Most people eat more than they realize

SHANNON SIMMONS

February 26, 2007

Question: Why does it seem that I have to work so hard at losing weight and yet, have friends that seem to be able to enjoy going out and eat whatever they want while they remain skinny? Am I just destined to be overweight?

Answer: We all have those friends who seem to eat whatever they want and they stay slim.

You probably feel like you eat very little and still struggle to lose weight. You are not alone.

I have heard so many people say, "I don't eat that much so why don't I lose weight?" The answer is that you eat more than you think.

Most people underestimate the amount of food that they are eating.

The National Weight Control Registry tracks people who maintain a loss of at least 30 pounds for at least a year. They found that when people have their food intake monitored, they eat much more than what they perceived. Many studies have shown that it is nearly impossible to be a really large person and not eat very much.

It is said that this difference between reality and perception is unconscious, and people really believe they are eating less.

The New England Journal of Medicine monitored nine women and one man who weighed, on average, nearly 190 pounds even though they insisted they only ate 1,000 calories a day. The results showed that the subjects were not eating 1,000 calories as they thought, but 2,000 calories. They also guessed that they were active enough to burn 1,000 calories a day when they were actually only burning 770 calories a day.

Many of us underestimate the amount of calories are in each serving of our meals or even more pronounced, our snack foods and beverages.

The glass of orange juice or the specialty coffee could be the difference in 10 to 20 pounds over a year.

So why do some people seem to easily eat what they want and others cannot?

The answer can also be found in the activity level of people. Are some people born to be skinny while others are born to be overweight? Not really. But there is some truth to this speculation.

While it seems that some are born to struggle with weight it is more likely that some are born to kick back in their recliner while watching TV while others cannot seem to sit still.

This personality type might be something we are born with or something we are taught. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is nearly unconscious physical activity that might make the difference between the slim and the heavy.

A hundred years ago, people typically burned 1,500 more calories a day than we do now. But in our age of convenience and technology, we are often taking the easy route -- the escalator instead of the stairs, going through the drive through instead of walking.

A study by Science took self-described couch potatoes -- 10 who were lean and 10 mildly obese -- and measured every body movement. They discovered that the leaner subjects burned about 350 calories more per day through NEAT that equated to 33 pounds in a year. Also take note of how much you are eating.

If you are one of those people who says, "I don't eat that much but I can't lose any weight," start writing it all down. This might seem time-consuming, but the results might help you lose that weight.

We all consume more than we think because snack foods have so many calories and we are so unconscious of our eating habits.

Try turning the television off while eating so that you can enjoy every bite.

Savor the process of food preparation and enjoyment. Try not to snack unconsciously.

As for your skinny friends? They might be more active than you.

Either way, instead of saying it's not fair or that you are born a certain way, take it upon yourself to make positive change for your own health.

Maybe it does seem harder for you to lose weight, but when you do, you feel so great. Aim to live a healthy life and the weight will start to come off.

Source: http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../702260301/1064

I was one of those people that underestimated the amount of food that I ate everyday. I didn’t think I was eating very much, but I was. :) I was also eating the wrong types of food in excessive quantities. Journaling helps me stay within the proper range of calories, although I have to periodically make sure I monitor myself by making sure that my guesstimates of a measure of a teaspoon or a cup haven’t gotten out of control. I do this by actually using the measuring spoon and cup to stay in check. :) I also try to keep moving, to burn more calories. I believe the Holy Spirit has directed me to monitor myself in this way so I could have a successful journey of maintaining my weight loss for almost 4 years. I’m not the only one who God has helped to maintain their weight loss, and I won’t be the last. I’m really looking forward to hearing more about the “Grace” family’s continued success on their individual weight management journeys. :)

I absolutely agree with the article. My way of inhaling food led me to believe I wasn't eating that much. I am delivered from that kind of thinking. I am not sure that I have consciously slowed down, but I am no longer eating rapidly to get in as much food as I can before the "full signal" clicks on. The Holy Spirit has taught me Inspiration eating where I cease at the "satisfied signal." That is so contrast that I don't even know if I could explain it. :)
Thanks for faithfully sharing articles and yourself, Annette.

Dear Editor, I enjoy sharing articles, when time permits. :)

I wanted to let you know that you are doing such a fantastic job in the challenge, with over 16 pounds lost. Keep up the SUPER work. :god:

Thanks, Annette. I finally hear the Truth. :spirit:

Excellent article Annette as usual. It's absolutely true and it's so easy to "forget" what one has eaten. Not to mention all the bites, licks and tastes consumed.

I hope that you are doing well and managing to keep your head above water with all of your activity. Hmmm? Are you swimming?

