Moved to America, now struggling to get under control
Replies
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lemurcat12 wrote: »HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
I fail to see how discussing pitfalls has anything to do with not taking responsibility.bigmuneymfp wrote: »HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
Ah. So have you been to Australia or not?bigmuneymfp wrote: »HeliumIsNoble wrote: »
How do you find Australian and/or UK food compares then, in your visits there and here, then?bigmuneymfp wrote: »I moved here from AU and found the same thing. The food is quite different, portion sizes and hard to find healthy alternatives. I also found everything, well nearly everything has high fructose corn syrup which is not good for the waist line. Plus all the hidden sugar and salt in foods. Even the bread tastes sweet compared to what we are used to.
It took no time to put it on and even longer to take it off. My advice, read the labels on everything, if you don't know what it is then avoid it.
Complete bs
It's irrelevant you can buy anything you want in the US
Let's recap. A poster describes their experiences with adjusting to US food culture, and made suggestions for how the OP could adjust too, as have others. Recommendations have all basically been to be mindful during shopping, without allowing yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security by knowledge of the calorie counts in an equivalent product elsewhere, as they always are on this kind of thread.
I think reducing all that to "complete bs" reflects very poorly on you.
Another bs post, take responsibility, count calories, don't get fat, it's simple
Claiming that it's difficult to find low cal food in a place like Denver seems questionable to me.
I live in Chicago which is likely less health conscious than Denver, and it's incredibly simple if one wants to do it.
Agree. I live in MI (lemurcat and I are practically neighbors lol), and I have no problem finding lots of food that would be considered low calories and 'healthy'. Grocery stores have large produce sections as well as isles and isles full of things like whole grain items, beans and lentils, fish, eggs, frozen produce etc etc. We also have numerous farmers markets in the summer where you can find all sorts of locally grown/raised food. Many of the farmers also sell during the fall and winter in shops and online with local pick up, where you can get shares of local, pasture raised beef/pig, eggs, canned items, local honey etc.
I also have no problem going out to eat and finding options that fit within my calorie goals, from salads to fish centered meals. I've learned to check restaurant's websites before going, ordering water to drink, choosing low calorie options most of the time, and then if I want to go with something higher calorie I either split it, save some for later or I adjust the rest of my day to fit in the calories. It's really not a big deal.
Op, I'm a bit confused because it sounds like you used to be obese in the UK? It doesn't sound like location is an issue, but that you struggle to keep your calorie intake lined up with your weight management goals. Taking responsibility for what's actually the problem will go a long way in helping you take control of the situation and then moving on and correcting it.1 -
rheddmobile wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »HeliumIsNoble wrote: »Probably because although I don't know Denver, I know what she means about soup options. I think we have similar eating habits. I am a forgetful idiot, so end up far from home without my prelogged packed lunch frequently. However, thus far, it has never been a problem, because I just find a supermarket and buy a soup or curry in a plastic tub from the cabinet by the door. UK supermarkets do a roaring trade in these, clearly.
Every supermarket I've been in has soup options like that. So do quick serve restaurants, of course.
Probably curry is more rare (here I'd assume curry was high cal unless it was something like a low cal frozen meal), so certainly our premade stuff would be different (but there would be lower cal options available).
There's also normally sushi and sashimi in a grocery store IME. I would not try to buy one (or any food other than maybe a protein bar) at a gas station, but I would hope gas station cuisine does not define us.
Where do you live that there is normally sushi and sashimi in a grocery store? That is certainly not true where I live. There are a couple of brand new grocery stores in ritzy suburbs that have it, but it's the exception, not the rule.
Midwest here and I know Meijer sells sushi.0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »OP, as a European living in US I can understand what you are saying. Everything is bigger here. I can't imagine what portion size looks like in Texas. Lol. There has to be some truth behind the statistics that show that more than 50% of people in US are overweight. But there's overweight people everywhere.
