How much weight have you put on since moving to America?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Funny topic.. I'm probably one of those few who didn't gain but lost weight since they moved here. Reason is basically that it was much colder in my old country than it is here in Hawaii, and with cold people tend to eat more as they need more calories to keep warm (or something like that). I ate a lot less and smaller portions since I moved here and when I fly back for vacation, my mom is always worried because I'm not the big eater anymore that I used to be

[Kakistos 1]

Also, how Hersheys passes as chocolate is beyond me!

Still haven't been over,(waiting for NOA2) but my fiancée sent me some Hersheys as part of a Christmas bundle cos I heard it tasted like puke and I wanted to try it for myself. I'm pretty forgiving of sweets. But yeah. It tastes like puke, literally. Its kinda nuts. They use stuff called Butyric acid in Hersheys which is basically that yellow stuff that's left in your stomach when you've been getting sick for a few hours. the chemical labels for that one are pretty scary stuff too (Harmful, Corrosive) though i'm sure its in low enough quantities that its not actually harmful. There are things in this world i will never understand. One of which is why americans buy chocolate that tastes like vomit... I've had hersheys here. bought in ireland (made in their cork factory) and its one of my favourites. I just did not see that coming... the research was surprising too.

http://www.foodireland.com/ apparently buys all their stuff from Irish places (sausage and pudding too), has warehouses full of the stuff and sells all around america (perishable items must take 2 day shipping which is... expensive) but we're thinking that once per year we'll do 1 month of shopping from there. my fiancée much prefers all the food in Ireland. She has her stuff she likes over there too but I know its something she's kinda worried about when I get there, me not liking the food i mean. I find that pretty silly cos with anything you can find a way to make it good if you're willing to put in the effort with it. That's what real chef's do (for example with mince meat my dad HERE boils it first to drain off the fat and i MUCH prefer it that way) I'm sure I wont have that much of a problem doing similar things.

[ontheway 0]

I used to weigh 165lb when i came over in 2004, since then it has been a battle, every single thing that i eat, and on that note, i dont even eat fast food, at all, i cook at home, i get fatter and fatter and fatter. I'm at 235Lb right now. I think it has more to do with activity. Back at home i used to walk everywhere, no car needed, public transportation to every place, take a bus, walk to school, take a bus, walk to work, walk to the shops and the parks and what not. Over here, i have to get in the car, which is conveniently parked 5 feet from my door, to go any where. No shops or anything nearby, but absolutely have to depend on the car. Physical activity is limited. Back at home i had all the time in the world, to just take a stroll, go hang out with friends, go to parks and what not, over here i am already so exhausted from the day that i cant even think about doing anything but just sit down and relax. On the weekends all i want to do is catchup on lost sleep. I dont think this lifestyle is healthy but i am not the only one in this pickle. Driving an hour one way to work, which takes longer sometimes, i think this car business is going to greatly affect my health, like many many others.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I slowly gained during the first few years after my arrival until about 3 years ago I had gained 25 pounds! I felt horrible, unhealthy and didn't like how I looked or felt. I have always been a careful eater but now making full meals every night for my husband who came home from work hungry, plus big breakfasts on the weekend and eating out more, yes that contributed to the weight gain.

I used to live in an upstairs apartment and was constantly running up and down stairs all day back in Canada, plus go for walks in the evening. Here we live in a single story ranch so no stairs, although I still manage to get some walks in, just not as much as before.

Finally, one of the biggest differences is in the food itself. It is not only the portions when you eat out (I almost always get 'doggie bags' and enjoy another one or two meals from the leftovers) but so many foods containe high fructose corn syrup. I know the ads say it is 'corn' and there is no problem with it, but it has been processed into a chemical formulation that the body does not recognize as corn and does not respond to it the same way as it would to the natural sugars in unprocessed corn. I really found that so many of the foods here tasted different - much sweeter - and on reading labels it seems high fructose corn syrup can be found high up on the ingredients list in nearly everything. If you buy low fat products as well, you will see that they make up the difference with HFCS. It is added to foods where there is absolutely no reason to add it as well. I have seen it listed on cream and even on milk (having overheard a conversation in the grocery store between two women discussing how good this premium price milk tasted and how they wouldn't drink anything else now. When I checked the jug I saw it contained HFCS!).

