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The Secret is No Secret to wight loss
LeeDahlen38
Posts: 150 Member
Every Sunday I write an article on topics that are important to me. This Sunday it was about weight loss. So I share it here with you. I hope you find something that will help you!
Sunday Musings: Pills,Pills,Pills!!
I can hear the song in my head from Motley Crue.... Except I’ve changed the lyrics to my title. This whole world has become a slave to medicine anymore. Every second or third commercial is now a new drug on the market for something I need, because of lifestyle I have lived. Read that again.
Big Pharma is getting rich because I would not behave. Before I go on, I’ve made a LOT of changes in the past year or so because of this topic. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned. But before those changes?
I consumed sugar and fast food at a staggering rate. So I got diabetes. Actually, I have type 2 diabetes. My body produces Insulin but my weight and fat content absorbs it before it can do any good. That is what Insulin Resistance is. So I get more. My Heart condition is due to poor diet and stress. My Fatigue? Same. So why so many pills? Lack of discipline. Plain and simple.
They have you convinced that if you don’t take this med you will die. So they make billions scaring you. Truth is? If you will change the selfish lifestyle you will be off of them.
Meds were once meant to be a TEMPORARY fix to a problem. Remember when you got a headache? You took an aspirin. You didn’t take an aspirin 3 times a day every day. It was temporary for relief. Or if you had a sinus infection? Same. a sinus pill and then it cleared up. We’ve been told that getting old is just part of the game of life. No.... I disagree. Getting old isn’t the reason. Lifestyle is the reason. Eating crap food, Smoking or Vaping, and laying around scrolling the phone is the reason. People lived healthier lives, in a day when drive thru’s weren’t on every block. When farmers markets were more prevalent in every town or county. When people had more time to prepare a meal instead of buy one. Time.... Time to eat, Time to exercise, Time to sleep. People don’t TAKE enough time.
One of my favorite TV shows about a decade ago was “The Biggest Loser”. A show that proved the points I just made above. Sadly it fell because critics kept saying it was inhumane and dangerous. The show eventually was cancelled Succumbing to the public pressure. But it proved the point that Diet and Exercise is the key to weightloss not medication or Surgery. You don’t have to lose weight in mass using dangerous methods. You just have to make serious SIMPLE decisions. The quickest and most effective ways I have learned over the years losing 100 lbs myself, and more currently, my wife has lost 53lbs in 18 months. The answer is Simple:
Exercise. throw the step counter in the trash. It’s not the steps, it’s the energy that is so important. You don’t need a gym membership unless you want one. Start slow BUT Every day No excuses. The first week, 10 minutes on a bike, treadmill, elliptical or online workout. There are tons of free workouts on youtube. Second week, 20, third week 30. Build up to it. Before you know it you will be doing an hour. Then alternate cardio days with weight days.
Water, Water, Water! Throw away the sodas. Even the diet sodas are bad for you. Cold or room temp. I prefer COLD here’s why. A medical study suggests that cold water reduces the body’s core temperature of 98.6F which creates the body to work to maintain it. You should be consuming about a half gallon a day. More is better.
Diet... I’m not talking about fad diets here. I’m talking about knowing what you consume. Do you really know and understand what you are consuming? Learn to read labels. Learn what a portion size is. Robert F Kennedy Jr is about to shake up the world. Because he is exposing food for what it is these days. Processed, manipulated, crap.
Processed food is a simple definition. Added ingredients to prolong shelf life. The more processing, means the longer sell date. You go to the store more than once a week anyway so don’t fall for that trap. Plan and buy a few meals at a time. A secret of the store is the best and freshest ingredients to buy are on the outer perimeter of the store. Think about that! But by far, The best food you can eat? Is the food you make. Read that again.
The ingredients list of your bacon egg and cheese is much simpler when made at home. Because you select the ingredients, not the processor. I pulled the ingredient list from a popular Bacon Egg and cheese biscuit (Jimmy Dean) to prove my point: See what you think?
