Born to be Big

I just read an article from Newsweek that I want to bring to your attention. Here is the issue according to this article: Is early exposure to common chemicals the problem on why our kids (4 months and younger)are getting fat or being born fat.

This very lengthy article goes on to say that "the prevalence of obesity in infants under 6 months has risen 73 percent since 1980." It then goes onto says according to Robert Lustig of the University of California that "it (infant obesity) poses a problem for conventional explanations of the fattening of America. Since they're eating only formula or breast milk, and never exactly got a lot of exercise, the obvious explanations for obesity doesn't work for babies, You have to look beyond the obvious."

This article goes on to site other well learned scientist and there thoughts on this subject. Reth Newbold of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in North Carolina states, "Exposure to environmental chemicals during development may be contributing to the obesity epidemic." Her argument was that "you eat no more than your skinny friend, and exercise no less, yet you are still unable to shed pounds."

There are many other arguments that are given for chemicals being the culprit to our obesity problem but here are my thoughts.

Whereas I can believe that chemicals do and have an impact on our health I don't believe that it is the only culprit. The bottom line here is that we are lazy Americans. We eat the wrong foods at the wrong time for the wrong reasons and then don't exercise. We use excuses like our work-life, or a sick relative (immediate family), or we mentally use our own physical issues from doing something to get our bodies moving.

Now don't get me wrong I am not saying that everyone needs to go out a run 5 miles a day and eat rabbit food washed down with 8oz water. But what I am saying is that we as adults have settled for second best in our lives and where it is showing ultimately is in our children. We are fatter thus they become fatter. Did you know that if you are a smoker that the likelihood of your children experimenting with it is 100%? Did you know that the alcohol you drink will someday also be drunk by your lovely children? Who do we blame then? Yes, they may be old enough to make their own decisions, but what example did we give them to follow? Yes, "the sins of the father will visit the son".
I remember watching a program on TV where a mother was suing a school district because of a letter her daughter (who was in HS) got in reference to her daughter's health. You see the school was taking an initiative to help their obesity problem by spotting those children that need help in that area and trying to help them. When the girl received the letter of course before she got home she opened it and read it and then cried when she got home. The mother was upset at the school stating that her daughter had the potential of being Obese. The mother was outraged and went to sue the school system. What made this report funny to me was that when they showed pictures of the mother and daughter next to each other, SHE WAS A SPLITTING IMAGE OF HER MOTHER! The question you should ask was is the mother upset at the letter about her daughter or was she upset that the mirror was turned to her and she was embarrassed for the position she put her daughter in by their way of living. I don't know the answer to that question.

In summation whereas I do believe that chemicals have had an effect on our health but I don't believe that it is the "means to and end". We need to stop looking for excuses on our short comings and just get it done. Start eating right and stop using our busy lives as a crutch. Get out and exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Yes rain or shine. 30 minutes will not hurt you. Get out of your comfort zone (God bless America) and get it done. Look for opportunities to exercise instead of opportunities to sit on your butts and complain while eating cookies and ice cream. Trust me it will make a world of difference in our kids and articles like this one will not be written.

Still doing it

I am very proud of Mary and Rick. After the challenge was over their biggest concern was not going backwards. They asked Sally and I many times what they needed to do to continue on the path of better and improved health and fitness. Well guys you are doing it. After the challenge was over it would have been easy to stop doing what got you to lose 115 pounds (rick) or 70 pounds (mary) but you didn't/ You kept it up and for that you are reaping the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. Keep it up.

For those that are reading this blog take their lives as an example of you ability to change. 9 months ago this would not have been possible. Trust me, it wasn't in the cards for them to do. But now they can and somewhat enjoy it. What we as people do is that we get ourselves to a point where we lose a lot of weight and then we go back to what we were doing before that got us to be so heavy and out of shape to begin with. Then you have to start again heavier than you were in the beginning. Once you begin the journey, DON'T STOP! Keep it up. Life will become much sweeter.

