So did you check out the new season of biggest loser this week?
It is a real wake up call that the obesity epidemic is getting out of hand. If you watched the show you know that they have the biggest man and women ever to be on the show. Nearly 400lbs for him and about 370lbs for her.
Wow! I know it’s a show filled with very large people but this season is really like no other!
I was thinking about how and why this is happening to us Americans and one thing that instantly jumped to mind is portion sizes.
Over the past few decades, portion sizes of everything from muffins to sandwiches have grown considerably. From 1977 to 1997, hamburgers expanded by 23%; a plate of Mexican food got 27%
bigger (see above picture); soft drinks increased by 52%; snacks (potato chips, pretzels, crackers) grew 60%.
It’s no wonder that season after season a major TV network can find plenty of severely overweight people to fill its show and "entertain" us.
Take a look at these examples of how much our portion sizes have changed.
This is getting ridiculous!
Well it all stops here. Did you know that just by reducing your portions of the exact same foods you eat now you could begin to lose massive amounts of weight? It’s true. Now think of what will happen when you start making healthier choices as well.
Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction:
- Use smaller plates and bowls. There’s a proven link between the perceived
size of food and appetite. - Order an appetizer as your meal or order from the lunch menu at dinner time.
- Pay attention to what you’re eating. You’ll munch away more calories than you realize when you mindlessly stare at the television.
- Learn how to read food labels. You need to mindful of not only the grams and calories, but you need to pay attention to exactly how many servings are in a package. A lot of products we often eat as one serving are really 2 or more.
The Reality:
You are going to be eating less so don’t be surprised if you feel a little hungry in the beginning. This will pass. Try drinking more water and loading up on fiber filled veggies to help you feel more full until your body adjust.
Start using these tips today. Let’s keep you off the biggest loser!
Stay focused
Sarai D. Jones