It's hard to get away from. TV shows are popping up all the time with stories centered on overweight characters or weight loss themes. Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, Ruby, Heavy, Our Big Fat Weight Loss Story are just what popped on a quick internet search and I'm sure the Murray has done more then a few show on the topic. New shows seem to appear every season. Every half season almost. It's all over the television, but know one talks about the issue as it affects them. It's a taboo topic.
I have heard people say "you can tell someone how gross it is that they smoke, but you can't tell them you think they're overweight. You might hurt their feelings." Yup, you might. But it's a real problem and it is causing more problems. Health problems, social problems, even space problems. Why can't we talk about it? It's like many illnesses, I think. It's hard to talk about things that are uncomfortable. So we bring up the shows we see on TV, how those people are changing their lives and maybe it will spark something inside us and those around us.
I didn't realize it when I started, but part of having my personal challenge was to get others around me out and moving and talking about moving. To invite my family and friends to join me whenever they could. With 12 races of varying lengths and locations, I hope get a lot of people out there moving! In training for my 1st half marathon, I keep proving to myself that I have the determination to finish what I start, the will to keep moving when I feel like just going home and laying on the couch. My new favorite thing to repeat to myself on my longer runs is "you're still moving faster then the people on the couch." There are so many people who are confined to the bed, the couch, a chair who would love to be out moving and walking/ running/jogging, but they physically can't. If you can, why aren't you? That's a personal question we each have to ask ourselves. Why do we keep making excuses for ourselves? I know my life is filled with so many blessings, I owe it to myself and those around me to be excited and involved in life: an obligation to keep myself healthy and doing what I can to prevent illness and disease. Pulling away from all the distractions that can so easily over run my day (ahem, Facebook and Pinterest... oh my what time sucks) and noticing and paying attention to that which is around me. Being an active participant instead of just an observer. Keyword there being active.
So whether you're running marathons or taking a stroll around your local park or throwing a frisbee, let's all get out and enjoy what's around us.
PS - I don't think we all need to be "skinny." I'm all about having different shapes and sizes. But find your healthy size shape, the space where you feel good, where you feel healthy.
PPS - I have no problem with Facebook, Pinterest, and the like, but I think they should be like a decedent chocolate cake: taken in moderation. And as with cake, it is difficult to walk away from when the rest is sitting, staring, waiting for me to devour it...
