Americans are fat.

[rgp]

"But I rarely drink a sweetened drink. Rarely eat processed foods. Have always been active. And have good genes.."

In my opinion ... the "biggie" in that statement is ... And have good genes.

Having those gives ya a huge leg-up on better health in general.

Again .....jmo

 

[Jamala]

Having good genes is indeed a bonus... however like talent...
if you don't work at it, it won't benefit you.

 

[WhatInThe]

Having good genes is indeed a bonus... however like talent...
if you don't work at it, it won't benefit you.

Exactly, Work at it, not pills or procedures. Fitness and nutrition need to be incorporated into one's daily life anyway possible.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Glad this has thread has turned to health. It was getting a little fat jokey.

Me also.

I was shocked to find I'm prediabetic. I'd considered myself pretty healthy. My weight is good but I've always had a belly.
Now that I do know I've changed my diet and am working on getting the numbers down.
It's not easy though.

I’m sorry to learn you are pre diabetic. It’s great that you are changing your diet. It’s not too late for you to reverse this and great that you’ve taken the initiative to do so.
Good for you. I’m sure you’ve good this.

 

[Della]

There is too much information and help out there for people to have a sensible weight.

Oh there's lots of information out there and most plans work ... up to a point.
Here's a piece of information for you.

"According to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, 95% of dieters regain their lost weight within one to five years. Studies also show that dieters regain weight regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program."

Did you read that regardless part? Thin people like to say, well of course you gain it back if you return to your old bad habits, but the sad truth is that most people gain it back even if they're still counting calories, avoiding sugar, fasting, and exercising every day.

 

[Jamala]

Oh there's lots of information out there and most plans work ... up to a point.
Here's a piece of information for you.

"According to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, 95% of dieters regain their lost weight within one to five years. Studies also show that dieters regain weight regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program."

Did you read that regardless part? Thin people like to say, well of course you gain it back if you return to your old bad habits, but the sad truth is that most people gain it back even if they're still counting calories, avoiding sugar, fasting, and exercising every day.

Well... I won't be going to Council on Size and Weight Discrimination" for info. Not reliable enough.
However, I will say this.... in my opinion, forget the notion of "diets"
think instead of "way of life."
Eating well and exercising should be a way of life.

 

[Pepper]

I'm most worried about the fat many Americans have between their ears. Any diets for this condition?

 

[Remy]

I'd lost some. Bad stressful week. I'm getting back on track today. Seriously, gaining back a couple of pounds and I feel it. Feel so much better losing the weight.

 

[StarSong]

Oh there's lots of information out there and most plans work ... up to a point.
Here's a piece of information for you.

"According to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, 95% of dieters regain their lost weight within one to five years. Studies also show that dieters regain weight regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program."

Did you read that regardless part? Thin people like to say, well of course you gain it back if you return to your old bad habits, but the sad truth is that most people gain it back even if they're still counting calories, avoiding sugar, fasting, and exercising every day.

I've never known anyone who continued with their diet and exercise program to regain the weight. All (including me) regained lost weight when returning to former eating habits.

My and DH's weight loss stuck when we moved to a whole food plant based (WFPB) diet with very few added fats and few processed foods. It's been 9.5 years and the scales have remained the same or dropped a bit since our initial losses during the first year. Why? We have not reverted to old eating habits.

 

[hearlady]

Me also.

I’m sorry to learn you are pre diabetic. It’s great that you are changing your diet. It’s not too late for you to reverse this and great that you’ve taken the initiative to do so.
Good for you. I’m sure you’ve good this.

I would never have known but for having a physical when I retired. Insulin resistance. Now I know why I was constantly hungry. I ate healthy food but too many carbs and too often.

 

[Jeni]

Oh there's lots of information out there and most plans work ... up to a point.
Here's a piece of information for you.

"According to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, 95% of dieters regain their lost weight within one to five years. Studies also show that dieters regain weight regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program."

Did you read that regardless part? Thin people like to say, well of course you gain it back if you return to your old bad habits, but the sad truth is that most people gain it back even if they're still counting calories, avoiding sugar, fasting, and exercising every day.

The reality is health and weight etc is a personal responsibility ........ we will have none of that .... because there is no one else to blame.

These "studies or polls" would need to explain their method of monitoring before making the "regardless" statement ....

My guess on their method......... is a survey or asking participants ............ as you could not watch / monitor a large study every single day for years. NO one i have ever known likes to fess up that well yeah, they did not keep up with lo-cal or amount of movement.

