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csl7037 -> All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 7:29:38 AM)

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL66909620080806?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Shocking.

But this doesn't sit well with me....

"It really needs to be more than an individual effort," Liang said. "It needs to be a societal effort."

I'm not sure about that.



10SNE1? -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 8:22:15 AM)

I can see your point but if it was "All Americans addicted to porn in 40 years" or "all Americans alcoholics in 40 years" wouldn't we support a "Societal Effort"?

Personally, I am increasing frustrated with the church's refusal to acknowledge just how devastating obesity can be, even to the point of almost encouraging it. It seems like we can't expect people to sit through an hour meeting without cookies or come to early morning Bible Study without doughnuts or get kids to anything without a pizza/soda feed.

Not too long ago I was reading a secular book in which the author made a striking comment. Basically she said, " We tell teenagers that they must not only deny their sexual impulses but also that it will be so much better if they wait until marriage which is the "proper season" yet we can't even control what we put into our mouths and would rather eat a cardboard-tasting tomato in February than "deny" ourselves and wait until the real thing to ready in it's time.

This is a hot button for me, my mother has suffered from heart disease, diabetes, and a whole host of "lifestyle diseases" and it maddens me to hear folks deny the dangers of being significantly overweight. You might be "in shape" and fat today but you are a ticking time bomb. Obesity is never healthy and it leads to a whole host of health problems which impact the entire family.

Churches which claim to be about "the family" need to address this issue and certainly need to stop enabling people.



monamie -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 8:36:21 AM)

quote:

Not too long ago I was reading a secular book in which the author made a striking comment. Basically she said, " We tell teenagers that they must not only deny their sexual impulses but also that it will be so much better if they wait until marriage which is the "proper season" yet we can't even control what we put into our mouths and would rather eat a cardboard-tasting tomato in February than "deny" ourselves and wait until the real thing to ready in it's time.


Whoa!!! That's convicting!!!

I would much rather see it as a societal thing than a government controlled thing.



womaninchrist -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 12:27:41 PM)

It's going to have to come as a societal movement, anything less won't work. Besides, who likes government telling us what to eat when and how much of it?

But honestly, there are many problems feeding into the obesity problem, few which are being addressed at all and even fewer being correctly addressed. Like the quest for accurate dietary info. We don't even know how much or what to eat any more. We're told to avoid sugar, then carbs, then fats, or to obsessvely count calories - but not how to correctly eat.

We allow additives of questionable safety to be in standard food products. Try avoiding transfats lately? It's not as easy as it sounds.

We allow doctors to ignore the metabolic conditions that do exist and contribute to or even cause weight trouble until they've gone on a long time and complications have developed. No amount of eating less or even starving yourself will cure you of PCOS - yet "eat less so you'll lose weight" is the standard doctor response even with obvious PCOS symptoms...and not only can PCOS lead to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, but it's also a leading cause of infertility affecting around 10% of women so it's not like it's some really, super rare disease. At the very least, we should expect GP's and ob/gyn's to know enough to refer such patients out to endocrinologists and our insurance companies to recognize that PCOS isn't "just a fertility problem".

We also need to take a long hard look at why food needs to be a part of EVERYTHING. Food at office meetings, food at our desks, food at clubs, at church, in front of our computers and TV's, etc. - and usually in generous supply. What hole is that food filling?

Then too, we need to look at portion control. Who honestly needs today's average restaurant portions? I know I don't - not even most of the smaller lunch plates.

Plus we need to get back to some honest exercise. I know too many people IRL who consider exercise the walk from their door to their car and from their car to their destination. Eating correctly is only half the battle.

What we haven't brought upon ourselves, we've allowed to happen.



LoyalFriend -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 8:44:53 PM)

People that are overweight are not usually very happy about it. I think a societal change and effort is needed. Also, maybe offer weight loss help and exercise support for people just like is offered for drug addicts, smokers and drinkers.



csl7037 -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/7/2008 9:40:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 10SNE1?
Not too long ago I was reading a secular book in which the author made a striking comment. Basically she said, " We tell teenagers that they must not only deny their sexual impulses but also that it will be so much better if they wait until marriage which is the "proper season" yet we can't even control what we put into our mouths and would rather eat a cardboard-tasting tomato in February than "deny" ourselves and wait until the real thing to ready in it's time.


Wow, I hadn't thought of that!

