Dear America... what's with all the fat?

[knowsbleed]

Dear America,

Wal-Mart people, they are a special breed of special... and I've scientifically calculated that 96.77% of them are fatly blessed (PM me for the formula, I'm easy). But it's not just Wal-Mart people... it's mall people, it's co-worker people, it's Golden Corral people, it's riding-in-an-elevator-with-you-and-making-you-fear-for-your-life people...

America, please stop with all of it already. I'm tired of hearing you breath loudly.


Very respectfully,

//signed//

knowsbleed

 

[Pink Ranger]

North Americans (including Canadians too) are fat because of two key lifestyle problems: convenience food (fast food, fast-casual food, chain restaurants), and the act of "snacking."

The last one I do not understand. I think I might have a superpower: I can actually go for four hours without eating, which apparently is a unique ability on this continent.

 

[knowsbleed]

You don't count, you're Asian.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, you guys have some kind of martial art metabolism going on. Though on occasion you do get that one fat kid Asian who ends up working at the comic shop or whatever.


Regarding the snacking issue, there are just people too used to eating. I can't eat food at the movies because frankly it takes away my focus, but there are those who NEED to have some kind of food every hour or they lose it.

 

[knowsbleed]

Force of habit versus actual physiological need for it... snacking is worse than smoking. At least I'm burning calories when I'm smoking.

 

[Immortalfire]

Too many restaurants. Blame them for fat problems.

I blame pencil companies for my bad grades in middle school!

 

[grout]

Dear America,

Wal-Mart people, they are a special breed of special... and I've scientifically calculated that 96.77% of them are fatly blessed (PM me for the formula, I'm easy). But it's not just Wal-Mart people... it's mall people, it's co-worker people, it's Golden Corral people, it's riding-in-an-elevator-with-you-and-making-you-fear-for-your-life people...

America, please stop with all of it already. I'm tired of hearing you breath loudly.


Very respectfully,

//signed//

knowsbleed

Lol, Hey but knowsbleed in order to make that observation you would have to be at the same places. I will go to Target and pay more just simply not deal with the Wal Mart crowd. Most "all you can eat" joints usually do not have the most fit people.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

It is a alien plot, see How to Serve Man ep of the Twilight Zone.

 

[Manic]

The problem is that most people have no self control, and bad food is just too delicious & convenient. It's one thing when you decide to have the occasional ice cream, but it's another when you realize there's a Cold Stone around the corner from your job and you think you need to have your daily ration of a Gotta Have It sized Oreo Overload sundae.

 

[Pink Ranger]

You don't count, you're Asian.

Ha ha, you telling me we Asians don't like to snack? We're the closest thing on earth to hobbits, with our extra meals squeezed between breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep.

My mother and sister complain that there's "nothing to eat" at my place. I am a single man, but I am an eager cook and foodie, so my fridge is usually full. Except there's no chips, cookies or candy in my kitchen.

 

[terry78]

The problem is that most people have no self control, and bad food is just too delicious & convenient. It's one thing when you decide to have the occasional ice cream, but it's another when you realize there's a Cold Stone around the corner from your job and you think you need to have your daily ration of a Gotta Have It sized Oreo Overload sundae.

 

[Samwise Gamgee]

Lack of exercise is just as important as the poor diet: A lot of Americans need to work more hours than they used to at sedentary jobs just to get through life. When done, people want to rest. Additionally, there are an increasing number of sedentary distractions: more TV/movie options, electronic readers, video games, internet social networking.

 

[knowsbleed]

Lol, Hey but knowsbleed in order to make that observation you would have to be at the same places. I will go to Target and pay more just simply not deal with the Wal Mart crowd. Most "all you can eat" joints usually do not have the most fit people.

You caught me, I'm a fattie at heart.

The problem is that most people have no self control, and bad food is just too delicious & convenient. It's one thing when you decide to have the occasional ice cream, but it's another when you realize there's a Cold Stone around the corner from your job and you think you need to have your daily ration of a Gotta Have It sized Oreo Overload sundae.

I can relate to the self control problem. I think it was Spoons who was telling someone about how will power is very much like a muscle and that it wanes as the day goes by... by the time it's 9-10, I feel like scavening raccoon... or something similarly hungry. But, there must be balance and my counter to all that horribleness is a good dose of getting off my ass and exercising.

