Tired of hearing the whole foods advice

FitnessTim

I am tired of hearing these health nuts go on and on about whole wheat or unprocessed or natural foods. Is there anyone left in the world who doesn't know these foods are typically healthier? We get it, shut up already.

I try to eat healthy but if I want to have white rice or white bread I will have it. I also use plain old factory made sugar in my recipes. I eat candy, Reese's peanut butter cups, potato chips, hot dogs, McDonald's, Taco Bell, KFC. I just eat these foods in moderation.

I am in very good shape with a body fat percentage between 18-19%. I stay this fit by following the tried and true method of a balanced diet, exercise and monitoring my calorie intake.

If you want to live your life eating nothing but home ground wheat germ and free range corn husks, then by all means go for it. But please don't crucify those of us who commit the sin of enjoying all the tastes of life.

And can someone tell me what are all these toxins that people are trying to flush out of their systems?! I hate it when they use the word toxins without explaining what these "toxins" are? It's idiotic, judgmental and patronizing to general population.

This is all just a mindless rant but I had to get it off my chest. If someone truly believes in the health benefits of certain foods they should feel free to spread that advice. It is helpful if they could back it up with scientific evidence but if all they have is a foo-foo good wholesome feeling about it, that's okay too.

What do you think? Feel free to tell me where I'm wrong.

rai8759

I totally agree. Rant deserved!!

gperry227

Well, it is true that whole foods are better for us. DUH. I'm with you... I know that white sugar, white flour, processed foods are bad for me and put "toxins" in my body. I do like them though and I will continue to eat th em also. I will not deprive myself!!! (Roar!)

You are not wrong. You are just pointing out the obvious.

cardbucfan

I plan to live by the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time, I eat very healthy (much to my children's dismay) but 20% of the time, I can eat that OTHER stuff and enjoy it with no guilt. In my opinion, God gave me taste buds for a reason! And so far, it's working really well for me.

ambercole

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! I feel the same way!!!!

redkoolayde

All I can say is AMEN! I went with a friend of mine to visit her midwife and she was talking about this all natural peanut butter from Trader Joes which costs $10.00. I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I said I eat Skippy Natural, with real sugar and just eat the portion size of 2tbs max and I am just fine. I agree. I eat a piece of candy here and there and I buy supermarket brand wheat bread or real pasta and I am just fine. I think your rant can be understood by many!

RaeN81

I also enjoy all kinds of foods in moderation. Honestly, I do not believe people are trying to come off as judgmental but it can really feel that way sometimes. It is one of the reasons I choose to keep my food diary private--to avoid controversy! LOL

zeteticgamin

You make an excellent point - moderation is important!

For a lot of us, though, moderation is incredibly difficult. I do think this is something of a gender thing - most of the men I know can say "I'm going to eat X calories a day and get X amount of exercise per day" and then just do it. Not that men never have emotional issues with food, but it doesn't seem as prominent.

For me, consuming 85%+ whole foods (meaning fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds & beans) make all the difference in how I function. I can think better, I feel better and I can maintain a healthy weight. I do this without getting addicted, and I'm far less prone to emotional binging.

I know I'm not the only one to benefit from the "more whole foods" message, and I often need the reminder (I'm prone to thinking I'm invincible & don't have to watch what I eat & things go downhill very quickly when I go off my plan).

All that being said - I HATE whole wheat pasta & refuse to eat it.

Sherry1979

AMEN!! I agree 100%!!! Whatever works for us as individuals is what we should do. . .and not be judgemental of anyone who chooses to do it differently!! That goes for working out too!!!! Two or three hours a day of hardcore exercise might be what it takes for some people and what they enjoy, and that is great, but for me if I get too intense I start to hate it and won't stick with it. . .just like with the food. So to each his or her own is the way I look at!! Great post, btw!!

bfrederick3015

Fantastic post! Yes, of course whole foods are better BUT if you really want something then, by all means, go ahead and have it! Otherwise, you risk burning out and giving up or turning into that smug health nut that no one wants to invite to a dinner party. Not to be trite, but even the most processed and calorie-laden foods won't hurt in moderation if the rest of your diet is a healthy one.

eglass64

I agree, I know what I'm suppose to be eating and i know what I like. I will do both.

AnnaPixie

Totally agree with you. Goody, goody health food fanatics bore the pants off me! :laugh:

You rant away my friend :flowerforyou:

sallyLunn

I agree. Well said.

FitnessTim

I'm glad you all took the "rant" in the spirit it was given. It's more funny than mean spirited.

Like RaeNicoll, I keep my food diary private for the same reason - to avoid controversy. I don't want to be scolded for having a bowl of Boo-Berry cereal. I also eat Twizzlers as a compromise for not eating a candy bar.

