Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
What are your unpopular opinions about health / fitness?
Replies
-
French_Peasant wrote: »This is NOT my opinion. It's the opinion of some dumb butt in a diabetic community I'm in on Facebook.
Eating nothing but potatoes for a year (without butter or other fats) is a good idea to lose weight and lower your blood sugar. Of course he read about this diet on the web.
My eyes rolled so hard I sprained something.
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2002nl/apr/potatoes.htm
Well . . . the Irish peasants WERE the healthiest among the European peasant class while they subsisted on potatoes and buttermilk. *insert sarcasm emoji here*
don't forget the cabbage
Most did not grow cabbage. Their small plots of poor land would not support it.
Cabbages are an efficient crop for a peasant smallholding.
I don't understand the implied critique of the Irish diet itself, if I am reading your sarcasm correctly--the inheritance predicaments and Anglo-Irish economic brutalities (like slavery and land clearances) that spectacularly came to a head in '47 don't mean that the diet itself was anything other than splendid and healthful.
Eggs, honey, barley, oats, cole crops, apples, parsnips, seaweed, all kinds of fishes, a huge variety of foraged greens, berries and wild crab apples from the hedgerows, beef in the winter, chickens, and a powerful nutritional foundation of butter/milk/cheese and (starting in the 1600s) potatoes, which are an amazing and calorie-dense crop, until they start rotting in the clamps.
Yes they are, but the yield per square foot is small compared to potatoes and they don't winter like potatoes do. It was not practical for the typical Irish peasant.
The problem in Ireland was that, because of laws preventing land ownership by the peasants, the amount of land each family had to grow food on got smaller and smaller each generation as the population grew, which meant that the crops that could be grown on that land were fewer and fewer (not to mention the quality of the soil became worse and worse). That is why they reached the point where they could only grow potatoes and had to subsist on them. Most families also had a cow or shared one so buttermilk was available after selling the milk and butter. All of the other things you mentioned just were not available to the average Irish peasant, even the foraged things because of the population density and the amount of land that was owned by the Anglo-Irish. It was illegal to forage on their land, punishable by death, just like poaching. It was also illegal to fish in most streams and rivers because those were also owned.
Potatoes and buttermilk were actually more nutritious than the diet of many other peasants elsewhere. The sarcasm was because they were forced to subsist on it because of government policies and the penal laws.
Gotcha on the sarcasm.
I think we are in agreement and any difference in what we are saying depends on the timeframe under consideration. I absolutely agree that in the several decades before '47, the potato was being grown to the utter exclusion of more difficult/less calorie dense crops by the most desperate tier of peasants (out of curiosity I looked it up and parsnips have the same caloric value as potatoes, but they are a pain in the butt to grow, you have to waste space with them going to seed since they are biennial, and the seed is only viable for a year; same situation with cabbage, but only 1/3 the calories). As a medievalist, I am thinking of a broader scope. Also, peasants in general ran a wide economic gamut, so the closer you were to bourgeois the more variation you would have, whether in 1846 or 5 centuries earlier. And you are correct that any harvesting rights would have intricate rules attached to them, likely being rented to the wealthier peasants by the mid-1800s.
The potato was both a blessing and a curse, because it likely contributed to the 3x population explosion in the century preceding '47, so people were fed, but it also allowed for the increasingly smaller allotments due to the inheritance problems (1 farm split between numerous sons) combined with the clearances to raise beef for the "Beefeaters" and the various other abuses such as the Corn Laws and stripping of rights from Catholics.
I don't have any experience with clamps as would have been used by the Irish peasants, but we have a root cellar and to my surprise the vegetables like leeks and cabbage have lasted pretty well; unfortunately nothing lasts long enough for me to render an opinion on their relative storage lifespan vs. potatoes...although I do still have leeks in the fridge that were planted spring of 2016 that are going concerns. I guess I should probably use those, huh!5 -
Weight loss is easy. There's no "trick". Any diet based on CICO works.
Most people eat way too many carbs and not enough fat.
Exercise should be easy and enjoyable.
I think you're confusing easy and simple.
Easy means it doesn't take a lot of effort. For some people, adhering to a calorie deficit may be easy but for most who need to lose weight there is a challenge there; it takes conscious effort.
Simple means uncomplicated. Eat fewer calories than your body uses and you will lose weight. Add in some activity and get the right macro balance and most of the weight lost will be fat. But it isn't always easy to do that.
