Michelle Obama and the fight against obesity
Michelle Obama is in a tradition of First Ladies who don't want to be simply smiling supporters for their man (Patron Saint, Eleanor Roosevelt). But it is a tricky business, finding something meaty enough to be meaningful without straying too far into controversial preserves of elected politicians a la Hillary.
Mrs Obama has settled for motherhood and less apple pie. The First Lady will today, if you'll pardon the inappropriate expression, put some flesh on the bones of her campaign to slim down the US's kids. A White House event followed by Larry King Live, no less.
She has already warned that America's current young people are the nation's first generation heading towards being less healthy and dying earlier than their parents. She says she wants to "change the health status of an entire generation."
We already know in outline her prescription: more exercise, better school meals, and greater access to healthy foods, particularly in the inner cities. She'll have on hand young athletes, the Watkins Hornets to help her with the former, Will Allen from the group Growing Power for the latter.
The First Gardener obviously wants to lead by example but I am interested to see what the balance will be between exhortation and enforceable prescription.
One online Black magazine, Root, argues it comes down where you tax and spend, not just personal choice. Others suspect it is all a plot by school dinner ladies' unions.
For Michelle of course has another ally beyond the Hornets and Mr Allen: her husband. Before her White House event he is signing a Presidential memorandum on childhood obesity. Again, watch for how far this will go beyond warm words into the deeply political.
In passing, I'm touched some of you noticed my absence last week. Not a hasty trip to Argentina that some suspected but child care, school runs, bedtimes but especially cooking meals.
Michelle, I hope, would approve of their thoughtful preparation and freshness, if not their total calories.
I’m Mark Mardell, the BBC's North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)
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BCPL - Your email really proves how divided and broken your American society is. The last time I checked, it's people that share your political views who are the heftiest. Therefore, if I were you' I'd applaud the effort the wonderful first lady is making.
I'd implore you to get a passport and travel outside the US. You'll be surprised at how advanced the rest of the world is. Try it. Go on. Get a passport. You might grow up.
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Well, at least it's a nice change from the Reagan administration's position that, "Ketchup is a vegetable."
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this is a proper venue for a first spouse. Laura Bush promoted literacy.
I am a big critic of Michelle Obama but she can do nothing but good here.
We have a major obesity problem in this country and although I am against the food police we need to be more health concious.
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I hope she gets a lot done on the issue in the 3 years I hope she has remaining in the position...
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Michelle Obama's cause, in addition to addressing a very serious problem afflicting our society, is consistent with tghe traditional role of First Ladies in the USA, a tradition that goes back as far as:
Mary Todd Lincoln
An ardent abolitionist and supporter of the Contraband Relief Association, the organization that provided housing, jobs, and medical care to recently freed slaves.
Nancy Reagan
Promoted drug education and awareness.
Barbara Bush
Focused on the eradication of illiteracy.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Was a tireless champion of healthcare reform to provide medical care to all Americans.
Laura Bush
Was a strong supporter of efforts to promote reading and education.
I wish Michelle Obama well, but I am afraid her chances of success are nil. Our eating habits and our tendency to spend our leisure time watching TV or playing video games are not going to change and the subtle, or perhaps not so subtle, opposition from the fast food and junk food industry is bound t be as effective as the opposition of the insurance industry to healthcare reform. Obviously, she will also be the target of the most radical elements of our society who only see evil in anything the Obama's do.
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Personal computers are killing Americans by luring them to sit in a chair all day staring at a screen. But our mouse clicking muscles are in fine shape. I am appalled at how structured children's lives are today. Instead of being dragged from one adult organized activity after school to another, they should be out running around playing in unstructured activities they define for themselves, not defined for them by adults. Growing up in New York City I played traditional New York City street games and all children I knew had more than enough physical activities doing the things they wanted to do instead of their parents idea of what childhood should be. The substitution of high fat high sugar take out food for home cooking because housewives are too busy themselves to cook anymore and families not eating together at a regular time also contributes to obesiety. Hanging out at the local mall is not physical activity. Riding a bicycle or playing softball at the local schoolyard is. Homework has also become a substitute for classroom teaching. There is far too much after school academic activity, not nearly enough real academic activity going on inside schools. Schools should get back to basics of teaching English, math, science, and social studies. A return to art and music education would be good. Gym is important. The rest should be jetisoned as useless. The move to "organic" and "natural" foods is a complete scam, fraud, is useless, and a big waste of money. The ordinary foods American agribusiness that constitute what is offered mostly in American supermarkets is safe and nourishing enough to meet all nutritional needs. American consumers shoule wise up and reject food fadists who have made an industry out of unwarranted fears they instill.
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I'm amazed at how many books, articles, DVDs, diet clubs and whatever else, survive on just four words: 'EAT LESS, EXERCISE MORE'
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All y'all: back in those far-off days of yesteryear when I was a child and television was a one-set-per-household luxury, there was something children did called PLAYING. I recall a whole neighborhood of children from toddlers up to pre-teens, rambling more or less in a pack through everyone's more or less interconnected yards and alleys. Here is what we did: played games like Kick the Can, Hide and Seek and Sardines; made up dramas and re-enacted fairytales like Cinderella; played Cops&Robbers, Cowboys&Indians and War...lots of variations of War from Civil to WWII. We also played variations on baseball, kickball and football as we grew older...with no uniforms, no parental organization and no league schedule. We just played and guess what? We burnt off those calories like mad.
Get the game consoles out of those grimy little fists and kick they little butts out to the swingsets and bicycles!
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@Mark: Welcome back! I trust that the sick ones will heal soon.
@all: I applaud Michelle O's efforts. May she be successful, Dominick. We need it badly.
I am one who is struggling valiantly to restore a proper weight after years and years of illness extending back to childhood. I've always been overweight, except for a couple of brief periods. My doctor finally put me on 10,000 steps (about 5 miles) per day a month ago. When I said I didn't really have the time she said, "Make the time". It's that important.
I had another doctor who said, "Find something you like to do and then figure out how to do it while walking on the treadmill." Good advice...I mounted a computer screen on the treadmill and can now do that while walking. With large fonts on the screen it works reasonably well, and a trackball vs. a mouse works well as well (not to mention being easier on the wrist).