So, I joined the Sparks.com programme on line, started carefully watching what I ate and counting calories, stopped eating big breakfasts on the weekend, cut down on portion sizes at meals and over a number of months lost 20 of those 25 additional pounds. I have been holding steady at this weight now for the last 2 1/2 years. So, yes, a combination of life style changes and 'bad food' habits in the US, both my own and the food manufacturers.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Kathryn41

[cheerstoamerica 21]

so far, i'd say 3 lbs but it should stop there. i'm looking for a good fitness club and planning to join yoga.

[David79 7]

At least this thread isn't chocked full of gross generalizations...

There certainly is plenty of unhealthy food available in the US and I can't argue about the portion sizes, but if you live anywhere near a decent size city you can find healthy food if you want to, both at grocery stores and restaurants. It won't be at a fast food chain and it may not be at the major supermarkets, but there are plenty of organic (real organic) options available. You will pay more for it, but since food is generally cheaper here to start with it should even out for you.

And I can't think of anywhere in the world where English, Irish, or Australian food is really seen as some great delicacy...except maybe in England, Ireland, and Australia.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Is everyone having the same problem as me eating way too much? The food here is just too good and the portion sizes are enough to feed a whole family. On top of that my wife makes some really delicious meals and the best apple pie in America.

I've managed to put on 40lbs in less than 2 years!

[it's Victor from Russia]

I think, every country has really good food, just not everywhere it cooked in a good way. When my Amy visited me in Russia for the first time, she told that Russian food is delicious, and Russians know how to eat. As I remember, during 8 weeks together we spend ina 2 visits, Amy didn't like only 2 meals - boiled beef tongue and "meat JELL-O", everything else in Russia was yummy for my Baby.

Amy really likes many food in Russia and about some things told that it's nothing like this exists in US. When Amy visited me for the 2nd time, it were big pan of borsch (very yummy, if you cooked it right, and complicate soup with beetroot) and "herring under fur coat" (Russian salad with salted herring, beetroot, and many other ingredients) waiting for her at home. About Russian "Napoleon-cake" Amy told it's one of the best cakes she has ever tried in her entire life, she also likes a lot Russian "Potato-cake", and many other Russian meals. At the same time I can tell that I like US food too - for example, I'm really fan of stuffing Amy made for Thanksgiving dinner, and scalloped corn, and some more meals I've tried during our time together.

[wee carrington 33]

I'm gonna have to keep GH back from the brink. One of the first things I told him we're doing when we get back is getting memberships to the YMCA-- which I'm excited about! Gorgeous new facilities right by where we live.

I find a lot of British food really stodgy myself. Life expectancy in Glasgow is very low due in part to poor diet, alcoholism, ect.

[wee carrington 33]

I will add that America is a big place. I lived in Phoenix for about 6 months thought the food was for the most part not very good (I will omit the mexican food that was deeeelish), but I was still in my native country.

I'm from Buffalo so when I think of American food I think of a mish-mash of Eastern European, German, Italian, Greek, ect. because that's what I was raised eating. You had all the old ethnic neighborhoods downtown and you knew the best family owned restaurants around for that stuff.

I think food is a very personal thing and it's easy to get defensive about it. Most people have a lot of memories attached to food. If you remember going over to your grandma's as a kid and she used to make you mince pie and then someone came a long and turned their nose up at it and told you it was bland garbage you'd probably be a little peeved even if you didn't show it.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Mrs GH

[david'sgirl 134]

answer for Davidsgirl Full Irish is muchthe same as Full English except you get black and white pudding as for full Scotish same as English except the proberly get fried mars bar with it lol and yorkshire pudding simerlar to pop overs I love my wife cookingbut try to stay same weight and for who wrote about shepard pie is made with lamb (hard to get)if made with bee is called cottage pie I lso love to cook British style food thatmywife an family love as it's a change from their cooking

My husband makes Shepherd's pie with beef. Maybe it is called Cottage pie in other parts of the UK? I know I got it at the Raglan Road (Irish pub in Orlando) and it was lamb and it was also soooo bland and greasy. My mom made it with corn or grean beans but David does it with beef, potatotes and cheese on top.

