of American Cyanamid Company. Bethune is also vice president of American Cyanamid, which makes chemical fertilizers and herbicides while transforming itself into a full-fledged pharmaceutical company. In 1988, American Cyanamid introduced Novatrone, an anti-cancer drug. And in 1992, it announced that it would buy a majority of shares of Immunex, a cancer drug maker.
http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm

So if this can happen with cancer,what makes you think there isn't some closed door corporate deal making hanky panky going on with the billion dollar food industry,diet industry,medical/pharmacy industry,and fashion industry and media,a little i'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine shady scummy deal scheming to keep us out of the loop, conned from many directions ,hungry,insecure,empty,unhappy looking out-wards to find satisfaction in a pill or regime.Shelling out bucks for a body that we will not have no matter how much weight loss surgery,self abuse, "discipline" or Nazi self control we have.Or how much carping,unwanted advice from'fortunate' or thin people and the fat phobic bigots that fat people get humiliation from beginning in childhood .Hate and bad advise from ignorant people who think thier luck in the genetic draw is from thier own doing are the problem.. Bigotry does not change the reality of what is.Is...And moral puritanical self righteous diet tips haven't fixed anything,yet in fact since the diet craze started more people have gotten bigger fancy that..you'd think with all this advice by now there wouldn't be a fat person left around all that sucess..right? Nope....Something is WRONG here and it is not the fat persons fault.

[MadHound]

70. So quit buying into the corporate BS

You have a free will, stop buying the crap food pushed on TV and the rest of the media. Instead of buying refined sugar, use honey. Instead of buying sugary snacks loaded with corn syrup, buy fruits and veggies to snack on. Instead of feeling like you have to go to the gymn to get buff, just go for a mile walk a few times a week.

Look, I've been on both sides of the fat divide, and it still boils down to a few simple facts. Eat less, eat healthy, and become more active. Yes, it's a pain in the ass, especially when you're first starting, but once you get into these good habits you will shed pounds and things will slowly, but surely become much better.

[rubberducky]

4. 1`st the tabacco nazis, now the fat nazis!!!!!

I`m on a sinking ship!!:-)

[undergroundpanther]

15. Yeah that's what it feels like

If you aren't into living the lifestyle the STATE says is best for everyone.

[Bassic]

45. Not so much the state as society, following the latest media frenzy.

I agree that being seen as a subhuman troll sucks ass. Even though I agree and eating right and exercizing are the only sure weigh to permanently lose weight, I think that fads like this one where people look at fat people (and smokers for that matter) as though they were worse than cancer is fucking ridiculous.

[readmoreoften]

39. We have nothing better to do than criticize overweight people.

No wonder why we get nowhere.

[neoblues]

5. As though Healthy Food was even available.

Besides, the world's becoming less and less pleasant to go out into (what with pollution, overcrowding, crime, etc) in order to exercise. Most cities and towns are increasingly difficult to navigate on foot and so many jobs are entirely sedentary anymore, it's no wonder people are out of shape. Of course, that's not going to be a problem for long... as soon as the economy collapses owing to everything from criminal mis-management, massive public debt, collapse of the Dollar, excessive foreign entanglements, increasing natural disasters, Global Warming, the International Wage Race to the Bottom, population pressures, devastation of the environment (overfishing, dying coral reefs, loss of topsoil, etc)... someday in the not-to-distant future, people really will have to be scrambling for their food--and it won't be anywhere near as abundant. Think of it as a forced diet and exercise program called "survival of the fittest".

[undergroundpanther]

16. And the fat folks might

Have an advantage over the thin, and people who got weight loss surgery and can't eat more than a few tablespoons at a time.
Who knows.

[LostinVA]

LOts of healthy and healthier food out there

Although organics is best, it is usually more expensive than conventional. But, you can eat healthy conventional cheaper than you can processed -- unless you are really, really poor. Except for now, when I can afford a decent amount of organic stuff, the healthiest I ate was when I WAS poor: it was the cheapest way to eat.

[devilgrrl]

10. I think stuff like high-fructose corn syrup...

factory farming, processed everything, low-fat this, high-protein that and other food additives contribute to obesity as well. Think about it, our food supply is poisoned.

[sendero]

12. Exactly...

... when you eat that stuff, you get calories but you don't get nutrition. Your body craves nutrition, so you eat more. But more of that crap won't solve the nutrition deficit, it just adds pounds.

