Obesity in America: A Political Issue?

[Doc Happenin]

When I realize I just spent 20 bucks on a meal I could've bought for five, I always remember: I have leftovers. I have tons of leftovers, usually. And for every time I eat the leftovers for a meal, that 20 halves itself to 10, do it again? 5 dollars. And if I stretch it, suddenly, 2.50. I'm getting more bang for my buck. And it's tastier too. mmmm...

[Jake]

Originally Posted by The LD

Baja Fresh is both fresh and healthy if you eat it right. The burritos will get you, but man, the tacos and the salads are all legitimately healthy. That's one of the fast food fights that you don't need to have.

These people aren't eating tacos or salads, trust me.

[Anakin's Dad]

Is there a science to choosing feasible diet drinks? I only drink A&W diet Root beer (1-2 a day), it seems harmless enough ( zero calories, zero sugars, only 100 mgs of sodium). I also drink lots of water (now that I've sworn off the "sweet tea" demon) and the occasional glass of Juicy Juice.

I'm no carb-ing it for the next week or so. After that, I'll fall back to "phase II" of the South Beach Diet and reintrocduce those delicious whole wheat/grains into my diet.

Now, if I can just resist potatoes...

[jvc]

Originally Posted by The LD

Baja Fresh is both fresh and healthy if you eat it right. The burritos will get you, but man, the tacos and the salads are all legitimately healthy. That's one of the fast food fights that you don't need to have.

Here's some info that will help if you're going to Baja Fresh. You probably want to also stay away from the 1,200 calorie Quesadilla or the 1,140 calorie Chicken Tostada.

[DaveB]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

Actually, everyone has a fridge. It's not a secret about how to make yourself a meal. You buy your food, cook the right amount, save the rest, and then have leftovers. No big deal.

The real answer to your question, Stelios, is LAZINESS. It's not about storing food, or buying in bulk, it's about making the effort to eat healthy, be healthy, etc.

There's a lot of truth here. With all of the pricing being done in this thread, you need to account for the size of the portions eaten in each meal and the fact that you'll probably either have the ingredients to make additional meals or you'll have leftovers from the initial meal.

This idea that you need to buy every single ingredient every time you make burgers or tacos for a single meal is just ridiculous. How much ketchup are you using on your burger? Is your refrigerator incapable of keeping salsa, sour cream, cheese, etc. fresh for more than 48 hours?

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Anakin's Dad

Is there a science to choosing feasible diet drinks? I only drink A&W diet Root beer (1-2 a day), it seems harmless enough ( zero calories, zero sugars, only 100 mgs of sodium). I also drink lots of water (now that I've sworn off the "sweet tea" demon) and the occasional glass of Juicy Juice.

I'm no carb-ing it for the next week or so. After that, I'll fall back to "phase II" of the South Beach Diet and reintrocduce those delicious whole wheat/grains into my diet.

Now, if I can just resist potatoes...

If you're no-carbing it, soft drinks/sugary drinks are a terrible idea. They'll fuck with your insulin levels big time. Stick with water, coffee, green tea, and maybe Crystal Light in water if you need to change it up a little, but otherwise don't hit the sugary drinks. If you do, have one during the week as a treat during a free meal. And definitely give yourself a free meal (NOT PIZZA OR ANYTHING CRAZY) during the week because no-carbing it can be torturous. Just throw in some brown rice or a sweet potato or something along with a hunk of meat and veggies and count that as a free meal. Also, make sure you're getting a gram of protein per lb of lean body mass (lean, not counting fat) and if you start to get too hungry, fibrous green veggies are fine as a holdover.

[Bancroft Agee]

Originally Posted by jvc

Supermarkets will overbuy and put a lot of meat on sale. One of the grocery stores I go to puts bulk chicken breast on sale for $1.79 per pound at least once per month. You buy the big package, portion it up, and freeze the excess. I just bought some great center cut pork chops for $1.99 per pound yesterday. Tougher cuts of meat that are perfect for the slow cooker are always reasonably priced. Just throw it in the crock pot with some root vegetables, some seasoning, and a little liquid, and you're coming home to a great meal.

This.

It's not that hard if you make the effort. We try to plan meals out for two or three weeks when we do our shopping. The crock pot and the freezer get much use in our house.

