I think the point of Carthonn's post was more that poor people are filling up on the cheap staples such as the hamburger bun and fries. For someone who doesn't know where the next meal will come from, they would be inclined to eat the whole supersize meal.
Obesity now a 'lifestyle' choice for Americans, expert says
- Thread starter lungsfortherace
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I think the point of Carthonn's post was more that poor people are filling up on the cheap staples such as the hamburger bun and fries. For someone who doesn't know where the next meal will come from, they would be inclined to eat the whole supersize meal.
exactly, blancita...
there was an article in the local chicago paper recently talking about the health conditions on the south side of chicago - fairly depressed area... the south side has very very very few grocery stores - because ti's not economically viable for the big name stores to go in there... so the residents of that area are forced to shop at neighborhood bodegas... where fresh fruit and veggies aren't going to be commonly found.
I livedin such an area in NYC for a year or two, and if you can't get out of the neighborhood - because taking the subway costs money you don't have to spend, and a car is unafforable, you are left to what's available to you...
there was an article in the local chicago paper recently talking about the health conditions on the south side of chicago - fairly depressed area... the south side has very very very few grocery stores - because ti's not economically viable for the big name stores to go in there... so the residents of that area are forced to shop at neighborhood bodegas... where fresh fruit and veggies aren't going to be commonly found.
I livedin such an area in NYC for a year or two, and if you can't get out of the neighborhood - because taking the subway costs money you don't have to spend, and a car is unafforable, you are left to what's available to you...
Well, you can get a Metrocard here for $24 for a week... I have to get one just to get back and forth to work.
And those cover trips no matter how many times you get on the train in a week.
Plus, there's a grocery store right next to the McDonald's and Whitecastle in this neighborhood.
I think that sometimes people with very little money (I'm guilty of this, too, mind you) tend to go for fast food not because it really is more affordable (in the long run it's not) but because it's more affordable for ONE DAY.
Honestly, though, you won't save money by going to McDonald's every day. Instead of buying Mickey D's, one could purchase a little bit of groceries and instead of getting a single meal they'd have a couple of them.
That's what I've learned recently.
That I was wasting money and gaining weight by eating "cheap" fast food all the time.
People don't buy fast food over groceries because it's cheaper.
They just buy it because it is more convenient.
And those cover trips no matter how many times you get on the train in a week.
Plus, there's a grocery store right next to the McDonald's and Whitecastle in this neighborhood.
I think that sometimes people with very little money (I'm guilty of this, too, mind you) tend to go for fast food not because it really is more affordable (in the long run it's not) but because it's more affordable for ONE DAY.
Honestly, though, you won't save money by going to McDonald's every day. Instead of buying Mickey D's, one could purchase a little bit of groceries and instead of getting a single meal they'd have a couple of them.
That's what I've learned recently.
That I was wasting money and gaining weight by eating "cheap" fast food all the time.
People don't buy fast food over groceries because it's cheaper.
They just buy it because it is more convenient.
amylosesandwins
New member
Exactly. It seems like a lot when you are spending it all at once at the store, but you get way more food out of it for less than if you eat out every day. I'm a foodie, so I like to cook, personally. If you eat the kind of diet you should - whole foods, little to no processed stuff, etc. you can actually stretch your dollar quite well. I basically live on cooked grains, beans, lean meats (you can get frozen chicken breasts pretty cheap), fruits and veggies. I get spices at discount stores, and I have a food co-op in my town that sells spices in bulk - so I can refill my spice bottles for really cheap and save on packaging as well. I probably spend 40 bucks a week on my own groceries (not counting non-food items or extra things), and if I were eating out at every meal, I'd be spending probably around $10 - $15 a day. So that would mean I'd be spending $70.00 - $105 a week on food instead of just $40.00. I make lunch to take to work with me, and save money that way, too.
