We''re all being fooled about our growing size

[hoorray]

Date: 7/15/2005 12:43:16 PM
Author: phoenixgirl
I''ve been thinking about all of this recently as I have begun exercising for the first serious time in my life since high school. I understand that genetics has a lot to do with it . . . without exercising or watching what I eat, I wasn''t overweight, just sort of sloppy and weak (5''5'' and 135). I know that some people are obese who probably have similar habits to mine. But I have to think that during the course of human evolution, humans were a whole lot more active. Now a lot of us sit at a desk all day, sit in front of the television at night, and then sleep.

Frankly, I''m embarrassed that I''m 25 and probably couldn''t run a mile comfortably. No, I''m not overweight, and I don''t have a serious problem with the way I look (well don''t love the growing belly and arm flab), but I just want to be fit. I want to be able to do something vigorous without getting out of breath.

I moved to the city a year ago, and that has been really good for getting the body in motion even when it''s not ''exercise time.'' My husband and I walked over 10 blocks to dinner last night. We''ve also started power walking in the morning, and then I do The Firm every other day. And it''s only been three weeks, and I can tell that some of my stomach pooch disappeared already (I guess you lose it first where you gained it last). I don''t have any hope for my thighs (I''m a pear) since they''ve housed the fat since I was a super skinny teenager, but I have hope for my overall health and well-being.

Of course, all of this is easy over summer vacation. The real test will be getting up even earlier once school starts again. Thankfully, school doesn''t start until 8:45 (pretty late for a high school), but to be there by 8:15 I suppose I''ll have to wake up at 5:30.

I noticed the wedding dress size thing too. I was a 10, and I usually wear a size 6 dress, and 6 or 8 pants. Does this mean that Banana Republic and those other stores are carrying clothes for larger women who couldn''t dress there before, or that they''ve just jumbled the numbers? My sister recently gained 40 pounds (including the baby) with her pregnancy and was a size bigger than me to begin with. She said she can''t currently fit into the clothes sold in places like Ann Taylor anymore because she''s a 14 and they stop at 12. The baby is 3 1/2 months old, so I expect that she won''t remain that size forever. And unlike me, she''s always jogged and worked out and watched what she eats, so I don''t consider her unhealthy. She''s just got more of my dad''s genes than I do.

But the majority of Americans are sedentary and eat huge portions at places like Olive Garden and McDonald''s. Who can we blame? Who out there doesn''t know that he or she should exercise? Who doesn''t know the difference between healthy and unhealthy eating? I always get chicken mcnuggets when I eat at McDonalds (only when on a long road trip). Why wasn''t 6 in a meal enough? But now all you can get are 10 (maybe the kids'' meal is 6? but it so, then that''s gone up too since it used to be 4). But I don''t think the food industry is run by some evil old men who want America to get fat. I think that it just doesn''t cost that much to add 4 additional nuggets, but you can charge more. And hey, perhaps it''s the chicken and the egg, but a lot of their customers like to eat a lot. If people thought the portions were too big, then a new fast food joint would come along and fill the ''small, reasonable portion'' niche. I just don''t think there''s much demand for that among fast-food eaters.

Ya know what, I don''t think the clothing industry is trying to make us feel better, I think they''re just trying to sell clothes. If they stick to their original sizes, then fewer women can actually still fit into them. So if 42% of women are over size 14, then only about half of women can shop there now. I bet that without the shift, it would be something like 35 or 40%. They''re just making smart business decisions.

Anyway, I don''t think we should care about being stick-thin, but we should be active people with a good cardiovascular system. We ARE getting fatter and lazier, and I think we''re the punch-line to a lot of jokes around the world.

Well said PG.

We have lots of European friends who are just astounded at the US eating styles, (they are from Nordic countries mostly), -- especially the huge portions and the need for "low or non fat everything". They love to remind us how they eat REAL milk and REAL butter, and they as a society are not fat.

