Food and Reality

I'm stunned at how little I eat in a day compared to those around me. I
realize part of it is my slooooooowwwww metabolism, but also, I think a
large part is the weird "reality" of portion sizes in this country. People
eat massive quantities of food at a sitting.

I'm struggling to explain this, so jump in. I'm sure someone out there who
can do a better job. What I'm trying to say is, it's like there's a mass
hypnosis going on--the majority of people seem deluded as to what
constitutes a "normal" amount of food to eat in a day.

Cat

"Cat" wrote in message
ink.net...
I'm stunned at how little I eat in a day compared to those around me. I
realize part of it is my slooooooowwwww metabolism, but also, I think a
large part is the weird "reality" of portion sizes in this country. People
eat massive quantities of food at a sitting.

I'm struggling to explain this, so jump in. I'm sure someone out there who
can do a better job. What I'm trying to say is, it's like there's a mass
hypnosis going on--the majority of people seem deluded as to what
constitutes a "normal" amount of food to eat in a day.

Cat


It's the "Super Sized" culture that's being shoved down our throats. More
is always better, isn't it? People go to buffets and make multiple trips to
make sure they get their money's worth. I hear it all the time when the
ladies at Curves talk about local restaurants "Such and such a place gives
you more fish in their fish fry," etc.

Here's a link to an online quiz about "portion distortion."
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/

A part of my overall weight problem is related to portion sizes because I
like to eat massive quantities of food. I have nearly overcome that with
the HMR diet, but I'm finding I still like to eat a lot at times - so that's
when I eat a lot of spinach and mushrooms and salad with my entree, rather
than potato or beans.
I bring my lunch to work and sit with a few friends. For my diet, I have an
HMR entree (just a tad smaller than a Lean Cuisine) and then I have 1 cup of
cooked vegetables with it and/or a piece of fruit depending on how hungry I
am at the time (or if I ate my fruit for a mid-morning snack). I keep my
veggies in a 1 cup ziplock container. The first few times since I started
this, someone would always say "Is that *all* you're going to eat?"

Jenn

Sometimes I think it isn't fair that people seemingly eat so much more than
me and they are so much thinner (my husband for instance). But, then I
think that maybe that's it for them. Yeah, they eat a big meal when I see
them, but maybe that's it for the day. Like my husband...breakfast is a
bananna and coffee, lunch a hardboiled egg from 7-11 (is that gross or
what..he claims they are good), an orange and cornnuts. Then, when he is
home for dinner he eats...a lot. If you saw him eat that meal you'd think
he was nuts, but that's his one time of day he does eat. He never snacks
and I know a lot of people that find snacking odd. They just wait for
dinner or lunch. This is a very foreign concept to me! So, maybe you are
seeing their one calorie splurge of the day. Me...I could and have (why I
am the svelte woman I am today) eaten big meals all the time. I think that
could be part of the difference. Elise.
"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...

"Cat" wrote in message
ink.net...
I'm stunned at how little I eat in a day compared to those around me. I
realize part of it is my slooooooowwwww metabolism, but also, I think a
large part is the weird "reality" of portion sizes in this country.
People
eat massive quantities of food at a sitting.

I'm struggling to explain this, so jump in. I'm sure someone out there
who
can do a better job. What I'm trying to say is, it's like there's a mass
hypnosis going on--the majority of people seem deluded as to what
constitutes a "normal" amount of food to eat in a day.

Cat


It's the "Super Sized" culture that's being shoved down our throats. More
is always better, isn't it? People go to buffets and make multiple trips
to
make sure they get their money's worth. I hear it all the time when the
ladies at Curves talk about local restaurants "Such and such a place gives
you more fish in their fish fry," etc.

Here's a link to an online quiz about "portion distortion."
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/

A part of my overall weight problem is related to portion sizes because I
like to eat massive quantities of food. I have nearly overcome that with
the HMR diet, but I'm finding I still like to eat a lot at times - so
that's
when I eat a lot of spinach and mushrooms and salad with my entree, rather
than potato or beans.
I bring my lunch to work and sit with a few friends. For my diet, I have
an
HMR entree (just a tad smaller than a Lean Cuisine) and then I have 1 cup
of
cooked vegetables with it and/or a piece of fruit depending on how hungry
I
am at the time (or if I ate my fruit for a mid-morning snack). I keep my
veggies in a 1 cup ziplock container. The first few times since I started
this, someone would always say "Is that *all* you're going to eat?"

Jenn

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:28:35 GMT, "Cat" wrote:

What I'm trying to say is, it's like there's a mass
hypnosis going on--the majority of people seem deluded as to what
constitutes a "normal" amount of food to eat in a day.

