SWGB

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.....ap/index.html

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hnooe

Last in literacy and first in obesity--who knew?

SWGB

I can hear the cheers now, "We're #1 We're #1, gasp, wheeze, We'... got sit down".

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Smiling JOe

You likely won't hear many cheers about MS being the new #1 ranking in obesity. I believe they have been sitting on that position for a couple of years. Must be some good home cookin', and too hot outside to excercise.

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SWGB

Actually they did blame the good old fashioned southern cooking for it. I'm sure that stuff wasn't too bad when you needed the calories to work the fields all day, but I'm sure it's beyond detrimental if you work in an office and sit on the couch after work.

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Johnrudy

Yes, I thought they'd been #1 in obesity for several years. And too hot to exercise - no kidding!

Man oh man, good southern food is the best though.

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Minnie

And home to some of the nicest, most considerate people you will ever meet, that learned young in life it was not good manners to make fun of others.

Poverty contributes greatly to both problems obesity and illiteracy.

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"A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes." Gandhi

cp

OKno more bad news about my home state.period!
I've known for a long time we had the obesity deal going out the top of the charts as well as diabetes.
As far as literacy is concerned I think we are neck and neck with ARK.
As my friend Minnie said, poverty plays a huge role in all this. Fatty foods are simply cheaper. Carbs make up a very high percentage of many diets.
And yes, most Americans used to need high calorie meals to work sun up to sun down.
now what can we do to help this situation?

Starfish

Where does Florida rank?

geoff1791

Being in the trenches for the fight against obesity for over 15 years now I have to throw in my .02.
I thought this column I wrote several months ago has some good points.

Are You Taking Care of Your Heart

Have you ever laid around at night wondering how many times your heart beats and how in the heck does it keep pumping and pumping?

Well let me tell you. Your heart beats on average 100,000 times a day and pumps the equivalent of 2000 gallons of blood each day.

WOW, 2000 gallons of blood each day, just ponder that.

Your heart is an amazing muscle and really works hard to keep you alive.
So, please tell me why most people don't take care of this vital muscular organ?

Heart disease continues to ROCK this country with useless deaths each and every year.

What do I mean by ROCK?

It means that more people die each year due to heart disease over any other cause of death out there.

You want to guess how many? Try a million lives each year lost because of heart disease.

And women, don't just think this is a man disease. You're not off the hook either.

Cardiovascular disease kills over 500,000 women each year more than the next seven causes of death combined.

2.5 women will die of heart disease and stroke, compared to 1 in every 30 women who will die from breast cancer. The scary thing about all of this is that most of the time women don't even know it's coming.

Research conducted by NIH with 515 women, surprisingly revealed that fewer than 30% of women reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks.

43% reported having no chest pain at all during any phase of the attack.
The most common symptoms they reported were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances and shortness of breath.

Do you notice any of these symptoms? If so, you better take action before it's too late.

It's time you started to recognize that your lifestyle plays a huge factor in rather you live a long healthy productive life or short unhealthy in-active one.

What do you want to do? Sit around and pretend you've got a get out of jail free card or take responsibility for your health.

I hope you want to take responsibility.

If so let's start by learning the seven major risk factors for coronary artery disease:
1. family history
2. high blood cholesterol
3. high triglycerides
4. hypertension
5. type 2 diabetes
6. a sedentary lifestyle
7. smoking

Look at that. What are you thinking? I hope it hit you across the head like a friggin 2x4 like it did me.

Of the seven risk factors you have control over six of them by making lifestyle changes to significantly lower your risk of heart disease.

So what are you waiting for, get to work.

If you're over weight or obese, 'GET IT OFF'. Especially around your waist.
If you have high blood cholesterol levels, lower it.
If you have high blood pressure or hypertension, lower it fast. You don't want your heart working any harder then it already is.
If you have type 2 Diabetes, get control over it before it affects your heart.

If you're not physically active, then get active.

Finally, If you're smoking get some help and stop.

People choose to walk down the street and grab a meal at Taco Bell so don’t waste your air on the same ole tired excuses how everyone is a victim. People make choices everyday regardless of income race or geography.

If you can walk to Taco Bell and drop 6 bucks on sh*t then you can walk around the corner to the grocery store and grab an apple and a can of tuna….or spend your 6 bucks on a bit healthier meal than Taco Bell and at the very least hit up a Subway.

Now than I think about it, right now you can get a foot long at Subway for 5 bucks! If your eating in a supportive manner, a foot long sub is 3 FULL meals for most. There I just saved you money and got three fairly healthy meals in your body.

I know this can be easier said than done but it is your life and those around you depend on you being healthy and fit.

Get Help Fast!

When you need legal help you seek out a professional-attorney.
When you need your car fixed you seek out a professional-skilled mechanic.
When you need an operation you seek out a professional-surgeon.

Why is it when people need to get in shape and take back control of their life thru great health and fitness they don’t seek out a fitness professional?

Yours in health
Geoff

www.getfunctionallyfit.com

Mango

I would have said thanks if you had posted had you not personally endorsed your business.
Now my two cents.

