Obesity in America Thoughts?

[John VN]

Americans, for the most part from my observations, are overweight and out of shape.

A thread last week asked if one could be overweight and still healthy. Healthy by the numbers, i.e. blood work, pulse, cholesterol, etc. is not the same as "physically fit" healthy.

If a person eats 3,000 calories in a day and burns off only 2,500 calories, the end result will most likely become very evident on the outside but things could be much worse on the inside. Especially if those calories come from fat laden, high sodium junk food sources.

There is a problem in America and I really don't see it getting much better in the near future.

 

[MerMom60_94]

Del Monte makes MANY varieties of no salt added canned tomatoes and veggies. They are not much more expensive than the other varieties. Generally frozen veggies in a bag are just veggies, the boxed ones usually have the added salt and seasonings. Birds Eye makes the steam fresh varieties which are easy and convenient and most are just plain veggies, nothing added.

And IMO, canned fruit is just dumb! Apples, oranges, bananas are not that expensive. And even berries can be pretty cheap during the summer when you buy them on sale.

And all of those frozen and convenience foods take time to prepare and can be very expensive! Is it REALLY that time consuming or difficult to boil a pot of whole wheat pasta and pour a jar of tomato sauce over it? Steam some veggies and you have a healthy meal. Or throw some skinless chicken breasts on the George Foreman...what does it take, 7 maybe 8 minutes to grill? While they are cooking chop up some Romaine lettuce and tomatoes and you can have a chicken salad for dinner. A canister of oatmeal is cheap and healthy and takes what, 2 minutes to microwave in the morning? Healthy meals do not have to be exotic and full of fancy ingredients. They can be very simple. If you know you are going to have a busy week, prepare some stuff on Sunday....boil a pot of pasta, grill some chicken breasts, chop some veggies, etc.

If you MAKE living a healthy lifestyle a PRIORITY and part of your daily routine, it is not nearly as challenging as you make it out to be.

Excuses, excuses, excuses...

Thank you for saving me the time of typing this! The only thing we disagree on is the canned fruits. I eat a lot of fresh fruits, but I also use a lot of unsweetened apple sauce and raisins. I also make a salad that contains canned mandarin oranges and English cucumbers. So, there is room for canned fruits, as well as fresh.

My DH and I both work and we have a very active teenager who requires shuttling to activities. Sometimes I cook in the crockpot so I have a healthy meal ready when we are running late (i.e softball season) or I make a meal on Sunday that can be eaten throughout the week (i.e. vegetarian chili or chicken cacciatore). With a little planning, you can manage your time to prepare healthy meals and it doesn't really take any longer than unhealthy meals, it just takes more thought. As for budgetary concerns, I used to buy lunch in the cafeteria at work or grab takeout. Now, because I watch what I eat, I bring my lunch and eat out less often. Yes, my grocery bill is higher - but, I save in the long run because I am not dishing out $5-7 a day on lunch.

As for exercise, if you make it your priority there is certainly time. I started out walking to lose most of my weight. When walking got boring I rode a bicycle to shake things up. I also own three sets of weights. I do belong to a gym now and I go to outdoor exercise classes, but I have equipment that I can work with at home when necessary. In addition to the weights, I own an exercise ball, resistance bands, and a resistance tube. Oh yeah, don't forget my running shoes. When all else fails, there is running. I have heard my cable company has some decent On-demand exercise classes, too. I haven't seen them though. I'm too busy to ever turn the tv on to check it out. It's worth looking into for those who don't feel they are safe leaving their house.

 

[ckay87]

I exercise often, but it takes a real planned effort on my part. In fact, it's downright tough. Not because I don't want to...I love to workout. But because LIFE gets in the way. Even DH is a roadblock ("are you going to the gym AGAIN??" )

Furthermore, we do NOT live in a society that is conducive to physical activity. I was thinking about this the other day as I tried to walk to the nearby italian ice stand (Rita's anyone??). I had 18 wheelers flying by me at my elbows, I had to navigate a bridge with no shoulder, and had to cross a major roadway like I was in a game of Frogger! Dammit, how hard is it to plow a little path here and there for walkers/cyclists? This place is a half mile from my house, it's a waste to drive there....but I DO want to live to see tomorrow!

