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To begin with, there is a growing problem of weight gain in America. Why is it that 7 out of 10 people in America are overweight? The answer begins simply with the fact that in general we are a sedentary culture.  In the past centuries, people worked by manual labor to make a living. They chopped wood for warmth in the winter, they worked in the fields growing crops, they washed clothes by hand, and their main source of transportation was walking.

As modern technology improved, the invention of various household utilities replaced work that had before been done by hand. In addition, forms of entertainment, such as the TV and radio, grew to become so popular that people spent more and more time sitting rather than engaging in an active lifestyle.

The second part of the problem of being overweight in America is the fact that in general, we eat too much of the wrong foods.  Again in centuries past, people worked to raise animals on farms for meat and diary products, and they ate from the produce of their own gardens and orchards.

As time progressed, sugary and fat-laden processed foods became popular with the invention of preservatives. Fast food restaurants popped up everywhere, offering high-calorie, nutrient deficient foods.  Why are so many people overweight in this country?  The two primary reasons are the influence of sedentary jobs and lifestyles, and the high quantities of processed foods that Americans eat.

In his book Eat to Live, Joel Fuhrman states that almost 90% of the calories that Americans eat come from refined and processed foods, and animal products (Fuhrman 58) These types of foods are extremely high in fat and sugar. Have you ever eaten a meal at Colton’s Steakhouse and ordered cheese fries? A single serving of cheese fries contains a whopping 2,862 calories! According to University of Iowa Healthcare, the amount of calories that the average woman should be consuming daily is about 1,600 – 1,800 calories. So these fries, at almost 3,000 calories, contain almost two day’s worth of calories!

This is just one example of many foods that have such concentrated, empty calories that causes people to gain weight. By “empty” calories, I mean sugar and refined foods which lack nutrients.  Americans consume these foods in excess, causing weight gain. Research indicates that more than 75% of all Americans today are overweight. (Fuhrman 157) Being overweight increases a persons risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke and joint issues just to name a few.

Source: Fuhrman, Joel. Eat To Live. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2003.

Hi there! For those of you who have been reading my blog for a bit, you may remember when I posted a paper I had written for an English assignment. I called it “Thinking Beyond the Wrapper“, and I wrote about Artificial Colorings, Preservatives and Trans Fats, and Artificial Sweeteners.

I would like to post another series from a platform speech I wrote last year while doing competitive speech and debate. It is about the problem of weight gain in America and the solution to losing excess weight. Two years ago I wrote and delivered a speech on white vs. whole grain breads, which I would like post sometime as well.

The speech I’m going to share here is titled “Change Your Lifestyle”, and I’ll be posting it in three sections. Please note that I am NOT an expert on the subject, and what follows is simply the results of my research. I found it to be absolutely fascinating, and I hope you do too!

Several weeks ago I was shopping at the grocery store. In the check out aisle, I read on the cover of a magazine “lose 30 pounds in 30 days!”. “Wow!” I thought, “that’s amazing!” But upon further consideration, I began to rethink my initial response. How could someone lose 30 pounds in 30 days?  If it’s even possible, is this a healthy way to lose weight?  And after losing this much weight so quickly, could a person even maintain his weight loss? After researching this surprising statement on a magazine cover, I found the answers to my questions. Technically yes, you could lose 30 pounds in 30 days. But there is so much more to the story, and that is what I will tell you today. Essentially, I will share with you some truths about weight loss.

First I will talk about the growing problem of being overweight in America, and why this problem is increasing. Next I want to tell you of the unsuccessful attempts of Americans to fix this problem of weight gain. We’ll look at a few of the popular fad diets and why these diets simply do not work. Finally and most importantly, I want to give you a healthy and long term solution to weight loss. I will show you the most successful way to lose weight, to keep excess weight off, and to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

I’ll be posting part 1 shortly, so check back soon! :)

This coffee cake is a lovely, elegant treat for breakfast, brunch, or tea. When Mom and I tasted it at a party several years ago, we simply had to get the recipe. I have since made it many times and passed on the recipe to others. If you are hosting a gathering or would like to surprise your family one morning, try making this delicious cake.

There is plenty of room for variation with this cake. You can use any type of jam or preserves for the filling – try peach, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, or strawberry. Sometimes I like to add a few mini chocolate chips to the topping if it pairs well with the type of jam (raspberry or cherry is good). You could also use any type of nuts, such as chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds. One of my favorite combinations is chocolate-cherry-pecan, but feel free to experiment!

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups flour (I use a combination of unbleached all-purpose and whole wheat)
½ cup sugar
½ cup cold butter, cut into small peices
3 Tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup yogurt
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg

1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
1 egg

½ to 1 cup preserves or jam, any flavor
½ cup chopped nuts
¼ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9 or 10 inch sprinform pan. In a large bowl, combine flour and ½ cup sugar. Add the butter and olive oil and mix with your hands or a fork until mixture resembles course crumbs. Reserve 1 cup crumbs.

~To remaining crumb mixture add baking powder, baking soda, salt, yogurt, almond extract, and 1 egg. Blend well and spread mixture in the bottom of prepared pan.

~In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar, and 1 egg. Pour into batter-lined pan. Carefully spoon preserves or jam evenly over cream cheese mixture.

~In a small bowl, combine reserved crumb mixture, chopped nuts and optional chocolate chips. Sprinkle over preserves.

~Bake for 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until cream cheese filling is set and crust is deep golden brown. Remove sides from pan and let cool. Cut into 12-16 wedges to serve. Enjoy!