I think obesity is epidemic. I struggle with my weight, as I know many do on this board do, too, Some have the complications that have followed from being overweight.
I wasn't overweight as a child, but I grew up in a time when things were starting to become more and more fast and convenient. My mom did cook, and we did get healthy meals, but during the 60s, 70s, and 80s when I grew up is when things really started taking off with fast, convenient, and highly sugared.
So people's health is very concerning. But also government overreach is concerning. How can do we become healthier as individuals and as a nation, but not have the government dictate what we consume? Health and freedom. I want conservatives to live long and healthy lives. Comments please.
The simple truth is that sugar is healthy.
One problem can be that some people’s bodies lose the capacity to process sugar. The main reason is damage of the pancreas caused by consumption of polyunsaturated fat.
Stop consuming polyunsaturated fats, and in a few months you will have an increased capacity to benefit from consuming sugar.
It is our responsibility as to what we consume in our bodies. A recent health episode drove that home to me. Maintain a balanced low carb diet is the key. A protein (half the plate), a starch(1/4 plate) and a vegetable (1/4 the plate) on your plate and shoot for your optimum carb intake each meal. Eat at regular times. Occasionally test your blood sugar and blood pressure.
You are looking for an easy out.
If you are overweight, you ate too much food.
Yes, some of our food choices may be foolish, but,
you ate too much food.
I’ve never been overweight(yet), but now that I’m in my 30’s, I try not to eat like I did as a teenager, and I’ve completely cut soda from my diet. I drink mostly water, as well as a glass of OJ for breakfast. During my last physical, after fasting for 16 hours, I had a blood sugar of 91. Surely all of the chemicals in our food are not healthy for us, but quantities matter too.
So I made the commitment and gave up all sugared drinks, soda, koolaid,gatoraid, sweetened tea, the works. In three months time I dropped 40lbs. No exercise, diet, nothing. Just no sweetened drinks.
Happy with that and drinking only water I went along for about 8-10 months till I got involved with a MD/Nutritionist who was not very impressed with my weight lose. I had gotten interested in controlling both my blood pressure and blood sugar by natural non pharmaceutical means. Both where high but under control and also not impressing said doctor. He proceeded to introduce me to the “real foods” movement which stresses natural foods and supplements to control health.
The end result, for me at least, was a total abstinence of all processed sugar. White, brown, all fructose and other corn syrup products. I only consume apples, and occasional raw unprocessed honey. I avoid also any foods with sugar content as much as possible, bread for instance.
The results were staggering. From October of last year till now I went from appox. 95 lbs overweight to about 15 lbs overweight, an 80 lbs drop in 9 months!
All together I have lost almost 120 lbs in approx. 12 months. No exercise, no diet, just no sugar.
I'm convinced the stuff is poison.
Some related articles posted on FR:
Ban high-sugar cereals to tackle child obesity, says Andy Burnham (UK shadow health secretary)
January 2013
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2975294/posts
High Fructose Corn Syrup: Some Scary Facts to Consider Before You Gulp Down Soda
March 2013
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3002048/posts
Half of Americans Have Diabetes or High Blood Sugar, Survey Finds
September 2015
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3334500/posts
Britain to Impose Sugar Tax on Soft Drinks to Cut Obesity
March 2016
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3410216/posts
Foods Loaded With Sugar, Salt and Fat? Bring It
April 2016
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3423888/posts
For me:
Daily 2 meals of meat to satiety, one bulb (not clove) raw garlic per day, sugar free koolaid, coffee, iced coffee as needed. One day a week, no carb stirfry, last week it was 1 head of cabbage, 2 zucchini 4lbs pork with soy sauce.
4 miles every other day, martial arts on those days, resistance training off days.
Never use AC, 4gal fluids daily go in my mouth. Fat melting away. Energy is incredible, packing on muscle, shoulder joint issue I had is no longer in the way. In the morning straight out of bed rather than touch my toes, press my knuckles to the floor, no loosening up. 55 and ready to roll now, by the time I see Christmas decorations I want to look like the 45yo version of the animated Viking in my.profile ;)
It is not *what* foods we eat, it is how much, and how much exercise we get.
Food has become cheaper and more convenient. Physical exercise is far less necessary to make a living.