[DaveB]

Originally Posted by Anakin's Dad

Is there a science to choosing feasible diet drinks? I only drink A&W diet Root beer (1-2 a day), it seems harmless enough ( zero calories, zero sugars, only 100 mgs of sodium). I also drink lots of water (now that I've sworn off the "sweet tea" demon) and the occasional glass of Juicy Juice.

I'm no carb-ing it for the next week or so. After that, I'll fall back to "phase II" of the South Beach Diet and reintrocduce those delicious whole wheat/grains into my diet.

Now, if I can just resist potatoes...

My recommendation: fuck South Beach, cutting carbs, etc. Portion control, more veggies, less meat. Potatoes are fine - just bake them, mash them (without using an unreasonable amount of dairy, etc.) or cook them in olive oil instead of deep-frying them, and don't eat too much.

Just be reasonable about your portions. It's a far more sustainable lifestyle, and it'll pay off when you start exercising again (seriously - check into yoga, if you're serious about losing weight, reducing stress, and not doing further damage to your back).

[billylove]

Originally Posted by Anakin's Dad

Is there a science to choosing feasible diet drinks? I only drink A&W diet Root beer (1-2 a day), it seems harmless enough ( zero calories, zero sugars, only 100 mgs of sodium). I also drink lots of water (now that I've sworn off the "sweet tea" demon) and the occasional glass of Juicy Juice.

I was reading some research done on artificial sweetener. It's been said that they can mess with your sense of sweetness and you'll end up craving sweeter things the more you use it.

I'll have to dig around and see if I can post some articles on it.

Edit:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Nutrition...sweeteners.htm

[Jake]

You and your silly rational, responsible approach to dieting. Tsk.

ETA: @ Dave

[The LD]

Originally Posted by jvc

Here's some info that will help if you're going to Baja Fresh. You probably want to also stay away from the 1,200 calorie Quesadilla or the 1,140 calorie Chicken Tostada.

Interestingly, I get two chicken tacos from Baja Fresh for dinner probably 2-3x per week. Probably little high on the sodium, but I'm in pretty good shape, so, whatever. You only live once.

[The Closer]

Originally Posted by Pompoussory Estoppel

I've lost around 35 pounds in the past 2 months.

This is what I did.

Swim in the pool for 20-25 minutes every day or three days a week. Intensively.

Lift every third day. Usually 3 sets of 15 at any weight you feel ready to do. You could do any kind of exercise. Mine are mostly biceps, triceps, shoulders, and back exercises. Some legs, but not too often.

Eat healthier. Cut out all fast food, Subway isn't too bad as long as you stay on the fresh fit stuff.

Drink lots of water. I can't stress it enough. Cut out all soda. Some diet is not too bad, but drink far more water than diet soda to have any real effect.

I get depressed a lot and I eat when I get depressed. The key to that is to eat a lot of healthy stuff. I stack my fridge with all kinds of fruit, especially apples, bananas, and strawberries. Buy some low cal oatmeal.

I think the biggest key to weight loss is not to overdo it, but take it slow. If you go gungho immediately, you'll probably crash and burn. Allow yourself to slack off one meal every so often. It works for me.

[Pompoussory Estoppel]

Originally Posted by The Closer

Yeah, I have really bad knees and ankles cause of my fluctuating weight in the past. Once I lose enough weight, I'll start doing more leg exercises, but I don't want to start doing squats and my knee ligaments snap. Then I'd be a couch potato and broke since I have shitty law student health insurance.

[Jake]

My knees got better after I started doing squats and deads regularly. Apparently what it really takes to fuck up my knee (learned this last week) is having the chair on a spin bike suddenly drop like a stone with me on it, causing me to twist my knee (which I stupidly put in the stirrup for the FIRST TIME that time) in ways that knees shouldn't twist. I'd sue the shit out of the gym if I was a bigger douchebag, but I should have also made sure that thing was tightened down.

[The Closer]

Originally Posted by Pompoussory Estoppel

Yeah, I have really bad knees and ankles cause of my fluctuating weight in the past. Once I lose enough weight, I'll start doing more leg exercises, but I don't want to start doing squats and my knee ligaments snap. Then I'd be a couch potato and broke since I have shitty law student health insurance.

Touche.

