My husband's observation...

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
My husband's observation...
10
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 8:04am
I have to tell you all about an observation that my dh keeps making and how it affected him yesterday. When we go shopping anyplace together, he frequently sits at the 'food court' in the mall waiting for me. He will get a large pop and a large bag/box of popcorn and munch and watch people. Over the last couple of years he has often commented on the proportion of overweight people to average weight people. Lately he has commented more and more. There are a lot more overweight people that walk by in the malls or Targer or Walmart than slender people, by far!! He has been telling me for several months that he should lose a little bit of weight. He's 6'2" tall and weighs about 190 or 195 pounds. He isn't heavy but he's getting a little bit of a 'tummy' overhang on his pants. Not much but a bit and he's never had that. And his prosthesis is getting a bit tight. If he gains too much weight, his artificial leg doesn't fit properly and causes problems.

Now yesterday he said he was sitting there in Walmart watching people. When I finished and went to get him, he didn't have his usual popcorn....just his pop. He told me that as he sat watching the people, he thought that over 75% of them were not only overweight but obese. And that wasn't even counting those people that were a bit on the heavy side. Just OBESE! So, he got up, took his half finished bag of popcorn and threw it in the trash! He said if felt like he was giving up something important like cigarettes or something like that! A major decision for him because popcorn is his favorite food in the world!! And when we got home last night, he rode bikes with me. So, he is going to try to lose about 10 pounds, too. It will make it much easier for me in the evenings if he isn't snacking. And believe me, he loves to snack at night. Frequently I just have to leave the area and go to another part of the house because he is eating and I can't be around him or I will want to eat. So this should help me out, too.

I just thought that you'd find this interesting. If you watch people in the mall, you can definately see where we're becoming an overweight society. Even many kids are havy anymore. It's a sad trend and will make their adulthood much harder.

Nancy

Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 8:12am
Your husband is very observant. DH and I were talking about this not too long ago as we were sitting over coffee. We looked around the restaurant and better than 50% of the customers there were obese. Not just fat; I mean obese! I saw a little ditty on TV the other day that said something like 56% (or was is 56,000,000 I forget) of Americans are obese. Not just overweight, but medically obese.

I love how your husband tossed out his popcorn. Good for him! And for you! Good luck to both of you.

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 8:30am
Isn't it interesting what observations you come up with when you just sit and take everything in around you!

Good luck to your DH on those 10 lbs! You can healthy snack together!

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 8:55am
Good for your husband, but popcorn without butter or too much salt isn't really a bad snack. In fact, it's often recommended as a healthy substitute for other things. I buy the Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop. It may take a little getting used to if he's always had the works on it, but it is filling and good when that's what you have regularly. He'd do much better to give up the calories, sugar, and high acid content of the softdrink and substitute a healthier drink with his popcorn. It's great that he's getting out and exercising with you!! Men tend to lose faster than women, so that should help keep him motivated.

I've been reading about how obesity is epidemic, which is one reason diabetes is rising so rapidly, and what has been called adult onset diabetes is starting younger and younger. If you read or listen to on TV what's on some the sandwiches at fast food places, what's in the lattes and other coffee concoctions, the ingredients in the super desserts at ice cream places and others, and the portion sizes in restaurants, combined with the lack of activity of most people, it was inevitable. In many schools, P.E. is now optional. They need to make that mandatory the way it used to be.

Good luck to your husband!

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 9:26am
Just saw something about this on the news.The increase in weight related illnesses is so sad.Also read a great article that said some of the problem is we think we have to make huge changes to see improvement.We spend a week running dozens of miles and not eating then give up because we can't stick with it.The article discussed how more moderate changes is the better approach. Like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, having smaller servings.

Miss P




 

Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 9:31am
Nancy - You won't get any argument from me. Our local mall - not one of the biggies with the hundreds of boutique-type stores - has a Papa Gino's pizzeria, an Old Country Buffet, a couple of hot dog and ice cream stands, and a Barnes & Noble Cafe in it. Papa Gino's is always packed. The Old Country Buffet has lines of customers waiting to get in at all hours on weekends. And although you can make smart food choices there, most of the food that the people who are heaviest go for is the unlimited fried stuff, the mac and cheese, and the desserts. And they're all 2-fisted pop drinkers, too. They probably go there because it's an affordable place to eat out. But it's really not much higher on the food quality scale than fast-food.

Good for your husband for noticing and trying to make a change. It will be much easier for you during the evening and eventually for you when you're cooking the same food for everyone at the table.

Donna

Avatar for jody_mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 9:36am
Nancy, your husband is very smart! :-)

~Jody~

~Jody~
Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 9:43am
Lori - I saw 64%. Now we know why our insurance premiums are exploding!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-14-2003 - 12:36pm
Yes, it is unfortunate and true! I watched the elementary parents go in and out of "meet the teacher" yesterday & almost every man and woman was overweight. Most of them were obese! How troubling. That's great that your dh wants to get healthier. Hope you two have lots of fun bike riding!
Katherine (Kat)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2003
Sat, 08-16-2003 - 2:20pm


Is it just me or do our spouses (as a whole) have a tougher transition in accepting they need body maintenance .. ?


CeeCee

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 08-16-2003 - 3:38pm
This is so true and so sad Nancy. But when I see people eating and snacking (like my dh in the evening) it irratates me to the point where it makes me feel nausaus and sick to my stomach. That is the reason I leave the room. I can't stand it when people eat like that when I know they shouldn't. I know if I tell him he shouldn't, he'll just get mad at me. But the funny thing is, with dd at home, she just politely takes what he is eating and puts it away. He doesn't get mad at her. She just says, "Dad you had enough and its not good for you anyway". He smiles and agrees and stops. Now if I tried that! Whoa! I don't even want to think about the results! WHAT WILL I DO WHEN SHE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL?

 

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