But the PP referred to 'easy and enjoyable' exercise, not weight loss.
There are forms of exercise that are relatively easy and simple (walking half an hour, for many), simple but not easy (walking the Appalachian Trail in a season, with support, perhaps), easy but not simple (bowling, maybe?), or neither (serious gymnastics, for one). You may quibble freely with those examples, but I think the central point still stands.
I still say very easy exercise isn't as much fun, and neither is very simple exercise.
But that's just a matter of personal taste, like whether someone likes Brussels Sprouts or not. . . unless, of course, they have exercise-related fitness or weight loss goals that their exercise choices don't support. Then they're Just Wrong.
I was talking about his (her?) first sentence/paragraph "Weight loss is easy. There's no 'trick.' Any diet based on CICO works."
I agree with you on the exercise.1 -
French_Peasant wrote: »
I don't have any experience with clamps as would have been used by the Irish peasants, but we have a root cellar and to my surprise the vegetables like leeks and cabbage have lasted pretty well; unfortunately nothing lasts long enough for me to render an opinion on their relative storage lifespan vs. potatoes...although I do still have leeks in the fridge that were planted spring of 2016 that are going concerns. I guess I should probably use those, huh!
yeah, You might want to think about using those. I am thinking of growing potatoes next year. I was reading up on how you can do it in a half-barrel planter. I don't have a large garden but can find a corner for a barrel.
2 -
yes to I did mean when I hear a calorie is a calorie & doesn't matter what you eat, I think it does. But want to add that I was thinking If I'd known about calorie deficit years ago I would have started then. I tried so many things (didn't work) but never heard of calorie deficit. I wonder how many other ppl don't know about it?4
-
yes to I did mean when I hear a calorie is a calorie & doesn't matter what you eat, I think it does. But want to add that I was thinking If I'd known about calorie deficit years ago I would have started then. I tried so many things (didn't work) but never heard of calorie deficit. I wonder how many other ppl don't know about it?
Who have you heard saying that it doesn't matter what you eat?
New unpopular opinion: Artificial sweeteners rock!15 -
~ I don't think it matters if you eat 6 small meals or 2-3 bigger meals.
~ I don't think eating up to one hour after you wake up (breakfast) is necessary. I usually have my 1st meal 3-6 hours after I wake up and I find breakfast makes me hungrier.
~ I believe that there's real food and "fake" food. "Fake" food is to me the heavily processed foods. Not that I have a problem eating tasty "fake" foods. :P
~ I believe people who've been thin all their lives (like really thin) just undereat and their metabolism is lower. I only know one person who actually has something with her thyroid and can afford to eat a lot without big consequenses.
~ And in the end I believe that being of a certain size, achieving something you want is a consequense of making habits. Without it becoming a part of you, it will be very hard to maintain your goal.
6 -
~ I don't think it matters if you eat 6 small meals or 2-3 bigger meals.
~ I don't think eating up to one hour after you wake up (breakfast) is necessary. I usually have my 1st meal 3-6 hours after I wake up and I find breakfast makes me hungrier.
~ I believe that there's real food and "fake" food. "Fake" food is to me the heavily processed foods. Not that I have a problem eating tasty "fake" foods. :P
~ I believe people who've been thin all their lives (like really thin) just undereat and their metabolism is lower. I only know one person who actually has something with her thyroid and can afford to eat a lot without big consequenses.
~ And in the end I believe that being of a certain size, achieving something you want is a consequense of making habits. Without it becoming a part of you, it will be very hard to maintain your goal.
So if I take a bunch of "real" foods and combine them together and put a wrapper on it (highly processed), they become a fake food? lol
Also, you think that people who are thin have lower metabolisms?? That makes sense. Maybe they just tend to habitually eat at maintenance naturally. Maybe they're highly energetic people who burn a ton of calories because they're constantly moving around (I know several like this).6 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »~ I don't think it matters if you eat 6 small meals or 2-3 bigger meals.
~ I don't think eating up to one hour after you wake up (breakfast) is necessary. I usually have my 1st meal 3-6 hours after I wake up and I find breakfast makes me hungrier.
~ I believe that there's real food and "fake" food. "Fake" food is to me the heavily processed foods. Not that I have a problem eating tasty "fake" foods. :P
~ I believe people who've been thin all their lives (like really thin) just undereat and their metabolism is lower. I only know one person who actually has something with her thyroid and can afford to eat a lot without big consequenses.