I was asked to lead a women's Bible study geared toward weight loss once. I told them up front I don't agree with the so-called "Christian Diets" out there but agreed to do it using a book called "Becoming the Woman I want to be" (or something like that). But I'm also a fitness instructor, working on becoming a personal trainer. We did talk a lot about health issues, nutrition, exercise - it was part of the book too. I found out very quickly, everyone wants a gimmick. They weren't interested in anything that looked too much like common sense and hard work, they wanted a program, a formula, or a magic bullet. That was very disheartening for me.

Our new Children's Church minister keeps saying she wants to get me in to hold some group exercise classes at the church. I'll let her handle that. If she can get permission or interest, I'll be happy to do it. But they've got to know I don't play games.

Maybe that's where society needs to start - everyone talks about it but VERY few people do anyting about it. Sadly, even a lot of people who try to do something about it, though, fall victim to so much misinformation and junk science, though.



HisCovenant -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/8/2008 9:59:56 AM)

I do agree that it needs to be a Societal Solution.

In the first place, we have to get the misinformation under control. You can't trust any "expert" because there is always another "expert" in direct contradiction to the first. How do we figure out which scientific study is truth and which is junk? You can't trust the FDA or USDA because they are more concerned about the economy than health. You can't trust the media becasue they don't give enough info to really discern anything. You can't wade through the studies without a degree. I've waded through some and they make my brain hurt.

I also think that we as a society need to just say no to junk foods. We already know that highly processed foods like sugar and white flour are unhealthy, yet how many new foods are we creating and buying in the market place that have these ingredients? You can't hardly shop in a grocery store or eat in a restaurant while avoiding these foods. I mean, you can, but the vast majority of foods and meals are inherently unhealthy. Why are we as a society not avoiding such? Why are we not laughing companies like General Mills advertising "Made with Whole Grain" on an unhealthy product out of the marketplace?

I think as long as we as a society are going into restaurants and grocery stores and buying these products it will get worse and worse. I purchase healthier items, but I feel like my "vote" doesn't count. In the 10 years since I've been avoiding junk foods, I haven't seen much of a change. I think we have to get our votes togther as a society to turn the tide. I am a firm believer (and will probably get flamed for this) that certain foods shouldn't be commonly available in the marketplace and somehow we (as a society) have to make that choice for people who aren't willing to do so individually or who are confused by the misinformation. As long as we prize that attitude that "I have the right to do whatever I want even if it's stupid," we're going to find prople making poor choices. I'm all for rights and choices, but we have to protect us from ourselves, too.



Miss Giggles -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/8/2008 10:08:20 AM)

That's scary.

The food is part of the problem but most people won't exercise and many that do aren't exercising effectively. Walking 2 mph outside on your cell phone while smoking a cigarette doesn't help that much. Some people don't lose weight without exercise. Women have got to educate themselves on the myth of "getting bulky" etc.

Also a one size fits all approach just doesn't work. Science can't even figure out even with identical twins why one gets sick and the other doesn't.



NoShow -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/8/2008 11:54:24 AM)

I think the story is a bit exaggerated. Since I workout quite a bit, I'm at places where there are others that are like minded, and well, we're all just not going to disappear one day. So to extrapolate out the trend like that is an abuse of statistics.

quote:

ORIGINAL: csl7037
I found out very quickly, everyone wants a gimmick. They weren't interested in anything that looked too much like common sense and hard work, they wanted a program, a formula, or a magic bullet. That was very disheartening for me.


I had a very similar experience with a Men's Group I use to belong. At first, I found it frustrating, but after some time went by, it did become somewhat clear. I don't want to generalize and say this is always the case, but it might bring some insight. Second, what I'm about to say, I'm not saying either way if it's the truth\right, rather it appears to be the mindset of some. There are those that believe that "Christ is my savior", but go silent when the matter comes up of "Christ is my Lord." Meaning, they believe they have salvation, but don't believe that they are required to follow the Word (or are selective about following it). Now I know this is a bad analogy, but in a sense they have the "magic pill" in that they have salvation without the work\effort of following the Word. So if they (think they) can get a "magic pill" for salvation, is it surprising they would want a magic pill for fitness?

