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What are your unpopular opinions about health / fitness?
Replies
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OliveGirl128 wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »French_Peasant wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »With almost 70% of the US considered obese, I think we can safely conclude that people are utilizing food as something more than a means to fuel themselves. Emotional/psychological eating is an epidemic and diminishing the prevalence of this type of relationship with food is crucial to reducing destructive eating habits. If you are in control of your eating and at a healthy weight, I don't think you really need to be concerned if you are occasionally eating "emotionally"
I have a hard time seeing it that way, personally. I grow a substantial amount of our food, as in several hundred pounds a year, and also donate a large portion to the food bank. I make my own jam and cheese when I get a whim to do so. We also have hunters, fishermen, and hobby farmers in our family--when they throw a fish fry, or they get a deer and have their freezer packed full, or pass out fancy eggs at family get-togethers, there is an incredible amount of emotion, particularly pride and love, along with a considerable amount of despair and high dudgeon*, wrapped up in that food.
My daughter just caught her first really nice keeper bluegill this year, and my brother in law cleaned it, stuffed it (the whole fish, head on) with sliced lemons and thyme, and grilled it. Something so special, beautiful and delicious is pretty much a sacrament in the Church of Nature.
From my perspective, I think a bigger problem is that food has become too meaningless. It is debased and cheap. I would think people who have had to sweat and bleed for their food would tend to be very respectful toward it.
Regarding the discussion on desserts, I have a peach tree and a rhubarb patch that are cranking out copious amounts of food. I suppose there is something joyless and "healthy" that I could make with them, but why on earth would I want to do that when I have my great-grandmothers' recipes for assorted pies, crisps, and cobblers? If I grew them, why wouldn't I want to eat them, in the most respectful and glorious manner possible? A hand-made, home-grown peach pie, rolled out and sliced as my kids loiter about and steal scraps of crust to make their own "jam mini tarts" is a thing of absolute beauty. I think it is very necessary.
Here is why that works: I can shove pies in my pie-hole because we also have, for example, 10 cucumber vines that my daughter grew that are cranking out an insane amount of cucumbers, so I am forcing down at least one calorie-sparse, extremely filling cucumber a day. (Was it this thread where someone mentioned gazpacho? THANK YOU!!!) This is not to mention all the kale, collards, green beans, tomatoes, hot and bell peppers that are suddenly all coming on, all of which are prolific and low-calorie, and all of which required a very high amount of energy inputs to grow (people on my friends list can see that most weekends through the summer my "cardio" consists of hours upon hours of heavy duty garden work).
So the food IS fuel, but to me and my family, it also has a transcendent, very emotional, importance. (In a way that Froot Loops and Ding-Dongs should not.)
*Which may or may not result in me running after the deer loitering about my garden with a pair of garden shears to stab them in the butt as they mockingly trot away. NOTE: This does not work.
May I come live with you please and thank you.
I was thinking the exact same thing lol. Sounds amazing!
I'm really envious of the people she shares all that bounty with, lol.0 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.8 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it 12 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.8 -
stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity2 -
stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Usually, when I refute a number that I believe is wrong I provide the correct one...6 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Usually, when I refute a number that I believe is wrong I provide the correct one...
As above 35.7%0 -
I should have used "overweight or obese". That does not change my opinion.
Adults Age 20 and Older2
More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese.
More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese.
More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity.
Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese.
The prevalence of obesity is similar for both men and women (about 36 percent).
About 8 percent of women are considered to have extreme obesity.5 -
jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.8 -
VintageFeline wrote: »French_Peasant wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »With almost 70% of the US considered obese, I think we can safely conclude that people are utilizing food as something more than a means to fuel themselves. Emotional/psychological eating is an epidemic and diminishing the prevalence of this type of relationship with food is crucial to reducing destructive eating habits. If you are in control of your eating and at a healthy weight, I don't think you really need to be concerned if you are occasionally eating "emotionally"
I have a hard time seeing it that way, personally. I grow a substantial amount of our food, as in several hundred pounds a year, and also donate a large portion to the food bank. I make my own jam and cheese when I get a whim to do so. We also have hunters, fishermen, and hobby farmers in our family--when they throw a fish fry, or they get a deer and have their freezer packed full, or pass out fancy eggs at family get-togethers, there is an incredible amount of emotion, particularly pride and love, along with a considerable amount of despair and high dudgeon*, wrapped up in that food.
My daughter just caught her first really nice keeper bluegill this year, and my brother in law cleaned it, stuffed it (the whole fish, head on) with sliced lemons and thyme, and grilled it. Something so special, beautiful and delicious is pretty much a sacrament in the Church of Nature.