So I do NOT think it is as simple as just saying Americans are "lazy."

 

[DisTeach1]

Yes, to answer the OP's question...Most people have become incredibly lazy and their diets are terrible. It's not rocket science.

 

[NMAmy]

No way were we too thin in the 70s. We were how human beings were supposed to be--lean, low body fat, muscular. My son's pediatrician told me that we've all become "skewed" with how we see people. He said that most younger children (around ages 6-10) should be very lean and should easily be able to see their ribs (same goes for dogs too!).

We've gotten very accommodating to our new sizes!

I agree with you, Christine. DD is thin and I've had people ask me if she's anorexic. No, she's the same size I was and both of my sisters were when we were her age. Anyone who is naturally thin is automatically assumed to have an eating disorder.

DD was going through some of the clothes I kept from high school. The Calvin Klein jeans I had were a size 7. She compared them to the size 2 jeans that she has currently and they were the same size. People are getting bigger and clothing manufacturers are using vanity sizing to make them feel better about it.

Find me some frozen or canned fruits and vegetables that have no added chemicals, sodium and sugars. Most have something added to them. Which is part of our heath problems.

Dual income families don't have time to fix food from scratch. Frozen and convienence foods were created after women started working outside of the home. Today, most families can't make it on only one income.

Dual income families absolutely could make quick, healthy, inexpensive meals but they either don't want to or they don't know how to--I know it's possible because I've been doing it for 25 years. Buy lean cuts of meat on sale and freeze them. Buy fruit and veggies in season and wash and freeze them yourself. It takes 10 minutes tops to do this and you know there's nothing in there. I've yet to buy frozen veggies that have sodium added.

Eating healthy food does not have to cost a fortune and can be extremely easy as long as you have a fridge and a stove. It's important for the entire family--if the family is that overscheduled, then tone down the kids' extra activities and make eating healthily a priority.

 

[janey99]

Del Monte makes MANY varieties of no salt added canned tomatoes and veggies. They are not much more expensive than the other varieties. Generally frozen veggies in a bag are just veggies, the boxed ones usually have the added salt and seasonings. Birds Eye makes the steam fresh varieties which are easy and convenient and most are just plain veggies, nothing added.

And IMO, canned fruit is just dumb! Apples, oranges, bananas are not that expensive. And even berries can be pretty cheap during the summer when you buy them on sale.

And all of those frozen and convenience foods take time to prepare and can be very expensive! Is it REALLY that time consuming or difficult to boil a pot of whole wheat pasta and pour a jar of tomato sauce over it? Steam some veggies and you have a healthy meal. Or throw some skinless chicken breasts on the George Foreman...what does it take, 7 maybe 8 minutes to grill? While they are cooking chop up some Romaine lettuce and tomatoes and you can have a chicken salad for dinner. A canister of oatmeal is cheap and healthy and takes what, 2 minutes to microwave in the morning? Healthy meals do not have to be exotic and full of fancy ingredients. They can be very simple. If you know you are going to have a busy week, prepare some stuff on Sunday....boil a pot of pasta, grill some chicken breasts, chop some veggies, etc.

If you MAKE living a healthy lifestyle a PRIORITY and part of your daily routine, it is not nearly as challenging as you make it out to be.

Excuses, excuses, excuses...

I cannot put too many "thumbs up" smilies on this post. Everything you say here is sooo true . . .

Jane

 

[FireDancer]

If you MAKE living a healthy lifestyle a PRIORITY and part of your daily routine, it is not nearly as challenging as you make it out to be.

Excuses, excuses, excuses...