Together, they have produced lots of overweight people.
If you look were people are thinner, there are two common threads. Food is more expensive, and physical exertion more necessary. Just walking a few miles a day instead of driving or sitting at home and having something delivered, contributes enormously to lowering your weight.
go on the ketogenic diet and you will lose weight.
Yes, sugar is a major problem...heck they add it to so much...like canned peas. Food satisfaction is the issue...I’m finding more (healthy organic butter) fat and more salt (himalayan or celtic) satisfy me...and don’t put on the pounds. Also intermittent fasting...or at least going for 12 hours without eating.
I’m fat and have been since the 4th grade. I do not blame food, I blame myself for eating too much of it.
“How can do we become healthier as individuals and as a nation, but not have the government dictate what we consume? Health and freedom. I want conservatives to live long and healthy lives.”
It all boils down to making the right choices. The notion that sugar can be bad for you is not new. It can be addictive because it messes with your insulin level and the more you eat, the more you crave.
I don’t have a problem with sugar but I do have addictions and there are few people who don’t. You’re not alone. Find new friends who don’t engage in the behavior you wish to avoid. On the other hand I have ice cream...
Sugar is poison. Humans evolved eating tony amounts of sugar from plants and fruits. Processing radically changed this, with toxic effects, inflammation and diabetes, which was previously unheard of. And high-fructose corn syrup made things even worse.
We all know that what works for weight loss and maintenance is eating primarily lean meat, green vegetables and fruit. Limit starches like potatoes, corn and rice. Eggs and low fat dairy are okay.
But knowing something and following it are two different things.
Have the occasional sweet treat - my weakness is dark chocolate, but a bowl of ice cream is a once or twice a month vice.
Do not keep anything tempting in your house. No chips, no cookies, no ice cream (get ice cream out), no crackers, nothing. Do not go to fast food places unless you can settle for a salad.
Limit alcohol intake to one drink a day or stop drinking altogether is you really want to take off the weight. Alcoholic drinks have a lot of sugar and a lot of calories.
Keeping active also helps. Stay on your feet for as many hours a day as you can.
Sugar does not make you fat. Empty sugar does. Get all your sugar from fruit, not empty sugar drinks.
The body needs fruit, veggies & water. Quit counting calories.
The highest nutrition fruit & veggie is Watermelon & Spinach. Berries is higher but Watermelon is edible and Walmart has precut chunks. Buy Tupperware food container, 1.5 liter. Drop handful Spinach in, Watermelon on top. No salads. Finger eat leaf at a time, lasts longer.
That is your basic food nutrition plus water.
Eat meat as desired also. Use color theory eg yellow corn veggie, blueberry fruit, as desired. Nuts as desired, Wholefoods, no salt.
The body needs no cooking, no conventional breakfast, no supper. Those are social constructs that homemaker feels good about but makes others fat. Just munch throughout the day.
That is the food part. You will live til 100 years old, and out live everyone you know. :-)
Copyright TheNext 2016.
It’s that cheap HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP that’s tearing us
a new one. - A teaspoon of pure cane sugar every now and
then ain’t gonna hurt us. Self-denial only works for so
long; then you fall off the wagon real hard!
The first step to controlling your diet is to maximize the dollar/calorie ratio.
You eat for calories- first.
Then ‘balance’ that diet for nutrients and for source variety.
This method instantly and constantly rewards you for ‘healthy eating’.
It’s easy to adapt it to your preferences.
So it works.
But it’s the money savings that makes the difference, and for that benefit you have to put calories/dollar first.
To get off it, I would suggest a diet based on purely home-cooked food using fresh vegetables, meats etc -- limiting carbohydrates for each meal to about the size of your fist.
Try, for 3 weeks to have:
Finally, I would also suggest something like Les Mills bodypump twice or thrice a week and to get a 25 minute minimum run (or jog or run-walk-run). Use weights also and some pull ups and push ups
For sweets and all -- after your three weeks are over, you won't feel the urge to "must have sweet every day". After the three weeks if you treat yourself to a cake or something a couple of times a week, why not? The main thing is for you not to be "must have sugar every day" -- and I know, it was for me a must-have as well.
In terms of fast and convenient, I’m surprised at how little time some home-cooked, healthy foods take to make