[Mari]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/louise..._b_195676.html

David Kessler (MD at Yale) has a book out about how the good industry supplies and packages food
that excites the neuro circuitry in our brain. He says knowledge is power.

DK: Fifty years ago, the tobacco industry, confronted with the evidence that smoking causes cancer, decided to deny the science and deceive the American public. Now, we know that highly palatable foods—sugar, fat, salt—are highly reinforcing and can activate the reward center of the brain. For many people, that activation is sustained when they're cued. They have such a hard time controlling their eating because they're constantly being bombarded—their brain is constantly being activated.

For decades the food industry was able to argue, "We're just giving consumers what they want." Now we know that giving them highly salient stimuli is activating their brains. The question becomes what do they do now?

If a bear walked in here right now, you would stop listening to me and you'd focus on that bear. We're all wired to focus on the most highly salient stimuli.
For a lot of people, that highly salient stimulus is food. It could be alcohol, it could be drugs, it could be gambling, but for many people, it's food. It's not just people who are obese, or overweight.
Even for people that are healthy weight, food activates the neural circuits of their brains, and they have this conditioned and driven behavior we call conditioned hypereating.

This guy has some youtube videos explaining his research.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/200...marion_nestle/

Nutritionist Marion Nestle (prof of nutrition at NYU) has a similiar message in her books about the food industry

You begin with some simple health recommendations: eat less, exercise more and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Why is the American food industry so at odds with those goals?

Because they don't want us eating less, of course.
The American food supply produces 3,900 calories a day for every man, woman and child in the country. That's twice as much food as we need.
So, if you're in the food business, you've got to figure out a way to sell it.
The choices are to get people eating your product instead of somebody else's, to get people to eat more in general, or to raise prices.
In that situation, obesity is collateral damage.

What are some strategies food companies use to make us eat more?

Larger portions. If you put a larger portion of food in front of somebody, they will eat more, even if they're not hungry, even if they're on a diet, even if they're a nutritionist. They're going to eat more. That overrides some kind of internal control.

Having food available is incentive to eat more -- just having it around.
And in fact, there's research that shows the closer the food is to you physically, the more you'll eat of it.

She also says that consumers should be aware of what is being marketed and sold to us.


M.

[bizi]

I have been eating my lunch sometimes at a local health food store.
they use grain fed beef, free range chickens, organic fruits and veggies.
I had 1 c. collard greens today in chicken stock, 1 c.steamed brocolli, 3 small halves of stuffed bell peppers with soy cheese and brown rice, 1 1/2 c.fresh fruit (mostly apples and pears) salad.
Am very full. I over ate, but that is a problem of mine.
I will have to eat a very light meal tonight!
Breakfast was 1/2 c cottage cheese, 1/2 cup blue berries, 2 big straw berries and coffee with french vanilla creamer. a protein water drink 50...all of that is about 925 calories for the day. I am shooting for 1300 calories aday. Since food is a major factor in my life...I am obcessing over dieting....so please bear with me.thank you
bizi

[Mari]

Beth,

That sounds great.

It is 100% ok to obsess over your new plan.
I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting since February. I think it is necessary to obsess about the diet.
I completely understand that.
M.

[Mari]

Hi, Beth,

Here is what I ate Thursday:

--2 cups blueberry soy yogurt


--container of hummus mixed with can of green beans
--large bowl of steamed broccoli topped with spag sauce from a jar


Late night sandwich made out of the following:
--2 smallish pieces of toasted millet bread
--1.5 tablespoons of macadamia nut butter
--1 tablespoon of raw honey


I'm under points / calories for the day -- weight watchers discourages that. I'll eat more tomorrow.

I'm working on adding veggies and fruits. Each week I will do a little more.

M.

(I'm still eating mostly soft foods.)

[bizi]

Mari, good for you for being under points!
I have stayed around 1,300 for the day all week so am happy about that. Almost made a big no no with avacado one cup=386 calories that is a whole one, hubby would have split it but still I knew it was high but not that high!
beth
It has very good fats though!
I am still eating a little chocolate bar at night.
Last night I actually was able to have a bloody mary.
no such luck tonight!
I miss my blueberry beer!!!!!!!!!!

[Mari]

Dear Bizi,

I love avocados too!

It sounds like you feel good about following your eating plan.

M.

[bizi]

Thank you mari,
I do feel good about following my diet. I have already lost a couple of pounds but you know they say that is water wieght...so I am waiting to see how my scrubs feel. I was pouring into them and it was
embarrassing
I love hummus too!
off to go to the store to buy some cantelope and blueberrys and other fruits.
beth

[DiMarie]

I wish I could increase activity. I can't really think of any food to cut out, except to keep dh from buying chips and nacho's.

We have a lot of fruit, I eat cereal for brunch. snack on fruits.
Veggies with supper.

But age, thyroid, heriditary, baby at age 41 and I was never skinny,. I was always about a 10, then a 12, went from a 14 and now 18 over night at 41 after Katie was born. I HATE IT!

I want at least a size 14 back...Big boobs and bottom, legs heavier,

I can't walk much the treadmill is there , but my back hurts so bad.
Maybe a recumbdant bike again...

No motivation either
Tired, depressed, too much to do syndrome.
di

[bizi]

sounds like di you could use a hug...
((((((((HUG))))))))
beth
the recumbant bike sounds good...do you have one?

[Dmom3005]

Hi all

I'm in a weird frame.

I've been eating fruits different daily.
Tonight its going to be strawberries.

I had a chicken strip for lunch. I wasn't very hungry.

And I've had mashed potatoes and green peas with cheese for supper
and will have strawberries soon.

I am just not hungry its so hot here.

I am trying to increase my eating.

Donna