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.

[Dr.Deth]

Eventually we will realize there are more important things in life than a skinny waist, big boobs, and a washboard stomach.

Yeah, like nailing Heidi Klump. But to do that, you need a skinny waist, and a washboard stomach.

[WestPacSailor]

Yeah, like nailing Heidi Klump. But to do that, you need a skinny waist, and a washboard stomach.

Not true...all you need is a big, thick wallet.

[Dr.Deth]

3. We've made food the center of our lives; everything is scheduled around food. Life isn't about food.

Right. It's about sex :)

[MaryFromMichigan]

As I see it... ;-)
Eat what you want, just watch the portions. And get some form of exercise.
Don't go a diet that doesn't let you eat the foods you like or crave because when you go off the diet (and 99% of people do) the weight will come right back.
Have a between meal snack so you don't get too hungry- your Mom was right, eating a snack before a dinner will ruin your appetite!
If you skip meals or cut down calories down too far- you'll probably overeat later.
We're overthinking this whole diet thing.

[neutrino]

(Chuckle!) bump!

[Dr.Deth]

Not true...all you need is a big, thick wallet.

In truth, you need that, all of the above, perfect hair and teeth, a shaved back, and a johnson that can open the door 2 seconds before the rest of you gets there.

And even then, you better hope your ticket has a low number, because that's one long line.

[tob2]

Amen!

[TheRightGuy]

The problem is that no ones knows what a well-balance diet is?

I once told my doctor that my diet concentrated on the four basic food groups: caffeine, nicotine, cholesterol, and alcohol.

She was unimpressed.

[randita]

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

You nailed it. The rise in obesity corresponds with the low-fat craze and the indoctrination of the food pyramid (with its 5 servings of wheat and grains per day). Low fat in processed foods usually means high sugar.

[dawn53]

Apparently I am ahead of the curve since I always take that into consideration

LOL!

My husband seems to also find it a valuable criteria.

[randita]

If your cholesterol is the good kind, you probably don't need to worry. My husband and I are doing Atkins. He has high cholesterol to begin with so instead of regular eggs, I'm using Egg Beaters for him. They have no cholesterol. We're also eating leaner meats, rather than a lot of beef. But no sugar or flour products at all.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Hilarious. Did you write that yourself? If so, I nominate it for Essay of the Week!

[Alberta's Child]

Simplest prescription for weight loss you'll ever see:

1. Do some form of exercise for at least an hour every other day (it can even be something light, such as walking in the park).

2. Give yourself eight hours of sleep every night, even if you don't use it all.

3. Throw away the diet books. The only things you should completely cut out of your diet are junk food, fast food, and high-fat cold cuts.

[meandog]

ATkins is most definitely right...but he also gives me the worst gout I've ever suffered!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don't forget the crutons.

Bump!

[BMiles2112]

In a 1990 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women controlling their eating had slowed their metabolisms down to where they were eating 620 fewer calories a day than their more slender but unrestrained eating friends.

I think this is a big one that you don't hear too much about. The parents of a friend of mine decided she was getting fat and forced her into dieting, a poor diet at that. She wasn't fat at all. Once dieting began, she actually began to gain weight and was always tired. This was the worst thing she could have done, in my opinion. It's a bit difficult to lose weight when your body isn't burning anything and you're tired all the time.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wonder if the author has the same opinion on second-hand smoke and Kyoto.

Too many experts spoil the broth. Consider what imbecilic education theories have wrought.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Lawyers are always looking for the big one - and I'm not talking Big Mac.

[RJayneJ]

It was sent to him via email, so it would be ineligible. };^D)