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Harmony Blue

(3,978 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:29 PM Jun 2014

Overweight and obesity problem in the United States how to solve?

When I try to broach this subject I wonder how do we convey such a concern without trying to shame an entire segment of our own citizenry or talk down to them about the overweight and obesity problems so prevalent in the United States? I have come to the conclusion that we are approaching this problem the wrong way. It seems to me people feel like they have limited options which drives what type of foods they will eat. We can talk about portions sizes, reducing salt/sugar intake, caloric intake, low fat diets, etc. But there are options even for Americans that are busy leading very hectic lives but they have to be told that there are alternative options. But without this knowledge many Americans arel trapped and children raised by these parents do not know any better so this knowledge of alternatives is not passed onto the next generation. All culture is learned and it is not innate, so we as human beings are all responsible for the information we transmit and pass onto the next generation.

*It is okay to eat cereal for lunch or for dinner or a steak for breakfast with eggs (this used to be an American staple for American diners). It seems to me we have set certain foods for certain times of the day but we limit ourselves if we feel we have to eat certain foods at exact times periods of the day. Salads tend to be popular for lunch but it seems to me if you need energy for the rest of the day a salad isn't your best option and in fact it probably is better to eat for dinner as the day winds down in the evening where you are not exerting a lot of energy.

*You can eat a lot of calories if you work in a job that is energy intensive. Low calorie diet while working intense hours will lead to fatigue and then you will over compensate in the evening.

*Snacking isn't bad if you choose the right snacks to eat. Three meals a day is the ideal, however that doesn't happen often if you lead an irregular work/life schedule.

*A low carb diet is okay if you include unsaturated fats. If you choose to forgo any fats than to continue to have the energy you need throughout the day you need to have carbs in your diet. A pure protein diet is risky for a variety of reasons.

* Save the heavy meals when you have time for rest and digesting your food (other countries in the world do this except Americans). So, if you are at work and have 30 minutes or less don't bother with a heavy meal. If you need energy you don't need to eat a lot of food but foods that provide large burst of energy from small amounts (eg bananas, figs).

*If you make and prepare your own food portion size doesn't matter too much since you know what you are putting in the food and can control the content in the first place. Portion size matters more when you are eating food that is made by fast food establishment, diner, etc.

*Spices and herbs are big part in providing energy and making meals far more varied in taste. Don't neglect to use them. For example, a flat bread, with honey and cinnamon can sustain you for quite a while. If you feel that isn't enough have another, but you still will not feel like you are trying to fill yourself.

*Fiber is an important part of having a filling diet but there are other sources than fruits and vegetables. Grains with fiber help in a big way and can be snacked on with ease if you are not big on fruits and vegetables.

*Keep your dishes simple and not busy so your body can digest easier. Making eggs? Maybe add some tomatoes or green onions. Making a ham sandwich? Add in swiss or mozarrella cheese with a green leaf lettuce. Pot roast? Celery , carrots and onions and maybe some beef stew.

*If you drink coffee make sure to drink some water shortly after or eat a banana/fig. Your body will need water to be able to help digest foods later in the day.

*If you have to wake up early in the morning try to eat your dinner before seven. If you wake up later in the morning then eating dinner past seven is okay. Try to space out the time between dinner and breakfast because this is where you will burn the most calories while alseep.

*Lack of sleep is what drives most of of people's weight problems so this is very important. Sleep provides far more energy than you can realistically obtain from foods so don't undervalue its importance. For every hour of sleep you don't have you need an extreme amount of calories which can't be sustained for long. Beauty sleep is real.

If you all can think of other tips that would be great!

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Overweight and obesity problem in the United States how to solve? (Original Post) Harmony Blue Jun 2014 OP
EXERCISE EVERY DAY Skittles Jun 2014 #1

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
1. EXERCISE EVERY DAY
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:39 PM
Jun 2014

stop saying you don't have time if you watch any TV or play any games or SURF like you're doing now

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