What made Americans fat..........

[lovinmyboys]

I don't think most people think weight loss is easy...even if they say the solution is "simple" (calories in/calories out). So much of it has to do with genetics. I come from a long line of thin people and I am thin. My mil is obese. As far as I can tell her eating habits are similar to mine. It isn't super sizing and big gulps making her fat. However, on a societal level, I think there's no denying that bigger portions, fast food, less exercise is contributing to obesity.

[Stacy in NJ]

See meat makes me gag. GAG! I can do fish/chicken or whatever but I cannot afford to eat pounds and pounds of good quality fish every day.

 

I eat tons of fruit, but I really limit my grains. I really should go back to no grains though. What about fruit? Do you low carbers eat fruit? I could not give that up. I never have and not had a problem. And I DID go from over 200 pounds after kids to very lean. I was at my optimum when doing lower carb than I am now.

 

And do you count the extra fats in your daily calories? ONE tblsp of coconut oil has 120 calories, vs almost a full serving of grains has the same . I dunno.....my kids would really have a hard time with NO grains whatsoever, but they don't eat that much either. I use whole milk, real butter, etc. They just don't eat big portions.

 

LCHF allows for fruit but in small amounts. I don't count calories at all, only carbs. Not everyone needs NO carbs or NO grains. Kids, because they're growing, can tolerate more carbs; they don't necessarily need the carbs, but they may make little difference to their metabolism.

[Nestof3]

Also, as far as why people don't feel full, I've heard a dozen possibilities in the past year, many of which seem plausible. From being formula fed to the "natural flavours" found in processed foods which push all the right buttons to make us crave more in a way that natural foods don't.

 

Reducing it to one thing sounds unlikely.

 

I also know from experience that we confuse full with stuffed. When eating less at meals, the body really does shift it's idea of fullness.

[justLisa]

I only eat berries, but I don't like fruit.

 

Fruit isn't off limits, but it needs to be limited on low carb. And some fruits are off the charts sugary (such as pineapple).

 

 

 

Yeah, fish is expensive. I actually don't love fish. I eat it once in awhile for variety, but I feel hungry after eating fish. It's not fatty enough.

 

.

 

I probably stick to the "lower carb" fruits as is. I like apples and berries but I don't eat much outside that....bananas in mod. And fish is not satisfying. I never know what to make with it so i don't very often. Everyone is like "now where's the food." And the turkey you can buy is like fat free, unless you buy a whole one or legs. I like making turkey burgers but I have to grind my own and that's a big fat drag.

[Lily_Grace]

It a tomato-based sauce? I thought sugar had to be added.

 

We don't, and none of my cookbooks call for it. Take peeled tomatoes that you mush up wit your hand, cloves of garlic, basil, and chopped onion and put it in a baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Bake at 450 for 40 minutes. 20 minutes in start your pasta water. When the pasta is done, keep about half a cup of the liquid before draining. Add the sauce, toss to coat, and add the liquid if needed.

 

Easy enough for even me to do it! :D Dh is the main cook in the house so I stick to the simple things, and mostly what I can grab the ingredients for quickly.

[Bluegoat]

Your Ghrelin may be affected by a metabolic disorder.

 

 

 

 

You really need to watch the vid I posted previously. Our country is so morbidly obese, it's a national disaster. It is one of THE most important things we need to tackle. We are abasing down screwed up genes, we are effecting our national security... it's a nightmare.

 

And to prove that calories in =calories out is wrong, every morning I eat

 

3 eggs fried in butter, with about 4 oz of cheddar, two tablespoons of pastured butter on top (and I already fried them in butter) with some pico de gallo.

 

I then down 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a little medicine shot glass.

 

For lunch I'll have some slices of london broil with a few lettuce leaves and some blue cheese dressing.

 

For dinner I'll eat whatever protein we're having and a side salad. With more blue cheese dressing or homemade mayo.

 

I've lost almost 20 pounds in about 3 weeks.

 

As a family we're active-but in NO WAY am I burning that many calories. I'll vacuum every day, I'll play in the pool on and off, I'll tackle a house project, we hike on weekends. But I'm not buying off all those calories on any given day.

