Your expected to eat this!

DiabolicBooger

I am usually horizontal during 2 of the 3 traditional meal peroids of the day and i think this has contributed to me reaching my goals...when im not present for a meal there is no expectation that i will eat what ever was prepared....in other words im not pressured to eat what ever crap was prepared...instead i have my own meal peroids which i plan for based on my exercise and the way my body feels (which is a better way of deciding when and what to eat)...Why does society have social eating periods 3 times a day? i understand the human emotional need to socialize but why must it be at a dinner table??? what if instead of socializing at the breakfast table together you instead socialize at the racketball court during that peroid and after that social event at the recketball court you are then responisible to go eat something on your own by your own choosing......Then for lunch at work; instead of everyone piling in a car to go eat burger king together you all went to the volleball court and socialized there at the volleyball court, then after lunch break at the volleyball court is over you are responisible for eating something on your own by your own choosing...same thing for dinner...we could call these exercise peroids exercisefast, exerciseunch, and exercisenner....don't you think this would make for a less over weight society? Why do we have to associate fun and socialization with eating 3 times a day every day? Why can't we associate fun and socialization with exercise 3 times a day every day of the week? Is the system we created and patronize causing/contributing to this fatness epidemic?

78Octane

You have any more of that stuff you're smoking left?

selzam2

I actually think what you're saying is quite sensible and on point! I know that I fear social gatherings because the consensus is that it's okay to go overboard on food - we're all having quality time, yay! My family usually "socializes" around our kitchen counter with plates full of finger foods spanning from end to end. It's awful! Tasty, but awful. Unfortunately it's one of those social norms that will be hard, if not impossible, to break. Personally I try taking walks with friends whenever I can, that way at least a percentage of our indulgences will be worked off in advance..

ElviraCross

you're***

suzieqcookie

You have any more of that stuff your smoking left?

^that^

XtyAnn17

If society would change to that I think it would be amazing.

katiekrusher

you're***

That is the only reason why I clicked this post...

gaylynn35

Sure, just get the rest of the world on board!! :bigsmile:

kcmcd

It's hard to talk when you're working your butt off. Granted, there would be less butt to work off if we all exercised more often. But, I think I'll just stick to eating at meal times and exercising around them.

NoAdditives

Throughout history, feasting is associated with celebration. The problem is not that we associate food with merriment, but rather that our resources have made it possible for us to feast as frequently as we wish. Combine that with our largely sedentary lifestyle and general lack of portion size knowledge and you have a recipe for obesity.

INFJ

The scientists should just put all the nutrients we eat into a pill, then we wouldn't have to eat if we didn't feel like it. Like in the Jetsons. No dishes to do either!

xoalyssaox

I get what your saying, but wow. LOL

DiabolicBooger

sorry dont do drugs

SGT_Reg

Get a load of this guy. Outstanding idea. Good luck

elyelyse

If everyone goes to play volleyball during work lunch break, then when do they eat? While sitting working at their desk? Or grabbing quick bites of food between tasks? I don't see that as any healthier. No one says that eating a meal socially means you have to eat what everyone else is eating, or as much. I don't want to isolate myself from people just bc I don't think I can have enough discipline to make healthy choices around other people.
Also, it's been proven that families who sit together for dinner have more communication than those who don't. Most families don't have a schedule that permits everyday exercise together as a family, but everyone needs to eat.

DiabolicBooger

im not saying its possible to get everyone on board with this idea....but maybe this concept if applied properly by someone who really wants serious results like i have gotten will benifit from just saying "NO" (firmly and respectfully) to social eating events


Results lost 44 lbs in 47 days

mandipandi75

Gee, I'd love to reply with somewhat of an intellectual retort but frankly your statement was too long to read all the way through. Maybe if I gain some time and energy, I will come back later to do so.

DiabolicBooger

If you want results and want them in a timely manner you will have to take a hard line i many aspects of your life and break down these social contructs which have aided in the weight you have gained in the past....No excuses, just do it.

myfitnessval

I wish this too sometimes with my family. All our get togethers revolve around food, and we're mexican so usually its deep fried or filled with lard and carbs. The beauty is that one person can make a change and when I have a family someday I plan on instilling the importance of staying active and eating healthy so when I have get togethers they will be centered around something healthy instead! Breaking the cycle.

iammegs

It makes sense that families and close friends would eat together. The main problem is that portion sizes have gotten out of control. It's also a lot easier for people who don't have much free time or have different interests because everyone has to eat, so they might as well eat together.

In moderate defense of the social meal, studies have shown that in families who eat meals together regularly, children typically have higher grades in school and are more comfortable in social situations. That's probably because there aren't many situations anymore when family can just sit and chat... it's hard to have a regular conversation or ask "How was school today?" if you're watching TV or working out.

Bottom line: Maybe you can try switching your meal times to just before meals at home so you're full and are sitting at the table but not hungry enough to reach for anything. That way you don't miss out on the psychological benefits of social eating, but don't have the negative side effects.

DiabolicBooger

Myfitnessval Said "I wish this too sometimes with my family. All our get togethers revolve around food, and we're mexican so usually its deep fried or filled with lard and carbs. The beauty is that one person can make a change and when I have a family someday I plan on instilling the importance of staying active and eating healthy so when I have get togethers they will be centered around something healthy instead! Breaking the cycle. "

Good job i agree, have a vegi platter with mustard instead of a cheese platter. Center around something healthy.