From my perspective, I think a bigger problem is that food has become too meaningless. It is debased and cheap. I would think people who have had to sweat and bleed for their food would tend to be very respectful toward it.
Regarding the discussion on desserts, I have a peach tree and a rhubarb patch that are cranking out copious amounts of food. I suppose there is something joyless and "healthy" that I could make with them, but why on earth would I want to do that when I have my great-grandmothers' recipes for assorted pies, crisps, and cobblers? If I grew them, why wouldn't I want to eat them, in the most respectful and glorious manner possible? A hand-made, home-grown peach pie, rolled out and sliced as my kids loiter about and steal scraps of crust to make their own "jam mini tarts" is a thing of absolute beauty. I think it is very necessary.
Here is why that works: I can shove pies in my pie-hole because we also have, for example, 10 cucumber vines that my daughter grew that are cranking out an insane amount of cucumbers, so I am forcing down at least one calorie-sparse, extremely filling cucumber a day. (Was it this thread where someone mentioned gazpacho? THANK YOU!!!) This is not to mention all the kale, collards, green beans, tomatoes, hot and bell peppers that are suddenly all coming on, all of which are prolific and low-calorie, and all of which required a very high amount of energy inputs to grow (people on my friends list can see that most weekends through the summer my "cardio" consists of hours upon hours of heavy duty garden work).
So the food IS fuel, but to me and my family, it also has a transcendent, very emotional, importance. (In a way that Froot Loops and Ding-Dongs should not.)
*Which may or may not result in me running after the deer loitering about my garden with a pair of garden shears to stab them in the butt as they mockingly trot away. NOTE: This does not work.
May I come live with you please and thank you.
I think you just want to live next door to me. Over the summer, it is generally VERY SADLY a case of the shoemaker's children going without shoes...and forced labor once they get old enough to develop good knife skills.
7 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
'pleasure second' isn't exactly what you said though. You said "Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit."
Pleasure itself is a benefit.6 -
stanmann571 wrote: »jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.
Except people are becoming disabled and dying because of it.3 -
Packerjohn wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.
Except people are becoming disabled and dying because of it.
On a historical scale, at a much lower percentage than by starvation.
I'm not suggesting we encourage people to be overweight or obese, but it beats the alternative by orders of magnitude.11 -
janejellyroll wrote: »French_Peasant wrote: »(Was it this thread where someone mentioned gazpacho? THANK YOU!!!)
Gazpacho is one of my favorite parts of summer.
I was thinking it was you that had mentioned it...I have the cukes, tomatoes and garlic lined up and ready to go! Unfortunately I have a countertop cuke-to-tomato ratio of about 10:1.3 -
stanmann571 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.
Except people are becoming disabled and dying because of it.
On a historical scale, at a much lower percentage than by starvation.
I'm not suggesting we encourage people to be overweight or obese, but it beats the alternative by orders of magnitude.
I'd like to think there were options besides starvation or obesity. 5 -
jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.
Except people are becoming disabled and dying because of it.
On a historical scale, at a much lower percentage than by starvation.
I'm not suggesting we encourage people to be overweight or obese, but it beats the alternative by orders of magnitude.
I'd like to think there were options besides starvation or obesity.
Perhaps in a few hundred years... For now history suggests otherwise.2 -
French_Peasant wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »French_Peasant wrote: »(Was it this thread where someone mentioned gazpacho? THANK YOU!!!)
Gazpacho is one of my favorite parts of summer.
I was thinking it was you that had mentioned it...I have the cukes, tomatoes and garlic lined up and ready to go! Unfortunately I have a countertop cuke-to-tomato ratio of about 10:1.
Everyone I know who plants cucumbers seems to be over run with them this year. This seems to be the 'year of the cuke'. IDK what the heck I am going to do with all the pickles.4 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
Why does it have to be black or white? Can't a person have multiple outlets for pleasure, including food? I love eating food and I really enjoy it, I enjoy it now just as much as I did 120 lbs ago. The only difference is that now I have system in place that allows me to enjoy food just as much but still lose weight. I'm simply pickier now.
This is how I think about it too. Preparing and eating food is a big source of pleasure in my life. The difference now is that I balance that with my other goals and pleasures. As long as it isn't causing problems in your life or health, I don't see anything wrong with finding pleasure in food.
This is a good point.
I often react to stress by thinking "too tired to deal with anything, just want to order delivery and veg." What I typically do instead, even if I get home at 10 pm, is make a quick dinner. Cooking is enjoyable for me and tends to de-stress. So that's healthy.
