URL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com
I don't know how many will like this website/mobile app since it isn't a SW Food Diary, but I have used it for the first time today, and I havent kept a SW Food Diary for a good 5 or 6 months, but I'm really enjoying it. I can do it on my phone and its dead easy.
The main reason I have started using it is to keep my focus on what I'm eating. It's so much harder to pop that choclate in your mouth when you keepign a diary and being 100% honest with yourself! You become so much more accountable!
The another reason is it helps you be aware of how your Carbs, Proteins and Fats balance out. Now I know thats not much use for Red and Green Days, but as a ExtraEasy Man all the way, I'm liking how it is at least making me aware!
The another big reason is that it's making me calorie aware. Now I know SW doesn't do calories this way, but I took some very good advice from Neil Richardson, our current Man of the Year back in July. He would watch his calories, eg: he would have cauliflower curry instead of chicken curry because it had less calories but still tasted similar. Now I personally would LOVE to follow his lead and lose as fast as he has! So...Calorie meters on for me please!
One more reason is it helps keep me aware of calories in and out. I do a lot of exercise, and sometimes I find myself feeling a little dizzy and light headed when I have had a particularly "busy exercise" day. I know it's because I havent had enough calories (I know this seems opposite to my previous point, but it's all about getting the RIGHT BALANCE). I may have had my 3 meals, but sometimes those meals have been TOO LIGHT on calories and I find myself in negative calories for the day. And I don't mean negative to what I should have had, but I mean, actualy I have eaten 1300 calories, and burnt off 1800! Considering my body burns about 2500 to 2700 calories a day anyway, having -500 calories is definately NOT a good thing!
In todays example I have burnt 1065 calories JUST from my cycle this morning and eaten only 1428. That means I've had a net calorie intake of 363! :S That's simply not enough. As I sit here typing this, I have a headache....No wonder, I ate far too little today! If I want to lose 4 lbs this week, I need to have a net calorie intake of about 700 calories a day. 363 is half that! Not good!
If you start using this, please feel free to add me as a friend on it:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/valduane
Here's an example of my Food Diary for the day:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/valduane
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
Weigh-In Week 38
A little dissapointed with my 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) this week.
Awards this week:
9.5 stone (133 lbs / 60.32) award!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 9.5 pounds (272 lbs / 123.38 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 37: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
Week 38: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
Considering the contrast in effort between the last 2 weeks I'm pretty dissapointed by a mere 3.5 lbs loss this week. the previous week was filled with lots of bad choices and gaps in my exercise schedule. This week I was doing so well. Full on exercise, 100% on plan and lots of Speed foods!
+ I'm still under 20 stone (127 kg)! :D
+ I've now lost over 60 kg! :D
+ 2/3 of the way to target! :D
Im repeating last weeks Super Goals for a Super Speed Week (since I didn't acheive them all last week):
1. 100% Food Optimising
2. 5 Super Speeds a day! (Fish, Beans, Peas, Melon, Yellow Plums, Berries, Lemon)
3. A full, intense week of cycling.
4. Start the new Core Strength exercises
5. Time to drag out that dumbell again. My shoulder is healed, so time to strengthen up the arms again
Seriously want to lose 7 lbs (3.18 kg) this week to hit 10 stone (140 lbs / 63.51). Also I keep expecting this big loss to catch up on the damage the recent gains did on my weekly average, but it seems to be avoiding me! It woudl be nice ot just have a big loss and get it over with! And I'm currently running below my long term targets and a big loss could change that.
Awards this week:
9.5 stone (133 lbs / 60.32) award!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 9.5 pounds (272 lbs / 123.38 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/12/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/04/2012)
The losses have gone as follows:
Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 37: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
Week 38: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
Considering the contrast in effort between the last 2 weeks I'm pretty dissapointed by a mere 3.5 lbs loss this week. the previous week was filled with lots of bad choices and gaps in my exercise schedule. This week I was doing so well. Full on exercise, 100% on plan and lots of Speed foods!
