What are we going to do about the Obesity Epidemic ?

[LC_Dave]

I'm tired of all the stupid news reports from idiotic journalists, and all the rhetoric from policiticans who have no clue!

I'm tired of all the dieticians and diabetes educators pushing the food pyramid!

I'm tired of the goddamn Kirstie Alley Jenny craig commercials!

What are we, the little people of this planet, going to do about the obesity epidemic ?

If we left it up to the numbskulls above, well nothing would happen!

I think the rise of Low Carb and the success of Dr Atkins is a direct underground reaction by people on the front lines, the people who battle the obesity problems in ourselves. We've come to this WOL and we see the health and weight Loss come much easier than following the Food Pyramid!

I ask....... what can we do ? What are your thoughts ?

[Moochiecat]

Well...my contribution is to show how well I've done. I've never really ever dieted before in my life, and the few brief times that I did, I never got near the amount of progress that I've achieved doing Atkins.
Leading by example is one of the best things we can do as 'little' people. From being obese my whole life to where I am now speaks volumes. You can't argue with progress.
When asked, I tell them about Atkins, but mostly I stress how important it is to get away from processed foods and the 'whites' (especially sugar!)

[Tiggerdagibit]

I agree.. success is the best weapon.

I love watching shows about weight loss, like The Biggest Loser and that thing that Discovery Channel did.. The National Body Challenge show because they are very inspirational and I love to see those people so happy with their losses, but I can't stand to see them pushing low-fat. "Oh we have to get rid of this bacon and full fat dressing." Especially when one of the participants is diabetic. I just want to grab my tv and shake it! lol If those people are successful and can stick with it.. great! but I personally don't know anyone that has stuck with low-fat for long.

I think that the more studies that are done, the more that people will come around and see that LC IS healthy. I just got "How I gave up my LF diet and lost 40 pounds" by Dana Carpender from the library and I was surprised by how far back LC goes. It might take time, but I hope that in my lifetime people will start to understand. Then maybe they'll change that stupid food pyramid!!

[killerbombshell]

Well I can tell you what is doing NO GOOD: I hate those new shoes that are perpetually on Discovery Health about so and so's tragic plight of obesity before having...of course, bariatric surgery (or alternatively, lap band). They always say the same thing, "I've tried every diet and failed."

Well I tried every diet and failed too...because lifestyle changes are HARD and eventually I went right back to the way I was, a little pudge ball eating chips and saying "I've tried every diet and failed!" None of these people have ever done Atkins for a year or WW for a year and are still saying, "I haven't lost a pound." If you WANT to be thin, you figure out what works for you and you stick with it and you are accountable for what goes into your mouth and what your body does.

This whole bariatric tv craze both indulges America's love to see people fail at life, marvel at the morbidly obese, and find an easy solution to a difficult problem. It truly, truly sickens me.

[BlueSkies]

excellent question dave!

reality is, we the people simply cannot compete with big business's marketing dollars or governmental influence. also consider that the majority of people don't even want t take time to understand how their bodies would function best, or even have a thought like that in their heads.

the people who come to this board are a rare breed.

i am educating my children about the truth - what else can i do? every person has as much access to this information as we do, and so many choose to ignore it. why? because ignorance is bliss!

but knowledge really is power. i haven't even considered cheating. now even with some really lovely smelling deserts at dinner last night right there at the table. why? because now that i know what sugar does to my body i can't even imagine eating it again. i'm not a masochist!

but really, i think that for a lot of adults our habits and thought patterns are just too ingrained to alter, but we can educate our own children and raise them with healthy eating habits and powerful knowledge about how nd why their bodies work - what better gift could we give them?