All that means is that it takes a little more work, but it's doable. You just have to adjust your portion size.
I have relatives in TX and when we visit the thing that always surprises me is the big hair and high heels lol. We were there one year for a cousin's wedding and that was quite the culture shock-how they do weddings is much different than how we do weddings here in the midwest. Food wise I didn't notice anything different except the rehearsal dinner was at a very upscale steak house and the portions were grotesque in size. But, I just ate how much I'd normally eat and then left the rest. Still fit into my size 2 dress the next day for the wedding
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100 cal snacks are very easy to find. They might not all be individually wrapped for convenience, but they are there. You just have to do the work and look.
I'm a little boggled at the fact that if our portion sizes at restaurants are "obviously" larger than other countries, why would you make the conscious decision to eat the WHOLE thing? Do people think we somehow found a magical way to get more bang for our buck yet still stay in a healthy calorie range?
I guess the point is, a little effort goes a long way. None of this blame game bs.2 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »I can sympathise with you as I noticed while living in the US it is almost impossible to buy healthy convenience foods. We take for granted the fact we can pop into an M&S attached to a petrol station and buy a 150cal five bean salad or fresh sushi. In the US there are no healthy fast foods. You have to go to cafes inside Whole Foods or pack your own food from home.
For eating out my husband and I would ALWAYS split a meal...with him being twice my size he'd eat about two thirds and I'd eat a third and we'd both be satiated. I did like Panera though because you can buy half salads and half sandwiches. They do this because people are encouraged to have a half salad with a soup or a half sandwich. I'd just buy a half salad or half sandwich and eat that by itself. Don't fall for the Oanera ploy of do you want a pastry for only $1 more? (Noooooo)
In the US the portion sizes are massive but over time, they don't look so massive you get desensitised into thinking you're starving yourself. Scientific studies have also shown that if you are presented with more food, you'll eat more food so that is why splitting a meal or just ordering a half size up front is you best bet to not overeat. Too, some restaurants have menus for senior citizens that tend to be smaller sized and lower calorie...i.e. Two egg omelette instead of the standard ridiculously huge three or four egg omelette. I've asked if I can order them before and usually the restaurant will let you. At times, if my husband and I don't want the same meal, we'll each order an appetiser and a side salad as our meal which works too. Follow just the portioning rules on cheat days..make cheat days be about eating what you want but not overeating/gorging on whatever you want.
if you think our portion sizes are big now you should have seen them 20-30 years ago. most things that are prepackaged here have SHRUNK in size.we used to be able to supersize at mcdonalds,they dont do that now,but its still all about calories in vs calories out.I have never been to a gas station here in the us where they sell fresh sushi.he fast food restaurants in the us most of them do have healthier options,its not all "bad" foods
American portion sizes are HUGE, I can't imagine what they were years ago.
I think they are as big or bigger than 20 years ago, definitely bigger than 30 years ago. What adults ate when I was a kid would be considered small or child-sized now if we mean fast food.
For regular restaurants there's a good bit of variety (fine dining won't necessarily have huge portions, but your casual or steak house or ethnic place often will be quite large), but I'd say no smaller now than then. Quick service type places are going to have more normal sized things and have calories available (one place I buy lunch off and on is Pret a Manger, and looking at the sites I am pretty sure the US restaurants do not have larger servings than the UK restaurants -- some stuff is larger and more caloric than others, you can get multiple sizes of soup, etc.) and that is typical of what I can get at other similar places here. Some places (like Noodles Inc., although I rarely go there) has 2 sizes and the smaller one is what I personally would want, but it's not like only the large one is available.0 -
crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »OP, as a European living in US I can understand what you are saying. Everything is bigger here. I can't imagine what portion size looks like in Texas. Lol. There has to be some truth behind the statistics that show that more than 50% of people in US are overweight. But there's overweight people everywhere.
All that means is that it takes a little more work, but it's doable. You just have to adjust your portion size.