Buttermilk Biscuit: Water, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Contains Bleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin And Folic Acid), Bleached, Enriched Wheat Flour (Contains Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin And Folic Acid), Palm Oil, Dried Buttermilk, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Fiber, Sugar, Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sodium Bicarbonate, Dextrose, Salt, Natural and Artificial Butter Flavor [Natural Butter Flavor {Maltodextrin, Enzyme Modified Butter [Butter (Cream, Salt), Enzymes], Annatto Extract (Color), Turmeric Extract (Color)}, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid], Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), DATEM, Natural and Artificial Sautéed Butter Type Flavor [Maltodextrin, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Annatto Extract (Color), Turmeric Extract (Color)], Xanthan Gum. Fully Cooked Egg Patty: Whole Eggs, Nonfat Milk, Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Natural And Artificial Butter Flavor (Soybean Oil, Butter, Lipolyzed Butter Oil, And Natural And Artificial Flavors), Citric Acid. Pasteurized Process American Cheese: Milk, Water, Cream, Contains 2% Or Less Of Cheese Culture, Citric Acid, Color Added, Enzymes, Potassium Citrate, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate. Fully Cooked Round Bacon: Bacon (Cured With: Water, Salt, Sugar, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite). Did you go crosseyed?
When I eat Wings? The ingredients are simple. Chicken, Baking powder, spices, and sauce. It takes time to prepare food. But not as much as you think. We make wings every sunday in our house. It takes an hour! Start to table. You’re not saving any time in a restaurant. just effort. I can make my breakfast in 15 minutes.
Finally Sleep... Sleep is the body’s time to recover from the day you beat it up. The standard is 8 hrs. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Yeah I laughed too. But I try.
The Holidays are here. The New Year is coming. Start today. and every day. Make one small change and put big pharma out of your house. That is my prayer for you today.
Sunday Musings: Pills,Pills,Pills!!
I can hear the song in my head from Motley Crue.... Except I’ve changed the lyrics to my title. This whole world has become a slave to medicine anymore. Every second or third commercial is now a new drug on the market for something I need, because of lifestyle I have lived. Read that again.
Big Pharma is getting rich because I would not behave. Before I go on, I’ve made a LOT of changes in the past year or so because of this topic. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned. But before those changes?
I consumed sugar and fast food at a staggering rate. So I got diabetes. Actually, I have type 2 diabetes. My body produces Insulin but my weight and fat content absorbs it before it can do any good. That is what Insulin Resistance is. So I get more. My Heart condition is due to poor diet and stress. My Fatigue? Same. So why so many pills? Lack of discipline. Plain and simple.
They have you convinced that if you don’t take this med you will die. So they make billions scaring you. Truth is? If you will change the selfish lifestyle you will be off of them.
Meds were once meant to be a TEMPORARY fix to a problem. Remember when you got a headache? You took an aspirin. You didn’t take an aspirin 3 times a day every day. It was temporary for relief. Or if you had a sinus infection? Same. a sinus pill and then it cleared up. We’ve been told that getting old is just part of the game of life. No.... I disagree. Getting old isn’t the reason. Lifestyle is the reason. Eating crap food, Smoking or Vaping, and laying around scrolling the phone is the reason. People lived healthier lives, in a day when drive thru’s weren’t on every block. When farmers markets were more prevalent in every town or county. When people had more time to prepare a meal instead of buy one. Time.... Time to eat, Time to exercise, Time to sleep. People don’t TAKE enough time.