Another one of those "Why didn't I understand this?" things: My doctor tells me that the reason my weight has gone up is that I didn't take time to maintain muscle mass, particularly in my upper body. If that muscle mass is not used regularly, it shrinks. If the food intake isn't adjusted downward to compensate, the weight shoots up. In other words, walking is not enough! My doctor told me to go find some weights and start using them daily. Pushups and situps are also good to build and maintain those muscles.
Nobody told us as kids that we would have to make a special effort to maintain our physical health as we got older. For sure, if Michelle O's efforts can help even some kids to turn away from fat stuff and be healthier, that's a good thing.
All this isn't easy, but it sure beats dying early and leaving my wife alone.
Side note: Oversized food portions at restaurants aren't helpful. They waste resources, encourage people to overeat, and drive up costs. How useful is this? Nope, don't want to regulate it...we should just stop patronizing the places that "don't get it".
@7 (MAII): "I am appalled at how structured children's lives are today. Instead of being dragged from one adult organized activity after school to another, they should be out running around playing in unstructured activities they define for themselves, not defined for them by adults."
I agree with MAII wrt unstructured play. We used not only our bodies but also our imaginations! Large rocks were spaceships and forts, the trees in the neighbor's backyard were the jungle, and we won the battles and saved the day! It not only exercised our bodies, it stimulated our minds and hearts. We got skinned knees and bruises and cuts, and we got up and dusted ourselves off and kept going (most of the time).
"Schools should get back to basics of teaching English, math, science, and social studies. A return to art and music education would be good. Gym is important. The rest should be jetisoned as useless."
I wish I had known as a child just how important "gym" was. I wasn't a physical star; even then I was more interested in books and learning than in physical things. Seems to me that teaching children to take care of their adult bodies and lives would be an important skill taught in school, but maybe we don't seem to value it as much as we should.
I can't say firsthand how much of childhood education has been lost or made ineffective because I don't have children in the system. My relatives and co-workers with children tell me that much of what is done in these areas has become ineffective with regard to actually preparing children to be responsible adult citizens. If that's the case, then we haven't done right by our children. The teachers I talk to tell me that discipline problems are the biggest problem they face, and keep them from teaching effectively. Again, if that's the case then we haven't done right by our kids.
I do know that "teaching to the test" shows only that we haven't used our computer technology correctly. Instead of a 500-question test, we should use our computers to have a question pool that's 500,000 questions deep, and every child gets an individual test. That way there's no cheating, and no possibility of teaching to the test. We'd probably hate the test scores for the first 10 years or so, but so what? We'd finally be getting a real picture of what our kids could really do with what knowledge we have given them. That will never happen, though.
Regards,
Arclight
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Ref 9, carolinalady
"...swingsets and bicycles!"
I enjoyed your post, but the sad reality is that those whose children spend time outdoors riding their bikes are the lucky ones.
Most kids today spend their time in front of the TV watching their favorite shows, on the phone talking to friends or texting, or playing video games.
Considering the alternatives, riding bikes is a gift from Heaven!
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Mark,
Obesity , and promises from politicians.
We don't have to swallow all that gets dished out on our plates yet half the problem is we are seduced by the packaging.
A 'greasy Joe' offering from a cafe / restaurant would hardly appeal to anybody but with exchanging the plastic utensils and paper towel for stainless steel cutlery and a crisp linen table napkin we could be forced to rethink about the venue we have chosen or been placed in. The same goes for school dinners versus the Cola, cookies and Mars bar lunch box
I do believe you have put your finger on the crux of the obesity argument, when you mention your snowday cook ups at home. Any meal that can be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere where one has all the time in the world to prepare and digest it, and drink in the conversation of our convivial fellow diners is a veritable feast. It is all a question of having the time.
Unfortunately for many in this economic downturn, pressures of work, husband and wife running here and there, seperated by their individual work agendas and the children's school or social schedule, it is not so much the children's school meals but the healthy family meal happening that is dramatically reduced that causes the problems. Many parents just grab TV dinners as a substitute to save time.
Personally I had nothing against the family enjoying the occaisional junk food snack, the haut cuisine restaurant experience or the more balanced dishes at home, .but not all can afford to place quality above quantity. Perhaps I had the knack of making a sprout look desirable and encouraged exercise.
On the political front, the majority appear to be just snake oil salesman, dressed in zoot suits [ or pant suits] looking for a sucker to con. Sad that both British or American politicians all appear to be cut from the same cloth in having a multitude of political and private faces when pitching their wares and dreams, irrespective of party loyalties. We swallow all they promise, and like veritable Oliver Twists come back for more.
Michelle, tottering on the edge between thoughtful mother and wife of the President has her hands full. Maybe roping in a young star would appeal more to kids to sell the message than those you listed. [Jocks and Crocks with pots would not do it for my kids ] Can't America dream up a 13 year old Harry Potter type star to get the ball rolling?
ps. Is there a bug in the Watkins Hornets link. [Clicked on it 4 times and each time my computer crashes]
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Well if the First Lady manages to achieve anything she will have succeeded in a greater piece of social engineering than her husband ever will!
I agree with most of what has been said here, with a couple of provisos the first is I don’t know enough (anything) about current American schooling to say whether it is good or bad. The other thing is about children going out into the street to play, which is something I did as a youngster, while the US may be different I fear it is probably unlikely, I think most parents would prefer to keep their little darlings on a short leash because the streets are so much more dangerous than they were in the past.
The media frenzy about sexual predators means many parents are scared to let their children out, in case they disappear despite the fact that most of these predators are to be found within the family or are adults children know quite well. I am sure that like in the UK barely a week can go by without a horror story about molestation and/or kidnapping being blasted across the newspapers and airwaves. In part it goes back to the fact that we in the west are expected to live in fear, fear which keeps us, in part, prisoners of our own homes.
This obviously does not excuse or address the underlying problems causing child obesity: Poor diet and lack of decent exercise, but it might help explain why the streets are not filled with playing children.
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I really like how the First Lady Michelle Obama is always saying that it is about embracing a healthy lifestyle (not a one size fits all mentality- Michelle is adaptable). Michelle has said that she still likes to eat junk food now and then, but she enjoys working out and stays active, so the two balance each other out. It is okay to have sweets and such- but only in moderation. Moderation is the key.
