Red, White and Green. Vegetables

BF and I just went to the 7-11 across the street to get some munchies (don't ask) and I got ID'd buying one of those scratch off Bingo tickets. The cashier eyed me suspiciously and when I noticed the look, I gave him my best 100 mega-watt smile in an effort to highlight my crows feet under the unforgiving florescent lights yet he still asked to see proof of my age. That's the second time I got carded in 2 weeks - the first time for taste-testing chocolate at a grocery store? Yes, weird but true. On the 30 second walk back from the store tonight, BF and I started discussing people who look their age and why and the difference between our cultures (I'm Canadian, he's Mexican) aging process and how people care, or don't care for themselves.

*Disclaimer - I do not believe I represent a typical 31 year old female, so I do not wish to make any comparisions to anyone my age. Or any age really. We're all on our own journey. I think I have pretty decent genes - my 71 year old father has a full head of black hair and is walking around quite agilely a mere 8 months after being involved in an accident which could have killed him, had he not been the bionic man. Despite 2 broken legs (one a compound fracture), fractured ribs, a crushed, fractured hand, broken nose and a very serious, shocking and hard-hitting flight 27 feet in the air which knocked him literally out of his boots and left him bleeding out in Super Sub-Zero temperatures of northern Labrador for I don't know how long, he is currently recovering and spends a few hours in the basement gym of his house every night working out. He's a pretty damn tough guy, but then again so are most of the Bobelly's. It's the Irish blood. All that potato eating, scrappin, cursin and of course beer drinking. Something like that. Lifestyle-wise, I'm not the norm for a woman my age either. I am not married, I rent out my place, I have no children and I work part-time. I spend about an hour in the gym 5-6 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. And my boyfriend is 7 years younger than me. So yeah. I guess I'm not your standard 31 year old. With all the time I have on my hands as a result of a lack of dependents ( I don't even have a pet) there's no doubt I have the time and energy to focus on exercising and staying fit. But will I always? I optimistically say yes.

BF asked me why did I think that women "let themselves go", and this seems slightly more common in his culture than mine, and I think that's a hard question to answer. A lot of women around my age have one or two kids, maybe more, are married, work outside of the home, and just plain don't have that much time in their lives to indulge in anything really. I think it's sad that most women think it's an "indulgence" to take time for herself; to cater to her own needs and desires as a human being, and maintain her identity as an individual. Too many moms lose themselves in their quest to be the perfect care-giver. A few of my female friends still think having a gym pass is an extravagance. Yes, it costs money, but are you not a solid investment? Personally, if I have $100 to blow and I have a choice of buying a new outfit or some high-quality, organic, fresh food, rich dark chocolate and a bottle of red wine, I know what I'm going to do with the money. Clothing styles change. A fit, happy body looks good in anything.

In Mexico, a lot of married women do not work outside the home (although in recent years this is starting to change); instead they stay at home, doing the work of many people, especially if they have children, and they usually do (although a lot less then 10-15 years ago. Today families are slightly smaller, averaging 2-3 kids as opposed to 6-7, although it varies depending on what area you live in). The average Mexican woman cooks and cleans for 7-10 people per day! Many have jobs on the side that they do from home also, like seamstress work or selling handmade goods. The Mexican mom is so used to putting everyone else before her, she wouldn't dare think about joining a gym, or taking a personal development class for fun. She eats after everyone else is fed, maybe snacking throughout the day when she is starving and gets the chance, or late at night while running around finishing up whatever she needs to get done. She's actually getting quite a bit of physical activity, which is great but is only one component of being fit. Most men work hard labour all day, which is great exercise, for those who do but some make up for it by having a few drinks at night. And kids aren't playing outside like they used to. Not all that different from many Canadian families, really. Except the diet. Mexicans consume WAY too much fast food - sugar, soda and deep-fried cheesy foods are a staple in their diet.

Mexico is a country that has struggled with economic development and corruption throughout all levels of the government. With the close proximity and influence of the United States, many Mexicans have adopted the eating habits of their northern amigos, which is having a very unfortunate affect on the country's population. And sadly because it is a poorer country, education on the harmfulness of overeating unhealthy food has not caught up with the rest of North America, nor does there seem to be much emphasis on introducing a major physical education program in order to counteract some of the effects. The young population seem to be as taken with video games and technology as American teens, and are now similarly choosing burgers and fries as inexpensive (and addictive) snacks. These are a few of the reasons why Mexico is the second fattest country in the world, only beaten by the US. I believe Canada ranks somewhere around 35th. Here are the top 5 : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1766192/top_5_fattest_countries_in_the_world.html?cat=51

This was certaintly not the case 20-25 years ago, when Mexican people were living the natural way of life, before the crappy American diet had such an influence on them. People lived off the land they farmed and the livestock they raised. Not out of choice, but of necessity. It was inexpensive and high quality food, not pumped full of fillers; a lifestyle we could all benefit from -less processed food, more fruits and vegetables; less chemicals, additives and preservatives, more fresh, naturally prepared foods. Fruits and Vegetables = Nature's Pharmacy. You better believe it. I can't remember the last time I took drugs for anything, but I do make sure I get my 7-10 servings a day. It doesn't matter if you're fat, skinny, fit or ripped, you NEED your veggies.