On the other hand, you also find those that are also very much into the Word. And some will say that following the Word can be much harder than following a diet or a fitness program. But the "reward" also varies drastically. There are those that see that and say, I'll follow the Word, because the "goal" is heaven and that's worth it. But I'm not going to diet, because the goal of being in shape isn't worth the sacrifice of indulging." And then there are those that say, "following a diet or exercise program is easy compared to following the Word, daily. And live accordingly."

Which can all be confusing. But what it showed me was that everyone seems to have different reasons for motivation or lack of motivation. And what worked best for us was to break up in like-minded groups, at times, but also getting together as one group. Liked minded groups help prevent the "less motivated" from getting discouraged when around the "highly motivated". And it allowed people to go at their own pace with out feeling they were either being dragged along or dragging along others. Which may help:

quote:

Our new Children's Church minister keeps saying she wants to get me in to hold some group exercise classes at the church. I'll let her handle that. If she can get permission or interest, I'll be happy to do it. But they've got to know I don't play games.


quote:

Maybe that's where society needs to start - everyone talks about it but VERY few people do anyting about it. Sadly, even a lot of people who try to do something about it, though, fall victim to so much misinformation and junk science, though.


And that's why going back to the basics, the fundamentals is best. Going back to common sense.



crankius -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/8/2008 12:17:59 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NoShow
So to extrapolate out the trend like that is an abuse of statistics.


I agree with this.



Wonder_Woman -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/8/2008 1:16:46 PM)

quote:

Not too long ago I was reading a secular book in which the author made a striking comment. Basically she said, " We tell teenagers that they must not only deny their sexual impulses but also that it will be so much better if they wait until marriage which is the "proper season" yet we can't even control what we put into our mouths and would rather eat a cardboard-tasting tomato in February than "deny" ourselves and wait until the real thing to ready in it's time.

Wow, what a wake up call! An excellent analogy.

I don't believe all American's will be overweight in 40 years. That's ridiculous. [8|] Don't know if anyone has seen Wall-E, but that certainly will make you stop and think about leading a sedentary lifestyle!

I think one thing that would be helpful for those who are overweight is instead of belittling, humiliating, making crude or obnoxious comments about, or anything else that makes a person to feel unworthy as a person needs to stop. Cutting someone down for being overweight is not the least bit encouraging. In fact, oftentimes it causes them to withdraw further into their shell and eat for emotional reasons. Which of course is the opposite of what they need to be doing. What overweight people need is encouragement to eat healthy and find forms of exercise that they enjoy. Forget the "don't eat this" or "don't do that" comments, and instead invite them to go for a walk with you (or bike ride or whatever).

Another thing is people seem to be conditioned to the necessity to go to a gym to work out. Truthfully, there are loads of exercises that can be done at home, in private, that require no equipment whatsoever. Just their body, a little space, and a little time and effort.



womaninchrist -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 3:26:19 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wonder_Woman
I think one thing that would be helpful for those who are overweight is instead of belittling, humiliating, making crude or obnoxious comments about, or anything else that makes a person to feel unworthy as a person needs to stop. Cutting someone down for being overweight is not the least bit encouraging. In fact, oftentimes it causes them to withdraw further into their shell and eat for emotional reasons. Which of course is the opposite of what they need to be doing. What overweight people need is encouragement to eat healthy and find forms of exercise that they enjoy. Forget the "don't eat this" or "don't do that" comments, and instead invite them to go for a walk with you (or bike ride or whatever).


That's really an excellent point. I don't know why so many feel like it's totally to walk up to complete strangers and make comments on their weight and how they're eating or should eat and/or ought to exercise. It's not like it's ok to walk up to complete strangers and read them the riot act about anything else.

One thing I still have a hard time remembering to let go was an event that happened to me about 5 years ago at a supermarket. At the time, I was basically not eating, but I'd gained 70+ pounds (and was still gaining) due to a med I was on that my then doc didn't want to change. As I've long done, I was buying natural foods, lean meats & dairy, whole grains. Plus I exercised by running at least 3 times per week (and usually 5) - and by the time of this shopping trip I mostly just cooked food for family and didn't really eat anything myself. But this particular time, I'd added exactly ONE not-so-healthy food to my basket as I walked towards the checkout - a pack of sour gummy worms for my grandkids. One pack of candy in my cart and somone actually gave me a very public - and loud - lecture about why "people like me shouldn't buy stuff like candy". I'm still not sure if it was the humiliation that burned it into my mind or how she followed the lecture up by inviting me to church - complete with her business card.