However, IMO, many Europeans are starting to follow in our footsteps with the growth of fast food (US companies mostly) impacting their eating habits. It will be interesting to see if they start gaining weight.

 

[kaylagee]

Well they are in France at least. There are gov''t awareness programs(esp. for children) because France''s obesity rate has jumped(I think it''s still only around 11 percent while the US is like 64 percent? ). Of course this is partly thanks to more fast food restaus and ''convenience" foods.

Merci McDo''s!

 

[partgypsy]

Hello all, this is an old thread, but found this email my mom sent me that is relevant...

I wasted time yesterday browsing Internet looking at bathing suits. I don''t
have one right now because I hate all of them, yet need something to go to
pool. A receptionist my age said she hasn''t had to get in one in years,
thank god, but she doesn''t have grandchildren to force her into exposure.
I read an article about standardizing women''s clothing, which ended saying
there''s little hope of it happening. The "ideal" figure
type--hourglass--occurs only in 8% of all women. Most prevalent body type is
rectangular. So, don''t feel ! odd about your own body shape; having an
inverted waistline is NOT NATURAL. As long as you don''t resemble a shitzu
(folds hanging all over) you are doing ok.
The problem in getting bigger sizes is dressmakers think you also have grown
taller as well! So bigger around middle means sleeves too long, shoulders
wide enough for a linebacker, and length down to the floor. I need more room
around chest, waist and tummy; the rest stays as in smaller size. You''d
think they would have figured out what happens to women as they gain some
weight. The fashion industry stays in COMPLETE DENIAL.
I''ve always hated undergarments, at any weight and size. Why would one want
to be squished, or uncomfortable? Don''t even mention "thongs" --an invention
of the devil! I always hated girdles when they were in fashion; I couldn''t
understand how girls could wear them. I was so happy the "hippie" generation
discarded the "girdle" requirement. ! But they never erased the "bra"; I''d go
without if I could. Freedo m from breathing constricted, straps, hooks,
underwires, et al.
Enough fashion hate-talk. Got to go. Love, MOM

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 7/12/2005 5:51:35 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 7/12/2005 5:48:40 PM
Author: Bikergirl
So what if you''re a size zero? If all the other sizes are ''shifting'' what happens to really tiny people? Just wondering.....

There never used to be a size 0! Or a size 2. Tiny people were size 3 and size 5 when I was growing up! Size 8 was pretty darned small, too!

Deb

my aunt was very very petite and had to have her clothing made for her: there was no size 4 and she was smaller than that.

peace, movie zombie

 

[jcrow]

my mom too! she even had to sew her own maternity clothes...

i wondered about that too b/c the bridesmaid dress i ordered was a size 4. it had to had to be taked up. i am no where near a 4 in regular clothes. heck even express doesn''t make pants to fit me...

 

[cutes814]

Did you guys see that documentary, "Super Size Me"? It really takes the taboo of America about becoming fat and brings it to everyone''s attention. For those who hasn''t seen it, the documentary is about a guy who is very healthy and decides to go on a McDonald diet eating nothing but McDonald''s for 30 days. Throughout the movie, he brings up very good points about how America is the fattest country in the world and how we got here.

One very good point he brings up is we scold those who smoke in a restaurant next to us, saying smoking is bad for you, etc, etc, but yet we say nothing to the person next to us pigging out and who weighs 300 pounds. The overweight person is doing the same to him or herself as the one smoking. They are killing themselves. Everything has gotten larger in size, especially food portions.

It''s so sad to see most of America''s population is eating themselves to death. Sure, weight is not always the reason for poor health, but it sure has to do with lifestyle. And America is not heading in the right direction.

If you guys haven''t checked out this documentary, I highly recommend you see it. It''s pretty cool.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 7/12/2005 6:53:16 PM
Author: jaysonsmom
You know what''s sad is that I''m all american when it comes to portion size. If I go somewhere to eat, I want to stuff myself, and still come home with leftovers. That is probably why I HATE going to my sister-in-law''s house for dinner, her husband (french-Swiss) is the chef, and always cooks so little that I come home starving.