[BlueStateModerate]

14. There's healthy food out there - plenty of it.

Just stop eating Twinkies. If the "food supply is poisoned", how are there any non-obese, healthy people?

[sendero]

19. Sure there is..

... but it costs a lot more money than crap does.

[LostinVA]

54. No it doesn't -- it's usually cheaper

I've lived like that. It is cheaper to eat decently healthy than to eat junk.

[sendero]

58. I've been dirt poor...

... and I've been upper middle class. You and I obviously define "good food" differently, because good food costs more than crap.

You can buy a package of instant mac and cheese for 50 cents, or a serving of fat-laden ramen noodles for half that, try getting a seriously nutritious meal for that. A can of green beans does not constitute a good meal.

[LostinVA]

60. Guess we do define good food differently

Because, for only a little more than a week's worth of Ramen noodles and mac and cheese, you can make nutritious and tasty soup, scrambled eggs and potatoes, oatmeal, etc. And, I've been dirt poor, laid off, with student loans I still had to pay. And, I didn't eat great, but I ate decently healthy.

I also grew up with very little money until I was about 15, and we always had very inexpensive (dare I say CHEAP)but nutrious meals.

[sendero]

64. Well..

... I'll agree on the eggs - truly the most amazing food bargain for protein available.
I'm eating 3 right now :)

[undergroundpanther]

20. LOL

I don't eat twinkies. I ate one tasted like shit.

And I eat what I eat when I want food.
Junk is not all the time.
Stop perpetuating fat phobic myths about other peoples diets you don't know..Do you know ALL fat people eat junk and tons of it,NO you ASSUME.Because you are BIASED!

[BlueStateModerate]

75. I didn't say anything about you

...nor did I say anything about obese people in general. I'm simply saying that healthy food exists for those that choose to eat it. It's not all expensive either: rice? Fruit? Tuna? They're out there; people just choose not to eat them.

[undergroundpanther]

34. I said that months ago

that everything is contaminated..and got accused of being a downer..Maybe because everything is contaminated is one of the reasons our bodies are inflamed .Obesity might not be caused by too much calorie intake as all..It would be interesting to find out if those people who eat tons of junk and never gain weight are somehow better able to process toxins out of their bodies? We'll never know as long as fat bigots and the stupid game of "look I lost 20 pounds(applause)Just do what I did and you too can be acceptable human being and not face a social death sentence as a hated fattie!!!(applause)Just starve and beat yourself up and let that inner critic in your head drive you to new depths of self hate,ooh but don't take anti depressants it'll make you faaaat..

..As long as these bigots and self important idiots keep preaching the same shit and drowning out real questions ..And the diet gurus insist on defending the same old diet formulas that fail at a 95% failure rate..but so sweetly stroke the egos of the thin and beautiful people,and rake in the cash for so little work on the sellers part.. .. we will never know.

http://www.unknownnews.org/051209a-Panther.html

[LostinVA]

51. imo, that IS what leads to obesity

HFCS is quite frankly evil, processed foods are loaded with trans fat, and low fat food usually has loads of sugar in it. As they say, eat as clean as you can afford to. And, except for the very poor, you can eat as cheaply eating "clean" as you can eating junk. I've done it -- it was cheaper.

[PWRinNY]

11. Ever notice

how they never tell you just how much prescription drugs screw up your metabolism, or that the food pyramid STILL doesn't tell you how important it is to drink WATER????

This nation isn't fat because people are gluttons. For the most part, that's NOT the problem with obese America. In fact, most Americans are actually STARVING when it comes to nutrition.

For every pound America gains, the drug companies are getting richer.

See how it all works???

[undergroundpanther]

22. Yep!

and you veggies will save us all people..
The Soil is depleated of nutrients,so eventually the healthy veggies will be as nutritional as twinkies.

http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/umwelt_naturschutz/bericht-27534.html
http://www.canadianlongevity.net/misc/mineral_depletion.php

[undergroundpanther]

30. So many people take antidepressents

Side effects are WEIGHT gain among other things..ALOT of drugs have weight gain as a side effect..

Hmm question seems to be..should I be content to feel suicidal all day and cry..or risk getting fat?
Some people don't quit smoking because it'll make them gain weight.

Goddamn this country is in some SERIOUS denial about the state wanting to tell us all how to live, and has serious bigotry about other people's weight issues .Good for the corporations,and state so many people buy into fat phobic thinking.. but bad for our human rights and our freedoms.

