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What are your unpopular opinions about health / fitness?
Replies
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I don't know what a kugel is but fruit on the bottom cake if turned out to show the fruit would be upside down cake here in the UK, most commonly made with tinned pineapple rings. Dunno if it's the same thing though!1
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estherdragonbat wrote: »To me, with no context, the word 'pudding' conjures up the thickened creamy dairy dessert. I've read enough UK-originating books to know about the 'dessert in general, too' definition, though it tossed me for a loop when I was about ten and read Asterix and Cleopatra in translation. (There's a line when she's delivered a cake and tells her servant she'll have it for 'pudding' that night that left me wondering if she meant to puree it and boil it in milk or something...)
However, I've seen plenty of my mom's cookbooks refer to kugels (sweet or savory gratins made with vegetables and/or noodles, sometimes with fruit or cheese) as puddings. Potato pudding, noodle pudding, etc. These are usually side dishes—although I'm still trying to figure out the difference between an apple kugel and a fruit-on-the-bottom apple cake.
I do get funny looks when I talk about our family's standard holiday dinner which usually includes corn pudding and sometimes suet pudding. Corn pudding is a kind of gratin with corn and lots of eggs, cream and butter. Suet pudding is similar to plum pudding but it uses only dried fruits like raisins and dates and is steamed in a mold. Think of it as a dense, moist cake without a ton of sugar (sweetness is added with the hard sauce). I have a grocery with a really good butcher and I can get the really nice, pure white suet from around the kidneys from him.1 -
We have a similar thing in Scotland, the fruit dumpling cake, called a clooty dumpling.
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Thanks, VF. Now I want Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
My mom used to make a cake of deliciousness for me when I visited.
I lost the recipe and she died. I am verklempt.
Well, not completely. But I wish I had that recipe. It had coconut and pineapple and vanilla cake and whipped frosting and...maybe I should try to wing it...3 -
VintageFeline wrote: »But all of the savoury versions are preceded by some indicator of their savouryness, like steak and kidney pudding, black pudding etc.
This is analogous to how "salad" has one meaning in the US, and then salad preceded by other words (like egg, chicken) convey something else, not the same as just salad.3 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I don't know what a kugel is but fruit on the bottom cake if turned out to show the fruit would be upside down cake here in the UK, most commonly made with tinned pineapple rings. Dunno if it's the same thing though!
Here's one recipe. The apples are mixed into the batter, for this one, though: https://gourmetkoshercooking.com/2012/09/cinnamon-apple-kugel/0 -
Huh. I realize Ireland != UK, but when my wife and I were in Ireland ~8 years ago, we got pudding at breakfast. They brought us sausage. I don't remember which was which, but there was a "black" and a "red" version. IIRC, one of them was called "blood pudding," while the other was not. Or maybe it was just the particular spices in each. I remember liking the "not blood" version, while didn't care much for the "blood" version - and this was, I think, before knowing it was made with blood. So not just a psychological thing.
Just a difference between Ireland and UK, or is "blood pudding" simply like how we call your egg mayo egg "salad?"
This whole line of discussion makes me think of "head cheese", which - as an ovo-lacto veg - I am relieved and grateful to say is not even cheese at all.2 -
This whole line of discussion makes me think of "head cheese", which - as an ovo-lacto veg - I am relieved and grateful to say is not even cheese at all.
My second favorite not what it sounds like is Welsh rabbit (which granted is usually "Welsh rarebit" these days, but not in some older cook books I have).
What's my favorite? Sweetbread!2 -
My unpopular opinion: most people who got fat as children/teens will never maintain a healthy weight, and the best we can hope for is yo yo dieting. The other option is accepting being fat for good. The existence of a few exceptions to this rule doesn't change my opinion. Statistically, it's an obvious fact.17
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curiouskate wrote: »My unpopular opinion: most people who got fat as children/teens will never maintain a healthy weight, and the best we can hope for is yo yo dieting. The other option is accepting being fat for good. The existence of a few exceptions to this rule doesn't change my opinion. Statistically, it's an obvious fact.
Yup, that's a pretty unpopular opinion. I know a lot of us here who plan on proving you wrong.
I don't "hope" for yo-yo dieting. MFP has taught me how to control my weight properly. I know what to do to prevent the yo-yo cycle from happening.
I didn't have that knowledge in the past. That's the big difference.14 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
Yup, that's a pretty unpopular opinion. I know a lot of us here who plan on proving you wrong.
