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Conference rocks::weight_control

Title: Weight Loss and Maintenance
Notice:**PLEASE** enter notes in mixed case (CAPS ARE SHOUTING)!
Moderator:ASICS::LESLIE
Created:Tue Jul 10 1990
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:933
Total number of notes:9931

521.0. "Common Diet Myths & REAL facts" by DELNI::BASSETT (Design) Thu Oct 12 1989 23:57

    MYTH: Dieting is more important thatn exercise.
    FACT: Not so.  Lack of exercise is the single biggest reason why people
    	are over weigth.
    
    MYTH: Salt is Fattening.
    FACT: Salt has no calories so it's not fattening -- although it can
   	 cause some people to retain water.
    
    MYTH: You can trust your calorie guide.
    FACT: Diet books that provide lists of foods and the number of calories
    	they contain usually give calorie counts for portions that are much
    	smaller than those you're likely to eat.  You should weigh food portions
   	to make sure you're getting an accurate calorie count.
    
    MYTH: Dieting is always difficult.
    FACT: It doen't have to be.  The key to successful dieting is finding
    	the fatty foods you can easily cut down on.  Make choices you can live
    	with.
    
    MYTH: When you diet you'll have to give up favorite foods.
    FACT: Wrong.  You can actually continue eating favorite foods, but in
    	smaller amounts.  When you do indulge in a favorite fatty food,
    	compensate by cutting out another fatty food you don't like as much.
    
    MYTH: Health foods are low in calories.
    FACT: Some of the so-called health foods are very high in fat.  A bowl
    	of granola cereal, for instance, has around 600 calories.
    
    MYTH: Salad bars are excellent for dieters.
    FACT: Salad dressing can make a salad high in fat and calories.
    
    MYTH: Diet specials in restaurants are good choices if you're trying to
    	lose weight.
    FACT: Most of the so-called specials in restaurants actually contain
    	more calories than you'd get with a simple turkey samdwich, salad and
    	apple.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
521.1Good TipsATSE::BLOCKLooking for Galt's Gulch...Fri Oct 13 1989 00:3520
    
>    MYTH: Salad bars are excellent for dieters.
>    FACT: Salad dressing can make a salad high in fat and calories.

    Well, I agree with your fact, but I also feel that the "myth" is also
    fact.  Salad bars are great, *if* you know what foods are fattening and
    which aren't.  Cheese and meats add calories fast, as do prepared salads
    (such as cole slaw and tuna).  Salad dressing is okay in moderation; just
    don't use gobs of it.
    
    A lot more restaurants are having more realistic diet specials these days
    -- it's not that unusual to see broiled chicken with veggies on a menu. 
    What's really important to successful weightloss and maintenance is
    knowing what's really in the foods you eat -- how fatty they are, or how
    much protein they have -- and how much of the various nutrients and food
    groups you should be getting.

    Beverly
521.2LESLIE::LESLIEBlackadder the 7thFri Oct 13 1989 07:0077
521.3- shape yWMOIS::FAVREAUFri Oct 13 1989 10:2613
    
    
    re. 521.0
    
    I see we read the same magazines.  I received my new issue of SHAPE
    yesterday and keyed in on the same article.  If I had the issue
    here I would add to this note the writers/analayzers of Myth & Facts.
    People tend to view things differently once they know who wrote it.
    
    ...
    val
521.4pounds .ne. fatCNTROL::JENNISONFri Oct 13 1989 11:2714
    
    re .2
    
    	Regarding salt, it will make you retain water.  Retained water
    	will make you "weigh" more.  But, retaining water shouldn't make
    	you overfat.  I believe that is the 'myth' they are trying to
    	dispel (as they mention water retention).
    
    	BTW, I think you're doing great.  Keep it up! (or should I say
    	down?  hmm...)
    
    Karen
521.5A pint's a pound, the world aroundATSE::BLOCKLooking for Galt's Gulch...Fri Oct 13 1989 13:3220
521.6LESLIE::LESLIEBlackadder the 7thFri Oct 13 1989 14:154
    Ah..... a US pint is 16 fl oz. whereas a UK pint is 20!
    
    Explains the weight diff.
521.7LESLIE::LESLIEBlackadder the 7thFri Oct 13 1989 14:2020
521.8If you can control the portion, allowing a litle is okayATSE::BLOCKLooking for Galt's Gulch...Fri Oct 13 1989 20:4126
	For some people, for some foods, it's definitely better to avoid 
	them completely.  I used to be that way with sugar (in any form),
	but over time I've found that I can have it once in a while, after
	meals.  

	I think it's unrealistic to say "never eat it if it's bad for you."
	This is the mindset that causes people to give up on diets, because
	they feel deprived, either in everyday life or on social occasions.
	Any slip is a major infraction; you're a failure, so you might as 
	well give up.

	I agree wholeheartedly that it's necessary to learn proper eating 
	habits, rather than a diet, but that has to include being livable
	(whatever that means to you).

	Over the past 5 days, since I've been able to eat wheat, I've found
	that I'm not thinking about food all the time, and I'm not hungry
	very often.  I think a lot of this is a result of the fact that I 
	no longer resent being unable to have things I want.  I can look 
	at them and decide that I don't really want that now, since I know
	it'll be there later when I really do.  It's a liberating experience.

	Beverly
521.9ANT::ZARLENGAnow I *have to* clean the house!Sat Oct 14 1989 00:5310
	Excellent base note, DELNI::BASSETT!
    
    Myth: Exercise has to make you sweat.
    Fact: Low intensity exercise, like walking at a slow pace will
	    burn a higher percentage of fat, than a high intensity
	    exercise, like running.
    
    -mike z
521.10ANT::ZARLENGAnow I *have to* clean the house!Sat Oct 14 1989 01:0019
.2>    FACT: Diet and exercise go hand in hand. Overeating for the level of
.2>    exercise you take is the single biggest reason for obesity.

    	Sort of.  People who exercise regularly, have more flexible
    metabolisms, they can eat even more extra calories than the amount
    consumed by the exercise, and still not gain the extra calories
    as weight.

        
.2>    a quarter.  Inordinate amounts of salt can cause other digestive
.2>    illnesses.

    	Only people with kidney dysfunction ened worry about salt intake.
    
    	This has been discussed at length in either MEDICAL or HOLISTIC.

    -mike z