Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.com'There's no magic bullet' to avoid packing on pounds, epidemiologist Dr. Walter C. Willett tells NBC's Robert Bazell
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
Maine middle school to offer birth controlDNA study seeks origin of Appalachia's MelungeonsAfter poisonings, PScreening finds skin cancer: Does it save lives?Pregnant women warned about antidepressantMore kids eating detergent packs, docs reportBorder town hospitals straddle care and costsItaly doctors save baby with smallest artificial heartObesity not always tied to higher heart riskToo many people get angioplasties, study suggests
Leave a Comment:
The article articulates what I learned over the past year while losing 70lbs. It was easier for me to manage hunger when I ate filling foods--high fiber carbohydrates and proteins, few simple carbohydrates--one fruit a day. Eating two decent size meals--450 to 650 calories, plus healthy snacks helped, too. I'm no longer trying to lose weight, but someone told me recently that you can eat more food when you make healthy choices. She's right. While I dieted, I felt satisfied with 1400 calories a day. Once I kicked it up to 1800 I struggled to figure out how to fill those extra 400 calories. However, recently I decided that each day I will eat a fiber bar, a serving of pistachios, and a yogurt. I fill those extra 400 calories with those items.
nice repeat from another post. Sad that you let yourself get so fat in the first place. congrats on losing the weight and glad you take personal responsibility rather than blaming your parents or genes or ???
I would also be willing to place a bet that you had surgery to lose the weight, if so. . . all of my compliments to you go out the window.
Good job Branda!! 15 years ago I lost my 70 pounds and did my first marathon. I have not had any soft drinks for over 15 years and hardly touch potato cheeps or anything like that. The best thing to do is NOT buy all the crap that makes us fat and load up on the good stuff. Once you start eating the good stuff, it's just a matter of time before you get use to it and stop craving the bad stuff.
@ stspecialk - "Sad that you let yourself get so fat in the first place."
That was a "compliment"? Really ??? Spoken like someone who has never had to deal with weight issues. Judge much? Next time you have to go outside during a rainstorm, be sure you take an umbrella, otherwise you're liable to drown, with your nose stuck up is the air like that.
No, stspecialk, I got the weight off via hard work. I have a gym membership and 12 exercise books, a barbell, a dumbbell set, a bike, a pair of running shoes, a bench, a food scale, measuring cups, and lots of motivation.
Once I stopped buying/drinking pop and most sugar I slowly but surely began to lose the weight that was lingering even with exercise.
Eating right may work for some people, but I have known many people who were skinny as a rail and ate junk food 24/7, who rarely ate vegetables, had chips every day, and drank nothing but sugared drinks.
Being skinny isn't an indicator of health. Obese or not, those sort of behaviors can still result in diabetes and heart disease for even those who don't seem to gain weight on it. The same healthy diet for someone overweight applies to an underweight person too.
...but are you one of those people? Too many people are obsessed with what and how much others are able to eat. I'm a 5'1 female, age 50. My resting metabolic rate (RMR) is about 1350. That's how many calories my body--organs--burn while at rest, i.e. as I sit in front of the TV all day. A teenage boy has an RMR about twice that and a man my age can eat about 400 more calories, a 5'6 woman my age, who is height and weight proportionate also, can eat about 300 more. We all cannot eat the same amount each day while doing the same amount of activity each day and maintain weight. So what's your point?
I know tons of people who could eat whatever they wanted & stay skinny when they were in their teens & twenties. But come middle-age, they had to choose between either cleaning up their diets or packing on the pounds.
It's all about habits and change for the better. If we truly want to succeed in weight loss and in maintaining our health, we must change our eating habits. Once those habits are changed, we must stick to them and resist temptation.
In addition, we must walk vigorously for at least 30 minutes every day and/or walk at least five days in a week.
There is no compromise!
Yes there is a magic bullet and it goes like this,
"Eat less, move more"
If you are fat it is because of your own poor decisions. No sympathy. It is time for the fat to start paying higher insurance and tax rates to cover their cost to society caused by their own poor decisions.
I agree. Also, if you are a nosy busybody or a rude jerk, that is due to your own bad personality. No sympathy. I think it is time for the nosy, busybody jerks to start paying higher insurance due to raising everyone's blood pressure and causing harm to society.
Also, everyone who has risky sex should pay more. Also people who drive recklessly and too fast, should pay more. People who engage in mountain biking, mountain climbing, high-impact exercise, and other activities that lead to more injuries should also pay more.