Let me tell you right now folks, we have an aging population and childhood obesity is getting way out of hand. People are running around screaming about Swine Flu, yet 4 out of 5 leading causes of death in Canada are preventable and managable through diet and exercise. I have a few friends who are Emergency room nurses at various hospitals throughout Canada, and they will confirm that about 3 out of 5 patients they see every night are for any of these reasons - diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer etc. I know not all cancers are preventable, but I bet a huge percentage of them are! And I'm not a doctor. But I feel it coming. It may be 10 years or even 20, but we are going to have a MASSIVE crisis strewn from the impact of global obesity, irreparable cracks in society and there will be no amount of healthcare that will be able to make a difference. It's just a matter of time. As long as the world doesn't end in 2012 ;) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Knowing all the preaching I do though, I'll likely die of at least 3 of these diseases simultaneously, while eating MacDonalds (super genes be damned) and come back in my next life as a priest. So remember: everything in moderation babies!! Just get those butts moving and shaking to unblock an artery or two, and your miles above the rest. Today's the day. Go get 'em!

Cause I'm Canadian. Eh.

Listen All Y'All it's a Sabotage

Great Beastie Boys tune, I must say. However, on with it shall we...

I've come to a realization that most people have a tendency, be it knowingly or otherwise, to sabotage any and all progress they make toward achieving a healthier, stronger and fitter body. I've previously mentioned my rollercoaster relationship with exercise and the ally who drags me out of the funk, but exactly why does FitAddicted Kelly pull the chute every so often, abandon her lifestyle of wellness and spiral back into the lethargic depths of despair? Do I have some type of mental block? Fear of living up to my full potential? Maybe I don't feel good enough? Like I deserve it? For whatever reason, out of nowhere an angry, egotistical beast shoves its way onto the scene and stomps its feet like a spoiled toddler, announcing that I AM NOT GOING TO THE GYM TODAY. NO. I JUST DON'T WANT TO AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME. Wow. Ok.

I'd putt-putt along for a few months, doing well and staying on track - faithfully following every workout and using every tool that I had to ensure success - setting goals, keeping track of my progress, noting my diet struggles and celebrating my victory in triumphing each one. And BAM! Blindsided. This backstabbing imp would suddenly appear out of nowhere, kick me in the ass, knock me down on the ground and force feed me Costco poutine and hot dogs for a week straight. Sometimes he'd stick around longer, refusing to change out of his pajamas, eating brownies and ice cream for breakfast and sulking into a sinkhole on the couch. Yes, it's a he, this evil succubus. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it feels so completely foreign to me - I cannot relate to it and it's stubborn as an old ass mule. No matter what I say or do, he stays until he's good and ready to leave. Reminds me of one of my old boyfriends.

I tried to stay on guard, looking for a pattern - maybe he would appear around a certain time of the month and if he did, dammit I would be ready for him. But no...he crept up behind me, stealthily and swiftly and proceeded to demolish everything I had spent months creating, working hard for, but I just couldn't stop him! No rhyme nor reason could convince him to even look in the direction of a vegetable, and he would not darken the door of the gym. He laughed maniacally when I suggested going for a run and told me I was stupid and wasting my time. Feeling helpless, confused and angry at myself, I'd continue on a downward slope until BAM! He was gone. I wanted to exercise again, and eat the right foods. I didn't have to sleep with my gym clothes on in the hopes that i would actually workout the next day (not a chance in hell when that rascal was around). Plus I felt like utter poo from a week or month or three of poisioning myself. I guess he had his fill. Sucked up all the good out of me and moved on unconcerned. I'd then shamefully pick up my pride, throw on some baggy sweats and head out to the gym to try to undo the havoc he had wreaked.

