Yesterday’s blog about the obesity crisis got a lot of comments. I lent it to my Clarion-Ledger blog and the CL put it on their website’s front page. People shared their weight-loss journeys and they inspired me. I had a couple of folks try to argue with me by using my own points — and that confused me a little. One person messaged me last night and said that it is more than just a personal responsibility issue. I disagree — it’s all about making better choices. But where I do agree with my friend is that problems arise when good choices are hard to come by. Food deserts come to mind — areas (like the Delta) where nutritious food is hard to come by. And I know that the price and convenience of the dollar menu at the fast food joint is a siren’s song when you’re tired, broke and the kids need to be fed. But I still say at the end of the day, it’s your choice. It’s your choice to drink water instead a soda. It’s your choice to cut back your portions. It’s your choice to get out and walk 30 minutes several times a week. (and don’t give me, “I work two jobs and don’t have time” crap. I work three jobs and I make time). It’s your choice to police what and how much of what you stick into your mouth. It’s your choice to get up and get moving.
But most of the comments were very inspirational. I discovered you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. That you’re hungry for ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Thanks for sharing your stories with me.
I ran 3.1o miles (a 5K) this morning on a flat course. I took it easy because my hip hurts. Dr. Experience tells me it is most likely my IT band and that I need to stretch more. I really pushed hard on Monday and this is Mother Nature’s way of reminding me I am not as young as I used to be. It feels fine now — it’s more of a dull pain than anything else. My advice to anyone exercising is this: When it comes to injuries, listen to your body. It is pretty good at letting you know when you have a real problem or now.
When I attempted to button my jeans, I knew that it was time for a change. To establish a baseline, I stepped my old 5’8″ self on the scales on May 4 and flat fainted when I looked at the reading: 197.6. With better eating habits, outdoor working, sweating, sensible running and walking and the addition of a tbs of chia to my Greek yogurt for breakfast, I saw tangible results. Last Friday, I tipped the scales at 172.2, buttoned my jeans and went to town. To establish and maintain tone, I workout with hand weights and do pushups 3 or 4 times a week. A reading of 165 is not just a dream anymore.
The link leads to an article that was published in November 2008, but the information is still pertinent. Of particular interest is the theory that walking 30 minutes a day may reduce healthcare costs related to type 2 diabetes by as much as 50%. The bottom line is that those who do they the walking will lose weight and become healthy.
http://www.rd.com/health/healthcare/18-ideas-to-reform-health-care-now/
Don’t think you’re talking about my comment because I posted in the middle of the day and not last night…although I did touch on the fact that the government is ruining our foods. You’re right – we are doing it to ourselves. Even with foods being altered, there are different choices out there. Make the decision to eat less, to eat whole foods, to drink that water, to get off the couch, put the phone or computer down, to turn off the TV, to go outside, to play, to run, to find a physical hobby you like. It makes all the difference in the world if you do!