I’m currently trying to decide if I want to start blogging about everything that’s going on in my life here or on my other blog. A lot of things are changing and some of those changes are going to either shock or offend some people. To those people I would just ask that you keep it to yourself. It’s hard enough without being harassed and hated on. I took a new saying to heart when I saw it and really believe that it’s going to help me get through the days easier when people try bringing me down:
Always be yourself. Because the people that matter don’t mind. And the ones that do mind don’t matter.
I recently started to keep a paper diary of some of my daily activities, the first one I’ve had in almost 30 years, which I might begin transcribing to my blogs. I guess I should look at my Google Analytics information to see what kind of traffic I’m getting. It may not be that big of a deal right now, and it may be that the content causes an explosion in traffic. I guess only time will tell. What really needs to be determined is what kind of people are reading my blogs. If all I’m getting is a bunch of closed minded, prejudiced, homophobic assholes, then I’m not going to put anything up on this blog or the other. I’ll start a new one just for the purpose of documenting what I feel could be very helpful to others as well as myself when I need to look back and see how far I’ve come. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome, but please try to keep it civilized. Life can be hard enough without someone trying to ruin your day before it’s even begun.
But not nearly as much as being the recipient of it. I got some absolutely thrilling news last week. Oh wait, it’s not that thrilling. I’ve been having serious pains for the last few months that I tried to ignore in the hopes it would pass, or at the least wait until I finish school in December to deal with. After an episode last week where i could hardly function I decided to go get checked out. The diagnosis is not something I wanted to hear. Without going into the graphic details, a couple of cysts were found that need to be removed before they get any worse. These things have been caused me a lot of pain, discomfort, and metal anguish, and in all honesty I really don’t think I can make it until December when I’m done with school. Now I’m kicking myself for not keeping up with a health insurance plan for when stuff like this comes up. So with that said, I set up a little page at ChipIn.com to try and raise the funds to cover the cost of the surgery. To everyone that has contributed so far, it is greatly appreciated and you have my thanks. Every little bit helps.
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In recent years, the subject of obesity has become a hotly debated topic among health professionals, as well as in the media. While some of the problem can be attributed to poor eating habits, there are other factors that contribute to the issue which are leading to a global health crisis. So what are these contributing factors and how do they exacerbate the obesity epidemic?
As society has evolved over the course of the last century, we have entered into an age where food is so readily available that we can have it any time we like. Gone are the days when one might wake up at midnight and have a quick snack, now it has become a full meal. Microwave dinners packed with 2000 calories, almost a full day’s supply for an adult male, can be fully cooked in a microwave oven in ten minutes. And what becomes of those calories after this midnight meal is consumed? Returning straight to bed means those calories end up unused and stored by the body as fat. Hours later, when it’s time to rise for work or school, a hearty breakfast further adds to the calorie glut. Someone working an office job might not burn off all of the calories consumed at breakfast and lunch, never mind dinner and the midnight meal.
The ease with which we can get our food now has led to another problem that is causing an increase in obesity rates – we have become lazy. The ease with which we can get foods pre-cooked and ready to eat makes it easy to consume too much. When combined with a lack of regular physical activity disaster is bound to strike. In countries where people formerly walked or rode bicycles as their primary form of transportation the problem is more evident. With an increasing amount of motor vehicles in countries like China, India, and North and South Korea… people are gaining weight faster and easier than they can take it off.
As the adult population has continued to pack on the pounds, there has been a trickle down effect on the youth population. Childhood obesity is quickly reaching epidemic proportions as fewer children spend time involved in outdoor activities. Instead of going outside and playing sports, they prefer to spend their free time in front of televisions playing video games that simulate sporting activities. Poor dietary habits and a lack of physical activity are creating a generation of overweight kids that face an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Children are now experiencing these health problems in their teenage years while others are now beginning to see the effects caused by years of eating junk food in their twenties and thirties. Health concerns that once only affected the senior population have begun to show that they do not discriminate against anyone regardless of age, race, or nationality.
Faced with a potentially catastrophic health crisis, we have to ask ourselves what must be done to curb the tide of obesity. A renewed emphasis on proper dietary planning in addition to increasing the amount of quality exercise in our daily routine seems to be the first line of defense in protecting our health as well as our children’s. Until that message sinks in the problems facing humanity from the obesity issue will steadily continue to grow.
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