+ I'm still under 20 stone (127 kg)! :D
+ I've now lost over 60 kg! :D
+ 2/3 of the way to target! :D
Im repeating last weeks Super Goals for a Super Speed Week (since I didn't acheive them all last week):
1. 100% Food Optimising
2. 5 Super Speeds a day! (Fish, Beans, Peas, Melon, Yellow Plums, Berries, Lemon)
3. A full, intense week of cycling.
4. Start the new Core Strength exercises
5. Time to drag out that dumbell again. My shoulder is healed, so time to strengthen up the arms again
Seriously want to lose 7 lbs (3.18 kg) this week to hit 10 stone (140 lbs / 63.51). Also I keep expecting this big loss to catch up on the damage the recent gains did on my weekly average, but it seems to be avoiding me! It woudl be nice ot just have a big loss and get it over with! And I'm currently running below my long term targets and a big loss could change that.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Things may be slowing down....
Recently I have been having a little trouble losing the weight as fast as I was, and at one point it got me a bit down. At another point it distracted my focus and will power. Gains creaped in as I gave in to some cravings. I was feeling a little out of control of it all and although i didn't see myself slipping back to where I was, I felt my goals (time period) I had set slipping away from me.
I have had a bit of a wake up call. Had some amazing support (Thanks Jeanette and Lesley). Had some seriously scary threats (Thanks? Steve). Had renewed support and love (Thanx Karen ;)). Got a new amazing bike (Thanx Paul!). Had some good results lately (Thanx ME!) And stumbled across a number of inspirational quotes, articles, posts and pictures. (thank you all).
But this 1 kinda brought it all home.....
...I'm not in a race. I don't have to let things slip, but at the end of the day, If I don't make it to target on the date I set, and instead get there 1 or 2 or 3 months later.....That will still be one of the most amazing achievements of my life!
I have had a bit of a wake up call. Had some amazing support (Thanks Jeanette and Lesley). Had some seriously scary threats (Thanks? Steve). Had renewed support and love (Thanx Karen ;)). Got a new amazing bike (Thanx Paul!). Had some good results lately (Thanx ME!) And stumbled across a number of inspirational quotes, articles, posts and pictures. (thank you all).
But this 1 kinda brought it all home.....
...I'm not in a race. I don't have to let things slip, but at the end of the day, If I don't make it to target on the date I set, and instead get there 1 or 2 or 3 months later.....That will still be one of the most amazing achievements of my life!
Friday, 21 October 2011
Weigh-In Week 37
Manged a relatively good 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) this week.
Awards this week:
Slimmer of the Week. I wasn't sure when i would see 1 of these again with all the gains I been having lately!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 9.5 pounds (275.5 lbs / 124.96 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 37: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
I know I was grumpy about my 3 lbs (1.36 kg) gain last week, but this week, I was having issues with crisps and snacks, choclate and ice creams along with my usual Syns of sauces and dressings for meals and salads. Almost every day was a high Syn day except for the last 2. So I'm fairly happy to have dropped the 3.5 (1.59 kg) that I have. I'm also feeling fairly motivated for next week. Steve has found me some "core strength" exercises that I can do (he is doing them too). That should make a nice change and slap the body back into the good weight loss routine. Also I have decided to come back fighting against the cravings and cheats I had last week, with a super strict week, and even a nice effort at a Super Speed week. Fish, Fruit, Veg, Salad and Beans. I feel like I deserve a good wake up call, and hopefully get back on track with my targets which are getting pushed further back with the gains and poor losses I have had recently. My average loss of 4 lbs (1.81 kg) / week has decreased to a 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) / week average! Not good!
