This Is Why You're Fat: An Upside of the Economic Downturn

Well, fast food and snacks may not be exactly why you're fat - but they're certainly part of the reason why I'm fat. My 11-year-old is a fan of both the Food Network and the Travel Channel, and one show he enjoys is "Man versus Food." Do you know this show? A man named Adam travels the country looking for "Food Challenges," and we're talking circus freak type challenges. Watching sparks some interesting conversation in our living room. And some self-loathing, in that I recognize, sadly, a little bit of myself in them. At least it gives me new resolve to attend Weight Watchers meetings, start my morning with the Wii Fit and not a Toaster Strudel, and plan a healthy dinner for the family. We turn from this show, to "Biggest Loser" to Ace of Cakes to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Some nights I'm sure that we Americans are Modern Romans consuming ourselves out of existence. Many "reality shows" (man is that an oxymoron!) bring on this feeling, not just Man versus Food. But it's the one that makes me nauseated. I'm sure our middle American, suburbian lifestyle with 4 bedrooms and 2 cars looks just as obscene to many. See "This is Why You're Fat" for some images that may help you commit to your own Journey to Fitness. Images and shows like these help me accept that weight loss is, at heart, a mathematical equation: Ingest less, weigh less. Stop eating when satisfied. Eat fresh, whole, natural foods, and just enough.

Upside of the Economic Downturn

And the good news of 2009 for our family is, the economic downturn has caused us to cut restaurants and takeout completely out of the budget. Meals are being prepared in the kitchen again. I made pizza from scratch yesterday: yeast, whole wheat flour, salt, tomato sauce and spices, then loaded on the veggies. To quote Wendy, "Way better than fast food!" Anyone have a link to that great magnetic fridge sign: It's Not In Here. ?