There's a lot more involved -- the creativity, the ritual, the taste, knowing I can take ingredients and make them delicious -- than just fuel, and even if Soylent were a perfect food replacement I'd think there was something better (for me, at least) about enjoying food and food preparation.
And as others have said, I enjoy food more and am much more picky now that I am focused on staying fit. When I had unlimited calories I ate the same in many ways (I was a foodie, I liked cooking, I've always liked vegetables), but I was more likely to just eat because food was there and eating something seemed good in itself (weirdly).
For me, focusing on food as tasty, pleasurable, something I will really enjoy (including breaking a day up into 3 meals and dessert) makes it more special, ritualistic, sometimes social, and also something that for me makes me LESS likely to overeat.
Thinking of it as either food is 100% utilitarian and any food for pleasure is BAD is for me likely to result in me eventually overeating (and not really enjoying that either) and feeling crappy.
Thinking of food as about ritual and pleasure and taste, as well as nutrition, makes me more likely to be satisfied and healthy in my approach.
I think pleasure in food is normal and natural, so telling yourself that you are wrong to feel it for many of us backfires.
No one is suggesting that enjoying food is wrong or that food should be only be considered fuel. I stated that I consider the fuel aspect first - that is my primary way of looking at food. Having stated that, I certainly consume my share of food purely because it tastes good, I'm not a robot, lol. If this perspective is unhealthy for some, they shouldn't consider food the way that I do.
I do suspect the original poster (dessert is not healthy) was perhaps saying that consuming some food items primarily for enjoyment is wrong.
Your statement that ANY emotional importance attached to eating is of no importance is what I was responding to most directly here (as well as agreeing with a prior post). As I see it, emotional or stress eating is using food to self comfort, basically to stuff feelings, numb yourself. I'd say that's generally unhealthy (sometimes a better coping method than other options in the moment, but not a good long term solution, obviously). But I think humans, as social animals for whom food is important will invest lots of emotional significance in what we eat, how we eat, so on, and denying this -- suggesting that it makes no difference if we enjoy what we are eating, think of eating in a positive or negative way, eat with others in a pleasurable and social way or eat secretly with shame or mindlessly when watching TV or in the car, etc. is IMO wrong, at least for many of us. Acknowledging the emotional elements is, I think, healthy, and can be part of a strategy to avoid overeating for those of is who may have tendencies to do so. Saying it's of no significance is wrong. FOR YOU, perhaps it has no significance to your life.1 -
jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »jseams1234 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I get pleasure from food and I've never been over BMI 23 and am 18.7 now. You can get pleasure from food and not overeat.
I get that - but the almost 70% of the people in the US who are obese don't.
I understand that my "food is fuel first and pleasure second" policy is unpopular, which makes this particular thread the perfect place to share it
You keep using that number. It's still not correct.
Overweight - still a shocking statistic...
"More than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are considered to be overweight or obese. More than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese."
Overweight & Obesity Statistics | NIDDK
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
Not all that shocking or disturbing, it's an indicator of prosperity and relative ease of life. From a perspective of history it's a very good thing.
Except people are becoming disabled and dying because of it.
On a historical scale, at a much lower percentage than by starvation.
I'm not suggesting we encourage people to be overweight or obese, but it beats the alternative by orders of magnitude.
I'd like to think there were options besides starvation or obesity.
It is disturbing that at the same time that 68.8% of this prosperous country is overweight, 780 million worldwide are suffering from chronic undernourishment. The concept of food=pleasure is not really on the minds of the latter.4 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Dessert after meals is unnecessary and does nothing good for your health.
Unnecessary, true. Does nothing good for your health, that depends. If you really like having dessert after a meal and having it helps you moderate your calories and reduce your stress level, then it can be very healthy.
Is eating to reduce stress, dessert or anything else for that matter, really a good way to cope with stress?
Food is fuel, first and foremost. Ideally, it is the fuel that tastes good. Any type of emotional importance attached to food (aside from ceremonies (like birthdays, holidays) or food that has religious or ethnic meaning ) is of no benefit.
Oh I so disagree with that last sentence. I spend a lot of time and money on food and derive great pleasure from it. Pleasure is beneficial.
I think I'm just wired differently when it comes to food, perhaps that is why I have never really been overweight. I enjoy expensive food out occasionally - but if plans change and I have to eat something ordinary, life goes on. I have other outlets for pleasure that aren't oriented around food, lol.
I think I'm in your camp. I enjoy "good" food, but as long as I can get my nutritional needs taken care of I'm fine. I enjoy holidays like Thanksgiving for the fellowship. I enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving meal, a nice turkey with all the fixings and fine wine, but if the host said we were having Dominio's Pizza and PBR, I'd be fine.0
This discussion has been closed.
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