No Thanks, Don’t Supersize Me

I am coming to the conclusion that the phrase “less is more” is a pretty valuable statement.  De-clutter your house, less is more.   In a conversation or argument, with another, less is more.   When it comes to food and portion sizes, less is definitely more.

The supersizing of foods over the last few decades has been one of the contributing factors to the growing rates in obesity in our country.   Most fast food restaurants super-size everything, even the sodas.  For just $1 more you can have a feast, or so they said.  What they fail to mention is the fact that you are getting double calories as well, along with many other unhealthy ingredients. We are now a super-sized country with lots of lifestyle related diseases.  The United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, largely due to the resources given to treat well established lifestyle diseases and dysfunctions, as opposed to preventing the disease.  In the future it will be absolutely necessary for our country to embrace behavior changes and modifications to prevent lifestyle related diseases.

I am actually studying for another certification called The Medical Exercise Specialist Certification through The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a very reputable international certifying body. If I pass it I will let you know, if I don’t you will never hear another word about it from me.  Seriously, the book is at least 5 inches think, and the material if very complicated.  The ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Certification was developed to enable fitness professionals to collaborate with the healthcare community to support their client’s health and fitness goals.  A great place to start to help give individuals the support they need to make major lifestyle changes.

While studying for this certification I came across some great information.  It did a good job clarifying one of our main problems, larger than normal portion sizes. Let’s look at the following information.  Twenty years ago:

A bagel was 3 inches in diameter and had 140 calories. Today most bagels are  6 inches in diameter and has 350 calories

A cheeseburger had 333 calories, today it has 530 calories

A portion of spaghetti was 1 cup with sauce and had three small meatballs with 500 calories. Today portion sizes of spaghetti are 2 cups with sauce and 3 large meatballs with 1,025 calories

Soda used to be 6.5 ounces with 85, today they are 20 ounces and 300 calories. Not to mention the fact that they are full of sugar, artificial color and artificial ingredients.

French fries used to be 2.4 ounces and 210 calories, today they are 6.9 ounces and 610 calories.

Of course, I am not endorsing the above foods as healthy choices.   But it is a reality check for us concerning portion sizes and how they have evolved over the years.  Just because something is cheap does not mean we need to buy it and eat every bite.  This goes for home cooked meals as well.  Smaller portion sizes mean a smaller waistline, and a healthy lifestyle.

See you in the gym!