 

So, how am I losing weight if calories = calories?

 

Eating like that

 

Well, unfortunatly I can't watch video, or I would.

 

But I don't think anyone is arguing that different foods affect the body differently, or that we don't have a serious problem with obesity.

 

I see people saying that to reduce the weight issues to that is oversimplification and reductionist.

 

I also see people saying that it relates to our whole food culture. So yes, what we eat, when we eat it, but also say, that we snack constantly on the foods that are the biggest problem, that we don't exersize but instead eat a box of crackerjacks.

 

I don't think focusing on carbs and protein s really gets at the issues. Why do we eat so much convenience food? Why aren't we willing to let our kids spend two hours for a real meal at lunch like in some other countries? Why do we think we get more value from a meal when it is three times what anyone should eat of ANY ingredient, even if it is made out of low-quality, not all that yummy ingredients? Why is much of the commercial food available so bland you can't eat it without a ton of ketchup? Why don't we build communities that are walkable and why don't people seem to notice what they have lost there? Why aren't kids allowed out to play when they are not home from school?

 

I think the values and things that make for a good food environment have to do with a lot more than a focus on obesity, and that is why I think a focus on health more generally is important. We do have an obesity epidemic and as long as we don't look at health more holistically I doubt that will change. That means valuing exercise and time in the outdoors, or time for a long relaxing lunch and time to cook a good meal and really be with family. Not trying to figure out the precise ratio of different kinds of foods we need to consume to get our bodies to metabolize most effieciently.

[justLisa]

I buy ground turkey. It's not 100% fat free, but rather low in fat. I sometimes mix in some lard or top it with cheese. My husband won't eat beef so I do buy a lot of ground turkey.

 

I once bought a WHOLE TURKEY, and ground the entire thing. Then I made stock. I think I still remember that from 2 years ago and never want to do it again :lol:

[Perry]

:iagree:Pretty sure if everyone stopped eating enough for three people at every meal the problem would be solved. Americans are fat because they eat too much. Period.

No doubt Americans eat too much, but mainly they eat too much of the wrong things. Chips, pop, ice cream, cookies--highly processed, high carb foods. No effort required except ripping open the package.

 

If all those extra calories were raw veggies, salads, cheese, and nuts, the problem would also be solved.

[Mrs Mungo]

None of this explains why other cultures with a diet that is heavily based on carbs do not have the same obesity problems as Americans do.

The main difference is not that the Americans eat more carbs (I am coming from a country of bread lovers with amazing bread which is the basis for two meals each day) but rather the amount of physical activity that is built into a daily schedule.

 

ETA: In former times, most people could not afford a diet high in protein and fat - carbs was almost all they had to satisfy their hunger. Yet obesity was not an issue because they did physical work. Nor is obesity a problem for people in other parts of the world whose daily meals consist mainly of a couple bowls of rice because they have nothing else.

 

Americans are fat because they eat too much. Just look at American restaurant portions vs. European portions.

 

 

I do agree with both of these posts to a *large* degree. I was fitter when I lived in Europe partially because of the amount of walking that we did there. We walked downtown, went to the farmer's market and bakery, walked home and made a fresh meal. I also agree that their portions tend to be much smaller. I was also more fit in Hawaii because of more fresh fruit and more exercise. I don't need a scientist to tell me those things.

 

But the US is very different geographically than Italy. It's HUGE. Urban sprawl-- housing developments and long stretches of box stores and malls, fewer small businesses within walking distance, etc. make it impossible for most Americans to live like Italians. It's just not possible in many areas.

 

astrid

 

Oh, I agree with this, but that doesn't make the above any less true.

 

Now, otoh, what role does genetics play? My dh has a runner's build. He has always been a runner and an athlete. He finds it easy to stay fit. On the other hand? He has a good friend who runs triathalons every weekend, trains for them daily and is still overweight. It is much easy for my dh to maintain his weight than for his friend.

