I was just sent this video by my friend, Jean.
I guess the problem is that many Japanese are now eating western type fast food and probably more meat and fried cuisine than they used to. Since moving to Hawaii and eating what my mother prepares, we're finding it easier to watch our weight. She cooks mostly vegetables and fish. She does cook chicken and hamburger but it's always stretched with vegetables or noodles.
I just heard the other night that according to the Gallup Poll, Hawaii was second to the bottom of the list for overweight Americans after Colorado. To be honest, I was a little surprised, but happy. Maybe it's because more people are surfing, swimming, jogging all year long, or doing things like going to Zumba. And perhaps people in Colorado are doing a lot of skiing? Whatever it is, I do think America needs to make sure that our children lead healthier, more active lives so they can avoid many of the diseases that are attributed to the extra weight.
As for the government fining companies with overweight workers, can you just imagine what the conservatives in the U.S. would say about that? Look what happened when Michelle Obama pushed to have schools prepare healthier lunches.
I guess the problem is that many Japanese are now eating western type fast food and probably more meat and fried cuisine than they used to. Since moving to Hawaii and eating what my mother prepares, we're finding it easier to watch our weight. She cooks mostly vegetables and fish. She does cook chicken and hamburger but it's always stretched with vegetables or noodles.
I just heard the other night that according to the Gallup Poll, Hawaii was second to the bottom of the list for overweight Americans after Colorado. To be honest, I was a little surprised, but happy. Maybe it's because more people are surfing, swimming, jogging all year long, or doing things like going to Zumba. And perhaps people in Colorado are doing a lot of skiing? Whatever it is, I do think America needs to make sure that our children lead healthier, more active lives so they can avoid many of the diseases that are attributed to the extra weight.
As for the government fining companies with overweight workers, can you just imagine what the conservatives in the U.S. would say about that? Look what happened when Michelle Obama pushed to have schools prepare healthier lunches.
Interesting! Certainly here in the UK there are many more overweight people than there used to be, and this is attributed to the greater range and availability of fast food, sadly much of it imports from the US. I can't imagine many western governments being so extreme as the Japanese, but we could certainly learn from them.
ReplyDeletefat tax is long overdue.
ReplyDeleteI moved to Washington State from Colorado, and the first thing I noticed is the incredible number of overweight people here. I didn't realize Colorado is the skinniest state, as I still saw quite a few people in Denver who were overweight. In Boulder, not so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteI went to visit some old friends I hadn't seen for awhile and was amazed how overweight they had become. It is a constant struggle!
ReplyDeletevery interesting, will have to share this video!
ReplyDeleteFat often has to do with genes. David and I eat the same thing (he eats more of it) and I am fat and he is thin. We hardly ever eat beef (never lamb or veal) and eat lots of fish and chicken. I think who your ancestors are has much to do with how much you might weigh. Your Mom is small and thin, and although she cooks very nice meals, I think you probably inherited her genes for smallness.
ReplyDeleteI do think that American foods have too much carb in them. Carb in the form of sugar is much worse than fat in the diet. Fruits and vegetables are good. I love Michelle's garden. Dianne
Funny, we were just talking about Colorado being the skinniest state a few minutes ago, yet you do see a lot of overweight people around here. People in our area, near Boulder, tend to be very active....my youngest daughter is running a half marathon as I write this. I think kids are being made more aware of healthy eating, but I wish they would quit cutting the physical education options in the schools.
ReplyDeleteWell...I don't pass and need to seriously lose that belly fat. I'm losing weight slowly like a couple pounds a year but not good enough to trim my waistline below 35...yikes! I have Metabolic Syndrome so I definitely need to watch this. Well thanks for bringing the subject up and reminding me to step up the weight loss and exercise. I think the only way to bring down my waistline is to eat less carbohydrates. So hard to do.
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
I'm going to keep that tape measure handy as a reminder. The scale is not the one to watch.
DeleteL. from W.
I am thankful I don't like soda and can't afford fast food. It is difficult to keep weight off in America without the conscious effort to avoid processed foot.
ReplyDeleteI'm blessed/lucky or whatever that I've never had a weight problem, but then I'm not in love with food or eating for that matter!! None of my kids have a weight problem either, so our whole family has been very fortunate. Interesting video! Thanks for sharing, Kay! Hope your weekend is off to a great "skinny" start!!
ReplyDeletethis is so great - fat tax! - what a concept - also, I like the idea of using tape measure rather than scales - I use my clothes as benchmark
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Kay - I like Japanese food, but rarely go to Japanese restaurants because of the salt content. How do you handle that one?
We use low salt soy sauce and try to be careful of how much salt we add to our dishes. The Japanese restaurants usually over salt their food, especially their miso soup.