HEY! Ever heard of medical conditions? Or medications? I was on medication, and am STILL struggling to lose another 10 pounds from it.
You have no right to judge ALL overweight people as being lazy couch potatoes...you need to take a step down off your high horse.
"For weight control, it's what we eat that counts"
Did we really need to be told that? If you did, here's a gun and a bullet. Bullet goes in gun, gun goes to head, bullet goes in brain.
Obviously the nearly 2/3rds of Americans who are overweight need to be told.
stspecialk: Dammit, I need to go get more bullets :(
Sadly, yes, yes we do. Given the popularity of fad diets and the fact that people have been willing to listen to Oprah promote the umpteenth "this time, the pounds WILL stay off, this one's totally for reals" weight loss strategy. Not to mention all the Hollywood starlets who push their crash diets, neglecting to mention the intense workouts also included w/ it.
Add to that the fact that whenever some diet fad comes along and real scientists explain exactly why the diet is a fraud and potentially lethal, using REAL. SCIENCE. and fundamental rules of biology, people start screaming about how the naysayers are plants by the Medical Industry/Junk Food Makers/Whatever Other Nonsense. Their outraged is fueled by a belief in YouTube videos and anecdotal evidence. We also have people who think $3 (regular price) for a bag of a dozen apples is too expensive and $5 (on sale) for a dozen Devil Dogs is the cheaper alternative.
So, after my long and potentially insane rant, I say again: Yes, we really do need to be told that.
You're going to need a LOT more bullets than you realize.
All together now, DUH!
This is news? To who? People interested in a healthy lifestyle have known these things for years and years and years! Geez.
Have to agree with Tigger - DUH!
In an unrelated story, the sun rose in the east today...
Duh!
I decided 2 months ago that I wasn't getting any younger..or smaller and that if I wanted my weight to change and to live longer I had to actually DO something about it!!
I started excercing daily and dropped my calorie intake to 1500. I am eating smarter because I dont want to be hungry all the time. The empty calorie junk food doesnt appeal to me because 20 minutes later I would be hungry. On Fathers Day we went out for breakfast and I did have pancakes. I didnt beat myself up for it, I didnt chuck the healthy eating habits out because I failed but I didnt go for a longer walk and ate a smaller dinner. The next day I was back on track.
Instead of joining a gym or using a workout video I decide to take up a sport that I always wanted to do. I'm getting fit and having fun at the same time! I go to bed sore and I wake up each morning...sore but each week that goes by I see huge improvements in every area.
My husband is right there beside me eating better and excercing. Our weekly night out is actually to our sport class instead of the usual starbucks run. We have each others back when it comes to snacking and we are finding out all kinds of new foods for meals and snacks that we love.
I haven't expected the kids to join the "club" because I didnt think they ate to bad to begin with. Since I control the food that comes into the house. But the last time we got groceries my youngest picked cheerios instead of his usual cereal and said it was "better for me, so I'll get this instead". So the kids are learning healthier choices just by watching us.
My family is NO longer camped out in front of the boob-tube every evening. We go for walks, to the playground, or swim. We are happier...healthier...and closer as a family then we have ever been......why? Just because we decided to be healthy!!
I quit smoking last year after many, many years and decided this year to get in shape. I had already cut calories, after gaining some weight after the smoking. So, now I watch what I eat, if I eat a piece a cake, I do not beat myself up about it, I walk almost daily and look and feel better.
The main thing for me was encouraging myself, but not being overly hard or critical.
Plain Greek yogurt mixed with berries has become a staple in my diet because it's so filling & keeps hunger at bay for hours. All calories are not created equal- 150 kcal. worth of the Greek yogurt is far more satisfying than a 150 kcal. candy bar.
It's the habits and consistent intake that really make a difference. Some potato chips at a party every once in a while aren't going to hurt you, but like the article says, if you're consistently eating them as part of your everyday diet, you're not going to be healthy.
Consistently eating a good variety of fruits and vegetables and drinking good plain water is the key. If you're consistently eating the exact same thing day after day, especially if they're calorie-rich nutrition-poor junk foods, you're going to have gaps in your nutrition and could be on the way to obesity.
Throwing out the TV is also a really great idea. All those hours parked there just isn't good for you. My quality of life has improved greatly since abandoning TV about 5 years ago. I don't miss the TV drivel...