Example you had an allergy and you have always taken pill X but slowly........ that does not seem to help as much so you switch to pill Y does that mean pill X does not work at all or maybe just for you........ You adjusted and changed what to what pill worked now ...

so if your eating and you start to revert to gaining back weight............ you would also need to change your diet/ exercise approach....Plan A is not maintaining weight ... so time to switch to plan B.

 

[David777]

Those still posting on this now long thread never mention EAT TOO MUCH at meals that tends to lend validity to my point that it is not something those trying to lose weight consider or even want to consider:

https://www.seniorforums.com/threads/americans-are-fat.83848/#post-2590434

Have often commented that others (Americans), tend to daily EAT TOO MUCH, that increases the size of one's stomach and intestines. Not something overweight conscious people tend to acknowledge as they wonder why despite diets and workouts, that bulge down below doesn't much change and always returns after fasting. By doing so, that affects a feeling of fullness when eating. Thus Americans have stretched out the size of their guts that takes more to fill to feel content, full. Conversely, if one regularly eats less, those guts gradually decrease in size after which one will be satisfied eating less. The body certainly doesn't need that excessive amount of food and nutrients that is more about food craving. I've been around 21 to 24 BMI all my adult life, now at 137# for 66".

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7900720/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-too-much/

In regards to your stomach, "One big meal like Thanksgiving won't cause your stomach to 'stretch' [permanently] because it is meant to expand and contract to accommodate your daily food consumption," Harris-Pincus says, but, "consistently eating beyond when you are satisfied can cause your stomach to expand to handle the chronic extra food. This will require you to eat more food to become satisfied on a daily basis. The best way to avoid this is to listen to your body and its hunger and fullness signals to avoid overeating."

 

[hearlady]

Those still posting on this now long thread never mention EAT TOO MUCH at meals that tends to lend validity to my point that it is not something those trying to lose weight consider or even want to consider:

https://www.seniorforums.com/threads/americans-are-fat.83848/#post-2590434

Have often commented that others (Americans), tend to daily EAT TOO MUCH, that increases the size of one's stomach and intestines. Not something overweight conscious people tend to acknowledge as they wonder why despite diets and workouts, that bulge down below doesn't much change and always returns after fasting. By doing so, that affects a feeling of fullness when eating. Thus Americans have stretched out the size of their guts that takes more to fill to feel content, full. Conversely, if one regularly eats less, those guts gradually decrease in size after which one will be satisfied eating less. The body certainly doesn't need that excessive amount of food and nutrients that is more about food craving. I've been around 21 to 24 BMI all my adult life, now at 137# for 66".

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7900720/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-too-much/

In regards to your stomach, "One big meal like Thanksgiving won't cause your stomach to 'stretch' [permanently] because it is meant to expand and contract to accommodate your daily food consumption," Harris-Pincus says, but, "consistently eating beyond when you are satisfied can cause your stomach to expand to handle the chronic extra food. This will require you to eat more food to become satisfied on a daily basis. The best way to avoid this is to listen to your body and its hunger and fullness signals to avoid overeating."

I don't think its that easy for a lot of people. Otherwise, people would just say " ok, I'm going to stop eating so much" and be done with it. There are a lot of factors at play.

 

[Della]

Well I have, twice in the last ten years, put myself on a "lifestyle" of logging 1200 very healthy, low sugar calories per day and exercising for 1 hour six days a week. My family and all my friends comment on how I never slip, no cake on my birthday no Christmas candy, nothing off the plan.

Both times I stuck faithfully to the lifestyle for over a year. During the first eleven months I lost around sixty pounds, then, without changing a single thing in my lifestyle, the weight started to come back, I continued on the plan for two months afterward and continued to gain. Only then did I give up and start eating more because I was so hungry at that point I was not able to sleep.

Another link for Jamala:
https://slate.com/technology/2015/0...eality, 97 percent of,for more than 18 months.

 

[Nosy Bee-54]

Those still posting on this now long thread never mention EAT TOO MUCH at meals that tends to lend validity to my point that it is not something those trying to lose weight consider or even want to consider:

https://www.seniorforums.com/threads/americans-are-fat.83848/#post-2590434

Have often commented that others (Americans), tend to daily EAT TOO MUCH, that increases the size of one's stomach and intestines. Not something overweight conscious people tend to acknowledge as they wonder why despite diets and workouts, that bulge down below doesn't much change and always returns after fasting. By doing so, that affects a feeling of fullness when eating. Thus Americans have stretched out the size of their guts that takes more to fill to feel content, full. Conversely, if one regularly eats less, those guts gradually decrease in size after which one will be satisfied eating less. The body certainly doesn't need that excessive amount of food and nutrients that is more about food craving. I've been around 21 to 24 BMI all my adult life, now at 137# for 66".

