America is obsessed with weight gain and weight loss. We’re fascinated by pictures of celebrities who have gained weight and then lost it with some amazing new diet of goat cheese & Cornish hens wrapped in a bed of corn husks, or eating only food that is blue. We stare at people larger than ourselves and think, “there but for the grace of God and the love of rice cakes, would be me.”Losing weight is pretty much a national pastime. You don’t hear too many people say, “Gee, I wish I could gain another ten pounds.” If they did, someone would probably smack them in the nose. And they’d deserve it.
According to statistics, most people in this country need to lose weight. Almost a third of Americans are obese and at least five percent are morbidly obese. That’s a lot of weight to lose.
Have you ever thought about where the weight goes when you lose it? I have. The boy, Tootles in the movie, Peter Pan, lost his marbles. Lucky for him, he found them again in the end. Unlucky for me, I usually find what I lost again in the end as well as the middle.
ABC had a story on this morning about a new mother and fellow blogger who has decided to lose a hundred pounds in the next year. That is a tremendous goal and I wish her the best, but doing it in front of the world would not be my choice of a weight-loss program. Like that show, The Biggest Loser, it seems so theatrical. I guess with the attention she gets through the Internet and television she should be sufficiently motivated to actually get it done though. Different methods work for different people. It reminded me of a book I picked up the other day, “The Writing Diet (Write yourself Right-size)”. The title grabbed me at first glance. Being a writer and having extra poundage to divest myself of, it would certainly be the perfect plan for me. I have yet to read it…but it sits here on my desk looking very thin in its attractively designed dust jacket.
Another article in the news today was about KFC giving away free chicken on Monday. They are trying to improve their finger-licking greasy image to a healthier, slimmer, grilled image. But I have to tell you that without the coating of Colonel Sander’s secret recipe, that chicken looks quite anorexic. Could be why it’s healthier for you. There’s not enough to get between your teeth much less add inches to your hips.
Then there was an interview with Pennsylvania’s Governor Rendel who has recently lost 50 lbs. His big secret? Eat less. Duh! Too bad all politicians aren’t this smart about spending our tax dollars. How do you help people in this economy? Spend less. (That’s about as probable as finding water on the moon)
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