+ I'm still under 20 stone (127 kg)! :D
Super Goals for a Super Speed Week:
1. 100% Food Optimising
2. 5 Super Speeds a day! (Fish, Beans, Peas, Melon, Yellow Plums, Berries, Lemon)
3. A full, intense week of cycling.
4. Start the new Core Strength exercises
5. Time to drag out that dumbell again. My shoulder is healed, so time to strengthen up the arms again!
Honestly, Id be happy with a 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) loss to try work back up to a average loss of 4 lbs (1.81 kg) / week, but, secretly .... between you and me, I'd love a big loss .... as long as it doesnt get followed by a gain again like the pattern I had over the last 2 months!
Awards this week:
Slimmer of the Week. I wasn't sure when i would see 1 of these again with all the gains I been having lately!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 9.5 pounds (275.5 lbs / 124.96 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
The losses have gone as follows:
Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 37: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)
I know I was grumpy about my 3 lbs (1.36 kg) gain last week, but this week, I was having issues with crisps and snacks, choclate and ice creams along with my usual Syns of sauces and dressings for meals and salads. Almost every day was a high Syn day except for the last 2. So I'm fairly happy to have dropped the 3.5 (1.59 kg) that I have. I'm also feeling fairly motivated for next week. Steve has found me some "core strength" exercises that I can do (he is doing them too). That should make a nice change and slap the body back into the good weight loss routine. Also I have decided to come back fighting against the cravings and cheats I had last week, with a super strict week, and even a nice effort at a Super Speed week. Fish, Fruit, Veg, Salad and Beans. I feel like I deserve a good wake up call, and hopefully get back on track with my targets which are getting pushed further back with the gains and poor losses I have had recently. My average loss of 4 lbs (1.81 kg) / week has decreased to a 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) / week average! Not good!
+ I'm still under 20 stone (127 kg)! :D
Super Goals for a Super Speed Week:
1. 100% Food Optimising
2. 5 Super Speeds a day! (Fish, Beans, Peas, Melon, Yellow Plums, Berries, Lemon)
3. A full, intense week of cycling.
4. Start the new Core Strength exercises
5. Time to drag out that dumbell again. My shoulder is healed, so time to strengthen up the arms again!
Honestly, Id be happy with a 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) loss to try work back up to a average loss of 4 lbs (1.81 kg) / week, but, secretly .... between you and me, I'd love a big loss .... as long as it doesnt get followed by a gain again like the pattern I had over the last 2 months!
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Weigh-In Week 36
Not overly happy with only a 3 lbs gain. Less than i put on last week! But better than a gain.
No awards this week. :(
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 13 pounds (279 lbs / 126.55 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
A better week this week than last. I was still a little sick on Monday and decided to give it another day before getting back to exercise. Tuesday it was back to business, and had 3 good days exercising. Hopefully from tomorrow I can have a full week of exercise and pull back some of the "missed" losses over the last 2 weeks.
+ At least I'm back under 20 stone!
+ Also my BMI this morning was showing as 39.5 so thats at least gone under 40. :)
+ And my profile picture this morning shows my belly is shrinking at a nice pace the last few weeks, which is really what I've most wanted since starting! :D
Goals for this week:
1. 100% Food Optimising, with lots of Super Frees and Super Speeds.
2. Full week of exercise.
Aiming for a nice big loss this week. Ill be happy with anything 8 lbs and up.
No awards this week. :(
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 19 stone 13 pounds (279 lbs / 126.55 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
The losses have gone as follows:
Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
Week 36: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
A better week this week than last. I was still a little sick on Monday and decided to give it another day before getting back to exercise. Tuesday it was back to business, and had 3 good days exercising. Hopefully from tomorrow I can have a full week of exercise and pull back some of the "missed" losses over the last 2 weeks.
+ At least I'm back under 20 stone!
+ Also my BMI this morning was showing as 39.5 so thats at least gone under 40. :)
+ And my profile picture this morning shows my belly is shrinking at a nice pace the last few weeks, which is really what I've most wanted since starting! :D
Goals for this week:
1. 100% Food Optimising, with lots of Super Frees and Super Speeds.
