Waist Land - Has anyone read it?

[Amanda76]

Thought it would be a fun way to spend one of he upcoming chilly weekends. LOL I'm interested in the "why we are the way we are" aspect of the book more than anything else. Is it interesting reading or no?

And for those who don't know about the book:

Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett tackles the obesity and fitness crisis from an evolutionary standpoint. In the modern jungle of burgers, couches, and remote controls, obesity is an enormous and growing epidemic. Weight-loss books and diet gurus urge us to "listen to our bodies," but our instincts are designed for the African savannah, not food courts. The sugary and fatty foods that we, as hunter-gatherers, are programmed to forage used to be hard to come by. Now they're as close as the vending machine down the hall.

Radical changes are necessary and, fortunately, are biologically easier than small or gradual changes in diet. Barrett tells us how to reprogram our bodies, break food addictions, and ignore our attraction to "supernormal stimuli"?artificial creations that appeal to our instincts more than the natural objects they mimic. Barrett delves into scientific research?from animal ethology to evolution?to show the disastrous direction in which our instincts have led us, and how, using our intellect, we can get back on course.

[Zenree]

Thought it would be a fun way to spend one of he upcoming chilly weekends. LOL I'm interested in the "why we are the way we are" aspect of the book more than anything else. Is it interesting reading or no?

And for those who don't know about the book:

Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett tackles the obesity and fitness crisis from an evolutionary standpoint. In the modern jungle of burgers, couches, and remote controls, obesity is an enormous and growing epidemic. Weight-loss books and diet gurus urge us to "listen to our bodies," but our instincts are designed for the African savannah, not food courts. The sugary and fatty foods that we, as hunter-gatherers, are programmed to forage used to be hard to come by. Now they're as close as the vending machine down the hall.

Radical changes are necessary and, fortunately, are biologically easier than small or gradual changes in diet. Barrett tells us how to reprogram our bodies, break food addictions, and ignore our attraction to "supernormal stimuli"?artificial creations that appeal to our instincts more than the natural objects they mimic. Barrett delves into scientific research?from animal ethology to evolution?to show the disastrous direction in which our instincts have led us, and how, using our intellect, we can get back on course.

Have not read it -- but the exerpt has me intrigued.

I am fascinated by the reasoning of how commercialism/mass production has fattened up our society -- but honestly, I'm not one to buy the "advertising and bad ingredients made us fat" --- ppl that consume fast food on a daily basis and do not do any form of exercise are going to get fat and have many health-related issues...period.

One simply needs to make the decision to NOT participate in eating poorly --- stop blaming McDonald's and the food processing industries for this countries surge in obesity. Last time I checkd, clean foods are still available in every super-market I've ever shopped in.

[Tiffany_P]

I've never read it, but I'd be interested in hearing his ideas on reprograming and breaking food addictions. If you read it, let us know how it is!

[Amanda76]

Have not read it -- but the exerpt has me intrigued.

I am fascinated by the reasoning of how commercialism/mass production has fattened up our society -- but honestly, I'm not one to buy the "advertising and bad ingredients made us fat" --- ppl that consume fast food on a daily basis and do not do any form of exercise are going to get fat and have many health-related issues...period.

One simply needs to make the decision to NOT participate in eating poorly --- stop blaming McDonald's and the food processing industries for this countries surge in obesity. Last time I checkd, clean foods are still available in every super-market I've ever shopped in.

Do you think that, maybe, it's the advertising that has made people think it's acceptable to eat those things on a daily basis, though? I think "value sizing" has a lot to do with it because people don't know what a serving size should look like. Not to mention all the organizations/social standards out there that support bad habits.

It seems to me that most people know surprisingly little about nutrition. Schools aren't really teaching it anymore...or...I'm not sure public schools ever really were. I went to a private school until I was in 5th grade and health was a big part of the curriculum (everything from hygiene to being active to eating correctly). My daughter says she doesn't remember it being addressed very much. Not enough to drill things into her head from an early age, anyway. If you have a few generations of parents without enough information to make what should be logical choices, it becomes very easy for them to see things marketed as lowfat (snackwells!) and wholegrain (fruity pebbles!) as healthy and base their diets off them without taking other nutritional considerations into account.