Michelle has also impressed me with her White House Garden, which she had several local kids help her with. It promotes growing your own vegetables/fruits/seasonings or at least buying local, from Farmer's Markets. This is a trend I hope will last. We already do such gardens in the country, but city folks need to understand how it takes time, money and effort to grow and raise the crops, vegatables, fruits, ect. For some reason, these always taste better when you grow them yourself, maybe because there is so much work put into them, as well as the naturalness of the land, ect. Gardens also promote wildlife, such as butterflies, bees and birds.
President and Mrs. Obama are great examples for the USA to challenge itself to be healthier. I think it's awesome how President Obama loves basketball and is encouraging toward all sports, as well.
Many people I have talked to feel like they know President and Mrs. Obama just from hearing them talk so much. Even though we have never met them in person, they give off that down home kind of relatability.
President Obama is lucky to have Michelle. She is a great spokesperson and role model. Also, Michelle is optimistic and never gives up. She brings positivity to the USA. :)
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Unfourtnatly we promote obesity in our eating habits.
Over the last few months Denny's has been promoting their breakfasts.
Which are full of fat, meat cholsterol etc.
If you go to Vegas they promote all you can eat buffets either that of $150 per person celbrity chefs.
Infomercials that you can work out with their system 20 minutes a day three times of week.
Rant ended
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This is why moderation is so important...
A healthy person eats a doughnut, works out and does not gain a pound.
Another person eats the doughnut, does not work out and then decides to drink a soda and eat some nachos.
It is up to the individual to exercise self-control. This is easier said than done.
Obesity can be an addiction, the way that some people are addicted to drugs, alcohol, prescription meds, ect.
So can other eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulemia, ect. There is a lot of pressure put on appearances, especially for being thin. When I was in high school, at least 50% of the girls in my class (about 100 people) were anorexic or bulemic. I passed out one day in class from not eating, as did one of my friends. One girl even had a heart attack. She survived, but that was a wake-up call for her.
You see the celebrities and they are so beautiful, charming, and well- perfect looking. But you know, deep-down, that they often have re-touching, that some features are edited, ect. They are no more perfect than regular people are. They just have all the specialties that money can by, as well as the best people in the world working on their image. There are some people that just are naturally beautiful.
Then, there are the enhanced ones. That is why my favorite celebrities are the most normal ones- or, as normal as they can be. I do not like celebrities who are over-Botoxed or over-plastic surgeried. It is simply too much. I would rather see someone who is normal and not perfect than someone who is fake and made of plastic.
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Well,it's not like we're not inundated about obesity, now - let's not make this out to be some kind of revelation or, revolution! It seems everyone I know is on a diet, going to weight control places, etc.
But, no harm can come from the First Lady to champion such a cause, and I applaud her, I think she's a wonderful Lady.
As for promoting obesity - I don't buy into it, I take personal responsibility for myself & my health, and am really not influenced by Burger King or Denny's. If you are, you have more than a problem than being overweight!
When I was last "home" to the UK, I was astounded by the number of overweight adult/children - I thought I hadn't, in fact, left the USA! The meals in gastro pubs live up to their image, they are gastronomical in content and size. The convenient ready made stuffs are now abundant, there were restaurants on every corner it seemed - I truly was very surprised.
Me thinks the rest of the World is catching up with the US re: obesity, so shouldn't be too smug. This would be a great opportunity for a Global effort.
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If Michelle Obama really wants to find something “meaty enough to be meaningful” in the context of gardening, she might want to check this out: (http://www.grist.org/article/2009-09-09-growing-hope-fighting-hunger-gaza/) “She has already warned that America's current young people are the nation's first generation heading towards being less healthy and dying earlier than their parents”…but still not nearly as early or as often as Palestinian kids who, tragically, are not their unborn nation’s first generation heading towards being less healthy and dying earlier than their beleaguered parents. If the First Gardener wants to “lead by example”, she should see what the balance might be between exhortation and enforceable UN resolutions in ending the starvation blockade on Gaza and the entire deathly unhealthy Occupation. Maybe she could declare her garden to be a 'sister-garden' with a garden in Gaza. And perhaps she could persuade her husband to sign a Presidential memorandum slimming down (and out) aid to Israel. Just “watch for how far this will go beyond warm words into the deeply political.”
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I'm touched some of you noticed my absence last week. Not a hasty trip to Argentina that some suspected but child care, school runs, bedtimes but especially cooking meals.
Sounds just like the rest of working Americans. We must assume that the gas supply was not affected since cooking was possible. And if so, why was it so cold inside - no gas heater/s?
Someone here will have the statistics, but a large part of obesity might be tied to the Food Stamps programme. Although there are restrictions on what may be purchased, perhaps these should go deeper and cut out certain items - cake and cookies for example, establishing a de facto rationing system. During WWII, rationing in Britain eliminated not only waist lines, but rickets and other conditions arising from vitamin deficiency. The variety of sugar-filled beverages, pastries and snacks in schools must add to the overall and unnecessary caloric intake. If the tax payer is paying the bill for food, could we not ensure that it is the right kind?
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There is some relevant material in the previous thread about the practice of putting high-fructose corn syrup in practically everything. We should have waited for this thread.
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I talked about this yesterday in the previous post. If anyone complaining about weight started with an increase in belly fat it is directly attributable to a high carb diet. The Atkins diet has gotten a bad rap over the years, but it is actually a medically approved diet - and it works.
I didn't know that until this summer when I looked into having Lap Band surgery as a desperate last resort. When I was filling out the forms at the doctor's office one of the questions wanted to know if I had tried one of several medically approved diets, which included Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Atkins. The first two were diets I had tried, but I thought Atkins was some radical fringe thing, even though I have a friend who's a cardiologist and who'd been praising low carb diets for years.
Well, one of things you are required to do by the insurance companies before getting weight loss surgery is to go on one of these medically approved diets while under a doctor's care. So I'm doing Atkins and, as I said yesterday, I've lost 30 pounds, my blood pressure is down, my cholesterol is down, my heart function has improved and my blood sugar levels no longer spike after every meal. (Anyone who starts getting sleepy after eating has just "enjoyed" a spike in their blood sugar courtesy of high carb foods.)
So, I am, technically, no longer obese, though I still have 30 pounds to go. And all I had to do was walk away from bread, pasta, rice and things like potatoes and corn, which are very high in carbs. I never ate a lot of junk foods, and I controlled my portions, but my so-called healthy low calorie diet of whole grain breads, brown rice and lean meats was killing me.