But it was quite a temptation at that point to dislike people in general - and to give up on both exercise and eating correctly. I did eventually lose the weight - by getting off the med and getting the metabolic problems it had caused corrected, but from stuff like that one woman's comments I know all too well how damaging supposedly "well meaning" words can be. It's not "easy" to be overweight and it's often quite difficult to lose the weight once you've gained it - especially if you have to have a medical condition diagnosed and treated (because even doctors often like to default to just lose the weight and your body will fix itself) or you need to seriously develop new habits in diet and/or exercise. There's something though in all the pressure often put on people that makes it harder to lose, one thing I felt and I've heard mentioned by others is that it seems almost like instead of people being supportive it's sometimes more like theyre actively waiting to see when - not even if - we're going to fail in our weight loss efforts.



csl7037 -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 8:24:14 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: womaninchrist
That's really an excellent point. I don't know why so many feel like it's totally to walk up to complete strangers and make comments on their weight and how they're eating or should eat and/or ought to exercise. It's not like it's ok to walk up to complete strangers and read them the riot act about anything else.


Don't you remember being pregnant and all the ridiculous unsolicited advice? This is just how people are. The thing to keep in mind, whether it's about pregnancy, parenting, weight, health, or whatever else, is those people rarely have any idea what they're talking about! Was the lady in the grocery store a bodybuilder or a beauty queen or a fanatically healthy yogi? Doubtful. That kind of advice rarely comes from someone who's actually practiced they're own "wisdom" - she had probably read an article or just gotten the same riot act from her doctor about her out of control blood pressure!



HisLamb26 -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 10:04:03 AM)

quote:

"It really needs to be more than an individual effort," Liang said. "It needs to be a societal effort."


A "societal effort" worked for smoking in just a few decades. I'm assuming the same effort may work for obesity.



Miss Giggles -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 10:41:36 AM)

That was extremely rude and I will not take any rude comments from strangers anymore. I would have walked away or told her to mind her own business.

People are just rude in general

"I'm running a race/marathon" - avg response "Why would you do that, someone chasing you?"

Thin person eating a salad - avg response "You don't need to eat rabbit food, have a piece of cake"

Thin person eating some junk food - "Must be nice, huh!"

Some people even make comments when clothes shopping.. got one from a sales clerk and have overhead people walking into the wrong "department" such as petites or women's which are next to each other in half the stores.

Etc, etc


Everbody needs to keep their mouth shut. I'm tired of arguing over low fat, low cal, which is better, etc

Can't win either way! I understand now why some people eat lunch in their car by themselves every day. Ugh.



womaninchrist -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 12:56:28 PM)

I've never had the experience of pregnancy. Still, it just floors me that people would feel that anything gives them the right to just walk up to a total stranger and lecture them about anything. Especially anything personal like weight, pregnancy or parenting.

The woman who did that to me was thin. If I had to guess - and it would be a total guess - I'd figure she'd always been so. All I know for sure besides her appearance is her business card said she was the wife of the Pastor of the church to which she'd invited me. That and I spent the whole time standing there flabbergasted, on the edge of tears, without a word to say in response and probably with my jaw hanging wide open. I still think the part that floors me most is that someone could so publicly humiliate another person and follow it up with what was roughly "Jesus loves you, why don't you come to our Church some Sunday?"



Consecrated2God -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 1:12:06 PM)

quote:

Personally, I am increasing frustrated with the church's refusal to acknowledge just how devastating obesity can be, even to the point of almost encouraging it. It seems like we can't expect people to sit through an hour meeting without cookies or come to early morning Bible Study without doughnuts or get kids to anything without a pizza/soda feed.


Preach it, sister! Gluttony used to be considered one of the 7 deadly sins. Why is it expected that we should overeat at church functions? We were at a Memorial Day party earlier this year and the others kept encouraging me to eat more, even though I had already eaten more than I needed. If I don't eat as much as everyone else, or don't have dessert, I get so much flak over it. [&:] If I say I don't want to gain weight, they say that I'm skinny and a little weight won't hurt me. I said I couldn't afford to buy new clothes, so I needed to stay in the ones that fit me, and they offered me the use of their clothes. They just wouldn't let it go. Even when we went out to eat and I didn't order dessert, they all offered to buy me some. I wasn't hungry, and didn't want any.

