“I can only eat 80 bites a day?! But my afternoon snack alone was more than 80 bites!”

Usually the case isn’t that the person had a 4 cheeseburgers as an afternoon snack. Rather, they didn’t understand that 80 per day means bites, not chews. A bite is one mouthful, and a chew is what you do with that mouthful! So no, we’re not telling you to chew only 80 times a day. In fact, we encourage you to increase your number of chews, as this helps you slow down, ease digestion, and allows you to enjoy your food more thoroughly. Here’s a simple way to remember it:

80Bites = Fewer Bites + More Chews

People still balk at the number 80, however. It may sound small, but 80 bites per day actually measures out to around the same quantity that other diets prescribe. Weight Watchers, The Zone, Jenny Craig… when you examine their recommended portions, they average out to around 80 bites. Meredith Luce, RD and co-creator of 80Bites, decided that counting bites was simply much easier than adding up points, grams, calories, etc. And anyone who had tried our app will agree!

Overweight individuals often average over 150 bites per day, but are completely unaware of the fact that they’re stretching their stomachs. If the idea of counting bites intrigues you (or freaks you out), give the 80Bites app a test run. Within a few days you’ll know if you’re overeating. You’ll also be surprised at how quickly counting with the app turns into a natural ability to sense quantity. Try it and see for yourself!

Don’t get us wrong – there’s a lot of good stuff on The Food Network. As entertainment, it’s great. As a guide for how to eat balanced meals, however… not so much.

We’ll start with Paula Deen, since she’s been in the public eye recently. Unlike most of her critics, though, we’re not bashing her use of crisco. There’s room for rich comfort foods in a diet, as long as you do it right. The “Death Burger” aside (cheeseburger between two Krispy Kreme donuts… lord have mercy!), not all of her meals are terrible for you. What’s missing from Paula’s dishes are two key themes from 80Bites: quantity and balance. For example, take a look at a shrimp and oyster po’ boy she served up on her show:

Now, the po’ boy itself isn’t the target. Sure, it may be deep fried and a bit rich, but that’s fine once in a while. However, the portion is huge. A sandwich that size could easily feed two people. And with no sides – a crunchy salad, grilled veggies or soup, for example – the meal is unbalanced. In fact, it’s not really a meal – it’s just a big sandwich.

And if any of y’all are wondering how NOT to take a bite, see below (sorry, Paula, we had to do it!):

Our next target is Rachael Ray, known for her quick, practical recipes. Check out her pasta carbonara with corn and cherry peppers, featured on Everyday with Rachael Ray:

Again, the pasta itself is not the issue. But we have another huge portion – that mountain of pasta is way too much for one person. And like Paula, she fails to include sides that compliment the main course and add more texture and flavor to excite your palate (helping you feel fuller, faster). Again, it’s all about quantity and balance.

And then of course there are shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, which frequently showcase establishments with dishes like this on the menu:

Now, that is probably a tasty dessert, but let’s get real – what makes this a TV-worthy dish is the sheer size. And celebrating food simply because it is HUGE is definitely not sending the right message.

We’ll end on a positive note with one Food Network chef who hits the nail right on the head. Here’s Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa)’s manages lamb kabobs with cous cous and tomatoes:

With one perfectly arranged plate, Ina manages quantity AND balance. Not to mention our mouths are watering. Let’s see more meals like this, Food Network!

Now there is some truth in the idea. But it’s less about what you eat and more about how you feel after eating it. Here’s the skinny: carbs attract water. You don’t become fat from that water – but you may feel fat… for a few hours anyway. Likewise, a carbohydrate heavy diet may lead to retaining more water more often, so you feel fatter more consistently.

That all said, it’s calories that make you fat, not the type of food they come from. Protein and carbs both have 4 calories/gram while fat has 9. If the quantities you eat are appropriate, you will satisfy your hunger and maintain a healthy weight, no matter what foods you consume. If your stomach is stretched by constant consumption or increased quantity, you will crave and consume more calories and thereby, carry more weight.

And that’s not to mention the fact that if you cut out any food group, odds are you’ll only wind up craving exactly what you’ve eliminated, while overeating everything you haven’t! Once again, it comes down to quantity – as long as we overeat (no matter what it is we’re overeating) we’ll always be hungry for more!

See, our stomachs used to limit capacity (they still can, if you begin eating regular amounts at regular intervals). This was really bad if you were in the business of selling food to a population that wasn’t growing fast enough to increase profits. This was the situation in the 1980′s, when snacking was renamed grazing. On-the-go food was at your fingertips wherever you went, and profits soared.

Not only did grazing sound less childish and more nutritious than snacking, the geniuses behind it (whose goal was to increase consumer food consumption) knew that everyone would just add mini-meals to the existing three squares. And boy, were they right! Today, we eat all day long. As a result, we have s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d our stomachs, so that we actually feel hungrier more often! This is because the more you eat, the hungrier you are. In addition to boosting the bottom line of food corporations who benefit to the tune of billions from our increased consumption, grazing actually trains your body to want food all the time – because it’s in a constant state of digestion. It works and works and never rests. No wonder it gets tired and becomes less efficient in processing your food!

