Ever wonder just how fat, or thin, you are compared to the rest of the world? Well now, thanks to research compiled by a global team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, you can find out. If you click on this link you can input your own personal data, come up with your BMI and compare it to the rest of the world.
One of my clients just got back from a trip to Europe and was shocked by several things. First, she said that compared to Americans, there seemed to be less obesity by far. She said the portions she was served in restaurants were much smaller than in America and people ordered fresh fruit for dessert instead of the cakes, cookies, brownies and ice cream that we are used to in the U.S. She also noticed that there was much more physical activity built into the lifestyle. People walked, or bicycled, to their destinations far more often than they do in America. She also said the food was fresh, local and much less processed than here in the States.
Since my specialty is eating disorders and weight control, as an American, I know I am living in the "belly of the beast." We are constantly bombarded with advertising for cheap, high-fat/high-salt/high-sugar foods that may promote both weight gain and addiction. The average meal at McDonald's (one Big Mac and one large order of fries) is 1,050 calories. In my experience -- both professional and personal -- most adult women only need between 1,300 and 1,500 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight.
Recently my son, who is 15 and very health-conscious, was telling me I needed to let people know about my book. The problem he said, was that I couldn't tell them the truth about weight loss. I asked what he meant and he said, "If you tell people the truth, they won't buy your book. Your book tells them that it's possible but it takes constant work and it's hard. No one wants to hear that. Tell them that it's fast, easy and that you have the 'secret' and voila, you will sell a million books." I love the 15-year-old brain for its simplicity and its ability to see the truth. Of course he's right but I can't do that. I can't lie to people just to sell something. Plenty of others are willing to do that, but not me.
I am maintaining a fifty pound weight loss, and after 22 years, I can tell you that it still takes work. I can also tell you, that it is worth it!