[billylove]

Originally Posted by Jake

My knees got better after I started doing squats and deads regularly. Apparently what it really takes to fuck up my knee (learned this last week) is having the chair on a spin bike suddenly drop like a stone with me on it, causing me to twist my knee (which I stupidly put in the stirrup for the FIRST TIME that time) in ways that knees shouldn't twist. I'd sue the shit out of the gym if I was a bigger douchebag, but I should have also made sure that thing was tightened down.

I used to have chronic achy knees. I supplemented fish oils (triple the recommended amount). I hardly have knee pains any more.

Also, almost daily yoga exercises probably helped a bunch too.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by billylove

I used to have chronic achy knees. I supplemented fish oils (triple the recommended amount). I hardly have knee pains any more.

Yeah, I've been doing the fish oil thing for a year or so. The difference is amazing. Doesn't help with getting all fucked up on a bike, though

[FrankCobretti]

Achy knees cannot resist the 1-2 punch that is glucosamine chondroitin and lunges.

[Jake]

I'm actually starting Glucosamine Chondroitin next week! Is the whole "week/two weeks to feel the effects" thing true?

[billylove]

Originally Posted by Jake

I'm actually starting Glucosamine Chondroitin next week! Is the whole "week/two weeks to feel the effects" thing true?

I take just one CosaminDS a day. I've found that's the best brand around. (all speculation though) I like it because there's not a bunch of herbal stuff added in it. Some of the brands that have those extra ingredients can cause nausea and stomach cramps.

[Princess Kate]

Jake, does fish oil really help with achey knees? My knees are always killing me. I was given orthodics to wear in my sneakers ( the arches in my feet are too high , the physical therapy guy said), but they do not help. I was hit by a car a few years ago and ever since then my back and knees cause me no end of problems. I eat alot of fish already, but if there is something I could do to help with joint pain I'd love to know. Right now my doctor's answer is basically "Suffer"

[FrankCobretti]

I'd say 2-3 weeks, just to be conservative.

[Jake]

It does for me, but I dunno about its effect on someone who has to wear orthotics. Mine just got kicked to crap due to football/wear and tear before I started lifting.

[nekkerbee]

Originally Posted by billylove

I take just one CosaminDS a day. I've found that's the best brand around. (all speculation though) I like it because there's not a bunch of herbal stuff added in it. Some of the brands that have those extra ingredients can cause nausea and stomach cramps.

I use a glucosamine-chondroitin + vitamin C powder that you mix with water to make a fizzy tangerine flavored drink. I only use it once per day (recommended is 2-3) but after a week it helped immensely with some lower back twinges I'd been having.

[Princess Kate]

Originally Posted by Jake

It does for me, but I dunno about its effect on someone who has to wear orthotics. Mine just got kicked to crap due to football/wear and tear before I started lifting.

Thanks for the info, Jake. I guess I don't really need to wear my orthotics, I just do because I figure it can't hurt. Like, I never felt a pressing need for inserts in my shoes before I was told to wear them. I wear them hoping that they'll someday have an effect on the knee pain, but it's not like they're key to my mobility. Most of the time I forget they're in my shoes ( and sometimes I forget to put them in and can't notice a difference either). I went to PT after the car thing, and they said I needed orthotics because of my arches. However, I never needed them before the car so I tend to think the arch support thing is more about them getting me to buy orthotics than any need I had for them. I doubt the human body would evolve with a natural need for shoe inserts (much less shoes, for that matter)

Anyway, I'll try the fish thing. Like the orthotics, I guess it can't hurt at least. Thanks for sharing the advice

[Jake]

Make sure to store the pills in the freezer to minimize the "fish burp" effect, which is when the gel coating dissolves too soon in your digestive tract and gives you nasty, fish-tasting burps.

[Princess Kate]

Originally Posted by Jake

Make sure to store the pills in the freezer to minimize the "fish burp" effect, which is when the gel coating dissolves too soon in your digestive tract and gives you nasty, fish-tasting burps.

Oh no... that sounds horrible! I asked my mom to pick some up today. Was unsure about what brand was best so I just said any will do. I'll have to avoid that burp thing though, yuck.

[Jake]

More on fish oil, specifically what you should be looking for with whichever brand you choose.

