tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post5226055523584759939..comments2024-03-15T04:01:53.036-04:00Comments on Cranky Fitness: Fat and Getting FatterCrabby McSlackerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-34537383026174910312010-02-22T08:05:02.213-05:002010-02-22T08:05:02.213-05:00Eh, who cares if we're all fat. We're the ...Eh, who cares if we're all fat. We're the richest most powerful nation in the world. We deserve to live large.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-53336985264343626832008-11-24T08:06:00.000-05:002008-11-24T08:06:00.000-05:00Once upon a time we:worked the fields (now conside...Once upon a time we:<BR/>worked the fields (now considered way below us), <BR/>we walked most placed (tsk! tsk! that's only for those who can't afford cars and let's not forget golf carts),<BR/>climbed up stairs (who needs those when we can afford to live in apartment buildings that have escalators and lifts)<BR/><BR/>etc... etc... seems to me that as we've got more status conscious, the less we use our legs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-69632079885784998222007-09-10T07:30:00.000-04:002007-09-10T07:30:00.000-04:00Hi Lady Rose!I love your rants especially because ...Hi Lady Rose!<BR/>I love your rants especially because you always sound so reasonable even while you're working up to full steam! And as I recall you've had great ones making these very same points. We're probably preaching to the choir, but you never knows when there's an ambivalent soul out there who might be converted.Crabby McSlackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-77792605205514788122007-09-09T16:17:00.000-04:002007-09-09T16:17:00.000-04:00A good rant always feel good! :) Keep shouting...A good rant always feel good! :) Keep shouting out the positive message and someone will hear eventually. If enough of keep chanting the truth and getting healthy it does make a difference - even if we don't see that difference right away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-4845054458565138272007-08-30T13:15:00.000-04:002007-08-30T13:15:00.000-04:00I usually don't worry about buying organic, though...I usually don't worry about buying organic, though recently I'm trying to focus on buying local produce. But even before I was doing that, I was shopping at the extra cheap vegetable market, and getting everything else at a big chain grocery store (healthy stuff, but not from the expensive organic aisle), and I was still spending about $60-$70/week. I always do all my own cooking, and end up using almost all my food by the end of the week, so it's really hard. Could be the geography - I live in Boston, which has one of the highest cost of living standards in the country, so it could be that there's just no way around it if I buy mostly produce and meat.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-56000805835050970652007-08-30T07:44:00.000-04:002007-08-30T07:44:00.000-04:00Sorry folks, a bit behind so these are lame:Jim,Wh...Sorry folks, a bit behind so these are lame:<BR/><BR/>Jim,<BR/>What an awesome and honest comment! <BR/><BR/>Jamie, welcome and thanks!<BR/><BR/>Lisa, sorry for the rushed response this morning. Great observations. And 5 weeks, huh? Exciting!<BR/><BR/>Kery, yeah, and I've seen a Mom buy her chubby kid TWO of them.<BR/><BR/>Marie, I know, wasn't that quiz outrageous?<BR/><BR/>Sarah, some really good suggestions. And yeah, it's definitely harder when you're poor to take care of your health.<BR/> <BR/>Missicat, good for you! Hope it went well. Take it from Jim, it does eventually suck less.<BR/><BR/>Leth, I too was impressed by Lisa's budget. I think food cost vary tremendously too, depending on where you can purchase things. <BR/><BR/>Marijke, I love your puns!<BR/>And I think it's great your daughter eats so healthy even though she could "afford," appearance-wise, to load up on junk like other kids her age.<BR/><BR/>Vanilla--I believe it too. Colorado seems like a really healthy state and seems to attract active people.<BR/><BR/>Lisa--way to go with careful shopping!<BR/><BR/>Hi Steph! State Fairs seem like the perfect way to see a more accurate picture of what America really looks like--way more accurate than TV.<BR/><BR/>Jennifer,<BR/>Yes, you had a great rant on this same topic! And good point about junk food and community safety.Crabby McSlackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-24600826347873702392007-08-30T04:06:00.000-04:002007-08-30T04:06:00.000-04:00I'm so depressed about this whole fat country thin...I'm so depressed about this whole fat country thing... There is absolutely nothing that works. It pisses me off that people are raising their kids so poorly. But believe me, I've written about it and ranted about it and I take my little out in the fresh air but still, most little kids are getting bigger and bigger. You know what I think; ban fast food and increase community safety. People don't even let their kids outside anymore because of safety but I'm not so sure the alternative of sitting inside and gaining weight is safe either.