Everything we do has to be done with food. My husband (the pastor of our church) was trying to come up with the core values of our church (part of a process we're going through) and I told him that as it stands, the core value of our church is food. If it doesn't involve food, they don't do it. That seems to be the most important part! It's frustrating.



Liveloved -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 5:12:13 PM)

The problem is spiritual. We fill ourselves (and with obesity we're talking literally) with stuff to fill up the emptiness within. As I prayed Psalm 107 this morning, I spent some time on verse 9:

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul and the hungry soul
He had filled with what is good.


As I prayed this, I became increasingly aware of all the ways I try to satisfy my hungers and thirsts apart from Christ. How many clothes are enough? How many perennials in my flowerbed are enough? How many books do I need? How much time is needed on the computer? or in other activities? And aren't we teaching our children the same?

And being a major food person (I love to cook, love to eat and rarely make the same thing twice.) I also have to ask is my desire for new food, different food, this flavor or that just a way of 'satisfying the lusts of my flesh' instead of seeking what Jesus wants to satisfy me with?

Anyway, it is interesting that this subject came up here as well as in my prayer time today. Yes, the church and most social functions frequently revolve around food.

Our Bible studies do not. (I'm talking about the ones my husband and I host in our home.) We serve a beverage but nothing else and we don't encourage food. It is a distraction we don't need.

I think the decline in the faith is reflected in many of the conditions in our present society. Obesity is one of them and it's danger to physical health will prove God's point.

P.S. Because of my love for food, I workout and my physical fitness is very important to me.[:)]



his_chosen -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/9/2008 5:53:32 PM)

I'm not buying it.

I'm runner. The number of people running is increasing. From 5K to the marathon (and even ultras), numbers are increasing. Not everyone out there is at 5% body fat. For some, it's to lose weight. For many others, running is a part of their lives.

I'm also a triathlete. Participation in triathlons is also increasing. I post on a running/triathlon website. Everyone there is encouraging newbies. Again, some are trying to lose weight, but for most it's just part of who they are.

I have people who say they never could do what I do. Well, start where I did, and you can do it, too! So where did I start? Walk a block, run a block, walk a block, etc...

I have three friends who have lost over 100 lbs. No quick diet. It was a matter of every day making smart food choices and getting out there and working out.

That said, yesterday we went to the Ohio State Fair. I was amazed at the number of fat people. Not just "plump" but seriously obese. Perhaps this is a truer picture of society?



zamdad -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/10/2008 6:01:58 AM)

I think the societal change has been underway, at least we've been talking about it, for many years now. It takes individual effort, however, to act on it and be disciplined about it. Another thing I see is that all the "experts" have been talking about weight loss as the goal. Once people lose weight, it's as if they've attained the goal and then they go about regaining the weight. It's because they don't make permanent lifestyle changes.

As a kid I was one of those who could not gain weight no matter how hard I tried. In my 30's, my metabolism slowed. I never got heavy until my 40's. My kids began calling me fatty daddy and I decided to do something about it. I quit drinking soda pop and am much more concious about the foods I eat. I have been lifting weights and doing my cardio several days a week for the past 8 months. I have not lost any weight, but my pants size has decreased by three inches.

I have a brother in law that is obese and tries every diet fad to come along. I continually encourage him to come workout, to take it slow and build a foundation. It sems that he wants the magic pill or the quick fix. It also seems that he takes comfort in food and he may be unwilling to give up his comforts. Sad thing is, I see his boy headed in the same direction. LIttle guy eats when he's bored. he loves to get out and play ball, run and be active, but dad can't do things with him. Also, all the toys dad buys for him are motorized or require him to sit in front of a TV screen.

One other thing that I've been thinking about a lot that relates to the topic is that kids no longer get out and play for the fun of playing. All sports activities are so highly organized that kids don't have the time to be kids. It's off to practice and then games on the weekend. With all the running to and from, too many meals are fast food drive through and down time at home is video games. Perhaps if we did less running, we'd not only have more family time, but our kids would learn how to play together, get along with each other, problem solve and get some of their creativity back. And, we would not eat as much fast food.