Eating three meals a day at regular intervals (and one snack, if you want it) is the best way to curb hunger for good.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: not only is the old formula ineffective, every failed diet is actually a strike against your metabolism. Drastic weight loss, though initially encouraging, disrupts the body’s hormonal balance, making it nearly impossible to keep the weight off. Unlike current gluten-free and juice cleanse fads we see popping up, 80Bites’ emphasis on QUANTITY over content allows for gradual, permanent weight loss. TOur program also challenges long-held diet beliefs, such as the benefits of constant snacking or the “filling up” on low-cal foods (both disrupt hormones and increase hunger). The bottom line: The 80Bites system of less quantity, less often works with your body’s hormones, leading to gradual – but permanent – weight loss.

With the majority of Jenny Craig’s revenue coming from repeat customers, and the average dieter losing only 6 lbs. after 2 years on Weight Watchers, it’s clear that the system is broken. 80Bites was created for people who don’t have the time (or desire) to devote their lives to weight loss. Our goal is permanent weight loss and total balance – not repeat customers.

First, the cover story in the Magazine, “The Fat Trap” by Wellness blogger, Tara Parker-Pope, who has struggled with weight issues herself. But the admission of defeat is easy: recent research points to a fat gene that explains why she and 140 MILLION other Americans are unable to lose weight permanently. It’s easy to forget that just 50 years ago, obesity wasn’t even on the radar. And yet the american diet was far from “healthy” (anyone who remember their grandmother’s meatloaf and casserole can attest!). What was the secret? Back then, people were slimmer because they ate less food, less often. Of course, 50 years of dieting since then has consequences that no one wanted to examine –  until now.

We’re hesitant to chalk obesity up entirely to genetics, so we were enlightened by Natasha Singer’s article, ”Those Recycled Resolutions Are a Boon forBusiness” in the Times Business section. Singer explains that the body biz prospers from our own body failures.  It’s simple – follow the money. Our buy-eat economy needs consumers who consume. And consume some more.  Health clubs, diet companies, water purveyors, diet food suppliers and everyone else selling advice on how to lose weight only benefit when dieters fail. After all, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers reportedly have an 87% repeat rate. That’s success for their bottom line.

A great article by Geoffrey Wheatcroft in the Sunday Review, “A World in Denial of What It Knows”, ties it all together. Wheatcroft explains that even a child would understand that subprime mortgages could never make economic sense. Why lend money to people who can’t pay it back? Of course, we try to hide behind the complexity of the system itself.  It’s easy to be in denial about the economy – who but a few mathematical geniuses can understand derivatives and other financial instruments? And it’s tough to tell at first glance if someone’s mortgage payment is late or their credit card is maxed out. But everyone can see, without special insight or genius, that the six billion extra pounds carried by overweight Americans is the product of over consumption. Our $14 trillion economy is fueled by people buying and eating stuff they don’t need with money they don’t have. American overconsumption is a recipe for continual disaster—and there’s nothing low-fat about it!

Believe it or not, 80Bites was actually born out of the fitness world. A quick history: our parent company, PhysicalMind Institute, helped launch the Pilates trend in the US over 20 years ago. Since then, they’ve been leaders in the Pilates certification/education field.  PhysicalMind President and 80Bites co-creator, Joan Breibart, understood that weight loss and nutrition was a natural extension of Pilates. 80Bites is the nutritional counterpart to the Pilates philosophy of “less is more”.

The Mad Group is a leader in high-performance Pilates and yoga equipment in the UK. Both 80Bites and The Mad Group are committed to helping people achieve a mind-body balance, and we’re excited to work with them. If you’re a UK-based 80Biter, you can visit The Mad Group here: http://www.Fitness-Mad.com/

80Bites Intro with Meredith

Watch Meredith Luce, Registered Dietician and co-creator of 80Bites, as she discusses the potential downfalls of drinking too much water.

Water Intoxication

We agree. Who wants to ruin the season of culinary celebration by stressing over every mouthful?

Whether we like it or not, however, January 1^st is right around the corner. For many of us, 2012 will begin with a grudging attempt to cancel out six weeks of feasting.

80Bites offers a solution. It’s possible to lay the groundwork now for a successful January – while still allowing yourself to enjoy and indulge. How? By dedicating the month of December to awareness.

The 80Bites mobile app (www.80BitesApp.com) is about more than counting bites. It teaches you to pay attention, slow down and (believe it or not) enjoy each bite to the fullest. Whether you realize it or not (and you may not, because mindful eating is really quite enjoyable), you’re preparing yourself to make lasting changes in January.

So this December, don’t even think about dropping pounds. Devote the month to simply paying attention. Come January, you’ll be ready for the full 80Bites program. In fact, as a newly-conscious eater, you’ll have a head start! So give yourself an early New Year’s gift and try the app out today.

The secret to a successful New Year