Overweight and in Debt. Why?

Gunther on 21/03/2017 - 15:56

Why is Australia as a nation, overweight and in (bad)debt? Two major necessities in life – food and money.

Two topics that people can easily be educated on, yet as a majority we are not. Is this a case of the education systems not dealing with it, so the responsibility sits at home. Thus creating a vicious cycle of uneducated people who do not or are poorly educating their children in regards to diet and money. WTF?

Random Google Statistics for those who like numbers:

Australia Credit Card Debit
https://www.finder.com.au/credit-cards/credit-card-statistic…

Australia Overweight
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/…

General Discussion

Comments

        • syme321 on 22/03/2017 - 17:48
          +9

          @try2bhelpful: TBH you are getting downvoted for over reacting to the initial post. The statement that being overweight does increasing risk factors statistically speaking is true. As with all statistics there are outliers and you are clearly doing things that reduce your risk factors. Re being sick in your 30s, sounds like the standard symptoms of over training.

          It sounds like you know what to do re diet … just do it, don't have crap in your house and limit treats, maybe do a food audit for a few weeks and see what you can tweak.

        • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 20:56
          -5

          @syme321: I think your comments were an over reaction. I was trying to point out that people can be overweight and not unhealthy and then you come out with a list of issues and have a go at my "feelings". You have absolutely no idea on my current health status yet you felt you could do this. How about not being so judgemental and realise there is a spectrum of what can be healthy and what isn't. The fact that other people also felt they could do this shows how judgmental other people can be without any actual proof. However, I don't really expect much else with some of the people here. I also expect this to disappear with it being downvoted. My voice disappears and yours is the only one left standing; even though it is my health you are commenting out without any proof whatsoever.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2017 - 05:59

          @try2bhelpful:

          I was trying to point out that people can be overweight and not unhealthy​

          That's not applicable to the majority. If you are overweight and healthy, good on you.

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 11:04

          @ms:
          Yes, very good for me because I'm coming from the point of actually knowing what my health currently is; whereas, all you have done is made assumption on the word "overweight" without me even defining what I meant by that.

          BMI has been discredited because it does not take into account what the body mass is made up of, studies done on contestants for things like the "Biggest Loser" has shown they very often put the weight, and more, back on and it isn't just that they return to their old eating habits - the starvation diet has actually screwed up their metabolism. The human body is a complex mechansim and no two react in the same way. Food is not just a fuel it is also a source of pleasure; therefore any approach taken will need to take this into account all of these components. If there is a solution it will not be by didactically saying that calories out need to be more than calories in.

          You guys can continue to talk to each other, but I doubt you are going to actually change the mind, nor habits, of many people with your discussions and downvotings. All you are doing is making the croissants just that little bit tastier because there are people who get themselves in a lather just because I'm are eating them. Go ahead and keep downvoting me to take away my ability to talk about my own body and experiences, whilst the population you are trying to reach is turned off by your lecturing.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2017 - 11:49

          @try2bhelpful:

          all you have done is made assumption on the word "overweight" without me even defining what I meant by that.

          Please define in that case. You are the one playing word games here, not me.

          Go ahead and keep downvoting me

          Again you are assuming here. Go and find out from mods whether I downvoted your comments or not. I am not a kind of person who hits below the belt.

        • syme321 on 23/03/2017 - 13:07

          @try2bhelpful: If you read my post, I did not "come out with a list of issues and have a go at my "feelings""

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 14:16

          @syme321: The original OP asked why people were overweight and asked why - presumably on the assumption that overweight = unhealthy. My point is that you can be overweight and healthy - but as that does not meet your paradigm I've spent most of the time being voted down - many to the point where my comments are actually disappearing. Given you aren't actually interested in my opinions, as is abundantly clear, I will leave you guys to talk amongst yourselves. I won't be responding to any more of these posts - congratulations you have driven me away.

        • meong on 24/03/2017 - 17:17

          @airal3rt:

          What is considered Overweight?

          I think most people forget that they tend to measure simply by using BMI to see if they are overweight or underweight.

          Really it's more than that.

          When I was closer to my BMI (I'm half asian) I was actually feeling less healthy than now, being actually in the overweight area (3-4 kg over the ideal weight according to BMI).

          Perhaps I probably have more muscle and fat ratio compared to when I was a skinny fat person.

        • massafiri on 24/03/2017 - 23:54
          +1

          @airal3rt: this is a perfectly articulated response. It's probably the best thing I've seen on OzB. Kudos.