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11619288792228194391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-39300748883628897312007-08-30T02:19:00.000-04:002007-08-30T02:19:00.000-04:00I just went to the state fair and I believe it whe...I just went to the state fair and I believe it when you say that Americans are getting fatter. Wowza.Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03453698957764718547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-1892757889917384642007-08-29T21:56:00.000-04:002007-08-29T21:56:00.000-04:00The Lethological Reader - Well, I suppose it depen...The Lethological Reader - <BR/>Well, I suppose it depends on how you define "good healthy food" too. If you define it as everything HAS to be organic and from someplace like Whole Foods, then there's no way you'd be able to stick to that budget, heh. The more you're willing to cook from scratch, the cheaper it is, too.<BR/><BR/>We live on a military base and shop at the commissary. We buy whole grain stuff, various meats, fresh and frozen veggies and fruits. And of course some convenience foods, but for those we usually spring for organic (like Amy's Kitchen and Stoneyfield Farms brands - soooo tasty).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-38262406861735409462007-08-29T20:42:00.000-04:002007-08-29T20:42:00.000-04:00I'm so happy that Colorado made it onto the "good"...I'm so happy that Colorado made it onto the "good" list.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15875001377964050508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-71445798844647867512007-08-29T19:55:00.000-04:002007-08-29T19:55:00.000-04:00oops! forgot to check in for my favourite blogger ...oops! forgot to check in for my favourite blogger today.<BR/><BR/>Good post Crabby. I agree with you. I've wanted to do a posting on obesity, but after the lambasting I got with the skin screen, I'm a little burnt (sorry, still can't resist those puns).<BR/><BR/>My daughter is a tiny thing. She's 5'6" but weighs less than 100 lbs. But the kid (she's 18) eats like a proverbial horse. She's eating food all day long. Good food! Fruits, veggies, she doesn't eat beef or pork, only chicken or fish. Nothing breaded, nothing unhealthy. I'm so envious of her and her wonderful diet. People have insinuated that she may have an eating disorder. I snort and say "yeah, she LOVES food." I guess she's one of those fast metabolism people we keep hearing about.Marijke Vroomen-Durninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436563110710429784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-16135528449910216322007-08-29T16:13:00.000-04:002007-08-29T16:13:00.000-04:00Whoa, Lisa, please tell me where you're shopping f...Whoa, Lisa, please tell me where you're shopping for food if you can get good healthy food for $150-$200/mo for two people!<BR/><BR/>I attempt to keep my weekly food shopping down to $75, but it's hard, and that's just for me!The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-91772098787102736802007-08-29T13:21:00.000-04:002007-08-29T13:21:00.000-04:00Hitting the gym tonight...please send painfree tho...Hitting the gym tonight...please send painfree thoughts my way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-54244095276402140172007-08-29T13:04:00.000-04:002007-08-29T13:04:00.000-04:00Preaching to the choir, sure, but at the same time...Preaching to the choir, sure, but at the same time, there are probably people that we all know that fall into this category and could use some help. Make something healthy but tasty for them to show them that eating healthy doesn't have to be just carrot sticks and oatmeal. Go for a walk with them-- show that small steps are the best start, and that the hardest part often is getting off the sofa.<BR/><BR/>And yes, for people with lower incomes, it can be very difficult to afford healthy food. Yes, cabbage and potatoes are cheap, but people need variety-- you can get a whole lot of crappy food at, say, $1.50 for a meal (little pasta mixes or canned soup or a box of Twinkies). Trust me, I'm trying to get through a 5 lb bag of potatoes on my own before it goes bad because it's cheap. (Grad school student.) Plus, people who have lower incomes usually work more manual-labor jobs or are on their feet, or work more than one job-- these people don't want to come home and cook. It's easier to pop a TV dinner in the microwave or stop by a pizza place on the way home (as I'm sure most people can identify with). Until real food becomes cheaper and the disparity between classes improves, it will only get worse.