2. Full week of exercise.
Aiming for a nice big loss this week. Ill be happy with anything 8 lbs and up.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Weigh-In Week 35
Actually fairly happy with a 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) gain this week.
Awards this week:
Slimmer of the Month for September!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 20 stone 2 pounds (282 lbs / 127.91 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 32: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
It's been a fairly miserable week. Sunday afternoon I started feeling like I was getitng a cold. Monday morning I woke up definitely sick, so I skipped my cycle and run. By Monday evening I was "dying" with Man Flu! Tuesday I didn't leave the bed except to get lunch, which I got half way through eating, before it all came out again. So I turned to my AGE OLD NEMISIS: Bread and Crisps! Comfort food, but at least food that would stay down and settle my belly! Wednesday I stayed in bed, but by late wednesday night I was starting to feel better. This mornign I awoke recovered from teh Man Flu and left only with the remanents of a head cold, but feeling much better. Meals are still struggling to go down and settle, but I've not got sick again since Tuesday.
Goals for this week:
1. I want a week of Back to Basics. 100% Food Optimising the Slimming World way.
2. Desperately need to get back to my exercise, but probably best if I leave it till Monday. Rushing back too soon will only get me sick again and I need to shake this bug once and for all!
Looking forward to a good week back on plan with exercise and hopefully lose the 3.5 I put on this week and a little more to make up for it!
Awards this week:
Slimmer of the Month for September!
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 20 stone 2 pounds (282 lbs / 127.91 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 32: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 33: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 34: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)Week 35: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) GAIN
It's been a fairly miserable week. Sunday afternoon I started feeling like I was getitng a cold. Monday morning I woke up definitely sick, so I skipped my cycle and run. By Monday evening I was "dying" with Man Flu! Tuesday I didn't leave the bed except to get lunch, which I got half way through eating, before it all came out again. So I turned to my AGE OLD NEMISIS: Bread and Crisps! Comfort food, but at least food that would stay down and settle my belly! Wednesday I stayed in bed, but by late wednesday night I was starting to feel better. This mornign I awoke recovered from teh Man Flu and left only with the remanents of a head cold, but feeling much better. Meals are still struggling to go down and settle, but I've not got sick again since Tuesday.
Goals for this week:
1. I want a week of Back to Basics. 100% Food Optimising the Slimming World way.
2. Desperately need to get back to my exercise, but probably best if I leave it till Monday. Rushing back too soon will only get me sick again and I need to shake this bug once and for all!
Looking forward to a good week back on plan with exercise and hopefully lose the 3.5 I put on this week and a little more to make up for it!
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
UK Fat Tax
I'm sick in bed with some kind of head and stomach flu or head cold and stomach virus assaulting me at the same time. Sitting doesn't really work out for me as I start feelign nauseas and dizzy. Anyone who knows me, knows 2 nights back to back of 8 to 10 hours sleep is more than I can handle! Complimented with the occasional nap through the day due to the illness over the last 48 hours, and I'm sooo done with this sleep thing!!! However, there is only so much work you can do in bed with a laptop and a fuzzy head. Concentrating on the smallest of problems/projects leaves me tired and frustrated. So I am spending time reading mountain biking magazines, watching some movies and playing the "facebook" game.
My attention has been briefly drawn to a news article about the "UK Fat Tax" that David Cameron says the government may consider. An unofficial "slimming world" facebook group I belong to has started chatting about it, and I suddenly realised I had some relatively extreme, emotional, humorous and potentially offensive thoughts on the matter, which I have shared with the group, and thought would be intersting to share on my blog.
It will probably help if you read the article first: http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/uk-government-may-consider-a-fat-tax.htm.