I don't "hope" for yo-yo dieting. MFP has taught me how to control my weight properly. I know what to do to prevent the yo-yo cycle from happening.
I didn't have that knowledge in the past. That's the big difference.
And I wish you luck and won't give you my downer experience to try to change your mind, because I've been there too. It's worth it to try.3 -
sure benefits but none have to do with being fit or losing weight.
I say this as a gardener who keeps a clean house...I did all this while I was fat, stayed fat and got fatter.
I did it while I lost then regained
I continue to do it now that I have totally lost.
At no time did the garden give me any benefit except joy and food...my clean house was/is whatever but in no way does it help with weight loss.
and there goes another unpopular thing
You don't need to exercise to lose weight....
and people that log house cleaning and or "regular" activity are lying to themselves.
I did include the caveat of being careful in logging calories. Aside from that, I didn't say that the benefits have to do with losing weight. Most benefits of exercise, IMO, are not weight-loss related (although exercising certain helps when losing weight as long as one doesn't overcompensate with extra food).
I don't generally log house cleaning or yard work. But it does sometimes get my heart rate up for an extended period of time. Raking leaves is something I only do for a month or two out of the year, and an hour of raking and bagging leaves definitely gets my heart up. I'm not especially out of shape, either. I would question someone who logged/consumed extra calories for washing dishes or dusting or something, but there is some housework that can be quite energy consuming.
And maybe my mention of gardening or housework detracted from my main point. Exercise doesn't have to be intense to be effective. Moderate exercise (walking, for example) is good, too.
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VintageFeline wrote: »
Ah yes, well you see, Brits are contrary and we use words with many contexts. One version is indeed sweet after dinner delicious things.
But pudding also refers black pudding, white pudding (I'll admit I don't know what's in the white one but it's delicious battered, which you will find in fish and chip shops in Scotland), but I don't know what red pudding is, that's a new one on me.
Then there's the suet pastry steamed pie version of pudding like steak and ale or steak and kidney. But all of the savoury versions are preceded by some indicator of their savouryness, like steak and kidney pudding, black pudding etc.
Whereas the sweet variety is used on its own to cover the broad range of items that dessert. So in a restaurant, it would be, "are you going to have pudding?" when trying to work out if you want to give yourself away as a complete pig. *tingue in cheek emoji*
As livingleanlivingclean mentioned, I think the "red" one was actually white pudding. It's been a while, and I just remember the color (because it was fried, I think) was reddish.0 -
curiouskate wrote: »
And I wish you luck and won't give you my downer experience to try to change your mind, because I've been there too. It's worth it to try.
What do you think led you to yo-yo?
Why do you feel it's inevitable and do you feel other people are incapable of preparing for it and preventing it?5 -
I think exercise is critical for weight loss/maintenance.
Not so much from a CI/CO standpoint as mental. From my experience as someone who has been relatively sedentary starts exercising more, they will realize they will feel/perform better with changes in their diet (quantity and type of food).8 -
Packerjohn wrote: »I think exercise is critical for weight loss/maintenance.
Not so much from a CI/CO standpoint as mental. From my experience as someone who has been relatively sedentary starts exercising more, they will realize they will feel/perform better with changes in their diet (quantity and type of food).Packerjohn wrote: »I think exercise is critical for weight loss/maintenance.
Not so much from a CI/CO standpoint as mental. From my experience as someone who has been relatively sedentary starts exercising more, they will realize they will feel/perform better with changes in their diet (quantity and type of food).
I actually think the mental component of exercise being essential is for well-being.
I think it's essential for stress management, confidence-building, better sleep, and overall mental health. Nothing that is potentially free offers so many benefits.4 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
What do you think led you to yo-yo?
Why do you feel it's inevitable and do you feel other people are incapable of preparing for it and preventing it?
No no, it's not about me. That would be arrogant to think one person is the rule for all others. It's my observations of others as well as my own experience. Last time I lost my 100+ lb (putting me barely in the normal weight range) I did it the "healthy way." And it was a lifestyle as they say. It took me 2 years to lose and then I maintained for ~4 years. I used calorie counters just like MFP, though a different site. I got involved a lot in WL forums like this one and I "met" lots of others who lost a lot of weight, like me. We all did different things to lose it.
Here's the thing though, almost 10 years later, every single person gained back every single pound, some more than they started with. And these were all very dedicated people (including me.)
But here is a what happened to every single one: LIFE.
