A Call to Action!

I must say this topic today isn't so much about adopting a habit to help you gain your health and wellbeing BECAUSE of the food you choose as it is about asking for your thoughts and feedback on something that has been bugging the devil out of me for far too long.  And of course it comes with a background story....

I had a nice long visit with a cute little friend yesterday who is decades younger than me and therefore in a totally different phase of her life as a mama.  I adore hearing kid stories; that's the truth.  They don't bore me, they don't make me butt in and add one of mine...they just allow me to observe (and yes, remember) that season of life with those precious gifts, our children.

My friend has 2 kids in elementary school and while both are the same gender, they are vastly different.  Where one is blond, the other is dark.  Where one is outgoing, the other is reserved.  Where one is naturally thin, the other isn't.  (You see where this is going, don't you?)

Without going into detail, this sweet mama broke my heart yesterday as she tearfully described the perfectly healthy and appropriate typical daily menu she provided to both kids.  She added in all the extracurricular activities that provided ample opportunity for exercise for each.  She was at a loss at what is going on with her child and why this kid was already struggling, both physically and emotionally with weight.

Sighhhhh.  It makes me sad just to sit here and type this.  And it brought back memories.  Like I've said before, I don't remember much about my childhood, and no, it doesn't freak me out and make me suspicious (all you repressed memory theorists!)  One time, in 4th grade PE, we were asked to line up on the stage in the cafeteria so we could be weighed on a doctor's scale.  The adult weighing each of us would then tell another adult, who was the recorder of the weights, what little Susie's or little Bobby's weight was.  Only she was sitting out in the audience, monitoring the other three 4th grade classes sitting there waiting their turn to be humiliated and violated by these loud and public announcements.  So weigher on the stage is hollering to recorder sitting probably 30 feet away each time another child would step on that scale.  (I still just shake my head at the audacity, impropriety and sheer inefficiency of this system.)  Now for those of you who don't know, typical weights called out would be somewhere in the 60-70 pound range back then.  (It would be interesting indeed to see what a typical 10 year old weighs today, no?) 

And then it was my turn.  I weighed 93.  The weigher witch screamed it.  The beast taking down the weights yelled back, "HOW MUCH?"  And I swear you could've heard a pin drop when she repeated, in THAT tone of voice, "93!!!"  And at that, with literally 100 sets of eyes on me, I got off the scale and took my seat. Talk about a defining moment.....

So back to my friend.  She said she figured out that her child was spending money on extras during lunch at school.  She described the choices and the serving sizes that the kids were presented with.  And a bell went off.

I don't think there's any ONE solution to the rampant, disturbing and threatening trend of obesity that is here within our younger population.  (The headlines this week shocked me:  40% of our kids are obese.  Not just overweight.  Not chunky.  Not chubby.  OBESE.  That's nearly one out of 2, friends.)  But I do know this:  this is a call to arms.  We have to care.  We have to be the voice of reason and action to change this.  We must get rid of the junk offered our kids in schools.  We must be thoughtful and reasonable about what we feed them at home.  We must get them to turn off their technological toys and get them outside for some exercise.  We must set healthy examples so they can learn how to treat themselves well from an early age.

I'm stirred up.  I feel like if enough of us put some thought to this dreadful and scary state of affairs, we could change things.  Where do we start?  Sign me UP.

Overheard

Folks, there's a fine art to eavesdropping.  It is one of my gifts, and I can't tell you how many gems I have overheard...like this one....

I was just up at mom's helping her with lunch.  God love her, she's in a "memory care unit" for residents dealing with Alzheimer's or demetia-related issues.  I could go on and on about that, but for now, I'll just say that the mind is an AMAZING thing to behold, and I'm fascinated by what is playing out.  She's very chatty and happy, so it's a blessing that I still have to look forward to when I visit.  She doesn't know she has 2 kids, (don't feel sorry for me) but when they served her lunch, the 55-year-ago chief dietician at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, Texas came out.  She remarked about the balance of lunch (chicken breast, 1/2 cup of broccoli, small green salad with ranch and a piece of Texas toast, whole milk and cheesecake for dessert, if you're wondering) and how lovely everything was presented.  She still has the manners of a Southern Belle too....thanking them graciously for the delicious meal and for having her.....my heart is smiling.

But this post isnt' about my precious mama.  It's about 2 of the wonderful aides that work there.  (If you don't think THAT'S a calling, you haven't spent any time in a nursing home lately.)  They were ordering pizza for lunch and they were going to split it.  They could agree on the topping (Meat lover's) but were arguing over what kind of crust. Here's where my ears perked up.

One said that she didn't care what kind of crust because it was the crust that was "bad" for you.  All she cared about was the extra meat, extra cheese and extra sauce.  The other one was stunned that extra meat/extra cheese lady didn't know that the toppings were why she had her "bodacious booty" and the crust was what was "good" for you.  And at that, she ordered deep dish.

Oh my goodness, talk about restraint.  I had to hold my lips together to keep from telling them both they were crazy wrong.

But it only convinced me further that people REALLY DON'T KNOW.  There have been so many crazy fads that have swept the nation that it's no wonder one is praising all protein and fat (no matter how much---I guess that's why she ordered "extra?") and the other is saying that the crust is "good" for her and if thin crust is good, then deep dish must be GREAT?

The truth is, it boils down to calories in.  Calories in your mouth.  Calories you swallow.  The formula is simple: calories IN, less calories BURNED (not necessarily in the gym) is calories you KEEP.  If you take more calories in than you use up, your body stores the extra.  If you don't take enough in, your body turns to the reserves to fuel itself.

There is a moderate compromise I could've offered, had I stuck my nose in their business.  I would've said, "thin crust, no extra meat or cheese, a few vegies on the top, and 2 pieces each."  But I didn't butt in.  (Amazing, I know!)

However, I couldn't get home fast enough to blog about it. Enjoy your beautiful Saturday, folks.  I'm going to walk around a gorgeous lake with one of my favorite people, then I have a hot date with sweet Joe tonight to celebrate some good tidings!