        • Ughhh on 25/03/2017 - 11:42
          +1

          The statement made by airal3rt

          Well, in the same way being a smoker or exposing yourself to radioactive materials doesn't "necessarily" make you unhealthy. They're all choices you make that substantially increase your risk of serious health complications, despite how you may "feel" at the present time.

          Is true and it applies to every human being, regardless of current health condition.The point was those factors increase risk.

    • Gunther on 21/03/2017 - 19:49
      +1

      You are incorrect.

      Overweight/obesity is purely based on the fact that someone has consumed excess calories, with insufficient exercise to negate those calories. Body stores those excess calories at body fat - this is unhealthy.

      If you are overweight/obese, your risk factors are significantly increased for health related risk issues such as heart attack, diabetes, joint problems, etc. Let alone the fact you have e a lower life expectancy of someone who is within a normal weight range.

      That is the problem with the health industry, eating healthy and eating a calorie deficit/maintenance are two completely different topics. You can get overweight from too much fruit, dairy, etc is a good example.

      • iridiumstem on 21/03/2017 - 20:02

        Lots of countries define overweight with BMI. BMI is calculated using weight and height. Someone who's fat and someone who has a lot of muscle can have same BMI, obviously one would be healthier than the other one. I kinda think that's what's happening with him or her.

        • kasp on 23/03/2017 - 16:22
          +2

          Yeah but it's usually fat people who use that line.

          Unless you are going to the gym at least several times a week and hitting the weights hard your high BMI is caused by fat end of story.

          I hit the gym 5 times a week doing serious weights and have been for years pretty solid and my BMI is 24 and that includes a bit of extra pudge at the moment caused by a month in the US eating like a Pig and drinking my arse off with zero exercise.

          If you think BMI isn't accurate it's not that hard to work out your Body fat percentage. However the BMI isn't accurate crowd tend to shut up when you bring that up.

        • iridiumstem on 23/03/2017 - 17:11

          @kasp: He's saying he's feeling healthy and half the people are basically telling him that he's wrong. I don't think he'd be all muscly, I guess I gave too broad example with why I don't think BMI is accurate. I simply wanted to say that BMI is a very broad measure and it doesn't take into account how people can be different.

          Who knows he might be in denial, I simply assumed he wasn't lying or in denial. He said he's feeling healthy and he said he's overweight, the case that could be possible is that his BMI is inaccurate. I will admit that I wouldn't have replied with my last comment if I didn't see so many words "fact" on the comment. More specifically, "Overweight/obesity is purely based on the fact that someone has consumed excess calories".

          Anyways, I kinda think it's better using body fat percentage like you kinda implied. Only one I know is inbody scanning (which I've heard about from where I used to work), but I heard you can use waist size and such?

        • kasp on 24/03/2017 - 10:53

          @Oversimplified:

          It's easy to do, just need a caliper and some tape

      • Excelsior on 22/03/2017 - 13:29
        +1

        "Over"-weight. I thought this was pretty much self explanatory?

      • dimavs on 24/03/2017 - 10:11
        +1

        It's almost impossible to "negate" bad food with exercises. For example, any crackers will be ~500kcal per 100 gram and it's very easy to eat those 100 gram (it will be much worse with added cheese/coke). To spend those 500kcal you have to run at 10km/h for one hour. It's virtually impossible to lose weight with exercises. Loosing weight, I would say, 95% is about your diet. Exercises good for fitness, but not for "negating" bad food.

    • blawler05 on 22/03/2017 - 09:24
      -1

      I agree with you

      I am what people would consider seriously overweight. If you believe BMI scales, I am overweight by 31KGs. However right now I feel the healthiest I have ever been. 5 months ago I couldnt even walk up a flight of stairs. Now I am riding 30km. My weight has not shifted though.

      I always mostly eat healthy foods like you.

      • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 09:40
        +2

        This is my point, and people are busily ignoring it. You can't equate skinny with healthy nor overweight with health problems - whatever the people here try to tell you. The human body is complex and people need to take that into account.

        • Jolakot on 22/03/2017 - 13:52
          -1

          Much in the same way you can't equate someone who smokes with someone who has trouble breathing. Being fat doesn't exclude you from being fit in the same way cigarettes don't exclude you from being a marathon runner. But if you took two almost identical people, one fat and one regular, the regular one would be fitter.

        • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:38
          -2

          @Jolakot: the difference is there is a lot of stuff in cigarettes that are carcinogenic and there are lots of studies that show that every cigarette is doing you damage. The evidence for degrees of overweight is a lot less clear and food is actually required for survival. Without actually examining someone you can't make generalised statements about fitness and weight.