DeleteI don't think anyone would choose to be fat, and I don't think anyone would argue that fat is healthy, although too skinny is also not healthy from what I've read. I'm overweight, not to the point of freakish, but I could definitely benefit from losing about 50 pounds. I already have somewhat of a complex and this just makes me feel more uncomfortable. You can't make fun of almost anyone and still be politically correct, but it's ok and acceptable for everyone to make jokes or snide remarks at the expense of overweight people. You don't even have to be caught making a remark when you thought the mike was off, you can just joke or criticize away to your hearts content with the mike on full volume. After all, if overweight people just had a little will power they could lose that weight.
ReplyDeleteYou can be a closet smoker, drinker, gambler, porn user etc, but you can't hide overweight. Guess you can tell I'm sensitive.
In my view, you are 100% correct, Candace.
DeleteThis is a good reminder to everyone to be sensitive and caring. I hope the tone of my post was not in any way offensive, because that was most certainly not the intent.
DeleteNo offense taken, just voicing my opinion.
DeleteI like this law..wish it be implemented everywhere..
ReplyDeleteFarewell forever to sumo wrestling!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right -- the people of both Colorado and Hawaii have the ability to be really active all year long! That's no excuse for the rest of us, though. :)
ReplyDeleteJust watched the video. It is a crock of baloney. It made me quite angry. Talk about Big Brother is Watching You!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this post upset you, Hank. I sure didn't mean to aggravate you.
DeleteNO problem, believe me. I never blame the messenger. It's stimulating to know what's out there in society which is one very important role a blog can play. :-)
DeleteI'm sensitive, too. After I moved away from adult kids, found a new job, mom died 6 weeks later (some caregiver I was!), dad's brain tumour returned, my principal harassed me, menopause was causing me no end of grief. Here I am, 50 lbs later, on antidepressants but doing hospice work. Tax me? nope. If I could lose weight, I would.
ReplyDeleteI have two clients, morbidly obese, who simply live in ignorance. Both on disability, without the education to know good nutrition.
All of us have our stories and s/he who is without sin should throw the first stone.
Jenn, I hear where you are coming from. As an emotional eater too if my life gets out of control I reach for the sugar and carbs. All we can do is keep trying. It is easier for some than others, that is the truth. And I think it is more of an issue when middleaged and you have pressures coming at you from all angles like you. The ageing and health issues of parents is a big one for us middleaged people. I have started drinking vegetable juices (green veges) and I am finding it keeps my cravings for sugar and carbs at bay. And true we do all have stories. All we can do is our best.
DeleteInteresting and it is only a matter of time until more countries follow suit. Government need to make money somehow, lol. Some people are always going to be fatter than others which may have to do with genes, medical issues etc. However, the issue is that Western nations are becoming SO fat, that is the problem. The medical problems and costs this causes is the issue. Also allowing your child to be this way is a form of child abuse, seriously. We all need to be fitter and healthier and do not need to eat so much. A large proportion of the world have nothing much to eat and starve and the rest of us have an abundance to eat and are too fat. I think the best things we can do is learn where our food actually comes from and also try and live more like our grandparents. I now go to the supermarket with the thought that if my grandmother could not buy this when she was young then I should not be buying it either. This means that I never venture into the middle of the supermarket. It is tough avoid sugar and carbs, I am one of those people who become addicted to them and immediately put on weight. It is a lifelong struggle and I am a work in progress. All we can do is try and we jsut need to get back to basics AND REDUCE PORTION SIZES by half. Great post Kay.
ReplyDeletePS Kay, I am going to repost this on my blog too with a link to yours. I am interested in people's comments about this.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Lilly. It is a very sensitive and emotional issue though. I tried to be careful, but perhaps not careful enough.
DeleteBlessings......
ReplyDeleteExtremes, we are a society of them and though health tooted as the reason clearly people’s livelihood is being threatened. The underlined message, slim down or you are fired because frankly companies won't keep a person that cost them revenues.
In a few years there will be rise health risks of anorexia and bulimia as people begin to take on unhealthy eating habits and practices to weight maintenance and keeping the weight off.
The Big Brother is watching aspect shocked me at first. But on the other hand, I would be glad to have all that group support and supervision in being more active and losing weight.
ReplyDeleteWhat would conservatives say about the government fining companies with overweight workers?
ReplyDeleteThey'd say quite a bit I imagine. As would I.
Just imagine what hope a plump person would have of ever getting a job?
Fine the overweight people, not their employer.
If such a thing became law here, the following morning I'd fire anybody who looked even remotely pudgier than Twiggy.
I was skinny, too skinny in fact, before I started taking certain medications that led to weight gain. My doctor told me that there are no alternative meds I can take, so I must find some other way to lose weight. I am doing this by reducing calores. I have managed to lose 4 lbs in 2 weeks since starting my diet.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of cousins who are suffering from the same problem. It's really hard. Congratulations on your weight loss!!! Good for you. I'm on my brother's case right now. He has no excuses.
DeleteMy best friend just returned from 2 weeks in Japan. She said that she never had a problem finding food she and her Vegan husband could eat. They came home feeling wonderful.
ReplyDelete