We're a nation of fatties. And as obesity continues to rise, so do the studies. We now know that we stay slimmer if we get enough sleep (which is bad news to me, since I love staying up late and must get up early). We also realize all the basics: exercise, eat right, drink plenty of water.This recent study also points out some additional factors: race, genetic inbreeding (fat+fat=fat kids), and a drop in smoking. I question the drop in smoking, however. I was one of the optimists that thought that the Surgeon General's warning on a pack of smokes would somehow help reduce smoking.
The truth is, that even though they're stinky, smelly, nasty, and expensive, cigarettes live on in the youth of America. You can't walk down a popular sidewalk without holding your breath as you go by someone who's blowing smoke in your direction. It's so natural to me that I almost forget I'm doing it.
I once heard a unique diet tip: snort cocaine, you'll lose weight. Thanks, I'll pass. And then there are always the wackadoodle diets such as The Lemonade Diet. My assistant, Zen Buddhist, swears by this one. You whip up a nauseous mix of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and spring water and that. is. all. you. drink. or. eat. for. days. I'm waiting for the next serial killer to use this diet as his defense for going postal. But, as we all know (but hate to admit) the only way to lose weight effectively and healthily is to diet and exercise. How b-o-r-i-n-g! I hate it as much as the next person.
Now, I've always been of average weight. Lately (thankfully) I've been losing weight and I'm back to the size I usually am. My next goal is to get a little below that. One must be prepared for the occasional drive-by banana split and be flexible about it.
But until we, as a nation, decide that Big really isn't Beautiful, we are stuck being fat. Right now, we are too busy justifying our weight to get out and get healthy.
25 comments:
I'm amazed at all the fad dits. I should know, because I tried Atkins -- it worked well until I started eating sensibly.
After reading up on it, I learned that if you cut out 3,500 calories, you'll lose a pound. So, if you just cut 250 calories a day in addition to walking a bit more to lose an additional 250 calories, you'll drop a pound a week.
And, you can eat whever you want.
I agree that genetics can play a role, but I think too many people hide behind that excuse. Most white Americans share the same basic code with Western Europeans, all of whom (except the Greeks) are thinner than we are. I think in most case, fat parents raise fat children because they pass along the same bad diet and eating habits.
That's the problem with our eating habits - it's easy to target Big Tobacco for our health woes, but nobody wants to go after Big Food, even though obesity is just behind smoking as the #1 preventable cause of death.
BTW, heroin is much more efficient if you want to shed weight. :p
CNN just had an article today about how creative excuses are getting from those who are fat. I think the best way to solve the fat epidemic is to make health insurance like car insurance. Reward those who live healthy lifestyles with cheaper premiums.
I think this article misses some important points, such as people are eating badly and exercising less. We are passing bad habits on to our children, which is why fat parents equal fat kids. Again, I say, "Put down the burger, or taco, or whatever and eat a salad." I have no sympathy for people who are overweight due to their own lack of self control.
Amen! It really is about 50% diet and 50% exercise. I work out a lot, but I don't eat well and so I just stay the same weight. If I stop working out though, I put on the pounds ridiculously fast. I could stand to lost some weight still, but at least I manage it and I am mindful of what I am doing. I almost never drink cokes with sugar and I try not to eat fried food as much as possible - but that still leaves sweets like cookies and pizza and mexican food - which I can eat and eat and eat.
So I quit smoking, and immediately gain weight. You wan't win.
Our ancestors adapted to a life of feast or famine and we are genetically programmed to store fat. Unfortunately our DNA has not kept pace with our McWorld and we're signing our own death warrants.
Those poor humans living hand to mouth in the rest of the world, as we have for millenia, may ironically outlive all of us McPeeps here in McFeastland.
Now we eat take-out from a drive-thru instead of walking around all day gathering and grazing veggies and occasionally chasing protein laden critters.
I guess its true, too much of a good thing is bad.
I work in a restaurant and see fat families all the time. I dont think most of it is genetic. The fat parents are fat becuase they dont exercise and eat crap for food (they come into the BBQ place i work 3-4 times a week sometimes) and their kids are fat for the same reason Plus their parents dont teach them to be healthy. Yes i understand that some people have disorders, but those are rare and fat people are quite common. Fat adults dont bother me as much as fat kids. And i am not talking chubby kids who cant shake the baby fat even tho they eat healthy & exercise. i am talking FAT kids. do their parents not care about the risks involved with being overweight? or the psychological damage due to being teased by other children? (cuz kids are mean). I dunno. If we as a nation are too lazy to stay healthy in the 1st place, what makes us think they will suddenly stop being lazy and lose weight the only way proven to work? Healthy eating & exercise. My "mother-in-law" lost 200lbs that way. And altho she has reached her target weight, she continues her workouts and her healthy eating. Thats a diet. Its a change in lifestyle. And most americans are not willing to put forth that kind of effort. its sad really.
ahhhhh, ya gotta love the "divorce diet". I always dropped my weight that way too!
Hey Saur,
I never knew that lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain! Very interesting. I gotta read up on that.
I believe that moderation is the key to doing anything in a healthy manner. I totally know that my extra few pounds and lucious love handles, hehe, have to do with my love of alcohol. My 'moderation' is OUT the fricken window on that one---even though I do eat very healthy---that beer will knock that right on its ass!
Other than that, genetics may have something to do with it, but I think our food today is more packed with saturated fats and other awful chemicals that make our system wacky.
Great and interesting post!
The cocaine diet works - but it is not exactly healthy. Cocaine is a powerful hunger supressant. People have been known to go days, eating very little.
But that is just a bad idea. You loose weight, but you end up with all sorts of other things wrong with you. It is better to just be fat.
