IN LIFE AS IN THE DANCE : GRACE GLIDES

ON BLISTERED FEET.
---Alice Abrams

Monday, February 16, 2009

I'm Fat - So What!!!!!

This is me in October 2001, right before bariatric surgery. I weighed in at 269 lbs. I lost 130 lbs., or one complete person! I had tried every diet imaginable and had given up. After a year of research, I finally decided to go this route. I know it's not for everyone but it worked for me. I have gained back approximately thirty pounds in the past 7 or so years. So I can truly say I've been fat most of my life and I totally understand the ramifications of weight on our general health.

The article following came from this past Sunday's Parade Magazine. It makes me furious to think that the government has plans for watching what we eat!!!
I am totally for less government, not more intrusion into our "private" lives! We'd better pay close attention, folks, or we are truly going to be sorry.

How Other Countries Fight Fat


While many governments struggle to keep their citizens nourished, the leaders of wealthy nations are trying to get theirs to eat less. In Japan, health officials check the waistlines of citizens over 40, and those considered too fat undergo diet counseling. Failure to slim down can lead to fines. New Zealand has rules barring people it deems too fat from immigrating to the country.

In Great Britain - where 60% of men and 50% of women are expected to be obese by mid-century - residents of some cities are being recruited to wear electronic tracking tags to calculate how much they move each day and how many calories they burn. Daily exercisers will be rewarded with store coupons and even days off from work. Britain's National Health Service is paying for at least 30,000 weight-loss classes.

Germany plans to spend $47 million on health-eating and sports programs and to set tougher nutritional standards for school lunches. The government is also asking candy makers to stop targeting young children and encouraging software companies to develop games that force players to move. Does the U.S. need a government-backed effort to end obesity???
Vote at Parade.com/intel.

9 comments:

Heart of Rachel said...

Hi Gracie. Thank you for sharing your story.

I'm shocked by the extreme policies that some government impose on people.

Anonymous said...

I never knew this story. Thanks for sharing. My MIL is obese and she's looking into the LapBand.

Linda said...

I can still see you in there no matter how big you were.

My friend Andrew's wife just had lapband surgery this past Friday; she's starting to have blood pressure and sugar issues so they figured this was the best way to go. I wish I could go the surgical route myself but I can't afford it so really need to start pushing myself to exercise more and watch what I eat. Matter of fact, when the weather warms up, I'll be hitting the sidewalks around my new neighborhood and I am really looking forward to it!

I'm with you on the government needing to be less involved but it seems that they feel it necessary to control everything. Big Brother here we come!

Durward Discussion said...

One thing to remember about those countries with the rules. All of them have universal health care for ALL of their citizens. Given the damage done by too much poundage and the long range costs of being obese, it makes sense for them to encourage weight loss and maintenance to keep the costs down.

Here where you can get the best care money can buy or the tax payer picks up the tab when you lose a limb to diabetes if you are poor, there are no controls. Most insurance plans won't pay for bariatric surgery because it is "elective". So the costs keep going up up up. The hospitals go broke broke broke, and the tax payer pays for those unable to get early care and treatment once they become a crisis.

Durward Discussion said...

Oh Gracie. I saw your note at Travis re your cable company and ABC. If they are still fighting, you can see the rebroadcast of most ABC shows at Fancast on the computer.

Callie Ann said...

Wow your on the Feeds for updates... I am so happy...Yeah for you... Guess what I am fat too... :)

Sandee said...

I'm with you on less government. That won't happen now for sure. We are marching toward a socialist country and I'm not happy about that one bit.

Have a terrific day honey. Big hug. :)

Traveling Bells said...

What Sandee said...sheesh! And all we are getting right now is MORE guvmint!

Tina - omme i London said...

WOW - you lost 130 pounds! Well done you, that's amazing! A friend of mine had the same surgery that you had and lost a load of weight as well. You look amazing for it. :)
As for the food police, I find that one hard to stomach too.