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Mom, can I please have some fat?
Feb. 3rd, 2007 06:45 pmI'm sure you've seen the commercials - an innocent cherubic looking child gazes lovingly at the camera, as if the camera is a loving parent, and asks the camera-parent for fat, diabetes, early death, etc. As wild as these commercials may seem to be, they just aren't particularly far off.
I really hope I am not coming off as preachy or harsh when I talk about healthy eating or excercise or anything like that. Its just that - it really is an important thing that I don't believe enough people take seriously. Heck, I enjoy ice cream and pizza just like anybody else. One of my guilty pleasures is the greasy Chinese take-out a few blocks away. But like with any other vice, all things should be in moderation. This is where I feel many people tend to do themselves harm.
Take what happened yesterday. Saturday marked our first full day off of our cleansing fast. Giley and I began our day with a nice omelet, and for dinner I put together some split pea soup n' ham. Needing some ingredients, I headed over to the grocery store for some much-needed shopping. As I stood in the checkout, I looked over my groceries - fresh produce, oatmeal, low-fat granola, juice, etc. No canned goods, no prepackaged meals. Behind me in line stood a woman with her three kids. One could not help but notice this family. The woman was not "rubenesque" or "big-boned". She was obese - grossly, grossly obese. Her kids were all very, very fat, and obviously heading in the same direction as mom. The first thing she plopped down on the checkout platform? Sugar-coated Frosted Flakes. Followed by ice cream... followed by prepackaged frozen dinners. I looked back at my groceries, and then looked at hers. I looked at myself, and then looked at her.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!!!!! This woman is literally killing herself and her family with bad nutrition. I felt horrible. Childhood obesity is one of the largest growing (no pun intended) problems we are facing. The next generation will be plagued with diabetes, heart failure, resporatory problems, etc., etc., etc. This country sees more gastric bi-passes than anywhere else in the world. For some people, they really do have metabolism problems. Others? They just want a surgery rather than a lifechange.
Le Sigh.
In our politically correct society, it just isn't polite to refer to people as fat anymore. It isn't "polite" to even comment upon such things. We are supposed to be tolerant of all people with all shapes and sizes, right? We're supposed to go out of our way to cater to such things, right?
BULLSHIT!
I'm not picking on people who have some pounds to shed - heck, I have pounds to shed. I'm not picking on "the fat kid in the classroom." I WAS the fat kid in the classroom. I'm worried about people who just refuse to take care of themselves. I'm worried about parents who give in to their children's tantrums by feeding them sugar and fat. I'm talking about people who are grossly, grossly overweight to the point where they are putting their health at risk.
WAKE UP AMERICA! It may cause you pain and anquish to step away from that doughnut. But that is NOTHING compared to what you might be facing down the road. How's for a double-scoop of THAT reality?!
I really hope I am not coming off as preachy or harsh when I talk about healthy eating or excercise or anything like that. Its just that - it really is an important thing that I don't believe enough people take seriously. Heck, I enjoy ice cream and pizza just like anybody else. One of my guilty pleasures is the greasy Chinese take-out a few blocks away. But like with any other vice, all things should be in moderation. This is where I feel many people tend to do themselves harm.
Take what happened yesterday. Saturday marked our first full day off of our cleansing fast. Giley and I began our day with a nice omelet, and for dinner I put together some split pea soup n' ham. Needing some ingredients, I headed over to the grocery store for some much-needed shopping. As I stood in the checkout, I looked over my groceries - fresh produce, oatmeal, low-fat granola, juice, etc. No canned goods, no prepackaged meals. Behind me in line stood a woman with her three kids. One could not help but notice this family. The woman was not "rubenesque" or "big-boned". She was obese - grossly, grossly obese. Her kids were all very, very fat, and obviously heading in the same direction as mom. The first thing she plopped down on the checkout platform? Sugar-coated Frosted Flakes. Followed by ice cream... followed by prepackaged frozen dinners. I looked back at my groceries, and then looked at hers. I looked at myself, and then looked at her.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!!!!! This woman is literally killing herself and her family with bad nutrition. I felt horrible. Childhood obesity is one of the largest growing (no pun intended) problems we are facing. The next generation will be plagued with diabetes, heart failure, resporatory problems, etc., etc., etc. This country sees more gastric bi-passes than anywhere else in the world. For some people, they really do have metabolism problems. Others? They just want a surgery rather than a lifechange.
Le Sigh.
In our politically correct society, it just isn't polite to refer to people as fat anymore. It isn't "polite" to even comment upon such things. We are supposed to be tolerant of all people with all shapes and sizes, right? We're supposed to go out of our way to cater to such things, right?
BULLSHIT!
I'm not picking on people who have some pounds to shed - heck, I have pounds to shed. I'm not picking on "the fat kid in the classroom." I WAS the fat kid in the classroom. I'm worried about people who just refuse to take care of themselves. I'm worried about parents who give in to their children's tantrums by feeding them sugar and fat. I'm talking about people who are grossly, grossly overweight to the point where they are putting their health at risk.
WAKE UP AMERICA! It may cause you pain and anquish to step away from that doughnut. But that is NOTHING compared to what you might be facing down the road. How's for a double-scoop of THAT reality?!
