Originally Posted By MPierce Sorry I don't have time to post tonight. The wife just called me down for Supper. She fixed raw carrots, celery, and radishes, with a desert of 3 organiclly grown grapes. Afterwards we will spend one hour following along with Jack Lalanne's exercise DVD. Follow that up with 2 hours of meditation, with our Humpback Whale recording playing in the background. Having had such a rapid paced day we are always ready for six hours of blissful sleep on our Swedish matress.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 There are a few topics here right now that really can be distilled down into some basic facts. It's also pretty simple to logically get to Point B from Point A this way. Americans are fatter and unhealthier than ever; Americans eat more than ever, especially with fast foods, supersized portions (some that are 2-3 times more than the largest sizes just 15-20 years ago); Americans spend more time indoors working and playing on computers; Americans spend less time in phsyical activity, whether its physical education for children or just a 45-minute a day work out for adults; So, sure, everyone is different and yada, yada, yada ... but if you just look at the facts, we are eating more and we are exercising less. It doesn't take a $10-million grant and four-year study from a major university to figure out that maybe if people ate less, and healthier, and exercised more (yeah take the stairs, not the escalator) that there would be far fewer morbidly obese folks around. Genetics and thyroid problems are great excuses, and there certainly is some truth to them, but those issues existed 20 years ago too ... and there weren't so many cows walking (or ECVing) around WDW!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <there weren't so many cows walking (or ECVing) around WDW> Nice - I sure hope no one in your life ever has to deal with weight issues - since you would be so supportive. Maybe instead of calling people names or pointing, laughing, and calling them cows you could find a way to help people - Unless you've been there you don't really understand how hard it is to change everything in your life - is the end result of the change worth it, of course, but that doesn't make it any easier... Have you ever thought that maybe the PEOPLE (not cows) you mentioned have feelings and maybe it was hard enough for them to even be there and are trying to have fun despite the state they are in... Maybe they just lost 50lbs and are at the parks as a reward for all the effort they put in... See you never know why someone is large, or what they may be going through in their lives so - Thou shall not judge thus thee be judged...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Nice - I sure hope no one in your life ever has to deal with weight issues - since you would be so supportive. Maybe instead of calling people names or pointing, laughing, and calling them cows you could find a way to help people - Unless you've been there you don't really understand how hard it is to change everything in your life - is the end result of the change worth it, of course, but that doesn't make it any easier...>> You know, if you simply read through the whole thread you'd know this isn't true. I've already lost one relative, who was VERY dear to me, due to this insidious addiction. I have another who someone has managed to make it age 50 while weighing over 500 pounds. It's only a matter of time until we get the phone call ... his only hope is surgery and he's afraid it will kill him ... guess the three Big Macs, one chicken sandwich, two extra large fries in a sitting isn't doing that. I also have had friends who have battled the disease (and that is what it is). One finally had bypass surgery at 29 and went from weighing over 400 pounds to being just a tad under 200. He's basically healthy, although he's had another surgery to remove the excess skin ... those scars will always remind him of what he used to be. I have another friend who had the same surgery, dropped 75 pounds (when he needs to drop at least 250) and stopped ... he's still huge, only now he has newborn twins. Says he's getting a personal trainer, which I'll believe when I see it. Oh, and if you haven't read, you haven't noticed that while I'm not morbidly obese, I am what I term 'fat' ... I need to lose a good 25-30 pounds. I do know how tough it is. But treating these people as if their problem is more socially acceptable as drugs, alcohol, sex, etc ... doesn't help them. It hurts us all. So, yeah, the cow comments will remain. MOO TO YOU! (Disney should make a parade with a catchy tune like that!)
Originally Posted By bayrr326 <<more dependence on fast food noticeably larger rest. food portions refillable soft drinks and breads>> One thing you should have mentioned is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Soft drinks and other foods used to use cane sugar but starting in the late70's they started switching over to high fructose corn syrup. Of course also cokes used to come in 7 oz bottles or 12 oz cans. People were never supposed to drink 24 oz bottles or 32 oz cups of soda. I can't believe the portions of alot of the restaurants in this country. It is ridiculous but you see people not only eating that but an appetizer and a desert. Around my mid 20's I started gaining weight and realized my metabolism slowed down. So I changed my diet. I eat a good breakfast, a lite lunch and dinner. I mostly eat healthy and about the only time I eat any fast food is when I am at a theme park. It disgusts me to see how many people in this country don't seem to care or won't to do anything about their weight.
