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Fitness and diet myths that just won't go away

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Replies

  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,616 Member
    Sure, but again...you cannot know an individual's actual risk of anything just by looking at them.

    True dat. Sumo wrestlers are among the heaviest people on the planet...and yet I've read their blood chemistry is among the healthiest people on the planet.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    sviers13 wrote: »
    I'm sure someone has already stated this one.

    My mother hammered it into my head since the age of ten.

    Thin = Healthy

    No matter what it takes for you to get/be/stay thin.

    A corollary to this is it doesn't really matter what you eat to lose weight/stay at a healthy weight, it's how much. I mean technically, yes, but how healthy is the "thin" person that eats mostly junk? I can almost guarantee a person that maybe is a bit overweight who eats mostly nutritious foods is healthier than the skinny fat person who eats junk.

    BYW, I think the whole HAES movement is also a myth, too.

    There's a tweet or Tumblr post or something floating around the intermajig about someone who was complimented on how "healthy" they looked because their stomach was flat while they were actively addicted to and regularly using heroin.

    I'm not deep in the HAES community but my understanding of "health at every size" is that the focus is more on taking care of and getting care for the body that you do actually have, rather than snarking/criticizing/punishing larger bodies basically just for existing, and not taking into account the history or needs or feelings of the actual human people inhabiting those bodies. My understanding was that the movement developed in response to the medical community at large basically dismissing complaints by fat people. Again, I'm not part of the community, but I've heard about it and this is what I've gleaned from, like, Instagram posts and the occasional blog.

    If that's the true mission, then I can get behind that and I think overall it seems like a good alternative to only focusing on weight as a measure of health. I personally think it's better to focus on making healthier food choices and getting more active as a way to achieve better health and weight loss. When I shifted my focus to that instead of getting to a certain size, it made it a lot easier. I still think that there are increased health risks with being obese, and to deny that is disingenuous. It seems like maybe what some are doing are using the movement to justify that you can still be morbidly obese and not have a greater risk for disease as long as you exercise and eat mostly nutrient-dense food (or think you do).

    I think the point is more that you actually can't know how healthy a person is just by looking at them, and even if you could make a statistically-supported guess (based on anything, weight or otherwise), the more important thing is that it's not actually your business in any way.

    I don't know, I think a person's appearance can actually tell you a lot about their health, and I don't just mean their size (skin color, hair, the way the move, etc.). You're right that it is none of my business what someone chooses to with their body, but I am allowed to disagree with statements that obesity in and of itself doesn't increase risk of health complications.

    Sure, but again...you cannot know an individual's actual risk of anything just by looking at them. And if you do decide to speculate about a specific stranger's body, which is a weird thing to do but you're free to spend your time however you like I guess...keep it to yourself.

    I hope by "you" you meant collective, non-specific "you" and not me, personally. I don't how the conclusion could be drawn from what I wrote above that I study strangers and worry about whether or not they are healthy and what their health risks may be based on what they look like.
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,243 Member
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    mtaratoot wrote: »
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.
    mtaratoot wrote: »
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.
    mtaratoot wrote: »
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.

    n
    mtaratoot wrote: »
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.

    I actually wasn't referring to your post...unless you're one person with 2 different MFP profiles.
    mtaratoot wrote: »
    @Speakeasy76

    Yes. I meant "any person." That does include you as an individual, but doesn't mean ONLY you. Kind of like when Smokey Bear says, "Only YOU can prevent wildfires," he is not singling you out personally.

    I actually wasn't referring to your post, but thanks for the clarification :smile:
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,496 Member
    nossmf wrote: »
    Sure, but again...you cannot know an individual's actual risk of anything just by looking at them.

    True dat. Sumo wrestlers are among the heaviest people on the planet...and yet I've read their blood chemistry is among the healthiest people on the planet.

    Ex-sumo wrestlers live 10 years less than the average Japanese citizen.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/sumo-wrestlers-obesity-diet-calories-exercise-symptoms-2019-3

  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    mph323 wrote: »
    I am so sick *of articles that start "According to science..." or "Studies show..." or "Doctors say...". And why are they always "5 foods"??
    *Never eat these 5 foods if you want to lose weight!
    *Always eat these 5 foods if you want to live longer!
    *These 5 foods will rev your metabolism!
    *The same 5 foods will kill you!

    And my current favorite: "Eating a hot dog takes away 36 minutes of healthy life!"*

    * https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/eating-hot-dog-takes-away-36-minutes-healthy-life#:~:text=Eating a hot dog takes away 36 minutes,as well as their impact on the environment.

