Posts by oceanbabe27

Ok I have lived in Italy for 5 years now so I'm going to step in lol

Yes, it's true that Italians don't eat large portions, tons of desserts, take time to eat with their families (they have a 4 hour "siesta" here!!), have fresh vegetables, don't eat lots of meat, etc. etc.

BUT that DOES NOT apply to a vast amount of Italians who are now turning to a "American" lifestyle, so to speak.  The first year I was here, I lived with a host family where the host mom would buy limited amounts of vegetables and would drown them in olive oil or fry them.  She used TONS of convienence-packed meal starters and foods for our meals.  And my host dad was a butcher, so we ate red meat EVERY single night!  And this was not just my family- I have experienced it in all parts of the country, at all socio-economic statuses, and it's become a huge problem.  obesity is starting to affect Italy pretty noticably.  Whenever I walk around I see an increasing amount of fatter kids.  I remember a small town that I lived in one year, where the whole town rejoiced when a vending machine was installed!!  And since many Italians eat nothing, or cookies, for breakfast, they tend to grab less wholesome foods that are convienent for a snack.  And the Italian kids LOVE McDonalds!!

So what I'm trying to say here is that yes, you can say that Europeans have "healthier" or "thinner" lifestyles, but not for long...  The most important thing is eating everything in moderation, like thankfully most Italians still do, and to eat as fresh and heathily (no processed!) foods as possible, which again, thankfully, most Italians still do.

But I'm so worried about this new generation...

ugghhh wow irritated doesn't even BEGIN to explain how much I hate my fat!!  I'm 5'7" and even at 155lbs (down from 160lbs) I STILL feel so incredibly conscious of my fat rolls!! everytime I sit down at my desk my gut protrudes out and it's so uncomfortable how my fat rolls touch and spill out on each other.  I WANT THAT FAT TO DIE!!

and don't even get me started on my stupid butt fat, thigh fat, cellulite...

ahh good to vent :)  I feel so much better knowing i'm not the only one who gets so frustrated with that fat!!!

Thanks for the tips!  I'm actually a student though, so what kills my motivation is that my friends pig out like crazy and I'm the only one that kind of eating affects!!

I've just got to learn that just because I diet well one day, it doesn't mean I'll be thin the next day....

and oooh boy the list goes on and on of what I ate today... basically I just fell into the temptations presented by our dining hall...

the worst offenders where the 5 slices of banana bread I ate, the too many tablespoons of peanut butter, and the sporadic snacking of cereal...  oh carbs how I love thee  :(