A lifestyle is all well and good until your life circumstances change. Whether it was a death or an illness or an injury or a divorce or a new baby or whatever. Life doesn't stay the same.
I figure, I'm almost 40. I've lost the same 100 lb twice (now aiming for #3) and last time I really thought "I got this." There is really nothing about weight loss I don't know by now. But I'm also not fooling myself anymore. You can't predict the future.
I think maybe a few people can do it permanently (exceptions) but most people can't and won't. That's just the way the cards are dealt. Keeping weight off is just as much work as losing it for those of us who were fat to begin with and grew up that way. People who don't have this issue will never understand it. If you're motivated and determined you can lose weight and keep it off, for awhile. But life will happen. It's easy to look at other people and tell yourself it won't happen to you, but I look around and the evidence says otherwise. That is why I hold this unpopular opinion.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
I actually think the mental component of exercise being essential is for well-being.
I think it's essential for stress management, confidence-building, better sleep, and overall mental health. Nothing that is potentially free offers so many benefits.
Maybe it's the chicken and the egg thing? Physical activity results in better overall mental health, so people end up improving their diet and reducing self medication with food.
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curiouskate wrote: »
No no, it's not about me. That would be arrogant to think one person is the rule for all others. It's my observations of others as well as my own experience. Last time I lost my 100+ lb (putting me barely in the normal weight range) I did it the "healthy way." And it was a lifestyle as they say. It took me 2 years to lose and then I maintained for ~4 years. I used calorie counters just like MFP, though a different site. I got involved a lot in WL forums like this one and I "met" lots of others who lost a lot of weight, like me. We all did different things to lose it.
Here's the thing though, almost 10 years later, every single person gained back every single pound, some more than they started with. And these were all very dedicated people (including me.)
But here is a what happened to every single one: LIFE.
A lifestyle is all well and good until your life circumstances change. Whether it was a death or an illness or an injury or a divorce or a new baby or whatever. Life doesn't stay the same.
I figure, I'm almost 40. I've lost the same 100 lb twice (now aiming for #3) and last time I really thought "I got this." There is really nothing about weight loss I don't know by now. But I'm also not fooling myself anymore. You can't predict the future.
I think maybe a few people can do it permanently (exceptions) but most people can't and won't. That's just the way the cards are dealt. Keeping weight off is just as much work as losing it for those of us who were fat to begin with and grew up that way. People who don't have this issue will never understand it. If you're motivated and determined you can lose weight and keep it off, for awhile. But life will happen. It's easy to look at other people and tell yourself it won't happen to you, but I look around and the evidence says otherwise. That is why I hold this unpopular opinion.
I already got my curve ball.
I had a very big medical scare.
It cost me 5 pounds. I've nipped that in the bud and am already losing it.
I'm aware life happens. How far you let it happens is the determining factor, I think.
I'm still down 91 out of 95 pounds lost.
I was prepared for life to happen. I let the 5 pound gain happen, and then said enough and stopped that ish. It was a conscious choice. I never conscientiously stopped the behaviors that I have in place to deal with my weight. I did conscientiously let go of my eating to deal with the stress and accept the weight gain. That was a poor choice, but it was a trying time and exercise wasn't cutting it since my ability to exercise was impacted at the time.
I learned something from all that which I will apply moving forward. I don't like this extra weight, even if it's only 4 pounds at this point. I had 5 more pounds I had wanted to lose of vanity weight at the time I'd gained the weight and I still want to lose that too.
I have more faith in people being smart, forming habits, and learning from mistakes than you do, I guess.13 -
curiouskate wrote: »
No no, it's not about me. That would be arrogant to think one person is the rule for all others. It's my observations of others as well as my own experience. Last time I lost my 100+ lb (putting me barely in the normal weight range) I did it the "healthy way." And it was a lifestyle as they say. It took me 2 years to lose and then I maintained for ~4 years. I used calorie counters just like MFP, though a different site. I got involved a lot in WL forums like this one and I "met" lots of others who lost a lot of weight, like me. We all did different things to lose it.
Here's the thing though, almost 10 years later, every single person gained back every single pound, some more than they started with. And these were all very dedicated people (including me.)
But here is a what happened to every single one: LIFE.
A lifestyle is all well and good until your life circumstances change. Whether it was a death or an illness or an injury or a divorce or a new baby or whatever. Life doesn't stay the same.
