The fast and the furious?

[chef]

It is such a shame that everything we do as Americans has to be fast, and gratifications immediate. It seems to be that way with evey thing, for instance in achievements. I have seen Tae Kwon Dos dojo's as well as others that guarantee a Black Belt in two years!!! We know that everyone does not progress at the same level. One of the most deadly things a M.A. can do is compare his/her progress to another. Each person brings different God-given abilities and strengths to the dojo and should progress at the individual's pace.

Another example, young married couples set up a home asap, getting under incredible debt before they even know if their marriage is going to work.....got to have that nice home, fully equipped. You can always get a good deal in the local papers from people selling home furnishing due to a divorce.

How about health issues: fast food/unhealthy food and now.....so I can get my kids to their sports practice, lesson, games, etc......we are scheduled out the wazoo. What happened to sitting down together at a meal and leisurely discussing each other's day.

Weight loss, another biggee! We want a diet that shows immediate results. If we don't see that, we assume this diet isn't working (when realistically, the average healthy diet loss is 1-2 pounds a week) and often go on to another, better, improved, hyped 'fad' diet. There are so many out there. Which one is the best?

What we should be asking is which one is the healthiest and safest. Boy is that a hard thing to figure out. So many experts touting new programs.

I did a search and below is a link that rates the most popular diet books:

http://www.atkinsdietalert.org/dietbooks.html
BTW, Atkins was at the bottom of the list, interesting! Take a look.

What got me started on this was a call from my sister telling me she was thinking about switching from Weight Watchers to LA. Weight Loss. She hated the weekly weigh-ins and 'pep talk' group meetings even though the W.W. diet has been effective when she follows it. She has recently been implementing a combination Weight Watcher/Calorie counting approach.

Ah yi yi.....maybe we should go back to our parents' approach of eating healthy fruits and vegetables, calorie counting if we must, being physically active rather than enjoying sedentary hobbies, and just slowing down.

Rome wasn't built in a day and either are we.

Always pondering.

Vicki

[KZMiller]

Good points!

I also have noticed a lot of lack of dedication. "What, you mean I have to exercise *every day*? That doesn't include weekends, right?" And when it doesn't work (because snuck Twinkies at midnight don't count and you can get a whole week's of exercise in one day, right?), they blame the diet.

It's a different world than the one I grew up in, that's for sure. Some things are better, like medical technology and transportation. Other things ... ugh. Don't even get me started about the legal system.

Kami

[chef]

You are right, Kami, especially as we get older. I believe I remember reading that our metabolisms slow down every 10 years, 5%, or something like that.

I have felt a significant slow down, starting at 25. I noticed 10 years later, I could no longer eat anything I wanted when I wanted. Now that I have hit the 45 mark, I have to be disciplined about my eating and excercise now more than ever. What I eat, the proportions sizes, and when I eat all matter now. Bummer, isn't it? Oh, the cost of staying healthy and fitting in to those smaller sizes!

Now, if we could just do something naturally about gravity and its effects.

PS....I hope we have the opportunity to meet sometime. Bill Glasheen has told me good things about you and Rory, having met you at the 2004 Summer Camp.

To 'Good Health'
Vicki

[KZMiller]

I wonder if the 'fast and furious' lifestyle has led to more injuries. It seems like weekend warriors are a part of that lifestyle, or maybe they define it. Do what you want to do right now and wake up to your limitations too late. Funny that they never get to play as hard as they want, even when it does get them injured. People mock this kind of behavior and look down on people who do, but then turn around and do the same thing themselves. It's a funny world. Or is this just a US phenomenon?

I find as I get older I have more annoying bodily tweaks than I used to. The 'ol machine, even at the relatively young age of 37, has to have the pillow just so or I wake up with a stiff neck, has to work only so many hours in the garden or the knee and wrist go out (often simultaneously!) even if I stop 'in time', and it takes forever to heal. I think I'm going to have to get on a pretty serious stretching regimen if I want to be able to touch my toes when I'm 60, too. It's scary how much flexibility I've lost in the past ten years.

Yes yes yes, I hope we get a chance to meet! Rory and I are planning on being at the summer camp next year. So barring unforeseen circumstances, we should be able to meet there!

Kami

[Bill Glasheen]

Just a few quick comments here...

I am not in favor of ANY of the weight loss books reviewed. I do not believe in weight loss. I believe in lifestyle change and management. The latter is the only thing that works.

Also... Vicki and Kami are two women who don't need any improvements - IMNSHO.

- Bill

[chef]

Thank you, Bill, for your gracious words. Let's just hope we age as gracefully.

Regards,
Vicki