[LostinVA]

55. We are made up of water -- you're totally right

Drink a half gallon a day, more if you're active. It also helps your skin look younger!

[rubberducky]

18. "Healthy breakfasts"

used to be bacon, eggs, fried potatoes and toast. MMMMMMMMMM!!!!! How unhealthy can you get?? This was back before we knew the word colesterol.

[BadgerKid]

28. About that American breakfast

Bacon, eggs, fried potatoes and toast isn't necessarily unhealthful: Fat, protein, carbs. All are useful to the body. What other food were the people you're thinking of eating the *rest* of the day?

Personally I'd avoid the bacon (preservatives) and transfats/HFCS in any toast topping, but otherwise it's real food.

BTW, I'm not trying to picking a fight :)

[Bassic]

44. It's real food, but all three together makes for way too much fat

especially for a morning meal.

Fried potatoes, like at breakfast or french fries contain a lot of fat and should be eaten only occasionaly (I know it's hard, believe me, but you get used to it)

[LostinVA]

56. I agree with you!

None of that isn't necessarily unhealthy (except for the yummy bacon). It's the amount you eat, and whether or not you're eating whole grain, no butter, etc.

[Cleita]

21. I think a lot of this nation's obesity problem stems from the

growth hormones given to our food animals. When I was a child growing up in the forties there were few fat people and I remember my grandmother's table heaped with so-called fattening foods like fried chicken, (which she grew and killed herself) pork chops and buttered potatoes and vegetables, not to mention homemade pies and cakes, yet no one in my family was fat.

[devilgrrl]

24. I so agree with you.

Has anyone ordered a deli sandwich recently and noticed the quality of the meat? For example turkey, it is usually - depending on the deli - not real turkey like at Thanksgiving but a rubbery, gelatinous slab that could be used as a dental dam if need be. :puke:

[iamjoy]

23. Not Always That Easy

I joined a gym thinking, great, I'll get more active, I'll lose weight.

But, working out leaves me very hungry, so I eat more. What's worse, I am not a morning person, so I exercise in the evening, after work. That means, I'm eating close to 9pm at night and often end up relying on unhealthy convenience foods because after nine hours on the job and a two hour workout, the last thing I want to do is start cooking.

I go to the gym 5 times a week, total workout time is 9 hours. I've been going for over a year. I've given up non-diet soda. Net result - haven't lost a pound! My body fat percentage dropped initially, but has levelled off.

[PWRinNY]

29. You're working out too much

First, cut your workouts to 30-60 minutes, 3-4 times a week. If it's possible for you to do a lunch hour workout, try that. Working out for too long, too often, will actually stunt the progress you're trying to make.

Second, eat breakfast every single day without fail.

Third - Try to eat 5 small meals a day - every 3 hours or so, and stop eating 2-3 hours before you go to bed. By small meal, it doesn't have to be a full meal, could just be an apple or some whole grain toast or an egg - doesn't matter, just as long as you eat something healthy. Think of it this way: Your body is a furnace. If you put a big heap of wood into a furnace, it'll burn, but slowly. You put another big heap of wood into the furnace hours later, after the wood is mostly burned out, the fire's going to go out. BUT - if you throw smaller pieces of wood into the furnace, more frequently, you'll get a very hot fire.

And last - but most importantly - drink lots of water every day. If you weigh 200 lbs, drink 100 oz of water per day. If you weigh 150, drink 75 oz water per day, etc.

[undergroundpanther]

35. And if advice is followed and

Nothing lost..than what will you advise next?

Cut more calories,work more,

or just accept your body is what it is and learn to listen to your body when it is hungry and when it is full and when it wants to move or rest.

I lost some weight just by accepting myself ,no whip of discipline required,no hunger,no inner critic hovering in my mind chastising me for a spoonful of cheesecake, no inner harpy screaming in my head comparing me..to someone else making me feel ashamed of the mirrors reflection.. I had nothing I didn't desire,all I had to do was accept my body and listen to it and NOT CONTROL it..I was surprised I lost it too.

Diets failed me because diets are all about control.Domination, discipline beating myself thin from the inside out just makes me SICK.

If you get results by doing a regimin like that..good luck.. I hope it works..I hope you can find the right tinker to make the formula that fixes you.
But for me, I am through with diets and the self driven sadism and domination games just to be thin. I have had enough abuse in my life I don't need to continue what the bigots and bullies have done for years to me,to make me think I had to keep on hating my body to be worthy of my own acceptance and compassion..This kitty don't die-t no more.

