Very well said. I work at Walmart and can't count how many morbidly obese people I see daily riding the electric scooters because they can't walk. They and many others in that group have loads of high calorie soda and junk food in their buggies. Not a judgment, it's what I see. But part of the problem is, that stuff is way cheaper and easier to prep than fresh fruits, veggies, and healthy stuff, sadly. And the junk food companies seem to be targeting kids as well by putting sugared cereal in "good for you foods" like oatmeal. They even have Fruity Pebbles pancake syrup. The pessimist in me thinks these companies want people overweight/ obese so that weight loss companies have clients to sell their product to. Conspiracy theory territory maybe, but it's hard to argue against.
On a personal note, no wondering my metabolism is so fast! Peanut butter, which is a protein, is my morning snack every morning (PB&J)!! Well, that and I bust my hump every day at work, ha!
I'm skeptical that there's a grand plan to hook us on sugar. I think it's just a market outcome. We are wired to like sweet over sour/bitter, because sweet is a signal that there are more calories in that food. Compared to "wild" sweet, today's sweet totally overdrives our senses and triggers a positive response in our brains.
So, it's no surprise that companies cater to our tastes.
There's also the reality that obese customers die sooner, taking them out of the market.
Funny that you republished this today. I'm 220 lbs. but should be a good 30 lbs. less (and yes, I know why I'm not). But I see people daily who waddle like Mondoshawan and look like they struggle to even move. When I find myself in tight spots (say, an airline lavatory) I wonder how people who are triple digit overweight manage to live.
But the reason I comment today is that before I read your commentary I had just gotten done with cancelling my Sports Illustrated subscription. I've actually been getting it for over 40 years, but now it's just like every other entity that has gone woke and ruined it's product. A recent cover story dared to scold people for why they are wrong if they don't like the WNBA. I'm not paying someone to lecture me for not liking something because I'm a bad person. But to "circle back" as they say, I listed specific examples of why I felt compelled to dump their rag, and my parting shot was that I didn't care to see fat girls in bikinis. Yes, you wouldn't think it possible but they even ruined the swimsuit edition.
I enjoyed this. I am “morbidly obese:” I weighed 313 on 1/31/22. I went into A Fib in Afghanistan in October, 2013, and had to have robotic heart surgery. As a result, my heart is no longer in A Fib, but, it can no longer speed up. Also, my feet, knees, and back are shot, per the VA - I have the paperwork to prove it. I frequently have to get back injections or radio frequency ablation in my back. I used to “max” or come close to “maxing out” the Army physical fitness test - but that was long ago. I realized I needed to make changes - so - I did. My wife had a traumatic brain injury last year, and while I was at at appointment with her plastic surgeon, I got a referral for a bariatric surgeon. I have had to make a lot of changes, but, “I have to do what I have to do.” I now read nutrition labels for EVERYTHING. I have to: I got a vertical sleeve on 5/31 and if I eat too much fat or sugar, I will experience “dumping,” which will cause me to suffer pain and pass out. I now drink a lot of protein shakes. I have gone from 313 to 261. My goal is to get to 200, but, hope to ultimately get down to about 180.
Very well said. I work at Walmart and can't count how many morbidly obese people I see daily riding the electric scooters because they can't walk. They and many others in that group have loads of high calorie soda and junk food in their buggies. Not a judgment, it's what I see. But part of the problem is, that stuff is way cheaper and easier to prep than fresh fruits, veggies, and healthy stuff, sadly. And the junk food companies seem to be targeting kids as well by putting sugared cereal in "good for you foods" like oatmeal. They even have Fruity Pebbles pancake syrup. The pessimist in me thinks these companies want people overweight/ obese so that weight loss companies have clients to sell their product to. Conspiracy theory territory maybe, but it's hard to argue against.
On a personal note, no wondering my metabolism is so fast! Peanut butter, which is a protein, is my morning snack every morning (PB&J)!! Well, that and I bust my hump every day at work, ha!
I'm skeptical that there's a grand plan to hook us on sugar. I think it's just a market outcome. We are wired to like sweet over sour/bitter, because sweet is a signal that there are more calories in that food. Compared to "wild" sweet, today's sweet totally overdrives our senses and triggers a positive response in our brains.
So, it's no surprise that companies cater to our tastes.
There's also the reality that obese customers die sooner, taking them out of the market.
Good point. Could be a sort of reptile brain survival response as well? Sugar equals more calories, more calories equal survival kind of thing
Exactly.
Funny that you republished this today. I'm 220 lbs. but should be a good 30 lbs. less (and yes, I know why I'm not). But I see people daily who waddle like Mondoshawan and look like they struggle to even move. When I find myself in tight spots (say, an airline lavatory) I wonder how people who are triple digit overweight manage to live.
But the reason I comment today is that before I read your commentary I had just gotten done with cancelling my Sports Illustrated subscription. I've actually been getting it for over 40 years, but now it's just like every other entity that has gone woke and ruined it's product. A recent cover story dared to scold people for why they are wrong if they don't like the WNBA. I'm not paying someone to lecture me for not liking something because I'm a bad person. But to "circle back" as they say, I listed specific examples of why I felt compelled to dump their rag, and my parting shot was that I didn't care to see fat girls in bikinis. Yes, you wouldn't think it possible but they even ruined the swimsuit edition.
I've heard "big people" talk about such. One once said something along the lines of "I know that I'm going to be uncomfortable" when traveling.
Maybe outfits like SI will clue in that they're losing customers.
Maybe not - the desire to virtue signal and shape society often trumps the bottom line in such places, and they make up excuses for lost sales.
I enjoyed this. I am “morbidly obese:” I weighed 313 on 1/31/22. I went into A Fib in Afghanistan in October, 2013, and had to have robotic heart surgery. As a result, my heart is no longer in A Fib, but, it can no longer speed up. Also, my feet, knees, and back are shot, per the VA - I have the paperwork to prove it. I frequently have to get back injections or radio frequency ablation in my back. I used to “max” or come close to “maxing out” the Army physical fitness test - but that was long ago. I realized I needed to make changes - so - I did. My wife had a traumatic brain injury last year, and while I was at at appointment with her plastic surgeon, I got a referral for a bariatric surgeon. I have had to make a lot of changes, but, “I have to do what I have to do.” I now read nutrition labels for EVERYTHING. I have to: I got a vertical sleeve on 5/31 and if I eat too much fat or sugar, I will experience “dumping,” which will cause me to suffer pain and pass out. I now drink a lot of protein shakes. I have gone from 313 to 261. My goal is to get to 200, but, hope to ultimately get down to about 180.
Best wishes, Mark! Sorry to hear of all you've gone through but great to hear you're on a good path.
It just requires work, but, I can do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFdp_FuD-Sw
At 260 this morning!
Outstanding!