Agreed - a big problem for me was just so much mixed information, it was seriously frustrating. But I finally just sat down, figured out what worked for me and then ran with it when I saw results on the scale, modified, and continued. And it's been successful as I've lost nearly 50 pounds so far.
The next biggest problem is the time. If you do have a lot to lose, it just takes so much time and it can get extremely overwhelming. I don't have a problem LOSING the weight, my problem is waiting to lose to the point that I've lost big numbers and can actually notice a significant difference.
It is very true that if you were once morbidly obese, it's a life style change not a "diet". You have to completely change the way you think about food. A big part of it is in the mind, you have to be mentally tough - this may sound like a regurgitated cliche but it's so true.
lost-the-weight
New member
Gastric bypass surgery is generally accepted as a failure in the long run. Less than 30% keep the weight off in the 5-10 year range. It is as someone said in another post. Without changing the habits that brought you to the point of obesity you are doomed to go back there once the restrictions are lifted. I find that we are constantly bombarded with ads for food everywhere we go. Our lives are also much more sedentary. Personally, I am a software designer and webmaster. I am pretty sure that I get less exercise during my working hours than a park ranger. Fighting the tides that will cause us to become obese is getting harder and harder. Personally, cutting out the television has had a great effect on my overall health.
LTW
LTW
oscarsbaby
New member
I'm a poor student! I have lost lots of weight over the last 18 months, but i am also very frustrated - I have always been fairly healthy - i make sure i get at least my 5 fruit and veg a day and do a lot of walking (i try and stay away from cakes - but that doesn't always happen), I've always struggled with my weight, despite being brought up being told whats good for me and being taught how to cook for myself. When I came to uni i made friends with a lot of normal weight and thin people, all bar one, live on junk food many won't even look at let alone eat any form of veg. Some even live on the buy one get one free macdonalds cheese burger vouchers we get on the back of bus tickets! I think that some people are able to read their bodies signals for when they are full - thin people can also suffer from disease such as heart disease and bowel cancer from continually eating the wrong foods, but not necessarily suffer from obesity. Certainly, many of the people I am speaking about will put on weight though the extra calories and fat in fast food. But some will just stay thin, whatever they eat, because they will stop when their body says that it has had enough.
I therefore think that obesity, as well as being a result of our lifestyles and choices nowadays, (I know i have come home from work stressed and just pulled out a take-away menu because its easier) is also to an extent a choice, I know that some people can have emotional problems or even medical conditions, but I think that if people just listened to their body and what it needs, then things may be different. - these are only my thoughts from my experiences, listening to what my body needs has also helped me and a few female members of my family enormously.
I therefore think that obesity, as well as being a result of our lifestyles and choices nowadays, (I know i have come home from work stressed and just pulled out a take-away menu because its easier) is also to an extent a choice, I know that some people can have emotional problems or even medical conditions, but I think that if people just listened to their body and what it needs, then things may be different. - these are only my thoughts from my experiences, listening to what my body needs has also helped me and a few female members of my family enormously.
LillyJo
New member
I think that we have also become used to seeing overweight/obese people and we kinda accept it. For example when I saw my Dad before Christmas I recognised that he was overweight and could do with making some changes to his lifestyle.
Thankfully he wanted to start scuba diving and realised that he'd probably best lose some weight. He's always avoided diets and never done regular exercise. He bought some fancy scales that work out his BMI and it came out as 32. I was surprised. I knew he was overweight but I didn't think he was obese, I thought that you had to be bigger than him to class as obese.
As I say I think we've become accustomed to seeing overweight people and most of the time don't think it's a big deal.
Thankfully he wanted to start scuba diving and realised that he'd probably best lose some weight. He's always avoided diets and never done regular exercise. He bought some fancy scales that work out his BMI and it came out as 32. I was surprised. I knew he was overweight but I didn't think he was obese, I thought that you had to be bigger than him to class as obese.
As I say I think we've become accustomed to seeing overweight people and most of the time don't think it's a big deal.