So can anyone tell me why is it that American women can't control themselves when it comes do eating right?

Maybe we don't realize that you only get one body in your lifetime. Why not take care of it now, before it becomes a problem?

http://members.lycos.nl/chursel/images/560.jpg

Here are some tips for healthy eating:

Eat breakfast, and not with soda. Try this for a good, healthy breakfast. Also, soda in general is harmful and can rot your teeth when consumed too much. Ask me how I know, as a child I drank Sprite more than water.
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/breakfast.asp

And if you haven't seen or heard about the mediterranean diet, here is a basic idea of what it is:
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/mediterranean-diet.asp

After my friend visited Europe, including Italy, he told me he could never compare an American woman to any European woman, because there simply was no contest, it was the European woman everytime.

I am American, born and raised. I am not trying to be mean towards women! The US needs a wake up call. This is simply a question as to why people are neglegent when it comes to their health in the US versus Europe, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Also, it isn't just women, but men too need to understand this!

Dan,

I am a heterosexual woman who looks at almost every man in my line of sight. I have been known to stop in the middle of sentences when I see a particularly nice looking one.

With all that, when I went to Rome in 2000 for the first time, I don't remember if there even WERE any men, becuase the women there were so stunningly gorgeous that I couldn't take my eyes off of them. From all over the world, they were all different, and all exquisite.

In 2005 it was the same -- although I managed to look at and even meet some men that time -- and in 2006, it was the same as well.

You are absolutely right - women in Italy, and in other European countries I've been to, are much more likely to be beautiful, in shape, healthy.... and each time I travel out of the country I come home with the idea that women here in the States just don't seem to care as much about themselves.

Then I realize it's not that they don't CARE -- look at the billions of dollars each year spent on diets, weight loss clinics, surgery -- it's that for some reason, our popular culture for the most part just doesn't seem to promote healthy eating, care and pride in our bodies, or true mental health, either (which ties in a lot). I think also there's this thing about living in a culture that prides itself on excess, in all areas, that helps us overeat as well.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but I know that when I'm overseas I dress differently -- more sexily -- and I enjoy clothes a lot more. And, I look at women a lot, which ain't such a bad thing. :D

I agree about the men, too. Men overseas seem to have the same thing going on, while many here just don't seem to care.

Teresa

I know that in the U.S. we eat alot of fast foods, I have never been to Europe, how different is their diet?

Hi Sandra
If you are headed to Italy I wrote the following article:
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/italian-food-1.asp
PS You know I organaze a motorcycle touring group ( See meetup.com ) here in the US in the DC area where we go touring in the scenic areas and when we stop for lunch fastfood is ...welll forbidden. However this more European riding style seems to be a success.
Paolo

Paolo,

I read your article about food... it makes my stomach yearn for real Italian food.

And I must say, I survived on cappuccino, bruschetta and wine for a month in Rome. Heaven.

Teresa

I feel it's not just the food in america that makes us fat (myself included), but also our activity level.

Most americans just plop on the couch and watch tv after work - football season, we're like bears preparing for hibernation! It seems to me in Italy people go out after work - every night the streets are full of activity and they don't snack so much between meals.

And it's not just confined to Italy in my experience. Practically every Czech women I've met could be a model and only the older people seem to be heavier. And their national food consists of dumplings, cheese, cabbage and pork all quaffed down with gallons (I mean liters) of beer.

The Dutch and the Belgians eat their french fries with mayonaise, but temper it with a good amount of bike riding.
In general I feel that europeans not only eat less but they are much more active in their daily lives, a surefire solution for an expanding waistline.

Justin,

I think you're exactly right. We do sit around on the couch. And compared to Europeans we're practically comotose.

Why do we do this? I think our cities here in the U.S. aren't (for the most part) designed for walking. I'd be curious to find out the percentage of overweight people in, say San Francisco or New York (which are great for walking) compared to Phoenix or Albuquerque, which aren't.

And biking... forget about it. While the driving in Rome and other European cities terrifies me :eek: , the drivers there are very aware of pedestrians and cyclists. So it seems it would be safer to ride a bike there. I have a bicycle and I stay on the bike paths here! No road biking for me.

And women there... again, I have to agree with you. Gorgeous! They either seem to either care more about how they look (which somehow doesn't make sense to me... American women really care how they look, they just don't seem to be able to translate that into reality), or their lives are just, simply, more conducive to staying in shape.

Either way, I always feel as though I've been dumped onto some giant fashion runway when I arrive in Rome.

Teresa