[PWRinNY]

76. Agree - it's not about dieting...

It's about changing habits for life. Believe me, I KNOW. You DO have to accept yourself, and stop obsessing about food and weight, and just accept the skin you're in. But you can do that AND change your habits.

For example - for most my life, I would refuse to drink water. Simple, right? I'd drink ANYTHING but water. BIG MISTAKE!!! So I had to get myself into the water habit. Now it's all I drink, except for coffee and herbal teas. No juice, no soda, no aspartame. Just water, coffee, and herbal tea. And I'm a lot happier for it.

I also used to skip breakfast and lunch, just eating one big dinner. BIG MISTAKE!!!

It takes training, and yes, will power and determination - but once you get into healthy habits, you find yourself more accepting of your body because you FEEL better, even if it takes a long time for your newly acquired healthy habits to SHOW any kind of weight loss.

[LostinVA]

57. Good post n/t

[BadgerKid]

33. why rely on unhealthy convenience foods?

I know how the mind wanders sitting at the desk. Ugh. But there are alternatives to unhealthy convenience foods. Maybe cook meals over the weekend and take those with to work and have them at home? Maybe have a powdered protein shake once a day?

[undergroundpanther]

36. Cooking

Is alot of effort you plan the meal,buy it, prepare it,cook it, clean up,store the leftovers, wash the dishes.. In real life cooking takes more time than you think it does..You notice the efforts and steps epecially in time strapped situations.

Some people are not efficient time managers. Some people are depressed and don't feel inspired to chef it out on a weekend,. Some people can't cook and never learned how to,and nobody's offering free cooking classes..at the time THEY could go..
Some people go for convenience food because well,it's convenient.

Maybe some of those organic beans and nuts crowd "success stories"out there could do a line of foods to cater to busy or demoralized people's situations instead of blaming them for not being perfect life skill managers and cooking?
It would be nice if they didn't charge an arm and a leg for such foods too.
How about that? I think the market would be there..

[Bassic]

46. I beg to disagree.

Cooking an elaborate meal takes a lot of time, but there a lot of things that are fast and easy to cook, and home-cooked meals are a lot better for your health than pre-made or restaurant foods.

[lildreamer316]

53. Oh, you are SO right.

I really try to make time to cook, and try to get healthy alternatives, but the crap stuff is just so much quicker to make/buy. I do pretty well with it anyway, but would really like to graduate to ALL whole grain all the time (I'm at about 80% right now) and add more veggies. Your suggestion would be great. Speaking of that, the Lean Cuisine line has come out with several frozen whole grain meals at a decent price...it's a start.
Food options are moving in the right direction, it's just slow as hell.

[undergroundpanther]

27. Organics will save us!

Oh yeah sure it will
About 75% of a potent bacteria-killing chemical that people flush down their drains survives treatment at sewage plants, and most of that ends up in sludge spread on farm fields, according to Johns Hopkins University research. Every year, it says, an estimated 200 tons of two compounds — triclocarban and triclosan — are applied to agricultural lands nationwide.
http://www.tilrc.org/docs/0506soap.htm

Consider this...

Candida may be one of the primary causes of ill health and obesity in the country today because it creates a downward health spiral. As it becomes prevalent in the body, a person craves carbohydrates and sweets, allowing it to thrive even further, thereby impeding the immune system and creating symptoms and excess weight. On and on it goes until the body’s immune system is weakened and symptoms are no longer tolerable. At this time, a physician is usually consulted and antibiotics might be prescribed which kill off more friendly intestinal bacteria that keeps fungi under control, allowing further candida proliferation. In this advanced stage, acute depression and suicidal tendencies may emerge.

from An Herb company...
http://www.kroegerherb.com/hi_parasites.html

Who's greasing whom's palms?


Pollution..
Exposure Assessment

We used two different methods to estimate human exposure in relation to soil pollution of the banks of the river Meuse. First, the standard HESP model was applied, which solely uses data on soil pollution. Human exposure to heavy metals in soil of the floodplain of the river Meuse might occur directly through the ingestion of soil or indirectly through consumption of locally grown vegetables and dairy and meat products from locally raised farm animals. Taking background exposure into account, the TDI for Pb and Cd appeared to be exceeded by children at all sample locations. For adults, the TDI was exceeded at 65% of the locations; this resulted in a hazard quotient for Cd varying from 1.4 to 5.5. Only at one location was the TDI for As and Zn exceeded by children; however, the hazard quotient was below 1. The ingestion of dairy and meat products from locally raised farm animals appeared to be the primary source of potential human exposure and accounted for more than 80% (adults) or 90% (children) of total human exposure.
http://www.ehponline.org/members/1999/107p37-43albering/albering-full.html

[LostinVA]

59. Organics are much better for us and the soil and the animals

Certified organic farms can't use sludge, btw. And, they don't. Unlike most conventional farms, they DO get inspected.