Heard rumors of but never seen a fried mars bar. I would love to actually learn how to make proper Yorkshire pudding. I asked my mother in law but she uses frozen which we don;t have here.

I was reading a lot of posts and I guess what my hubby was trying to say was not taken the way he was saying it. We were having a laugh about how much better he finds the food to be over here and how he can't stop over indulging because it all tastes so good. So he posted and somehow it has become a forum for diet tips which was not at all how it was meant. It was meant to be a fun thing. We really have been shocked to find so many people hate the food. It makes us very glad we live in the part of the country we are in.

OMG!!! I LOVE that you mentioned that! I've been saying the same thing for the past 16 months! How I miss my creamy, velvety Romanian chocolate

Yeah, I did not agree about the chocolate until we got some Cadbury's. The wierd thing is we have it here but they must make it differently or something!

[AmyWrites 593]

Okay, people it's to easy to blame the USA for your fatness. When you should be the ones to blame, there is something here called a doggy bag and we have microwaves that magically heat up the food in about a min or 2. Also in the USA they have refrigerators that don't require ice to keep your food cold and fresh.

In regards to meat having growth harmonies or antibiotics. You know that the word organic in meat means? Grass feed beef is also an alternative. Try places like whole foods market or heb or maybe a farmers market.

I've been around the world and believe me there are fat people everywhere, for goodness when I was in the Netherlands I had butter on everything, yes uk breakfast is a heart attack waiting to happen, also the same with your curries. In the middle east meat hangs outside in the open market, I'm sure there is nothing like the USDA there. Plus I would eat us beef over uk, maybe mad cow will jog your memory.

Yes we all gain weight in the land of plenty.

Problem is, those healthy foods are much more expensive. Sure, you can find them, buy them, but at a higher cost. Elsewhere, healthy food isn't limited to those with higher incomes. Also, people just aren't as physically active. And the number of fat people in America is just insane.

But I believe exercise is more important than diet... I pretty much eat what I want, but go to the gym every day and in Moscow well I have to walk a lot, so I've never been so fit. In the US, gym memberships are much more expensive (my gym is just amazing at 750USD a year here in Moscow, for a similar gym in the US I'd have to pay 1300USD), and depending on cars is pretty much a given.

[david'sgirl 134]

Less opportunities and/or need to walk places is one of the biggest problems with gaining weight in the US. When we moved from London to LA we quickly learned we couldn't eat the same without making a bigger effort for exercise. London is simply a more physical city to get around, so you can eat more ####### and not worry as much about piling on the lbs. Here, you need to be far more aware of what you are taking in and what you are burning off.

I completely agree!

we loved London btw!

[MSR 6]

I slowly gained during the first few years after my arrival until about 3 years ago I had gained 25 pounds! I felt horrible, unhealthy and didn't like how I looked or felt. I have always been a careful eater but now making full meals every night for my husband who came home from work hungry, plus big breakfasts on the weekend and eating out more, yes that contributed to the weight gain.

I used to live in an upstairs apartment and was constantly running up and down stairs all day back in Canada, plus go for walks in the evening. Here we live in a single story ranch so no stairs, although I still manage to get some walks in, just not as much as before.

Finally, one of the biggest differences is in the food itself. It is not only the portions when you eat out (I almost always get 'doggie bags' and enjoy another one or two meals from the leftovers) but so many foods containe high fructose corn syrup. I know the ads say it is 'corn' and there is no problem with it, but it has been processed into a chemical formulation that the body does not recognize as corn and does not respond to it the same way as it would to the natural sugars in unprocessed corn. I really found that so many of the foods here tasted different - much sweeter - and on reading labels it seems high fructose corn syrup can be found high up on the ingredients list in nearly everything. If you buy low fat products as well, you will see that they make up the difference with HFCS. It is added to foods where there is absolutely no reason to add it as well. I have seen it listed on cream and even on milk (having overheard a conversation in the grocery store between two women discussing how good this premium price milk tasted and how they wouldn't drink anything else now. When I checked the jug I saw it contained HFCS!).