    Well, it had to happen...

    "Eating This Classic Sandwich Can Add 33 Extra Minutes to Your Life"

    https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/health/foods-minutes-study
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,991 Member
    mph323 wrote: »
    mph323 wrote: »
    I am so sick *of articles that start "According to science..." or "Studies show..." or "Doctors say...". And why are they always "5 foods"??
    *Never eat these 5 foods if you want to lose weight!
    *Always eat these 5 foods if you want to live longer!
    *These 5 foods will rev your metabolism!
    *The same 5 foods will kill you!

    And my current favorite: "Eating a hot dog takes away 36 minutes of healthy life!"*

    * https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/eating-hot-dog-takes-away-36-minutes-healthy-life#:~:text=Eating a hot dog takes away 36 minutes,as well as their impact on the environment.

    Well, it had to happen...

    "Eating This Classic Sandwich Can Add 33 Extra Minutes to Your Life"

    https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/health/foods-minutes-study

    For anyone who doesn’t want to click the article - it’s PBJs.

    The texture of a PBJ keeps me away from them. But they do have grain, protein, and fruit. Not that horrible nutritionally. As long as you’re keeping the jelly to a reasonable limit.

    And ya. You’re not gonna live forever if you only eat PBJs 24/7/365.
    😂
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,616 Member
    Used to love PBJ's as a kid, but these days when I'm trying to increase protein, a PBJ is practically worthless to me, as it's mostly carbs. Think I've had one in the last six months.
  • wunderkindking
    wunderkindking Posts: 1,615 Member
    I love PBJ sandwiches. They're not good macros or anything but I will eat them all day long. ...But only on toast.
  • SLL1803
    SLL1803 Posts: 49 Member
    I used to be very confused by the concept of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, until I realised that jelly is something different to what it is in the UK :smiley:
    (This was about 20 years ago)
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    SLL1803 wrote: »
    I used to be very confused by the concept of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, until I realised that jelly is something different to what it is in the UK :smiley:
    (This was about 20 years ago)

    In addition, many of us will use "jelly" and "jam" interchangeably when even by American usage they are technically different! (I call them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I almost always make them with jam.) No wonder it's confusing! :D
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,281 Member
    I know that by ' jelly' Americans mean jam or something very similar to jam
    Not jelly as we know it in Australia.

    Peanut butter and jam don't get put in sandwiches ( or on toast, crumpets etc), together here , you would have one or the other,not as a combination.
  • SLL1803
    SLL1803 Posts: 49 Member
    I know that by ' jelly' Americans mean jam or something very similar to jam
    Not jelly as we know it in Australia.

    Peanut butter and jam don't get put in sandwiches ( or on toast, crumpets etc), together here , you would have one or the other,not as a combination.

    That was what confused me, being in the UK.

    Once I realised what it meant, I tried it. I can see the appeal, but I think it's an acquired taste.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    ahhhh, the days of coming home from school and having 2 PB&J's as a snack!

    And I liked using preserves actually, to through another type in there. Orange marmalade too.

    jellies, jams, preserves, marmalades - oh my!
  • goal06082021
    goal06082021 Posts: 2,130 Member
    edited September 2021
    You mean peanut and Concord grape isn't a universally-beloved flavor combination??? 🤯

    (me, to me: well, when you put it like THAT...)
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    I know that by ' jelly' Americans mean jam or something very similar to jam
    Not jelly as we know it in Australia.

    Peanut butter and jam don't get put in sandwiches ( or on toast, crumpets etc), together here , you would have one or the other,not as a combination.

    In the US, jelly is made with fruit juice only, jam is made with the fruit (usually crushed or in very small pieces), preserves are larger pieces. But they're all a similar product and many people here use the terms somewhat interchangeably.

    https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-jam-jelly-and-preserves

    I do make PBJs with some frequency for my kids, but my personal taste prefers peanut butter only. Or peanut butter and nutella, especially with thin apple slices. :yum:
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,281 Member
    @penguinmama - in Australia (and UK) Jelly is that dessert thing made from flavoured gelatine crystals disolved in hot water and set in the fridge - what you call jello, I think.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited September 2021
    @penguinmama - in Australia (and UK) Jelly is that dessert thing made from flavoured gelatine crystals disolved in hot water and set in the fridge - what you call jello, I think.

    Hmmmm - slices of jelly/jello on bread with peanut butter.....

    Ya - that doesn't sound right, not for the flavors/colors that are coming to mind.

