I just read an amazing article titled “The Perils of Eating, American Style”, that was first published in Time Magazineback in December of 1972.
In this article written almost 35 years ago, the danger of inactivity and the merits of a low-fat diet versus low-sugar diet are argued. Various Doctors call for a sweeping reform of our nutrition programs, and a young doctor Atkins out of Manhattan is pushing his newly coined “Atkins Diet”.
High protein diets were the current trend for weight loss,while more conservative doctors were calling for people to use more “sensible systems of weight loss”.
Best of all, nutritional labeling was just STARTING to be discussed.
Fast forward 35 years. What has changed? We have nutritional labeling on everything. With one quick search onthe Internet I can tell you exactly how many calories I consumed yesterday and I have a pretty good idea of how much saturated fat was in my steak. Unfortunately, this newfound informational freedom doesn’t seem to be helping.
We are still arguing over low-fat versus low-carb, and high protein diets are still all the rage for weight-loss.
And we’re bigger than ever before. What gives?
Well for starters, we’re even more inactive then before. My favorite quote from the article is when a doctor from Harvard is being interviewed about activity levels and says:
“Look at those advertisements for extension telephones; all those steps you save probably add up to five pounds a year in fat.”
Extension telephones? Imagine what he must think of cellphones, TV remote controls and just about everything else we now have to aid in our sedentary lifestyles.
From what I can tell, 35 years later and we are still arguing about what to eat, how to eat and when to eat; but no one is arguing about our ever increasing need for exercise.
Here’s the kicker…our exercise is getting worse too. Thirty minutes on the elliptical two to three times a week just isn’t going to cut it. Either are arm curls for 25 reps with the pink dumbbells you find at the end of the weight rack.
This sounds harsh but its true. The single most effective tool you have in your arsenal for weight loss that you have complete control over is your workout program.
I find it amusing that in 2007 people are willing to shell out 50 bucks for a weight loss pill that is nothing more than caffeine mixed with some microscopic amounts of ineffective herbs, but don’t want to pay for a personal trainer or a properly planned workout program.
Following the right workout can make all the difference in theworld.
It is time to take control. Concentrate on your workouts. Find what works for you, then do more of it more often.
Try a professionally designed program like The 6 MinuteCircuits Workout, Shape Shift or Turbulence Training.
Try walking, biking, taking the stairs, martial arts or pole dancing classes,whatever it takes to find one more thing that you enjoy that will get your heartbeat up and your muscles working.
And when it comes to nutrition, eat less but enjoy the foodyou eat. Eat more fruits and vegetables and more herbs andspices. And most importantly stop stressing over your food.
After all, the idea of trying to find the right foods to eat sowe can lose weight has failed us miserably for the last 35 years.
BP
