The British are good at cakes and rubbish at proper eating
Two years ago I was living with my sister in NYC, attending Weight Watchers and attending to my ailing mother. The pounds just slid off me. Now I'm back running my company in the UK and trying to get back on track. Weight Watchers over here is ludicrous. Instead of a truly supportive environment and a company that teaches their moderators to use really advanced techniques like NLP, and behavioral modification, the British are saying it's hard isn't it to put down that piece of cake, ain't it dearie?' We know it's hard, that's why we're here. Say something useful, for God's sake!
There are a growing number of low fat choices in prepared foods but huge gaps in the market exist for things that really helped when I was living in NY. Vegetarian sausages that were truly low fat and low calorie. Low calorie pancake syrup that tasted great. Low fat cool whip. Things like these helped me over the hump on difficult days. They just don't exist over here.
On the positive side, whole foods here are greatly superior to America. No modified mule eyeball genes in the strawberries without a good solid warning label. Great tasty fruits, lots of green veg. However, protein is hugely expensive with a pound of fresh tuna steak at roughly 32 dollars a pound and 2 half chicken breasts at 6.
I have no support here and the stresses of my life make having a takeaway after a devastating day at work hard to give up. Still on this sunny Saturday morning I am going to get control over my eating and start moving in the right direction again.
My hope is I can find intelligent, considered support on this site. I do need some help. To hear some good stories about people in similar situations learning to cope. I miss home. I miss our endless optimism. Do not misunderstand me. The British are alot more laid back than us, alot more mentally healthful about the body image crap that American consumer culture foists on especially women, but they also have this fatalism; This 'Crab in the bucket' mentality that lays like a blanket over the whole culture. It's like this. If someone is striving to succeed, to change their life, the British will pull you back down into the bucket. Because none of the crabs in the bucket likes to see one escape.
It is terribly energy consuming to fight this pervasive attitude and try to contol portion sizes as well. So, please tell me good American stories of success and achievement and remind me that everything is possible.
You are right ...some things are expensive here but boy I just don't agree with your "crab in a bucket nonsense"- you can't paint the whole of the u.k. the same way!
There are lots of positive folk here too!
If a british person was to generalize about the whole of the USA like you have done about us you would be offended..
Disgraceful post and attitude..
If you don,t like it... Go Home.
I can't tell you an American story because I'm living in Africa. But I nearly fell over laughing at how quickly you've picked up British slang like 'rubbish', and how true it was. I put on masses of weight when I visited Britain, but it may have had something to do with the relative I was staying with, who was obese and seemed to want to force me into being the same way by ignoring my protests that she was dishing me too much food and then forcing me to have seconds, too. Have you seen the series 'Little Britain'? There's a running comedy skit about a group called 'Fat Fighters' where this huge lady (actually a man in drag) insults the members, tries to persuade them to live on lettuce and dust, eats huge cakes in front of them, shares way too much of her personal life and then tricks them into eating cream when they actually do lose weight.
To avoid takeaways, I've found it helpful to cook in bulk and freeze it in individual portions. I love lentils: I put a can into pasta sauce with tomato and butternut, or make dhal and have it on brown rice. That helps, because they're probably the cheapest protein around. Tofu is also cheap if you buy it in Asian areas (in SA, it's literally 25 times cheaper in Chinatown than in long-life form in a supermarket and works out at 40p per kilogram!). It's very comforting in miso soup (boil water, stir in a tablespoon or two of miso, add matchsticks of carrots, chopped spring onion and chunks of raw tofu, and serve. Kinda like chicken soup for the vegetarian soul). When I visited Britain I bought whatever low-fat protein was on offer that week. Also, there's no shame in shopping at Lidl;p
One thing I noticed about living in Britain is that there's no longer an obligation to finish what's on your plate (except when visiting older people). That was really weird for me coming from a colony that got its 'finish your vegetables' manners FROM Britain. About the 'crab in a bucket' mentality, I think that it's true to an extent, but there's also just an aversion towards anything that's seen as bragging. So it's ok to lose weight as long as you don't talk about it. It's a mixed blessing: on the one hand, a little less individualism can mean a little less stomping on one another to reach the top. But on the other hand, it means less support when you try to improve yourself.
edit: There's actually a lot of optimism in Britain, just in a different way to America. Instead of blowing trumpets and saying 'look at us, we're so great', British optimism shows up best when something goes wrong. It involves stoically trudging through cold grey rain, seemingly unaffected, and then when someone gives you a cup of tea, your whole face lights up and you go "ooh, lovely" and everything is ok in the world. It takes a little getting used to, but it can become very comforting. I think Bill Bryson writes about it in 'Notes from a Small Island'.
I do also visit the UK every month or so (my bf lives there). I find the UK a dieters paradise compared to germany. There are so many healthier options than here, where low fat salami can mean as much as 24% fat, and vegetarian sausages have 17% fat (normal meaty bratwurst only have 15%).
