In light of some recent comments about the earthquake in Haiti, I have to say I am really disgusted with certain Americans. A certain faction of this country believes that since we are in our so called economic crisis right now, we have no right or reason to donate to the efforts in Haiti. I would like to believe that pure ignorance is not driving these words but rather learned selfishness and a lack of realism.
Yes, we are in economic dire straights. However, it is nothing like what countries such as Haiti experience on a daily basis. We do not understand the total poverty that grips that country. Therefore, we equate our situation with theirs. They are not the same.
Furthermore, we have never experienced the level of natural disaster that Haiti is now experiencing. If we ever did, there would be an outcry to every country in the world to help us.
I do believe it is our moral obligation to help those in need in all countries of the world. It is on these principles that our country was supposedly built. However, people have forgotten this. In the land of plenty, it appears we have had too much and no longer can sympathize with the poor and beaten down. (This applies to even people in our own country. That is why so many oppose universal healthcare...)
I dare not even address the idiots that claim the earthquake was God's punishment for Haiti's lack of belief. It seems so hypocritical for those that proclaim to be Christian to spew such hatred and intolerance. These people no nothing of the meaning of religion. They corrupt their so-called word of God to convince themselves of their own in born self-righteousness. Pure ignorance.
If our country falters in the future, I think it will falter not from offering economic aid to those in trouble but rather from REFUSING to acknowledge the inter-connectedness of all human beings on this planet. If we refuse to lend a hand to those in need, inevitably, when we fall, no one will be there for us.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A diet plan that works...
I have noticed recently on my journeys through facebook, twitter, and myspace, that most people have made New Year's resolutions that revolve around losing weight. Of the many people who make such resolutions, few will actually accomplish their goals. For the most part, people set out on un-realistic diet and exercise plans. This is the biggest mistake they can make. As someone who has successfully lost weight in the past and maintained it for 6 years, I would like to share some tips on how to beat the odds.
1. Do not follow the Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, Master Cleanse, or any other diet regimens. They simply cannot be realistically maintained over a long period of time. The best way to lose weight is by making smarter choices about the food you already eat. Do not exclude any one food group. It is the recipe for disaster.
2. Eat what you normally eat but be conscious of portion. This is the biggest thing I learned. The portion size on cookies is two or one for the most part. You CAN eat cookies and lose weight. You simply have to keep it in control.
3. Make smarter choices at restaurants. DO NOT AVOID THEM. A lot of people avoid restaurants when they are trying to lose weight. That is impractical. You cannot avoid restaurants for the rest of your life. Just make smarter decisions. Where you used to get fries, get a baked potato. Where you used to have a burger, get a grilled chicken sandwich. A lot of restaurants even have tasty "lighter" meals. Use them to your advantage.
4. If you drink soda, switch to diet. The best option is to limit your intake of any soda period, but you can't move mountains...
5. Aim for 30 mins of ANY exercise per day. A lot of people set un-realistic exercise goals. They try for an hour or more per day. Most people cannot fit this amount of exercise in and therefore do not do any. Walking IS exercise. If nothing else, go for a walk. If you can't make your exercise date, try for even 5 minutes of jumping jacks or stair climbing. (You can even climb the stairs at work for 5 mins.) It keeps you motivated and feeling positive.
6. Invest in exercise DVDs. It is wonderful to join a gym, but the gym is not inside your home and a lot of people say to themselves, "I'm too tired to make the drive, or... the t.v. is right there." A few exercise DVDs in your own home will give you less excuses. You don't have to go anywhere to get in a good workout.
7. Do not weigh yourself constantly. You are not going to lose a tremendous amount of weight over a week unless you are exercising the wrong way. Weighing yourself daily or even weekly will be discouraging.
8. Do not stop the whole plan just because you've had a set back. There will be times when you eat one two many slices of pizza. Don't use it as an excuse not to exercise or not to eat healthy later.
Those are my top suggestions for how to lose weight successfully. It is a complete lifestyle change. You have to permanently change the way in which you eat in order to maintain weight loss. I am proof that it works!
1. Do not follow the Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, Master Cleanse, or any other diet regimens. They simply cannot be realistically maintained over a long period of time. The best way to lose weight is by making smarter choices about the food you already eat. Do not exclude any one food group. It is the recipe for disaster.
2. Eat what you normally eat but be conscious of portion. This is the biggest thing I learned. The portion size on cookies is two or one for the most part. You CAN eat cookies and lose weight. You simply have to keep it in control.
3. Make smarter choices at restaurants. DO NOT AVOID THEM. A lot of people avoid restaurants when they are trying to lose weight. That is impractical. You cannot avoid restaurants for the rest of your life. Just make smarter decisions. Where you used to get fries, get a baked potato. Where you used to have a burger, get a grilled chicken sandwich. A lot of restaurants even have tasty "lighter" meals. Use them to your advantage.
4. If you drink soda, switch to diet. The best option is to limit your intake of any soda period, but you can't move mountains...