    Might as well put a dollop of banana pudding on there.
    And pudding (not paper) there is actually ?
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    One of the staples of school lunch for me was PBJ with grape or strawberry jelly. It definitely had to be jelly, not jam, I used to gag on the bits of fruit. I've seen PB sandwiches paired with all kinds of something sweet - my cousins used to eat them with bananas, and I had friends that used honey. I really like the taste of honey with PB, but the honey makes the bread texture weird :)

    I also had a friend who ate PB with sweet pickles :o
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    I must be an outlier because I love PB sandwiches and jelly sandwiches but not PB and jelly together.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    mph323 wrote: »
    One of the staples of school lunch for me was PBJ with grape or strawberry jelly. It definitely had to be jelly, not jam, I used to gag on the bits of fruit. I've seen PB sandwiches paired with all kinds of something sweet - my cousins used to eat them with bananas, and I had friends that used honey. I really like the taste of honey with PB, but the honey makes the bread texture weird :)

    I also had a friend who ate PB with sweet pickles :o

    I think I lived almost exclusively on PB and honey sandwiches for about a year, when I was very very broke. I've never had PB and jam or jelly. I didn't grow up with peanut butter and I think eating so much of it for a while put me off because I'm not crazy about it.

    I had a former coworker who ate PB and mayo sandwiches.
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,243 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    mph323 wrote: »
    One of the staples of school lunch for me was PBJ with grape or strawberry jelly. It definitely had to be jelly, not jam, I used to gag on the bits of fruit. I've seen PB sandwiches paired with all kinds of something sweet - my cousins used to eat them with bananas, and I had friends that used honey. I really like the taste of honey with PB, but the honey makes the bread texture weird :)

    I also had a friend who ate PB with sweet pickles :o

    I think I lived almost exclusively on PB and honey sandwiches for about a year, when I was very very broke. I've never had PB and jam or jelly. I didn't grow up with peanut butter and I think eating so much of it for a while put me off because I'm not crazy about it.

    I had a former coworker who ate PB and mayo sandwiches.

    The last time we allowed my husband to fix any meal for himself was about six years ago.
    He made himself a peanut butter, Mayo, ketchup, relish, lettuce, and hot sauce sandwich.
    That was it. Kitchen closed.

    He can make his own Keriug coffee. That’s it. And he even screws that up occasionally.

    Did he enjoy the sandwich? Some people like odd flavor combinations. Years ago I would have thought the idea of salted chocolate or caramel would seem odd. Now I love it. Of course I also like kimchi and sauerkraut. Growing up we made pizza often. My mom would get together with friends and order a whole bunch of frozen crusts, large cans of sauce, and very large packages of cheese. She would make smaller portions of the sauce and the cheese and keep them in the freezer. My sister and I came up with some really odd combinations that we actually did enjoy. There were one or two that were bad ideas. There's a local pizza shop that has unusual toppings, and one of my favorites used to be roasted red potatoes, caramelized onions, and bacon. It's good with cheddar also, but the rare times I'll go get pizza these days I leave off the extra cheese because that one slice is already several hundred calories.

    I don't keep mayo in the house, but I can almost imagine the sandwich your husband made being OK without the mayo. Maybe it would be good with some kimchi.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,616 Member
    For the record, I (the guy) am the chef of my family, while my wife (the gal) made it clear to me when we got engaged that she would have to be held at gun point to ever do any cooking, she'd rather clean the bathrooms. I said deal, and we've never looked back.

    Coming or going to work has caused us to have some pretty random meal times (evening meal as early as 3, as late as 10), but she's held true to her desire to never enter the kitchen so long as I'm alive to prepare food. (I've taught the kids how to prepare a number of meals for those nights where I'm working the 2-10 swing shift and can't help them out at all.)
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,203 Member
    nossmf wrote: »
    For the record, I (the guy) am the chef of my family, while my wife (the gal) made it clear to me when we got engaged that she would have to be held at gun point to ever do any cooking, she'd rather clean the bathrooms. I said deal, and we've never looked back.

    Coming or going to work has caused us to have some pretty random meal times (evening meal as early as 3, as late as 10), but she's held true to her desire to never enter the kitchen so long as I'm alive to prepare food. (I've taught the kids how to prepare a number of meals for those nights where I'm working the 2-10 swing shift and can't help them out at all.)

    Realistically, we could start a whole separate thread about "gender role myths that just won't go away"**. This one would be a point of overlap between the two.

    ** Let's don't. 😉
  • Bella_Figura
    Bella_Figura Posts: 4,322 Member
    PB and Marmite is delicious.

    So delicious they sell it as a product now...

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