[nmoira]

Also, as far as why people don't feel full, I've heard a dozen possibilities in the past year, many of which seem plausible. From being formula fed to the "natural flavours" found in processed foods which push all the right buttons to make us crave more in a way that natural foods don't.

 

Reducing it to one thing sounds unlikely.

I also wouldn't be surprised if on top of everything else we find that people who are long time overeaters have gut and intestinal flora that somehow inhibit the "full" signals and contribute to craving certain types of food in a chicken-egg sort of way.

[whitestavern]

The scientific consensus on the "why" of America’s obesity problem has recently- since about 2002- undergone a profound paradigm shift.

 

The old way of thinking illustrated by the food pyramid with grains and carbs as the base of the pyramid is and was wrong and damaging. We should be eating far fewer carbs/grains (whether whole grain or not) and more fat and protein.

 

Respected physicians who head the nutrition science departments at Harvard and Duke have conducted clinical trials (not observational studies - for those who care about the distinction) which have shown:

 

1. Carbs cause insulin resistance which promotes obesity and weight gain.

2. Fat does not as previously thought cause heart disease.

3. Type 2 diabetes can be cured by practicing a LCHF (low carb/high fat) diet.

 

If diet, health, and weight gain/loss is a concern for you, please look into LCHF diets and do some research. Here are some valuable links:

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17684196?dopt=Abstract

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html?scp=1&sq=what%20if%20its%20all%20been%20a%20big%20fat%20lie?&st=cse

 

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid/

 

Stepping off my soap box now......

 

:iagree:

[Mrs Mungo]

It a tomato-based sauce? I thought sugar had to be added.

 

I don't put sugar in my sauce. I cook down carrots and onions, that adds sweetness to the sauce. I add a little milk towards the end, that makes it less acidic and more alkaline without adding sugar.

[wapiti]

It absolutely does not need sugar. I find tomatoes to be quite sweet. I seriously don't know why they put some much sugar in jar sauces except maybe it's a filler for less tomatoes.

 

I wonder if the sugar changes the taste - acidity or something (I can't remember the word right now, but like how I put a little sugar in my chili). I admit I don't really like tomatoes except for very fresh ones in season.

 

I don't put sugar in my sauce. I cook down carrots and onions, that adds sweetness to the sauce. I add a little milk towards the end, that makes it less acidic and more alkaline without adding sugar.

 

Interesting - can I add milk to chili?

[Nestof3]

Oh, see, now I did switch the milk. I absolutely did that. I switched from skim to whole. :tongue_smilie:

 

Now, see, I don't even use cow milk because it has so many carbs in the form of lactose. I opt for unsweetened almond beverage.

[justLisa]

You sound like my kind of gal. :D

 

I'm thinking of getting a meat grinder. That's something I haven't gotten into doing.

 

I'm going to do it though...SOON. Maybe around thanksgiving when the turkeys are everywhere anyways. That is what I did two holidays ago. I bought the biggest turkey one has every seen. It is ridiculous how much you save AND you mix all the fat/dark meat together and it is so much better.

 

I just have the grinder for my Kitchenaide. It works good but I'm sure there are better ones. I think I may ask for Christmas this year.

[Nestof3]

I don't put sugar in my sauce. I cook down carrots and onions, that adds sweetness to the sauce. I add a little milk towards the end, that makes it less acidic and more alkaline without adding sugar.

 

Ahh -- thanks for the tip!

[Firefly]

It absolutely does not need sugar. I find tomatoes to be quite sweet. I seriously don't know why they put some much sugar in jar sauces except maybe it's a filler for less tomatoes.

 

They do it because people are addicted to sugar/ sweet taste. There is added sugar in most processed foods because of this, even so called "savory" products like bread, tomato sauce, etc...

[justamouse]

See meat makes me gag. GAG! I can do fish/chicken or whatever but I cannot afford to eat pounds and pounds of good quality fish every day.

 

I eat tons of fruit, but I really limit my grains. I really should go back to no grains though. What about fruit? Do you low carbers eat fruit? I could not give that up. I never have and not had a problem. And I DID go from over 200 pounds after kids to very lean. I was at my optimum when doing lower carb than I am now.