One thing I have found is that when you eat healthy, you get used to it and actually get to like it. I sometime get whole wheat bread because I prefer it. I eat carrots like people eat potato chips, but sometime I just have to have potato chips.

binary_jester

I have never had one person rant about whole foods not being in my diary.

Mamakatspokane

AMEN! Long term, not depriving yourself is usually better.

mommyhof3

All that being said - I HATE whole wheat pasta & refuse to eat it.

Me too! :laugh:

tsunami2009

HAHAHAHAHAHA....Awesome rant. I have health nuts as friends. They all get on me for my sugar and caffeine intake. First off, I find it hard to believe there are people who can survive without caffeine. It is impossible for me.

I had a friend of mine tell me to stop sugar. How in the hell do you stop sugar? It is everywhere. That is like stopping sodium or something. I can watch my sugar intake but I don't know if I can avoid cupcakes, icre cream, or bread for the rest of my life.

Now, I am ranting. LOL.

iwantmyskinnyjeans

I agree with everything in moderation and I'll still have the occasional piece of chocolate or candy, however, I try and do so in moderation. After reading the book Anti-Cancer (after losing a few family members to cancer) and doing my own research, I tried to revamp my diet and eat mostly whole foods (and mostly vegetarian diet although I do like an occasional steak). Our bodies can do amazing things to fight disease using food and a lot of the highly processed, full of sugar foods have the opposite affect on our bodies. I haven't been sick in almost a year!

Either way, I'm not one to push that on others. I'm not into ranting in general!

sgeorgia

thanks...you made me laugh. And i too like to have some bad but oh, so good things now and then :-)

truckerchic

So agree with all the post...Calories are calories not matter where they come from eat to many you will get fat. I have spent way to much money and time trying every "diet" that comes along and the only thing that ever works for me is moderation less in more out, I try to make healthy choices but I wont give up taste and I do treat myself just in smaller doses.
All that aside who can afford to eat all these whole, raw, gluten free, cage free, sugar free, oraganic, vegan foods, we went to a whole foods store the other day came out with about 7 items for $30 and it was nothing special. For so much "FREE" stuff it sure is expensive, I make the lesser of 2 evil choices when it doesnt really matter to me, I wash my fruits and veggies to remove those nasty toxins and save a cpl dollars other than that it is my body Im here for support not to live someone elses life.
No one has looked at my dairy that I know of but if they do and want to offer advice fine thanks but like religion and politics dont push it down my throat please

ahhh deep breath...my rant is done thank you

sallyLunn

Or, you can just eat Twinkies. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/08/news/la-heb-twinkies-diet-20101108

The guy lost 27 pounds eating nothing but snack cakes just to prove a calorie is a calorie.

Better him than me.

stormieweather

I eat mostly whole organic foods, with as little processing and added sugar as possible. This is to control diabetes, high cholesterol, and other serious health issues which runs in my family. It is my choice and what I choose to give my children/family. I am certainly not fanatical about it and don't preach at anyone over their choices. I even had a Dunkin Donuts creme filled donut last week that someone brought into the office. Delicious, but for me, rare. :flowerforyou:

lessertess

I'm often amazed that I've lived as long as I have and remained healthy since eating is soooooooo bloody complicated:

Don't eat meat
Eat nothing but meat
Only eat turkey: everything else will kill you
Eggs are a miracle food
Eggs will kill you
Sugar will kill you
Artificial Sugar will kill you
HFCS will kill you
Salt will kill you
Fat will kill you
Refined/processed foods will kill you
Mercury in fish will kill you
Eating late at night will make you fat (and being fat will kill you)
Eating grains will make you fat.
Eating pasta and rice will make you fat
Eating potatos will make you fat
Eating fat will make you fat
Eating carbohydrates will make you fat.
Only rolled oats are healthy: all other derivatives will kill you.
You must drink water every 15 minutes or you'll become dehydrated (and that will kill you)

You know, as a child I used to go for hours and hours on end with no water in sight and then, if we were thirsty we'd drink from the garden hose. And in college I survived on eggs, mac & cheese and ramon noodles. It's just a matter of sheer luck that I've survived. LOL


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FitnessTim

Great response lessertess. It reminded me that I forgot to mention that I drink tap water, yep straight out of the faucet, no filter, nothing.

I do have certain habits that I follow that I think keep me healthier but is almost never mentioned.

1. I don't let uncooked meat go near other non-meat foods, or use the same utensils.

2. I don't eat at non-chain restaurants unless they've been in business a long, long time. Chain restaurants are extremely paranoid about being labelled as unsafe to eat at and tend to have strict guidelines about how food is handled.

