The problem with Americans and weight loss control is no self-control.?

Question

With all these old and new ways of loosiing weight...no one wants to tackle the fact that weight control comes from having
a disciplined mind and behavior. No weight loss product can
make you lose weight, especially if heaviness runs in your genetic makeup.
So, what do you think about this?

Answer 1

I am a firm believer that weight loss comes from a healthy diet. You don't need pills to loose weight. If you want to loose weight and keep it off eat lots of fruit and vegetables and stop drinking soda.

Answer 2

There a combination of Problems, I am someone who has always watched my weight and many many years have watched other people around me. I live in a colder area, michigan, which tends to make your body hold weight more than say a warmer area, On the other hand, there is also the issue with the FOODS avaiable to us. Many of our foods are modified and have things added to enhance flavor and other JUNK. Liquified sugar (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is one of the biggest things, it is in everything. A TON in pop, It is even in Health cereals. Everyone's body will react different, but there are other things in the EVERYDAY americain foods that don't help our body run better. Even the Health foods cause weight gain. There were also things that were causing big problems with population thyroids, which helps your body regulate Weight. When I goto a warmer area, in less than a week I will drop 10 lbs. But as for Genetic makeup, it tends to be Genetic family bad habits, my family included. You would be very surprised how little food a person is really suppose to eat. And if you cut your food back, you will be and not hungry if your eating the right amounts. Such as 1 chicken leg, Glass of Tea and a few veggies is about what you should eat for dinner. This is a normal amount of food. While many will drink a 2 litter, eat a full pizza Or a few Hamburgers and some chicken with ice cream at the end of the night. Chicken from stores is even soaked in saltwater now to prevent bacteria. Suggestion, Write down what you eat in a normal day as you eat it, You might be shocked at how much you are eating, Write down all snacks too.

Good Luck From a guy who comes from a heavy Family.

Answer 3

You know - I have accomplished nearly everything I have wanted to in life - - when I was 30, I was slim and now at 57 I am 30 lbs overweight and just can't keep the will power to shake it - - I exercise too little and eat too much - It is really tough to lose the weight, to keep the motivation - you know, I can diet all day and blow it all in a five minute snack.. and that is exactly what you are talking abt - self control - - I wish I knew where it went.. a need to have everything? a bonus for success in other areas? trust me, this is just not easy.. and even if I really really work at it - - it seems one big bad meal and I gain it back.. and heaviness is in my genetic make-up..

Answer 4

There are several facets to the problem.
Many people lack self-control.
People find themselves in environments with unhealthy food choices, e.g., sitting near others in cafeterias eating dessert.
What other species eats dessert, by the way?!
People need to study the labels more. (The front of the package says one thing; the small print says something else.)
Advertising comes at us from every direction.

Answer 5

yes and no.. mostly advertising is to blame but ultimatley it is up to the individual... a blanced healthy diet - staying away from processed foods (basically every food in packaging) most of the time and 30 min of excercise a day is all that is needed to stay healthy and in a healthy weight range... if you do not loose weight after doing this for a while then you may have an underactive thyroid - but i do not believe there is a didease that makes you fat.

Answer 6

I agree with you, though I think we're going to be two very unpopular people in this forum.

I concede that some people have medical conditions that cause them to gain weight, but I think these people are few and far between in reality, not nearly as frequent as everyone likes to claim.

My favorite is to see someone eating a Big Mac and whining that genetics don't allow them to lose weight. I want to be like, "But you're eating a freaking Big Mac!"

Answer 7

I agree completely. I dont like hearing people looking for a quick fix because its a lifelong process. You cant take a deit pill, which just flushes extra water out of your system, to lose 10 lbs or whatever, then go back to normal and expect to stay that weight. No deit will work unless its continued throughout life.

Answer 8

As a person who has been heavy in different degrees since age 10, I agree with you. If I get that little "switch" turned on in my head I can do anything. I'm in my 50's now, and it's harder than ever to turn on that little "switch", and I'm heavier than ever in my life. I've been as high as 212 and and as low as 121 in my adult life. Now my knees and joints are killing me, although I am very healthy otherwise. I just was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, which I'm sure has surfaced due to the high weight gain especially around my belly. They don't need all these pills, (believe me I've tried almost everything in the past) they need to invent a way to turn on that "switch". (only kidding, only I can turn it on). Americans are used to magic solutions, we are surrounded with it. Yes, I agree with you 100%. You have to motivate yourself, and quit waiting on someone to do it for you.

Answer 9

I agree that a lot of heavy people do not have the self control they should. There are diets that work,but you have to be disciplined enough to actually use them.

The simplest and cheapest diet it the one I wrote an article about, please check out the article, it is published on Associated Content. (the link is below)

Answer 10

I think it is oversimplifying things quite a bit. There is also a huge amount of misinformation (margarine vs. butter, carbs or no carbs, etc.) that causes people who really are trying hard to create a healthy lifestyle to fail; they ultimately lose hope and give up altogether. The diet industry is, after all, dependent on the failure of its customers.