~ And in the end I believe that being of a certain size, achieving something you want is a consequense of making habits. Without it becoming a part of you, it will be very hard to maintain your goal.
So if I take a bunch of "real" foods and combine them together and put a wrapper on it (highly processed), they become a fake food? lol
Also, you think that people who are thin have lower metabolisms?? That makes sense. Maybe they just tend to habitually eat at maintenance naturally. Maybe they're highly energetic people who burn a ton of calories because they're constantly moving around (I know several like this).
I was. I maintained between 140-155 from 17-23 on 4000+ calories at 71 inches0 -
I still say very easy exercise isn't as much fun, and neither is very simple exercise.
But that's just a matter of personal taste, like whether someone likes Brussels Sprouts or not. . . unless, of course, they have exercise-related fitness or weight loss goals that their exercise choices don't support. Then they're Just Wrong.
The bolded is not true for me. Hiking is my favorite exercise and it's pretty simple. And it's sometimes easy, though I do prefer when it's not all easy.4 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I still say very easy exercise isn't as much fun, and neither is very simple exercise.
But that's just a matter of personal taste, like whether someone likes Brussels Sprouts or not. . . unless, of course, they have exercise-related fitness or weight loss goals that their exercise choices don't support. Then they're Just Wrong.
The bolded is not true for me. Hiking is my favorite exercise and it's pretty simple. And it's sometimes easy, though I do prefer when it's not all easy.
Swimming and hiking are my favorite exercises. Both are simple and both are easy for me as far as learning the skills involved. I make sure thy are not easy to accomplish (increase pace, longer distance, more hills (both up and down) on the hikes, etc.)1 -
~ I don't think it matters if you eat 6 small meals or 2-3 bigger meals.
~ I don't think eating up to one hour after you wake up (breakfast) is necessary. I usually have my 1st meal 3-6 hours after I wake up and I find breakfast makes me hungrier.
~ I believe that there's real food and "fake" food. "Fake" food is to me the heavily processed foods. Not that I have a problem eating tasty "fake" foods. :P
~ I believe people who've been thin all their lives (like really thin) just undereat and their metabolism is lower. I only know one person who actually has something with her thyroid and can afford to eat a lot without big consequenses.
~ And in the end I believe that being of a certain size, achieving something you want is a consequense of making habits. Without it becoming a part of you, it will be very hard to maintain your goal.
If a food has energy and nutrients that are available for my body to process and use, what does it mean to say it is "fake"?4 -
~ I don't think it matters if you eat 6 small meals or 2-3 bigger meals.
~ I don't think eating up to one hour after you wake up (breakfast) is necessary. I usually have my 1st meal 3-6 hours after I wake up and I find breakfast makes me hungrier.
Agree. I don't think these are unpopular opinions, but ones that most here would agree with. The eating pattern I choose may make it more or less likely that I personally will overeat, however. (6 small meals would drive me crazy)~ And in the end I believe that being of a certain size, achieving something you want is a consequense of making habits. Without it becoming a part of you, it will be very hard to maintain your goal.
Agree with this too.~ I believe that there's real food and "fake" food. "Fake" food is to me the heavily processed foods. Not that I have a problem eating tasty "fake" foods. :P
I guess a heavily processed food would be something like Soylent? I can see why you might not want to make it a major part of your diet, but how is it fake?~ I believe people who've been thin all their lives (like really thin) just undereat and their metabolism is lower. I only know one person who actually has something with her thyroid and can afford to eat a lot without big consequenses.
If you mean underweight, yes, they probably do undereat (eat less than would be necessary to preserve their weight at a higher weight). Their metabolism would be less than someone who was heavier, if by metabolism you mean TDEE (or NEAT). I get the feeling you are trying to argue against something you think others believe here, but I am not sure I am following you. I do think there are natural variations in NEAT and in the extent to which people's NEAT just naturally (as in without thinking about it) increases or decreases when they increase or decrease calories. I don't think this is an "excuse" for being obese or means one can't help being overweight, but I think it's real.1 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I still say very easy exercise isn't as much fun, and neither is very simple exercise.
But that's just a matter of personal taste, like whether someone likes Brussels Sprouts or not. . . unless, of course, they have exercise-related fitness or weight loss goals that their exercise choices don't support. Then they're Just Wrong.
The bolded is not true for me. Hiking is my favorite exercise and it's pretty simple. And it's sometimes easy, though I do prefer when it's not all easy.