3. I don't buy the first package on a shelf that may have been handled by who knows how many people.

I'm not a germaphobe. It is just that statistically speaking not following these rules is much more dangerous to my health than processed foods. Typically the worst you can expect is a little food poison but why risk it.

I do make exceptions. I have a soft spot for eating breakfast at greasy diners but I only do this like once a year.

gambitsgurl

I'm often amazed that I've lived as long as I have and remained healthy since eating is soooooooo bloody complicated:

Don't eat meat
Eat nothing but meat
Only eat turkey: everything else will kill you
Eggs are a miracle food
Eggs will kill you
Sugar will kill you
Artificial Sugar will kill you
HFCS will kill you
Salt will kill you
Fat will kill you
Refined/processed foods will kill you
Mercury in fish will kill you
Eating late at night will make you fat (and being fat will kill you)
Eating grains will make you fat.
Eating pasta and rice will make you fat
Eating potatos will make you fat
Eating fat will make you fat
Eating carbohydrates will make you fat.
Only rolled oats are healthy: all other derivatives will kill you.
You must drink water every 15 minutes or you'll become dehydrated (and that will kill you)

You know, as a child I used to go for hours and hours on end with no water in sight and then, if we were thirsty we'd drink from the garden hose. And in college I survived on eggs, mac & cheese and ramon noodles. It's just a matter of sheer luck that I've survived. LOL


.

Your laptop computer will kill you.

RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

jbug100

I recently and unfortunately bought the book "Skinny *****" thinking it may be an interesting perspective on eating and nutrition. Boy was I wrong. This book promotes vegan diet and is sooooo restrictive. Maybe this kind of torture works for some, but not for me. I'm proud that I have cleaned up my diet, but I'm not gonna stop enjoying the foods that I love. I like the 80/20 idea.

Ely82010

I'm often amazed that I've lived as long as I have and remained healthy since eating is soooooooo bloody complicated:

Don't eat meat
Eat nothing but meat
Only eat turkey: everything else will kill you
Eggs are a miracle food
Eggs will kill you
Sugar will kill you
Artificial Sugar will kill you
HFCS will kill you
Salt will kill you
Fat will kill you
Refined/processed foods will kill you
Mercury in fish will kill you
Eating late at night will make you fat (and being fat will kill you)
Eating grains will make you fat.
Eating pasta and rice will make you fat
Eating potatos will make you fat
Eating fat will make you fat
Eating carbohydrates will make you fat.
Only rolled oats are healthy: all other derivatives will kill you.
You must drink water every 15 minutes or you'll become dehydrated (and that will kill you)

You know, as a child I used to go for hours and hours on end with no water in sight and then, if we were thirsty we'd drink from the garden hose. And in college I survived on eggs, mac & cheese and ramon noodles. It's just a matter of sheer luck that I've survived. LOL


.

You are soo funny, and your comments soo true!:laugh:

skeetpea

I'm often amazed that I've lived as long as I have and remained healthy since eating is soooooooo bloody complicated:

Don't eat meat
Eat nothing but meat
Only eat turkey: everything else will kill you
Eggs are a miracle food
Eggs will kill you
Sugar will kill you
Artificial Sugar will kill you
HFCS will kill you
Salt will kill you
Fat will kill you
Refined/processed foods will kill you
Mercury in fish will kill you
Eating late at night will make you fat (and being fat will kill you)
Eating grains will make you fat.
Eating pasta and rice will make you fat
Eating potatos will make you fat
Eating fat will make you fat
Eating carbohydrates will make you fat.
Only rolled oats are healthy: all other derivatives will kill you.
You must drink water every 15 minutes or you'll become dehydrated (and that will kill you)

You know, as a child I used to go for hours and hours on end with no water in sight and then, if we were thirsty we'd drink from the garden hose. And in college I survived on eggs, mac & cheese and ramon noodles. It's just a matter of sheer luck that I've survived. LOL


.

this made me lol

reneeot

What do you think? Feel free to tell me where I'm wrong.

YOU ARE SO....................not wrong!!!
I agree with you 100%. Although while I am losing weight I am being more particular. But I do realize eating a piece of white bread is not going to ruin my life!

I'm going to the store and buying some french bread from the bakery in honor of your post!!!
:noway:

smedlund

Great response lessertess. It reminded me that I forgot to mention that I drink tap water, yep straight out of the faucet, no filter, nothing.

I do make exceptions. I have a soft spot for eating breakfast at greasy diners but I only do this like once a year.

I drink water straight out of the tap as well. I also love a good greasy spoon!

I tend to eat more whole grains and "healthy" stuff but I've always been a person who would choose the veggies and doesn't like white bread and tend to eat a diet closer to a vegetarian. That's my choice though and I don't push it on anyone because I don't want someone to push something like a meat only diet on me. Besides, how you complete your weight loss is up to you!