I have relatives in TX and when we visit the thing that always surprises me is the big hair and high heels lol. We were there one year for a cousin's wedding and that was quite the culture shock-how they do weddings is much different than how we do weddings here in the midwest. Food wise I didn't notice anything different except the rehearsal dinner was at a very upscale steak house and the portions were grotesque in size. But, I just ate how much I'd normally eat and then left the rest. Still fit into my size 2 dress the next day for the wedding
It is strange our perception of things. I live in Austin TX and I rarely see big hair and high heels. If you had of said cowboy boots I would agree!
I have lived all over the US and the place where I saw the most high heels was DC.
As far as hair goes...it is so hot here during the summer and hot for so long that mostly I see hair pulled up for coolness. Texas does love their beef and pickup trucks!
In other parts of Texas your assessment might be accurate. Even within a state things vary...even within a city. Austin is very much a foodie dream and you can find about anything you want. We are known for having a taco truck on every corner...so someone said during the elections.
To tie in to the OP..
In Texas and within Austin we have a diverse population. I shop at HEB (a Texas and Mexico based grocery). At the HEB that I shop at now they serve a very large Hispanic population while at the HEB that I used to shop at they don't. Their stock is different even their produce varies a lot. I am always amazed at what I find. Cactus and some other strange things are offered where I shop now while my other HEB doesn't have it (at least it is not prominent).
At the holiday time I walked by a freezer chest that contained whole hog heads...I was disturbed at first until I thought about it. Many in our Hispanic communities cook them at their celebrations. Grocery's cater to the demands of their shoppers.
While it might take a while to get used to shopping in other locals the options are there if people spend the time to look for them.
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Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.6
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crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »OP, as a European living in US I can understand what you are saying. Everything is bigger here. I can't imagine what portion size looks like in Texas. Lol. There has to be some truth behind the statistics that show that more than 50% of people in US are overweight. But there's overweight people everywhere.
All that means is that it takes a little more work, but it's doable. You just have to adjust your portion size.
I have relatives in TX and when we visit the thing that always surprises me is the big hair and high heels lol. We were there one year for a cousin's wedding and that was quite the culture shock-how they do weddings is much different than how we do weddings here in the midwest. Food wise I didn't notice anything different except the rehearsal dinner was at a very upscale steak house and the portions were grotesque in size. But, I just ate how much I'd normally eat and then left the rest. Still fit into my size 2 dress the next day for the wedding
It is strange our perception of things. I live in Austin TX and I rarely see big hair and high heels. If you had of said cowboy boots I would agree!
I think of TX as having much bigger hair than here, but not Austin (which I love, you are lucky), but more Dallas or Houston. I've never done anything especially formal in Austin (or San Antonio), but only in Dallas (and I went to a wedding in Houston years ago), so that all colors it, perhaps.0 -
JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.8 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
I was wondering how many people that are getting offended by the OP have tried living abroad (not just a holiday). There is so much to deal with and food is just one of many things that can be bewildering! It looks from some replies as though one should ask not advice on here, just suck it up and work it out for yourself otherwise you're just not putting in the effort. I hope that the OP sees past all those replies as there are a lot of helpful people on here.4 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »OP, as a European living in US I can understand what you are saying. Everything is bigger here. I can't imagine what portion size looks like in Texas. Lol. There has to be some truth behind the statistics that show that more than 50% of people in US are overweight. But there's overweight people everywhere.
All that means is that it takes a little more work, but it's doable. You just have to adjust your portion size.
I have relatives in TX and when we visit the thing that always surprises me is the big hair and high heels lol. We were there one year for a cousin's wedding and that was quite the culture shock-how they do weddings is much different than how we do weddings here in the midwest. Food wise I didn't notice anything different except the rehearsal dinner was at a very upscale steak house and the portions were grotesque in size. But, I just ate how much I'd normally eat and then left the rest. Still fit into my size 2 dress the next day for the wedding
It is strange our perception of things. I live in Austin TX and I rarely see big hair and high heels. If you had of said cowboy boots I would agree!
