Yes, I could lose about 10, and I resolve (again) to not eat after 7 p.m., and drastically cut down on munchies. I also resolve to not be as judgmental. But it's hard to ignore the guys who look like they swallowed a basketball still wearing 36-inch jeans South of said basketball. Must be in denial: "Hey, I can still wear the old jeans."
Many moderately overweight couples are completely salvageable, if only they would just do something about it. And I’ve seen such people with young children who are starting to become rotund, and who are sentencing their little Dudley Dursleys (see the Harry Potter books) to a life of misery, rejection, and probably obesity and medical problems. I suppose some of it is denial. Some maybe just don’t care, and some maybe think there’s nothing wrong with their kids looking like themselves.
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But there is something wrong. I’m no doctor, but it’s obvious that even being overweight is uncomfortable, harms self-esteem, and drastically restricts life activities. And it’s common knowledge that obesity leads to many medical problems, needs for long-term care, and possibly a shorter life.
We notice that advertisements for exercise routines on TV and expensive exercise equipment in stores increase dramatically after the holidays. While they may be great for conditioning in various degrees, they don’t seem to me to be as effective for weight loss as sensible calorie intake.
For example let's assume a couple, a 200-pound man and a 160-pound woman, stair climbing for an hour. He burns 800 calories, she about 650. Treadmill walking, 390 and 300. Treadmill jogging, 750 and 600. Aerobics, 450 and 360. Sounds good, but who climbs stairs, runs, or does aerobics for an hour? More like 20 minutes for me, thank you, so divide these numbers by three. Since an average doughnut has about 250 calories, and an egg and sausage on biscuit has about 520, I begin to see a futility that can lead to frustration.
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No, if simple weight loss is our resolution for 2017, better by far is sensible eating for us and to resolve to instill better eating habits for our kids.
This is not to disparage exercise in any way; on the contrary, exercise is essential. Have at it. Lift weights, do cardio, hike, walk, dance, bike-ride, do whatever the next in-thing is. And take the kids, or at least get them off the couch.
Of course I’ll keep exercising. But I, for one, am going to watch my breakfasts, my snacking, my meal choices, and my portion sizes just a bit more between now and next January. Maybe I’ll actually lose those 10. And be less judgmental.
David Shumway is one of our regular community contributors.
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