Granted, not everyone has a low tolerance for carbs, but for those that do, and that is a good portion of the human population as I've since learned, a low carb diet is superior in every way to a high carb, low fat one. I certainly hope Mrs. Obama plans to promote healthy eating that is tailored to individual needs.
PS I am no longer a candidate for weight loss surgery, thank goodness. And I've never gone hungry once.
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If Michelle Obama can do some good in this area more power to her. Of course, it's a lot easier for her to set an example and provide a nutritious, sit down meal for her children now that she has a full time chef and staff to do the planning, shopping, preparation, serving and cleanup.
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Marcus AureliusII
Why so angry?
How so certain?
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camberwell good to see you have been allowed to post today;)
to all what is needed to fight obesity is more active jobs for people.
no not really it is donuts.
but more specifically holy donuts.
the miracle being h ow healthy they are.;)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/holy-donuts-eugene
however
" The move to "organic" and "natural" foods is a complete scam, fraud, is useless, and a big waste of money. The ordinary foods American agribusiness that constitute what is offered mostly in American supermarkets is safe and nourishing enough to meet all nutritional needs. "
is complete rubbish and should never be ingested.
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23 peter. LOL that is the million dollar question. (as long as you take monopoly money)
22 scott who doesn't want to say Gov worker or lazy but lucky
" Of course, it's a lot easier for her to set an example and provide a nutritious, sit down meal for her children now that she has a full time chef and staff to do the planning, shopping, preparation, serving and cleanup."
do you think they did not have sit down healthy meals before this?
you are crazy if you do.
stop trying to turn this into an attack on them lazy good for nothings that are now sitting high on the hog in the white house.
YOU may just benefit from the time they spend there. but you will probably just moan that they are living it up like they never did before.
PS do you think Laura ever prepared her meals.
i doubt she can fry an egg in butter.
probably better at hosting a luncheon for a few friends with staff.
Gav sorry as some one who never got fat I find it funny you promoting one diet over another with "authenticity".
food fadists don't win the calorie war.good luck on the three babies.
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#21GAV
Well done on your weight loss!! Continued success!
I often come to the defense of the overweight simply because I know people who do everything in their power,yet they look at a cracker and gain 5lbs. Not all overweight people are hogs at the table, and I hate that generalisation.
I am one of the fortunate(?) eat, drink whatever I like and never gain a pound - 105lbs since I was a teen, However, not quite understanding why that 105 doesn't look quite the same as when I was a teen? LOL
Actually, pretty darn good shape for my age.
But, it's tough for me to maintain weight, if I exercise too much, I loose so I only do low impact, cardio exercise (Glider). What people misunderstand is I can't eat anything I like just because I don't gain weight - I still have to be a healthy 105lbs. So, I pretty much stuff myself all day - grazing - but on sensible foods, oatmeal, banana, yoghurt, pasta with lots of olive oil, walnuts, trail mix, etc. and yes, sometimes I love a big greasy burger & fries. Moderation!
Weight will always be an ongoing battle in society, not all of it comes as a result from over-eating; although I'm sure probably, the vast majority are overweight because of diet.
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#24
Hey, thanks easytarget (I think I know who you are :);)?
Why do I keep showing up as "you"? Can anyone tell me?
I'm sure you didn't miss much in what I had to say, anyway!
I do ingest the supermarket stuff, sorry, but I do try to make sensible choices. I rely on my son to provide food made from all of the "ideal" ingredients I'm afraid!
Seriously - serious, sensible, preparation/eating takes a lot of time. (I'm sure many will tell me that's not true),
I'm of the opinion that as long as you make a concerted effort and make sensible choices. I don't think you have to go over the top & make it a full time job deciding, stressing about supermarket or organic?
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Thank you Michelle!!
Fantastic. I have always tried to feed my kids healthy food on a budget... and as a working mom, it just ain't easy.
Cheap Hi-Carb Fatty food is soooooo cheap and easy.
It's a real killer in these here parts.
Not to brag, BUT -- My sons are both tall, thin, intelligent kids and they are thinner and more active than their cousins, classmates and neighbors. My 7th grader was studying diet in health class, so they plotted out their heights & weights. He was the only one at his set weight for his height! Wow. Scary.
Sadly - A lot of this is cultural & related to economic class.
Rich people look beautiful because they have the money to buy healthy/organic food and they have the time to prepare it.
Meanwhile, my cousin (her and her boys are all obese) called my sons "the holocaust boys" 'cause they're so thin. Wow. Now, how sad is that?
-- No worries. We will have the last laugh... when we outlive them.
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Her husband is helping in his small way by destroying jobs and reducing household income.
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Dear Gavrielle_LaPoste (21):
Sure the Atkins diet works. My brother used to use it EVERY YEAR to to hit is annual weight requirements. It's a great way to drop pounds quick... but the only weight-loss diet that works in the long term is a healthy life-style change.
BTW: Healthy diets shouldn't be for wealthy folks! Mr. Atkins (RIP) must've dropped a lot of cash on good cuts. Veggies are MUCH cheaper... especially when your $1.50 pack of seeds sprout hundreds of tomatoes! Yay!
There may be lots of snow right now, but planting season's commin'!
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22. Scott0962:
Scott, honey -- Don't forget that presidents are charged for their meals. Their little condo has a kitchenette, so they are charged when the White House Staff prepares formal meals for them.
This has actually been a fairly consistent platform of hers since they moved in last year. Why? Because, as a working mom, she really struggled to make sure everyone ate healthy food. She intimately knows it's a tough issue for working families.
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27. CamberwellBeauty "Why do I keep showing up as "you"? Can anyone tell me?"
Shore thing, honey. It justs means you're signed in under your user ID. To everyone else, your posts are labeled "CamberwellBeauty". Okay?
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This is a first of many steps the government will take to manage the health of citizens outside medical clinics and hospitals. If subsidized medical care is desired and expected, then also expect government preventive programs and mandates to keep costs down. These programs and mandates will parallel new taxes on various food items determined as “unhealthy” to cattle-prod behavior of citizens in particular directions preferred by the state. Logically, zoning laws will be appended to bar establishments from selling “unhealthy” foods and drinks within so-many feet or miles of schools and day cares. Social workers would be empowered to investigate negligent and abusive parents regarding the meals and snacks they serve their children. Yet this process or digression (depending on one’s views) is a well rutted path, for the model was forged with the initial prohibitions and regulations of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, consequently consistent with longstanding “sin taxes and blue laws” as well. Thankfully, we do not need to wrestle with such complexities, nor decide, for the government stands ready on our behalf.