 

And do you count the extra fats in your daily calories? ONE tblsp of coconut oil has 120 calories, vs almost a full serving of grains has the same . I dunno.....my kids would really have a hard time with NO grains whatsoever, but they don't eat that much either. I use whole milk, real butter, etc. They just don't eat big portions.

 

I'm so sensitive to the carbs that I can't eat a lot of fruit. Hopefully after a year or two I'll be able to eat more, but right now, a small handful of berries is all I can handle.

 

 

MY kids, OTOH, eat everything. I make everything from scratch at my house, whole foods, full fat. It's nothing for me to go through 6 gallons go whole milk in a week here, and they are as skinny as skinny can get. We eat a lot of cheese, they eat things like sardines, and they love salads.

 

They are NOT allowed unlimited amounts of sugar (Even my sugar hound has a six pack). Hopefully I can keep them from going through what I've done to my body.

 

(I also make my pasta sauce from scratch, having married a 100% Italian, there are NO jars allowed in my house. IF I need to sweeten it, I small grate an organic carrot to sweeten it up. No sugar needed. Also sugar is added because the tomatoes aren't fully vine ripened.).

 

Well, unfortunatly I can't watch video, or I would.

 

But I don't think anyone is arguing that different foods affect the body differently, or that we don't have a serious problem with obesity.

 

I see people saying that to reduce the weight issues to that is oversimplification and reductionist.

 

I also see people saying that it relates to our whole food culture. So yes, what we eat, when we eat it, but also say, that we snack constantly on the foods that are the biggest problem, that we don't exersize but instead eat a box of crackerjacks.

 

I don't think focusing on carbs and protein s really gets at the issues. Why do we eat so much convenience food? Why aren't we willing to let our kids spend two hours for a real meal at lunch like in some other countries? Why do we think we get more value from a meal when it is three times what anyone should eat of ANY ingredient, even if it is made out of low-quality, not all that yummy ingredients? Why is much of the commercial food available so bland you can't eat it without a ton of ketchup? Why don't we build communities that are walkable and why don't people seem to notice what they have lost there? Why aren't kids allowed out to play when they are not home from school?

 

I think the values and things that make for a good food environment have to do with a lot more than a focus on obesity, and that is why I think a focus on health more generally is important. We do have an obesity epidemic and as long as we don't look at health more holistically I doubt that will change. That means valuing exercise and time in the outdoors, or time for a long relaxing lunch and time to cook a good meal and really be with family. Not trying to figure out the precise ratio of different kinds of foods we need to consume to get our bodies to metabolize most effieciently.

 

 

Well, for the most part I agree with you, but the bolded I don't. We've been fed a line of bull from the nutrition community and the government. Paleo isn't new, it's ancient. It's just new to us. It's working. BUt now we've got 50 some odd years of programming and commercialism to undo.

Edited July 17, 2012 by justamouse

[Nestof3]

We don't, and none of my cookbooks call for it. Take peeled tomatoes that you mush up wit your hand, cloves of garlic, basil, and chopped onion and put it in a baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Bake at 450 for 40 minutes. 20 minutes in start your pasta water. When the pasta is done, keep about half a cup of the liquid before draining. Add the sauce, toss to coat, and add the liquid if needed.

 

Easy enough for even me to do it! :D Dh is the main cook in the house so I stick to the simple things, and mostly what I can grab the ingredients for quickly.

 

Can you cook it on a stove instead? I don't like to use the oven much in the summer.

[Dory]

Now, see, I don't even use cow milk because it has so many carbs in the form of lactose. I opt for unsweetened almond beverage.

 

That almond stuff makes my oldest son sick every time. But we're lucky, we have real milk, that hasn't had all the good stuff cooked out of it. I also make my own clabber and cheese so I don't have to touch the processed stuff. My kids health has improved exponentially since I made the dairy changes.

[justLisa]

I have a KitchenAid too.

