B23 wrote:It's a sad reality. It's easy to be obese in America. You can go to McDonalds and get hundreds of calories for a few bucks. You can buy a 12 pack of Pepsi with 1000+ calories for a few bucks. It's easy to be fat in America.
Beyond the simplicity of getting large quantities of calories at low prices is the enabling of obese people. Too fat to walk more than a hundred feet? Here's a scooter. Too fat to walk across the parking lot? Here's a handicap sticker. Too fat to run in gym class? Here's a doctor's note kiddo.
Our sedentary society is largely to blame, but personal responsibility must also be looked at. Our jobs have changed from working the fields to sitting at a desk. Rather than playing outside we sit at computers/TV/video games. I too am like this. But at some point you have to face the reality that your consumption must be curtailed to avoid becoming obese.
You are correct, B23, as far as it goes.
A couple of years ago, while on my annual Mother-Daughter outing with my mom, my sisters, and my daughter, my mom asked the question: if you could go back and do one thing over again, what would it be? My answer surprised them all: I wouldn't take the Prednisone. Even though I was in agony, it was nothing compared to what is every day for me now. Had I know then what I know now, I'd have just gritted my teeth and endured the pain. That 3 month period of my life drastically altered the rest of my days, and it's been a domino effect struggle ever since.
Do I exercise? Not like you do. I can't. Do I walk across parking lots? Not like you do. I can't. Do I play video games? No. Do I sit at a desk all day and half the night? Yes. Why? Because I can accomplish many of my goals by doing so. However, that doesn't mean I don't garden, don't string my Christmas lights around my trees and shrubs, don't do my housework. That just means that I pay for every step I take, every time I raise my arms, every movement.
Am I losing weight? Yes, finally I found something that helps. I'm down 31 pounds in the last 3 months. But is it a struggle? Yes. Many of my meds increase appetite, which multiplies my GERD issues. Many days, I live on Imodium and Gaviscon. But I've lost a size and continue my slow downward pace.
It's not helpful, though, to be told it's all my fault, that I've eaten too many Big Macs (I hate Big Macs. I prefer Whoppers), or couldn't keep my hand out of the bag of M&Ms. You're right that it's a lot cheaper to eat poorly. Fresh fruit and vegetables are expensive. Regular hamburger is a lot cheaper than a lean roast. I'm able to afford that sort of thing now because my family is gone and I no longer feed hordes of hungry boys. I've been to 6 months of nutrition counseling (with the idea of doing the lap band, but abandoned that idea when it didn't work for my sister in law) and learned a few helpful tricks, but eating right is still a struggle. Having people make fun of me or people like me, with no thought that my circumstances differ from theirs doesn't help.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.