Consecrated2God -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/10/2008 8:24:09 AM)

quote:

One other thing that I've been thinking about a lot that relates to the topic is that kids no longer get out and play for the fun of playing. All sports activities are so highly organized that kids don't have the time to be kids. It's off to practice and then games on the weekend. With all the running to and from, too many meals are fast food drive through and down time at home is video games. Perhaps if we did less running, we'd not only have more family time, but our kids would learn how to play together, get along with each other, problem solve and get some of their creativity back. And, we would not eat as much fast food.


Even the sports activities have been poorly participated in this year. Our town had to combine with another town's team, because we only had 3 boys sign up for baseball this year! I think a lot of it has happened since the Wii Sports games came out, advertising that they get kids moving and they are better for you than normal video games. Now kids are using those games as substitutes for joining sports teams.



zamdad -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/10/2008 2:44:53 PM)

quote:

Even the sports activities have been poorly participated in this year. Our town had to combine with another town's team, because we only had 3 boys sign up for baseball this year! I think a lot of it has happened since the Wii Sports games came out, advertising that they get kids moving and they are better for you than normal video games. Now kids are using those games as substitutes for joining sports teams.


Wii could be part of it. Seems like gas prices may have finally made some parents rethink youth sports.



his_chosen -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/10/2008 3:05:47 PM)

Gas prices are not affecting our sports. My kids want to race. I drive them to where we need to go to train (track, bike path, country road). I drive them to races. We've been all over the state for races this summer. I suppose we make it a priority. My goal is for them to have a healthy life style. If this is what it takes, so be it.



womaninchrist -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/11/2008 12:50:35 AM)

I'd tend to agree that it's more a time/priority thing than anything as far as choosing whether we or any children we have exercise whether that be on our own or in organized sports. People tend to do things in the order that they find them important... Though I will admit that money in the fee sense has stopped many families I know lately when it comes to classes or organized sports due to the current economy.



garsyt -> RE: All Americans overweight in 40 years? (8/11/2008 7:15:09 AM)

quote:

Wii could be part of it. Seems like gas prices may have finally made some parents rethink youth sports.




Gas prices certainly have had an affect on the activities my kids have been able to participate in as far as sports go. We simply could not afford the gas to take them to and from tennis, swimming and golf lessons. The lessons themselves were free - but it was the transporting them 30 miles round trip 3 or 4 days a week to the lesson site that was simply out of the question. It is going to have an affect on high school sports too as budgets for schools are becoming tighter and tighter and parents incomes are not going up either. Currently if you are in a sport or even marching band at the middle and high school levels at our districts schools there is a HEFTY fee JUST for transportation. I talked to a mom whose boys are on a travel baseball team and she was telling me that they ended up traveling much greater distances because the teams that once were are no more OR they are consolidating with other teams due to lack of players - which she chalked up to lack of interest, but I truly wonder if it didn't have something to do with the costs of participation. Our town's ball field on an average night always has a bunch of kids on it for a pick-up game - there's not a lack of interest - as many of these kids were on little league or other traveling teams last year. What I think is neat tho is that these kids that are really good are now "teaching" and hanging out with the kids that simply want to play for the fun of it. And for these kids there is little to no cost to simply play.

quote:

Gas prices are not affecting our sports. My kids want to race. I drive them to where we need to go to train (track, bike path, country road). I drive them to races. We've been all over the state for races this summer. I suppose we make it a priority. My goal is for them to have a healthy life style. If this is what it takes, so be it.
But you are right that it's about priorities. My priority this past summer was to get my eldest daughter up and moving. She is my one that seriously dislikes basically all forms of exercise EXCEPT biking and swimming. So this summer her and I rode our bikes 3 or 4 days a week. Never more then 5 miles round trip but she enjoyed it AND more importantly lost a little weight and she seems more energetic then she used to. The rest of my kids? Well they really didn't need much motivation![:D] They also have friends in the neighborhood that kept them active and busy and my daughter didn't. The cost for us? a few dollars on new tubes for the bikes and an $8 helmet from a local hospital's safety shop!

There is a point to where parents are saying tho - I simply can't do anymore. I mean, the economy is making in very hard on some folks. People that were once ekking out a decent living are now struggling paycheck to paycheck. I mean when it comes to finding the fees to pay for a football or to make sure that dad has gas in the car to get back and forth to work or the electric bill is paid, it's a shame but families often can't pick football. And with unemployment being what it is - well more and more parents aren't working so the funds are simply not there. I know that alone was a BIG factor in what we were able to do this summer.

Blessings,

Garsy



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