The real skinny: Dieting's a bunch of baloney

Atlanta Journal Consitituion ^ | July 20 2003 | SANDY SZWARC

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Some foods are so dangerously delicious that we must be protected from them and from ourselves -- or so the thinking goes among certain trial lawyers, legislators, special-interest groups and the Health and Human Services secretary.

These dietary watchdogs blame the obesity epidemic on fattening foods and the restaurants and food makers who tempt us with them. Fast-food restaurants especially must be stopped because they prey upon the poor and uneducated, duping them into ordering their greasy burgers and fries.

[King Prout]

looks like the series of articles has started to cause ripples

[DB]

We reduced the fats, like butter and meats, and increased the intake of refined wheat and sugars.

And we gained weight...

And diabetes grew dramatically in the population...

It couldn’t possibly be that Atkins was right and everyone else was wrong…

Personally, I think he’s right.

[Mitchell]

Ping.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Me too. The sugar, grain, citrus, etc industries have done a good sales job.

[mewzilla]

There's no substitute for eating healthy and exercising. Especially the latter. Then you can have your creme brulee and eat it, too.

[Keith in Iowa]

In The beginning, God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then, using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Creme. And Satan said, You want chocolate with that? And Man said Oh Yeah. And Woman said, and another one with sprinkles. And they gained 10 pounds.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair.

And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane, and combined them. And Woman went from size 2 to size 10.

So God said, Try my fresh green salad.

And Satan presented Thousand-Island and Creamy Ranch Dressing and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, I have sent you heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.

And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then brought running shoes so that his children might lose those extra pounds.

And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and gained more pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.

And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so the Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.

And Satan created McDonald s and it s 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, You want fries with that? And Man replied, Oh Yeah! And super-size 'em. And Satan said, It is good. And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

And Satan created HMOs

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Moderation in all things is good, including eating and exercising. One recipe for fitness does not fit all. Start reading labels and find out what has sugar added to it. It surprises most. Low fat is not the answer for all.

[mewzilla]

We got religion from a dietician we dealt with during a family member's cardiac stay in hospital. Low fat does not necessarily equal a healthy diet. Eating a well-balanced diet, your moderation in all things, where you take don't take in more than your burn off, does. If people don't want to exercise they they shouldn't eat more than they can work off. About the only things I try to keep out of my mouth are refined sugars and trans-fats. I eat what I want, but make sure I burn off anything I overindulge in. Works pretty well. You don't need to exercise like a fiend if you don't overeat.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Much to what you say. People need to know their own body and what burns off best. Once they know their engine type, the better able they are to fuel it.

[mewzilla]

That's why the diets are such a crock, too one-size fits all. Not to mention our nutritional and caloric needs change with age. What people need are info and self-discipline. Unfortunately for some, acquiring the former is easier than demonstrating the latter.

[BushCountry]

The problem is that no ones knows what a well-balance diet is? But I think I figure it out the truth after all those conflicting medical studies:

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.

3. The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans

4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.

CONCLUSION:

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

[Guenevere]

#12..LOL!

[Ladysmith]

I agree with you. Atkins knew what he was talking about.

These complicated little bodies have alot more than just food and exercise affecting the weight. Atkins had shown me certain medicines, yeast, and lack of nutrition affects my weight loss. I have worked out till blue in the face and haven't lost weight the way I am now doing Atkins and making changes to the factors above.

I can't look at obese people without feeling empathy for them - they've been sold the lie as I had been on what to do to lose weight, only to have their health and weight loss goals sabotage by sugar, flour, trans fats, etc., etc.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I can't look at obese people without feeling empathy for them - they've been sold the lie as I had been on what to do to lose weight, only to have their health and weight loss goals sabotage by sugar, flour, trans fats, etc., etc.

Ditto!

[dawn53]

I, personally, think weight obsession is a blight on our society.

Did Rubens think the women he painted were obese? Probably not, they looked healthy to him.

Many models, that young girls emulate, look like they came out of Auschwitz.

Nobody knows anything about moderation.

I had a physical recently. All my blood work is perfect, low sugar, good cholesterol readings, etc. etc.

Blood pressure and heart rate perfect, and then the doctor mentions according to the charts I'm 10 lbs overweight. Who said the researchers that make the charts have the market cornered on what healthy should be?

I was thinking, when they give a woman a "perfect weight" do they take into consideration if she's big busted versus small busted? Do they take into consideration whether she's going through perimenopause (where temporary weight gain is a common problem)?

How can one size fits all be right? It just doesn't make sense. My elderly mother-in-law is thrilled now because instead of weighing her usual 140 that she's been for her entire life, she weighs 100 lbs. She sees it as a sign of something good, I see it as a prescription for problems should she get the flu or take a fall.

We've got one mixed up society when it comes to weight issues.

[jammer]

Excellent points, well made.

[skinkinthegrass]

Then, using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's and Krispy Creme. And Satan said, You want chocolate with that? And Man said Oh Yeah.

hahaha..I'm bedeviled...pass the donuts, please. :)

[Snerfling]

you can have your creme brulee and eat it, too.

One rarely sees an overweight Parisan. Some say it's the trip to the ladies' room after the meal, but I personally believe it's all the strolling.

[FreedomPoster]

lol - nicely done, bravo!