Larry G. Jones, Vegas impersonator photo courtesy Flickr uploaded by: VeEe MaN tHe PrOuD sOuThPaW

Imagine this. You and your friends are at a party, drinking, etc. and having fun and next thing you know, you hear a scream and see a rather large, hungry looking woman spitting some guys ear out. Ouch!  In Lincoln, Nebraska, a 24 year old man (who was obviously clueless) told 21 year old Anna Godfrey that she was “fat.”

Rather than verbally run him through the grill (which, let’s face it, us girls are pretty good at) she bit off a chunk of his ear! While biting this poor guy’s ear was in no way the right response for his alleged infraction, it begs the question that any rational individual might ask, “is fat prejudice okay?” At what point is it acceptable to humiliate and belittle someone simply for their weight and/or size?

Another question pops into mind as well, “since the “biter” is in custody for “suspicion of felony assault” what legal strategy will her attorney employ? I’m not an attorney (thank God (tee hee)) but the “temporarily insane” defense is passe’.  No, I would think that perhaps the “bitee” (is that a word, even?) should be charged with a “hate crime” (don’t all 24 year old men hate “fatties”?) and that Anna Godfrey should get a one year membership to the local gym.

But what do I know. Maybe she was just hungry – the piece of his ear was not found.

Organic Grapes photo courtesy sxc.hu

I can’t speak for other parts of the world, but America has really screwed up generations of girls, just like myself. While I am now a woman, the little girl inside of me is still there. I would dare to say that this is true of most women in this world.

I battled for years with the desire to be “skinny” and the search for the next diet, exercise, pill or liquid fast that would get me there, and suffice it to say that nothing worked. Nothing.

I’m not alone. Millions of women have the same problem as I, so it can’t simply be willpower, can it? Sure, willpower gets your butt in gear and on the move, but there is something more to it. And no, it’s not a wish to simply avoid my contributions to the problem, not at all.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “in 2007-2008, the prevalence of obesity was 32.2% among adult men and 35.5% among adult women.”  This means that, combined, over 60% of adults are obese in America!  Yowza!

Recent obesity research has found that it doesn’t matter what “diet” you follow to reach your goal weight, what is required is that energy expenditure (i.e. exercise, movement, etc.) exceeds energy input (gulping down that Big Mac!)

Some of the common attributes of those who have maintained their weight loss are:

• Monitoring themselves by weighing in at least every week
• Exercising one hour every day (I don’t remember the intensity required)

That’s kind of depressing, isn’t it? Well, it is if you don’t choose to make a lifestyle change rather than going on and off a “diet.”  But if you decide to learn how to eat differently and become more active, it will seem as natural to you as your existing diet is now.

In a previous post I discussed what high fructose corn syrup does to your body. Not only does it “go straight to your hips,” it also leaves you nutrient starved. Your body is in a struggle for it’s life, and the only thing it knows to do when it’s starved for nutrients is to send a signal to your brain to “feed me!”  And as you can see, we do feed it! Eating a nutrient dense variety of foods then, by it’s very nature would allow you to consume fewer calories yet feel completely satisfied.

I love to eat. Period.  If you do as well, then we’ve got a choice to make. Either we do what’s required of us and make the changes, or we continue on the path we’re on and slowly make our way to a miserable ending that could have possibly been avoided.

After scouring throughout the known universe (tee-hee) and searching out my own conscience, I determined that I would follow the Eat to Live plan set out by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  This is a vegetarian/vegan way of eating that speaks to me. I had no problem at all quitting the animal products. None. What is hard, however, is limiting the grains to one serving per day.  I love my bread! Another issue that I’ve got to get hold of is caffeine and salt. I love both of them, and Fuhrman’s plan requires letting both of them go. Ouch!

Dr. Fuhrman sets out a six week challenge that is intense, and states that you could lose up to 25 pounds in about six weeks time. I like that idea! LOL  After the challenge, the eating restrictions (and weight loss) are loosened up a bit, but still mostly vegetarian.  Not everyone can go completely vegetarian or vegan, but if you limit your meat consumption (after the six week challenge) you can still derive benefits from this plant based (nutrient dense) way of eating.

If you decide to follow this plan you can expect that the more lousy your existing diet, the more lousy you will fill for up to two weeks. If you do, then remember this is a good thing! That means your body is doing a good job ridding itself of the toxins within it’s cells.

You don’t have to go it alone, though. There are many online communities dedicated to this way of living. Some good ones are:

Peertrainer

and

Sparkpeople

If you are currently part of an online community, check with them, I’ll bet at least one person is either eating this way, or know where you can find more information about it!  As the French are fond of saying…”Bon appetit!”

I love BBC America. I love the shows that BBC airs in England as well. The Brits in my mind have always had such a fun, quirky sense of humour!

I absolutely love the show “You Are What You Eat,” which stars nutritionist Gillian McKeith. Some might call her a “B,” however I like to watch her in action.

She takes on clients that have the most awful, disgusting eating habits, and in a no nonsense way she changes their lives by showing them that the food they are consuming is not giving them the nutrition that they need.

The show begins with pictures, unflattering to say the least, of the individuals who have agreed to follow her program, and shows them eating their regular fare, and tells a little bit about them. Next, she talks with them about their food choices, berating the parents who are a poor example for their children, and then discussing with them better choices.

They have to follow her program strictly for two months, and at the end of that time, all have lost weight and feel 100% better, with more energy, better skin, etc.

The focus is not on losing weight, although that is an important side benefit, it is on living a healthy lifestyle.

I do wish, however that they would film the people who have gone through such a miraculous change after a few years to see if they maintained their changes.

If you get a chance, check out her show. You will be both entertained and informed, so that you too can make better choices for your life.