I think of TX as having much bigger hair than here, but not Austin (which I love, you are lucky), but more Dallas or Houston. I've never done anything especially formal in Austin (or San Antonio), but only in Dallas (and I went to a wedding in Houston years ago), so that all colors it, perhaps.
When I first moved here I thought the same thing. Austin fortunately...is different to say the least. As a result we are one of the fastest growing cities in the US. It is often said to be the next San Francisco. I believe it based on how real estate is rising.
Are you familiar with this show?
http://abc.go.com/shows/gcb
It was basically the stereotypical idea of Texas.
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Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
You don't know to what extent we've lived in/purchased food outside the US, and as noted there are huge differences within the US. If OP had been writing from, I dunno, Little Rock (and I might be being unfair), I personally would have had a different reaction than claiming you can't get diet-friendly food in Denver. As I said upthread, I found it difficult when driving around MS for a couple of days. If I lived in MS for 2.5 years (where the options would be quite different from what I am used to in Chicago), I expect I would have figured it out and if not when writing a post I would say "hey, what do people who live here do for these specific needs?", not say that I was gaining weight because none of the right things were available in Mississippi.
That said, I think people are quite willing to help if she's more specific about her concerns/what she's looking for and why what she finds is inadequate. It seems like OP wants more premade stuff than I normally buy, and of course brands are going to be different here and convenience stuff more different than ingredients, but to claim she cannot find reasonable options in Denver vs. the UK seems questionable. Denver is a reasonably health-conscious city. My guess is that the healthy options in Denver compare quite favorably to those in at least some parts of the UK.1 -
crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »OP, as a European living in US I can understand what you are saying. Everything is bigger here. I can't imagine what portion size looks like in Texas. Lol. There has to be some truth behind the statistics that show that more than 50% of people in US are overweight. But there's overweight people everywhere.
All that means is that it takes a little more work, but it's doable. You just have to adjust your portion size.
I have relatives in TX and when we visit the thing that always surprises me is the big hair and high heels lol. We were there one year for a cousin's wedding and that was quite the culture shock-how they do weddings is much different than how we do weddings here in the midwest. Food wise I didn't notice anything different except the rehearsal dinner was at a very upscale steak house and the portions were grotesque in size. But, I just ate how much I'd normally eat and then left the rest. Still fit into my size 2 dress the next day for the wedding
I always ask for a takeout box when they bring me my meal, put the portion I don't plan to eat in there, and procede to eat my (now normal sized) meal off my plate. I never leave food behind as I am anti-waste to a fault.0 -
I think everyone has give her fair advice and not been bullying.
She's been here for 2 years and has had plenty of time to adjust and find ways to lose the excess weight, just as she was able to do in the U.K.
If she was overweight in the U.K. at one time, why can't she do the same here? It's not the country she is living in that is the issue.1 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
I was wondering how many people that are getting offended by the OP have tried living abroad (not just a holiday). There is so much to deal with and food is just one of many things that can be bewildering! It looks from some replies as though one should ask not advice on here, just suck it up and work it out for yourself otherwise you're just not putting in the effort. I hope that the OP sees past all those replies as there are a lot of helpful people on here.
I have never lived outside the US...however...
My son lived in Germany for a year. It is where he learned to shop and cook on his own. His complaint when he came back to the US was that there were too many options for him at the grocery store. Items were labelled differently...to many variables. Take for example milk...full fat, low fat, 1%, 2%, 0%, half & half...etc...etc. He gave up cooking for the most part and went back to take-away.
I watch a lot of cooking shows out of the UK and Australia. Often they mention things that I have never heard of. I have to look it up to find out what it is. So if the OP did ask at the market for a specific item they might not know what she is talking about nor she might not have known what to ask for. It takes time and research to figure it all out.