Originally Posted By barboy As for this thread it's not my fault--- Blame TDLFAN for he is the one who has from time to time made references about the large WDW guests in different topics.... so naturally it came to my mind very quickly on day 1 in Orlando when I showed up at the gates of AK.... it hit me like a ton of bricks. I would say that 3 to 3.5 out of 5 men over 30 looked way out of shape, not just "not in shape" but sizable and protruding bellies and the children appeared quite large compared to what I readily see around my parts(Pleasanton, California). Also, never have I seen so many strollers per capita. We have children coming to the malls here too, many children, but they walk--- very few strollers. And for what it's worth when I go to DL in Anaheim I don't remember seeing such large guests. So why WDW? The only response I have gotton so far is that fat people don't go white water rafting". no harm intended gang.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The type of entertainment WDW offers is sedentary in nature. It attracts folks who are less participants and more spectators. I'm not entirely sure why obesity is not as apparent at DL, but I suppose being in a LA and having more local visitors has something to do with it.
Originally Posted By mickeyboy43 My entire family had been wondering why WDW was so full of obese people. And before i post this, i just want to say that at one point, my dad weighed 350 pounds and is now 295 w/no surgery. America is lazy. We just are. We try to do the least amount of work and the most amount of fun. Within the past 30 years, this problem has increased due to larger portions and higher availability of "fast food". If you choose to eat all of that stuff, then YOU need to live with the consequences. Get off your derriere and walk through WDW. Same goes with kids. I have seen more fat 8 year olds that way at least as much as me as a 15 year old. Its rather ridiculous. I think Disney should make the rental process difficult for strollers and such if you dont have any PROVEN medical conditions. All of the ECV's that you see with fat people in them are more needed by elderly or disabled people. Being fat is not a reason not to walk. Last time I was at WDW, my family was just riding around on the monorail while shopping the three monorail resorts when an enormous fat lady on an ECV rolled into the monorail. At the next stop (Magic Kingdom) her buggy lurched foward a little bit causing it to be in the way of the doors closing. The ladies slender husband and a cast member tried for around 5 minutes to move the ECV (with the lady in it), but to no avail. Finally, the lady stood up, walked around the ECV, pushed the two men aside, and lifted the ECV clear off the ground and out of the way of the door before sitting down again. If the lady could do this, then surely she could at least walk around WDW?!?!? <Maybe they just lost 50lbs and are at the parks as a reward for all the effort they put in...> Just because they lost that 50 lbs does not mean that they can overindulge and be lazy for a week. They need to keep at it to lose it, and lord knows theres enough places to walk in Disney! <So, yeah, the cow comments will remain. MOO TO YOU! (Disney should make a parade with a catchy tune like that!)> LOL! <It doesn't take a $10-million grant and four-year study from a major university to figure out that maybe if people ate less, and healthier, and exercised more (yeah take the stairs, not the escalator) that there would be far fewer morbidly obese folks around.> Agreed. America wastes too much time doing these "studies" that a little common sense could figure out. <Have you ever thought that maybe the PEOPLE (not cows) you mentioned have feelings and maybe it was hard enough for them to even be there and are trying to have fun despite the state they are in...> Have you ever thought that the Spirit was perhaps using cows as a descriptive word. Im pretty sure the SPirit is smart enough to know that these "Cows" are people. While i like the idea of large drinks when you are on the go or working heavily in the yard, I do not think that anyone needs to walk around WDW or sit at home slurping on a drink all day. Do something laborious, and then drink after you are really thirsty. Cant wait until more people post!
Originally Posted By mstaft Barboy, I used to live in Pleasanton. LOVED it! Then I got transfered to Denver. Pretty nice but not California!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The type of entertainment WDW offers is sedentary in nature. It attracts folks who are less participants and more spectators. I'm not entirely sure why obesity is not as apparent at DL, but I suppose being in a LA and having more local visitors has something to do with it.>> Sedentary?!? WDW should be a very ACTIVE vacation for most people. They should be walking miles every day, often in very humid weather. They can swim. They can bike. They can golf. They can play tennis. They can hike. Nope. If WDW is sedentary, then I'm Al Weiss.