There are so many relatively healthy options for ready meals in the UK, you can stock up, and there is no need to order takeaway. In Germany if I feel lazy or am busy I have no real options (ready meals are another phenomen in germany that are still in thier infancy, and most stores close at 8pm, and on Sundays)
I'm not american, I'm used to self-deprecation and coping with the tall poppy syndrome (what we call the crab in the bucket thing in Oz). I agree with fruitysalad that there are lots of positive folks in the UK, they just don't need to shout about it all the time. While the american style of encouragement is great, there is also alot to be said for people who don't need so much external validation.
Sorry I can't provide any positive stories from the US, but I hope I have put a new perspective on you situation. Things will get better, you said the sun is shining, that is a start (here it is raining, again). Have a good day and good luck!
It's funny how the Britains that took offense at my comments totally ignored the positive things I said about Britain and honed right in on things they could get their knickers in a twist about. They prove my statement by the focus of their commentary.
And if it is offensive to have an opinion, then I guess I am offensive and not all that fussed about it. I have lived here 12 years and it is a wonderful amazing country and simultaneously oppressive. If you have NOT lived in 2 cultures during your adult life, perhaps you might listen and take something on board about yours. I will tell you I did not understand half of what it means to be American before I saw it through the lens of living abroad. The bad and the good.
malaika99 you are a star. Yes, I know all about FatFighters. The really funny thing about that 'dust' thing is that Matt Lucas has the voice so right. That' s exactly how they sound. I remember getting up the courage to say something to a woman who voiced that she was having difficulty avoiding her cake. And I said, "Try to imagine why you are coming to these meetings. If you can keep that feeling in your head, the cake won't bother you." and the moderator turned away from me and said, "Yes, but it's hard not to want our cake, isn't it dearie." Yes, you dullard, we all like cake too much which is why we are here. But it might be beneficial to look at what thoughts you can use to put cake-lust out of your mind.
You are SO insightful. And so practically helpful. I am going to try the miso soup. You are so spot on about it being comfort food without the usual calorific price tag. Thank you.
Jane3001 just makes me want to know more about an Australian who somehow ended up in Germany! I would love to hear all stories of triumph. Particularly of Americans living in Europe, but Australians living in Germany, Martians living in Luxumbourg, Mexicans living in France too.
LOL...really funny post.
One of the most amusing on this site I have ever read! According to biggest loser...America is the fattest nation with Australia coming in second, so I guess all the low fat stuff isn't helping us! I know what you mean about the pessimism but I sense it from most Europeans in general...have you found differently? I am sort of thinking south America might be nice...my daughter recently went to Mexico city and even though most people she ran into were poor they were singing and happy.... which goes to show something i think...
blessings
xoxoxoxox
Where in the UK are you living? In my experience (Bournemouth, Liverpool, Hartlepool, parts of London) there isn't that much pessimism, but more a sense of almost 'get on with it and everything will come good in the end'. I've never been to weight watchers, but at the same time if I mention I am on a diet to anyone they are normally pretty helpful.
I love little britain, by the way - and if your Weight Watchers leader was like that, I would run!! And food wise, we are getting more 'healthy' ready meals, but there is a very homemade culture to food, at least where I am - there is little or no low fat cheese and such simply because people prefer to buy the more natural stuff for their cauliflower cheese! And quorn is relatively low-fat and low cal - their sausages are 48 calories each, and have 1.8 g of fat.
Also, for meat, try your local farmer's market. I went to mine yesterday, and the dorset fish and meat was a third of the price of the same product in a supermarket.
As for whether we are 'rubbish' at proper eating, I suppose it depends on what you count as proper eating. Personally, I don't think having access to frozen chemical-laden foods is 'proper'. Give me a roast dinner and a *small* slice of cake any day.
Hello ladysteele! I'm an American currently living in Alaska but I lived in Germany for 3 yrs., and during that time our family traveled to England and other countries. I agree with previous posts that English and German cuisines aren't all that healthful, but you CAN find alternatives if you look! For high protein at low cost, I suggest you check out some vegetarian forums, or even do some surfing off this site for vegetarian dishes. I love www.foodnetwork.com ! But as a basic rule of thumb, lentils, beans, bulgur and some cereals are high in protein. (I cook my own lentils because they are ready so quickly, and bulgur is even easier, but I admit I buy canned beans since I have a job, too, and canned beans are faster and mostly fuss- free. Just open, rinse, drain and use them in your recipe.)
To avoid buying "takeaway" foods, get a crock pot. They are SO simple to use and a really healthful option, as long as you're putting healthy ingredients in it! And when you get home from work, dinner is done and the house smells oh-so-good. We LOVE ours and use it regularly. I've got homemade soup in there right now that I made on a day off, but it will last us for several days because it's a giant crock pot. I'm fortunate that my d.h. likes it when I try new recipes and create new recipes of my own, and often that's in the crock pot as well. So ours has definitely paid for itself already!
I totally envy you the whole foods market and the clear labeling on GMO foods. We don't have Whole Foods up here. When we buy our produce it's incredibly expensive and it tends to go bad very quickly (because of the long trip up to AK). It's not unusual to see bananas at $1/lb. and tomatoes at $3-4/lb., and that's for the regular stuff, not the organics. (In the Lower 48 I fussed if I had to pay 48cents/lb for bananas! HA!) As a result, we use a lot of frozen veg. and frozen or dried fruits. I would love to see GMO foods properly labeled in the U.S. - for now it's mostly guesswork.