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7900720/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-too-much/

In regards to your stomach, "One big meal like Thanksgiving won't cause your stomach to 'stretch' [permanently] because it is meant to expand and contract to accommodate your daily food consumption," Harris-Pincus says, but, "consistently eating beyond when you are satisfied can cause your stomach to expand to handle the chronic extra food. This will require you to eat more food to become satisfied on a daily basis. The best way to avoid this is to listen to your body and its hunger and fullness signals to avoid overeating."

Bingo on the bolded! I recall Al Roker, the weatherman and Today star, fessing up in an interview. Al stated that he just couldn't push back from the table. So he always ate too much. Stomach got too large and he eventually had gastric bypass surgery. He loss 190 lbs. However, he started binge eating and gained back 50 lbs. He got serious and cut that out plus adjusted his diet and started exercising. For several years now, he looks good and healthy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...redible-weight-loss-throwback-photo-post.html

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I would never have known but for having a physical when I retired. Insulin resistance. Now I know why I was constantly hungry. I ate healthy food but too many carbs and too often.

It’s a good thing you got checked out.
You caught it early. It sounds like you’re handling it well. Good for you Ladybug!

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Well I have, twice in the last ten years, put myself on a "lifestyle" of logging 1200 very healthy, low sugar calories per day and exercising for 1 hour six days a week. My family and all my friends comment on how I never slip, no cake on my birthday no Christmas candy, nothing off the plan.

Both times I stuck faithfully to the lifestyle for over a year. During the first eleven months I lost around sixty pounds, then, without changing a single thing in my lifestyle, the weight started to come back, I continued on the plan for two months afterward and continued to gain. Only then did I give up and start eating more because I was so hungry at that point I was not able to sleep.

Another link for Jamala:
https://slate.com/technology/2015/03/diets-do-not-work-the-thin-evidence-that-losing-weight-makes-you-healthier.html#:~:text=Still, they push the same,not just thinner but healthier.&text=In reality, 97 percent of,for more than 18 months.

Do you have low thyroid ?

 

[Della]

Yes, I do have low thyroid, but it didn't stop me losing weight the first 60 lbs, so I don't feel like I can blame it.
I take Sythroid 75 mcg daily.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Yes, I do have low thyroid, but it didn't stop me losing weight the first 60 lbs, so I don't feel like I can blame it.
I take Sythroid 75 mcg daily.

That is so odd. Maybe your prescription needs adjusting. Have you asked your doctor to check it lately?
I’d certainly blame the thyroid. lol

 

[Packerjohn]

From my observation, obesity, smoking and alcohol/drug abuse all lead to a rather unpleasant last decade or two of life, if not an early grave.

The lifelong smokers I've known have developed COPD, shortness of breath, bouts with cancer, an inability to climb more than a few flights of stairs, and/or require oxygen supplementation. They may live longer than obese people, but their lot is far from pleasant.

Lifelong alcohol/drug abusers tend to develop all manner of health problems that are difficult to survive.

Severely obese friends in my age group (BMI over 40) have nearly all developed several of the following: serious knee and hip problems, mobility issues, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, red flags in their blood chemistry tests and last but not least, great social discomfort due to their size.

My point is that none of the above should be encouraged.

I'm disheartened by the normalizing of obesity that's occurred in the past decade. In a quest to not "fat shame" (and I agree we shouldn't), are we unintentionally giving tacit permission to young people to become morbidly obese, ruining their health in the process?

It was maybe 2 decades ago but I remember all the "propaganda" on the media about "Fat is Beautiful." Ya, sure! Fat is beautiful? Who were they trying to kid? Who are they trying to kid now? Fat on a whale is known as blubber. Is a man/woman carrying a load of blubber beautiful? Not in the neck of the woods where I was born!

 

[Jamala]

Well I have, twice in the last ten years, put myself on a "lifestyle" of logging 1200 very healthy, low sugar calories per day and exercising for 1 hour six days a week. My family and all my friends comment on how I never slip, no cake on my birthday no Christmas candy, nothing off the plan.

Both times I stuck faithfully to the lifestyle for over a year. During the first eleven months I lost around sixty pounds, then, without changing a single thing in my lifestyle, the weight started to come back, I continued on the plan for two months afterward and continued to gain. Only then did I give up and start eating more because I was so hungry at that point I was not able to sleep.