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242584402907862830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-55310324313262004792007-08-29T12:59:00.000-04:002007-08-29T12:59:00.000-04:00i can NOT believe the food they deem NOT to be jun...i can NOT believe the food they deem NOT to be junk food in the US - what are we serving to our poor little kiddlings?!mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16967370079264918525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-57271952712544431202007-08-29T12:51:00.000-04:002007-08-29T12:51:00.000-04:00Re: Geosomin's comment, it reminded me how we went...Re: Geosomin's comment, it reminded me how we went in a "WTF?" fit the other day at McDonald's, looking at the so-called 'nutritional information sheets' on our platters. It proudly displayed a 536 calories for a Happy Meal. I'd be ashamed to feed that quantity for so little a nutritious value to an adult, lest to a child... knowing that I can whip up a much, much better and healthier meal for less calories (and that's including rice or pasta). Yuck. No wonder people get fatter and fatter if even those tiny portion contain that much, uh, fattening energy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-82485789123853383422007-08-29T11:41:00.000-04:002007-08-29T11:41:00.000-04:00I've actually started to cook more as my pregnancy...I've actually started to cook more as my pregnancy has gone on and it seems to me that if you have a reasonable food budget ($150-$200 a month for 2 people), you can make healthy meals. Even a sandwich can be healthy!<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I do understand the other side of the argument. For six months, my best friend (and roommate at the time) and I spent $50-$75 a MONTH on food. At that level, you worry about getting the most food for your dollar. Unfortunately, the 'most food' is crap food much of the time. <BR/><BR/>My main motivation for getting back into shape is our soon-to-be-born kiddo (OMG! MY DUE DATE'S IN 5 WEEKS??!!). I know I won't reach my goals overnight (or in 6 weeks, or likely even in 6 months) and I know it'll be REALLY hard, but I'm committed to doing it. I'm scared to death of being a fat mom and I never want our child to be a fat kid like I was (unlikely given his father's genes, but you never know). <BR/><BR/>And that test? Doesn't that make you want to pack a lunch for SOMEONE ELSE'S kid?? It's bad enough that many schools have cut (or will cut) PE programs and recess for more standardized test preparation. Crap food + no exercise + sitting in class for 6-7 hours a day + more homework = Fat Kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-88046761004815559462007-08-29T11:38:00.000-04:002007-08-29T11:38:00.000-04:00"This post is really for the people not reading it..."This post is really for the people not reading it right now"<BR/>Hahaha... That's a great line. Great site!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-47108003799770808392007-08-29T11:32:00.000-04:002007-08-29T11:32:00.000-04:00Every week I tell myself: "Monday, wednesday, frid...Every week I tell myself: "Monday, wednesday, friday. I AM going to my cousin's gym after work, and I WILL run for forty minutes and lift for forty more."<BR/><BR/>And then I don't.<BR/><BR/>The problem with physical exercise is that when you first get into it it's just...not pleasant. I first started working out back when I was living in Japan and, due to gaps my class schedule and the impracticality of taking a train back to my apartment during them, had a huge block of empty time every day. Our campus had a workout room; I decided, what the hell, it was better than wasting every moment on the internet.<BR/><BR/>At first it Sucked. It sucked and furthermore was Not Fun. I would leave panting and unhappy every day. But as I continued, got slimmer, got stronger, I started lookin' forward to it--and even went on a few runs by my apartment complex late at night, too.<BR/><BR/>Then I got back to America and was Busy again, and since then I've barely made a dent in my horrid state of fitness. I'm not all that fat, but my BMI is high, and I worry about my heart (high cholesterol runs in my family)...and yet, I can't seem to get over those unpleasant first few exercise sessions.<BR/><BR/>At least I know there's eventually something to look forward to. I bet most of the Americans who never do <I>any</I> physical activity just assume exercising will <I>always</I> be an unpleasant, painful, gross ordeal.<BR/><BR/>In short: damn.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598437779185407354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-82279397274630626412007-08-29T11:19:00.000-04:002007-08-29T11:19:00.000-04:00Hilary,Ah shameless punning, the best way to start...Hilary,<BR/>Ah shameless punning, the best way to start off the comment process--I love it!<BR/><BR/>Holly,<BR/>I totally agree about the cultural laziness here in the U.S.--you see it not only physically but intellectually as well. Not a terrible rant at all, just the truth!