I recently spend the day with an old friend; her and I go back many years, even went to nursery school together and were thick as thieves for most of our childhood. This wonderful woman is now a busy working mom of twins who, like most moms, puts her children's needs before her own and wants to spend every waking moment that she is not at work with her young family. She has struggled with many health issues including her weight, for a long time. She was a bit chubby in her teens, and gradually gained more weight throughout high school and even more so with her pregnancy. Unfortunately, she has never really done much exercise at all and she loves to eat a lot of the foods that aren't so good for you. Who doesn't right? I wanted to spend a few hours with her going over her diet and try to help her find ways to make small changes that she will stick to; drastic changes rarely work and most often leave a person worse off than when they started. This friend, also 31 years old, was starting to have many health issues as a result of her life choices - she had high blood pressure, was pre-diabetic and had a few other concerns that I believe are manifestations (in my opinion, 95% of your health issues or lack thereof are a direct result of your diet). She tried lap band surgery, which is an adjustable gastric banding or lap-band which is tightened around your stomach so that it apparently retrains you to eat in smaller portions, thus enabling you to lose weight. Their website states "Obesity isn't your fault". However after well over ten thousand dollars, a few surgeries and many complications later, she was back to where she started. Sure she had lost a lot of weight during the time she had it on, but mostly because she could barely eat, drank most of her meals in liquid form and what she did eat, she threw up. I painstakingly tried to explain to her that this type of thing is putting a band-aid on a broken leg - it's just not a permanent fix for a serious problem. At the same time I kind of understood - she was desperate.

We talked more and more, and she seemed to be taking my suggestions seriously, writing them down and saying either "Ok, I can do that'' or ''HA are you kidding me? Never''. Fair enough, I said. I just want to help. I went through her fridge, commenting on certain choices and recommending other, healthier versions when possible. She was listening and nodding her head, even taking notes and writing down key details of what to look for . We even tried to find ways to incorporate a bit of exercise into her routine, but that was an uphill battle for the moment, although it does look promising in the future (You better buy that damn treadmill woman or I'm gonna chase you to and from work everyday with a broomstick!) It was coming to near the end of the day when she looked at me and stated matter-of-factly ''Ok. I will do this for a month or so, and then I will give it all up and go back to the way I was."

I almost cried. ''What? What do you mean? Noooo. These are lifestyle changes. This is for the rest of your life! It will be easy! Small, gradual changes - 2% to 1% milk, start eating breakfast, drink more water etc.'' She looked at me and said ''Kelly, I know myself. This is the way it's always been. I'll do it in the beginning, and then I will stop." I knew she was convinced 100% that she would fail. And I knew she would fail because of it. I really felt so sad inside. I probed and poked, asking questions and trying to find out why the same way I did to myself - did she not love herself enough? Believe in herself? Want to succeed for her children? I could tell by looking in her eyes that she didn't believe she could ever lose the weight and keep it off, or come off of blood pressure meds, or feel the amazing way you feel when you're fit and healthy - alert, clear-headed, energetic and exuberant. She had given up on herself before we even started. That little troll had found a new host, inside of my friend. And it looked like he was pretty damn comfortable there.

We all have our obstacles, believe you me. Your number one obstacle exists inside your head. If you cannot conquer that to truly believe you deserve better and are worthy of accomplishing your dreams, then I'm afraid you never will. And that breaks my heart.

I almost stopped there, but I don't even want to end my blog entry like this. I want to run screaming up and down the streets, hollering from the mountain tops :

IF YOU BELIEVE IT, YOU CAN AND WILL ACHIEVE IT! DON'T LET HIM WIN. FIGHT. DON'T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF.

The only thing keeping you from achieving your goals is YOU! Confide in a friend for support, find a workout partner who has similar goals, read a book that will inspire you, buy new clothes in smaller sizes, hang pictures of your previous fitter self on the fridge for inspiration, recruit your family members and tell them you need them to help you GET REAL and support you. Call me! I'll talk to you until I'm blue in the face. I care so much it hurts. Fall off the horse but DAMMIT get back on! It's only too late when your dead, so until then, please, please. Don't give up.

Are TV Dinners Made in China?

I have to confess that after I wrote my first ever blog entry, I sat down, turned on the television and ate a TV dinner. :D Without even turning the channel, what was on but a most interesting news piece about globesity in China. China, as you may know, is the world's most populous country and it has the world's fastest growing economy. One of the many growing pains that the country is experiencing is the rate at which people are becoming overweight. China's obesity has doubled in the last decade! "Fat camps" are popping up for children all over the country as officals realize what a huge strain this will put on their already overtaxed society and scramble to nip it in the bud.

One of the reasons that makes China unique in this situation is their one-child policy. Many of these kids get home from school and sit in front of the tv all day or play video games, much like a lot of westernized children. But they have no one to fight over the controllers with. Nobody to chase around the dining room table, or play tag with, or practice their wrestling moves on. Do you remember how much exercise you got beating up your kid siblings? I sure do. Damn maybe that's why I was so finny for all those years (fatskinny. not a typo. fact)

The junior diet camps are created out of necessity to get those youngsters into shape (yes round is a shape , but not the ideal one) and avoid surpassing the US as the World's Fattest Nation. As I look down at my Swanson dinner in shame, I push the breaded fried turkey soaked in gravy around my plate and a tear fell from my eye. Nah, just kidding. I ate it all up, including the brownie (left the green beans tho....ewwwww) and licked my lips. It's the 80/20 rule people!!! More on that next time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB5sz576cnM&feature=player_embedded