Obesity in America
Posts tagged Fruits And Vegetables
Obesity Problem – Tips That Help You Prevent Obesity
Sep 10th
One of the most serious diseases of our time is obesity, that is – weight increasing above the normal level and accumulation of fat tissue.
Most cases of obesity are due to food abuse. It is enough to exceed the daily consumption of food with a slice of bread, to add each month 1 kilogram (2,20 pounds) of fat tissue to your body. Sedentary lifestyle is the second factor that causes obesity.
There are also people whose weight gain is determined by a predisposition to obesity that originates in having a disease or a hereditary problem.
One of the most efficient treatment to obesity is weight loss diet. This means adopting a new, healthier and more natural eating.
Weight loss diet tips:
eat, daily, 3-5 meals in small portions; consume, at meals, food that have large volume (e.g. salad, fruits); remove from your diet sweets cooked with sugar; reduce oil consumption (no more than 2 tablespoons per day, especially to salads); avoid bread; eat many proteins;
It is good to know that obesity can be prevented and also reduced if we control what we eat daily.
Permitted food: unsweetened drinks, unsweetened fruits and vegetables juices, limited amounts of dark bread, vegetables and fruits, lean beef (chicken, fish), fresh fish (pike, perch, tench, barbel), yogurt, potatoes and semolina in small quantities, and drink a lot of water.
Forbidden foods: sweet fizzy drinks, whole milk, alcohol, white bread, potatoes and farinaceous foods in large quantities, beans, lentils, peas, dried beans in large quantities, walnuts, plums, grapes, raisins, fat meat and fish, pudding, whipped cream, cookies, cream, salt, sugar and sauces.
It is very important to eat at least a day per week raw fruits and vegetables (about 10000-15000g in a day)!
Does “The Biggest Loser” Set Us Up For Failure?
Sep 9th
I enjoy watching “The Biggest Loser” on TV. I enjoy watching the contestants workout, sweat and ultimately lose the pounds. The show is very inspiring for people in the process of losing weight or for others about to start a weight loss program, but could the show be making it harder for the rest of us to shed those extra pounds?
Here are my views:
1) The show itself is unrealistic. Very few people have the time to spend 6-7 hours at their local fitness center. Even fewer people are wealthy enough to be able to afford their own personal trainers for that long. The average rate in the US to hire a personal trainer for an hourly session is between $60-75. You’d have to have deep pockets to be able to afford this much money each and everyday.
2) It is very unhealthy to lose such big numbers in a short time. I am profoundly dumbfounded when I see contestants losing 25-30 lbs per week. This puts too much stress on the heart and other bodily functions and it is very unhealthy. The American Council on Exercise states that individuals engaged in a fat loss regimen should not lose more than 2 lbs per week. Remember that slow and steady is the way to go. Numerous studies have shown that individuals who lose such a large amount of weight in a short time ultimately end up gaining it all back. On the other hand, those who go at it the healthy way have a greater likelihood of keeping the pounds off for good. Seeing such big weight loss numbers from the contestants make us feel ashamed and leaves us feeling like our low numbers are insignificant.
3) Contestants give up their favorite foods. Most of the time, the contestants are eating a very low calorie diet rich in fruits and vegetables but you never see them eating French fries or brownies. A correct weight loss program is one in which the food portions are controlled and “favorite foods” are not eliminated. One can still exercise, lose weight and enjoy their favorite foods a few times throughout the week. The important thing is to eat everything in moderation and to watch and control the portions. Even I, as a personal fitness trainer, I still enjoy my cheesy enchiladas and occasional French fries. You can’t live life on a diet forever!
4) Contestants are closely monitored. How can these obese individuals go from being couch potatoes and living a life of inactivity and overeating to working out 6-7 hours a day? They have all been extensively medically pre-screened. Moreover, doctors and EMTs are standing by in the background in case one of them passes out. Most of us, never see a doctor before starting physical activity, and exercise can be painful and risky if you workout without consulting a doctor and trainer.
While “The Biggest Loser” is a very inspiring TV show, I believe that the show is a disservice to people in the real world trying to lose weight. It makes losing weight seem unattainable and sets us up for failure.
