I think what gets me about the whole thing of 'exercise' these days is the sheer artificiality of it, the contrivance. Yes, we have sedentary lives, that's the way humanity is moving. (Well, in the West, and even there not in every case of course - like if you are a builder or gardener or something). But to have to contrive a counter-behaviour that compensates for the changes in the way we live feels so inauthentic to me. The gyms with their shiny interiors and metallic sparkle where everyone goes to expend energy. I often think of an elderly Balinese lady I know with regard to these matters. I was sitting with her and a white guy came along the road running...she looked at him and shook her head...'all that energy he's using, why can't he do something useful with it?'
I think it is so self-obsessed to spend hours burning calories in clubs. Some would say it's taking responsibility for self and health, in some cases this may be true where there is a real health issue, or obesity. But it's the lifestyle exercise types that get me, people that can't seem to live without it. You don't have to go to such extremes to care for yourself. It's a form of addiction, I suppose.
It's easy to feel that authentic living is a thing of the past, these days...people look to various 'golden' ages and avoid the reality of the way we live now. I feel that this life is as authentic as any, indeed more so...there is so much we can get our teeth into. Just walk about and engage with what we see, who we meet, get talking...get on the web...follow your nose into new pastures absorb and don't be afraid to react. I am only just coming out of years of introversion and starting to reach out to this fascinating place we live in, wanting to engage with the world again. I'm not going to feel fulfilled if I spend all my time in the gym burning calories, though I obviously need a certain amount of exercise to stay healthy. I want people to be with, laugh with, love with...feel alive with...
*looks round with telescope*
It just occurred to me that all the women I know with a satisfying sex life are plump while all my women friends who have no sex life at all are skinny. Why should this be?
Oh, you make me mindful of my girlfriend's wonderful curves...*gasp*.
I think it is to do with the ability to give in and be sensual and to not want to control one's every sensation. Sex gives extreme feelings that not all are comfortable succumbing to, likewise some people seem afraid of food. Control freaks don't like to let go. Sensuality is something that comes from not being afraid to feel deeply, to let someone give you what you want, to trust etc. It also comes with knowing what you enjoy and wanting it...and letting yourself have it!! When you know this about yourself, you can sense it in others and you can give as good as you receive...hence, great sex.
Just seen the last half of a BBC2 programme "Time Of Your Life" - I had to wait until the kids found out who was being evicted from Big Brother house - which featured ladies 40-60 who were "on the prowl" again, this time to get what they wanted not what they were pressured into settling for earlier in their lives. And, guess what, they came over (to me) as very attractive and sexy, which the girls in "Big Brother" house are definitely not. These women weren't all slim, but they had poise and self-assurance.
Pi, let us agree to disagree:
What you listed are excuses, not causes.
I agree with radio in the sense that increased wealth and industrialisation has brought more choices to more people... primarily in the West but all over the Globe too. With choice should come higher individuality and responsibility.... otherwise we are doomed.
In an age of plenty, self-control becomes even more important. People should be encouraged to take responsibility for themselves... that includes thinking healthy, eating healthy and exercising regularly.
I don't understand your 'taking away choice' argument.... letting yourself become obese takes away all sorts of choices...
I am not suggesting new laws, just challenging peoples pre-conceived ideas.
i saw a really depressing sight on thursday, i was working on an estate in hackney, on an open day for the local community, when we got there we passed a kid standing outside his house, he was about 7 or 8, but enormous, he was standing, stuffing his face with a bar of chocolate whilst holding on to a jumbo bag of crisps for afters,
later he came along to the community centre, i could hear him wheezing, and when he played with his slightly less plump younger brother, he couldn't roll around on the exercise map as kids will do, he sort of waddled around it...now it seems to me that his parents have a responsibility not to give him all this junk food, i know i'm not a parent, but he will eat what is given to him as he is not able to fend for himself....it really depressed me seeing a little kid who couldn't play like other kids, and seemed totally lacking in energy...
now is that child abuse? as i said i find it difficult to comment (although i've had a go at it) as i'm not a parent, but surely a parent should ensure that a kid has a healthier lifestyle?
*hits head on desk*
yes I agree to disagree
how can a genetic factors or an illness be an excuse ?
I have a weakness in my both my arms sometimes I can work the muscles sometimes I cannot - I have no choice - the genetic problem I inherited made me the way I am - it created the problem - it is not an excuse it is a fact - I was born with this problem just as I was born with brown eyes - my kids have a 50 - 50 chance of carrying this same problem - I am as fit as a fiddle as those who met me in Derby will confirm
Looking at my own family half are obese the other are not - yet we have been brought up in the exactly the same way and yes whilst I can agree that eating habits and lack of excerise are factors they are not the only ones
The reason why I say you give people no choice is because you have so narrow a view point that you can't see the other factors - if everything was as simple as black and white we would not be having this discussion
As for taxing certain products and putting health warning onto them - it been done with cigerettes so I don't see an issue with unhealthy fast foods - especially when you have such a narrow a concept as yours - I'd have though that you would be agreeable to that
To state that the issue is down to the lack of self control when you are so obviously in control and have no problem with it - is a bit short sighted on your side and shows a total lack of any true understanding of what it is to be addicted to sweet and fatty foods - but there again thinking about it you are addicted but just don't know it
Life styles are also a factor you have not taken into account or do you wish everyone to be total robbotic clones
When I see my freind stuggling to get around I will ensure her that only eating the right foods and taking the right amount of excerise will help - it will be a total insult because the very nature of her genetic make up gave her a very rare condition one which no amount of eating the right foods or doing the right amount of excerise will cure - just as I can't suddenly decide to have blue eyes
Pi,
Look at your list... the one I reffered to as excuses...
Where did you mention genetic factors or specific medical conditions leading to obesity...
I agree not all obesity is caused by overeating.... clearly if you are disposed towards this condition, you could make your situation worse, or you could try and make it better.... that is all I am saying. There are many examples of people who have managed to come to terms with their condition and have gone on to take some control over it. They are to be admired and encouraged.
However, we are talking about the explosion in obesity of recent times, not the small proportion of people in the population who have always been prone to these sort of disorders:
Wherever your starting point, and I acknowledge there are different starting points...
By taking care over what you eat, keeping away from reliance on drugs proscribed or prescribed, taking gentle regular exrecise etc you will be better off than when you started.... you will not reach a state of imagined perfection... but YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF both in health and in mind.
I am tiring of stating the obvious here... but for some reason many people prefer 'complex' causes when most answers are as always tediously simple.
But the baby weight issue is to do with ensuring that the kid is properly nourished in order to grow properly and generally parents, on what ever income and with whatever education will aim to feed a new baby as nutritiously as possible (although I did read something yesterday about a couple in the US who asked for a big mac to be liquidised so that they could feed it to their 6 month old).
Perhaps the issue is about nutrition rather than size (which of course are related). These days the amount of activity the average person does seems in inverse proportion to the availability of cheap and fast food. Processed sugars and carbs have revolutionised the way we eat and the stats out today are that greengrocers and local butchers etc are being forced out of the market - no breaking news there - but there must be a corrolation between this and rising obesity. Food isn't sustenance any longer, food is a treat, a social occasion, a comfort, a talking point. We are obsessed, in varying degrees of healthiness.
The bottom line is that those of us who are over weight to any degree, generally are so because we love food (I think cheese came top of the most marvelous things thread, even higher than sex and Andrew Pack) and we are in a very fortunate position to be able to endulge that in whatever form we choose.
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