On a side note...I think that both sides have some valid points...both sides could have worded things a little differently.4 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
You don't know to what extent we've lived in/purchased food outside the US, and as noted there are huge differences within the US. If OP had been writing from, I dunno, Little Rock (and I might be being unfair), I personally would have had a different reaction than claiming you can't get diet-friendly food in Denver. As I said upthread, I found it difficult when driving around MS for a couple of days. If I lived in MS for 2.5 years (where the options would be quite different from what I am used to in Chicago), I expect I would have figured it out and if not when writing a post I would say "hey, what do people who live here do for these specific needs?", not say that I was gaining weight because none of the right things were available in Mississippi.
That said, I think people are quite willing to help if she's more specific about her concerns/what she's looking for and why what she finds is inadequate. It seems like OP wants more premade stuff than I normally buy, and of course brands are going to be different here and convenience stuff more different than ingredients, but to claim she cannot find reasonable options in Denver vs. the UK seems questionable. Denver is a reasonably health-conscious city. My guess is that the healthy options in Denver compare quite favorably to those in at least some parts of the UK.
I'm not going to split hairs with you. I agree with many points you are making.
However, people spend a lot of energy judging others here, instead of trying to help.
This is not a "win the internet" competition, nobody cares how smart someone is. Either offer advice or have a mature discussion without judgement and blame.
I took the point of this post as "culture shock including nutrition ". Many took it as " OP is making excuses. I was fat once and I lost weight, so I'm gonna show her that she is making excuses".5 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
You don't know to what extent we've lived in/purchased food outside the US, and as noted there are huge differences within the US. If OP had been writing from, I dunno, Little Rock (and I might be being unfair), I personally would have had a different reaction than claiming you can't get diet-friendly food in Denver. As I said upthread, I found it difficult when driving around MS for a couple of days. If I lived in MS for 2.5 years (where the options would be quite different from what I am used to in Chicago), I expect I would have figured it out and if not when writing a post I would say "hey, what do people who live here do for these specific needs?", not say that I was gaining weight because none of the right things were available in Mississippi.
That said, I think people are quite willing to help if she's more specific about her concerns/what she's looking for and why what she finds is inadequate. It seems like OP wants more premade stuff than I normally buy, and of course brands are going to be different here and convenience stuff more different than ingredients, but to claim she cannot find reasonable options in Denver vs. the UK seems questionable. Denver is a reasonably health-conscious city. My guess is that the healthy options in Denver compare quite favorably to those in at least some parts of the UK.
I'm not going to split hairs with you. I agree with many points you are making.
However, people spend a lot of energy judging others here, instead of trying to help.
This is not a "win the internet" competition, nobody cares how smart someone is. Either offer advice or have a mature discussion without judgement and blame.
I took the point of this post as "culture shock including nutrition ". Many took it as " OP is making excuses. I was fat once and I lost weight, so I'm gonna show her that she is making excuses".
How long should culture shock last?
I've read many people here offering her advice as far as reading labels more carefully, weighing everything, move more ... I'm not seeing too much bullying ... just their perspectives.3 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.2 -
1AutumnDay wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
You don't know to what extent we've lived in/purchased food outside the US, and as noted there are huge differences within the US. If OP had been writing from, I dunno, Little Rock (and I might be being unfair), I personally would have had a different reaction than claiming you can't get diet-friendly food in Denver. As I said upthread, I found it difficult when driving around MS for a couple of days. If I lived in MS for 2.5 years (where the options would be quite different from what I am used to in Chicago), I expect I would have figured it out and if not when writing a post I would say "hey, what do people who live here do for these specific needs?", not say that I was gaining weight because none of the right things were available in Mississippi.