If you have any questions please e mail me at parkersplace1@sbcglobal.net or call me at 262-567-0263

Obese people have 'severe brain degeneration'

I read this article about obesity. I DID NOT AUTHOR IT! So don't blame me. Read it and give me your opinion. There are a lot of truths in this article.

A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals, researchers said today.
Those classified as overweight have 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to have aged prematurely by 8 years.
The results, based on brain scans of 94 people in their 70s, represent "severe brain degeneration," said Paul Thompson, senior author of the study and a UCLA professor of neurology.
"That's a big loss of tissue and it depletes your cognitive reserves, putting you at much greater risk of Alzheimer's and other diseases that attack the brain," said Thompson. "But you can greatly reduce your risk for Alzheimer's, if you can eat healthily and keep your weight under control."
The findings are detailed in the online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping.
Obesity packs many negative health effects, including increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers. It's also been shown to reduce sexual activity.
More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization. Another billion are overweight. The main cause, experts say: bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods.
Obese people had lost brain tissue in the frontal and temporal lobes, areas of the brain critical for planning and memory, and in the anterior cingulate gyrus (attention and executive functions), hippocampus (long-term memory) and basal ganglia (movement), the researchers said in a statement today. Overweight people showed brain loss in the basal ganglia, the corona radiata, white matter comprised of axons, and the parietal lobe (sensory lobe).
"The brains of obese people looked 16 years older than the brains of those who were lean, and in overweight people looked 8 years older," Thompson said.
Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. A BMI over 25 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 as obese.
The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Center for Research Resources, and the American Heart Association.
• 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp
• Never Too Late: 5 Bad Habits You Should Still Quit
• More Obesity News & Information
• Original Story: Obese People Have 'Severe Brain Degeneration'
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America is out of shape

I was watching the TV the other day and I notice on "Good Morning America" a lady who was talking about America and our obesity problem. She is their expert nutritionist and to say the least very truthful.

She showed concern on how fat we have come as a nation and the ramifications that it will have on us as a nation. She stated that with the obesity of today this could have a profound effect on our national status as a "Super Power" in the world. She stated that unless we wake up we will find ourselves looking in on what we use to be.

I both agree but disagree with her.

I agree that we are getting heavier every year. I agree that this obesity, for the majority of people, can be stopped. But because of our laziness it hasn't happened. I agree that we know what we have to do we just don't have the desire to do it. I agree that Diabetes (type 2) is up big time and High Blood Pressure is also up and both of these in most cases can be avoided just by exercise. I agree that we eat way to much and at the wrong times and for all the wrong reasons. I agree that we have too many diets and diet plans and this is confusing so many on what is good from what is just a fad.

However I don't agree on our "Super Power" status and this is why. You see she left one major important thing out of her equation, GOD. He gave us that status and no one but him can take it away from us, NO ONE. Yes, we have fallen as a nation and run( and for some walked) far away from God in so many ways. But in the end we are still a Christian nation and a freed people and with this in mind our "Super Power" Status is still very strong.

Remember, only God can take away something that he gave us freely.

For my weight loss challengers 2007, 2008, and 2009

I saw this the other day and I wanted to share it with you.

Dieting may not be fair, but I have two choices: I can feel sorry for myself, stop following my plan,never reach my goal, and contiue to be unhappy with myself. Or I can sympathize with myself but go ahead and do what I know I need to do. Everyone experiences some kind of unfairness in life. This is one of mine. Besides, the greatest unfairness to me would be if I let this excuse prevent me fromreaching a goal I strongly want to achieve.
Please remember that slow and steady wins the race. Stay the course and in the end you will live a better quality life.

thank you

DEAR GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going
to wait until the pain in my body disappears;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I
understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;
I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

my daughter winning

She won everything but the uneven bars. But she won the overall. Good job Peanut Butter.