As for steakhouses...some people choose their cut based on the flavor, and texture. I choose the cut based on the size. If I''m going to pay $30+ for a steak, it''d better not be a tiny 6 oz. filet mignon.

Yanno, I honestly think this is at the crux of why everyone''s struggling so with weight.

I cannot tell you the number of times I''ve gone out to each with Rich, and the menu is laden with 16-oz and 20-oz ribeyes for $22.00 or some outrageous price. They don''t OFFER much of a smaller portion at a REASONABLE price.

So......people want value for their money, so they want the larger steak. But then they EAT the larger steak and become accustomed to larger portions. It''s a terrible cycle.

I''d love to find a 4-6 oz. filet on the menu for $12.75.....I''d be delighted! But I''m not spending $18.95 on a 6-oz filet.....that''s too much relative to what I''m getting. Hence the problem.....retailers/restaurants say "well, we don''t want a lower price point, so let''s keep give them more food so they perceive they are getting their money''s worth!

*sigh*

 

[Blue824]

Date: 8/16/2005 8:09:59 PM
Author: aljdewey

Date: 7/12/2005 6:53:16 PM
Author: jaysonsmom
You know what''s sad is that I''m all american when it comes to portion size. If I go somewhere to eat, I want to stuff myself, and still come home with leftovers. That is probably why I HATE going to my sister-in-law''s house for dinner, her husband (french-Swiss) is the chef, and always cooks so little that I come home starving.

As for steakhouses...some people choose their cut based on the flavor, and texture. I choose the cut based on the size. If I''m going to pay $30+ for a steak, it''d better not be a tiny 6 oz. filet mignon.

Yanno, I honestly think this is at the crux of why everyone''s struggling so with weight.

I cannot tell you the number of times I''ve gone out to each with Rich, and the menu is laden with 16-oz and 20-oz ribeyes for $22.00 or some outrageous price. They don''t OFFER much of a smaller portion at a REASONABLE price.

So......people want value for their money, so they want the larger steak. But then they EAT the larger steak and become accustomed to larger portions. It''s a terrible cycle.

I''d love to find a 4-6 oz. filet on the menu for $12.75.....I''d be delighted! But I''m not spending $18.95 on a 6-oz filet.....that''s too much relative to what I''m getting. Hence the problem.....retailers/restaurants say ''well, we don''t want a lower price point, so let''s keep give them more food so they perceive they are getting their money''s worth!

*sigh*

Hehe, ok, one of my favorite things in the entire world is BRUNCH. I love brunch like nothing else. Even better, a big hotel brunch buffet....and yes, sometimes those can be pricey, but I talk my bf into them, and he''ll get so annoyed that I go up to the buffet, fill up one plate, and just eat that plate, as he chows down three....its this whole, well its unlimited so i better make the most of it thing. and then he tells me its not worth it for me to go to them, but seriously, i love them. I''d rather pay more and have less food than pay more for food just so I could take it home or throw it out. I dunno, I like having a real portion and not feeling overwhelmed by the amount of food. Last night Iw as out to dinner with my bf and his parents and they chose cheesecake factory, so over that restaurant, but i humored them, got a salad and i at SO MUCH, and it didnt even look like I made a dent in it. I almost felt like I was being disrespectful because all of that food was thrown out that they bought for me.

Portion control is out of wack though. It is weird when you see what a portion is considered and what you are actually used to eating. When you''re used to eating larger portions, your stomach expands, so you need more to fill it...so you almost have to train yourself and let your stomach shrink so you eat less.

Milly, did you hear of the woman that did the McDonalds diet and lost almost 40 pounds? I''ll try to find the article.

 

[Kaleigh]

Exactly, the portions that they are serving now is ridiculous, it almost makes me loose my appetite!!!!