      • bongom on 22/03/2017 - 10:08
        +2

        Regardless of your height or build, for most adults a waist measurement of greater than 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women is an indicator of the level of internal fat deposits which coat the heart, kidneys, liver, digestive organs and pancreas. This can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

        https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-your-risk…

        • blawler05 on 24/03/2017 - 08:14

          I think for me that might be a better way to measure my results than weight. I know that my waist has shrunk. I have shrunk from a 44 pant to a 40 even though I have not lost any weight. I might take the measurement and work with that. Thanks

      • kasp on 23/03/2017 - 16:24

        What's your body fat percentage?

        • blawler05 on 24/03/2017 - 08:06

          I actually don't know.

          I am actively working on my fitness though. If I lose weight that will be a bonus. Late last year I recognised that I was seriously unfit. Although my cholesterol and other blood work was always normal I felt terrible. So took up mountain biking. I now feel a million times better and will continue.

          The bmi index says I should weigh 93kg. I think for me that would be way to skinny. But who knows. I'll just keep trying to reach my fitness goals. First One next week as I am competing in the Mont 24. Then I will do the Sydney to gong ride. I prefer to set goals like that rather than weight

        • kasp on 24/03/2017 - 11:01
          +1

          @blawler05:

          Trust me it's not way too skinny. You should go on that path and then make a judgment call when you are near that weight. You would be surprised how much fat people can pack on.

          The Rock weighs 118 kilos and is 6'5 roided up beast. He could drop 25 kilos and still be pretty solid.

      • Praeto on 23/03/2017 - 17:49
        +1

        You may be healthier than you've ever been, but you're not healthy. I say that as someone who is also 30kg over weight at the moment.

        18 months ago, I was 165kg and I was absolutely miserable. I was unhealthy and probably taking decades off my life expectancy. I got a Fitbit, set a goal and haven't missed it in 18 months. I dropped my calories to 1600 per day, and over 18 months I lost 35kg. This week I got my 9000km badge on Fitbit, during a 25km hike.

        I feel a thousand times better than I did, and the fact that I can even do a 25km hike suggests some level of fitness. But I'm not healthy, and I don't delude myself into thinking that I am. When I've lost the additional 30kg or so and still have this level of cardiovascular fitness, then maybe I can consider myself healthy.

        • blawler05 on 24/03/2017 - 08:10

          I am not at my goal. But my goal is not weight loss. It is fitness. My point was whilst my fitness has increased by leaps and bounds my weight hadn't shifted (yet). October I could not even ride a bike 2km. Next weekend I am competing in the Mont 24hr race. I will keep setting myself those goals. If the weight shifts it shifts. But as long as my fitness is improving consistently then that is my goal.

        • kasp on 24/03/2017 - 11:03
          +1

          @blawler05:

          You are eating too much. You can never out exercise a shit diet.

        • blawler05 on 24/03/2017 - 14:06

          @kasp: I eat 1800 cals a day tracked using my fitness pal.. Is that to much? You make a lot of assumptions based on very little information.

        • Praeto on 24/03/2017 - 17:05
          +1

          @blawler05:

          The assumption is likely based on the fact you're not droppping weight. If you're doing large amounts of exercise, you may initially be building muscle which may mask a drop in body fat. However if you're burning lots of calories and limiting your intake, the weight will start dropping, there's no way for it not to.

          When I found myself in a similar position, I went and bought a kitchen scale, which (sadly) showed that I was underestimating serving sizes.

        • kasp on 24/03/2017 - 18:32

          @blawler05:

          No you're not.

          You seriously trying to say you fixed your diet and exercising heaps and you are unable to drop weight. You are either tracking your intake poorly or just lying.

          Absolutely not possible and before you say it no your fat doesnt turn into muscle it doesnt work like that.

  • boredrandom on 21/03/2017 - 17:11
    +1

    "…responsibility sits at home."
    Oh so true… the debt also sits at home if you consider the housing prices in Australia.

  • dogboy on 21/03/2017 - 17:36
    +5

    I was overseas for a month or so recently and was quite shocked how fat most Australians are when I returned. I guess I was just desensitised to it on a day to day basis but it is really quite disgusting. It would be interesting to see how Australia compares to America in terms of average weight because I reckon we have them beaten.

    • Gunther on 21/03/2017 - 19:51
      +2

      Not the most recent data but 2014…

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Body_Mass_Index_(BMI)

      USA #19
      Australia #31
      UK #32

    • Powershopz on 22/03/2017 - 10:16
      +6

      I've noticed this a few times when coming back from countries overseas. First time I got the shock of "Wow! Australians are really overweight" was when coming back from 3 weeks in Japan.