5. Aim for 30 mins of ANY exercise per day. A lot of people set un-realistic exercise goals. They try for an hour or more per day. Most people cannot fit this amount of exercise in and therefore do not do any. Walking IS exercise. If nothing else, go for a walk. If you can't make your exercise date, try for even 5 minutes of jumping jacks or stair climbing. (You can even climb the stairs at work for 5 mins.) It keeps you motivated and feeling positive.
6. Invest in exercise DVDs. It is wonderful to join a gym, but the gym is not inside your home and a lot of people say to themselves, "I'm too tired to make the drive, or... the t.v. is right there." A few exercise DVDs in your own home will give you less excuses. You don't have to go anywhere to get in a good workout.
7. Do not weigh yourself constantly. You are not going to lose a tremendous amount of weight over a week unless you are exercising the wrong way. Weighing yourself daily or even weekly will be discouraging.
8. Do not stop the whole plan just because you've had a set back. There will be times when you eat one two many slices of pizza. Don't use it as an excuse not to exercise or not to eat healthy later.
Those are my top suggestions for how to lose weight successfully. It is a complete lifestyle change. You have to permanently change the way in which you eat in order to maintain weight loss. I am proof that it works!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"Have Your Cake. . . and don't eat it."
“Have your cake. . . and don’t eat it.”
In light of actress Brittany Murphy’s death, I am forced to take a hard look at the culture of Hollywood. The actress, at the time of her death, looked emaciated. The tabloids and gossip magazines are lamenting her figure saying that she looked terrible. Many of them are alluding to the fact that anorexia could have played a part in her death. Their abrupt change of tune is hypocritical to me. These are the same magazines that carefully watch each morsel of food eaten by celebrities and each pound gained. Many times, I will walk through the grocery store and see blown up pictures of stars’ cellulite gracing the covers of “Ok” and publications like it.
Pictures of an overly thin Murphy were even taken and published in the same magazines that are now accusing her of starving herself. One magazine even said she looked glam and fabulous at the time. Hollywood and the paparazzi cannot have it both ways. They seem to want stars to be thin, never gain weight, but never become too thin. They like stars to walk the delicate balance between waif and anorexic.
I first noticed this problem back in 1997 when Titanic first hit the screens. During the filming, director James Cameron referred to the appropriately sized, and I think, beautiful Kate Winslet, as “Kate Weighs-a lot.” Kate Winslet, if seen walking down the street, would probably be considered thinner than the average American woman. (Isn’t the average woman a size 12?) Why then, in Hollywood, is she considered morbidly obese?
Many people reading this would assume that since I am so up in arms about this issue, I must be an overweight person, bitter about seeing lovely, thin starlets. I, myself, am a thin person. Being thin, exercising, and eating healthy are wonderful things to strive for. I am not saying otherwise. I am just saying that Hollywood pushes many actors and actresses to the brink and than scoffs when they go over.
I distinctly remember magazines and reporters referring to Brittany Murphy in Clueless as the chubby, awkward girl. Do they think this had no effect? If Brittany Murphy did die of something related to anorexia, than perhaps the media should share a little in the guilt.
The attitude in Hollywood is “Have your cake… and don’t eat it.”
In light of actress Brittany Murphy’s death, I am forced to take a hard look at the culture of Hollywood. The actress, at the time of her death, looked emaciated. The tabloids and gossip magazines are lamenting her figure saying that she looked terrible. Many of them are alluding to the fact that anorexia could have played a part in her death. Their abrupt change of tune is hypocritical to me. These are the same magazines that carefully watch each morsel of food eaten by celebrities and each pound gained. Many times, I will walk through the grocery store and see blown up pictures of stars’ cellulite gracing the covers of “Ok” and publications like it.
Pictures of an overly thin Murphy were even taken and published in the same magazines that are now accusing her of starving herself. One magazine even said she looked glam and fabulous at the time. Hollywood and the paparazzi cannot have it both ways. They seem to want stars to be thin, never gain weight, but never become too thin. They like stars to walk the delicate balance between waif and anorexic.
I first noticed this problem back in 1997 when Titanic first hit the screens. During the filming, director James Cameron referred to the appropriately sized, and I think, beautiful Kate Winslet, as “Kate Weighs-a lot.” Kate Winslet, if seen walking down the street, would probably be considered thinner than the average American woman. (Isn’t the average woman a size 12?) Why then, in Hollywood, is she considered morbidly obese?
Many people reading this would assume that since I am so up in arms about this issue, I must be an overweight person, bitter about seeing lovely, thin starlets. I, myself, am a thin person. Being thin, exercising, and eating healthy are wonderful things to strive for. I am not saying otherwise. I am just saying that Hollywood pushes many actors and actresses to the brink and than scoffs when they go over.
I distinctly remember magazines and reporters referring to Brittany Murphy in Clueless as the chubby, awkward girl. Do they think this had no effect? If Brittany Murphy did die of something related to anorexia, than perhaps the media should share a little in the guilt.
The attitude in Hollywood is “Have your cake… and don’t eat it.”
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