 

And I have 2 turkeys in the freezer as we type...:D

 

The attachment for the KA is inexpensive. I couldn't go out and buy a huge meat grinder so I just bought that one. It seems like the motor is the biggest part of it and my KA has a big motor, it's the huge pro series one. I don't even know if that makes a difference because my mom has the smaller one and it works fine.

 

That's it, I'm going to buy a turkey :lol:

[AdventureMoms]

Well, unfortunatly I can't watch video, or I would.

 

But I don't think anyone is arguing that different foods affect the body differently, or that we don't have a serious problem with obesity.

 

I see people saying that to reduce the weight issues to that is oversimplification and reductionist.

 

I don't think anyone is saying that there are not other issues that contribute to our weight issues in this country, either. But everytime someone discusses carbs, the threads get blanketed in "but a calorie is a calorie, my homemade bread can't possibly be bad for you!" Yes there are other issues. But macronutrient balance is a very important one in the US today.

 

I also see people saying that it relates to our whole food culture. So yes, what we eat, when we eat it, but also say, that we snack constantly on the foods that are the biggest problem, that we don't exersize but instead eat a box of crackerjacks.

 

If we snacked constantly on chicken or spinach, it wouldn't BE a problem.

 

I don't think focusing on carbs and protein s really gets at the issues. Why do we eat so much convenience food? Why aren't we willing to let our kids spend two hours for a real meal at lunch like in some other countries? Why do we think we get more value from a meal when it is three times what anyone should eat of ANY ingredient, even if it is made out of low-quality, not all that yummy ingredients? Why is much of the commercial food available so bland you can't eat it without a ton of ketchup? Why don't we build communities that are walkable and why don't people seem to notice what they have lost there? Why aren't kids allowed out to play when they are not home from school?

 

I just have to straight-up disagree that carbs, fat, and protein don't really get at the issues. They don't get at all the issues, but they do get at several of the issues you list! Not everything of course, but we can't change every cultural issue at once, and improving our macronutrient balance addresses several issues...

 

I think the values and things that make for a good food environment have to do with a lot more than a focus on obesity, and that is why I think a focus on health more generally is important. We do have an obesity epidemic and as long as we don't look at health more holistically I doubt that will change. That means valuing exercise and time in the outdoors, or time for a long relaxing lunch and time to cook a good meal and really be with family. Not trying to figure out the precise ratio of different kinds of foods we need to consume to get our bodies to metabolize most effieciently.

 

I think it's hard to focus on other things when we are too fat, sick, and exhausted to deal with our basic lives, let alone go for a walk. That's how it was for me, anyhow. Getting my body to metabolize more efficiently makes me feel better so I CAN do other things to improve my life.

[justLisa]

Sometimes I use fake sugars (Xylitol, even Splenda). I know, I'm going to hell. :D I just feel like it's the lesser of 2 evils and it lets me have a much wider variety of foods.

 

I'm going with :lol:

 

I use xylitol in savory things that need a little sweet. I drink SF stuff in moderation because I like it. And I like beer. I don't think I could give that up.

[justamouse]

Sometimes I use fake sugars (Xylitol, even Splenda). I know, I'm going to hell. :D I just feel like it's the lesser of 2 evils and it lets me have a much wider variety of foods.

 

Splenda is chlorinated sugar. You are destroying your intestinal flora. Please, I really like you, don't do that to yourself. :001_smile:

[Mrs Mungo]

Interesting - can I add milk to chili?

 

If you want it to be less acidic, then you could.

[justLisa]

If you want it to be less acidic, then you could.

 

Doesn't it curdle? I sometimes make a sauce with a splash of cream.

[Firefly]

Sometimes I use fake sugars (Xylitol, even Splenda). I know, I'm going to hell. :D I just feel like it's the lesser of 2 evils and it lets me have a much wider variety of foods.

 

Well, if there is a Dante-esque level of hell for food transgressions, I'll see you there. My weakness is dairy. A world without cheese (and full fat, no less), is just not a world I care to live in. ;)

[Nestof3]

Well, you know what you know about your DH, of course. I could also tell you about my carboholic DD7 and how she's a waif.