      • ItsMeAgro on 22/03/2017 - 13:55
        +1

        It's easy to see why, though - Japanese people actually eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

        • jv on 22/03/2017 - 13:57

          Japanese people actually eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

          Mainly the older ones…

        • ItsMeAgro on 22/03/2017 - 14:22
          +2

          @jv:

          The older people, or the older vegetables?

        • jv on 22/03/2017 - 14:29
          +2

          @ItsMeAgro:

          both…

        • Blitzfx on 22/03/2017 - 16:14

          I think it's more to do with this:
          http://www.mamamia.com.au/japans-metabo-law-where-being-over…

        • ssyl9 on 23/03/2017 - 16:18
          +1

          Also to point out their food is mainly either blanched or pickled or salt baked..

          Where our food is mainly deep fried, roasted or grilled.

          They also have a lower consumption of meat compared the seafood(fish).

          Also, Japanese walk like everywhere. The amount of day to day exercise by just commuting to and from work/school is already a few multiples more of a normal Aussie.

    • Szemen on 22/03/2017 - 10:25
      +2

      Funny you mention this. I was in Japan travelling around Kyushu area for about a month. Struggled to find someone that was overweight, well we were exactly looking… Up until we were waiting for the flight back to Sydney.

      So much of it has to do with the environment where in Australia, we have very car-centric cities. We are forced (hesitant to use this but a lot of the times are) to use person vehicles to get to and from a lot of places. Whereas even smaller cities like Fukuoka, public transport is still king.

      Also, the portion control here is absolutely horrible, not the extent of USA but still bad. It's fairly easy to get a small meal in Japan where I feel is just right. Whereas here, even the smallest entree size can be massive. If you were feeling pekish here, I find it very hard to find something small, tasty, cheap and healthy.

      • BuyoTheCat on 22/03/2017 - 16:47
        +3

        Japanese people rarely overeat. They do over drink though

        • Szemen on 22/03/2017 - 16:52

          How right you are! Not as bad as the Koreans who consume the most amongst the Asian region, especially with their youth as well, but still a very common sight late at night on their trains. Massive bottles of Shochu are incredibly cheap and the label is actually a cartoon of 3 colleagues getting pissed…

      • ItsMeAgro on 23/03/2017 - 12:46

        Whereabouts did you go? I lived in Miyazaki, Nobeoka, and Yatsushiro for a few months each.

        • Szemen on 23/03/2017 - 13:23

          Flew into Fukuoka, drove to Beppu then Mt Aso, Kurokawa, into Kumamoto. Caught the car ferry across to Nagasaki, past Arita for some nice ceramics, back into Fukuoka, caught train down to Kagoshima. That was the Kyushu leg.

          In the Honshu leg, we did Kii peninsula. Like Wakayama, Koyasan, Kumado Kodo and Ise Jingu.

          Why'd you choose Kyushu to live?

        • ItsMeAgro on 23/03/2017 - 14:12

          @Szemen:

          Nice!

          I was a Mormon missionary there around 2000. I think we had conferences in Kagoshima - you get smoke and ash from the volcano sometimes. Good times.

  • rgr on 21/03/2017 - 17:37
    +3

    cause bogans

  • airal3rt on 21/03/2017 - 17:58
    +1

    Capitalism as an economic model relies on the exploitation of the working class - the vast majority will be dirt poor irrespective of how hard they try to alter this fundamental truth. What's happened is with globalization and technology is that people are now seeing the wealth siphoned off them by the elite more regularly. They see this thrust in their face constantly but are too indoctrinated to realize it's the oppressive capitalistic society they should be fighting against, and instead try to emulate the lifestyle of the elite. The only way to obtain even a shoddy imitation of this lifestyle involves purchasing new cars and TVs, but with the wealthy elite siphoning off all their money they have to borrow and rack up enormous debts.

  • JetLi on 21/03/2017 - 18:06
    +2

    Junk food + beer

    • [Deactivated] on 22/03/2017 - 00:09
      +1

      But those are the meaning of life.

      • JetLi on 22/03/2017 - 11:13

        I enjoy my junk food + beer too, just offset it with a bit of regular exercise.

        • dogboy on 22/03/2017 - 12:05

          I am the same. The older you get the more exercise you need to do to offset the lifestyle unfortunately.

  • mskeggs on 21/03/2017 - 18:34
    +2

    I'm fatter than I should be, but am pretty highly educated. Perhaps you could let me know the item I have failed to learn that will sort me out?

    I am well aware of delayed gratification, but apparently lack the fact that allows me to regulate my calorific intake better, because I find dieting achieves results, but requires a lot of will power.
    Or perhaps there are more complex reasons behind the phenomena you are describing than lack of education?

