I don't think you and I agree on all that much, but on the subject of food, we are absolutely agreed.

I was a really skinny kid, ate whatever I wanted for most of my life. I didn't have a problem with food/body image until I got to college. I don't treat food as a treat, but for me how I feel about myself and how I eat are inextricably linked. When I am having a rough time I eat "badly" because I simply don't have the energy to put in that extra thought that governs healthy eating. I didn't grow up with it so I actually have to think about what I eat or I will go for the cheapest, easiest thing, which more often than not is unhealthy (pizza, pancakes, bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches at the diner).

It takes work for most of us, just like everything else in life.

I hate it when freshman are cute, and then sophmore year they get fat. That sucks.

I hate it when guys are jerks about a girl gaining 15 pounds during her freshman year. That sucks.

Yeah, and the freshman 15 never happens to guys, right?

It's not just a girl thing. Do you think the women love it when guys put on beer pudge? Sexy.

Basic Biochemistry....
 

There is such a thing as "cravings" for what is in a food rather than JUST the foodstuff itself... At least at the biochemical level.

So like if you crave "chocolate cake"--you may not be craving all the stuff that goes into the cake--specially the calories, but you are craving the epicatechin--the flavonoids that makes chocolate tastes like chocolate... Or the sucrose--the sugar that make things sweet...

IMHO, that is what we get addicted to, not the actual foodstuff, but the chemical that causes a "reaction" if you will that we have learned to associate with some level of pleasure and acceptance... Just like a herion and crack needs that high, so some of us need that one little chemical in a food that gets us our high--and heightens our weight...

For me, creamy things--the rich and creamy stuffs. Ice cream, creme brulee, etc. It is something in "milky" substances that I love--probably the whey or sodium caseinate--because it contains the amino acid tryptophan that makes me feel happy--a natural anti-depressant... But the fat of milk causes me to gain weight...

So, I tricked my body by drinking soy milk or rice milk. I still have the tryptophan cravings, but at least it limits my desire for the fat in milk... But now, the Silk folks are adding sodium caseinate to their food and it is really no longer considered "vegan"...

Which Silk products aren't vegan?

Last I looked, which was 2 weeks ago, was the enriched vanilla Silk... It has sodium caseinate--a milk product, but no lactose...

Also, Tofurella has the Na-caseinate in it too... Casein is still derived from milk if one is a purist... But, it really is no longer milk if it is just casein--that's the main protein constituent in whey--the part of it that makes the milk, milky...

Interesting (to me at least ;) )- the Silk website lists the ingredients for the soymilks and it doesn't include that. You read this on the label?

WRONG!!!!!
 

This is not because "girls have to be cute" or anything, but people should not be putting on 15 pounds in a year, unless they are newborns. I am not saying guys should be mean about it, but there is a huge problem with your lifestyle if you throw on 15 pounds your freshman year. It is a fact. This is the main problem here, with the obesity issue. This is why Americans are so fat, because we act like it is "normal" and "okay" to gain a bunch of weight. Great!! Then we can sue a company becasue of late night alcohol and Gumby's binges. It infuriates me b/c they are going to ban soda and candy, and we will then be communists.

ALSO....
 

I was going to ask if these animal bi-products are actually from the animal, or maybe they are just common proteins found in milk AMONG other things. Just asking, I have no clue. They very well could be unique to milk products, but also might be derived from something else (coconuts, beets, anything)

People do not gain "the freshman 15" solely from eating - often you have a complete activity change from high school.

One of my friends was feature twirler, swam, and ran track for her high school. It was a very small school and basically whoever wanted to be in sports, could. When she got to college (where you had to be recruited or try out) she did none of that. You don't realize how much you are exercising until you don't. I only gained 5, but I would wager it was from not having the endless color guard practices because my eating was pretty much the same if not less.

Re: WRONG!!!!!
 

true true. The culture of blame-and-sue is so freaking ridiculous. Most people gain their "freshman 15" (and for me it was a sophomore 10) because they are drinking way more and gaining calories, exercising less, and their youthful metabolism begins its descent. But its easily fixable with moderation and exercise.

Re: ALSO....
 

I am unsure what you trying to ask, but PM me if I misunderstood you...

Out of milk are two main ingredients used for several items: Whey--composed of several proteins--and of which, Casein is the main protein component...

Kelp and some mollusks provide--carageenen and xanthinin. Both of which are "thickeners" to many products like ice cream and whip cream.

Beef and some pigs provide--stearate, an oil used to add color and flavoring to a product. Also used in shampoos and conditioners as an emulsifying agent...

Manufacturer's use these items because the process is inexpensive, on-going and has always been that way--so basically, they are saying why change it??? With the exception of the kelp--used by Kelco and others

I couldn't agree with you more. people who refuse to take responcibility for their actions and try to blame someone else by suing them is just ridiculous. people need to start holding themselves accountable for everything not just this weight issue. as for losing weight, all it takes is some exercise and healthy eating. its not rocket science.

Sweetheart,

In my field, I wish it were that simple... So are you basically saying:

I wish that were the issue here. IMHO, I think it is not. Other than overeating, overconsumption of calories or whatever it is that causes morbid obesity, why can it be recapitulated in laboratory mice? These mice are fed the same food as all the non-fat mice, we can stick running wheels in the cages and these mice will exercise... Nonetheless, these mice are morbidly obese...

http://www.the-scientist.com/yr1999/...rt/mice_13.jpg

Obviously, this guy has an extremely poor metabolism... And science is showing there is more to the story than merely just intake less, expend more...