I agree 100%. I treat my workout time, whether it be the gym or the road, as a mandatory appointment and not an option. As far as having time to make a healthy meal, that is not hard at all. Last night it took me 8 minutes to broil a piece of salmon...8 minutes, not all that time consuming. To grill a piece of boneless/skinless chicken takes about the same. It takes no time to open the refrigerator, take out some raw vegetables, and place them on a plate.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I agree with you, Christine. DD is thin and I've had people ask me if she's anorexic. No, she's the same size I was and both of my sisters were when we were her age. Anyone who is naturally thin is automatically assumed to have an eating disorder.

DD was going through some of the clothes I kept from high school. The Calvin Klein jeans I had were a size 7. She compared them to the size 2 jeans that she has currently and they were the same size. People are getting bigger and clothing manufacturers are using vanity sizing to make them feel better about it.



Dual income families absolutely could make quick, healthy, inexpensive meals but they either don't want to or they don't know how to--I know it's possible because I've been doing it for 25 years. Buy lean cuts of meat on sale and freeze them. Buy fruit and veggies in season and wash and freeze them yourself. It takes 10 minutes tops to do this and you know there's nothing in there. I've yet to buy frozen veggies that have sodium added.

Eating healthy food does not have to cost a fortune and can be extremely easy as long as you have a fridge and a stove. It's important for the entire family--if the family is that overscheduled, then tone down the kids' extra activities and make eating healthily a priority.

Mad as it seems there are a lot of people who don't know how to cook, I used to work with a woman who didn't know how to cook anything but ready meals. I was wondering as well as the large amounts of homework children are being presented with, no time to get exercise with hours of homework can't be healthy.

 

[Judy from Boise]

just a wierd observation.....in March when I went to DLR, I told my DD that I think the average DL guest is 50 pounds lighter than the average MK guest!

 

[ma2jr]

I agree with many posts. wanted to include I love my George Foreman grill as well. Plus my grocery store offers pre-washed and chopped veggies. Perfect in a time crunch.. they have fruits too.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

High fructose corn syrup, white bread, fast food, transfat (which we are now becoming aware of) soda, etc., is the norm in this country and it has caused obesity and diabetes. Combine that with playing indoors on video games, computers, etc., and that spells disaster. I never played inside, even on rainy days in the summer we made outdoor fun. Even worse than sugar is HFCS which is in everything. Read labels, try to use whole grain foods instead of bleached out white bread, more vegs, etc., and get rid of HFCS, soda and bad fats (not all fats are bad but are good for you). I have never struggled with my weight and that's bc I eat little of the above and exercise. It's not as hard and many think. Many people are not aware that the normal things on their grocery shelves that they think are healthy are not.

 

[WriteDisney]

The number one weight loss method was walking 10,000 steps a day. Get a pedometer and start counting. Walk around the house while you are on the phone chatting, walk up and down the stairs while you are going over social studies with the kids, park your car farther away from the store...

Just use your imagination and you will find small ways to incorporate more movement into your day.

Thats so true!! I lost a good deal of weight early last year and to keep it off thats exactly what I've been doing. I exercise and try to watch what I eat, but I know if I slip up I always try and get my steps in. I've been wearing my pedometer every day since last August and I love it! I usually try and do 10,000 steps a day (or at least average that per week). It's a nice fail safe to have and its fun to see how many steps you take in a day. I've kept the weight off for a whole year that I lost and I think this really helped.

More people should do this!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

What's better, a longer, healthier life eating fresh vegetables and small portions of grilled fish or a shorter life gorging on ho-hos, steaks, and soda?