    • ItsMeAgro on 21/03/2017 - 18:54
      +8

      I think "dieting" doesn't work, but I think simply finding and incorporating healthier foods - that you actually like - into your diet, does.

      E.g.: by far the tastiest meal at the foodcourt near my work is actually a salad: Vietnamese chicken noodle salad with fresh mint and lime and lettuce and sprouts and chillies and such.

      Raised as a white meat-and-3-veg Aussie I couldn't have imagined myself ever choosing to eat a salad for lunch, when I was younger.

      But once you try good healthy fresh food, it's hard to go back to eating a pie or burger or some other high-carb processed gunk. I still eat them very occasionally, but I don't even want to eat them regularly anymore.

      Just try some new foods until you find some healthy ones you like. No willpower or discipline needed.

      • kasp on 23/03/2017 - 16:30
        +1

        Best way of dieting is by eating like 800-1200 calories for a few days. This will reset your appetite and make it smaller portions will fill you up. Mix that with healthier food and exercise and you are on a winner.

        People generally just eat too much.

        • duchy on 23/03/2017 - 20:05
          +1

          I burn 800-900 calories during one exercise session! I would be incredibly hungry, angry and this would trigger epic yo-yo effect.

          People don't eat too much. People eat too much processed crap.

        • Mike88 on 24/03/2017 - 20:57

          Incorrect. There isn't a 'best' amount of calories. What worked for you will not work for everyone.
          I know people who intake 10k calories a day just to maintain weight and other who are on a lot less with similar body masses.
          There are a lot of factors that contribute to how many calories you need per day. Things like height, muscle mass, metabolic rate, physical activity among many others can play a big factor in how much someone needs to eat.

        • kasp on 25/03/2017 - 15:42
          +1

          @Mike88:

          10,000 calories per day is excessive even for roided up gigantic elite strongman.

          Dont lie noone you know needs 10k per day for maintenance maybe kj but certainly not calories.

        • kasp on 25/03/2017 - 15:44
          +1

          @duchy:

          I think you missed the part where I said do it for a few days to reset your appetite as well as eating healthier.

          People do generally eat too much. Processed just amplifies the problem.

        • Mike88 on 28/03/2017 - 15:40

          Why would I lie? I haven't counted every single calorie these people take, can only go or what they tell me. However I have met a couple of people that have used similar figures. Plenty of docos out there stating the same. Have you ever been to a body building gym? Have you ever sat down and discussed diets with someone who is using a cocktail of steroids for their gains?
          I am not advocating the use of them just stating that dependant on your situation your dietary requirements will change.
          I dieted heavily but now sit around the 4-4.5k calorie mark on training days.

        • kasp on 28/03/2017 - 16:03
          +1

          @Mike88:

          Yes I goto powerlifting gym and Yes I know plenty of steroid users as well as their diets. (I don't take them myself)

          To put in perspective maintenance at around 10,000 calories would be someone who was 8 feet tall weighing 200 kilos doing 10 solid hours of intensive exercise every single day.

          The people who have been telling you 10,000 for maintenance are full of shit. They wouldn't even be half of that.

          Also, you do know maintenance and bulking are two different things right? A standard bulk is about 500 calories above maintenance, a fairly extreme one is 1000. Even on roids 1000 is enough and let's say you went crazy and went for 2000. That is still nowhere near 10,000 calories a day.

          The mountain (GOT fame one of the biggest people on the planet and juices like noone else) eats 10,000 calories a day in Prep for a strongman competition (Again leaving the realm of maintenance and I think he is puffing it out a bit for dramatic effect)
          https://www.businessinsider.com.au/mountain-game-of-thrones-…

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2017 - 19:18

      Less sugar, more fibre.

    • DaneD on 22/03/2017 - 09:46
      +1

      Education does play a role, but you have clearly identified that it also requires a lot of willpower.

      It is super easy to go out and eat cheap/terrible food every day and stuff your face full of cake at morning tea etc. It takes a ton of control, to avoid terrible food every day.

      But willpower is like a muscle, the more you use your willpower the stronger it gets. You are educated and in a strong financial position however, you are weak willed when it comes to food.It is not rocket science, you don't need some super secret diet you are just consuming more than you need.

    • syme321 on 22/03/2017 - 17:54

      What worked for me was developing an exercise addiction. Find something phsyical you like doing regularly and do it. On 'I'm a doctor trust me' they showed burning 500 cal exercising had less impact on hunger than reducing calorie intake by 500. Eat less processed food, drink less calories.