Another link for Jamala:
https://slate.com/technology/2015/03/diets-do-not-work-the-thin-evidence-that-losing-weight-makes-you-healthier.html#:~:text=Still, they push the same,not just thinner but healthier.&text=In reality, 97 percent of,for more than 18 months.

Della, do you realise your link is 2015? Lots of new information since then.

Anyway, if you plan well what you are going to eat...there is no need to give up things like birthday cake and a few treats.
Diets are bad as compared to a way of life.

When you start learning to swim, do you jump in at the deep end straightaway? No, you start at the shallow end. One has to try things out, strive to make them a habit and continue like that.

 

[Della]

Jamala, show me one sentence of that article that new information has refuted. The Slate article remains "new" because doctors still refuse to admit they might have been, and still are, telling patients things that are proven wrong.

Just like your insistence that I try a 'way of life" rather than a diet. It's the same thing, Jamala. A diet is a plan of eating, whether or not it includes cake or not. Anything I have stuck to for over a year has certainly become a "way of life."

Try things out? I started dieting in my teens and have tried out dozens of different plans.

Did you read the whole article? First you didn't want to read my link because you didn't like the source, now you don't want to read the Slate article because it was written in 2015. I found a diet article from one source I thought you would love because it was new and from Oxford university but it was all about giving up the conventional wisdom of slow sensible calorie restriction and going on a 800 calorie shake diet instead. Lol

Read the Slate article, toward the end they mention people like you.

The idea that obesity is a choice, that people who are obese lack self-discipline or are gluttonous or lazy, is deeply ingrained in our public psyche. And there are other costs to this kind of judgmentalism. Research done by Lenny Vartanian, a psychologist at the University of New South Wales, suggests that people who believe they’re worthless because they’re not thin, who have tried and failed to maintain weight loss, are less likely to exercise than fat people who haven’t strongly internalized weight stigma.

It’s hard to think of any other disease—if you want to call it that—where treatment rarely works and most people are blamed for not “recovering.”

 

[Jamala]

Jamala, show me one sentence of that article that new information has refuted. The Slate article remains "new" because doctors still refuse to admit they might have been, and still are, telling patients things that are proven wrong.

Just like your insistence that I try a 'way of life" rather than a diet. It's the same thing, Jamala. A diet is a plan of eating, whether or not it includes cake or not. Anything I have stuck to for over a year has certainly become a "way of life."

Try things out? I started dieting in my teens and have tried out dozens of different plans.

Did you read the whole article? First you didn't want to read my link because you didn't like the source, now you don't want to read the Slate article because it was written in 2015. I found a diet article from one source I thought you would love because it was new and from Oxford university but it was all about giving up the conventional wisdom of slow sensible calorie restriction and going on a 800 calorie shake diet instead. Lol

Read the Slate article, toward the end they mention people like you.

OK Della, I read the article... however, I do not agree with the last paragraph which you brought to my attention and which I consider an unfair assumption on their part.

Will point out - you say I might be interested because it is an Oxford article. My view on this is... not everything that comes out of Oxford or Harvard for that matter is worthy of great praise.
I hesitate to go any further with this discussion simply because I don't want anyone to feel I'm preaching.

Just to let you know I empathise with you because weight loss and trying to give up smoking are two of the most difficul things.

Couple of questions though, do you consume lots of Low GI goods?
If you are hungry in between meals, what do you eat?
You don't have to reply to either question if you would rather not.

 

[hearlady]

I don't think its that easy for a lot of people. Otherwise, people would just say " ok, I'm going to stop eating so much" and be done with it. There are a lot of factors at play.

Well, @David777 I have to take this back. I DID just stop eating too much easily by going to two meals a day. It lowers the amount of calories per day by a meal and various snacks.
I eat hearty satisfying meals, little to no snacks and I've lost weight with no problem at all.

 

[Della]

When I'm on a healthy way of life hoping to lose weight I don't eat between meals. I eat lunch at noon and dinner before six and that's it. I don't eat many carbs and nothing that contains more than 3 grams sugar. The only fruits I eat are melons and apples because I have GERD.

Typical day would be lunch: a large salad with five vegetables topped with salmon and olive oil dressing.
Dinner; cod, steamed broccoli,brown rice.

As I've said, I've eaten that way in the past and lost about a pound a week for about a year, after which it starts coming back.

The last time I did this was this year for 46 days (Lent). I didn't lose an ounce.
For now I'm not trying. I eat whatever I want when I want it and my weight remains the same.
Life is short.