 

But no, a case study of one person (or even a few) is not sufficient to base an entire theory of weight gain and fat storage. Never mind that it lacks any basis in science. But no one on this thread wants to discuss science so I'm going back to K-8. ;)

 

I was thinking about this in the shower. The thing is, every anecdotal person could be a person in a study. I recalled a trip I took recently with two high school friends. One has always been thin. When I was about 20, I invited her to rollerblade with me, and she complained about how much it tired her out. I was like :001_huh:. Seriously? She's never been super aware of what she eats, never dieted a day in her life. When we meet for coffee, I get a non-fat latte, she gets the works with whipped cream. She is just as thin as she was when she was 15.

 

Then, there's my other friend. She's struggled with her weight since adulthood. She went paleo-diet and seriously participated in Cross Fit. She surfs, runs, etc. She could run circles around our thin friend.

 

Then there's me. I could always maintain my weight and lose weight when I wanted. Sure, it was work, but I enjoyed the exercise. I had no problems until diagnosed with Hashimoto's. I know for a fact that I eat better than my skinny friend.

 

So, we went on a trip, and we had a continental breakfast at the hotel. My skinny friend thought nothing of having waffles with fake syrup. My heavier friend had sausage, eggs -- all protein.

 

Then, there's my brother -- Mr. UltraMarathoner. He runs and cycles. He stuffs himself with carbs -- not junk food, mind you. But, he has pasta almost every night. He says he practically lives on pasta. He does make healthy smoothies in the morning, though.

[Lily_Grace]

Can you cook it on a stove instead? I don't like to use the oven much in the summer.

 

You can but it won't taste the same. The heat of the oven chars the top of the tomatoes just a bit and roasts the garlic. It's one that can be made ahead of time, though, and added to the pasta later.

[Nestof3]

If we snacked constantly on chicken or spinach, it wouldn't BE a problem.

 

 

 

But, not with nuts. I know they are healthy, but they have so, so many calories. I love them! I could eat them all day.

[justLisa]

Mine is the big Pro one too!

 

I've been thinking about my turkeys because they have been sitting there since Thanksgiving. I just don't love the idea of cranking up the stove when it's 90 outside. I never thought to grind the meat and then make stock.

 

Ohhhh...yay!!

 

And do this: weigh the turkey, then weigh how much meat you get. And you can make soooo much stock with one turkey. And it's hard to go back to the ground stuff you buy. I noticed a huge difference. Except for myself, no one else just likes a big hunk of turkey, but they LOVE home made burgers.

[Stacy in NJ]

I don't think anyone is saying that there are not other issues that contribute to our weight issues in this country, either. But everytime someone discusses carbs, the threads get blanketed in "but a calorie is a calorie, my homemade bread can't possibly be bad for you!" Yes there are other issues. But macronutrient balance is a very important one in the US today.

 

 

 

If we snacked constantly on chicken or spinach, it wouldn't BE a problem.

 

 

 

I just have to straight-up disagree that carbs, fat, and protein don't really get at the issues. They don't get at all the issues, but they do get at several of the issues you list! Not everything of course, but we can't change every cultural issue at once, and improving our macronutrient balance addresses several issues...

 

 

 

I think it's hard to focus on other things when we are too fat, sick, and exhausted to deal with our basic lives, let alone go for a walk. That's how it was for me, anyhow. Getting my body to metabolize more efficiently makes me feel better so I CAN do other things to improve my life.

 

:D

[justLisa]

any excuse for a new cooking toy...;)

 

Yeah!

 

I am going on a lower carb diet again.

[justamouse]

But, not with nuts. I know they are healthy, but they have so, so many calories. I love them! I could eat them all day.

 

I do. I eat a few handfuls of almonds. Still losing weight.

[Nestof3]

I too love nuts. I think what saves me is that they are so expensive. LOL

 

I like them on everything!

 

1/4 c. cooked oats

1/2 c. blueberries

pecans

cinnamon

a little unsweetened chocolate almond beverage

 

pecans on salads -- both warm and cold

 

sliced almonds in plain yogurt with berries

 

cocktail peanuts. I know they are so bad, but they taste so good.