One of my favorite TV shows about a decade ago was “The Biggest Loser”. A show that proved the points I just made above. Sadly it fell because critics kept saying it was inhumane and dangerous. The show eventually was cancelled Succumbing to the public pressure. But it proved the point that Diet and Exercise is the key to weightloss not medication or Surgery. You don’t have to lose weight in mass using dangerous methods. You just have to make serious SIMPLE decisions. The quickest and most effective ways I have learned over the years losing 100 lbs myself, and more currently, my wife has lost 53lbs in 18 months. The answer is Simple:
Exercise. throw the step counter in the trash. It’s not the steps, it’s the energy that is so important. You don’t need a gym membership unless you want one. Start slow BUT Every day No excuses. The first week, 10 minutes on a bike, treadmill, elliptical or online workout. There are tons of free workouts on youtube. Second week, 20, third week 30. Build up to it. Before you know it you will be doing an hour. Then alternate cardio days with weight days.
Water, Water, Water! Throw away the sodas. Even the diet sodas are bad for you. Cold or room temp. I prefer COLD here’s why. A medical study suggests that cold water reduces the body’s core temperature of 98.6F which creates the body to work to maintain it. You should be consuming about a half gallon a day. More is better.
Diet... I’m not talking about fad diets here. I’m talking about knowing what you consume. Do you really know and understand what you are consuming? Learn to read labels. Learn what a portion size is. Robert F Kennedy Jr is about to shake up the world. Because he is exposing food for what it is these days. Processed, manipulated, crap.
Processed food is a simple definition. Added ingredients to prolong shelf life. The more processing, means the longer sell date. You go to the store more than once a week anyway so don’t fall for that trap. Plan and buy a few meals at a time. A secret of the store is the best and freshest ingredients to buy are on the outer perimeter of the store. Think about that! But by far, The best food you can eat? Is the food you make. Read that again.
The ingredients list of your bacon egg and cheese is much simpler when made at home. Because you select the ingredients, not the processor. I pulled the ingredient list from a popular Bacon Egg and cheese biscuit (Jimmy Dean) to prove my point: See what you think?
Buttermilk Biscuit: Water, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Contains Bleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin And Folic Acid), Bleached, Enriched Wheat Flour (Contains Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin And Folic Acid), Palm Oil, Dried Buttermilk, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Fiber, Sugar, Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sodium Bicarbonate, Dextrose, Salt, Natural and Artificial Butter Flavor [Natural Butter Flavor {Maltodextrin, Enzyme Modified Butter [Butter (Cream, Salt), Enzymes], Annatto Extract (Color), Turmeric Extract (Color)}, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid], Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), DATEM, Natural and Artificial Sautéed Butter Type Flavor [Maltodextrin, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Annatto Extract (Color), Turmeric Extract (Color)], Xanthan Gum. Fully Cooked Egg Patty: Whole Eggs, Nonfat Milk, Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Natural And Artificial Butter Flavor (Soybean Oil, Butter, Lipolyzed Butter Oil, And Natural And Artificial Flavors), Citric Acid. Pasteurized Process American Cheese: Milk, Water, Cream, Contains 2% Or Less Of Cheese Culture, Citric Acid, Color Added, Enzymes, Potassium Citrate, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate. Fully Cooked Round Bacon: Bacon (Cured With: Water, Salt, Sugar, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite). Did you go crosseyed?
When I eat Wings? The ingredients are simple. Chicken, Baking powder, spices, and sauce. It takes time to prepare food. But not as much as you think. We make wings every sunday in our house. It takes an hour! Start to table. You’re not saving any time in a restaurant. just effort. I can make my breakfast in 15 minutes.
Finally Sleep... Sleep is the body’s time to recover from the day you beat it up. The standard is 8 hrs. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Yeah I laughed too. But I try.
The Holidays are here. The New Year is coming. Start today. and every day. Make one small change and put big pharma out of your house. That is my prayer for you today.
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Replies
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Just a note... the biggest loser was inhumane. What those competitors have come forward describing the experience.... was.... not something any of us should ever be made to do. But I agree that we have become a society that demands a pill or injection because we don't want to take responsibility. That being said, lifestyle only goes so far and there are many instances where long term medications are very warranted.6
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Good point that we can help our health with these kinds of things, eat real food and move our body '- ans in many cases, slow or improve disease symptoms... Meds are a trickier thing.... life saving and extending in many cases, and i wish we had better clarity and long term info on them...
We end up with... we have options now that can make a difference, and the healthier options can be tougher to do emotionally or physically, so embracing the approach and making the effort -- because we are worth it.... appreciate hearing that, and places like MFP where we can yak that.2 -
No secrets? OK, yeah. But one true way? Nah, I don't think so.
There's some good advice in your post, but I feel like each of us needs to find our own personalized best path . . . and I agree with Sollyn that Biggest Loser was a terrible example. Only a few of those people have come even close to maintaining loss, because the loss tactics were unsustainable and may even have made maintaining more difficult in other ways. The show deluded people into believing that those weekly weight loss rates were normal, could be achieved while living a reasonably normal daily life, which is seriously unrealistic (and unhealthful) IMO.
Whether weight-loss drugs help people, and in what ways, seems to vary individually based on reading posts here from people using them. Some are using them as a temporary intervention, creating some space where they can learn and practice sustainable new habits, kind of like the aspirin example. I have hope that they'll succeed. A few people seem to treat them as if they were a magic spell, one that will result in weight loss without any other action. I fear that strategy may not end well.
FWIW, I didn't personally use weight loss drugs or surgery to lose from obese to a healthy weight, and to stay there for years now. I'm grateful that that worked for me. I'm not going to diss others who take a different path, and I sincerely, deeply hope they succeed.
Also, it seems there's some evidence recently that even temporary weight loss can yield longer-term benefits, not that I think that's the best route vs. staying at a healthy weight.7 -
No secrets? OK, yeah. But one true way? Nah, I don't think so.
There's some good advice in your post, but I feel like each of us needs to find our own personalized best path . . . and I agree with Sollyn that Biggest Loser was a terrible example. Only a few of those people have come even close to maintaining loss, because the loss tactics were unsustainable and may even have made maintaining more difficult in other ways. The show deluded people into believing that those weekly weight loss rates were normal, could be achieved while living a reasonably normal daily life, which is seriously unrealistic (and unhealthful) IMO.
Whether weight-loss drugs help people, and in what ways, seems to vary individually based on reading posts here from people using them. Some are using them as a temporary intervention, creating some space where they can learn and practice sustainable new habits, kind of like the aspirin example. I have hope that they'll succeed. A few people seem to treat them as if they were a magic spell, one that will result in weight loss without any other action. I fear that strategy may not end well.
FWIW, I didn't personally use weight loss drugs or surgery to lose from obese to a healthy weight, and to stay there for years now. I'm grateful that that worked for me. I'm not going to diss others who take a different path, and I sincerely, deeply hope they succeed.
Also, it seems there's some evidence recently that even temporary weight loss can yield longer-term benefits, not that I think that's the best route vs. staying at a healthy weight.
Whatever works for you works for you. I didnt endorse the Biggest Loser because it was flawed. I merely said it proved the point that diet and exercise trumps meds and surgery. I stand on that. I know several people personally that did the surgery and it failed miserably because the lifestyle afterwards was not sustainable.
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The Biggest Loser, while being a motivator for a lot of obese and overweight people while it ran, wasn't open on how their contestants were achieving weekly weight loss, especially when it came to dehydration before a weigh in. And like most short term (less than one year) approaches to weight loss for fast results, over 90% of the contestants REGAINED a significant amount of weight after leaving the show.
And while I will agree with a lot of your article, there isn't a single approach and some drugs DO HAVE a place in controlling people's weight as well as their health. Genetics dictate a lot of what happens to people (cholesterol, heart disease, etc.) that just eating well and exercise won't address.
But it is all about habitual behavior and making better choices. The leaner people in the world have a few things in common. They don't overeat, they have some sort of physical activity everyday, they get enough rest and their usually mentally okay with their bodies. That's not to say they aren't satisfied, but the majority don't go to extremes to try to improve.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 40 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition2 -
I dont think The Biggest Loser proved anything - and if it stopped production becasue of publid pressure about tis methods that is a good thing
Weight loss medications and/or surgery do work for some people if they are using them as tools, with the right approach.
