Why is it normal/OK to be obese in Ireland?.

pilly wrote: »

That is simply not true though. We all know people who eat like pigs, do no exercise and they're still slim. My brother could eat 2 dinners in a row, wouldn't so much as run for a bus and he's skinny as a lathe so there are definitely other factors at play there.

I used to think this too. Then I had a closer look at the "can eat for Ireland and not a pick on them" folks that I knew - in particular a very slim cousin who ate constantly - and noticed a few things going on behind the scenes.

First off, she was a hard-core fidgeter, non-stop moving her body even when she was sitting down, swinging her legs, tapping her fingers, pacing up and down when she was on the phone, little movements that were so constant that they'd obviously add up to a low level calorie-burn at all times.

Then I realised that her eating "whatever she wants" in reality actually was "what she needs". She might binge on a mountain of junk food in front of me, but then she'd have a small snack instead of dinner later. She regulated her intake a lot more efficiently, ate what she felt like when she was hungry but simply wouldn't eat if she wasn't hungry. No emotional eating going on and the sizeable meals would be offset by all the fidgeting and her having a physical job.

And thirdly, she came from a slim family who treated food and their body in the same manner, there to be enjoyed but not abused, and any genetic advantage that gave her from the perspective of no predisposition towards weight gain. Weight issues run in families a large part of the time.

The reality is that you probably aren't aware that most people you consider to be able to eat whatever they want actually maintain a net energy balance of near 0 kcal or otherwise they simply would gain weight.

I skipped most of the other 11 pages so perhaps this has been mentioned.
The reason we are fat is carbs for the most part, we need to reduce our reliance on carbs. I've done this and lost half a stone in a few months without starving myself.

Skip the muffins, scones etc. I have 3 slices of the low g i or reduced calorie bread every day along with a regular amount of spud or pasta or brown rice for dinner so I'm certainly not avoiding carbs but avoid the scones, cakes etc.

A little bit of chocolate in the evening isn't bad and I find dried fruit excellent for my sweet tooth as well.

Fecking sugary soda drinks are awful too, I see kids drinking muck like Lucozade sport thinking it is good for them! it's absolute shyte and has zero sporting benefits also.

Strawberry or chocolate milk is a lot better as a treat or a well diluted juice drink also. Kids need water.

the reason people are fat is because they eat too much

Too many things to mention that is making us fat.

I don't think it's just the carbs because we grew up on carbs and none of us were fat.

I just find that everything is an excuse to eat and eat crap at that.

Have a cup of tea/coffee biscuits and cake.

Parents are so bad for feeding their children chips, nuggets, burgers. It's like a broken record. Developing poor habits early.

Birthday parties on a near weekly basis with mountains of sweets, crisps, pizza, chocolate, fizzy drinks. Pure saturated fat everywhere.

Junk junk and more junk. No such thing as a treat, just food to fill up with.

Also, food companies pump far too much crap into our food and are being allowed to get away with it. Processed to maximise profit and get us addicted.

Agree about the fizzy drinks. Why the fook are there 14 or whatever teaspoons of sugar in a bottle of Lucozade. Absolute disgrace that a company can get away with that and market it in anyway healthy.

Where are the government here.

Need more companies like Chopped to balance out the Fatty Fast Food Outlets that are on every street corner these days.

Parents all around Ireland are passing on to their kids that it's ok to eat rubbish food (you rarely see healthy options at a kids party).

Nettle Soup wrote:

BMI is a good indication for the average person.

Several recent studies contradict what you say. There are several better indicators waist measurement being just one.

miece16 wrote: »

**** ye, ya fat bollix. have a salad

There there hunny bunny. Faaaaaaaaaaaack off.

LirW wrote: »

Except your kid is a little sh1t like mine who at the moment would love to live off Spaghetti Bolognese and Toast and if I put a plate with anything veg down he prefers to go to bed instead of eating it :mad:
No matter what, I'll win this fight, I'll win.

I hear people say this about their children. Oh they won't eat veg or fruit. The reason they won't eat veg is because you got them addicted to salt and sugar from an early age. Then you tried to throw them a few carrots out of guilt and they weren't having any of it.

Both my children are a pleasure to feed. The only thing my 4 year old won't eat is cherry tomatoes.

But then I spent hours meticulously planning, shopping and cooking their meals for them.

Not did what was convenient to me and bong oven chips in on high heat for 20 minutes.

Sorry I'm not aiming this at you but just an observation I have made many times with parents in Ireland.

pilly wrote: »

Not at all judgemental or pious. :rolleyes:

Judgemental about food?

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