Over time it seems as though our portions at restaurants and at home have become “super sized.” Portions sizes in the 50’s verses what they are now have changed so much. Yet, we use dish washers, car washes, we hire maids to clean and even the washing of our clothes is done by machine. The evolution of technology has actually caused us to move less, yet we eat more. So who is responsible for our ever growing portion sizes? Could it be that in an effort to get us to eat out, restaurants promise more for our money? By chasing the best deal on food, are we altering our size, and in most cases, our health?
Why Are 2 out of 3 Americans Overweight? Are we a nation of overeaters? Consider this: The average restaurant meal has about 1,400 calories, and the average American eats 3,700 calories a day!
Over time, we become overweight, and our bodies actually require more calories to feel satisfied. This is because a “normal” amount of food intake will no longer send the required messages to the brain that sufficient calories have been consumed to maintain proper body functions. By the time we realize there is a problem, we are biologically conditioned to eat too much.
So if you’ve ever felt like your appetite is out of control or wondered why you don’t have the willpower to stick with a diet, now you know why. It’s not a sign of weakness on your part – it’s the way your body is hardwired (source).
This research seems to make us think that if you over eat now, and are over weight, then you are doomed. However, sometimes knowing what is happening to your body allows you to make better choices in the long run. Here is a good rule of thumb (that most don’t follow)… if you are trying to lose weight then it is NORMAL to be a little hungry when you go to bed at night. Some think that in order to sleep well you must be pleasantly stuffed. Over eating at night can actually take away from your sleep in some cases, due to the fact that you are expending a lot of energy to digest food. This can actually disturb your sleep instead of aid it. If you are going to eat out, try cutting your portion sizes in half. This is an easy way to avoid over eating while out with family and friends.
Adria Ali
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