    • BryceW on 23/03/2017 - 12:46
      +1

      You can have a masters in tons of fields, but still know nothing about food/health. There is Health class in highschool which isnt that useful. Its not a measure of intelligence, its about learning the right things.

      The original food pyramid has been disproven and there is much more to it all that just counting calories.

      I think most people dont know how to read labels and are mislead by marketing:

      "It has Zero fat!" - Yes, but it achieves that by shitloads of sugar which if left unburned will turn into fat.
      "Fruit juice is healthy!" - Nope, thats just sugar and water mostly. Converts to fat.
      "Ill stay away from sugar and just have pasta/bread" - Thats carbs, almost all carbs convert to glucose, which is sugar.

      Most people dont really understand the above regardless of education level.

      • Gunther on 23/03/2017 - 14:11

        Big agree with this. I think its product marketing to blame here in combination with education.

    • Mike88 on 24/03/2017 - 20:48

      You may have learned about nutrition and what are the 'good' and 'bad' food groups. However there is so much good and bad information out there for people to intake that it can be misleading unless you are invested in the outcome. People are not the same and will respond to differently to their diets.
      You stated that dieting has achieved results but requires a lot of will power. Obviously eating healthier and or less food accompanied with exercise has worked. Unfortunately it takes a long time to train the body to not want more food than you are giving it and if the results are enough reward then it can be difficult to continue with lower calorie intake in the long term.
      Your metabolic rate lowers with age. If you continue the same food intake that you had at 30 at 50 then you will gain weight.
      'Diets' are not short term. The reason they are needed is that the amount of food supplied to the body has been to much. If you diet for a few months then go back to old eating habits then of course the results will reverse.
      For me the reasons I continue a healthy life style is my work requires me to be at a certain physical capacity and I actually enjoy going to the gym and have been for the past 15 years. Also doesn't hurt that chicken and beans is a very cheap meal to satisfy the Ozbargainer in me.

  • dazza826 on 21/03/2017 - 19:29
    +4

    Whats worked for me especially with the overweight side of things is Keto aka low carb/high fat/moderate protein eating.

    I've tried counting calories, and cutting out sugar/refined carbs as well.

    They did help and I did lose weight but the rebound and low energy throughout was crap and the weight lost came back and then some.

    Keto/Low carb is the only thing that has made a massive dent in the gut fat without the rebound. Feel great once you get over the keto flu and the initial adapting, started end of Jan, down about 11.5KG so far.

    At the very least if you cut out or down sugar and eat less processed/refined carbs and don't overeat you should see some weight loss if you add even moderate exercise like walking.

    • Gunther on 21/03/2017 - 19:57
      +2

      Fad diets don't work

      Weight loss is just about creating a calorie deficit over a long period of time, irregardless of the foods or macro-nutrient ratios eaten. Eating a balance of all macro-nutrients with plenty of vitamins/minerals will sustain energy.

      • dazza826 on 21/03/2017 - 21:22
        +2

        Couldn't agree more about fad diets, and for me unless you treat any change of eating plan as not only a diet but a lifestyle change you are ultimately doomed to fail.

        Personally traditional calorie deficit where you cut back on sugar and refined carbs, but still eat complex carbs over a long period of time wasn't sustainable for me and just made me bounce back even more. No doubt it works for some people and at the end of the day it is about undertaking your own research and finding out what works for you best, sometimes through trial and error.

        It goes without saying you should ensure you are getting the right vitamins and minerals and make sure you get the balance right.

      • ItsMeAgro on 22/03/2017 - 13:59
        +3

        Fad diets don't work

        Keto is not a fad diet, though that's a common misconception.

      • rabid_monkey on 22/03/2017 - 16:16
        +2

        I agreed that a calorie deficit is the key to weight-loss, but there is growing evidence that the macro-nutrient composition of LCHF/Keto does have metabolic advantages over carbohydrates rich diets. Appetite suppression being one of the most important factors for the average Joe, along with more subtle biological pathways of how fat is metabolised within the body and how fat deposits are formed in people not constantly swimming in a pool of insulin.

        Further, I'd say the biggest fad diet in history was started in 70-80's: The low fat, high carbohydrate/sugar diet. And how's that working out for us so far?

      • Diji1 on 22/03/2017 - 23:45
        +3

        You've completely missed the point of the post which is that the person is eating less without feeling hungry because they're eating fats and proteins and avoid carbohydrates.

        You seem to be spouting the same idiotic message (eat what you like, only calories matter) that the gummints tell the population which is designed to have you eat as much as possible because the food processing and retailing industry pays them so I suspect you don't know much.