Ha ha, you telling me we Asians don't like to snack? We're the closest thing on earth to hobbits, with our extra meals squeezed between breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep.

My mother and sister complain that there's "nothing to eat" at my place. I am a single man, but I am an eager cook and foodie, so my fridge is usually full. Except there's no chips, cookies or candy in my kitchen.

Portion sizes were much smaller when I lived in Asia. That's such a key element to maintaining healthy weight... portion control. I like the occasional sandwich that is bigger than my head, but if I eat that every night... bad things will happen to good people.

btw... your mother and sister should go grocery shopping and quit scrounging.

 

[Immortalfire]

Yup, ultimately it comes down to the size of the thing you eat, plus how often. I could go to Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-A, Firehouse Subs or local barbecue joints every day of the week.

But I don't. Self control and balance are all it takes.

 

[chamber-music]

I think you all bring up alot good points mainly exercise, portion sizes and self control issues.

Eat smaller portions or more healthy food and exercise its not rocket science.

The fact that most people in the western world don't do physical work anymore means we don't need to eat such high calories as our ancestors did.

 

[Victarion]

We are preparing for the day the polar ice caps melt. Our fat will allow us to survive the rampant flooding while the inferior beings drown.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Portion sizes were much smaller when I lived in Asia. That's such a key element to maintaining healthy weight... portion control. I like the occasional sandwich that is bigger than my head, but if I eat that every night... bad things will happen to good people.

btw... your mother and sister should go grocery shopping and quit scrounging.

Come on, brother, you know what it's like with us. If you're a grown-ass man with a good job, until the day you get married and have kids, you're a walking wallet for the rest of your family.

 

[chamber-music]

We are preparing for the day the polar ice caps melt. Our fat will allow us to survive the rampant flooding while the inferior beings drown.

Perhaps but the bigger folks will be the first to go in the zombie apocalypse. Running isn't easy when your carrying that extra weight

 

[Quasimod0]

We're a wealthy country. We have an over-abundance of food. And people cant control themselves

 

[Soapy]

Cheap, convenient, unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyle. It's not ****ing rocket science.

 

[Victarion]

Okay, seriously I think it might just be ignorance. Remember those commericals Burger King aired over the summer about their new look? The ones with Steven Tyler? Maybe the cleaner look and the whipcord thin rockstar made the people think that BK's food was suddenly healthy. Of course, I don't see how you could look at anything in the commericals and see it as healthy or good for you...

Except the sweet potato fries, but I don't think they bake those.

 

[grout]

I think you all bring up alot good points mainly exercise, portion sizes and self control issues.

Eat smaller portions or more healthy food and exercise its not rocket science.

The fact that most people in the western world don't do physical work anymore means we don't need to eat such high calories as our ancestors did.

This

We are oinking it up and not moving.. WALL-E has it right

 

[TheDreamMaster]

I guess I'll chime in as someone who is American, and fat. I've lost weight before, and went back on old habits and whatnot, but my main problem since moving out of my parent shouse almost 3 years ago is convinece. While I try to do better for my kids and I want to get ehalthy, its really easy to get off work at 7 or 8, and say "Damn, its getting late, it;d be easier to grab something *passes McD's, BK, Arby's, Popeye's, Taco bell, Taco John's, etc. on the way home* And it gets to be a habit.

So sorry for disgusting everyone else in the thread with my horrible body type, but telling it like it is. And trust me when I say, as someone who has lost weight (and I'm sure theres a few others here too) and ended up gaining most of it back, even wanting to lose weight more than anything, it is hard to get motivated after living a certain way for a while. So factor in mentatlity to everything too. If that can change, so can people, but most won't.

 

[Victarion]

DreamMaster, have you tried keeping a loaf of wheat bread in your kitchen with some packs of tuna? If I'm feeling down, or tired from school/work, I just make a tuna and wheat sandwhich (no mayo or any of that; I'm too tired/lazy to get it) and have that.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

"Is that a desert country?"
"No, it's a fat country. Fat people"
"You are not fat?"
"No. I'm different".