Weight loss vs muscle gain

[KnottedYet]

My body monitor lets me know when I've burned enough calories by sending me a signal that says "gimme beer, steak, and broccoli!"

If I actually eat what I'm craving when I crave it, my weight stays healthy and my cholesterol behaves itself. Eating something else instead leads me down the primrose path to perdition... cuz then I've eaten some form of food (not always crap) but I'm still craving some other form of food, so I continue foraging the urban jungle and eat more of what I don't actually want while still seeking that holy trinity of beer, beef, and broccoli.

I did grow up on a hippie commune for a while (gets out her tie-dyed rompers) and we ate like kings. Incredible fresh food, fresh milk, fresh eggs, fresh meat. (canned, dried, and frozen in the winter) Our parents did crazy amounts of drugs and crime and worked crazy hard farming and caring for livestock, we kids often fended for ourselves and ran wild through the hills. We got into big trouble, but we always knew where there was food: in the garden, in the chicken coop. I firmly believe children foraging in the environs of a hippie commune leads to healthier food habits than children foraging in urban areas where easy-to-find food is usually fast food.

But as for the rest of what comes from growing up on a commune, I don't recommend it.

[Trek420]

I grew up on a farm. It was my dad's dream to have a farm, well actually to be a soil chemist in Israel but he met my Mom and there was a slight change of plans

I now know we were poor, I did not feel it then perhaps because we were rich in experiences and friends. But hot dang we were well fed with what grew on our farm (chickens and sheep), in the orchard and kitchen garden. What we didn't grow was traded with neighbors and friends: half side of your beef for a couple of our sheep, you pick walnuts and figs from us, we get to pick blueberries from you ...

Today with more stores and eateries favoring small local farms a small farm might be able to make a go of it, especially here. But as mechanization and large "industrial" chicken farms gained advantage the dream failed and my parents got "real jobs" though continued to garden always.

http://www.jewishchickenranchers.com/index.htm

As a kid I knew where food comes from, seeing it grown, picked, prepared. That has made a difference in how I feel about food.

I do feel that seeing food grown, especially for kids, even something as simple as a couple plants in a kitchen garden, taking them to a farm and/or farm markets, making the process from food to table an enjoyable experience can make a huge difference.

[Veronica]

I do feel that seeing food grown, especially for kids, even something as simple as a couple plants in a kitchen garden, taking them to a farm and/or farm markets, making the process from food to table an enjoyable experience can make a huge difference.

That's if you're a parent who actually wants to parent and has time to parent.

Veronica

[Bike Goddess]

Speaking of homegrown food, many of our schools have gardens for the kids. They learn how to grow delicious vegetables and fruits. Fortunately, we have some dedicated parents and other volunteers from the community who help with the maintenance and planting. The kids also learn to work together to produce a healthy alternative to all the fast food that surrounds us.

[Trek420]

That's if you're a parent who actually wants to parent and has time to parent.

Veronica

What? Parents should think about if they actually want kids and or have time/money/emotional stamina for them first? That's what teachers are for Just have the kids and survive till they're in public school

Oh boy, this thread's going to get locked fast

JK, V. You know Duck and my mutual Mom's a retired public school teacher, so's UK (niece), my aunt, uncle , brother ...

Teaching is the 2nd hardest job on the planet next to parenting and should be paid relative to the importance it has for our future.

Cooking from scratch with fresh, whole foods is fun, more nutritious, lower calorie and it's never too late to learn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFkVQ1ScBUI&feature=fvst

[Veronica]

I know you're tongue in cheek.

NPR had a report the other day about how obesity rates went down at schools when there was a focus on exercise and nutrition. But there was no mention of how their test scores were.

I'll continue to focus on setting a good example for my students. That's about all I can do. I was thrilled that a few of my kids actually cut back on their soda intake after just a few casual conversations with me. It amazed them that I always had water with my lunch - not a soda.

Veronica

[Crankin]

You know, when I think about it, my mom also bucked the trends of processed foods of the fifties and sixties. While I can't say we never had bad stuff, my mom made everything from scratch, and we sat down to dinner every night, even when my dad traveled (which was a lot). In the summer we always went to Mr. Valenti's farm stand to get our produce, often right before dinner. In fact, I remember Mr. Valenti driving the station wagon that took me to day camp (I guess he needed to make some extra cash). My parents also took me to different kinds of restaurants. Hence, I eat almost anything.
I hate it when people ask how I can cook a good meal after working all day. It isn't that hard. I make all of the fast recipes from Cooking Light or Food and Wine and plan the menu for 3-4 meals each week when we go shopping. I did the same thing when my kids were growing up and now they both like to cook/shop for food. Some of my friends actually fed their kids dinner in the car, as they were being schlepped to various activities .

[Trek420]

I know you're tongue in cheek.

whew

NPR had a report the other day about how obesity rates went down at schools when there was a focus on exercise and nutrition. But there was no mention of how their test scores were.

Yes, and since I hear that school funding is based on scores that matters more than kids health sometimes.

Perhaps schools with an "edible schoolyard", working with local 4H clubs, community garden, volunteers, parents etc may be able to combine lessons in science, biology, even math, history etc with experiencing and even cooking with "real food".

I'll continue to focus on setting a good example for my students. That's about all I can do. I was thrilled that a few of my kids actually cut back on their soda intake after just a few casual conversations with me. It amazed them that I always had water with my lunch - not a soda.

To some extent that's the best we all can do. Ride our bikes, be fabulous, maybe be an example to someone.