Bryan's observations about portion size are on point, and CJane and I have started to split portions, with the same effect Bryan notes - no sense of being underfed at all. I don't mind the split-plate charge.
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When I was college age, I could literally eat all the food I could stand to cram into my gullet, and gain no weight over my nominal (and "nominal" was not fat). Such is no longer the case (and has not been for some time), though, and habits are hard to change. It is difficult to change learned behavior - I love big, hearty food, the satisfying sensation of eating a big, thick burger, a rich, butter-and-sugar-dripping cinnamon roll.
On the other hand, I dislike the sense of being stuffed that so often accompanies eating even remotely like I have traditionally done, and I am trying to effect change... with limited success.
Eat less and exercise. Sounds simple, doesn't it?
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Bill's story about the neighbor driving down the driveway to pick up the mail would sound ridiculous - in fact, it does sound ridiculous - but I've seen similar and worse.
Likewise here. College diet included almost everything.
A couple of factors:
1) Our metabolisms slow as we get older. Other changes occur in the body chemistry that affect how we metabolize food.
2) Portion sizes have gotten larger. "All you can eat" and "more food is better" dominate restaurant thinking. Compare the portions you get at an average restaurant here vs one in Europe.
3) Desk jobs and lack of exercise. 'nuff said. And as we head toward all-the-time-working with mobile devices, it gets worse.
4) Fat and sugar taste good. They stimulate the body into wanting more. Food producers know this - it adds to the portion size problem above. Stimulate demand by making the food taste "good" with fat and sugars.
5) TV, computers, games, other devices: you're not out exercizing, walking, exploring, flying, etc if you're sitting in a chair watching TV or on the computer.
6) Exercise is not "easy". It requires effort. Yet the modern population is constantly bombarded with messages that one should expend less effort or have things done *for* them. We want (or have become convinced to want) someone else to do things for us, a guaranteed utopian state.
7) Grains can be quite good, and they don't need to be bleached white bread or refined grains. Quinoa is a grain, but largely protien (not carbs). Brown & Wild Rice are grains. Corn can be considered a grain, but contains sugars. Those are healthy grains, but like everything else need to be eaten in moderation. "Good" grains can lower cholesterol and improve blood pressure (as part of a good diet).
Finally - this thread seems to have become a free-for-all against overweight folks. Rather than tossing insults, why not come up with ideas on how to solve the problem?
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