Someone I respect said, “We don’t have a health care crisis; we have a health crisis.” He believes Americans need to take personal responsibility by eating healthy and exercising more. Who? Me? But, you don’t understand my physical disabilities and limitations. Diets, Yuk! I need my comfort foods!
I’ll give some personal information before getting back to the health crisis facing America and some possible solutions. I am a morbidly obese junk food junkie. I have had a weight problem ever since my 2nd child was born. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was on Synthroid for 35 years. In spite of taking my medication regularly; I still gained weight. My dose was increased numerous times over the years and I still gained weight. Two years ago, I heard about a Dr. that was promoting a “new” treatment for what he termed “Wilson’s Syndrome.” It took me quite a while to find a Dr. that would be willing to work with me. I felt better than I had in years and started slowly losing weight without any increased activity or diet changes. (About 20 pounds over 1 year) The follow up lab work revealed the medication had changed me from being hypothyroid to being hyperthyroid. I was devastated. Fortunately, instead of placing me back on my original medication; my doctor prescribed an old time prescription that was made with natural ingredients rather than synthetic. I’ve been on Armour Thyroid for several months and have not had any weight change. Although, I hadn’t lost any more weight; at least I’m not gaining anymore and I’m no where near as fatigued as I was on Synthroid. Do you have symptoms of hypothyroid? Take the quiz: http://tinyurl.com/4dhwqc For more information for natural treatment of thyroid disorder: http://tinyurl.com/497op3
What can be done to help Americans exercise more and eat healthier? How can we help Americans take responsibility for our own physical condition? Non-nutritious foods seem to have longer shelf life and cost less than nutritious foods. Could that be part of the reason for the high obesity rate among lower and middle income Americans? Gov. Huckabee suggested allocating “food stamps” value according to the nutritional value of foods. Should empty calorie foods (soft drinks, candy, cookies, cakes, etc.) be paid for with tax dollars at all? Should a “sin” tax be placed on junk foods similar to that on cigarettes and liquor; with the tax money going toward helping with the added cost for government funded healthier foods and healthcare? Natural vitamin C has been proven to prevent Scurvy. Many nutritionally minded health care professionals believe natural vitamins and minerals can help prevent medical conditions that synthetics can’t. Therefore, shouldn’t our foods be enriched naturally rather than synthetically? Could these types of changes cause food manufacturers to include more nutritional ingredients even in things like sweets? Could prevention be more cost efficient than treatment in the long haul? Regardless, America needs to put more emphasis on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in our schools and communities.
A friend posted a poll online to see if there was any interest to join a weight loss challenge where she set up the prize money to go for a cause we support. I looked at the newly posted poll and replied I’d vote in it if she added on more choice. She laughed and added: I’ll try to “Quit Digging Your [My] Grave with a Knife and Fork.” The weight loss competition started on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. There’s plenty of time to join us because it doesn’t end until Sept. 6, 2008. I’d like to give a special thank you to my friend, Amy, for starting the competition to help motivate me. My main goal is to eat healthier, exercise more, and lose weight, lots of weight! Please consider joining us in the HuckFIT Weight Loss Competition. http://tinyurl.com/3vu3tg Together we can become healthier one step and/or one ounce at a time.
Comments of other helpful ideas, tips, and personal encouragement are welcome. Moderation is enabled for all comments due to previous problems.
