But wait a minute, I always thought it was what you eat but when I dropped 80 pounds last year the thing I learned is that THAT is a misconception--it's the total calories. So you can have a couple of french fries as opposed to a half a baked potato. Take your pick. Most people will feel filled up with the half a baked but not with just a few french fries. So they eat more FFs and therefore eat more calories, so it's the total calories not where they come from that *in the end* makes a difference.
Sorry to wade in on a trivial point. BTW: agreed that most people will actually GAIN weight with exercise because muscle weighs more than fat. So the BMI point is well take; but I also agree with the tipster who said that as a global measure for THE AVERAGE PERSON, it's an OK measure. AND agreed that diet foods often hide hidden devils, especially sodium; or, if you've ever picked up one of those jars of reduced fat peanut butter they put in less hydrogenated fats and replace it in the same sized contained with high fructose corn syrup. Sigh. One devil for the other. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [email protected] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:48:11 -0400 (EDT) >From: Deborah S Briihl <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [tips] Time magazine cover story 8/17 >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > >I'm agreeing with Nancy here. I taught a Psych of Eating class and I >have a sister who is an exercise fanatic (she is currently training >with the guy who trained the current Mr. Olympia). Yes, you do get >hungry after exercising - in fact, my sister is being encouraged to eat >more. However, it is WHAT you eat afterwards that is important - >protein (rather than those french fries or muffins mentioned!). > >The other problem is the focus on weight loss (I believe that Stephen >Black talked about the BMI issue earlier this summer). People don't >lose weight with exercise - but you can see a change in inches lost and >body fat. > >And that bit about self control!!! What nonsense!! Eating and >exercising are like any other habit - you need time to form it properly >(and it may take months). Want better self control at home - number 1 >solution is don't buy the food that isn't good for you and you won't be >tempted. > >There are also a number of research articles out there that show that >people just don't realize the calorie count in foods. For example, >straight black coffee has 0 calories. Starbucks Frappuchino? 240 >calories - and that's the small (tall) - no whip cream. Diet portions >on food products are often smaller or swap sugars for fats - but >people then eat more of the diet food - so does that mean we should get >rid of diet food? > >[email protected] wrote: > > >>Hi, >> >>I was wondering if any fitness enthusiast or health psych tipsters >might have had the same reaction to the new Time Magazine cover story >that I did (I was motivated to write a letter, which is unlikely to be >published but I thought I'd give it a go).? I was irritated by it for >two reasons: >> >>1) Scientific inaccuracy - the author mentions "converting fat into >muscle". Isn't this just plain wrong? You can shrink your fat cells and >build up your muscle cells but you can't "convert fat into muscle". The >author (J. Cloud) doesn't seem to have any credentials (but he does >selectively quote experts on weight and fitness.) This is an easy one >and I wonder how he missed it. >> >>2) A general tone of "why bother?" - Yes, the author mentions several >times that exercise is crucial for good health BUT intersperses a lot >of discouraging material - "if you exercise hard you'll just overeat to >make it up later" OR "you'll just be lazier later." No, you don't have >to do either of those things. It's like an excuse making festival... >> >>I think the article is a great example of oversimplifying complex >behaviors and how that can be misleading or destructive. Any credible >fitness program includes encouragement to exercise and modify >nutrition. I think this author is equating "exercise won't help you" >with lack of discipline which of course IS a problem. I can see this >article being used by countless people as one more excuse not to try to >change at all. >> >>Reactions? I am interested to see if I am off the mark here. >> >>Nancy Melucci >>Long Beach City College >>Long Beach CA >> >>--- >>To make changes to your subscription contact: >> >>Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > >---------------------------------- >Deb > >Dr. Deborah S. Briihl >Dept. of Psychology and Counseling >Valdosta State University >229-333-5994 >[email protected] > >--- >To make changes to your subscription contact: > >Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