So, I joined the Sparks.com programme on line, started carefully watching what I ate and counting calories, stopped eating big breakfasts on the weekend, cut down on portion sizes at meals and over a number of months lost 20 of those 25 additional pounds. I have been holding steady at this weight now for the last 2 1/2 years. So, yes, a combination of life style changes and 'bad food' habits in the US, both my own and the food manufacturers.

Do you mean spark people? If so, that program is awesome.... I would recommend that site to anyone... Free too!

[K&E2009 71]

Still haven't been over,(waiting for NOA2) but my fiancée sent me some Hersheys as part of a Christmas bundle cos I heard it tasted like puke and I wanted to try it for myself. I'm pretty forgiving of sweets. But yeah. It tastes like puke, literally. Its kinda nuts. They use stuff called Butyric acid in Hersheys which is basically that yellow stuff that's left in your stomach when you've been getting sick for a few hours. the chemical labels for that one are pretty scary stuff too (Harmful, Corrosive) though i'm sure its in low enough quantities that its not actually harmful. There are things in this world i will never understand. One of which is why americans buy chocolate that tastes like vomit... I've had hersheys here. bought in ireland (made in their cork factory) and its one of my favourites. I just did not see that coming... the research was surprising too.

http://www.foodireland.com/ apparently buys all their stuff from Irish places (sausage and pudding too), has warehouses full of the stuff and sells all around america (perishable items must take 2 day shipping which is... expensive) but we're thinking that once per year we'll do 1 month of shopping from there. my fiancée much prefers all the food in Ireland. She has her stuff she likes over there too but I know its something she's kinda worried about when I get there, me not liking the food i mean. I find that pretty silly cos with anything you can find a way to make it good if you're willing to put in the effort with it. That's what real chef's do (for example with mince meat my dad HERE boils it first to drain off the fat and i MUCH prefer it that way) I'm sure I wont have that much of a problem doing similar things.

Thank you for this!!! :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

[it's Victor from Russia]

I think, every country has really good food, just not everywhere it cooked in a good way. When my Amy visited me in Russia for the first time, she told that Russian food is delicious, and Russians know how to eat. As I remember, during 8 weeks together we spend ina 2 visits, Amy didn't like only 2 meals - boiled beef tongue and "meat JELL-O", everything else in Russia was yummy for my Baby.

Amy really likes many food in Russia and about some things told that it's nothing like this exists in US. When Amy visited me for the 2nd time, it were big pan of borsch (very yummy, if you cooked it right, and complicate soup with beetroot) and "herring under fur coat" (Russian salad with salted herring, beetroot, and many other ingredients) waiting for her at home. About Russian "Napoleon-cake" Amy told it's one of the best cakes she has ever tried in her entire life, she also likes a lot Russian "Potato-cake", and many other Russian meals. At the same time I can tell that I like US food too - for example, I'm really fan of stuffing Amy made for Thanksgiving dinner, and scalloped corn, and some more meals I've tried during our time together.

It's Amy now! My Sweetie and I love food and love to cook and eat together!