I added a chobani Greek yogurt with added wheat germ to my diet last July when I weighed 138 pounds. I've eaten it every single day as my first meal of the day, then just eaten fairly healthily with some moderate portion control - no other changes, no additional exercise. I also drink lots of water. I've lost a little over 30 pounds and now weigh less than I have in 20 years (I'm 45). The Chobani is high in protein and very filling. I have tried a few other brands but don't like them as much. I also feel healthier in general. BTW, this article is a mess - don't y'all have proofreaders on staff?
This issue is a catch twenty-two. It’s true that the quality or nutritional value of the foods we eat is a contributing factor to determining our health outcome, but the quantity or portion size is equally as important. As a Registered Dietitian, I understand that overindulgence can be a leading cause of weight gain, however I counsel my patients and companies like Coca-Cola that if we chose to indulge, we must stick to the serving size and do so in moderation. I commend the research for recognizing the need for a well-balanced, comprehensive diet, but I also know that eliminating things like sugar sweetened beverages or potato chips is not the answer. Enjoying treats once in a while, combined with mostly nutritious food choices is the key to successfully managing weight.
Marisa Persky,MPH,RD,LDN; Nutrition Consultant @ Eat With Confidence
www.eatwithconfidence.com
This issue is a catch twenty-two. It's true that the quality or nutritional value of the foods we eat is a contributing factor to determining our health outcome, but the quantity or portion size is equally as important. As a Registered Dietitian, I understand that overindulgence can be a leading cause of weight gain, however I counsel my patients and companies like Coca-Cola that if we chose to indulge, we must stick to the serving size and do so in moderation. I commend the research for recognizing the need for a well-balanced, comprehensive diet, but I also know that eliminating things like sugar sweetened beverages or potato chips is not the answer. Enjoying treats once in a while, combined with mostly nutritious food choices is the key to successfully managing weight.
Marisa Persky
Registered Dietitian @ Eat With Confidence(www.eatwithconfidence.com)
When the writer references yogurt, does he mean flavored, low fat yogurt typically found in grocery stores like Dannon?
I was thinking that exact thing. It's pretty open ended, as yogurt comes in various forms.
Might I might mention yogurt is used heavily in Indian food, and Indian food has calorie/fat intake that would kill a small animal (well, not literally...).
My guess is they're talking about Yoplait Light, but as you point out, the article completely fails to be specific. This seems to naturally assume that those reading it would have common sense.
I would assume they are talking about real Yogurt like the Greek style. It is higher in fats and lower in sugar. Most Indian food contains it and it is actually considered good for you. Stay away from "Americanized Yogurt" as most of it is full of sugar to include Yoplait Light. Fats and proteins are not the enemy, processed sugar is the enemy.
and here I have been for a few days now wondering how the hell peanuts can possibly advertise with "May reduce the risk of heart disease" ... So Bacon must be healthy too because it has zero carbs? >.> The fat/calorie content in peanuts is obscene.
Part of the problem was created by our own government. In the 80's there was a large push to reduce fat intake by cutting it out of foods. The problem is that sugar and salt took its place.
One look at statistics shows that as fat intake decreased, sugar intake went up and now on average daily caloric intake has actually increased. And obesity rates have steadily climbed. We are actually worse off now in terms of diseases like diabetes. Foods high in fat taken in MODERATION work better to control appetite and contribute better to a healthier diet than foods containing processed sugar.
Its been my experience that eating foods high in saturated fat such as bacon, eggs and nuts in MODERATION is far more satisfying that eating foods low in fat but high in sugar. I have maintained a healthy weight, and it has not affected my cholesterol levels either way.
Most nuts contain a lot of good fats. They are like anything else though, you cant set and eat a pound of them in one setting. I would argue that there is a difference in eating a serving of bacon and fresh nuts, unsalted of course.
I am glad to see articles like this myself. It is clear to me that the "fat free, low fat" fad that started in the eighties have done a lot more harm than good. I have to argue with my girlfriend all the time that fat is not the enemy. Yes, you need to watch your fat intake but too many people still think just because it is fat free, that its good for you. The problem with most fat free foods such as salad dressing, is that the fat was removed and sugar was added. I have started buying more and more whole foods such as fruits and really try to buy natural as much as possible. Not to get to far off topic here, but I believe another thing causing weight issues with people is the preservatives and fillers that they are putting into foods.
I read some posts and have to agree on what others have talked about with making better quality food choices. Since I have been making those choices, I have noticed that it does not take as much to be satisfied and stay satisfied than I did when I was eating a much worse diet while I was long haul truck driving. That is one of the reasons I challenge anyone who says that it is more expensive to eat healthy than it does to eat poorly. Another note to that, rediscover cooking, you have more time than you think.