Americans are fat

[motion]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

Part 2 of something very true. An employee and I were in Chicago on Michigan ave. yesterday. We wrapped up a job and I wanted to get some nice boots. Being from Milwaukee, Chicago is the closest (literally) thing I have to check out what people are wearing and buy decent clothes. However, even a big city like Chicago is in the dark ages fashion wise (I ended up buying boots on line). Here in the midwest it's appaling in general. We have our pocket areas where people dress more nicely and gets better as one gets to either coast. Fly abroad and then really see people with style. Again, I'll use Paris as a reference. The people there just plain look good. The only people walking down the streets wearing cut offs, white tennis shoes/high socks, t-shirts, and ball caps are likely from the US.

+100

I am used to dressing nicely in Orange County - you have to in high end joints, but here it brings on a new meaning. Most men are wearing sport coats with slacks (not jeans) and 90% of the women look like they just sprang from a Vogue spread. My little Kayla ALWAYS dresses to the hilt when leaving the house, even in Red Lodge, MT, where the reaction she gets from the average person is just plain comical.

I WISH I had snapped a pic of the guy in the Samara airport with the Kansas City Chiefs ballcap, gold and black sunglasses on in the lobby, at night, and the extra 100 pounds jostling at his waist.

Shame really. Wonder where it will lead us in the future.

[MichiganMat]

My little cousins in Austria like to take pictures of fat Americans when they come to the states, it blows their minds.

They also can't believe the sizes of things at our grocery stores, the quantities are 4x what they usually see.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by MichiganMat

They also can't believe the sizes of things at our grocery stores, the quantities are 4x what they usually see.

and restaurants. My old girlfriend and I used to go out to dinner a lot and were tired of either always bringing things home or stuffing ourselves so as not to waste. then we started ordering 1 appetizer and 1 entrée for us both.

Stopped going home stuffed, stopped carrying home doggy bags. and you can be so much more frisky without an over-stuffed belly.

[Drago]

Not anymore. 95# in a year will do that.

[tabs]

Dans post is #1 in my book...most poigant.

I have recently lost 50...just by watching carbs.

I have become observant when I go grocery shopping. What I have noticed is all the Processed Foods with loads of Carbs that are displayed in the store, its everywhere, enticing you to eat them. One really has to look at the package to see what one is consuming.

High Frutose Corn Syrup is a culprit for obesity...so many of the things we eat contains it. When I was a kid it wasn't nearly as bad. Today with all the prepackaged meals that save time for a busy mom.....its all cr@p. Do you know that Rats won't eat Cereal, sugar, flour nor fruit drinks. Does that tell you something.

Now all this reading has made me hungry...I think a nice Buffet is in order.

[Zef]

Originally Posted by MichiganMat

My little cousins in Austria like to take pictures of fat Americans when they come to the states, it blows their minds.

They also can't believe the sizes of things at our grocery stores, the quantities are 4x what they usually see.

We went to Disney in Orlando this summer...We saw lot of fat peoples using the electric cart...and not because an handicap was present...but because they were too big to walk...And yes...all is big in USA...Big SUV everywhere...big thruway....it seem that all is oriented on CONSUMPTION...

[Rick Lee]

We're the only country in the world with poor people who weigh over 200-300 lbs.

[The Gaijin]

Look at William Howard Taft. He was expected to be large. Hopefully a passing fad.

I blame the high fructose corn crack.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

So far, so good. Height just under 6 feet (we shrink with age), weight 170, resting pulse of 58, sonogram showed me with "the arteries of a healthy 30 year old". The only medication I take is for elevated blood pressure.

So I will probably get wiped out by a reneck in a pickup

so we know where the arteries are, where is the rest of the 30 yo dude's body? For some reason I am always too heavy for those recommended weights, but body fat tests low.

[hytem]

Diet in America has a lot to do with education level, just like smoking.
Those junk food TV commercials are geared largely towards the lower social classes.
Not that we all don't enjoy a Big Mac once in a while. I've been some places in the world where I was grateful for one. MacDonalds has excellent quality control abroad.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

It must be hard as a parent... I've got a friend who NEVER says no to their 4 yr old daughter

"Can I have another donut?"
"Can I have more icecream?"
"Can I have another roll?"
...yet they never make her eat her veggies, finish her supper, etc. She cries when they drive by McDonalds, so they turn around.