Not all social events that have food are bad, for instance a picnic has plenty of healthy exercise like activities to enjoy insteat of hot sausage and double cheeseburgers

NoAdditives

I wish this too sometimes with my family. All our get togethers revolve around food, and we're mexican so usually its deep fried or filled with lard and carbs. The beauty is that one person can make a change and when I have a family someday I plan on instilling the importance of staying active and eating healthy so when I have get togethers they will be centered around something healthy instead! Breaking the cycle.

You can instill those healthy habits and still have gatherings involving food. There's nothing wrong with food. And, as I mentioned earlier, it's sort of an evolutionary thing to have celebrations focused on food. Every culture does it, and cultures have been doing it for thousands of years. Food is kind of a big deal, since, you know, we need it to live.

DiabolicBooger

It makes sense that families and close friends would eat together. The main problem is that portion sizes have gotten out of control. It's also a lot easier for people who don't have much free time or have different interests because everyone has to eat, so they might as well eat together.

In moderate defense of the social meal, studies have shown that in families who eat meals together regularly, children typically have higher grades in school and are more comfortable in social situations. That's probably because there aren't many situations anymore when family can just sit and chat... it's hard to have a regular conversation or ask "How was school today?" if you're watching TV or working out.

Bottom line: Maybe you can try switching your meal times to just before meals at home so you're full and are sitting at the table but not hungry enough to reach for anything. That way you don't miss out on the psychological benefits of social eating, but don't have the negative side effects.

I agree but spending time with family can and should be done other places than the dinner table

haleydself

Heck yeah!!! I HATE being invited to dinner with a bunch of people.. It seems they all order the most fattening stuff, and I feel "obligated" to do the same.. especially if they are paying. Healthy stuff on the menu is always so much more expensive then, say, a burger and fries! I would love if more people would want to hang out and play some volley ball, and brink some gatorade or something! lol!!

DiabolicBooger

I wish this too sometimes with my family. All our get togethers revolve around food, and we're mexican so usually its deep fried or filled with lard and carbs. The beauty is that one person can make a change and when I have a family someday I plan on instilling the importance of staying active and eating healthy so when I have get togethers they will be centered around something healthy instead! Breaking the cycle.

You can instill those healthy habits and still have gatherings involving food. There's nothing wrong with food. And, as I mentioned earlier, it's sort of an evolutionary thing to have celebrations focused on food. Every culture does it, and cultures have been doing it for thousands of years. Food is kind of a big deal, since, you know, we need it to live.

Ok celebrate with food, but not 3 times a day every day, dont eat out for 1500 cals 3 times a week, how about celebrate with food when its realy warranted like 5 major holidays a year and 5 birthdays a year, thats less than once a month. We as americans seem to want a celebration of food at every meal or once a day. It's all about moderation.

sarah44254

I don't have specific meal times and I don't even make my foods into meals. On my best days I portion out my plan and eat it as I get the urge to. On my worst days I just bake/make whatever sounds good and eat eat eat.

Resulting in 1000 or 3500 calories, depending on how I feel.

I can see a similar pattern in people with meals. I feel as though it is the same amount of food, same amount of effort to create it/buy it, so we really aren't gaining any time swapping to the eat on the go method.

I do, however, very much support meetups with activity instead of meetups with food. More movement = healthier bodies.

MindyBlack

you're***

That is the only reason why I clicked this post...

Ditto

DiabolicBooger

Heck yeah!!! I HATE being invited to dinner with a bunch of people.. It seems they all order the most fattening stuff, and I feel "obligated" to do the same.. especially if they are paying. Healthy stuff on the menu is always so much more expensive then, say, a burger and fries! I would love if more people would want to hang out and play some volley ball, and brink some gatorade or something! lol!!

Thank you, you understand the social pressure people put on you. I was at an itailians familys barbq last month and i cant tell you how many times i heard various family member ask another if they were gonna get some food already...mean time that person had already eaten, i saw her eat. and it was not just one person doing the asking and it was not just one person being targeted...i ate very sllllooooooooowwwww.

foxfirekenzie

you're***

MAAAAAAAJOR pet peeve of mine. Seems it may be yours too.

elyelyse

im not saying its possible to get everyone on board with this idea....but maybe this concept if applied properly by someone who really wants serious results like i have gotten will benifit from just saying "NO" (firmly and respectfully) to social eating events


Results lost 44 lbs in 47 days

If one needs to avoid social situations involving food because it's too difficult to adhere to a healthy eating plan at social events, I understand and respect that. However, I think it's healthier, in the long run, at least for me, to learn to have control even in situations where there may be temptations.

I'm happy for you that you have great results to brag about, just keep in mind there is no one size fits all plan. Your original post took on a tone that felt, to me, like you were badmouthing the idea of family/group meals and celebrations involving food. Lots of healthy, fit people eat meals with their families, go to parties, have lunch with co-workers. People have always made food the center of social activity... but we haven't always been this fat as a population.

elijhasmomma

Mandi pandi said "Gee, I'd love to reply with somewhat of an intellectual retort but frankly your statement was too long to read all the way through. Maybe if I gain some time and energy, I will come back later to do so. "


Mandi, I'm sorry reading what was approx 16 sentances was too much for you to handle....now go play with your coloring book.

I'm sorry you can't spell SENTENCES