[Bluegoat]

I don't think anyone is saying that there are not other issues that contribute to our weight issues in this country, either. But everytime someone discusses carbs, the threads get blanketed in "but a calorie is a calorie, my homemade bread can't possibly be bad for you!" Yes there are other issues. But macronutrient balance is a very important one in the US today.

 

If we snacked constantly on chicken or spinach, it wouldn't BE a problem.

 

I just have to straight-up disagree that carbs, fat, and protein don't really get at the issues. They don't get at all the issues, but they do get at several of the issues you list! Not everything of course, but we can't change every cultural issue at once, and improving our macronutrient balance addresses several issues...

 

I think it's hard to focus on other things when we are too fat, sick, and exhausted to deal with our basic lives, let alone go for a walk. That's how it was for me, anyhow. Getting my body to metabolize more efficiently makes me feel better so I CAN do other things to improve my life.

 

I guess when I look at this I don't see people with the wrong micronutrient balance. I see people with no respect for food or flavour, and no time to cook or have a real culture of food, and who are at the mercy of corporatism that wants to sell them as much cheap junk as possible.

[Nestof3]

I do. I eat a few handfuls of almonds. Still losing weight.

 

A few? :001_huh: I'd love to see a typical day of food intake. Would you mind?

[Jen in PA]

Has anyone else felt better when they added sugar to their diet? I am pretty low carb by default because I can't have wheat, and I just don't tend to go out of my way to buy or make substitutes for bread, pasta, etc. I will eat rice, but not a ton, and I do enjoy potatoes, but usually only have them once a week or so. I recently started eating more carbs (adding honey to my yogurt, doubling or tripling my fruit intake, drinking more (whole) milk, and adding a daily banana). I have changed nothing else -- I know I feel awful if I don't get enough fat in my diet, so I still have all of my full-fat cheese, yogurt, still eat a couple of big salads most days, still have my cream/eggs/meat/fish/nuts. But I also feel like I have more energy, and I have lost weight in spite of eating more -- which made me think it was my thyroid meds, but the doctor says my TSH hasn't budged. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

ETA: Didn't mean to hijack -- I meant to start a new thread, but am curious now to see what answers I'll get here.

[AdventureMoms]

I guess when I look at this I don't see people with the wrong micronutrient balance. I see people with no respect for food or flavour, and no time to cook or have a real culture of food, and who are at the mercy of corporatism that wants to sell them as much cheap junk as possible.

 

I see people caught in a downward spiral of carby/sugary/processed food that causes them to crave more of the same and not have the energy to cook or deal with "culture of food" or resist corporate messages. If they get rid of the crappy food, the other stuff will have a better chance at happening. It is far easier for most people to start with eliminating carbs than to overhaul their entire culture, their media exposure, their schedule, and their developed sense of taste. You have to start somewhere.

[Bluegoat]

Has anyone else felt better when they added sugar to their diet? I am pretty low carb by default because I can't have wheat, and I just don't tend to go out of my way to buy or make substitutes for bread, pasta, etc. I will eat rice, but not a ton, and I do enjoy potatoes, but usually only have them once a week or so. I recently started eating more carbs (adding honey to my yogurt, doubling or tripling my fruit intake, drinking more (whole) milk, and adding a daily banana). I have changed nothing else -- I know I feel awful if I don't get enough fat in my diet, so I still have all of my full-fat cheese, yogurt, still eat a couple of big salads most days, still have my cream/eggs/meat/fish/nuts. But I also feel like I have more energy, and I have lost weight in spite of eating more -- which made me think it was my thyroid meds, but the doctor says my TSH hasn't budged. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

ETA: Didn't mean to hijack -- I meant to start a new thread, but am curious now to see what answers I'll get here.

 

I've known a few people on low carb diets that had to add carbs back in, especially if they were really active.

[Dory]

I've known a few people on low carb diets that had to add carbs back in, especially if they were really active.