Originally Posted By barboy Livermore.......Wow! that is practically in my backyard. "it's a small, small world" I have a place there too in Prima(near where hwy. 84 and Concannon meet)
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<WDW should be a very ACTIVE vacation for most people. They should be walking miles every day, often in very humid weather. They can swim. They can bike. They can golf. They can play tennis. They can hike.>> Hello Al. Of course WDW could be an active vacation. Yeah, they have all those fitness-related recreational facilities there. But come-on, only a tiny percentage of visitors are using them, and I can guarantee it's not the "cows" you refer to. The overwhelming majority go there to sit down and look at some robots, hug CMs in fur suits, and eat eat eat with their meal plan.
Originally Posted By mickeyboy43 <Sedentary?!? WDW should be a very ACTIVE vacation for most people. They should be walking miles every day, often in very humid weather. They can swim. They can bike. They can golf. They can play tennis. They can hike. Nope. If WDW is sedentary, then I'm Al Weiss.> Im following you on the walking everyday, but if i want to go workout, I think i would rather do that in the comfort of my own town and make the most of my time in WDW. But thats becuase i dont go but once a year...
Originally Posted By mousermerf I find it ironic that while here at LP folks are lamenting being a cow and saying folks should take responsibility - elsewhere folks are bitterly complaining that WDW has switched to wheat buns for burgers and hot dogs.. as people need a break and to indulge during their vacations.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <people need a break and to indulge during their vacations.> My point exactly maybe a trip to WDW was a goal for loosing 50 lbs... See I don't find the need to call people cow's because someone sees them as fat and lazy because of there size and the ECV's - Really I feel sorry for them as if they are that large and can't really get around on their own - then really they are mostly watching the others in their party who are really having all the fun - running around the park and riding anything they want mostly without limitations.
Originally Posted By barboy There is a percentage of ECVers for whom I have no respect, none. In fact I hold contempt for a select group of them. 1) those who ate themselves into that state--- not the ones who obviously were dealt an unworkable hand with non-efficient biologies/genetically related maladies. 2) those who despite all of the warnings and drive sober talk decided to "tie one on" one evening and run into a tree or worse take out another motorist/pedestrian or two. 3) the sheer lazy.... those who lack such basic motivation or self respect to walk---- ones who don't care in the slightest that their ECV use can adversely affect others. 4) those who committed atrocities against others during wartime. If a some US vet comes home without legs from a fight were he was committing unspeakable terror against another he deserves a life in a mobile chair. 5)those who decided to commit some ugly felony like sticking a gun in a merchant's face and the robbery went bad and the assailant ended up getting shot in the groin. Too bad Jackie if now you're reduced to riding one of those. 6) the fakes who just want to play and beat the system either for workers comp fraud or for a fastpass through the backdoors on hot crowded days.
Originally Posted By jonvn "Americans are fatter and unhealthier than ever;" Well, no. Obesity levels have plateued these last few years. "America wastes too much time doing these "studies" that a little common sense could figure out." It's not "America." It's the medical industry, and they do these studies to try and figure out a way to solve the problem. What basically happens is that anyone can lose weight by eating less and exercising. Unfortunately, almost no one is able to keep it off for any period of time. The figure is 96% or so regain all the weight back, and more. So to suggest you can do something, when the facts are that most people plainly can not is wrong. To say it is because people are "lazy" is wrong. It is simply not understood what is happening. Yes, we see that meals are larger. But why are these suddenly so common? What has made them desired? Personally, I can't eat that much. I can eat a single regular McDonald's hamburger and be full. But other people eat 5 times that and still can do more. So, McDonald's sells them more. They would not be selling huge portions if people would not be wanting them. One area, that I already mentioned, is epigenetics. It is not simply your genetic code that makes you who you are, but the history of your family and what they went through and how that is imprinted on your genome that makes you who you are. Famine and feast for your grandparents at certain ages will affect your weight today, 100 years later. Or so they are thinking. There is a lot we don't understand. There is some we do understand. That if you do X, Y, and Z, you will lose weight. That's the simple part. The hard part is understanding why this has suddenly become a problem, why people are needing more food, and what can we do to fix something that almost no one can do on their own. Diets simply don't work. Diet plans don't work. There is a multi-billion dollar diet industry out there that would not exist if any plan actually did work and allowed you to keep the weight off permanently. Telling people it is somehow their own fault for not being able to keep themselves thin is really ignorant and cruel. You don't know what you are talking about, and you don't know what it is like for people who do have a very serious struggle with this sort of thing.