I've never had to battle weight issues all my life. I've eaten what I wanted and as much as I wanted. I have though, watched someone close to me fight obesity all her life. I though it was just as easy as you stated above. We've all seen Jared, or whatever his name is from the Subway commercial, hold up his old fat pants after walking there for his subs. The reality however is not as easy.

Genetics, food addictions, certain disease processes, as well as other issues factor into obesity. Just making up one's mind to lose weight is not always going to be the answer. I think if you asked anyone who is over-weight if they truly wanted to be in that condition, the answer would be no. Many have tried and failed, and at some point give up.

I do agree with you that wiser food choices is a good start, but a fitness professional is not affordable for all, nor consultations with health professionals.

CP asked, how do we help the situation in MS? Great question. Education and early intervention through the health department, if it is not being done now, clinics sponsored by insurance companies and fitness centers with some financial sponsorship--which in all likelihood reduce obesity related disease care, and in addition, possible psychological intervention in extreme cases.

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geoff1791

Getting healthy and fit is not a cost, it's an investment.

Maybe I am misunderstanding this but am I to apologize for being here trying to help, the web address or having a passion for helping people change their life?

I joined here to help educate people on how to safely incorporate health and fitness into their lives, on THEIR terms and noone else’s.

Cliché as this sounds, if one person is motivated to read a few articles or newsletters and that ignites the fire to start taking action then I say we should all give that person a pat on the back and all the encouragement we can.

I never mentioned my services or costs, that oddly, noone can afford before ever speaking with me personally. I made no pitch or super summer blowout special discount offer so lets ease off lumping me in with all the jack asses out there on TV and infomercials pumping all the hype and misinformation. Not to mention stealing your hard earned $$$.

Here’s a pitch: Getting healthy and fit is hard ...my company makes it easy and affordable on any budget.

You are correct that getting ones health back in no small task. Certainly is much much easier when you have a plan that revolves around common sense regardless of income or state of health.

The majority of people I work with all have preexisting health conditions. That’s why they sought me out, to help get them off the 50 prescription pills they take every day. They researched and asked for help so they can smile and run around after their children and grand children.

Pitch: Inside my FREE consultations I hit hard on the premise that you need to invest in your health before the big house on the beach. What’s more important, a fast shiny car or a clean functioning liver and rapid metabolism?

I'm here to help and I pride myself on being an educator first. Helping people take control and except positive changes while cleaning all the negative bull*&% out of their lives. We call it pulling weeds.

Surrounding oneself with haters and negative people bring nothing but stress into our lives causing our body to release cortisol which causes the body to store fat around your abdomen which leads to everything mentioned in my original post.

Stress is catabolic, that is it breaks down muscle tissue. If you are under high stress from all the negative crap and people in your life you will have a more difficult time building muscle and raising metabolism and it will virtually be impossible to lose weight and live healthy.

I was at the beach Tuesday about 11am and struck up a conversation with a nice couple from Orlando. They inquired what kind of job I must have to be able to enjoy a few hours at the beach. I replied with what I do of course to which the man said, "I wish I had a job where I could do this"

…I simply asked, "Why don’t you get one".

Choices, it all comes down to choices.

Some people will read my posts on the forums and be enlightened and educated and maybe offer up a thank you, possibly visit my website.

Others will choose to judge me and kick my dog.

Pitch:
P.S. - Don't Wait Until It's Too Late To Get Your Body and Health Back! Register Now For A Complimentary Health and Fitness Consultation at http://www.getfunctionallyfit.com/contactus.asp

jdarg

While Geoff advertising his business in the message somewhat dilutes the message, he makes some really good points. We have all made the excuses - no time, busy schedule, blah blah blah. Right now mine is "waiting for the kids to go back to school" so I can exercise when I want to, even though I need to now.

Many of us DO have the choice to be healthy, but it is easier to make the bad choices.

I love this line and it is so true!

If you can walk to Taco Bell and drop 6 bucks on sh*t then you can walk around the corner to the grocery store and grab an apple and a can of tuna….or spend your 6 bucks on a bit healthier meal than Taco Bell and at the very least hit up a Subway.

Mango

Jdarg, you've probably never had a fat day in your life.
but, I hear you on being healthy. Even trim people can be unhealthy.

I never said Geoff didn't make some good points, but the thread is about the high rate of obesity in the State of MS. If poverty and illiteracy are contributing factors, then what needs to be done to educate the populace? It's very easy to tell people to get off their fat as$es and get an apple instead of a burger, go find a fitness trainer, etc. The message becomes even more diluted when you tell people to make a financial investment in your health by not buying a beach house or fancy car. I'd bet the farm the average MS resident doesn't have that choice.

My point was it seems education, through nutritional counseling in schools-- because overweight parents tend to have overweight children-- exercise programs, some psychological counseling even-- because if your surrounded by overweight people, you tend to think it's ok, and some people have food addictions.

The Health Departments in most States have nutritionists on staff. They can give lots of information regarding nutritional family meal planning. Look for your local YMCA and see if they have swimming programs or exercise programs. Take that walk in the heat with your family at night instead of watching TV or playing video games. Drink plenty of water. (see here an interesting bit about how temperature affects weight and other tips too)

and, if you can afford to, see a fitness professional like Geoff.

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