There may be some good points in your post but much of it comes across as too extreme and one eyed to me.
Diet sodas for example are not bad for you - neither are full sugar ones if yo u can fit them into your calorie allowance (counted or otherwise)
and calling other people selfish and undisciplined - I dont think that helps make any points.
and step counters are helpful for some people - nothing wrong with that or any need to throw them in the bin
and I like eating out sometimes - sometimes I buy food I could make myself, sometimes not - but that isn't the only point in going out.
Nor is it hurting my weight management.9 -
A secret of the store is the best and freshest ingredients to buy are on the outer perimeter of the store.
Every time I see this, I wonder if the person spouting it has been into many supermarkets lately haha. Just off the top of my head, the outer perimeter of mine is bakery (hmm), deli (bit of both), Meat (OK, sure), ice creams, laundry and cleaning, and seasonal specials - usually candy and chocolates to fit whatever holiday is coming. It seems like it's something that's been stated for years, and hasn't been true for ages but people keep saying it, and reminds me of the other chestnut "don't eat it if you can't pronounce it" - it's something that's been touted over and over, but has very little actual utility.8 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »A secret of the store is the best and freshest ingredients to buy are on the outer perimeter of the store.
Every time I see this, I wonder if the person spouting it has been into many supermarkets lately haha. Just off the top of my head, the outer perimeter of mine is bakery (hmm), deli (bit of both), Meat (OK, sure), ice creams, laundry and cleaning, and seasonal specials - usually candy and chocolates to fit whatever holiday is coming. It seems like it's something that's been stated for years, and hasn't been true for ages but people keep saying it, and reminds me of the other chestnut "don't eat it if you can't pronounce it" - it's something that's been touted over and over, but has very little actual utility.
Many of the stores around here have some alcoholic beverages on the perimeter, too . . . which might be a useful thing, since these unhelpful and non-educational "rules" kinda drive me to drink.
(Kidding . . . sort of.)
"Eat mostly whole foods" or "eat mostly less processed meats, fish, fruits, veggies, whole grains" is brief, more concrete, and at least as accurate.6 -
Oh no, someone mentioned biggest loser.
Love this place. 2 -
I am surprised at everyone piling on OP - the overall essential points and reasoning are what is advocated with CiCo here at MFP.
Appreciate the share and encouragement of the message OP.0 -
Adventurista wrote: »I am surprised at everyone piling on OP - the overall essential points and reasoning are what is advocated with CiCo here at MFP.
Appreciate the share and encouragement of the message OP.
I kinda see it the same way at the vegans who don't make other vegans look bad looking at the vegans who do and going "come on, dude. We agree, but you're a bit much".
I like my step counter. Processed doesn't always mean evil. The Biggest Loser was a stupid, dangerous show that exploited vulnerable people and set them up for long term failure. Eating out isn't going to stop you losing weight if you are mindful. People aren't selfish and undisciplined because they're using different avenues to lose weight. And RFK... well, less said, the better on what that's going to do for health.
The good messages are mired in a bunch of judgement and unhelpful "only one way" rhetoric.8 -
Adventurista wrote: »I am surprised at everyone piling on OP - the overall essential points and reasoning are what is advocated with CiCo here at MFP.
Appreciate the share and encouragement of the message OP.
Piling on??
Or people are disagreeing with parts of her post and are politely explaining why.
Which is a feature of good discussions.
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I can handle the piling on. Youre correct good discussion and honest debate are a great thing. What works for me doesnt always work for everyone. But I still stand on my points of processed foods and diet sodas. Anyone is welcome to debate it. It just wont change my mind. Ive lost over 60 and my wife has lost 50+ with these methods. Im not selling anything so whether people choose to believe or not doesnt affeect me. If I helped one other person? Worth it! Carry on folks! Merry Christmas to all BTW1
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What works for me doesnt always work for everyone.