 

[dizluvah]

I lead a sedentary lifestyle and yes, I am lazy. I am obese, I eat too much and I eat McDonald's, ice cream, sweets, potato chips and heaven forbid regular canned veggies (not low sodium). I have a treadmill in the middle of the living room (so I can walk while watching tv) which is dusty from lack from use. I have a bicycle, have joined weight watchers more than once, paid for a gym membership for more than a year that I used 4 or 5 times total. I have a pedometer, pulse heart rate watch (2 actually), five or six pairs of sneakers, HAD to have the Wii Fit and have used it twice, even have Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies CDs (shameful I know)

I have vowed dozens of times that tomorrow I will begin my "lifestyle" change but I never follow through. Yes I am lazy! I am not proud of that but I won't pretend I am not.

I just felt like someone had to admit they were a lazy overweight American.

 

[Free4Life11]

Thank you for saving me the time of typing this! The only thing we disagree on is the canned fruits. I eat a lot of fresh fruits, but I also use a lot of unsweetened apple sauce and raisins. I also make a salad that contains canned mandarin oranges and English cucumbers. So, there is room for canned fruits, as well as fresh.

Good point. I do use the unsweetened applesauce as well. I recommended it to a coworker who is constantly complaining about her weight...she was horrified. Not sweet enough for her! I'm thinking, well if you ate apple slices would you pour sugar on them?

I was just thinking of those canned peaches in that heavy, sickeningly sweet syrup! Blech!

 

[legalsea]

1. Reading about the pedometer had me going to Amazon and purchasing one for $23.00. Unlike the old ones (where you had to literally measure out your footstep and enter it into the pedometer and then clip it to your belt, and even then it didn't seem to work) this one you can drop into your pocket or purse (I doubt it is 100 percent accurate, but the reviews, 2,000+, were mainly positive). I hope to start the 10,000 pace day.

2. I do feel for those who moan about how expensive it is to eat healthy. This morning for breakfast I had a Jazz apple that easily set me back 75 cents. Then my cup of homemade yogurt added to the financial misery.

I should have stopped at McDonald's and gotten a Super Duper Fatty Sausage Thingy with Melted Processed Cheese on top of a Toasted 400 calorie Muffin, along with a large inferior bean coffee infused with corn syrup and caramel! Cheap and nutritious! Heck, get one for the kiddo too!

 

[bunny]

I just felt like someone had to admit they were a lazy overweight American.

I was wondering where all the fat people were. Aren't they supposed to be at their computers all day or watching TV? What's taking them so long? Or are they just too lazy to post?

 

[SydneyFalco]

Just ran across an interesting article in TIME magazine about Obesity in America. And really got me thinking as I sat at my computer and watched TV, have we (Americans) neglected proper diet, portion control and exercise?

Ayup. In Canada, too.

But "neglected" isn't the proper word. We are industry's "b****es", contentedly stuffed full of corn syrup and TV noise, refined sugar and manufactured populist outage, trans fats and shrill minutae.... uh, yaaayy...

 

[aleckendyl]

eat more...excersize more...
eat less...not as much need to excersize.
Simple really.
Dont eat so much.

 

[worm761]

I am overweight. Not by much. about 20 pounds before I got pregnant. I quit smoking and gained weight. I figured working on one thing at a time was a good idea. So now that smoking is off the list, after I have the baby, I will go back to actively attempting to lose the weight. I joined a website called sparkpeople.com. I learned a lot about weight management, weight loss, and portion control. I know that a portion of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards. Regular cards, not Uno cards! LOL... a piece of fruit should only be the size of a tennis ball. These are the ways that the dietitian explained portion control to me. Telling me that a portion is a certain weight doesn't really help. When I was working 50 hours a week, I didn't have time or energy to weigh my food. But I could eye ball a deck of cards no problem. Putting things in terms that the average person understands is a better way of making a food pyramid than just saying eat this many servings and a serving size is this many ounces. I don't know many people who even have food scales in their homes. Personally, I am on a fit to make my family healthier. We still eat ice cream. But we make brownies at home. I hate preservatives. I am eliminating high fructose corn syrup slowly so they don't notice it. (I am evil) I think a lot of the problem is that, even those that want to be healthy, don't have the proper education, ie portion control, food pyramid, and whatnot.