I figure, I'm almost 40. I've lost the same 100 lb twice (now aiming for #3) and last time I really thought "I got this." There is really nothing about weight loss I don't know by now. But I'm also not fooling myself anymore. You can't predict the future.
I think maybe a few people can do it permanently (exceptions) but most people can't and won't. That's just the way the cards are dealt. Keeping weight off is just as much work as losing it for those of us who were fat to begin with and grew up that way. People who don't have this issue will never understand it. If you're motivated and determined you can lose weight and keep it off, for awhile. But life will happen. It's easy to look at other people and tell yourself it won't happen to you, but I look around and the evidence says otherwise. That is why I hold this unpopular opinion.
As much as I'd like to argue against your view point, I have to admit you're describing me to a T. Having yo-yoed throughout my entire adult life over a huge span (100lbs either way), and having had great success in losing this time around, I've currently regained almost 30lbs and am struggling mightily to get things going back down, rather than continuing up. To be honest, life is kicking my *kitten* right now, and I'm doing a really crappy job of dealing with it.10 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
I already got my curve ball.
I had a very big medical scare.
It cost me 5 pounds. I've nipped that in the bud and am already losing it.
I'm aware life happens. How far you let it happens is the determining factor, I think.
I'm still down 91 out of 95 pounds lost.
I was prepared for life to happen. I let the 5 pound gain happen, and then said enough and stopped that ish. It was a conscious choice. I never conscientiously stopped the behaviors that I have in place to deal with my weight. I did conscientiously let go of my eating to deal with the stress and accept the weight gain. That was a poor choice, but it was a trying time and exercise wasn't cutting it since my ability to exercise was impacted at the time.
I learned something from all that which I will apply moving forward. I don't like this extra weight, even if it's only 4 pounds at this point. I had 5 more pounds I had wanted to lose of vanity weight at the time I'd gained the weight and I still want to lose that too.
I have more faith in people being smart, forming habits, and learning from mistakes than you do, I guess.
I know that statistically, only 80% of people are successful at weight loss. So in a way you are right. I have a feeling a lot of the forum regulars here are a bit more savvy than the average bear, though.1 -
It's not about "faith" in people, in my opinion. It's observations.
I'm not trying to talk anybody out of their attempts of faith in themselves, but sorry you sound exactly like me and many other people I know/knew then - who gained the weight back. Such declarations no longer mean much to me. But do carry on, I just saw an "unpopular opinion" thread and wanted to share mine.7 -
Fair enough, but I know myself.
Where your post rubbed me the wrong way was your sure declaration that just about everyone was doomed.
Statistics say that 20% will succeed. I've researched the habits of successful people and made them my own. I've already been through a serious trial and didn't falter.
Time will tell which side of the statistic any of us fall on.3 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »As much as I'd like to argue against your view point, I have to admit you're describing me to a T. Having yo-yoed throughout my entire adult life over a huge span (100lbs either way), and having had great success in losing this time around, I've currently regained almost 30lbs and am struggling mightily to get things going back down, rather than continuing up. To be honest, life is kicking my *kitten* right now, and I'm doing a really crappy job of dealing with it.
I think most people have a hard time with life at times. I mean, maybe some lucky people don't but most of us have periods of change/difficulty/adjustment that change things. One of the big ones for me was being forced to move a lot farther away from my job and having to commute. It has never gotten easier to make the time since I lost those hours. But it wasn't just that, it was a combination of things. This time. The exact circumstances don't matter, I just see that life is going to go on and things are going to keep happening. I'm no longer sure enough of the future to say "I will keep doing these things forever without fail no matter what" because that would be a lie.
But that's what it takes.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Fair enough, but I know myself.
Where your post rubbed me the wrong way was your sure declaration that just about everyone was doomed.
Statistics say that 20% will succeed. I've researched the habits of successful people and made them my own. I've already been through a serious trial and didn't falter.
Time will tell which side of the statistic any of us fall on.
^
To add to that, this is one statistic where you have full power over the outcome at all times. Outside factors can only make it harder or easier for you, never prevent you completely from getting the outcome you desire.10 -
stevencloser wrote: »
^
To add to that, this is one statistic where you have full power over the outcome at all times. Outside factors can only make it harder or easier for you, never prevent you completely from getting the outcome you desire.
Well, it's just the defeatism of this whole thing.
I get having set backs, and my five pound blip was a bit of a set back, other people would just call it a maintenance fluctuation, but it was a set back because I did purposely let go on my eating to deal with stress and wasn't quite done with vanity weight loss.