Some replies have suggested decreasing cost of expensive healthy food and that educating the public at large is needed, neither of which I disagree with, however, my thoughts went more along these lines:
1. I sometimes wonder if educating actually helps. I knew a lot about nutrition when I was at my largest and "unhappiest", and sadly, it didn't help until something drastic threatened my health. I just felt worse for it, addicted to being fat, yet still guzzled away at burgers, chips, pizza, bread and crisps knowing full well how bad they were for me. Much the same as everyone knows full well how bad smoking is for them, and still continue to work their way through a pack a day!
2. I sometimes think we need to be treated like children. They "the parents" know what's good for us "the children", and should lay down the law. Only "buy"/make available healthy food. Ban fast foods, ban high saturate fats, even ban bread!!
3. Massive fines to companies producing high fat products! :D I know it's extreme and anti-capitalist/"unconstit
4. Perhaps, obesity needs to be treated and refered to far more severely than it currently is. You always run the risk of the arguement that "it's in my genes", "it's hereditary" or it gets explained as a side effect to another medical condition. And over exagerating it's seriousness may be insensitive or worse, "politically incorrect"!
5. There really is too much acceptance of "Fat and Happy". I personally campaigned this in my life and to my wife for years....and only now after slimming down some, and getting active and healthy do I realise how laughably STUPID that saying was. Compared to now...I wasn't even REMOTELY happy! And I wish I had grasped even a fraction of how dangerous my obesity actually was. Maybe if people had been less accomodating of my obesity and been a little more insensitive toward me, particularly my doctor and the NHS in general, I may have been slapped out of my delusion that I was happy or that it was ok to be quite as fat as I was, a lot sooner than January this year!
6. And for goodness sake, reward the people who are doing their bit to save you their part of that predicted £6.4B obesity cost!
My attention has been briefly drawn to a news article about the "UK Fat Tax" that David Cameron says the government may consider. An unofficial "slimming world" facebook group I belong to has started chatting about it, and I suddenly realised I had some relatively extreme, emotional, humorous and potentially offensive thoughts on the matter, which I have shared with the group, and thought would be intersting to share on my blog.
It will probably help if you read the article first: http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/uk-government-may-consider-a-fat-tax.htm.
Some replies have suggested decreasing cost of expensive healthy food and that educating the public at large is needed, neither of which I disagree with, however, my thoughts went more along these lines:
1. I sometimes wonder if educating actually helps. I knew a lot about nutrition when I was at my largest and "unhappiest", and sadly, it didn't help until something drastic threatened my health. I just felt worse for it, addicted to being fat, yet still guzzled away at burgers, chips, pizza, bread and crisps knowing full well how bad they were for me. Much the same as everyone knows full well how bad smoking is for them, and still continue to work their way through a pack a day!
2. I sometimes think we need to be treated like children. They "the parents" know what's good for us "the children", and should lay down the law. Only "buy"/make available healthy food. Ban fast foods, ban high saturate fats, even ban bread!!
3. Massive fines to companies producing high fat products! :D I know it's extreme and anti-capitalist/"unconstit
4. Perhaps, obesity needs to be treated and refered to far more severely than it currently is. You always run the risk of the arguement that "it's in my genes", "it's hereditary" or it gets explained as a side effect to another medical condition. And over exagerating it's seriousness may be insensitive or worse, "politically incorrect"!
5. There really is too much acceptance of "Fat and Happy". I personally campaigned this in my life and to my wife for years....and only now after slimming down some, and getting active and healthy do I realise how laughably STUPID that saying was. Compared to now...I wasn't even REMOTELY happy! And I wish I had grasped even a fraction of how dangerous my obesity actually was. Maybe if people had been less accomodating of my obesity and been a little more insensitive toward me, particularly my doctor and the NHS in general, I may have been slapped out of my delusion that I was happy or that it was ok to be quite as fat as I was, a lot sooner than January this year!
6. And for goodness sake, reward the people who are doing their bit to save you their part of that predicted £6.4B obesity cost!
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