When kids are really young, they don't really get fat too easily. But when you develop those habits they are going to be a BIG problem when the kid turns 12 or so and they aren't growing as fast. Try to teach them to enjoy squash & carrots then.

I almost want to pipe up and say "NO you can't have more icecream! You didn't finish your cabbage!"
LOL, I'm going to be a prick father.

Actually, you're likely to be an EFFECTIVE parent because you WILL say, "No".

WARNING: Bit of a rant coming.
The world says, "No" to us all the time. We're luck if it doesn't say, "FUCH NO!". IMHO, parenting isn't all that hard....usually. If you say no AND MEAN IT from the time they are very small, then no becomes no and it doesn't mean ask 30 more times until you wear me out and I say yes. It doesn't mean pitch a ***** hemmorage when we drive past McDonald's and I'll give in to you. This is a LOVING thing to do for your child and saying yes all the time is NOT a loving thing. It is BAD PARENTING - just the opposite of how a lot parents feel.

I raised my kids already and to this day I am closer to them than my ex. Today as 25/26 year olds they say, "we never worried about what Mom would say but we did about what you'd say, Dad!" Parents, have some friggin stones. Tell your children no when they are little and spare them having to learn it from someone who eventually tells them with a fist, a knife or a gun on the street. Model responsible, mature but fun-loving good humored behavior and guess what you're most likely to get?

[Dottore]

A recent study of 1000 adults in the US with a body mass index of more than 30 (official threshold for obesity) showed that more than 80 percent of these were Republican.

Can anyone explain this phenomenon for me?

[Mo_Gearhead]

Quote: "Actually, you're likely to be an EFFECTIVE parent because you WILL say, "No"."
_________________________

Just got the local (small town) paper. Front page has a photo of the eight Homecoming Queen candidates. 15 and 16 year olds. Judging from the photo I am estimating between 10-20 lbs. overweight for all ...save one.

Or, perhaps they are just 'big boned'??? Please search your medical books for FAT skeletons and report back here (pictures required).

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "A recent study of 1000 adults in the US with a body mass index of more than 30 (official threshold for obesity) showed that more than 80 percent of these were Republican.

Can anyone explain this phenomenon for me?"
__________________

Not enough information.

[tabs]

Repblicans are GREEDY pigs. They want it all and are willing to take the food off of poor peoples tables. Let the poor eat cake is their motto.

[Atlantic07]

I am male 39 years old and went for my first physical here in California to Kaiser. I weigh 177 pounds and am 5.10 tall.

My doctor told me that I was over-weight and gave me material on how to control my weight (nutrition/exercise).
So I am one of those in the overweight/fat statistics.

Here is the deal:

I am not very muscular, but I am a tri-athlete. I cycle, run, and swim. I am whatching my nutrition to get enough protein and carbs in. I am constantly eating but my weight is pretty stable.
Anybody I told my "weight-problem" laughs about it. I am not Brad Pitt, but i don't have much fat to loose either.

So what does this tell us about the statistics and those physicians that just follow protocol?

[tabs]

Oink, oink, oink....

[Rick Lee]

When I got my best marathon time and was in super shape (two marathons one month), my BMI was considered obese on the gov't. chart. I was 6"1', maybe 210 lbs. and a 34" waiste. I don't buy that BMI stuff.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Atlantic07

I am male 39 years old and went for my first physical here in California to Kaiser. I weigh 177 pounds and am 5.10 tall.

My doctor told me that I was over-weight...

Get a new doctor....no, seriously. I've seen those tables. I am 5.10 too and I remember it said I should have been 166lbs if I remember correctly.

Your doctor COULD have opened his eyes. He COULD have asked you what you do for exercise if his eyes didn't tell him you were in good condition.

Oh and get a thesaurus while you're at it

You're "watching", not whatching
You don't have much to "lose", not loose.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

We're the only country in the world with poor people who weigh over 200-300 lbs.

That is quote of the year right there.

Trouble is, they smoke too and that is worse for your cardiovascular system than being a big fat pig.

oh and for the triathlete, you need a different doctor, probably different health insurance.