    • Donaldhump on 21/03/2017 - 21:46

      My misses does this diet and lost 20kg in one year…..I think I put on 15 kg in that same year

      • mooboy on 22/03/2017 - 11:02
        +4

        So where did the other 5kg go?

        • Blitzfx on 22/03/2017 - 16:22
          +5

          Must've been a baby they had. Congrats!

        • ItsMeAgro on 22/03/2017 - 17:36

          @Blitzfx:

          That's a pretty big baby…

  • canyoudoitcheaper on 21/03/2017 - 22:33
    +4

    There have been a lot of studies that correlate healthy eating with high income. It think it has to do with the fact that it's cheaper (and easier) to buy Maccas, KFC and Hungry Jacks than to buy healthy foods and prepare a meal.

    You only have to Ozbargain search the above 'restaurants' I mentioned to see how many deals pop up. Deals for healthy food? Not so much.

    • songford on 22/03/2017 - 11:55
      +5

      I don't actually think Maccas and such are cheap. The price difference between normal food and fast food might be significant in the states, but not really here, unless considering vouchers. You have a normal meal from any of the three listed for around $10 and a pho for something close to that here. A kilo of chicken breast is $9 at Coles and I sometimes teriyaki a whole kilo and that can be divided into 5 meals, and put some veggies and rice with them into a complete meal, which makes it somewhere around $3 a portion, so it's even much cheaper if you cook for yourself. So I think it's probably more with "lazy" than cheap.

      • greatlamp on 22/03/2017 - 13:30
        +3

        The poor consume unhealthy takeaway food because they have few other pleasures.

        Stress also causes people to crave high caloric foods.

        I don't think it's only a $ issue

      • Blitzfx on 22/03/2017 - 16:26
        +1

        I agree that maccas is actually pretty expensive when you can get freshly cooked non-fast food meals for less. But only maccas though. KFC, hungry jacks have pretty good value deals…

    • Efendy on 23/03/2017 - 14:11
      +1

      If the assumption that most poor people are poor because they are lazy/don't have the will power (and it doesn't mean laziness is inherent but can be a byproduct of receiving money without doing anything in return, sometimes due to genuine reasons such as health problems/disadvantage etc and becomes a habit) is correct, would unhealthy eating being linked to low income be caused by people just being lazy and driving to the closest drive thru and not bothering cooking healthy food that would cost less?
      Just a thought..

      Edit: and I know it's a king size blanket statement but genuinely interested to hear about any counter arguments!

  • TopGun31 on 21/03/2017 - 23:43
    +2

    The greater population has little or no understanding of nutrition, and what they do have comes from advertisement, packaging or some 'fitness inspiration' on social media.

    The concept of a TDEE is the single most important factor in weight loss/weight gain. Eat less than your TDEE to lose weight, eat more than your TDEE to gain weight.

    But that's boring and the public aren't interested, their sugar-filled 1800kj 'cleansing fruit juice' will do them just fine. sigh.

  • Nutrino on 22/03/2017 - 01:13

    So what's personally bothering you to start this thread?

    • Gunther on 22/03/2017 - 11:34

      Just a general observation of majority of friends, family, work colleagues and the public.

      FYI - I am average weight, no credit card debit - just a mortgage.

      • PVA on 22/03/2017 - 16:47

        So you are in debt then.

        • Szemen on 22/03/2017 - 16:53
          +3

          Gunther did mention (bad) debt in the body. I don't consider mortgage a bad debt….yet… It's not a bubble until it pops right? ;)

  • DiscoJango on 22/03/2017 - 08:36
    +1

    With the advent of the internet, every single piece of information is available with a click, 24/7. Everything people need to know in regards to diet and finance is easily found. Yet they choose to spend their spare hours every night watching useless tv shows which give you no extra knowledge. Even if everybody spent even 30 minutes a night on knowledge expansion, it would make a huge difference. But its easier to watch netflix marathons and then complain about still being poor and overweight :)

  • frostman on 22/03/2017 - 08:47
    +3

    Overweight: I see 2 possibly reasons that are mutually inclusive:
    1.) Alcohol consumption is rife in Australia; 'Malcolm is leaving the company, lets go drinks', 'hi margaret has moved to a new role, lets get drinks', 'hi bob just bought a new ute, lets go drinks',

    2.) Australia is becoming a depressed, 1st-class working country. excessive consumption of takeaway and excessive "eat out" simply because people dont have the bloody time to cook at home anymore. When was the last time anyone here sat down and had a decent, home-cooked meal for 1 week straight? Everyone is slaving away which brings me to the next point in Op's query of debt

    Debt: It's become the norm here to get 45 year loans for the dream house and slave away and pay it till your 68 years old. People are taking more risks than ever and borrowing on the bare minimum to fulfill some menial life goal, everyone wants to be the next bill gates.
    Meanwhile, taxes are going up because the Government isnt spending our money wisely, it's been siphoned to pay for useless initiatives.

