Everyday Systems

In 1980, people in the United States were much skinnier than they are today. You don't have to go to some far out time and place to find skinny people. You just have to eat (and move) like an American circa 1980.

What was 1980 like? People consumed a lot less skim milk and other virtuous diet food in 1980. McDonald's existed. People moved more as part of their daily activities and "exercised" less. They ate meals instead of snacking all day long. They ate a lot less sugar, both fake and real. Portion sizes were smaller.

1980 is obviously an arbitrary cutoff, but you get the point. It's close, it's not strange. Most of us here on this board can (or should be able to) remember 1980. Nor do you have to replicate the 1980 diet in every extraneous detail. No-s is all the time machine you need.

Reinhard

Sure... keep in mind, though, that while it's true that we are fatter, the concept of the "obesity epidemic" is a fabrication of the government. Its "BMI" does not take muscles into account, so athletes and actors are counted as obese and overweight. Here is an article on this:
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_det ... dline=2347

So be careful not to overblow the problem and fall into the propaganda trap. (can you tell I'm an anarchist? LOL)

I was only two days old when 1980 began.

Mr Tremblay: I agree with your assessment of BMI. I am a lot fitter and narrower around the waist than I was a few months ago and my BMI, which was fine before, now places mw in the overweight category.

Great post, Reinhard. I love when you remind us of these simple things that make all the difference. It really motivates me to stay on this track because it actually works...diet propaganda has been the culprit of my weight gain in the first place. Thanks again

BMI might not be a perfect metric (and note that I didn't actually use it), but there's no question we've gotten much, much fatter. While it might yield absurd results on an individual level, I don't think the BMI increase over the last couple decades is due to an unprecedented proliferation of Hollywood hunks and professional athletes. Look around you. BMI is an approximate, big picture way to quantify a phenomenon that is obviously taking place. It wasn't designed to account for every outlier, so it's not really a valid objection to say that it doesn't.

Reinhard

Sure, sure. I'm just saying that we have to be careful and differentiate between propaganda and reality.

actually, i was in highschool in the 1980's-- and as i think about it- there are a lot more overweight kids now, than there were in the '80's

... female clothing sizes have changed as well--what used to be a size 4
is now labeled as a size 0... i guess that is a reflection of what is going on in america these days

two things that i can immediately think of ( both of which i have been a victim to) are 1. the low fat diet craze 2. the low carb diet craze

... both of these promote endless snacking...

... when i first began seriously considering the idea of 3meals a day only, i started research on the internet and i have found 3 distinct communities that promote this idea 1. No S 2. OA and 3. the french ( french women don't diet, the fat fallacy, chic & slim...)

i'm sold on the idea 3 meals a day

snacking is evil, and so are all who promote it

1980!! A rockin year for me!!!

I was 13 and a little punk troublemaker with a punk rock hairdo and a jean jacket totally encrusted in Clash, Blockheads, Devo and various other band badges on it...

I walked everywhere, especially due to lack of drivers license...
Between the punk rock, new wave stuff and my discovery of French kissing, I think that was one of my very favorite years!!!

Reinhard was just a little guy, no bigger than my Richie is now
LOL...

I rarely drank soda and didn't eat too much candy either.. My family ate normal foods (not low fat low carb)..
But I did have emotional eating problems sometimes, yet I don't attribute them to larger societal influences..

Have fun today Yanks on board!
Peace and Love,
Deb

In 1980 I was 21 years old, and weighed 125 lbs. Heck, I was gorgeous! I absolutely agree that children were slimmer, it was rare to see an overweight child. And I didn't own a car, was living in Vancouver, British Columbia, and walked quite a bit. Plus I was into those high impact super aerobics classes. It was 75 minutes of go!go!go! I did that class 5 times/week. I was addicted to it. I also don't recall people eating between meals the way we do now. It seems like snacking anywhere anytime is the new mantra. Yep, I'm enjoying the 1980 diet, er, the No S diet!