Nobody is piling on - they are politely explaining why they dont agree
Yes,important to remember that when posting.
So big difference between " step counters don't work for me" and a universal instruction " throw your step counter in the bin."
Everybody doesn't have to stop eating out, stop eating any processed foods stop drinking soda ( diet or otherwise) just because you did.
I eat a mixture of whole foods,processed foods, home prepared meals, bought meals and a mixture of drinks including diet soda and water
Doing so I have maintained my weight for over 10 years.You go to the store more than once a week anyway
No I don't
I do a weekly shopping trip and rarely buy anything in between
Another example of assuming others do as you do
And the perimeter of the store is silly advice, as has been pointed out already.
Rhetoric like " big pharma" seem silly to me too and no, nothing I do to change my selfish lifestyle will get me off thyroxine medication
No matter how disciplined I become, that is a permanent medication.7 -
@paperpudding feel better? Good!0
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paperpudding wrote: »What works for me doesnt always work for everyone.
Nobody is piling on - they are politely explaining why they dont agree
Yes,important to remember that when posting.
So big difference between " step counters don't work for me" and a universal instruction " throw your step counter in the bin."
Everybody doesn't have to stop eating out, stop eating any processed foods stop drinking soda ( diet or otherwise) just because you did.
I eat a mixture of whole foods,processed foods, home prepared meals, bought meals and a mixture of drinks including diet soda and water
Doing so I have maintained my weight for over 10 years.You go to the store more than once a week anyway
No I don't
I do a weekly shopping trip and rarely buy anything in between
Another example of assuming others do as you do
And the perimeter of the store is silly advice, as has been pointed out already.
Rhetoric like " big pharma" seem silly to me too and no, nothing I do to change my selfish lifestyle will get me off thyroxine medication
No matter how disciplined I become, that is a permanent medication.
Hear, hear!
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Interesting post for sure.
Most Canadians have no idea what they are consuming. I cringe when I see other people's grocery carts filled with garbage processed foods I wouldn't feed to my dog!
Hopefully RFK can turn your country around someday...
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xbowhunter wrote: »Interesting post for sure.
Most Canadians have no idea what they are consuming. I cringe when I see other people's grocery carts filled with garbage processed foods I wouldn't feed to my dog!
Hopefully RFK can turn your country around someday...
Yeeeeeeah.....NO.
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OP
My story is different.
I appreciate yours.
I appreciate the positive thoughts! Too few of them on MFP these days.
Thought provoking post.
Good debate topic.
Good idea, making time once a week to write out and meditate on your thoughts. I bet it helps your sleep, your health. I might just steal it.
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LeeDahlen38 wrote: »@paperpudding feel better? Good!
well I was feeling good both before and after I politely explained what I didnt agree with in your post
Nothing wrong with the way you are losing weight - if it works for you that is great.
But denigrating the way other people do it and making universal instructions based on what you do - not so great.
Repeating well debunked instructions like perimeter of the store - also not so great.
I hope you continue reaching your goals - but perhaps posting in less zealous way will get your points across better.
I'm off to work now - Have a nice day whatever you are doing!8 -
Oh no, you mean there's things other than whole foods on the perimeter of supermarkets, who knew, crazy stuff. 0
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neanderthin wrote: »Oh no, you mean there's things other than whole foods on the perimeter of supermarkets, who knew, crazy stuff.
Donuts. Donuts and cake are in the perimeter of my local shop. So they're good for me, right?:)
Kidding aside, I think we all need to be more kind to ourselves and each other on our weight loss journeys. It's good to share top tips, but we also need to be mindful that what works for us might not work for everyone.
I would agree that avoiding ultra-processed food is probably healthier for our bodies. However, the reality is that a lot of ultra-processed foods are easier on the wallet. When money is tight, we buy cheap food. When time is tight, we buy foods that are ready to eat and don't require any prep time.
