Even horses get fat!!

[daystar]

So this is what my mom had to say when I suggested that my dad eat more fresh veggies and fruits in place of a handful of chips, peanuts & raisins combo, toasted bread etc... to perhaps help lower his blood pressure and help take some excess weight off of him. I suggested instead of half a ham and cheese sandwich with Tostito chips for lunch he could make a big salad of fresh veggies and greens......."You can get FAT from eating lots of vegetables!" What??!??? I said, "Yeah, if you cook 'em on the stove with salt and butter, then sure!"
"No, no! I'm not talking about that. Even horses will get fat off just grass. That's why everybody worries when the grass starts coming up in their pastures. I've passed by many pasture horses that are quite plump! Yes Mame, you can get fat off vegetables and fruits are just sugar."

I'm personally 31 weeks pregnant and probably eating a 70% raw diet and feel great. I've managed my weight well through this pregnancy unlike my previous two and I actually get quite ill (PO'ed) if I don't get to drink my green smoothie every morning. lol DH isn't quite where I am raw-wise, but he's incorporated a small salad instead of Subway or other horrible food establishment for his lunch every day and loves it. With that one little change he has actually lost a few pounds.

I wish my parents were a bit more open minded about nutrition than they are. Don't get me wrong - they don't eat as horrible as most Americans do and I'm not trying to force or even encourage them to go raw.........but to just incorporate some more freshness into their diets. They don't keep any fresh produce except a few small salad essentials (lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots), a couple of apples, a few bananas.........that's about it. And boy! If I could get them away from milk and cheese.....now that would be something! :D

[piccolittle]

Haha... sorry but that horses comment is pretty funny. With horses, what you tend to worry about is the really rich plants, like mostly clover and other sweet "grasses"(?). They can develop a number of diseases and conditions related to overconsumption and obesity, but of course they gravitate toward the tasty things- they're not eating spinach!

Also, just as a side note, most people feed their horses meals in addition to turning them out, so in reality those overweight horses probably got that way through eating grains, corn, and OIL. (Seriously, look up "sweet feed")...

Guess I miss my pony a little too much lol... sorry for hijacking!

[daystar]

Haha... sorry but that horses comment is pretty funny. With horses, what you tend to worry about is the really rich plants, like mostly clover and other sweet "grasses"(?). They can develop a number of diseases and conditions related to overconsumption and obesity, but of course they gravitate toward the tasty things- they're not eating spinach!

Also, just as a side note, most people feed their horses meals in addition to turning them out, so in reality those overweight horses probably got that way through eating grains, corn, and OIL. (Seriously, look up "sweet feed")...

Guess I miss my pony a little too much lol... sorry for hijacking!

Awww.....sorry about your missing your pony! :( We're actually horse people so yeah, I'm familiar with the sweet feed, grains, and grass delimia you speak of which is why I was kinda thrown for a loop when she said this. :confused:

And we've got one antiquated (sp?) old mare that is eating Equine Senior which is a complete feed plus she's got free reign to come and go from her stall to pasture and my mom is constantly adjusting her feed to control her weight (is she too fat, is she too thin??....) But hey, since I've been here in this world my mom has compared every aspect of life to horses. (Drives DH batty! lol)

[ruffsongraw]

well anything CAN get fat on ANYTHING if they take IN more than they USE consistently. horses--people---cats--dogs--whatever. if they are standing around but eating rich green grass all day, well yah. they can get chubby if they arent being used at all. but a horse usually wont say "oh, i am getting fat, guess i will stop eating now". haha. people are supposed to feel they are "full" and stop, even if raw! as we horsey people know, horses never GET full! haha!
doesnt mean that the food is the prob, its maybe their ACCESS to food.

jen

[Colorawdo girl]

Hahahahhaa..difference is..horses look nice plump...hahahaa. OOOOOOO I love horses. I love their fuzzy fur coats on winter. And baby horse eyelashes.