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Well, this certainly is an important topic considering the number of people who are overweight in this country. I don't diet at all, but I do love to go outside and shovel snow, run in rain, and steam in sun. Plus I like to go running.
As a nurse-to-be, I really hope people slim down. Not only will it mean there are fewer sick people, it will also reduce the likelihood that 40 years from now I'll be complaining of chronic back pain. Part of a nurse's job is educating people about healthier lifestyles, and in that sense I'd love to work myself out of a job. I could always move elsewhere if everyone in the States was too healthy to need medical care. :)
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Hopefully this big-gov't "solution" sparks the types of "grassroots" solutions we really need to solve the obesity epidemic
http://bit.ly/8dTmCV
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Oh, and Mark, Dear...
I'm very happy you're back, but if you do decide to Hike the Appalachians, there are some lovely trails and camping sites along the Shenandoah Valley. In fact, if you take Rt 7 West to 601 before Berryville (near Snicker's Gap & Horseshoe Bend), there are some gorgeous views at Bear's Den. (Miss-named 'Bearden Park' on Google Maps.) Or, if you take a right onto 601 and hike up to the trail, there's an even more gorgeous cliff-top view. But please, watch your step. (Tickets to Argentina NOT included.)
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When I was in high school, at least 50% of the girls in my class (about 100 people) were anorexic or bulemic. I passed out one day in class from not eating, as did one of my friends. One girl even had a heart attack. She survived, but that was a wake-up call for her.
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And still you critisize burka, the burka gives you the freedom to be who you are.
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Dont worry, the healthy diet kids of Michelle will become fat adults, when they get the freedom to eat anything, its then the weight kicks in, The children should only come home to eat and sleep, the rest of the time, they should be active.Ban the tv, computer, and computer games, the children will automatically find something to play outside.In winter fill their pockets with all sorts of nuts, not too many peanuts, and fruit seeds, roasted in sand, chickpeas, and send them out of house.
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The key to losing weight, IMO, first starts between your ears, followed by a change in habits replaced with a balanced life style. It takes years to put on weight, don't expect quick results, they never seem to last.
For children. Make them play outside and limit their TV time. Change your habits and you can change theirs.
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Give children a heavy breakfast in the morning, send them out, in the afternoon, just fruits, at night heavy dinner and tell them to play quietly inside, close your ears, and that will help you pretend they are playing quietly, then before you sleep, locate the sleeping children from various nooks and corners of the house, and put them in bed, or on the carpet, depending on where they sleep.And repeat the same ritual everyday until you get fed up, then tell the children to go to their beds or carpets before sleeping, if they dont, let them sleep whereever they are, sooner or later, during night, they will wake up and go bed to continue to sleep.
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Change your habits and you can change theirs.
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No. tell the children when they grow up they can eat what the grownups eat,as long as they are children, they have to eat what the grownsup orders them to eat..
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LOL, colonelartist. Is that how you were raised? Or is it how you plan to raise your children once your an adult?
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Oops, that should be "you're".
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#32 parity.....etc
Thanks - hope I didn't sound too DUH!?
#36 Philly
Please, Shenandoah Valley is where I live 3-4 miles from Berryville! I'm sure he'd prefer the Rockies!! He'll never scamper the Appalachians - even Bill Bryson had a tough time of that!!
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#40 Colonial
Oh wow, thanks! I told everyone this was how it was done!
(cracking up laughing)
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LOL, colonelartist. Is that how you were raised? Or is it how you plan to raise your children once your an adult?
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This is how I was raised.But one important thing that children should learn, that is sometimes when they throw the heavy breakfast because they arent hungry, they should make sure that the nan, its a bread rounded shape, can slip from the beak of the crow and land on the top of the head of your father whom you have just reported that you have finished the breakfast..then the excuse that its the neighbour's or someone else's bread doesnt work..Then he can waste your precious time, by pretending to try to recognize if the breads is yours or someone elses.
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#46 Colonel (sorry mistyped you in my #45)
aha.....now.... I think I've got it.....
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#40 Colonel,
IMO, excluding health issues, obesity in children can be correlated to the habits of their parents in indulging their children's eating and playing activity. Curing child obesity starts with the parents.
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23. At 5:32pm on 09 Feb 2010, Peter Whitby wrote:
Marcus AureliusII
Why so angry?
How so certain?
____________
Are you kidding?
That was one of his most mellow posts ever. And a good one too.
Kids need physical activity and responsiblity - as much as possible, and as early as possible. Physical activity makes them grow healthy and strong. It stretches their bodies and their minds. Responsibility teaches them morality and respect for others. It also teaches them self-reliance, and gives them self-confidence.
In any case, good luck and Godspeed, Michelle Obama.
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Simple rule, chew very slowly. 32 times each bite. the children dont need to know the scientific reason behind chewing slowly, its too complicated for them to understand, to them you can just say various things, from so that you dont choke,to simply because prophet Mohammad use to eat his meal slowly, chewing each bite 32 times..the children will then count each time they chew...later in life they will learn that if you eat fast, you over eat, because you keep on eating before the brain cells get the message that your stomach is fool..those who dont learn this fast get into habit of eating slowly...so they will do it out of habit..
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You know - while we're tossing around clever parenting tips - here's a little reality check fer ya, now. Okie dokie?
Um... I had two toddlers in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles w/ no yard. I had to push the stroller (ahem, 'carriage') many blocks to get to a public playground. We were on WIC coupons for yummy carrots, cereal, beans and milk. Yay.
Then... I had two elementary school kids in an apartment complex in Massachusetts conveniently placed next to a highway. The kids could sometimes ride bikes in the parking lot. (watch out for cars, boys!) I drove them to wonderful hiking trails on the weekends.
Now... we have a tiny house with a tiny yard near lots of bike trails and a city park... where I'd really rather they not play unsupervised. When they get older, we have many city bike lanes and city buses with bike carriers for further jaunts. But for now I prefer biking with them. I've enrolled them in the city's kid's soccer league... but it's hard to practice anything more than footwork in a 12'x12' back yard.