Get in line. I have been saying this for a couple of years now.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 18:50:27 -0500, "Jennifer Austin"
wrote:

It's the "Super Sized" culture that's being shoved down our throats. More
is always better, isn't it? People go to buffets and make multiple trips to
make sure they get their money's worth. I hear it all the time when the
ladies at Curves talk about local restaurants "Such and such a place gives
you more fish in their fish fry," etc.

Two entirely different points. Super sizing is a marketing/sales
gimmick butt we as consumers match quantity with value at the buffet
table.

Here's a link to an online quiz about "portion distortion."
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/

Nice link.

A part of my overall weight problem is related to portion sizes because I
like to eat massive quantities of food. I have nearly overcome that with
the HMR diet, but I'm finding I still like to eat a lot at times - so that's
when I eat a lot of spinach and mushrooms and salad with my entree, rather
than potato or beans.

??????

I bring my lunch to work and sit with a few friends. For my diet, I have an
HMR entree (just a tad smaller than a Lean Cuisine) and then I have 1 cup of
cooked vegetables with it and/or a piece of fruit depending on how hungry I
am at the time (or if I ate my fruit for a mid-morning snack). I keep my
veggies in a 1 cup ziplock container. The first few times since I started
this, someone would always say "Is that *all* you're going to eat?"

I hear this all the time. I answer "yes." Usually, that ends the
conversation.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:53:58 -0400, "Cox SMTP east"
wrote:

Sometimes I think it isn't fair that people seemingly eat so much more than
me and they are so much thinner (my husband for instance).

It's only unfair if you believe that larger quantities of foods is
really an important part of life. Other than that, if he drank more
water, would you think that was unfair?



http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

M_un Over Seattle wrote:
On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:53:58 -0400, "Cox SMTP east"
wrote:

Sometimes I think it isn't fair that people seemingly eat so much more than
me and they are so much thinner (my husband for instance).

It's only unfair if you believe that larger quantities of foods is
really an important part of life. Other than that, if he drank more
water, would you think that was unfair?

My God, Mu had a good point! Waving hands in front of face to resist
fainting from shock

I think Beeswing was right that they seem so happy in their
obliviousness. That's what I was missing when I wasn't having a hot fudge
sundae - not the entertainment of the hot fudge, but the blissful lack of
awareness that this was related to my problem with obesity. (But isn't it
genetic? It couldn't actually be my fault, right?)

It's not unfair. I got something in trade: self-awareness that makes me
able to overcome my obesity.

Wendy

ROFL! Well, okay. You can claim ownership.

Cat (who likes all of Mu's interesting names--very creative.)

"M_un Over Seattle" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:28:35 GMT, "Cat" wrote:

What I'm trying to say is, it's like there's a mass
hypnosis going on--the majority of people seem deluded as to what
constitutes a "normal" amount of food to eat in a day.

Get in line. I have been saying this for a couple of years now.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

On 19 Oct 2003 20:45:15 GMT, (beeswing) wrote:

When this really hits me is at lunchtime, when I'm standing in the cashier's
line at our work cafeteria. There I am with my half-sandwich or container of
yogurt (plus a diet pop), and there right near me are all these folks with
heaping plates of fried fish and french fries, entrees big enough to feed three
people, Dove ice cream bars, and whatnot. These are not svelte people, but they
are seemingly oblivious. Sometimes I want to shake them out of their stupor,
but sometimes I just envy their ability to be clueless and/or unconcerned.

Ick. People like to eat deep fried stuff followed by a Dove Bar?

It never ceases to amaze me the icky things folks like to eat. I may
have been fat at one time, but I never ate crap like that. I just ate
too much of good, healthy food.

Barbara

Barbara Hirsch, Publisher
OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS
The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development
http://www.obesity-news.com/

On 20 Oct 2003 21:54:26 -0400, Wendy wrote:

It's only unfair if you believe that larger quantities of foods is
really an important part of life. Other than that, if he drank more
water, would you think that was unfair?

My God, Mu had a good point! Waving hands in front of face to resist
fainting from shock

And to think I never set foot on Mt. Holyoke.

I think Beeswing was right that they seem so happy in their
obliviousness. That's what I was missing when I wasn't having a hot fudge
sundae - not the entertainment of the hot fudge, but the blissful lack of
awareness that this was related to my problem with obesity. (But isn't it
genetic? It couldn't actually be my fault, right?)

The psychosis and psychology of overconsumption is both amusing and
interesting.

It's not unfair. I got something in trade: self-awareness that makes me
able to overcome my obesity.

Self-awareness. Hm.

Guess what diet makes you "self-aware" of gluttony, overconsumption
and has the mechanics to right those wrongs?

http://www.heartmdphd.com/wtloss.asp

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.