I've never read it, but I'd be interested in hearing his ideas on reprograming and breaking food addictions. If you read it, let us know how it is!

An idea I've heard expressed so far as what the book will put in your head is that "alcoholics don't get a cheat day." I guess that gives you a bit of an idea of where the author will be going with breaking addictions...I already agree with that bit of it based on my own experiences, but am certainly not as strict about cheats as I'd expect a recovering alcoholic to be when it comes to avoiding their triggers! Might depend on how addicted a person is to junk as to how strict you've gotta be, though.

I got to thinking about how busy I'm gonna be over the next few months and now I don't think I'll be able to read it until the beginning of the year.

[Deborah_Lyn]

This sounds really interesting book. Emotional eatting - where carbs etc. hit the pleasure center of the brain was something I had heard before. I had not heard of this before, but it makes sense. Evolution and eatting seems very reasonable especially because humans ate a certian way for 1000s of generations. I know when I added more fruit ( raisins, apples)/nuts, my body responded better than ever and my stomache receeded quiet a bit.

[Zenree]

Do you think that, maybe, it's the advertising that has made people think it's acceptable to eat those things on a daily basis, though? I think "value sizing" has a lot to do with it because people don't know what a serving size should look like. Not to mention all the organizations/social standards out there that support bad habits.

Yes I do believe advertising plays some part in it -- as well as "value sizing" -- I mean, essentially, who wouldn't want MORE for their money?

With that said, I think ppl need to take responsibility for their food consumption-- just because it has a pretty box or a catchy jingle, doesn't mean you should buy it. Now mind you, I worked in the advertising industry for over 15 yrs -- so I'm jaded to all the commericalism. In fact, if I see it on TV -- chances are, I'm NOT buying it! LOL

You know that saying ..."ignorance is no excuse for not knowing the law" --- well same holds true about nutrition/exercise. Ppl need to educate themselves - take the initiative and stop blaming others for their poor choices. I'm certain the food processing industries would change their marketing ploys if ppl stopped buying the crap foods they are pushing!

[Tiffany_P]

An idea I've heard expressed so far as what the book will put in your head is that "alcoholics don't get a cheat day."

Interesting! That's pretty different from the moderate approach most nutritionists take. Alcoholics don't get a cheat day, but they do relapse from time to time. I'm picturing carb-o-holics passed out with an empty box of oreos and doritos next to them, because naturally, if you have one Oreo, you've "screwed up" and you might as well eat the whole box. Hmm... I guess I need to read it before passing judgement though.

[Amanda76]

This sounds really interesting book. Emotional eatting - where carbs etc. hit the pleasure center of the brain was something I had heard before. I had not heard of this before, but it makes sense. Evolution and eatting seems very reasonable especially because humans ate a certian way for 1000s of generations. I know when I added more fruit ( raisins, apples)/nuts, my body responded better than ever and my stomache receeded quiet a bit.

I actually have a lot of interest in this because of my mom...who is an "emotional eater," I think. She won't quite admit to it but I think it was because of a weight loss group she belonged to that she ended up not wanting to associate herself with because she didn't quite relate to the experiences of the people there.

Yes I do believe advertising plays some part in it -- as well as "value sizing" -- I mean, essentially, who wouldn't want MORE for their money?

With that said, I think ppl need to take responsibility for their food consumption-- just because it has a pretty box or a catchy jingle, doesn't mean you should buy it. Now mind you, I worked in the advertising industry for over 15 yrs -- so I'm jaded to all the commericalism. In fact, if I see it on TV -- chances are, I'm NOT buying it! LOL

You know that saying ..."ignorance is no excuse for not knowing the law" --- well same holds true about nutrition/exercise. Ppl need to educate themselves - take the initiative and stop blaming others for their poor choices. I'm certain the food processing industries would change their marketing ploys if ppl stopped buying the crap foods they are pushing!

