Watching TV...and eating "clean"

MamaBirdBoss
MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Not stirring the pot. Had a thought that maybe would help people understand.

A lot of people get interested in this idea of the BEST MOST PERFECT DIET EVER. Let's ignore the details--half the time they're contradictory, anyway. Instead, let's talk about screen time and certain foods.

Like eating immoderately, too much screen time has been linked to a TON of bad things. Sedentary behavior, bad grades, sleep disturbance--even autism (not kidding--it's one of the more credible CAUSATIVE links, actually) and ADHD.

To say, I'm going to eat clean is a lot like saying I'm not going to have any bad screen time.

First, there's the definition of "bad." Which screen time is good? Which is bad?

Okay, so you can argue that some shows on the Discovery Channel--some--might be a bit better for you intellectually than most shows on MTV. And of course you need to do your work on your computer. So video games on your PC aren't as important or "good" as your 9 to 5.

But the fact is...if you sit and watch nothing but David Attenborough documentaries or do nothing but work, you're still going to get the effects of too much screen time. It will still be bad.

And there's no reason to not play a first-person shooter for a couple of hours a couple of times a week or to bond over a sports game or to watch the trashiest reality TV show ever just to unwind if it's not part of a 5-hour daily marathon of TV viewing.

Sure, there are people who watch little to no TV. But there lives are not necessarily better or healthier than people who watch a moderate amount of TV or have other screen time, up to and including "junk" TV. And once you start labeling some screen time as junk and other screen time as good, you are going to have a huge fight on your hands no matter what. The video game players will yell about reflexes and camaraderie. The cinephiles will shout about art. Writers will lecture you sternly about good story-telling. And it will go on and on and on.

Because what actually matters at the end of the day, more than the content of the screens, is that it's done in moderation. That's more important than anything else.

I hope this starts making SOME sense!
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Replies

  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    My only TV is the PBS evening news and yes, I do think my life is better and healthier by nearly eliminating TV from my life.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I need cliffs.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    I need cliffs.

    Me too ...seriously....
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I read the whole thing and don't really understand what your point was. Are you comparing food to TV or just talking about TV?

    I have no idea what any of those shows or video games are. The last video game I played was Mario Cart...and only because my son loved playing the games and I wanted to play with him. It was the only game I could play. (Toad is so cute!)

    Could you sum it up, without an explanation, just making the point?
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    SherryTeach wrote: »
    My only TV is the PBS evening news and yes, I do think my life is better and healthier by nearly eliminating TV from my life.

    But you DIDN'T actually eliminate it. And TV isn't any better or worse than other types of screen time. NEXT!

    By the way, I didn't watch any TV at all for years. And my life isn't/wasn't superior to people who watch more as long as it's part of a daily set of other activities and, again, not excessive.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Are you okay?
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    I need cliffs.

    tl;dr: Food is a lot like screen time. You can fight over "good" and "bad" until you're blue in the face and there will be no consensus, but studies show that too much is bad no matter what you're watching and a little is just fine..no matter what you're watching. (Falls apart in that, except for work, screen is largely optional and food is not. But still. :) )
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    mmk whatever
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    Basically
    educational programing, projects that need to be worked on from your computer, and high brow shows = "clean foods"
    Reality tv, cheesy action movies, and video games = "junk foods"

    spending too much time staring at a screen = overeating

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Oh lordy... Please don't :confounded::cold_sweat:
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    The healthiest I've been in the last 15 years was when I had no TV and dial up internet, so, very little time spent on the computer. Very little time sitting in general.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    The healthiest I've been in the last 15 years was when I had no TV and dial up internet, so, very little time spent on the computer. Very little time sitting in general.

    When I was at my fattest, I had no tv, no internet, no cell phone reception, and no land line.

    I still don't know where this is going though haha.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Your analogy is kind of confusing.
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    edited June 2015
    This thread has triggered a Netflix binge.

    ETA: I'm just as lost and confused as everyone else.
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    And here I thought it would be better understood. *headdesk* Never mind! Carry on! As you were!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    jkal1979 wrote: »
    This thread has triggered a Netflix binge.

    ETA: I'm just as lost and confused as everyone else.

    I've been binging on netflix and just finished a pint of froyo with PB2.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    The healthiest I've been in the last 15 years was when I had no TV and dial up internet, so, very little time spent on the computer. Very little time sitting in general.

    When I was at my fattest, I had no tv, no internet, no cell phone reception, and no land line.

    I still don't know where this is going though haha.

    Makes sense. I would have just lain on the floor watching the ceiling fan go round and round and round and round and round...

  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    I was hoping that it would be less controversial for people to realized that people have differing opinions as to what "good" screen time is.

    (When I didn't watch TV, I was pretty slim. But part of the time I was so sick that I mostly slept. LOL. Not related to eating but to not understanding my genetic disorder.)
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    So, in comparison, are you saying--good screen time is equivalent to good food, and bad screen time is equivalent to bad food?

    It's all in the perception. :)
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited June 2015
    Is this a thing in the media? I can't believe they'd be encouraging anyone to watch less TV, ever. Are they?

    Who is fighting about "screen time"?
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    So, in comparison, are you saying--good screen time is equivalent to good food, and bad screen time is equivalent to bad food?

    It's all in the perception. :)

    It's all in the perception, yes, and too much screen time is bad, period, no matter how "good" it is. :)
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Is this a thing in the media? I can't believe they'd be encouraging anyone to watch less TV, ever. Are they?

    Who is fighting about "screen time"?

    No one's fighting it. It's extremely well-documented that it's bad to have too much. Just start googling studies on screen time. :)
  • alexsalcido29
    alexsalcido29 Posts: 1 Member
    The people who use this site probably spend more time exercising than they do watching TV, and they enjoy fitness more than being a couch potato.

    I see the point you are trying to make. I think.

    But you definitely just wasted a good 3 minutes of my life.
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    alexsalcido29 wrote: »
    The people who use this site probably spend more time exercising than they do watching TV, and they enjoy fitness more than being a couch potato.

    I see the point you are trying to make. I think.

    But you definitely just wasted a good 3 minutes of my life.

    Love you, too.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    MamaBirdBoss wrote: »
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    So, in comparison, are you saying--good screen time is equivalent to good food, and bad screen time is equivalent to bad food?

    It's all in the perception. :)

    It's all in the perception, yes, and too much screen time is bad, period, no matter how "good" it is. :)

    Well, too much of anything can lead to problems.

    Define too much screen time.....and what does it have to do with weight loss? :)
  • Eudoxy
    Eudoxy Posts: 391 Member
    What about arguing about the same thing every day over and over on an Internet forum? Is that healthy, or better done in moderation? ;)
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Eudoxy wrote: »
    What about arguing about the same thing every day over and over on an Internet forum? Is that healthy, or better done in moderation? ;)

    ahahaha
  • alanlmarshall
    alanlmarshall Posts: 587 Member
    Unicorns, clean food, and screen time causing autism are very similar in that they are all mythical.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    MamaBirdBoss wrote: »
    It's extremely well-documented that it's bad to have too much.

    That's true for absolutely everything.

    Including water and oxygen.


  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    edited June 2015
    I get what you are saying OP but just as in food choices people will have different opinions.

    What constitutes "good" screen time for one will be "bad" for another. How much screen time will vary from person to person.

    As adults we make our own choices about screen time...food...drink...etc...etc.

    I am very much in favor of letting adults pick and choose their own screen time...and food.

    What bothers me more than anything...I understood your post.

    Maybe...I have had too much screen time tonight.

    ETA...I admit though when I read your title I thought you meant eating clean while watching tv.

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