obesity is the only way

I want you to read this with an open mind. This is not an America bashing piece, but it is an observation or a critical analogy of why obesity is such an issue here.

Everyone from birth is set up for failure. So to speak. Is set up for fatness. The mothers barely have time to breast feed and make other simple baby foods. Toddlers are definitely pawned off in day care and already set up to watch tv, and do activities other than physical or partner involved, because WHO HAS TIME AND PATIENCE FOR THAT? Than the early school years. What does a PE class consist of? Any real activity? Any games? Anything that is measured or tested as a physical performance? Some, but very little. Here I go with the "in my country", but seriously, in my country we changed clothes for PE and changed back after PE and the whole time it was go go go! Almost every day we had a PE class. Sometimes first thing in the morning and sometimes in the middle of the day, or at the end of the day. Then in grades 5-8 we got serious. It is true thatI went to a special sports performance and math oriented school but even in the average schools everyone had PE classes where different events were measured and had to be passed. One could repeat a year if those standards weren't met. We had one chubby kid in our class who was a wrestler and had to struggle through even gymnastics to make the class. And he did. Here? I ask again, what is a PE class? Go out in the courtyard, beat each other up, get a little dirt under your nails, what? Do they go to the track? Do they use medicine balls? Do they climb walls and ropes? Do they have mat exercises and group competitions? Do they learn different sports, or about sports in general? I dunno. I hear not. So then we get to high school. It's more important to have a Louis Vuitton purse than to know what a pentathlon is. Or how much time does it take to run a 400m. What? Yes. High school is serious about sports because the student has to get seriously into studying and have more commitments and a much bigger load in general.

So what is the one thing that builds cohesion, pride, a sense of achievement, discipline, helps with brain efficiency and performance, attention, energy to stay up, sleep better, feel stronger, look better, develop better eating habits and get used to diligence in training and working, I ask you: WHAT IS THAT ONE THING? The one thing that everyone dismisses from early years. Is it a drug? No. It is sports. Physical activity. And why is this a secret, why something so simple is not implemented. Do you know why? Because it's not a great "business" and it's not budgeted. Why is it not budgeted? Because it's not deemed important. It's important for the better-off parents to drive the little brats around to socker practice and cheer leading. But only the better-off parents. The others have to work and have no money to spare as an extra expense for sports. They need tutoring and clothes and gas money.

Then the child becomes an adult. If, at this point, he had no introduction to sports, no concept of physical training, how on Earth is he supposed to be healthy?????? HOW? To eat not processed foods takes time and money. To work out without knowing splat about working out takes money. Where is that supposed to come from? WE establish a pattern for irresponsible behavior than go around signing up people to unlearn that and become something else. It is EXTREMELY difficult! I cannot even blame obese people, or look at them with contempt because they fell into this consumer society's trap. You are a good consumer, you buy tvs and video games, you buy snacks and frozen meals, you get entertained at the movies sitting on your a..., you watch some more shows at home, you get a big car that takes you everywhere and then, when you're sick of looking at yourself in the mirror: hire a trainer or get a gym membership and go to classes to reform yourself. Then you buy supplements, products that do more harm than good, and more consumptions on top of more consumption. You have to keep businesses alive by buying sh... Going outside and walking or using the heart trail in the park will not boost business. Not enough. So there. You have to swim against the current to be a fish that lives and lives well. It is very difficult.

One thing we can all do, teach children to love sports and find something they are good at and encourage them never stop doing it. Fight for better programs in schools for all ages. Take a little extra times and cook meals, buy fresh and eat more unprocessed foods. Limit your tv time and find other activities for entertainment. Hang on to the simple things, teach the kids to appreciate what's around them, rather than what they can GET. Be outside as more. Slow down. Make my new slogan yours: "Slow down, for less is more!"