That said, I think people are quite willing to help if she's more specific about her concerns/what she's looking for and why what she finds is inadequate. It seems like OP wants more premade stuff than I normally buy, and of course brands are going to be different here and convenience stuff more different than ingredients, but to claim she cannot find reasonable options in Denver vs. the UK seems questionable. Denver is a reasonably health-conscious city. My guess is that the healthy options in Denver compare quite favorably to those in at least some parts of the UK.
I'm not going to split hairs with you. I agree with many points you are making.
However, people spend a lot of energy judging others here, instead of trying to help.
This is not a "win the internet" competition, nobody cares how smart someone is. Either offer advice or have a mature discussion without judgement and blame.
I took the point of this post as "culture shock including nutrition ". Many took it as " OP is making excuses. I was fat once and I lost weight, so I'm gonna show her that she is making excuses".
How long should culture shock last?
I've read many people here offering her advice as far as reading labels more carefully, weighing everything, move more ... I'm not seeing too much bullying ... just their perspectives.
My parents have been living here for 6 years and are still in culture shock. People adapt differently.0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
I actually find the comparisons interesting. But some have been way off (not saying it was you).1 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
I actually find the comparisons interesting. But some have been way off (not saying it was you).
Well here's what I think a good example. I'm from Greece, I came here and it took me some time to get used to the food etc. I don't cook much Greek food at all. I go to my mom's every Saturday, and she cooks Greek food. I see those dinners as "messing" with my cutting cycle now. When I go back home I panick a little, and am much heavier when I come back. Change is not easy, takes work and adjustment0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
I actually find the comparisons interesting. But some have been way off (not saying it was you).
Well here's what I think a good example. I'm from Greece, I came here and it took me some time to get used to the food etc. I don't cook much Greek food at all. I go to my mom's every Saturday, and she cooks Greek food. I see those dinners as "messing" with my cutting cycle now. When I go back home I panick a little, and am much heavier when I come back. Change is not easy, takes work and adjustment
But you are not blaming Greece for your panicking ... it's the food you choose to eat0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
My view is that "Europe" and "the US" are both far too broad categories to compare.
I'd also say that being stuck with what mom cooks is different from being stuck with everything that one can buy in Denver. Staying with family can be awkward, not having control of what you are given can be difficult, but I don't think that's what the thread is about.2 -
1AutumnDay wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
I actually find the comparisons interesting. But some have been way off (not saying it was you).
Well here's what I think a good example. I'm from Greece, I came here and it took me some time to get used to the food etc. I don't cook much Greek food at all. I go to my mom's every Saturday, and she cooks Greek food. I see those dinners as "messing" with my cutting cycle now. When I go back home I panick a little, and am much heavier when I come back. Change is not easy, takes work and adjustment
But you are not blaming Greece for your panicking ... it's the food you choose to eat
Agree. The word choices were not the best.
And I got heavier when to China too, because I changed my routine and I didn't know how much or what I was eating. At some point you have to start paying attention to what you are feeding yourself and adapt. I think OP has not met that point yet, or is working on it.1 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »1AutumnDay wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
Maybe. I also find it funny how many who really haven't lived in the US.seem to have a lot to say about what we have and don't have.
Since you quoted me, I'm going to assume it's directed to me. Having lived in Europe for 22 years and US for 13 years I can make a comparison.
I actually find the comparisons interesting. But some have been way off (not saying it was you).
Well here's what I think a good example. I'm from Greece, I came here and it took me some time to get used to the food etc. I don't cook much Greek food at all. I go to my mom's every Saturday, and she cooks Greek food. I see those dinners as "messing" with my cutting cycle now. When I go back home I panick a little, and am much heavier when I come back. Change is not easy, takes work and adjustment
But you are not blaming Greece for your panicking ... it's the food you choose to eat
Agree. The word choices were not the best.
And I got heavier when to China too, because I changed my routine and I didn't know how much or what I was eating. At some point you have to start paying attention to what you are feeding yourself and adapt. I think OP has not met that point yet, or is working on it.