The thing is, I'm still firmly on top of everything and was, even during that horrible time. I never completely threw in the towel and never let things spiral out of control. I have stop gaps like not having larger clothes or undergarments (and in my case, the idea of not having a bra that would fit is a real problem). I got rid of all my fat clothes and even all my interim clothes. I don't have a choice except to stay the course because we can't afford anything else at this point!4 -
One of my unpopular opinions: If you have not lost at least 50+ pounds and MAINTAINED that loss for 2+ years, I take everything you say about weight loss/maintenance with a grain of salt. Unless it's something indisputable like the science of CI/CO.10
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curiouskate wrote: »
I think most people have a hard time with life at times. I mean, maybe some lucky people don't but most of us have periods of change/difficulty/adjustment that change things. One of the big ones for me was being forced to move a lot farther away from my job and having to commute. It has never gotten easier to make the time since I lost those hours. But it wasn't just that, it was a combination of things. This time. The exact circumstances don't matter, I just see that life is going to go on and things are going to keep happening. I'm no longer sure enough of the future to say "I will keep doing these things forever without fail no matter what" because that would be a lie.
But that's what it takes.
I kind of agree with you to some degree in that getting complacent is one of the biggest problems, at least for me. The minute I got complacent in the past was the only time I regain weight in an uncontrolled manner. I have been at this for years, but although I feel like I have developed great sustainable strategies (which actually include purposeful and calculated weight gain sometimes if life gets too challenging to maintain a diet) I don't think I'm safe or that I will always be doing this well. With that said, I'm not easily jaded and don't think I will allow myself to venture into defeatism territory. Understanding that there will be setbacks means keeping an eye for them. I'm terrified of diabetes and that keeps me on my toes no matter what life throws at me, but if there comes a time where I just don't care anymore I'll just re-lose the weight again when I start caring again, no problem. I realise things will not always be perfect, but I don't believe for a second that I'm doomed to always be fat because I got fat as a child and reached morbid obesity.7 -
One of my unpopular opinions: If you have not lost at least 50+ pounds and MAINTAINED that loss for 2+ years, I take everything you say about weight loss/maintenance with a grain of salt. Unless it's something indisputable like the science of CI/CO.
So, I lost 30lbs during menopause. Have successfully kept it off for over 7 years, at least 6 without having to track calorie.
Have drastically improved my fitness level through plucking up the courage to....
go to fitness classes, learn to swim, and lift free weights, etc, etc
But, because I didn't lose 50 lbs all the experience I have, and knowledge I have through research isn't worth your time.
I do find your opinion unpopular with me.
Cheers, h.30 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
Well, it's just the defeatism of this whole thing.
I get having set backs, and my five pound blip was a bit of a set back, other people would just call it a maintenance fluctuation, but it was a set back because I did purposely let go on my eating to deal with stress and wasn't quite done with vanity weight loss.
The thing is, I'm still firmly on top of everything and was, even during that horrible time. I never completely threw in the towel and never let things spiral out of control. I have stop gaps like not having larger clothes or undergarments (and in my case, the idea of not having a bra that would fit is a real problem). I got rid of all my fat clothes and even all my interim clothes. I don't have a choice except to stay the course because we can't afford anything else at this point!
I think if you go into it with an attitude of "well I can lose the weight sure, but I've never maintained so I am doomed to failure again" then it's going to be a self fulfilling prophecy.
Now I grant you, that whilst I was largely "only" overweight my whole life with some life factors pushing me to pushing the upper end of obese for a relatively brief period, I could easily have lost control quite a few times. i have so many mitigating factors that are easy to self medicate with food. I have also knowingly and consciously let go of the reins a few times but the most I have gained during those periods is about 7lbs. I am working on the most recent right now.
I have also had a pretty devastating physical problem that is degenerative and will likely need major surgery in the future. It is going to impact what I can do physically and in fact, in the interests of mitigating the speed of degeneration I have already had to scale back the workouts I do until I see the physio for advice on how to proceed.
That only happened last week but I have managed to again not lose control and had a maintenance week. This week, with starting to workout again with my new limitations I shall be back to my deficit. The last year has been incredibly slow going for me as far as weight loss is concerned but at no point has giving up, losing control or settling for where I am been even a slight option. Life can go *kitten* itself on that front!
I understand that for others this may not be as achievable but you can't let past failures inform your future ones as much as is possible.7
This discussion has been closed.
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