[I'm planting veggies in front so the boys don't trample the tomatoes.]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
IOW - For many of us American Citizens, safe healthy exercise must be intentionally sought out by the parents. When I was a kid, my folks just told me to go outside and play - and don't come back until dinner at sun-down. I can't provide that for my children. But, I know how to run them ragged at the city's museums. I take them up Rocky's Art Museum Steps... and then we go inside and check out Picasso! (Feeding the Brain correctly is important, too.)
Heck - after tonight's snowstorm, maybe we'll sled down those Art Museum steps for fun and healthful exercise! Ho yeah!
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BTW: 7. MarcusAureliusII,
I hear ya, honey. Where/When in NY were you raised?
Nowadays, I imagine most school yards have moved their basketball courts onto the school roofs. That's what many Philly schools have done. Huge, bird-cage like structures adorn the Schools so that stray basket balls don't flip over the chain link fences and drop 6 stories onto the cars below...
(Oops! Can't imagine how that happened, coach! Sorry!)
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Philly-Mon (#51) "When I was a kid, my folks just told me to go outside and play - and don't come back until dinner at sun-down."
Likewise, but that's not a good idea these days. There are a lot of creeps around.
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25. At 5:54pm on 09 Feb 2010, easytarget wrote:
Gav sorry as some one who never got fat I find it funny you promoting one diet over another with "authenticity".
I guess you also were never disabled for any reason and unable to walk or move much for a long period of time. Or you never had thyroid cancer. Not everyone gets fat through a lifetime of overeating on junk food. Some of us actually have health issues - despite living a healthy lifestyle in general. But mocking others and picking fights is your stock in trade, fluff. I can accept the fact that your character is deeply flawed and your life one of extreme frustration. But that doesn't mean I'm going to play your game.
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The snow has started! Yay! And it is coming down in nice little flakes reminding me of that old saying
"Big snow,
little snow;
little snow,
big snow."
Maybe I should offer Chronophobe an explanation for why I love snow so much.
#1 We don't get that much of it. In my weather zone, 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) total is a typical year.
#2 We don't have the bitter cold. Our temperatures in the past few days have ranged from about +2 to -17 degrees C.
#3 We don't have the nasty Arctic wind, except on rare occasions.
So hooray for snow!
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How many children have benefited from 8 yrs of bush's wife's of reading and writing? and how many children will benefit from michelle's diet hoopla..Its the luxury of the rich,Previously junk food was luxury of the rich, no food at home, easy way out for the mothers, no cooking and all that, when the junk food became available to the poor, the richer have found another trend..Its all about class difference..Nothing else.the message, civilized people eat just vegetables and special meat..those who dont, are excluded. Go to india, lots of fat people even though they are vegetarians and lentil eating nation.
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7. MarcusAureliusII wrote:
"Personal computers are killing Americans by luring them to sit in a chair all day staring at a screen. But our mouse clicking muscles are in fine shape. I am appalled at how structured children's lives are today."
Our childrens .... ?
What about us? This blog could be fattening us up for some hideous leftist cull by the neo-fascio-comuno-liberto-KG-BBC!
Right, where di I put that deep-fried mars bar!
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4 and 7 - Magic and Marcus
Mark must be a genius .... he has found a topic on which we can all agree.
Talk about building bridges.
And for the record, I wish Michelle Obama well with her project. May it be free from petty, political, partisan, point-scoring pressure.
(Great alliteration, eh!)
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Regarding obesity the UK is rapidly catching up to the USA and even in Italy we areseeing a change in the eating habits of children in the last 15 years, now that womens' emmancipation (a little late in Italy, bu they got there in the end) means that more women are working ... and therefore not cooking great fresh food every day for the family.
The root of the problem, IMHO, is twofold
1) "junk" ingredients in processed food (not necessarily junk food) - this includes high-fructose corn syrup, but also various preservatives and additives, some of which affect our bodies ability to break down fats.
To change this requires a big change in the labelling of food ... or even better in the production of processed foods.
2) education , education, education.
Fact is, most young people don't have the first clue how to cook. And many adults too.
One of the great things about Italy is that, although it is beginning to change, in general food quality and freshness is important in all socio-economic groups .... and people learned from their mothers and grandmothers.
In the USA and UK that has mainly been lost.
Cooking is so easy .... and often cheaper to make things from actual other things (you know ... ingredients) ... but people don't have "time".
Education must start at school ... and it would help if junk food, sodas etc were not sold on school property.
Go Michelle! Good luck!
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post 51 PhillyMom,
It is so interesting reading about the lives of others.I have been to the US many times & loved it,did think of living there when I was younger thought I was buried alive in sleepy Pembrokeshire.But as time barrels on,no its Wales for me.You can walk the coast path 180 miles at any time of year,summer is best as the rain is warmer,teenage girls hike it,in safety on their own,nothing gets my stomach pulled in & stops me gasping out of breath on the steeper hills ,like when I see one of those beauties striding past me.Roll on summer...
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25. At 5:54pm on 09 Feb 2010, easytarget wrote:
23 peter. LOL that is the million dollar question. (as long as you take monopoly money)
22 scott who doesn't want to say Gov worker or lazy but lucky
" Of course, it's a lot easier for her to set an example and provide a nutritious, sit down meal for her children now that she has a full time chef and staff to do the planning, shopping, preparation, serving and cleanup."
do you think they did not have sit down healthy meals before this?
you are crazy if you do.
stop trying to turn this into an attack on them lazy good for nothings that are now sitting high on the hog in the white house.
YOU may just benefit from the time they spend there. but you will probably just moan that they are living it up like they never did before.
PS do you think Laura ever prepared her meals.
i doubt she can fry an egg in butter.
probably better at hosting a luncheon for a few friends with staff."
I do NOT say that Michelle Obama's kids didn't have sit down dinners before, I merely pointed out that it is much easier for a career woman to provide them if she has the level of staff Mrs. Obama enjoys.
I did NOT call the occupants of the White House lazy good for nothings-- but you implied the same thing about the previous occupants with your comments about Lara Bush not being able to fry an egg.
My point was that most women don't have the kind of help that Michelle Obama is now fortunate enough to enjoy and many struggle to balance the demands of careeer and family. That's not an attack on the Obamas, it's just a simple fact of life.
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26. At 6:01pm on 09 Feb 2010, CamberwellBeauty wrote:
Well done on your weight loss!! Continued success!
