Warning! Straight Talk About Weight Loss

Yes, I along with several of my friends are working to lose weight. No, it is not is not easy, but it is needed. I came across this article on some Aussie's blog and would give him credit if he had given his name:

"Living in Fat City
If you live in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada or New Zealand, then you live in the same place as me; Fat City. Fat City of course, being more of a collective mindset, and a culture of eating too much and moving too little, than any geographical location, or ‘literal’ place. And while it’s not a literal place, it is very real. If you know what I mean.

The weight of the average Australian increases by about 0.4kg (1lb) per year, every year, and it’s a pretty similar figure in most Western countries. It’s predicted that Australia (where I live) will be a totally obese population by 2050. There’s a thought. What an achievement. This is the forecast, despite the fact that we are now more educated, more informed and more aware, than we’ve ever been before. The truth is, in 2008 we are constantly bombarded with more and more information and education about diet, lifestyle, exercise, obesity, general health and all its variables, yet still, we grow.

As an Exercise Scientist, observer of humanity, and ex-fat bloke, there are plenty of things which fascinate me about living in Fat City (the culture, the habits, the behaviors, the thinking, the excuses, the lies, the marketing, the trends, the media), but here’s my short list:

1. We’ve never been more informed, educated, resourced or equipped to combat obesity, yet we’ve never been fatter. We live in the information age, yet we do nothing with it. I’m amused by those who suggest that obesity is primarily an education problem, when in reality, it is (for the majority) a self-control problem. Self control: yes, that crazy, outdated notion I’ve spoken of many times before. We are inundated with education but we choose not to learn. Real ‘learning’ would have resulted in a large-scale positive change in behavior, and of course, decline in obesity levels. It hasn’t. In fact, if there was a positive correlation between the increase in education and the decline of global obesity, then we would see virtually no obesity at all. But… if we wanted to be cheeky and use ’selective science’ (as many ‘experts’ do), we could actually conclude that the increase in education may have resulted in the increase in obesity. After all, there is a direct relationship: more education, more obesity. Yes I’m being sarcastic, but you understand my point. When it comes to diet and exercise, we know what to do, but we don’t do what we know.

2. I am constantly amazed at our ability (as a society) to complicate the simple. How many more books, programs and breakthrough weight-loss discoveries do we need? Really? Here’s a wacky concept, increase energy expenditure (exercise, general activity) and decrease energy intake (stop eating so much crap). A little scientific I know, but hey, it just might work. Of course it’s simple, but it requires genuine and consistent effort. Simple, of course, not to be confused with ‘easy’. And therein lies the problem. Which leads me to point three.

3. Our obsession with the quick fix. We don’t wanna work for those results. We want someone or something to do it for us. We are precious and lazy. We are addicted to the shortcut. Give me the pill, powder, potion, product or surgeon that will make me beautiful. I am allergic to sweat and hard work it’s so ‘1985′. We are a culture obsessed with ‘easy’ and sometimes creating amazing requires a little effort. Or a lot. And we hate that. Sorry about that. I’ll try and change it.

4. We love playing the ‘blame game’. We would rather justify, rationalize, explain and blame someone or something for our obesity, than take complete responsibility for our fat selves. Of course it’s not our fault. We are poor victims of situations, circumstances and genetics. So not fair. If what we do to our body (lifestyle, food, exercise) is the biggest influence on our level of fitness and fatness (which it is), then obesity is typically the result of poor decision making, rather than poor genetics. Even people with poor genetics can get in great shape, if they work with their genetics and manipulate the variables the right way.

5. I laugh when people get grumpy at me for telling the truth; what they don’t want to hear.“Okay John, it will only take two weeks to lose that hundred pounds and that huge gut you built over the last thirty years, and yes, it will be easy, fun and painless. You will definitely look incredible by next Tuesday. Wednesday, tops. In fact, just leave your body here; I’ll do it for you.”

6. I marvel that people pay thousands of dollars per year to walk/run on a treadmill with a built in TV, radio and fan, when they could get the same physiological benefit (or better) heading out their front door and returning thirty minutes later. No driving to the gym, no petrol costs, no waiting for machines, no travel time.

7. Our inability to finish things. We start jogging. We stop. We go on a diet. We go off it. We join a gym. We go five times. We make resolutions. We don’t follow through. We lose fat. We regain it. We start. We stop. We get fit. We get unfit. We operate on emotion. We always find a ‘reason’ to give up. We experience momentary motivation, but we never truly commit. Real commitment (”I will do this no matter what”) creates life-long change, not temporary weight loss or occasional fitness. We’re great at starting, crap at finishing.

8. The Victim. “But you don’t understand my life, body, time restraints, problems, situation, history, challenges, injuries, medical conditions.” Your problem isn’t your body; it’s your thinking. Get your mind in shape and your body will follow."
(From an interesting site- www.lifehack.org)


Now that is straight talk. I needed to hear it. Tell me what you think.

Church Bulletins- Always Good For A Laugh

I have seen many lists of Bulletin Bloopers and always get a laugh from them. My friend, Ricky Burger, sent me this list. It had some old ones but a couple I had not seen. Consider the following:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

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The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water.." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.

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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

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The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow...

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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

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This evening at 7 PM there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

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(And my personal favorite-DC)

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Vanity Plates- New Level of "Stupit"?

"Stupit" is as "stupit" does. In case you are wondering, "stupit" is just one class above "stupid". I have long lamented the practice of some of my fellow Alabamians who lay out $50 for a specialized license plate that spells something that no one understands. It seems too much to me to spend $50 for a War Eagle or a Roll Tide. But to pay $50 for "RolTid" and "WrEgle". Give me a break. That $50 will buy the wife and I 2 trips to Logan's for a small steak or if we stretch it, 3 trips to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Better yet, it would feed several hungry children or clothe one or two at a thrift store. But now some of those oil rich Arabs have topped the "stupitity" of my cousins and friends in Alabama. The United Arab Emirates started auctioning off licence plates last May. A guy by the name of "Saeed Khouri" bought the plate carrying the single digit "1". He remarked, "I bought it because it's the best number,I bought it because I want to be the best in the world." The price?
$14 million dollars! No, in my opinion he ain't "stupit", he's "stupid," and then some.

Cold In Alabama

If you don't like the weather, stay around until tomorrow. Our weather in the Birmingham area usually does not stay the same for long. We had a 70+ degree day or two last week, but yesterday brought snow flurries and last night was cold. Todau it is approaching 60 for Valentine's day. Spring is on the way. Yea.
The picture is of our dog Bandit, made yesterday morning on the deck. I think he likes the cold. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Bobby Norris, My Dear Friend, Passes Away

This morning I was awakened at 4:15 with the news that my dear friend, Bobby Norris, had passed away. I first met Bob when he preached at Hatt Church of Christ near Parrish. He was a Sand Mountain country boy for sure. His outstanding humble character, quick wit, kind ways and great sense of humor will last in my memory. Our friendship grew quickly and lasted long. It is not over, just changed. I will have one more dear one on the other side to greet me when I get there.
He and Charlene were so close, I know it will be hard on her. His girls loved him dearly. Bob was living in Albertville and preaching for the Alder Springs church, his home congregation. He passed away at home last night about midnight. He recently found out that he had pulmonary hypertention and was trying to get an appointment with a specialist in the field.
The visitation will be on Monday(Feb 4) night from 5:30- 9:00 at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville, Al. The funeral will be on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. (with a viewing from 1-2) at the Alder Springs Church of Christ in Albertville, AL.