"I'm just saying being overweight isn't necessarily as bad as it seems."
Staci, I have to disagree with that statement 100%. We all have an ideal weight range for our height and those numbers have been the result of decades of data collected from the medical community. Being overweight which is almost always the result of poor eating habits, and lack of adequate exercise...is the cause of many physical disorders in our society. Heart disease, diabetes being the top two chronic disorders that being overweight can cause...physical disorders such as the need for joint replacements is a serious consideration when someone says being overweight isn't necessarily as bad as it seems.
I'm trying not to scold you but you need to really think about what you are telling yourself. You are making excuses so it's 'okay' to be overweight. Eating properly is work. It's always easier to grab a candy bar than make a salad. It's easier to slash open that bag of chips then to cut up an orange or a head of cauliflower. This is why our society is so overweight...everyone wants to do as little work as possible. Conveinence is the name of the game.
Well, you can change that IF you want to. Another poster has said...buy those fresh veggies and cut them up and keep them in the fridge. Then when you want a snack you will be more likely to eat something that's good for you and has fiber in it than to eat junk and crap that is only going to make you fat and possibly contribute to a long term health disorder. Diabetes is in the news everyday and it is a very serious and life altering disease...for which there is no cure. Diabetics rarely live into old age. Think about that...REALLY think about it. Don't you want to see your grandchildren grown up and be at their weddings? I do. And that's why I take good care of myself. My MIL has had two knee replacements because she was then...always 50 pounds overweight. Well, after struggling through the recoveries she has finally started a daily walking program, cut the junk foods out and she NOW is at her ideal weight range. Now, had she just done that 5 years ago she may not have needed those knee replacements. And she still may need a hip replacement but she gets around better since losing the weight. This is what I'm talking about. Not eating healthy so you can fit into a teeny-tiny swimsuit...but thinking about your longterm health. You may be young and vital and overweight now...but if you don't take better care of yourself you will have health issues down the road.
And our society's bad eating habits are also why so many young children are being diagnosed with diabetes every year. They eat too much sugar and they drink too many sugary drinks. And that is the result of our lazy eating habits and it being easier to grab a box of twinkies than make a sandwich after school. Don't even get me started on all the sugar cereals our children eat in this country. How many kids get home from school and what is the snack they grab...a bowl of cereal. And what food is more highly processed and bad for us?
You can change your health simply by changing your eating habits. Stop keeping junk food in the house. Start buying fresh fruits and vegetables and serve them with every meal. Instead of opening that obiquitous can of corn for supper...steam a head of broccoli. The easiest and best way to get more veggies into your daily meals is with stir fries. Cut up any combo of vegetables and toss them in your pan. There are thousands of recipes on the internet and most of them very simple in preparation and ingredients.
Really Staci, what you eat is maybe more important than how much you exercise. Because no amount of exercise can reduce the health risks of a poor diet. I may be lecturing you, but my heart is really in the right place. I want to see you take better care of yourself but only you can do that and all I can do is lecture you from my computer.
I didn't used to be so vocal about good health. I have a very overweight cousin...she's probably at least 200# over weight. She tried and tried for years to get pregnant and finally did conceive twins with an in-vitro procedure. We were all very thrilled for her and her H. They are both wonderful people...always kind and helping others. While she was in labor waiting for her doctor to get there to perform a planned C-section...she had a heart attack. Thank God she is fine and those two babies still have their mother but her doctor kept warning her that labor would not be easy for someone so overweight and the stress on her heart could be life threatening. Well, he was right. She now will be on heart meds for the rest of her life...she's 35 years old. And yes, she is still very overweight and has no plans to lose any of it or improve her eating. So basically she is putting her health at risk given her history with no regard for the two children she brought into this world. That's just maddening to me.
So please, don't be complacent with your health. You may not get a second chance. Every little thing you do today to improve your lifestyle goes a long way to improving your health. Change one bad eating habit a week. Start by eliminating that bag of chips or whatever...and replacing it with pretzels. Drink water and tea instead of pop or fruit juices. Sports drinks are just as bad because they have sugar in them. Keep your house stocked with foods that are not highly processed. Fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables and plenty of fresh fruits and melons. Cut these items up and put into containers so it's easy for you and the other members of your household to just pull them out of the fridge and grab a handful.
Bad habits are hard to break and good habits are just as hard to start but with effort you can do it!