I agree with you completely so far as people needing to take responsibility goes. People would get so much further with their efforts if they truly would! But I also think that at least partially because of the decades of such advertising, people simply don't know they're eating that badly. Or, it at least helps them believe what they want--that it takes more work for them than everyone else to be "in shape." *Good* information about health and fitness just isn't as readily available and when you're starting with less knowledge than what I feel I received in elementary school...Yikes! Where do you start? It's frustrating for someone who was never taught how to eat properly to begin with to have to sort through all the infomercials and bs to realize it really is as simple as "sticking to the outside aisles" (not quite, but you get the point) of your grocery store.

Interesting! That's pretty different from the moderate approach most nutritionists take. Alcoholics don't get a cheat day, but they do relapse from time to time. I'm picturing carb-o-holics passed out with an empty box of oreos and doritos next to them, because naturally, if you have one Oreo, you've "screwed up" and you might as well eat the whole box. Hmm... I guess I need to read it before passing judgement though.

I didn't read that this person is a nutritionist, but a psychologist. More than being about what proper nutrition is, I think the book is going to address why people (in general, not just dieters) are so out of control in recent history.

[___Lisa___]

Thankyou for bringing this Book to topic. It's 4th on my list of must-reads. I have just begun reading Good Calories Bad Calories, and man, what an eye opener. I can't even believe the modern world is so backwards when it comes to the human body! We had our eating pretty right up untill the 50's and 60's when processed, mass produced EASY food was invented. It all went to $hit from there.

So yeah, It'd be nice to hear an oppinion of someone who's read Waist Land.

[WrkAhoiq]

I'm going to have to agree with the camp stating people should take responsibility for themselves. Advertising/Marketing is just a pretty name for another used car sales man. Just because the local dealership puts a big purple gorilla out in front of his establishment to catch your attention and encourage you to buy from him doesn't mean you go rush to buy the cheapest car from him. So why in God's name do people do that to their bodies?

Do you not go do your own research on major purchases before buying? But when you buy from walmart and the $5 piece of junk breaks do you spend $3 in gas to take it back? No. Do you buy that piece of junk again? No. But we do that to our bodies. To complain about advertising making us CHOOSE to buy fast food is silly. On the same note we've got skinny fat anorexic coked out models proliferating our media. One would think that would encourage an underweight population. However that just isn't the case is it?

You choose to live your life how you choose to live your life. Unless of course you live in China, &/Or North Korea. But then again I guess if that's your home nation you've got bigger concerns than your body fat %

[Amanda76]

Thankyou for bringing this Book to topic. It's 4th on my list of must-reads. I have just begun reading Good Calories Bad Calories, and man, what an eye opener. I can't even believe the modern world is so backwards when it comes to the human body! We had our eating pretty right up untill the 50's and 60's when processed, mass produced EASY food was invented. It all went to $hit from there.

So yeah, It'd be nice to hear an oppinion of someone who's read Waist Land.

It's like the quote, "Try organic food...or as your great-grandparents called it, 'FOOD!'" LOL

I'm going to have to agree with the camp stating people should take responsibility for themselves. Advertising/Marketing is just a pretty name for another used car sales man. Just because the local dealership puts a big purple gorilla out in front of his establishment to catch your attention and encourage you to buy from him doesn't mean you go rush to buy the cheapest car from him. So why in God's name do people do that to their bodies?

Do you not go do your own research on major purchases before buying? But when you buy from walmart and the $5 piece of junk breaks do you spend $3 in gas to take it back? No. Do you buy that piece of junk again? No. But we do that to our bodies. To complain about advertising making us CHOOSE to buy fast food is silly. On the same note we've got skinny fat anorexic coked out models proliferating our media. One would think that would encourage an underweight population. However that just isn't the case is it?

You choose to live your life how you choose to live your life. Unless of course you live in China, &/Or North Korea. But then again I guess if that's your home nation you've got bigger concerns than your body fat %

I haven't gotten the idea that the book has that much to do with advertising. I'm sure it'll be in there as part of what's caused "us" to get so off course. But with it being so logical that we not respond to it, there is something within us that causes a strong draw to things we should obviously avoid. That's what I think will make the book interesting...explaining the reasons it's so easy to let food control us.

[medusa11]

I have not read it but am going to look for it after the gym today, sounds very interesting.

[Swiss64]

I'm reading it right now, but I'm only on chapter 3. So far, excellent and very interesting!