    • DaneD on 22/03/2017 - 09:53
      +3

      "people dont have the bloody time to cook at home anymore."

      The truth is people are LAZY we are programmed to be lazy and to avoid pain. Get off that high horse, do something you don't really want to do and make food for your family so they are happy and healthy in the future. Have some accountability.

      It takes little to no time to cook healthy meals if you are just organised (some examples below).

      Go buy a slow cooker ($20-$60), make a slow cooked stew (prep time of like 20 minutes if you are super slow at cutting). There are tons of recipes online 2/3kg of meat diced tons of diced veggies some wine or vinegar cook for 8 hours done. That is 1 meal every day for the week. (dinner)

      Roast something in the oven that takes little to no prep time put 2 chickens in the oven for 50 minutes. Then just make a salad everyday (takes 2-5 minutes). (lunch)

      Put some rice in the rice cooker to add to every meal, takes 2 minutes.(extra)

      Make a huge fritatta for breakfast cut it into 5 (1 breakfast meal for every day). (breakfast)

      • Powershopz on 22/03/2017 - 10:18
        +3

        You'd be surprised just how lazy the average Australian is. What you've said there is too much work for most people.

      • syousef on 22/03/2017 - 11:03

        Hahaha 2-5 minutes for a salad. I challenge you to make a large bowl of salad in 2 minutes!

        If you add up the time you said (which is inadequate) and if you're calling a woman who's working 2 jobs providing for her kids then trying to tend to their needs lazy you're a complete jackass.

        It's definitely WORTH taking the time to cook healthy food. Sometimes people don't have that time.

        • DaneD on 22/03/2017 - 12:31
          +6

          Well I said 2-5 so it depends what you are putting in. Secondly, I work full time, study full time, train 2 hours everyday, so time is an issue for me and still somehow manage to make food a week.

          Eg. Baby spinach leaves
          Fetta
          cut up 2 tomatoes
          put in some olives

          Which is WELL within the 2-5 minute time frame. The good thing about it is making a larger one really requires no more/little more time so if you are splitting it between people just up the portions. Personally I buy a head of lettuce (cheaper) cut it all up put it in some tuppawear and just dish it out as I need it.

          You need to have some accountability, if you want to feel terrible / feed your kids bad food that is up to you. But don't blame time. You have time, you just don't want to prioritise it.

          Take responsibility for your own and your children's health. Stop trying to palm this issue off as some insurmountable task that is impossible to achieve for every day people.

        • syousef on 22/03/2017 - 16:12
          -1

          @DaneD:

          Dude I've done the work and study thing. Yeah it's tough. Do you have young kids yet though? Whole other level, especially if they don't sleep as much as kids are "suppose to". You can't plan or compartmentalize your time. You just have to deal with their needs as they arise and try to make their life enjoyable too, while juggling everything else including work and study.

          But I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about people I know that are single parents and work 2 jobs.

        • DaneD on 22/03/2017 - 16:36

          @syousef:

          No young kids, I agree that would make a difference, sleep is important.

          However, I could almost guarantee these parents watch tv or have some form of leisure time. In which case they also have time to make an effort to cook some simple healthy food for their kids and themselves (and save money).

          What the majority of my point is, if you make an all encompassing excuse nothing will EVER change. You need to make an active effort to do these things.

          Speaking on that, unfit and unhealthy people generally believe that fit and healthy people have it super easy. They just 'want' to eat healthy and 'want' to train all the time. This is a total fallacy. I literally wake up EVERY single morning and my mind goes "god damm I'm tired should take today off" "you deserve some time off" "You are a bit sore" "just have some more sleep". side note rest plays an important role I am trying to illustrate my point

          There is an unending torrent of excuses that you make for yourself, these same excuses also come up when eating unhealthy food or not having 'time'.

          The difference is I am actually accountable for my actions and at the end of the day I can either make an excuse or ignore the excuses. Don't get me wrong I am not perfect by any means, but god damm I'm going to try to be.

        • syousef on 22/03/2017 - 16:42
          +4

          @DaneD:

          No offence but you have no clue. Leisure time is precious when you're a parent. Taking from that little of that you get is a plan for a mental breakdown. As for TV, hope you enjoy kids films and cartoons on repeat. And if you don't do that because you don't want TV to rot their brian you'll have to spend every minute engaging with them.

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