When did the growth of everything in America start?
Was it with the “Longer, Lower, Wider” 1951 Chevrolet?
Was it the hamburger? In 1950 the average burger was 3.9 oz. Now the average burger is 12 oz!
Ambulances have gotten huge:
Even our superheroes have ballooned in size:
House square footages have doubled:
Most importantly though, we’ve all gotten bigger. Well, I can’t say that you have, but I sure have!
In 1976, the average weights were:
Adult men: 172.2 pounds
Adult women: 144.2 pounds
By 2014 these became:
Adult men: 195.7 pounds
Adult women: 168.5 pounds
If there’s any good news here, it’s that, on average, we’re all about an inch taller.
BTW, that’s my problem – I’m short for my weight!
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So, why?
Some might say that “Longer, Lower, Wider” is the American way of capitalism. If I make mine (hamburgers, cars, etc.) a little bigger, people will buy more of it.
Another reason that we are fatter could be due to the Food Pyramid. In the late 1940s the USDA came up with “The Basic Seven” which emphasizes carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables over processed carbohydrates like breads. It also emphasized meats and dairy.
Originally conceived by the World Health Organization (WHO), the USDA food pyramid evolved from the Basic Seven, except that the pyramid became inverted, placing processed carbohydrates at the bottom and meats and dairy near the top. The idea being that we should have more servings of carbohydrates and less fatty meats and dairy in our diets.
Suddenly breakfast went from bacon, eggs and toast to Fruity Pebbles and Frosted Flakes cereal.
Have you ever walked into a Seven-Eleven or WaWa and looked at what they sell? Carbohydrates. If you’re looking for protein about all you can get is beef jerky. Everything else is potato chips, cookies and candy.
Any wonder we’re all so fat? Our bodies process the carbs into sugar and, as a result, we’ve become fatter and less healthy.
If you’re interested in shedding a few pounds, try giving up carbs for a week or two. Eat healthy, just skip the processed foods that are mostly carbohydrates. Eat vegetables, eggs, lean meats and fish. Give up booze (sacrilege!!!). You’ll be surprised how much weight you’ll lose.
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“No” is more powerful than “Yes.”
- Anon
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In addition to "Longer, Lower Wider" in today's world everything must be "Fast, Faster, and Not Fast enough. Even our natioal past time of baseball is trying to change it's rules to satisfy attendees or viewers of no games longer than 2 1/2 hours. Stop and smell the roses before your pushing up the daisey's.