The truth is that everyone knows the secret to dropping weight - eat less and move around more. You do not need to read any books, or sign up for any plan. Just eat less and move around more!
But here in America, people will wait inside their cars for that parking space right next to the store to become vacant - while all the spaces way in the back of the lot are empty. Nobody uses the stairs, but elevators are always packed. Same for escalators. And when an escalator is not working, people act like it is big deal. JUST WALK UP THE STAIRS! It is only one flight.
Huh.... I thought FAT was NOT beautiful in the US?
Me confused.
Am back home where I am confounded by the thinness of people.
MUST hit the gym! *pant*puff*
I won't contribute to this one. I am just lucky when it comes to size.
Michelle, you skinnie-minnie, you! We are all jealous! You're great with nutrition, which definately contributes to this.
Beaver, America is very confused. We know that slender is attractive, yet now that the majority is overweight, everyone's scrambling to justify it. So now you hear about "Big and Beautiful" and other euphemisms to try to make fat a little more desirable.
Lazy Iguana, not so bad for a lazy reptile! You're right on!
Deb, definately your love of drink will contribute to the handles. ;o) But you're far from fat, or even chubby. Yeah, they announced about a month ago that if you get less sleep you're more likely to gain more weight.
SomeRandomGirl, yeah, it works! It's actually not just due to stress though. It's as if my body and mind have finally been able to move forward after months of stagnation.
KristieD, no doubt it's true that eating habits are learned! And when you mix bad habits with a predisposition toward weight gain, UH OH!
Susie, you look fine, hon. And you're right, at one time we were so obsessed with being skinnie minnies that our entire lives revolved around it. AND we probably didn't look that good or feel that healthy, to boot! Some people are just naturally that way (like Michelle) but the rest of us have to fight it.
Homo Escapeons, which is related to my fave philosophy. I've always said this will be engraved on my tombstone: Moderation in All Things.
QZ, Man Boobs. Always a hit with the ladies.
Miss C, or you could quit AND be careful about your food intake. It's rough, though, because you are craving something to put into your body.
Eddo, you always get plenty of exercise dancing for the Mavs! I know if *I* had your routine, I'd be pencil-thin! You're just great where you are, you know.
UWL, I agree with you mostly. However, as we age, I find that what all the other women have complained about is true: it's harder and harder to keep it off.
Ed, I agree with you!
Grant, Ah. Heroin. Diet Drug of the Stars. :D
Fred, 'zactly! It's not really too hard, although I notice it gets harder as we age!
It is so hard for me to deal with this topic. I am in the 99th percentile of health for a male my age and size. I work out every day, stay active when I am not working out. I do sports, swim, eat well. And I feel great, and I can still enjoy good food.
I honestly dont see the problem, or the excuses. I know others might have it harder: I never had to start fat and lose it, I know that is hard work... But here it is, I enjoy every part, and the results are hard to argue with. The genetic excuse is just that, a lame excuse. Most people are able to get to some healthy state with work. The idea that you just get some metabolism and have to live with it is bull also. You make your metabolism; I eat more than most people out there, and im only 150 lbs.
Alex - to supplement what you just said, I just saw a recently released study reported by John Stossel that said fat people have on average HIGHER metabolism rates than thin people.
Going to sleep now.... where are those damn pills????
We as a culture as just happy to look for the easy fix instead of simply realizing that smaller portions and more excercise is the key to healthy weight.
Scott
Saur,
That may be true, but not doing something just because it's hard seems like a child's complaint to me. The idea is to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age so that you don't have to worry about losing a lot of weight at once, but I undertsand your point.
My husband wants to try Hoodia, which I hear has no reported side effects, YET.
Given some time, it will probably start killing people one way or another, thereby earning its warning label.
Not true, Saur. You can also lose weight by not eating. German studies in the early 1940's prove that not eating will make you skinny.
Crappy way to go, but it works.
I went to a wedding last weekend. I am feeling a bit fat lately (I need to lose 10 lbs) but when I saw many girls there under 30 that were, shall we say, large, I was worried for them. Have a few kids and hit 40 and it's harder to lose the weight!
The weight loss solution is simple. Eat fewer calories and exercise! I know this but I have a wicked sweet tooth and I love beer!
Notsocranky, yup! I agree. It's easy. Not fun, but easy.
OldHoss, true enough. That was the ultimate weight-loss regimen. The Potato Famine also comes to mind.
Jenn, as long as he tries it with diet and exercise, who knows? Maybe he'll lose a little faster. Let me know how it works, I'll be interested.
UWL, very true. My mom is a classic example. She's had her ups and downs with weight, but she's mostly fought the battle effectively because she had established good eating habits at an early age.
Scott, ditto!
Reverb, it does feel better when we get back in control, doesn't it? It's a feeling of power!
Deb, *LOL*
Ed, really??? Very interesting. Where is that?
Alex, I agree. There was a study out in the early 90s (released by Harvard, I believe) where they proved that everyone has the same metabolism. They had all the test subjects living in restricted environments, who were allowed only a limited amount of exercise and fed exactly the same diet. There were fat and thin people of the same age group. All gained and lost equally.
It was on 20/20 (contrary to what I said on United We Lay's blog when I said 60 minutes) this week. A quick search of the internet revealed this copy of the program.
http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=5235
I have been up and down that diet street a few times, and I'm only 20 years old. I seriously, and almost, began smoking cigarettes to curb my appetite. Then I realized I was being completely stupid.
I can tell you what works for me and has NEVER felt restrictive or like a diet: eating like the French.
Take a bite, put your utensil down, and savor the food. When you're ready for another bite, pick up your utensil and repeat. Most importantly, STOP when your body begins to feel FULL.
Not rocket science, just a small lifestyle change.
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