Why are you on the anti-organic bandwagon??? It really is better for us and for the environment. It's how we USED to grow our food. I wish everyone could afford it. Don't eat it if you don't want to, and don't go slamming those of us who recognize the benefits.

Read Nestle's new book, "What We Eat." Her chapters on organic foods are excellent -- very unbiased, very fact-driven.

[PWRinNY]

73. About organics

I've personally switched over to organic foods, for the most part, as much as I can. BUT!!!! Yes, there is a but. A BIG but! The BUT is this: You have to watch some of these organic farms, ESPECIALLY with Republicans working to weaken organic standards. I will NOT buy from Horizon or Aurora.

The watchdog group Cornucopia Institute recently published a long-awaited report on organic dairy practices in the USA, and the facts are rather sobering. The good news is that most organic dairies in the U.S. are following strict organic standards, including giving animals regular access to pasture. The bad news is that several major players in the organic dairy sector are blatantly violating organic standards. Read more here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/nosb2.htm

[LostinVA]

62. For the record, I don't give a damn what someone weighs

Unless they're a kid.

My posts in this thread were about people who consider themselves unhealthy, and want to have what they perceive as a healthier lifestyle. Most of the popular ways to do this are, if anything, short-term "fixes." It doesn't work that way, and not everyone loses "fat" weight at the same speed. Don't look at it that way -- look at it as giving yourself more energy and improving your health. Take time with it and enjoy it. You don't have to try to train for a marathon or anything.

[Bridget Burke]

65. Great source there!

From the TCS website...

TCS is supported by a small group of sponsors: the American Beverage Association, ExxonMobil, Freddie Mac, General Motors Corporation, Gilead Sciences, McDonalds, Merck and PhRMA. We are proud to have them as sponsors; however, the opinions expressed on these pages are solely those of the writers and not necessarily of any corporation or other organization.

www.tcsdaily.com/about.aspx

From SourceWatch....

Tech Central Station (TCS) describes itself as a web site "where free markets meet technology". TCS publishes daily original commentary, news and analysis, focused on economics, business, foreign affairs, technology, science, the environment, trade, and culture. Some contributors are associated with conservative think tanks including International Policy Network(IPN), the Sustainable Development Network (SDN), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Scientific Alliance.

Started in 2000 by James K. Glassman, TCS is published by DCI Group. Some DCI Group clients are also sponsors of TCS. DCI Group is a Republican public affairs consulting and lobbying firm based in Washington DC.....

During the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Kendra Okonski wrote an article for the TechCentralStation web site, stating that "Africans are sacrificed on the altar of trendy green delusions." Okonski works as co-ordinator for the London-based IPN and as the press contact for the SDN. She formerly worked with the Washington-based Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI).

Paul Georgia writes on climate change issues, but gets basic physics wrong, indicating that either Tech Central Station's editors do not know basic science or that they do not review submitted pieces. Further lack of focus on scientific principles (as opposed to dogmatic or metaphysical ones) is evidenced by articles promoting the doctrine of Intelligent design.

www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tech_Central_Station

Apparently, some people will swallow anything.

[AlCzervik]

68. calories in, calories out. It doesn't matter what you eat as long as you

burn more calories than you take in. You can lose weight eating 1500 calories of a well balanced diet or eat 1500 calories in crisco as long as you expend more calories than you eat. I have struggled with my weight my entire life, i've been up and i've been down, right now i'm down 80 pounds and it was done by exercising and having a meal plan that worked for me.

[Rex]

69. It is We the People against a gummit that endorses fast food!

This is such hypocritical bullshit. The gummit wags its finger at us, all the while being totally pro-business. Consumers consume what peer pressure insists on. Fast food is fast and cheap - something needed in todays 50 hour work week. People buy Mc Donalds because that is what they can afford, unlike the 1000 dollar a plate crowd.

[entanglement]

78. If people stop hogging and exercise they'll be fine

It's really that simple.