<BR/><BR/>Leah, excellent points! Although it seems like even physical laborers are often overweight, at least in the U.S.! <BR/><BR/>And gosh, what a good time for the blogher ads Snack Chips (or whatever they are) to appear! A bit of an embarrassing juxtaposition. At least they've got fruit in 'em or something. But geez, timing...<BR/><BR/>Kery,<BR/>I got madder and madder taking that thing! It's truly insane.<BR/><BR/>Katieo,<BR/>It must be so hard with kids! They get exposed to all these influences and have a hard time understanding why the don't get to have what 'all the other' kids get, even if the 'other kids' are being slowly poisoned! Good for you for fighting the battle.<BR/><BR/>Dr. J,<BR/>Way to segue from the previous post! :)<BR/><BR/>Lethological,<BR/>Yeah, I can see where your mom's coming from (I'm sort of known as a "health freak" despite my cupcake consumption) but you can't really do more for other people other than offer a healthy example and hope they ask questions about why you're choosing the foods you are. Otherwise, you're right, you just end up pissing them off and they don't change their behavior anyway.<BR/><BR/>Geosomin,<BR/>Yeah isn't that disturbing to see kids whose parents are right there eating like that? It almost seems like Child Neglect. And I'm with you--it's scary to think people have NO time to take care of their health--or that their priorities are so mixed up they don't think they do.<BR/><BR/>Pelikan,<BR/>That's a really good point about the true cost of unhealthy eating! And you're right, there are a lot of healthy foods that don't cost much, like beans (especially in bulk) and brown rice and unfashionable vegetables like cabbage. Even some meat is cheap! But most people prefer the taste and convenience of junk food.Crabby McSlackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-13977454107891652812007-08-29T10:22:00.000-04:002007-08-29T10:22:00.000-04:00Everyone says that money is an issue, but I wonder...Everyone says that money is an issue, but I wonder. Is really a normally sized serving of healthy food more expensive than the usually oversized serving of unhealthy food? Onions and cabbage are really cheap, and an occasional steak doesn't cost much in the US. At least take a normal serving of the unhealthy stuff, and you're already better off! If, on top of food cost, you count the health care bills and petrol for the car (instead of a cheap bike), I wonder what lifestyle costs less money (not to mention which one is more joyful!) <BR/><BR/>I think that a bit of laziness and a lot of ignorance that are the main culprits, not the wallet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-3856737576920694252007-08-29T10:18:00.000-04:002007-08-29T10:18:00.000-04:00I saw a child at the mall food court the other day...I saw a child at the mall food court the other day order a double burger meal with large fries and shake and eat it all herself. She couldn't have been older than 12 and must've been at least 30 lb overweight...already. And her Mom just smiled as she ate it.<BR/>Shouldn't parents be teaching their kids how to live healthier? It could spark a whole new generation of healthier people...<BR/><BR/>I worry that soon we won't know what healthy IS.<BR/>I keep hearing from my coworkers that they'd love to exercise more or eat healthier or cook fro themselves more but they just don't have the time. How can you not have time for yourself...not ever.<BR/>Scares me more than a bit.Geosominhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15729167937433295927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-12862769614885102592007-08-29T09:18:00.000-04:002007-08-29T09:18:00.000-04:00It's so difficult too, because you have to walk su...It's so difficult too, because you have to walk such a fine line when talking to people about their diets and exercise regimens - my mother goes over the top and tries to press her healthy agenda on everyone and just ends up pissing people off. But it's hard to get some of the lazy people (who could afford to eat well but either are too lazy or just don't know how) to understand what's good for them (and tastes good too!) without coming off as sounding like you think your way is the only way that's right.<BR/><BR/>That quiz was definitely appalling. By the end I was just asking myself which food was worse for me, and selecting that as the best, and getting them right. Very depressing.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-68808258602478931542007-08-29T09:16:00.000-04:002007-08-29T09:16:00.000-04:00Cock-A-Doodle-Do!!(You know who's rooster says:"Ti...Cock-A-Doodle-Do!!<BR/><BR/>(You know who's rooster says:"Time to wake up!")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-82143967105436784352007-08-29T09:10:00.000-04:002007-08-29T09:10:00.000-04:00To be honest, I got a little choked up when I read...To be honest, I got a little choked up when I read this post. So true. I feel like I'm fighting a war when it comes to my kids and eating.katieohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08339475353059389950noreply@blogger.com