 

[MelissaSue]

this thread is old.. but I actually had this happen to me in ONE SEASON.. my size changed by TWO SIZES and I didn''t really loase that much weight.

I have two pairs of the SAME PANTS from Express. One is a size four and one is a size zero. The only difference is I bought the zeros probably 6 months after I bought the fours. I had lost a little weight, but when I put the two pairs of pants on, there is hardly ANY DIFFERENCE.. I don''t even think the difference of ONE size (maybe a half size?) let a lone two sizes.
Same thing happened to me with express Jeans. I have some pairs that are 6''s some that are 4s and some 2s.. the 6s I bought first..but I bought the 2s not too long after, again maybe 6 months.. and they all more or less fit the same, except the 6s get baggy a little quicker after you wear them a couple times. Its really crazy!
And my wedding gown is a 10..

 

[Mara]

I think I mentioned in some thread, not sure if it was this one, that in the 70s the average plate size in restaurants was 8" and now in the 90''s it was 12". And they fill that whole space with food. It''s scary actually. I also know people who have the mentality that they always have to eat all their food, drilled into them from childhood...thank goodness I never learned that one. The last thing anyone needs IMO is to be guilted into cleaning a 12" plate.

 

[MissAva]

He he. Yesterday I bought a London Fog Suede Jacket in a size SMALL!!!!! I have a 49" bust line not much small about me. But hey it was fun to call my older sister( who is bite size) and say I was in a small...

 

[sarita]

Pretty much whatever I could add to this thread has already been stated so I'll just throw my (at times redundant) 2 cents in.

Portion sizes are out of control here (US) and I agree that besides all the other reasons mentioned part of it is price too. If they give you a portion fit for a trough they can justify charging more. (Have you seen the pasta portions at some restaurants? I swear I think they use the whole box of pasta!) We aren't just getting fatter.. we seem to be spending more too.

Totally agree with the "smaller sizes for more expensive brands" bit. My mom and I realized this years ago reading In Style and People magazine where they would document celebrities dress sizes. I remember my mom going "No way is she a size 2!" and it was so true. The celebrity-worn and uber-expensive brands are all sized more generously, because I guess they figure giving rich clientele an ego boost comes with the price tag.

Recently in my boyfriend's last issue of Scientific American it was saying that research has shown that slightly overweight Americans are found to live longer than those who are not. It didn't elaborate a whole lot and we were thinking it probably something to do with when one becomes elderly and starts to decline in health/nutrition... the extra weight adding to longevitity overall.

Personally, I have always been thin, and could eat whatever I wanted without seeing the consequences in weight Within the last year though I have gained 10lbs (from 110-115 to 120-125) and seemigly abruptly. I remember going from "ok, these bottoms are a little snug" but knowing they were when I bought them to "God, I can't wear this!" I eat junk (although I do love healthy foods, I just don't cook much and junk is cheaper) and activity has been on a growing decline. I didn't expect to weigh 107 forever but am getting flabby (thighs) and I'm not even 23 yet!

Some of my juniors sized pantsuits are getting tight and I don't want to buy new ones when they fit fine like 6 months ago. I need to tone up and lose like 5 lbs but hate exercise.

 

[MissAva]

You could always do something fun like evening walks with your SO or hiking day trips. Or if you wanted to go a more uh, adult, route you could get those stip tease DVDs and burn some calories that way.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 8/17/2005 1:30:48 AM
Author: Mara

The last thing anyone needs IMO is to be guilted into cleaning a 12'' plate.

I should make that line my mantra - OMG!

At present I am working at a institutte that brings together collegues from Europe and the US. many of them moving back and forth regulary for several months at a time - not quite short business trips which do not require much adjustment of personal habits. Talking about the stuff of this thread (things like never knowing what size to ask for in a shop and gettng lost in the salad at a business lunch!) make allot of the conversaton.