A random example of "easier on the wallet" from a recent trip to my local store: A head of lettuce was $1.89. A packet of ramen noodles (the block packet, not the cup) was $0.30. A head of lettuce will not feed six people a filling meal. Six packets of ramen, for the same price, will fill six stomachs. Food for thought, so to speak.:flowerforyou: 2 -
sugaraddict4321 wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »Oh no, you mean there's things other than whole foods on the perimeter of supermarkets, who knew, crazy stuff.
Donuts. Donuts and cake are in the perimeter of my local shop. So they're good for me, right?:)
Kidding aside, I think we all need to be more kind to ourselves and each other on our weight loss journeys. It's good to share top tips, but we also need to be mindful that what works for us might not work for everyone.
I would agree that avoiding ultra-processed food is probably healthier for our bodies. However, the reality is that a lot of ultra-processed foods are easier on the wallet. When money is tight, we buy cheap food. When time is tight, we buy foods that are ready to eat and don't require any prep time.
A random example of "easier on the wallet" from a recent trip to my local store: A head of lettuce was $1.89. A packet of ramen noodles (the block packet, not the cup) was $0.30. A head of lettuce will not feed six people a filling meal. Six packets of ramen, for the same price, will fill six stomachs. Food for thought, so to speak.:flowerforyou:
You make a valid point.
To consume what the USDA would like people to consume to live a healthy life, the average cost to do that is anywhere from 12,000.00 a year for a family of 4 to 16,000.00 depending on food plan chosen compared to the actual average cost of food per capita in the USA which was approximately $7,600.00 for a family of 4 in 2023 and if we look at the families with the lowest income they spend around 3700.00 and where UPF are anywhere from 50 to 70% less of a cost on a per calorie basis, so it's not rocket science why we have a health crisis and why UPF make up the lions share of what is consumed.2 -
sugaraddict4321 wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »Oh no, you mean there's things other than whole foods on the perimeter of supermarkets, who knew, crazy stuff.
Donuts. Donuts and cake are in the perimeter of my local shop. So they're good for me, right?:)
Kidding aside, I think we all need to be more kind to ourselves and each other on our weight loss journeys. It's good to share top tips, but we also need to be mindful that what works for us might not work for everyone.
I would agree that avoiding ultra-processed food is probably healthier for our bodies. However, the reality is that a lot of ultra-processed foods are easier on the wallet. When money is tight, we buy cheap food. When time is tight, we buy foods that are ready to eat and don't require any prep time.
A random example of "easier on the wallet" from a recent trip to my local store: A head of lettuce was $1.89. A packet of ramen noodles (the block packet, not the cup) was $0.30. A head of lettuce will not feed six people a filling meal. Six packets of ramen, for the same price, will fill six stomachs. Food for thought, so to speak.:flowerforyou:
Yes. But a pound of dry pinto beans is $1.08, today's online Walmart price. That's 13 100-calorie servings. The ramen has more calories per penny, the beans more nutrition. Slightly more calories of beans cost 3 cents more than a packet of ramen. (Well, a packet of ramen on the same Walmart site, bought singly, is 33 cents, too, so maybe closer price.)
5 pounds of white rice is $3.52, 50 servings. 2.5 servings has slightly more calories than one ramen pack for about 18 cents.
Either of those, or a combination, is likely more filling than ramen. Very bland, though. Needs salt and flavorings, at least. (Lettuce would seem to have the same flavoring issues, BTW
.)
Plus beans or rice take longer to cook. Families are stressed.
I've never been poor, with a family. When I was poorer and single, rooming with friends, there was a lot of beans, rice, homemade yogurt made with powdered milk, homemade bread or flour tortillas. Pretty cheap, but more time consuming. I'd still go that route, if super tight budget, but I still don't have a family and still do technically have the time and skills.
Yeah, food for thought, but there is a lot going on in this mix: Cost, habit, food norms, advertising, convenience, education, time, and more. It's not just belly-filling for the price, either. Complicated problems tend not to have simple solutions, at the societal level . . . sometimes not even individually.
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