The main difference between Europe and USA...

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by CJFusco
Now, the difference between America and some of the European countries is a matter of lifestyle. I spent some time with my cousin in Holland; thieir idea of snackfood is fruit, veggies, fish, crackers, and cheese. They sit down to dinner at 5:30, and don't gorge themselves... meals take awhile to serve, and everyone sits at the table for hours enjoying one another's company. I have seen 4-hour "dinners" where I have eaten much less (and better food) than a 20-minute gorge-fest here in the states.

Also, due partially to obscenely-high gas prices and partially to a lack of parking spaces, people are far more apt to ride their bikes short distances instead of driving their cars. People in Holland are seriously in very good shape! I don't think I saw anyone under the age of 60 or so that wasn't toned and slim.

I have 28 cousins living in Holland and can vouch for most of your anaylsis. The advantage to riding a bike in Holland is that everything is close by and easily accessable with dedicated bike roads with their own signs and signals. Plus the country is predominantly flat in topography so the only contentions would be rain (lots of it) and wind (also lots of that). In the America the distances are much greater, you have to share the roads with cars, and at least here in San Diego the topography is predominantly hilly.

Americans seem to be always on the run and have little time for things like eating - thus the fast food empire was created. Europeans take a much more relaxed approach to life and thus "make" time for long meals and other things like 2 months vacation/year.

I will dispute the notion of Europe = better food. If you're comparing home made meals vs. McDs or KFC then you're totally right of course. Over the years I have found that the best Italian, Chinese, Japanese, etc... meals are right here in America. Mexican food - no competition. What, do you think immigrants just left their recipies at home and start eating big macs? No. Many started their own resturants here in the States and also forced grocery chains to stock the ingredients needed to make the food at home. I enjoy the diversity of foods found only here in the States.

Oh and Euro girls are typically too hairy and unwashed for my tastes, but the photo provides a great laugh. What a cow.

[island911]

Originally posted by beepbeep
Jocke is from Sweden . ..

Here is a shot I took, "next door" in Norway.

I call it "Mc Bergen"
. ...I'm sure only fat (had to buy two airplane seats to fit their fat-ass) American tourist eat there.

[beepbeep]

Originally posted by island911
Here is a shot I took, "next door" in Norway.

I call it "Mc Bergen"
. ...I'm sure only fat (had to buy two airplane seats to fit their fat-ass) American tourist eat there.

I don't quite get it... are you being ironic? Sorry, I wasn't implicating that all nordic girls are slim and all americans are fat and sloppy. There are lot's of MCD's and BK's here...

I was just saying that our population is getting fatter of completly differrent resons.

[speeder]

That photo might be true if you are talking about Nebraska or Oklahoma, but come to L.A. sometime if you want to see where all of the best girls from your country, (or state), have gone.

[araine901]

Yeah just for the record the chick on the left is here in the states, you can find her at www.hipsandthongs.com. Not that I would know

[island911]

heh-heh. . .beepbeep. . .for a change, I wasn't being contrary to you. I was just pointing out that even the nordics have McDonalds. (I think a lot of Americans believe they have exclusive attatchment to McDonalds. . .and thus buy in to Jockes picture above)

I've seen some "not so nice" physical trends in Europe, but even I am not so daring to post those. . . .well maybe I will if this ugly-stereo-typing, of American women, keeps up.

[LeeH]

Check out the book, "Fast Food Nation." You'll never look at another McBurger the same way again.

[Burnin' oil]

little or no exercise + poor diet = big, fat, tub o' goo, lard asses. Get enough of them and they become the norm and the rule that "spandex is a right, not a privilege" goes out the window and then bare midriffs with rolls of fat hanging over the beltline becomes the rage. Bee-you-tee-ful . . .

[CJFusco]

Actually, up here in the Northeast, most twentysomethings (my age) seem to be in pretty good shape... I know many more thin girls my age than fat ones. But, then again, we grew up in the early 1990s........

It's the younger generation, and the 30-40 year olds that seem to be genuinely fat up here in New England. At least, that's my observation.

"I loss like 45# on an Atkins diet...."

I also lost a bit of weight over the last couple years or so... more like 25 pounds, though. I was always pretty active up until I went to college... then all of a sudden i found myself 1) in the city, and away from bike paths, baseball diamonds, golf courses, tennis courts, etc, 2) in a position to choose my own eating habits, 3) in a lifestyle where the beer flowed, well, like wine.

The result was that I stayed indoors when I would have been out playing golf or mountain biking the year before. I was eating pizza at 2 AM instead of a real meal at 6. I was drinking 4 nights a week. I jumped from 150 lbs to 180 in the first two years. I am only 5'8". I was about 185 at my "peak".

My senior year, I decided it was time for a lifestyle change. I still drank, and, of course, had my moments of weakness when it came to 2AM pizza - but I was eating better and going for bike rides along the Charles river nearly every day. This alone got me back down to 170ish lbs.