Thanks! By June or July I should be back to where I was just a few years ago. 120 lbs. The same weight I've been since I was 19.
I often come to the defense of the overweight simply because I know people who do everything in their power,yet they look at a cracker and gain 5lbs. Not all overweight people are hogs at the table, and I hate that generalisation.
And so should we all. When one looks at an overweight person no one has any idea how they really came to be that weight. Or whether health issues, mental or physical, are contributing factors.
Weight will always be an ongoing battle in society, not all of it comes as a result from over-eating; although I'm sure probably, the vast majority are overweight because of diet.
My point exactly. Everyone's body type is different. You have to find the diet that works for you. The one size fits all doesn't work. Nor does the one size fits all slurs the ignorant engage in.
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"31. At 6:33pm on 09 Feb 2010, Philly-Mom wrote:
22. Scott0962:
Scott, honey -- Don't forget that presidents are charged for their meals. Their little condo has a kitchenette, so they are charged when the White House Staff prepares formal meals for them."
Philly-Mom, are you seriously expecting us to believe that people living in a mansion with a five star restuarant regularly do their own grocery shopping and prepare their own meals? That's stretching the bounds of credibility a bit thin. They might start out with good intentions but sooner or later the demands on their time will get the better of them and they'll ring that bell for service. And on his salary the president and his family can certainly afford to "order out".
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56. At 10:28pm on 09 Feb 2010, colonelartist wrote:
"How many children have benefited from 8 yrs of bush's wife's of reading and writing? and how many children will benefit from michelle's diet hoopla"
It isn't necessary for a First Lady to actually solve a social problem, tradition only requires her to do good works and be seen helping worthy causes. In that regard she's rather like a royal, her main job is to smile for the cameras and don't do anything embarassing.
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re: 55 parity>charity: I am actually just a bit envious of your snow! Although, that volume (40 inches!! Really?) would slow things down for a couple of days even in Ottawa.
However, we have in fact had very little since the big melt/rain in January. Has made for less than ideal ski conditions (I do Nordic, classic style -- a great way to burn the carbs that winter cravings seem to demand). But the skating has been top notch! (lots of clear, cold, blue days).
I loved your haiku up yonder, btw. Here's one in return:
Under hard blue sky
harsh winds scour the landscape
Redpolls brightly sing.
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30. At 6:25pm on 09 Feb 2010, Philly-Mom wrote:
Sure the Atkins diet works. My brother used to use it EVERY YEAR to to hit is annual weight requirements. It's a great way to drop pounds quick... but the only weight-loss diet that works in the long term is a healthy life-style change.
Your brother was using it to achieve a specific goal, not as part of a healthy lifestyle. Weight loss is only the first part of the diet, the rest is continuing to eat normal healthy foods but with fewer carbs. No different from any other "diet" lifestyle. All I did was step away from the high carb, low fat mantra and into the high fat, low carb one that works for me. Or do you imagine that, like your brother, I'd be willing to play Russian Roulette with heart damage, stroke and diabetes?
BTW: Healthy diets shouldn't be for wealthy folks! Mr. Atkins (RIP) must've dropped a lot of cash on good cuts. Veggies are MUCH cheaper... especially when your $1.50 pack of seeds sprout hundreds of tomatoes! Yay!
I agree that diets shouldn't be expensive. I don't know what Dr. Atkins bought, but meat is meat, good cuts or bad, pork, chicken, beef, goat or lamb, it's how you cook them that counts, not the price tag. My motto: If you can't broil it and eat it, stew it and chew it. I spend no more than $75 a month on meat and no more than $200 at most on food items generally. And that feeds two people.
Good for you growing your own food! By the way, I have a great recipe for ketchup if you want it. It's sugar free. ;-)
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Ref 30, Philly-Mom
My wife and I were on the Atkins diet for over a year. I lost 40 pounds. The problem is that you gain all the weight back as soon as you get off the diet.
The problem is that sooner or later you get frustrated and tired of depriving yourself of the things you like. A healthy diet low in carbs, no sugar, and moderate exercise usually does the trick, even when you "sin" every now and then and indulge in things you are supposed to stay away from.
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Ok, this is only vaguely related to the topic, but sheesh! I knew that the Olympic Committee was fiercely protective of its trademarks and sponsorships, but this seems a bridge too far. 'Burgers' now a property of McYuknads?
I know I should be all a proud and happy and stuff Canadian 'cuz the Olympics are in Vancouver. But the whole circus just puts me off on so many levels.
Still, I do look forward to the hockey.
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67. At 01:26am on 10 Feb 2010, SaintDominick wrote:
A healthy diet low in carbs, no sugar, and moderate exercise usually does the trick, even when you "sin" every now and then and indulge in things you are supposed to stay away from.
Actually, that is the Atkins "diet" when you reach the continuing maintenance stage after weight loss. And as with any diet plan, if you go right back to eating the way you previously did, you will always gain back the weight - and more on top of it - no matter which plan you choose.
Btw, it's no longer called "sinning" or "cheating". It's called making a "poor food choice". Take away the sense of the illicit and you don't have to feel quite as guilty when you fall off the wagon one day, but climb right back up the next and move on.
In any case, I understand PhillyMom's skepticism and that of others. I was also very, very skeptical, because I remembered all the negative press when Atkins first came out. It took me over a month of research before I agreed to do the diet as my doctor recommended. But nowadays, for those who don't know, it isn't just Atkins or South Beach. There's a whole low carb culture that doesn't follow a specific diet plan, but bakes its own low carb bread or buys it, has it's own brands of low carb pasta as well as other staples, and makes it's own low carb treats like fudge, chocolate mousse, cheese cake and "sugar" cookies. I'm at the stage now where I can eat some of these things and they are pretty darn good. I honestly don't feel like I'm denying myself anything. And frankly, I'm eating more "sinfully" than I ever dared to dream I could and still losing weight. I expect when I get to maintenance I won't have any problems continuing to eat this way on a regular basis. If it works for you and your wife, I'm sure it will work for me as well.
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RE: Banning the tv, computer, and computer games
This might be beneficial in many ways but what if they all switch to reading books and become really well informed...the same people might then call for the banning of reading books which in relation to tackling obesity is just as sedentary!
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64. At 11:52pm on 09 Feb 2010, Scott0962 wrote:
"It isn't necessary for a First Lady to actually solve a social problem, tradition only requires her to do good works and be seen helping worthy causes. In that regard she's rather like a royal, her main job is to smile for the cameras and don't do anything embarassing."