[Princess Kate]

Originally Posted by Jake

More on fish oil, specifically what you should be looking for with whichever brand you choose.

Thanks for the info, Jake. I'll print it out and let you know if I see any improvement

[LisaNY]

Originally Posted by FrankCobretti

Achy knees cannot resist the 1-2 punch that is glucosamine chondroitin and lunges.

When I was first diagnosed with my arthritic knees, my dad told me to try the glucosamine chondroitin, but it didn't help in my particular case. The fish oil, on the other hand, has done wonders.

I also find that just keeping the knees active doesn't give them a chance to freeze up. I'm big on "stairs vs. escalators" and doing things like getting off at 57th St. and walking to my hairdresser on 84th St. As for my daily trek into work, getting from my subway train to my desk involves hiking up eight flights of steps (some shorter, some longer, it's a mix). The whole walk itself is a total of 15 minutes of cardio each way, Mon through Fri. There's an elevator/escalator combo that can get you there too, but I don't use it.

[FrankCobretti]

And it's seemingly little choices like that that make all the difference.

[Adam Warren]

Small choices are huge. Walking as much as possible is a big deal. And I think poverty in general daytime mobility is the biggest factor contributing to obesity. Simple actiivities: walking to and from work, various appointments, school, friends, and so on; being mobile at work; an hour cooking as opposed to five minutes on a prepared meal — these burn fat. And cumulatively, they burn a fair bit of fat. Every time we replace an activity with driving, a service, or a convenience technology, we increase the sedentaryness of our lives.

Eating a lot of food isn't new. (The stats at the start of the thread start in 1991.) Neither are high fat, high carb diets. We don't seem to be eating more as much as we simply move around less.

[Princess Kate]

Why can't science just change everyone's metabolism? We store up fat rather than burn it all quicklybecause we've evovled that way . Like camels, our bodies are designed to expect periods of famine and so store up the fat for later. Some people have a faster metabolism though, why can't we just make other people the same way?

That's not to say that we shouldn't strive to improve how we eat and be more physically active in our lives. I have a fast metabolism, but I'll be the first to admit I eat terribly, and am far too lazyfor my own good. I have awful muscle strength. Still we should work as a society to change that though

[TzuDohNihm]

Originally Posted by Jake

I'm actually starting Glucosamine Chondroitin next week! Is the whole "week/two weeks to feel the effects" thing true?

I would choose one or the other. They are both effective but oftentimes less effective when combined together. Glucosamine has the higher effectiveness of the two alone.

1500mg/day for a week, then 1000mg/day for a week then 500mg/day for a week. If at anytime the 500mg doesn't seem to be doing it move back up until you find your correct daily dose.

[FrankCobretti]

Originally Posted by Princess Kate

Still we should work as a society to change that though

Well, ok, but how do we as a society change your personal habits?

[Snaieke]

Originally Posted by Princess Kate

Why can't science just change everyone's metabolism? We store up fat rather than burn it all quicklybecause we've evovled that way . Like camels, our bodies are designed to expect periods of famine and so store up the fat for later. Some people have a faster metabolism though, why can't we just make other people the same way?

That's not to say that we shouldn't strive to improve how we eat and be more physically active in our lives. I have a fast metabolism, but I'll be the first to admit I eat terribly, and am far too lazyfor my own good. I have awful muscle strength. Still we should work as a society to change that though

You realize that, statistically (unless you change your ways based on this one post) you will be grossly overweight before your 30 right? You have to work at the metabolism to keep it fast by eating right foods and having an active lifestyle.. it doesn't just stay that way. This is what is wrong with society, by and large they are ignorant and lazy. Let's just hope scientists can come up with a pill or a shot to enable sloth and gluttony to rule the day.

[Princess Kate]

Originally Posted by Snaieke

You realize that, statistically (unless you change your ways based on this one post) you will be grossly overweight before your 30 right? You have to work at the metabolism to keep it fast by eating right foods and having an active lifestyle.. it doesn't just stay that way. This is what is wrong with society, by and large they are ignorant and lazy. Let's just hope scientists can come up with a pill or a shot to enable sloth and gluttony to rule the day.

Fair enough. I'll admit to not having much knowledge about how a metabolism works

[Graynadian]

Originally Posted by FrankCobretti

Well, ok, but how do we as a society change your personal habits?

