Originally Posted by McLovin
I'm 6'1", 185, and in good shape.
I have no problem admitting, though, that it is a CONSTANT struggle. I'm in the gym for cardio and weights 5 days a week, consistently, for the past 10 years. And pretty much hating every minute of it.
I am also eternally vigilant about what I eat. I pretty much stay away from processed foods, esp. processed carbs and sugar.
I went for almost 3 years straight without having any sugar at all.
I weigh myself every day, like a girl, and cut back on food and increase exercise if I gain even 2 lbs.
It sucks, I hate it, but I simply cannot accept the alternative.
I'm big on personal responsibility, but here in the US (and probably most of the world, some day), the foods that are served, advertised, put on shelves, etc. really is horribly fattening. Frankly, it's just crap. The amount of sugar and processed carbs in everything is incredible, the nutrition is low, and the calories are through the roof.
To remain at an ideal weight in that environment, while of course possible and done by many, is simply too much to ask from the majority of people. It takes a level of education, dedication, will power and even money (eating healthy, whole foods and proteins is expensive) that most simply can't pull together. They simply have no chance.
We have so much debate about our "health care" system, but the REAL problem we have isn't health care (i.e., doctors, hospitals, insurance, etc.), but a very, very unhealthy population. (20% still smoke, god knows what the % of overweight and obese is these days). And, like most things, it just gets worse and worse.
No country is immune to it, though. 20 years ago, for instance, there were almost no overweight in China. Now, 38% are overweight. As the fast food restaurants have flooded China in the past 7-10 years, the obesity rate has gone up 5X.
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