Ha! that is so true.
I'm a tue believer in the fact that weightloss would not be such a bad issue if we didn't have "Fake food" and had to walk the however many miles to get what you want/need
Good article. Also in general, women did a lot of labor. None of the conviences like washing machines or supermarkets. You had to busy all day long. So called "womens work" back when, a man in todays world couldnt handle.
When I first heard the term fainting couch, I didn't realize that it was made for that exact purpose. Apparantly, women's corsets were so tight that it made breathing difficult. Thus, fainting was an everyday occurence.
The article was interesting and made many good points. But I wonder whether it's realistic to compare the 18th century to the 21st. (Beware of rant. I'm not attempting to make excuses for our modern lifestyle, but this article reminds of the Beethoven/Abortion question you hear so often.)
1. Real food
Real, clean food is preferrable. Unfortunately, it's the processed stuff that is far cheaper and has a longer shelf life. When my husband and I go grocery shopping, he can purchase twice as much food and still pay less than me. Obesity is a big problem for those living in proverty and cost is one of the reasons why.
Once the wealthy could afford to be plump, now the wealthy can afford to be fit & trim.
6. A calmer pace of life
This article is apparantly targeting the wealthier women of the time. Believe me, there were working mother's in the 18th century. Of course, many of the occupations held in this time included physical labor. Such jobs are far and few between in American. Especially since they have been sent overseas. Now, we sit in cubicles for 8-12 hours daily.
7. Short journeys on foot
Walking when you can is awsome. Last year I lived a couple miles away from work and I loved being able to walk in the morning and afternoon. My gym was next door, so I could walk there as well. Once I started my job in the cities, I had no choice but to drive.
Few of us live close enough to town that we walk. Particularly when we're running errands and have to travel to opposite sides of town.
10. Love helps
Oh, that would be nice if love actually played a role in marriage. Few people married for love during this time. It was more about money, politics, marrying within your social status, spreading your seed and all that fun stuff.
Sure, there was female oppression. But we were THIN. Isn't that a worthy trade off?
Hehe, some are quite idealized, but some also indeed hold truth (walking often, "real" foods...). To think that what truly ruined us were processed foods, and before that, well, the advent of sugar... When it started to spread to all classes, and didn't stay only on the rich tables... Seriously, that crap started it all, in a way. After all, it's hard to bake cookies and doughnuts without the sugar to put in it.
Just producing a meal often required expending energy ....catching the chicken and killing it for the supper meal, hauling water from the well or other source, .bringing in the wood or coal to keep the fire going.
while food may have been plentiful according to the article, if you lived in the city most people did not have the money to buy large amts of food or the variety that richer people had. If you lived on the farm you ate what you raised, grew or traded.
Also they had a healthier foundation starting in childhood with lots of walking and physical activity and none of the processed or snack foods the children
eat today.
Interesting though that they had a shorter life span but that had more to do with hygiene, medical care and infectious diseases than diet.
All in all a very good article to an extent.
True about the food, and the walking, btw, maple sugar and molasses have been around for ages, and not just for the rich.
Sugar tits (blush) have been a staple for babies for forever.
(I think Adam gave too many to Cain when ever he watched him! The 1st sugar rage??)
One thing that was not brought up was the lack of birth control.
Granted they didn't have the pill induced plumpness, but they did have the added pounds baby after baby added to your body.
I think the article is true for teens and young married women, but as soon as motherhood and responsibilities to family intruded, then they did have weight problems, not NOT to the extent as today.
Weight gimmicks including vinegar and making yourself throw up have been around for ages.
They just weren't as open talking about them.
Wow! I completely agree about the "real foods". I recently switched to organic (the first time for me) and my weight is going down and my insulin levels are stable and normal. I haven't had to change my amount of calories, just eating unprocessed food is doing the trick. I just wish it was cheaper!
Really interesting article, thanks for sharing!! I too believe that junk food is the culprit for our increasing waist lines, that and a serious lack of time to actually sit down properly and enjoy a meal and talk.
Just producing a meal often required expending energy ....catching the chicken and killing it for the supper meal, hauling water from the well or other source, .bringing in the wood or coal to keep the fire going.
I raise poultry and I used to do my own butchering. I can testify that I have never been so exhausted in my life as after a full day of butchering. Every muscle in your body is sore, and the last thing on your mind is eating. I did lose a lot of weight when I was doing that every weekend, come to think of it.
couldn't read the article but me and my mother where talking about this a few days ago. Not having really to do with weight but high rise jeans also contributed with shaping women's bodies. Alot of girls I know have love handles because of the ultra low-rise jeans they wear. I kinda wish high rise jeans would come back in style, haha.
Why 18th Century Women Weren't Fat