Also, agreed.
Same situation for me .... I visit my grandma and it is all German cooking. I always bring a side dish that I love and will not be tempted to eat the yummy taters. But, oh my ... all the meat :-))0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »JohnnyPenso wrote: »Yet another member genuinely asking for some help, who didn't word her OP perfectly and is now subject to the usual MFP style of bullying behaviour that 99% of us would vehemently object to if it happened to us in our real lives. "Let's all climb aboard the pedantic express and ride this noob till she crashes!". Sometimes I feel like I've accidentally fallen into a YouTube comment section.
Love it.
Yes, OP worded it a little too strong, but funny thing is how many people that never lived outside US pretend to have a fair view of what she is saying.
You don't know to what extent we've lived in/purchased food outside the US, and as noted there are huge differences within the US. If OP had been writing from, I dunno, Little Rock (and I might be being unfair), I personally would have had a different reaction than claiming you can't get diet-friendly food in Denver. As I said upthread, I found it difficult when driving around MS for a couple of days. If I lived in MS for 2.5 years (where the options would be quite different from what I am used to in Chicago), I expect I would have figured it out and if not when writing a post I would say "hey, what do people who live here do for these specific needs?", not say that I was gaining weight because none of the right things were available in Mississippi.
That said, I think people are quite willing to help if she's more specific about her concerns/what she's looking for and why what she finds is inadequate. It seems like OP wants more premade stuff than I normally buy, and of course brands are going to be different here and convenience stuff more different than ingredients, but to claim she cannot find reasonable options in Denver vs. the UK seems questionable. Denver is a reasonably health-conscious city. My guess is that the healthy options in Denver compare quite favorably to those in at least some parts of the UK.
I'm not going to split hairs with you. I agree with many points you are making.
However, people spend a lot of energy judging others here, instead of trying to help.
This is not a "win the internet" competition, nobody cares how smart someone is. Either offer advice or have a mature discussion without judgement and blame.
I took the point of this post as "culture shock including nutrition ". Many took it as " OP is making excuses. I was fat once and I lost weight, so I'm gonna show her that she is making excuses".
I'd say (1) we need more information to help. (Information I'd expect would have been provided if OP was asking for real help vs. just complaining about how hard it is in the US, which is why I read her post the way I did, but I have already apologized if I misread it and asked follow up questions with the intent of helping.)
And (2), people had a variety of responses, so grouping them all under one broad umbrella (being judgy or whatever) for not being exactly like you (or others, since Johnny Penso's post is the one that got under my skin, not really yours) is usually not going to further the discussion.
What I noted from the OP was not culture shock (I've never found not having the exact foods I eat at home a reason for culture shock when traveling, and the food differences US to UK are not going to be so incredibly huge, I bet you'd get more differences within the US than between two cities in the US and UK). Instead, I saw that she'd been quite heavy in the UK, lost weight, found it easy for a time and was finding that it was getting harder -- all things that are common -- but blaming a difficulty in finding lower cal food in Denver, where I think there is a lot of quite healthy, low cal food. I also noticed that she seemed to be limiting what she was looking for and where she was looking and that's totally fine but explains any difficulties and we could respond better if we understood what she saw as her requirements (buying food of a certain price point, premade, no leftovers, certain tastes, whatever).0 -
To those that have moved to the US...
If I understand correctly most European countries report calories is 100g amounts. Did it make it difficult to transition to portion sizes that are used in the US?0 -
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Random aside, but one of my best friends is Greek (born here, but her parents came here in the '60s) and other friends and I always love hearing about all the differences between what we ate as kids -- typically US midwestern -- and what she did. It's always amazing to learn that she never had peanut butter growing up or was never faced with the horrors of a typical midwestern casserole or jello salad. But she will slam the things her mom cooked too (and speak of culture shock when being brought back to the more rural place they came from as a kid, from her normal residence in the Chicago 'burbs).0
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