From: Dave Sill (extropians@dave.sill.org)
Date: Mon Mar 25 2002 - 14:24:43 MST
Hal Finney <hal@finney.org> wrote:
>
> If people aren't eating more or doing less sports and fitness activities,
> why the increase in fat? According to the article, it's the little things
> that count: paying at the pump instead of walking into the gas station;
> buying prepared salad instead of chopping up your own lettuce and carrots;
> using your TV remote and garage door opener instead of walking a few feet.
> Each of these things only costs a few calories, but they add up over the
> course of the day to perhaps 100, which equals 10 pounds of fat per year.
OK, but these minor, recent lifestyle changes would seem to be
insignificant compared the the changes over the last 100 years or
so. Forget about paying at the pump vs. walking into the station...how
about driving a car vs. riding a horse or wagon? And growing and
harvesting your lettuce and carrots vs. buying them? Any 100-year-old
form of entertainment vs. watching TV? Were people 100 years ago much
leaner than they were 50 years ago, or did they eat a lot more? If
they ate more, as I suspect, then maybe we just need to eat less.
> The article suggests wearing a step counter, and setting a goal to
> increase your steps per day by 2000. It didn't say how many most
> people get, but 2000 steps is about 15 minutes of walking and will
> burn maybe 90 calories, so that could make a significant difference
> in the long term.
How about eating 90 fewer calories/day?
> As I look at my life, it's true, there are many small things which save a
> few seconds of time and effort here and there. I often keep a portable
> phone next to my chair so I don't have to get up when the phone rings.
> Computers have replaced many face to face visits with email.
Do these nickle and dime caloric expenditures really improve your
health? If you're getting the exercise you need at a gym or through
other physical activity, is there really a health benefit to giving up
these conveniences, assuming proper weight is maintained?
-Dave
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