I think of you often and still find you an inspiration. I'll get there one of these days, the Lord said so!

Dear Editor,

Amen!!!

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me…” (PSALM 43:3)

Denise,

:th: I'm glad you enjoyed the article. I am managing, with the Lord’s help, of course. :) I’m in the process of learning how to get the important things done, while walking in the fruit of the spirit and staying balanced. :)

I’m glad you find me an inspiration. :) You and my “Grace” family inspire me too, because I see the light of Jesus shining through you all. I pray that the light of Jesus shines through me also in a way that will not cause people to look up to me in an unhealthy way, but that they see Christ in me and that they see what He can accomplish through each one of us, because you know God really loves us all just the same and does not show favoritism. :) In fact, we all who are children in the family of God have the love, strength and power of the Lord available to us all to accomplish all the goals and purposes He has for us…we just only need to open our hearts and receive. :)

:god: ALL :ghug:

Annette,

IF ONLY we could put a snapshot of ourselves BEFORE we met the Lord and add the AFTER shot of His Work in our life thus far, what a story we would all have to tell. I know that most people in my past that I haven't seen in years would be amazed at the transformation and what a lovely PICTURE of Him they would see.

For me, it isn't that I have you on a pedestal, it's that you give me hope that maintaining is indeed possible. Just because one meets their lifetime goal doesn't mean they have to go back to the weight they were. Maintaining lifetime is possible and here's an example, Annette!

A word of advice where it hasn't been asked: (take it or leave it so to speak) make sure that what you think is important and what the Lord thinks is important are the same thing. Everything else is just stuff!

Denise,

I’m so glad that I give people hope. :) It just goes to show you what we can accomplish when we trust in the Lord to give us the strength to face and overcome any and every situation in our life. It was just in my heart to mention that I hope people did not look up to me in an unhealthy way, because I have personally fallen victim to that, when in the past I have looked up to people, because of something that they did or said, and I didn’t see that behind it all was the work of the Lord. That’s what I was trying to get across. :) I personally have looked up to people in an unhealthy way, be it a weight loss maintainer, a diet guru, or a pastor, or a teacher, or my husband and they all, unlike Christ, unfortunately have their shortcomings. I have now come to realize that it’s important to fix my eyes on Jesus.

HEBREWS 12:2-3
3 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

It’s definitely wonderful to know that God uses people as examples of those who do admirable things and who walk in faith and we follow those examples like the apostle Paul, Abraham, Esther, and other wonderful people mentioned in the bible, as they follow Christ.

1CORINTHIANS 10:32-11:1
32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God
33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

We also have examples in our everyday life, like our parents, pastors, our spouses and other mentors. I wasn’t trying to imply that you specifically had me on a pedestal; I was merely speaking in general, because that was something that has been on my heart, recently. Besides, based on your posts, you seem pretty well grounded in the things of the Lord. I have no concerns with you.:)

We both know that there are people on this site that have known me from my posts for years and there are some that are new to this site, and there are still others that just casually drop in and they don’t know very much about me or the Lord. I just wanted it to be clear that in every personal victory or achievement that I accomplish, I want it to be said of me that my source of strength and hope was in Christ.

What I do want and pray is for all of us to walk hand in hand with the Lord on our journey here on this earth and on our weight management journey, because He has all the strength we need, all the knowledge and wisdom we need, and He is definitely always present to help and guide us in His wonderful love. :)

So true Denise :), you are such a very sweet person. :god:

Well, how about we keep our soapboxes and kick over any pedestals we or others might put up for ourselves. Sound like a plan to you? I was just letting you know that things were okay between you and me as far as I was concerned. I learned along time ago not to follow anyone other than Jesus. I learned the hard way.

Briefly, I experienced a pedestal situation once too (not that I was on a pedestal) others and I had a particular teacher/teaching on a pedestal. It was weight-loss related that started out what we believed was genuine and sincere but turned out to be the biggest deception. It hurt a lot of folks and a lot of churches. Nonetheless, I had a dream one night that I was talking to a person who was in the spotlight. They were on a little platform and the spotlight followed that person when they got off the platform. The person had these wolf-blue eyes. The Lord revealed in a dream to me, where I was getting off in my beliefs and quickly had me put the focus back on Him where it belonged. I'm so thankful that He did.

It took a while to recover but I and so many others did too.

I believe that you are a very kind and tender-hearted before the Lord child of God and often I see Jesus in you when you post.

Denise,

Thank you for your kindhearted uplifting words. :) I do want your continuing support and encouragement along with that of my other sisters and brothers here at “Grace”, while we, like you said, keep our focus on Jesus. :)

:rain: ALL :ghug: