We, as former hunter-gatherers, are genetically predisposed to store fat and used to be physically challenged to get our food. Since the socioeconomic shift has introduced the supermarket and cart system, our hunting and gathering probably don't burn very many calories anymore.
The Western world started this trend, and as we pave the way for other countries to develop, we are teaching the rest of the world to reject physical labor in exchange for sedentary computerized tasks. It is time to make a change.
Statistically, if you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 and a 40-inch waist for men or a 35-inch waist for women, you are obese. Your chances of getting type 2 diabetes skyrocket. Your risk of having a stroke jumps, and your risk of getting cancer is much higher. These are life-changing, and sometimes fatal, diseases.
Do not be discouraged. Changing is not hard, provided you make simple alterations to your everyday activities:
Only watch your favorite shows.
It is easy to sit and veg out in front of the television for hours, so pick a small number of your favorite shows to stick to. When they are over, turn off the TV and do something else. Walk the dog, play with your kids, or do some exercise, if only for a half hour. You do not need to develop a rock-hard gym body, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing a few lunges in your living room. Instead of buying your kid a new video game, buy him a basketball and play with him.
Stop letting your car and your dishwasher run your life.
If you want to rent a video from the store, then you can walk there. A half-hour walk is the equivalent of an episode of Friends. You've seen it before; get some fresh air instead, and earn your dinner. When you've finished eating, take the five minutes to scrub the dishes clean. It won't take long, and you'll burn some calories.
Do not buy processed food.
This is the most important thing of all. Technology has made processing high-calorie, high-fat foods incredibly fast, cheap, and easy. They may taste delicious, but they probably also taste like cancer and diabetes. Fruits and vegetables have become increasingly more expensive, but they are worth it. Don't compare prices if you can help it; compare health benefits. Don't waste money on chips when you could be buying fruit. If you have a backyard, try growing some of your food. Maintaining a garden is not only exercise, but it can also be both physically and spiritually rewarding if you have the patience. Let your kids help; it can be a fun distraction.
It doesn't matter where you start. All that matters is that you do. Obesity is no one person's fault, but it can be if you don't take the extra time to do things the old-fashioned way instead of pandering to society's addiction to labor-saving technology.