 

I'm one of those. We are constantly on the go around here and I think I would collapse without some carbs in my diet. Everything in moderation though and never refined or processed.

[justamouse]

A few? :001_huh: I'd love to see a typical day of food intake. Would you mind?

 

I typed one up on a PP on this thread.

 

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showpost.php?p=4111856&postcount=110

 

that's my average day. I'll take a few handfuls of nuts, a few slices of steak to snack on.

[justamouse]

I've known a few people on low carb diets that had to add carbs back in, especially if they were really active.

 

Many times that's because they haven't switched to a full fat burning body.

 

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fat-adapted/#axzz20tujpkDG

[nono]

 

I'm currently LOVING the Emerald cinnamon nuts.

 

Oh yeah, those are good.

[justLisa]

Many times that's because they haven't switched to a full fat burning body.

 

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fat-adapted/#axzz20tujpkDG

 

I admit I did the hardcore lifestyle from markdailyapple for a while. It was hard to get used to though. I was already in shape but I wanted to see if I stayed that way. I did have an amazing amount of strength for weight lifting though. Something I tend to have to supplement a little for with extra vitamin B/etc. And I was amazed how many hours I could go without food.

 

I have a hard time giving up beer though. I did for a long time, but I really, really like it. We drink some Polish beer, but not too much. I hear wine is better, but I hate wine.

Edited July 17, 2012 by 425lisamarie

[justamouse]

I admit I did the hardcore lifestyle from markdailyapple for a while. It was hard to get used to though. I was already in shape but I wanted to see if I stayed that way. I did have an amazing amount of strength for weight lifting though. Something I tend to have to supplement a little for with extra vitamin B/etc. And I was amazed how many hours I could go without food.

 

The first few weeks I was practically GIDDY with how long I could go without food. For a hypoglycemic person who HAD to eat and got hungry without tummy rumbles and was almost passing out daily, I'm telling you, going 1/2 a day without having to eat? Giddy is an understatement.

 

At the point I started I was taking two vit B complexes which weren't working. I now take none and I've not had to add any back at this point.

[Stacy in NJ]

The first few weeks I was practically GIDDY with how long I could go without food. For a hypoglycemic person who HAD to eat and got hungry without tummy rumbles and was almost passing out daily, I'm telling you, going 1/2 a day without having to eat? Giddy is an understatement.

 

At the point I started I was taking two fit B complexes which weren't working. I've not had to add any back at this point.

 

I can go for long periods of time without eating, without any kind of hunger pangs or cravings. I have to practically remind myself to eat now. This is very different than the nearly constant craving while on a low fat diet.

[LittleIzumi]

I would LOVE to eat high-protein (another hypoglycemic here!!).

 

But.

 

Any tips on eating high protein with food allergies to dairy, eggs, and all nuts?!?!?! (Plus I generally refuse to eat factory farmed meat on principle, and we're low income. I have part of a local cow & pig in my freezer, and a bit of chicken. It needs to last for 6 months.)

 

The dairy is the mildest allergy, so I am introducing Greek yogurt to the allergic kid today. *crosses fingers* He had several teeny tiny bites. The nuts are an absolute no-go zone, even with things that are cross-contaminated. No nuts. At all.

[Trish]

Well, I don't know anyone who ever used the "food pyramid" as a guide. It was more of an "oh, isn't that interesting" type of thing, and then forgotten about. So my Official Scientific Theory is that Americans have NOT gotten fatter due to "Outmoded Food Pyramid Concepts," but rather because people don't use any guide AT ALL and just eat what's easy, cheap and tastes good. Without doing any research whatsover on the subject.

 

I call it Trish's Path of Least Resistance Theory on American Weight Gain. I may even turn it into a geometric shape with arrows to make it more believable.

[justLisa]

And I had boat loads of energy. I am going to go back to that, really dedicated. And I am a heavy weight lifter. I have to, it's the only fitness that I like. I hate running, and I hate sitting on those machines moving my legs forever. I feel like I should be flying on those eliptical things. Right now I drink diet energy drinks which are just a load of B vits, carp, and caffeine LOL.