[Veronica01]

So this is what my mom had to say when I suggested that my dad eat more fresh veggies and fruits in place of a handful of chips, peanuts & raisins combo, toasted bread etc... to perhaps help lower his blood pressure and help take some excess weight off of him. I suggested instead of half a ham and cheese sandwich with Tostito chips for lunch he could make a big salad of fresh veggies and greens......."You can get FAT from eating lots of vegetables!" What??!??? I said, "Yeah, if you cook 'em on the stove with salt and butter, then sure!"
"No, no! I'm not talking about that. Even horses will get fat off just grass. That's why everybody worries when the grass starts coming up in their pastures. I've passed by many pasture horses that are quite plump! Yes Mame, you can get fat off vegetables and fruits are just sugar."

I'm personally 31 weeks pregnant and probably eating a 70% raw diet and feel great. I've managed my weight well through this pregnancy unlike my previous two and I actually get quite ill (PO'ed) if I don't get to drink my green smoothie every morning. lol DH isn't quite where I am raw-wise, but he's incorporated a small salad instead of Subway or other horrible food establishment for his lunch every day and loves it. With that one little change he has actually lost a few pounds.

I wish my parents were a bit more open minded about nutrition than they are. Don't get me wrong - they don't eat as horrible as most Americans do and I'm not trying to force or even encourage them to go raw.........but to just incorporate some more freshness into their diets. They don't keep any fresh produce except a few small salad essentials (lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots), a couple of apples, a few bananas.........that's about it. And boy! If I could get them away from milk and cheese.....now that would be something! :D

Wow sorry to hear that... Um.. My grandpa has a ranch and a few horses he uses just for hunting. He keeps thet AWAY from grass because he says it gives them too much energy and then they're likely to get excited, not listen, or buck you off. He feeds them dried grass only as there's less nutrients. He yells at me when i feed them green weeds outside of the corral lol. Maybe you should tell her that when there is grass on the ground the horses are overeating to save up for winter... they hate dry grass and want to get as much of it as they can until it goes away. Most horses lose a lot of weight in the winter and you have to watch them or they can get sick. I don't think they'd neccessarily be fat on just grass, just have more fat stores. Wild horses would never have to over eat because they're not restricted like ones in corrals who think green grass is a treat.

I just can't believe someone would say that. You should ask her about gorilla's or monkeys and ask if you've ever seen a fat one. All they do is eat fruit and greens and bugs all day...

[Veganforlife]

I personally think it's an assinine comment. Come back with, "Yeah, but they got fat because of some HUMAN's ignorance. Have you ever seen a fat horse that didn't have a human owner?" :confused:

[ruffsongraw]

there are several mustangs on my property and the NATURAL grass they eat isnt so fattening as to make them overwt...the more modern breeds i think are FAR easier keepers b/c they were bred that way on purpose. in NATURE, horses arent fat b/c they are always on the move. when we enclsoe them they & they dont have to run often from predators, they will gain weight b/c htey are basically couch potatoes with too much available to eat. plus the grass they are eating might be planted-on-purpose of a certain type of grass designed to be overly nutritious as opposed to the grass that would grow naturally.
new bright green grass can make them a little hot, and alfalfa does for sure....
yup, humans overfeed their critters all the time (yes, plump is cute IMO tho!) but when they get downright FAT, then there are health issues for sure. just like us!

but, regardless, anyone who comes up with silly comparisons and excuses not to change, doesnt really want to change. they LIKE their food! my dad just said to me the other day that he woudl rather enjoy his food (i dont?) and live less time and/or less healthily than eat only the stuff i am eating and be healthier....so its all about what's yummy that governs most ppl's choices rather than what is appropriate or healthy for humans. (shrug)

jen

[iluvmangos]

And ham and cheese sandwiches and Tostitos make you thin???

Beware the greens and fruit! LOL

[daystar]

ROTFLMAO! You guys are so truthful and hilarious! I love your insights to this comment by my mom! :D