Education and incentives have worked in the past.

[jvc]

Education is great. I love having nutritional information available to me. But is there anyone polishing off a Double Whopper, large fry and 44 oz Coke who doesn't know that's bad for a person's health? Is there anyone who doesn't know that exercising would be better than sitting on his couch watching tv 8 hours a day? People knowingly choose the unhealthy option because they derive some pleasure out of it.

[Graynadian]

Originally Posted by jvc

Education is great. I love having nutritional information available to me. But is there anyone polishing off a Double Whopper, large fry and 44 oz Coke who doesn't know that's bad for a person's health? Is there anyone who doesn't know that exercising would be better than sitting on his couch watching tv 8 hours a day? People knowingly choose the unhealthy option because they derive some pleasure out of it.

That's where incentives can work. What if healthy foods were subsidized? Maybe you could get a tax credit for your gym membership.

[billylove]

Originally Posted by Graynadian

That's where incentives can work. What if healthy foods were subsidized? Maybe you could get a tax credit for your gym membership.

That would be nice.

When I was working for IBM you could get a healthy living rebate of 150 bucks each year.

[The Closer]

Originally Posted by Snaieke

Let's just hope scientists can come up with a pill or a shot to enable sloth and gluttony to rule the day.

It's called Xenical. Thing is, one of the side effects is that all the fat you consume leads to oil leaking directly out of your ass.

[Jake]

I laugh every time I see one of those things with the runner "MAY CAUSE LEAKAGE". Alli, Olestra, Xenical, all precursors for wetly shitting yourself in public.

Not as wholesome as broccoli and black coffee, mind you, but still.

[The Closer]

Thing that amazes me is that people will choose that as opposed to giving up their gallon per day of Pepsi habit.

[Graham]

Alcohol, people...

You KNOW it makes sense.

[Princess Kate]

"Fat Pride"?

That's like being prideful about your greed or how envious you can be. The fact that now adays people are actually convinced it's good to take pride in being in physically poor shape is surely a sign of the apocalypse.

[FrankCobretti]

Originally Posted by jvc

People knowingly choose the unhealthy option because they derive some pleasure out of it.

I think that's part of it. I also think that what we consider to be a healthy lifestyle is something of an abstraction.

I suspect that we evolved to eat while the eatin's good and rest when we can. Now that those of us in the developed world live in abundance and ease, we need to overcome our programming. And it's hard to overcome "chow down because a famine may be around the corner" when you're choosing between a "gourmet burger" and rabbit food.

I like an approach New York is taking: calorie counts right there on the menu in chain restaurants. You may know that a baconator is bad for you, but actually seeing "1 zillion calories" right up there on the menu next to the price makes that abstraction just a little more real.

[Doc Happenin]

Originally Posted by FrankCobretti

I like an approach New York is taking: calorie counts right there on the menu in chain restaurants. You may know that a baconator is bad for you, but actually seeing "1 zillion calories" right up there on the menu next to the price makes that abstraction just a little more real.

I've definitely walked into a McDonald's (or wherever) and looked up and gone, 'You know what? Maybe I'll just have that chicken thing instead of the super awesome bacon double sandwich.' It's quite terrifying how much more real it becomes when there's a number there telling you basically 'eat at your own risk'.

I think one thing we're forgetting in all of this talk of obesity and weight: d-list celebrities. How the fuck else are you supposed to market yourself when your musical act hasn't been around for years? Why, just constantly gain and lose weight, and write books about how it's so fucking hard and yadda, yadda yadda.

I'm looking at you Carnie Wilson. Love your voice, and your playboy spread, but seriously, all you do now is gain and lose weight. KNOCK THAT SHIT OFF.

Sorry.

[Brad Millette]

Originally Posted by Doc Happenin

I think one thing we're forgetting in all of this talk of obesity and weight: d-list celebrities. How the fuck else are you supposed to market yourself when your musical act hasn't been around for years? Why, just constantly gain and lose weight, and write books about how it's so fucking hard and yadda, yadda yadda.

I'm looking at you Carnie Wilson. Love your voice, and your playboy spread, but seriously, all you do now is gain and lose weight. KNOCK THAT SHIT OFF.

They're destroying the sanctity of buffets!