Yup, like my next paragraph said, personal taste.1 -
I love *almost* all BBQ. St Louis, Carolina (North and South), Texas, KC, Memphis...
I just don't care for Alabama's "white sauce". It doesn't do anything for me.2 -
stevencloser wrote: »Anyone got a good American chili recipe? I think I'm gonna order some ancho chili, lol.
Mine:
2 lb beef (roast or stew meat cut into bite sized pieces preferred but can be made with ground beef)
1 large or 2 medium yellow onions, diced
4-6 cloves garlic (minced)
several stalks celery, sliced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
2 - 28oz cans diced tomatoes
12 oz tomato paste
2/3 cup regular (not hot) chile powder
(or: 1/2 c. powdered ancho chile, 2 Tbl Mexican Oregano, 2 Tbl ground cumin)
1/4 c. Worchestershire sauce
Hot chile peppers to taste
water or tomato juice as needed for preferred consistency.
Yes, you can add kidney or black beans if you want, but this is Texas-style chili
I make this in my crock pot so I just dump everything and cook it on low for 8-12 hours (brown the meat if using ground beef). If you want to do it on the stovetop, brown the meat with the onions in a little bit of oil. Add remaining ingredients and let simmer until the meat is tender and flavors are well mingled.
Thanks @earlnabby ! It tastes very fruity.4 -
stevencloser wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »Anyone got a good American chili recipe? I think I'm gonna order some ancho chili, lol.
Mine:
2 lb beef (roast or stew meat cut into bite sized pieces preferred but can be made with ground beef)
1 large or 2 medium yellow onions, diced
4-6 cloves garlic (minced)
several stalks celery, sliced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
2 - 28oz cans diced tomatoes
12 oz tomato paste
2/3 cup regular (not hot) chile powder
(or: 1/2 c. powdered ancho chile, 2 Tbl Mexican Oregano, 2 Tbl ground cumin)
1/4 c. Worchestershire sauce
Hot chile peppers to taste
water or tomato juice as needed for preferred consistency.
Yes, you can add kidney or black beans if you want, but this is Texas-style chili
I make this in my crock pot so I just dump everything and cook it on low for 8-12 hours (brown the meat if using ground beef). If you want to do it on the stovetop, brown the meat with the onions in a little bit of oil. Add remaining ingredients and let simmer until the meat is tender and flavors are well mingled.
Thanks @earlnabby ! It tastes very fruity.
Yes, heavy on the tomatoes but the large amounts of chili powder tends to offset it. Glad you liked it.1 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »@piperdown44I should tell my co-workers that I'm entering the chili contest with a chili made of fruit and seeds and record their reactions.
If it has beans it's not chili. It's stew.
If it doesn't have beans it's not chili, it's hot dog or pasta sauce.
Texas chili has no beans in it.
Texans do it wrong.
This is the unpopular opinions thread. I personally don't discriminate against any chili.
Neither do I. I love hot dog chili too.
Me too, I put both kinds on my hot dogs.
Have you had Cincinnati style?
I have once and that cinnamon flavor is an interesting take. Not something I normally go for but pretty good.
I like the mild tang it gives it.
Of course, Cincinnati chili is only intended to be eaten on hot dogs, spaghetti or fries, never as a dish all it's own.
Yessss spaghetti noodles with Cincy chili, cheese and raw onions on top is the ticket.
And now I will be having Skyline for dinner tonight!2 -
LOL. I love the blank stares I get when I explain how I not only lost weight but normalized my blood sugar levels (eat less, move more, reduce the carbs a little bit). When they ask why I didn't go low carb or keto or Atkins or whatever, I always say "Why? what I am doing is working just fine and a lot easier"
Oh yes! I've lost 87 lbs since January, and its finally becoming noticable, so I have had several folks ask me how I did it. Telling them that I simply counted calories gets me a blank stare in return, and then I start getting all the diet advice. "oh, you should be eating several small meals", or "carbs are bad" - they can't seem to accept that I can eat what I want as long as I stay within my calorie range. All I can say is that obviously what I'm doing is working, so why should I change it?12 -
On that note, here's my unpopular opinion.
The North American diet, that gets so maligned in the press, is really not too bad. Most people eat a decent assortment of food, just too much of it.15 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »On that note, here's my unpopular opinion.
The North American diet, that gets so maligned in the press, is really not too bad. Most people eat a decent assortment of food, just too much of it.
And also get not nearly enough exercise...7
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.2K Introduce Yourself
- 43.4K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 387 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 895 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.2K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions