Obese Americans Claim To Eat Healthy

speaking from experience...
in the last 2 months i have put
on a record 30 pounds...
therefore i am now n the obese category...
howe'ver mine is contributed 2 depression.
which of course that is irrelevant..
the reason i am still big and obese...
is because i do not do any type of exercise..

and i don't eat healthy..
felt like adding my 2cents.

This is kindof a gray area for me because although I find it difficult to believe what some of my friends consider healthy eating habits, I have to remember that I've read about nutrition and diet for the past 15 years. I know what all those chemicals are, etc. etc. I've read about the fluctuation in hormone levels caused by sugar and processed foods which aids in weight gain and insulin resistance.

I may not be where I want to be, but I'm aware of the reasons why.

On the other hand, I cannot understand why people consider such poor food choices to be healthy eating. Do they really believe that just because it says fat-free on the label, then it must be healthy? They don't even think about the added sugar to make up for the lack of flavor when the fat is removed. Even those who have been conditioned to read labels care only about the grams of sugar or fat, not where they come from or any of the other chemicals in the ingredient list.

No, most Americans are not eating healthy even though they think they are. My nephew tried to explain to me that his breakfast consisting of bacon, eggs, and blueberry pancakes was healthy because it had eggs, protein, milk, and blueberries. My step-mother tried to tell me that M&Ms with peanuts weren't as bad because they were mostly peanut. Are you kidding me?

From my personal experience, I learned a LOT about what was "healthy" and what wasn't and that's how I lost weight. I thought I ate healthy when I was fat too...I figured pretzels were a good snack because they were fat free and that eggs are good but too many egg yolks are "bad" and that you should always take the skin off chicken because it's fattening. So why was I fat? Too large of portions, mainly. Plus, I also included lots of unhealthy foods in my diet that I liked to "forget" about, like gummy worms and chips and stuff like that.

Also, hidden calories are everywhere and you really have to watch them. I'm not surprised that only 14% of obese people read labels. I never used to and once I started I was shocked. I used to eat a "healthy" salad: greens/lettuce/tomatoes/cucumbers/etc. topped with Caesar dressing and bacon bits and cheese, which adds a few hundred extra calories. Now, when I eat a salad, I use a light viniagrette that I make myself (it only has about 30 calories per 2 Tbsp) and top it with a few nuts. It saves a lot of calories!

Also, I work out now. And I mean I WORK OUT. I don't know what these people count as "vigorous" exercise, but I highly doubt 40% of obese people do it. I run 50 miles a week plus I strength train. I think that's pretty darn vigorous. I wouldn't consider 40 minutes of walking every other day "vigorous", nor would I count "chasing my 2 year old" as vigorous (sure, they're a handful, but it doesn't burn as many calories as you think it does). That could be part of it....everyone overestimates how much they work out (Ex: I ran a mile, I can eat a Snickers bar. Never mind that the Snickers bar has about 350 calories and running a mile probably burned 80-90) and underestimates how much they eat (I ate a chef salad, that's "healthy" so I can get dessert. Never mind that the chef salad had ranch dressing and tons of cheese and meat on it.)

People just need to be more educated about certain things and it wouldn't be so hard for them to lose weight.

You can gain weight eating healthy food if you eat too much of it. You can even gain weight by eating too much fruit. Many people don’t journal their foods or use scales and cups.
As spectra said some foods that seem healthy can be traps. I can eat pretzels if I count them but if not I eat the whole bag.

I agree with iportion. I like to shop at health food stores but that doesn't mean everything there is healthy. At Wild Oats you can still buy bags of chips, brownies, etc. Actually there is a store here that is supposed to be healthy food but they have a huge selection of Ben&Jerry's! Even if you shop at these places, it's no guarantee you're eating "healthy" unless you read the labels and pay attention to portion sizes.

I think a lot of it comes down to laziness and denial. I think some people just don't want to put the effort it takes into finding out what is really healthy. They hear or read something in the news about what's healthy and just take it for face value. Or, they just don't want to admit how unhealthy their diet is. Actually, about 103 pounds ago, I was one of those people.

I was out to work with coworkers and one guy ordered the veggetable lasagna. He went on and on about how proud he was of himself for making a healthy choice as he ate this thing that covered a plate that was as big as my head, full of 3 kinds of cheeses and probably a gallon of sauce, with half a loaf of garlic bread.

I don't think Americans do know what healthy is, they're brainwashed by the labels that make barely-legal claims ('contains whole grains' vs. "100% whole grain", for example). I just returned from a 10 day trip to Walt Disney World in Florida (I live in Canada) and was flabbergasted to see the kind of food offered in every restaurant there, plus our hotel's continental breakfast. They were making an effort - finally - there's *one* salad on every menu. The part I found funniest was if you wanted brown (aka whole wheat) bread, you had to ask for "wheat bread". What do they think the white stuff is made out of? Even then, I doubt it was 100% whole wheat, probably was only 60%. And sugar! In everything. Our continental breakfast offered 4 types of cereals (fruit loops, raisin bran, rice krispies and corn flakes), assorted melon and grapes in a fruit salad, white bagels, croissants, pineapple bread and danishes, and pre-packaged flavoured (and heavily sugared) oatmeal. I took my own oatmeal and begged the use of their microwave. There's so much sugar in everything there. It's no wonder so many people are obese. We saw so many large people on scooters and wheelchairs because they are too fat to walk around WDW all day.
People! Read the labels! "Low fat" almost always equals 'high sugar'!

When i started my quest to lose weight i thought my diet was healthy so i didnt change it. I just worked out (weights/walking). I lost no weight and gained little muscle. I then looked closely at my diet. What i considered health was eating smaller fast food portions and microwave dinners. It seems MORE healty. I think that is the trap many fall into. "Im eating less bad, so it must be more healthy"

I think there is a lot of confusion in our country about what is and is not healthy. Is lower fat healthy? Is lower carbs healthy? Are nuts good for you? When you're at a resteraunt which is the "best" compromise: the salad (covered with fatty dressing and cheeses), vegetable lasagne (covered with cheese and oil) or a chicken sandwich (on white bread, maybe even battered and fried)? I think resteraunt eating is a big culprit here, even if you order something that you think is "healthy" the portion sizes are too large and resteraunts (especially large chains) often add a lot of fats and sugars. The more you cook at home the more control you have over your food.

Even armed with the best nutritional knowledge it can still be difficult to pick good foods - especially when eating out. Couple this with portion control issues and you can see why people overeat.

Most people believe fat=bad, carbs=good, so just go ahead and eat that massive bowl of pasta.

I believe the statistic on vigorous exercise surely shows we are in complete and utter denial about our exercise levels.

I have nothing to add to this topic, I just wanted to say to Lissa that flabbergasted is an awesome word and I commend you on using it.

I don't know exactly why obese people think their eating healthy as I know many that claim to eat healthy but really had no idea what healthy eating was. I believe even skinnier people think they are eating eating healthy when they are really not. Knowledge is power, and everyone needs to educate themselves on nutrition and healthy living.

Why does it matter if obese people eat "healthy" any more than it matters if skinny people eat "healthy"?
Why don't we focus on teaching people what "healthy" really is and teaching people that their self-worth has nothing to do with what their body looks like?

Great comment Nic! I think THAT is the main focus! People need to be educated as to what is healthy, they need to feel better about themselves as they are in order to grow healthy from the inside out. Skinny is not healthy either. Where is the love people?

I could also do with some definition of "vigorous" exercise. What constitutes that?

My doctor said if I did 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week and broke a sweat doing it, that'd be fine.

I do 7 days (or sometimes 6) because picking those 3 days is a slippery slope into never doing it, and I do about 40 minutes. I'm into a sweat after 10.

So is this "vigorous"? Is there some way of quantifying it, or is it all based on the individual? How much of it is distance/RPMs/calories, and how much of it is getting your heart going?

So confusing.

Heart rate is probably the best quantitative way of measuring if your exercise is vigorous. Breaking a sweat isn't really that relevant...I can run in the winter and barely sweat and run the same pace in the summer and sweat bucketloads. You want to spend at least 20 minutes of your workout in the 50-70% maximum capacity of your heart (it'll vary with age). The more in-shape you get, the harder it will become to get your heart up. Example: If you're just starting out, pedaling an exercise bike for 10 minutes might make your heart race. For me, I can pedal the darn thing for about 10 minutes before my heart is even in the 50% range. I encourage people to buy a heart rate monitor (a strap-on type) that you can wear when you walk/run/workout so you can see your progress. They are much more accurate than those dumb grip ones that are on most home exercise equipment (those are sort of inaccurate). Hope that helps. I know I've worked with several people that THOUGHT they were exercising enough, but once they used the HR monitor, they realized that they weren't working out as hard as they thought.

Lose The Labels = lose the Weight.
The foods that are good for you are the foods that are whole and unprocessed and prepared by your own loving hands in your own kitchen...no pre-packaged ANYTHING.
Of course this doesn't mean you have to bake your own bread etc... there are a few VERY good options available. Trick is, when you find a great whole food, pre-package item ( like ALVARADO STREET SPROUTED RYE SEED or CALIFORNIA STYLE BREAD ) stick with it and build around these store-bought, healthy staples.
More important than anything - make your water bottle your best friend and don't go anywhere w/o it. With the exception of a strong cup of home-brewed coffee in the A.M. and tea ( afternoon + evening ) H2o is my only other liquid. Drink at least 2 liters/day to eliminate body drought and help get your system back in balance. When your body is in drought it will hold on to stored fat ( that's where the water is, just like a camel's hump ) in order to conserve water. So, drink plenty of water and bye, bye fat.
And, finally, MOVE. There are plenty of things you can do everyday like , spend 15 mins. of your lunchbreak walking around the neighborhood/parkinglot/staircase.If your able, walk or ride a bike to work. Park a few blocks away from work and walk the rest of the way. Take a bath instead of a shower ( more effort = more energy burned ). Catch some rays. 15 mins of sunshine a couple times a week improves mood considerably thus producing positive energy. Stretch every day for at least fifteen minutes ( do it in the sun! ). This improves circulation, flexibility and muscle tone.
Remember, all you need to begin walking is a good, comfortable pair of running sneakers ( I find walking sneakers too rigid )and you're off! Get out there. Even in the rain and snow - just do it. In short time you'll be wondering why you never did before.

I am only 22 years old and have 2 kids young babies and i am over obese 265

what cant obese people eat?

I'm a male at 6'2" and 175 lbs with a body full of lean muscle and buff as can be........at 53yrs of age.....a 29 inch waist and 46 inch chest.

The secret?

There is none.......it's iron will and discpline in my eating habits...........I only workout with weights 40 mins every 3rd day.........nothing else.

Exercise can do little to manage your weight.......exercise really only alters the size/shape of the appearance of your muscles based on the type of exercise participated in.....

Whole foods where mentioned on an earlier post here?...........bingo.......whole healthy foods and lots of clean water......

and of course not to overeat because calories are calories regardless of what they are......

But when you limit calories you must eat healthier to give the body the nutriants it requires.

I've been lifting since 1970........but am in better shape now than I was in my twenties.......my waist at 29 inches is as small as when I was 15 yrs old but yet I carrier 40 pounds more weight in lean muscle over those days.........

and I do not one exercise for my waist but have a well defined six pack.......it is what you eat folks.....not situps.........no exercise that gives you a lean body....with curves and definition if you don't eat correctly.

Never ever eat fast foods ........soda.....juices...sweets, burgers, fries, hot dogs, pizza...........haven't had any of that stuff in my body for decades and I don't miss any of it.......and you can avoid it to........