I LOVE Russian food! All except beef tongue (which is actually eaten all over the world, I just didn't care for it ) and the gelatinous meat stuff (холодец - correct me if I spelled it wrong, it's just really hard to transliterate). Mostly it was the texture of it that turned me off from it, as Americans aren't used to gelatinous things tasting meaty. LOL! Other than those two things I loved everything else I ate in Russia - they really do know how to eat there! Napoleon cake, borsch, pelmini and verenyeki, smoked fish, drahniki, verenye (Russian jam made with whole berries instead of mashing them up, so divine!), bliny (stuffed with both sweet and savory things are delicious), caviar, zephyr, kozinak, khalva, all the different salads which are extremely yummy, "potato" cake, the delicious breads and pastries of which there are too many to name, the different types of fruit juices and other drinks you can't find in the States very easily (like Russian sodas, juice tapped from birch trees, and unique juices like pumpkin-apple and stuff like this)...the list goes on and on! I brought home Russian chocolate bars to give to all my family members as Christmas gifts and they were a big hit! During my recent visit to my Love's city he took me to a USSR-style delicatessen where everything was served cafeteria-style like in old times. The food was simple but so good! They had meat patties (called "cutleta") with an "egg over easy" on the top, some macaroni, bread, 2 different kinds of good soup with lots of vegetables, potatoes, and meat in them, and some good salads. For 90 rubles (around 3 dollars or so) you could get what they called the "complex lunch" which is a simple cabbage salad, soup, and bread (Vitya, correct me if I forgot something), which is a pretty reasonable price for a filling and tasty lunch! It's hard to eat lunch out in America for so cheap and have a nutritious and filling meal as well. Some fast/street food that I tried and LOVE is shaurma, but we made some homemade which was a million times better! We also, just for fun, tried some frozen microwavable shaurma from the minimarket in our neighborhood (think kind of like a microwave burrito here in the states), and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't as good as the shaurma stand's which he visits frequently, and definitely wasn't as good as homemade. Shaurma is actually not originally Russian, but middle-Eastern (as is Shashlik, which is a meat kebab cooked on the grill - another thing we cooked beautifully I must say), but it's pretty popular in Russia and is kind of an "adopted" cuisine. I think all over the world various kinds of foods are "adopted", and given what a melting pot America is a lot of things that people think are distinctly "American" are not, and are hybrids or modifications of cuisines that came from various parts of the world.

Me and Vitya also cook a lot of dishes together that are not really country-specific. We love to make homemade pizza, spaghetti-type dishes, I LOVE how he cooks beef liver and mashed potatoes (liver is eaten all around the world), and he loves my curried stir-fries, which of course aren't very country-specific or authentic and are just kind of "Asian-style." We like to experiment and try different foods together and both prefer to cook and eat at home most of the time. We made a porridge from dried peas and beef that turned out beautifully one time, and I want to repeat it in the future!

We both love food, and so it doesn't matter where it's from exactly, but how it's prepared and the quality of the ingredients.

I think the ease of putting on weight in America is that a lot of American towns and cities are not pedestrian-friendly and since almost everyone needs to drive everywhere, people are living a sedentary lifestyle. I luckily live in a city that is, while not a big city, very pedestrian-friendly and pretty to look at as well, so there's a lot of walking to be had if you're not too lazy to do it. Me and Vitya love going on walks together, so we plan to continue our walks to try and stay in shape and not gain too much weight. Both of us are on the slightly chubby side with a tendency to have fluctuating weight depending on what's going on in our lives, but we definitely want to stay active and healthy. I'd rather get a lot of exercise and not have to obsess over calories too much.

I will contend that it is possible to eat healthy on a budget if you shop right. I definitely can't afford to eat all organic or buy specialty items very much, but I try to stick to the "basics" when I shop: vegetables, fruits, grains (rice and beans are healthy and cheap), bread, meats, eggs, milk...I buy things that tend to stay cheap like carrots, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage (cabbage is ALWAYS cheap), apples, bananas, etc. I look for specials in the meat and buy what's most reasonably priced. My store always has big bags of frozen chicken on some kind of sale, and I buy what's least expensive. On the contrary, buying all convenience and pre-packaged food is very expensive and can run out a grocery budget in no time! I have noticed in times of scarcity of certain items (like when there's a drought and certain crops have a shortage), it drives up the prices of certain things, but that's always happened. It sucks, but I just avoid that item during those times. Lately I've noticed that peanut products like peanut butter (usually cheap) has gone up because of a peanut shortage. I'm usually able to eat not fancy, but in a comfortable and what I feel is healthier than the "average" American consumer, way on a pretty tight budget. Just my 2 cents.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Amy_and_Victor