You're Not That Fat Afterall

Apparently Americans don't really see themselves as being fat. Although I keep reading that a large percentage of Americans are overweight or obese, I haven't really noticed this that much. I've seen a couple of episodes of Shaq's reality TV show Shaq's Big Challenge. Basically, Shaq goes around and tries to get school-aged kids in shape. Judging from the girth of some of these kids' parents, I can see how they themselves are overweight. I can also see how easy it is for people to not exercise and eat healthy. Personally, I go to the gym pretty regularly and only see a handful of regulars there. One thing that I did learn from Shaq's show is that less than 10 percent of American schools mandate physical education past I think 9th or 10th grade. With the increased focus on getting kids to pass tests, phys ed, music, and other extracurricular activities are being tossed out the window. Going into the lunch room, kids are of course going to choose hamburgers, pizza and fries. Is it a lack of care for personal health? Maybe, maybe not. The obvious answer is that those things just taste better than vegetables. The acquired taste for healthy food is not there for a lot of American kids because they've grown up eating fast food. Whose to blame? The parents. Easy answer. I grew up eating mom's food and not eating out a whole lot so eating healthy became a habit. I continued that through college and now on my own to the point that eating unhealthy food for an extended period of time makes me sick.

Now about exercise. What's easier? To go home and sit on the couch or go outside and run a mile? Most American kids just don't want to put forth the effort. Why do people quit things / don't even try? Answer: I'm no good at it, or It's too hard. Unless you are genetically gifted, there is some truth to the no pain, no gain saying. Anyway, I've probably gone on too long for this post, but more to follow later. And I hope you're reading this on your PDA while running outside.