The first few weeks will drive you nuts but after a month or two of not eating that junk you will not even miss it.

Eat skinless chicken/turkey....small fish like dark tuna and sardines (in water only).....whole grain pasta only......long grain brown rice...........100% plain rolled oats............eat low glycemic whole fruits............and eat green vegtables..........

Egg white omlets..........some whole walnuts, almonds and prunes.....rasins...........

Eat right and you body will reward you in a way that will serve as an impetus to continue that behavior...

Hope it helps....

mrn. Thanks. You are absolutely right. Anyone can do what you have done, of they have iron will. I am nearly 60, as was just starting to develop a big belly. I think it was about 41 inches. My BMI was around 28.5, which makes me overweight. I have not changed my diet but just eat less. I still have cheese on toast, but only put a tiny bit of cheese on each piece. I also walk up and down a hill every day for about two hours. I think anyone will lose weight, if they want to. Even at the rate of 1 pound per week, that's a whole stone in only 14 weeks! After that 14 weeks, you will note a big difference too. I think the exercise is the most important. It doesn't have to be "vigorous", just continuous. All of this is a matter of getting into a routine. Tell your friends and family too. Many people will support your efforts. They may feel they want to do what you are doing too! :)

I think those people were lying plain and simple. the skinny ones too. These studies are not accurate unless you do more research. I would rather them go to a gym, see who comes in on average and interview those people with most of the facts in hand. That way if a person tries to say, I exercise for 1 hr, you can say, "well, it is only 20 minutes if you subtract the time that you spent talking, getting dressed, undressed, going to the bathroom, and chatting in the sauna with Suzy."

tre paul. You are right. I personally don't like the concept of gyms. There are a whole lot of people all talking up what they are doing, and as you say, spending time getting there, dressing and undressing etc. For older people, any walking it good, provided you live in a safe area. Doing some (any) exercise and cutting down on silly things you are eating will definitely produce results. As an example, I was eating loads of croissants, butter bread and buying blocks of cheese and putting it on just about everything. I still buy the cheese, but only use a tiny amount. The taste is still there. It is particularly important to take action, especially if weight appears "above the belt". This typically happens in peoples' late 50s, and progresses. change direction o

I don't care how large a person is, if they eat a balanced diet and get exercise at least 3-4 times a week that is good. Not everyone is made to be a certain size and weight. I'm not going to lose weight so the person next to me can feel better about themselves. No one should stop living and seclude themselves from society because of narrow minded people. If you are fat... so be it. If you want to change... change it. If you are skinny... so be it. If you want to change... change it. People are people no matter how you define it. Living healthy and enjoying life does not mean being skinny. Eating healthy is different for all people. Foods react to each person’s body uniquely. I say, just live your life to the fullest and enjoy every minute.

Human beings are not designed to be the weight current averages are in the United States. Many obese people suffer from emotional eating habits and depression. They are lost and ignorant when it relates to food.

The real sad story about the effect these obese people have on our society is many of them are having and raising children! Many of these morbidly obese humans are setting up their children for a life of obesity and probably early stages of diabetes.

Concerning the healthcare aspect of obesity, we all end up paying for these weak, simple-minded depressed people that give in to cravings and destructive eating habits. Some would classify an obese person in same category as a drug addict. It's a very complicated topic with many point of views.

i always believe in being patient. many people just give up in 2 weeks or so. the idea of losing weight has got to be long term.after having my second child i weighed a whooping 73 kgs.I purchased a treadmill and started exercising slowly,eating right..i have chappatis for dinner with a bowl of vegetable.i am now 59kgs that is after 2.2 years.these days i am more on building muscles, my treadmill broke so i have now purchased a elliptical trainer......many people give away so much money for all the fast food,dresses etc i feel one shld invest in ones health first..these machines are good one has to go and get it.
all the best for all who r trying to lose weight