As for the Weight Watchers problem, you mentioned running a company. Maybe you should put out a memo to find out who might be interested in starting a W.W. style support system at work? You could bring in a personal trainer to kick things off and educate everyone on nutrition and exercise, and then, YOU could take the ball and run with it. YOU could be the moderator/support staff/cheering section. Then you could be sure it would be run in a way that is useful.
That's my 2 cents. I hope I've given you so helpful ideas, and I hope you keep striving for a healthy lifestyle.
Ok, again, no success stories from America, but how about a success story from and American living in Oz. Having lived in America, Thailand, and now Oz, I can give you my take on the whole weight loss thing from various cultural perspectives. Growing up in the US, I was an overweight teen and into my mid 20's until I one day I decided to get healthy. I was able to lose 45lbs and keep it off for about 3 years in the states, but I did rely heavily on many of the "low cal" options that you mentioned. Yes, they are quite convenient and very helpful in many ways, but they do have a bit of a flaw I think (at least for me they did). I moved to Thailand after Graduate school and ended up as a single, white female in an asian culture. Now, while I absolutely LOVED my time there, I started to gain because of a number of issues. First, the food was SOOOO good, I loved it... a little TOO much. Second, the Thai's used to look at me a bit funny when I would exercise (especially weight training), and while I didn't let that bother me, I just didn't have the same motivation. Third, Asian women tend to be quite weight obsessed, and many see the average sized white females as "large," the attitudes and comments you encounter there are almost enough to even the most well adjusted female an eating disorder! Finally, because I relied on these "low cal" products while living in the states, I never truely learned portion control and how most of the "rest of the world" eats. Americans generally grow up on ENORMOUS portion and when you have all those low cal options, that allows you to eat more for less calories and you can still lose weight. Because of this, I just didn't have the whole portion control thing down when I went to Thailand. So, from there I moved to Oz, had a baby and found myself needing to again from about 30-35 lbs (I am now down 22lbs). Like the UK, there is a gap in the low cal, low fat food options (just as an example, you can't even get fat free cottage cheese here, nor fat free cheese, and there are VERY limited options for low fat cheese). What this has meant is that I have had to make even bigger changes to my eating habits this time around thatn the least time. So that I make healthier choices from everyday foods, rely even MORE heavily on fresh fruits and veggies, and SERIOUSLY control portions. Also, when I want a "treat" there is no low cal/fat free ice cream to turn to, I have to eat the real thing. But, I think in the end, I am the winner in all of this because I am truley learning how to eat "normal." I recently returned from a 3 week trip to the states and did not count calories the entire time I was there. I still managed to lose 4 lbs in that time with eating out and indulging a bit (I was still exercising, but not as much).
As for the attitude, well, really I think part of losing weight is learning to be happy with yourself and not caring about other people's attitudes toward your weight loss goals. While it sucks that weight watcher's isn't as helpful over there, in the end it is up to you to make the necessary steps to achieve whatever goals you set for yourself. As American's we grow up and are taught to be individuals... and I think thats just what you need to do, don't let anyone else drag you down.
I think as someone else pointed out, cultural adjustment is difficult, and I found adjusting to the Thai culture SO much easier than adjusting to the Australian culture if you can believe that. After 3 years here, there are still things that just boggle my mind about the Australian culture and attitude, but that doesn't mean I don't absolutely love it here, and I am sure there are Aussie, Brits, etc. living in the states who feel the same way about American culture (of course, there are things that boggle my mind about American culture too, but thats a whole other post in itself!).
I don't know if this has given you any more perspective on your situation (I have probably just rambled on without much content in typical American fashion), but at least I can assure you, you are not alone in your situation!
Stay positive!
Only some of us Brits are laid back. Some actively persue weight loss, the same as the Americans do. Surely some Americans are laid back!? Also, with regards to the mental attitude to weight loss - I believe both nations are the same...some couldnt care less, while others are really bothered by it. I for one have had depression in the past - all because of my weight.
I agree that there is a lack of easily available, low fat alternatives, but they are there if you look hard enough....Im always on the look out! Britain as a nation is well on its way to becoming a 'fat' nation - and I guess with that will come the fat-free stuff thats around in the states.
Why not do a D-I-Y with the food....make your own veggie burgers for example
Ive been to weight watchers before and I found that they were really helpful, looking at ways to motivate, inspire and even curb those cravings. I guess it just all depends which group you attend.
Portion sizes....only a problem if you go out to certain places - and ive experienced this problem in the States as well as the UK. If you are eating at home, surely it would only be as hard as you made it?
As for the 'crab in the bucket' theory - we do do that - but only if the sucess is always in our face. There are people around the globe who will put people on a pedistool...only to knock them off at a later date.
Finally, why only ask for American stories of success...surely getting tips from people who have lost weight and lived in Britain their whole life would be as beneficial.
There are people who will support you in your weight loss journey - you just have to find people who are in the same 'bucket' and make the 'escape' together.
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