Then, after I moved back to Bristol, I decided that I really wanted to be in shape. I decided to limit my drinking, to really watch what I ate, and to exercise with a plan. I now run/jog/walk 5 miles 4 days a week (AND I have a job where i'm on my feet and running around for 4 hours at a time), I lift weights 3 times a week, do crunches/situps every morning, and really pay attention to what i'm putting into my body. For example, if I get hungry late at night, I grab an orange or some strawberries instead of potato chips. I still allow myself a burger or pizza, because chances are I will be running 5 miles later that day anyhow, but the truth is I haven't eaten Burger King, McDonalds, or the like in about 8 years.

This morning I weighed in at 155 lbs, and that's with the added muscle mass from lifting weights.

[dd74]

Originally posted by CJFusco
...I decided that I really wanted to be in shape. I decided to limit my drinking, to really watch what I ate, and to exercise with a plan. I now run/jog/walk 5 miles 4 days a week (AND I have a job where i'm on my feet and running around for 4 hours at a time), I lift weights 3 times a week, do crunches/situps every morning, and really pay attention to what i'm putting into my body. For example, if I get hungry late at night, I grab an orange or some strawberries instead of potato chips. I still allow myself a burger or pizza, because chances are I will be running 5 miles later that day anyhow, but the truth is I haven't eaten Burger King, McDonalds, or the like in about 8 years.

This morning I weighed in at 155 lbs, and that's with the added muscle mass from lifting weights.

At the point where you don't get up from the table feeling stuffed even after increasing your meal sizes is when your body has become efficient from the exercise. Now, within loose reason (not going back for thirds and having dessert on top of a meal), I eat almost everything put in front of me - except pasta, which I've lost my taste for. But I haven't gained a pound in a year, or so, and that's after eating and drinking everything else. Sure, I fluxuate between five pounds, but I look at that as a sort of weight DMZ zone. The key, definitely to the Atkins diet being successful is the exercise.

[CJFusco]

yeah i agree, dd74... dieting will get you nowhere if you spend all your time in front of a television. Exercise is essential. At this point, I don't feel "right" if I haven't exercised on that particular day. My body has become so used to it, that I need it just as much as my coffee in the morning.

Now I don't feel so bad about having a big juicy cheeseburger or a few pieces of pizza, because I know that I am active enough to the point where I can afford a little junk food once in awhile. Little being the key word...

[Aurel]

I think the main reason poeple get fat is that they believe fat free food will not make them fat. This is a great mistake, because what truly makes you fat is the carbohydrates. Stick to meat and vegetables (not rice, bread or potatoes, those are carbohydreates) and you melt. I did it, it worked fantastic.

Aurel

[dd74]

Originally posted by Aurel
I think the main reason poeple get fat is that they believe fat free food will not make them fat.

So true! I love seeing these fat oafs going up to the salad bar two or three times in one sitting, all under the auspices of it being low calorie. Of course it is when your plate doesn't weigh 15 lbs.

[CJFusco]

i love waiting on a table, and the fat people order a Diet Coke... then get 4 refills. Then they have their salad, but pass on the nonfat Chianti dressing (which is actually pretty good), and b!tch when they find out we have no bleu cheese dressing or peppercorn or ranch.

[LeeH]

And then there's the denial...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=7&u=/ap/20040528/ap_on_he_me/fit_obesity_ap_poll_4

[speeder]

What is the difference between the Atkins diet and "The Zone"? Are they the same? Almost?

Can I find out what these diets are for free on the web, or do I need to buy the book(s)? I'm looking to improve my diet for the long run, not just a 6 week crazy diet. I am not much overweight, but since my back injury the last couple of years I've packed on a little fat for the first time ever. I'd like to drop 10 lbs. and keep it off, I've heard the "The Zone" will melt you.

Comments? TIA.

[araine901]

I am not so convinced "Carbs" are the problem. I see it as a situation were too much of anything can be bad. but it comes down to the caloric intake vs. Calories burned. I used to work with some pro cycling teams and some of the riders ate total crap but ridding 4-6 hours a day burned the "crap" right off. I think most Americans live to sedentary of a lifestyle. Logistics have a major role in it, most Euros have to ride a bike or walk to a train station to go to work or get around. We just hop in the car to go to the gym to go work out for 30min.

[speeder]

Oh yeah. Bicycle racers could eat lard, it wouldn't matter. Not the best thing for arteries, but I know what you mean.

[Sonic dB]

I just sent that to my beautiful, busty and ripped friend from Europe. She is flying home tomorrow for a trip and will get a good kick out of that one.

So true.

and...I have a date with a beautiful non-usa girl (She is Persian) on Monday... I love the non-USA girls. They just hold themselves like a lady should, with an air of class and sophistication.

[Bleyseng]

After spending time in Holland, I totally agree that the women are in much better shape. They walk, bike everywhere or take the literail as cars are a very expensive.
Compared to the women in the NW, they dress better, take better care of their bodies and are into fitness.
I also agree on the dinner experience, the whole family sits down and eats over a period of time. You talk and eat! No TV dinners or wolfing down your food.
My GF has about 100 relatives in Holland and only two of the women are fat.
Yeah, the hairly armpits is a turnoff but man there are some great looking asses over there!
South America is also where you can find awesome women!