__________
Quite so.
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68. At 01:31am on 10 Feb 2010, chronophobe wrote:
"I know I should be all a proud and happy and stuff Canadian 'cuz the Olympics are in Vancouver. But the whole circus just puts me off on so many levels.
Still, I do look forward to the hockey."
__________
Couldn't agree more.
The Olympics are supposed to be a celebration of amateur sport - Chariots of Fire & all that.
Instead they seem to be about nothing other than one huge exercise in branding by which they extract the maximum amount of advertising licensing dollars on the back of abuse of the Trade Marks Act.
And, if that weren't bad enough, they have let CTV have the broadcast rights. This is a network that makes Kent Brockman and Ted Baxter look like paragons of journalism.
Long past time for this circus to end.
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I appreciate the way I grew up, too--lots of freedom and outside, active, unstructured play. In fact, its the thing I grieve most that our children have lost.
But I don't think the solution is to simply kick my kids out the door and tell them to go play. Unless the whole neighborhood does it at the same time, my children will be alone, which is no longer safe thanks to sexual predators that look for kids alone outdoors (or for kids who have strayed from the pack). Sometimes the predators are older kids who've been exposed to stuff I would never have even heard of in my childhood. And the bullying problem has grown exponentially since the 1970's, when I was a happy girl playing kickball and climbing trees in my back yard.
As much as I would like to send my kids out to play, I won't--because I want to protect them, and I don't have time to sit on the porch and keep them in my sight every minute. Very sad, but true.
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Haiku:
Michelle's fighting fat
yet she's not looking too great
Cure in November?
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There needs to be positive reenforcement for kids to get help with their weight issues.
Perhaps, it is the parent/s egging the child on to eat more, due to their own problems. Perhaps, the child eats to make themself feel better due to being teased or other issues.
Many times, the child is embarrassed and most schools do not offer a program besides gym class, for the child to participate in. Parents are sometimes too busy to take time to exercise with their kids.
Overweight children get teased and bullied. They need someone to tell them they are who are they are inside and that they can lose weight. But they need to lose weight for themselves and to be healthy for themselves. No one can do it for you.
Parents are the ones giving their children food. Parents need to make smart choices for their children.
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@58 (RS): Awesome alliteration. As an aside, in the interest of completeness, you forgot "putrid" (grin).
@60: (ukw): "It is so interesting reading about the lives of others."
Absolutely. The more I know about each of you, the better I can understand what you are saying, and why you are saying it. It helps me put comments into context.
@73 (jja): "I appreciate the way I grew up, too--lots of freedom and outside, active, unstructured play. In fact, its the thing I grieve most that our children have lost."
I echo that thought, and the rest of your post. We did plenty of stupid things (e.g. riding down the "big hill" as fast as possible on the bicycle to see if we could top out the speedometer above 40 MPH, with not a thought about traffic coming out of side streets) but had lots of fun doing it. We played sandlot basketball, touch football, badminton, etc. We got to hike in the Smoky Mountains sometimes; that was always a real treat.
As kids we just didn't worry about predators in those days; the men in the community were in many cases war vets, and they absolutely didn't put up with nonsense (many like my dad had seen enough for several lifetimes). If one had tried to mess with one of us, my dad and the community would have seen to it that they were thoroughly punished. At the same time, Dad and those like him were rigorous in standing behind the rule of law. He revered the law because he had seen what happens when the law is perverted and used as a weapon.
I see my role now, even though I don't have children, as one of standing up for the things that make it possible for another generation of children to grow up that way; with responsibility, but not with fear.
Regards to all this snowy, windy morning, especially to those of you who are in the N. VA / S. MD area and are enjoying the same whiteout conditions I am.
Arclight
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Jojubrmeda, how come as a child you played outside, praise the wonders of outside activities and not allow kids to play because you are scared of some sexual molester lurking all the time.People who have played outside dont even think things like you do..Either let your children play outside or stop praising how wonderful it was for you to be outside..I am amazed that your children have never questioned your hypocracy.Looks like america is not raising children but mounds of anxieties and now michelle obama will feed these anxities healthy diet so that they can reamin inside and dont get fat..
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phil, care to send me the hundred or so dollars it takes to get a passport? or help me find a job and a place to live outside the U.S.? How about dropping my name to a couple of libraries or universities, as I can't work in a foreign country without their sponsorship. And I'm going to need a hand with all that visa paperwork. How about giving both governments a good word on my character for the inevitable background checks? Can you recommend me to a foreign university so I may still work on my master's degree? While you're at it, could you plump my U.S. savings account with a couple of ten thousand? I so hate to ask, but not being independently wealthy, I can only save so much from entry-level paychecks. There's rent due, of course, and the electric, water, and grocery bills. And as I'm sure you know, no industrialized country will accept foreigners, seeking "legitimate" work, without a personal bankroll. It's so expensive, civilization. Or were you suggesting I give up my university job, graduate school, and my meager foothold in this divisive society to live free with the wind in my hair and a song in my soul? quid pro quo to your snarky comment, sir.
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Regards to all this snowy, windy morning, especially to those of you who are in the N. VA / S. MD area and are enjoying the same whiteout conditions I am.
Arclight
Do you need a ride?
Have reliable transport (not Japanese), can travel, don't collect fees :)
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Mark Mardell---
I am glad, that Michelle Obama is doing something in regards to obesity, and, not just talking but taking an active role in the problems so far....
(Dennis Junior)
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74 what was that other than offence attempt?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
25. At 5:54pm on 09 Feb 2010, easytarget wrote:
Gav sorry as some one who never got fat I find it funny you promoting one diet over another with "authenticity".
I guess you also were never disabled for any reason and unable to walk or move much for a long period of time. Or you never had thyroid cancer. Not everyone gets fat through a lifetime of overeating on junk food. Some of us actually have health issues - despite living a healthy lifestyle in general. But mocking others and picking fights is your stock in trade, fluff. I can accept the fact that your character is deeply flawed and your life one of extreme frustration. But that doesn't mean I'm going to play your game.
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If her husband stays in office much longer,American parents will not have enough money to feed their kids properly,so child obesity will be on the decline.
Maybe at that time she will be for the second time in her adult life;
Proud to be an American.
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