Where is my topic?

[Guest]

Re: Where is my topic?

>Like it or not folks, this thread it dead-on.
>

The first step to resolving a problem is to
>recognize that it exists. Citizens of
>industrialized (Westernized?) nations show an
>alarming trend towards laziness and obesity.
>They eat to much rubbish – processed, unnatural
>l foods – use their computers or TV’s too much,
>and ride in cars too often. (Lest I be termed a
>hypocrite I type this message as I eat a bowl of
>raw oatmeal after running for an hour through the
>forest and over rough trails.)

Allow me this
>short anecdote:
Several miles into a cycling
>expedition, I am run off the road my some
>fanatical driver, who does not care to stop. I
>limp four miles to a bus stop, catching the next
>tram. A female of no more than twenty years of
>age sits across the aisle. After waiting at the
>stop for perhaps five minutes the bus departs.
>Immediately she pulls a cable to signal “stop
>requested” and exits one block from her starting
>point. I am so disgusted that I exit also,
>limping another 2.5 miles to my home.

Did
>she suddenly decide to change her destination
>after waiting on the bus for five minutes? More
>likely she was too lazy to walk ONE
>BLOCK.

These behaviors translate quite
>readily into sport: less developed
>“disadvantaged” nations routinely give America a
>sound thrashing in the distance events.

The
>good news is that it is never too late to
>change. To facilitate this change, I recommend
>the teachings of one Percy Wells Cerutty. I can
>vouch unequivocally for the effectiveness of his
>methods.

Well...he certainly has the Cerutty RANT down, doesn't he?

[michael lewis]

Re: Where is my topic?

There are certain statistics which are so frequently mentioned in the media that they are either unequivocally true or have attained the status of truth. A few common examples: America has more citizens incarcerated than any other nation, and Americans are the most overweight and indolent people on earth. The second proposition is often mentioned along with "supporting" evidence, in the form of lifestyle/health statistics/studies.

A little extra food for thought: What exactly has been the quintessentially American contribution to worldwide culinary changes in the last quarter century? (fat dogs? Big Max? "french" fries?) How fit is the average participant in America's favorite sport?

I think Americans of European descent are one of the most underperforming groups on earth in many athletics events, particularly sprints and some jumps.

[Natasha]

Re: Where is my topic?

I strongly agree the North Americans in general have a major health crisis. Everything is true from what I can see about obesity and stress. I think the school children are going to suffer greatly from this burden even the ones who play soccer and try to be healthy. The one thing that is positive is that North America is very education oriented and most children will go on to university, hopefully many will become doctors. If anyone has spent time living in Europe the're are many differences in daily life and the view of healthy lifestyle, excercise and the arts. Smoking, alcohol abuse and pollution are a problem in Europe but I also see that here. I love Canada for many things but as the population ages the situation gets more serious. As far as track and field is concerned I think it is already feeling the impact of this.

[michael lewis]

Re: Where is my topic?

"The number of overweight Americans has steadily increased since 1980 from 25 percent up to 40 percent this year. But new recommendations from the National Institutes of Health will change the definition for who is considered overweight. The new standards say 55 percent of American adults, 97 million people, are too heavy, making Americans the most overweight people on earth."

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/j ... 6-17a.html

Still looking for more current stats though 5 yrs isn't going to make a HUGE difference

[Guest]

Re: Where is my topic?

"...she pulls a cable to signal “stop requested” and exits one block from her starting point. I am so disgusted that I exit also, limping another 2.5 miles to my home."

The "logic" of this just escapes me. You were disgusted by her APPARENT laziness (you have no actual knowledge of her situation, after all), so--to somehow compensate for that perceived failing--you made yourself hobble 2-1/2 miles. Huh? This incomprenension extends to much of the rest of your argument.

[tafnut]

Re: Where is my topic?

Asd a high school teacher and coach, I can tell you that this generation is MUCH more health and fitness conscious than any in the last 40 years. The only problem that I see is that the activities are much more directed than ever. Parents (and then the kids themselves as they reach late adolescence) schedule discrete amounts of time to accomplish specific objectives. If the kid is not in an organized sport practice, etc., there is less chance he/she will be doing something physically exerting than before. But these kids ARE better athletes and more condoitioned than ever before.

[michael lewis]

Re: Where is my topic?

Are you suggesting that obesity as a problem in American society is unevenly distributed across age groups?

[michael lewis]

Re: Where is my topic?

"More American Children and Teens Are Overweight"

http://www.totalbike.com/news/article/119/

tafnut, it does not appear that the data supports your observation. There may well appear to be more kids who are fitness conscious, but whether they are clustered by socioeconomic class/geographic location/whatever else, who knows. The general picture doesn't appear as rosy as what you are seeing.

[cart]

Re: Where is my topic?

I would stress that what you currently see in America now happens in France. I would call it "a physical degeneration". Look at French soccer or track and field team. You would need a very good breuille to find a Native Frenchman there. They don't move and let people from their former colonies (or immigrants in general) to win medals "for France". I really don't know what use it is. I would feel ashamed if the same happened in my country. That's just grotesque.

[Powell]

Re: Where is my topic?

Simply shameful... How can you let all those African and European immigrants win all the medals for the US? If the Native Americans can't do it, you shouldn't enter a team at all.

[Guest]

Re: Where is my topic?

Yeh, wheres Jim Thorpe when we really need him?!

[Guest]

Re: Where is my topic?

>I would stress that what you currently see in
>America now happens in France. I would call it
>"a physical degeneration". Look at French
>soccer or track and field team. You would need a
>very good breuille to find a Native Frenchman
>there. They don't move and let people from their
>former colonies (or immigrants in general) to win
>medals "for France". I really don't know what
>use it is. I would feel ashamed if the same
>happened in my country. That's just grotesque.

It is safe to assume that this a joke, correct?

[Guest]

Re: Where is my topic?

>I really don't know what
>use it is. I would feel ashamed if the same
>happened in my country. That's just grotesque.

Speaking of grotesque... I notice that the national mens distance records of the Czech Republic (your country?) at http://www.athlerecords.net/Records/EUR ... RECTCH.txt are not exactly threatening to make any world or Olympic finals. How's that native born star athletes thing working out for you? "I really don't know what use it is" either.

[dunes runner]

Re: Where is my topic?

> I'm not sure "lazy" is the best word to describe out culture. If it is, how do you explain the commonplace 70 hour work weeks and the all-consuming material drive so many citizens have?

Industrialized slavery and mind control, i.e, 6:00 news etc.

Most people don't have much, or lives left, to show for those 70 hour work weeks, regardless plenty of taxes (assets) collected for their efforts.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: Where is my topic?

all this talk about how "unfit" Americans are leads me to say several things, not related to each other:

1. I have travelled around quite a bit of Western Europe. Never saw many people smoking in my life, fsr greaster % than here in the USA. Ask the cigarette companies and they will tell you the same.

2. I am 60 so I have a fair numger of years in which to make observations:

30/40/50 years ago only a hard core minority ran. Today thousands upon thousands RUN everyday in every town and city across the country. Back then all those people were having 2 martini lunches... something that does not exist in the World of Business any more.
There were no Health Clubs, just dark little gyms where hard-core men lifted weights. Now, every day and every night, millions of women and men are working out.

High school sports and kiddie sports seem to be doing quite well to say the least. Back then there was virtually none of that.

My point on the kids is that we have had fat sedentary kids even back then, but as a % I bet it is less now.

Can Amercians be healthier ? You bet.

Is a large part of American society overweigtht, bad lifestyle, smoking/drinking etc. ?? Absolutely , but that has always been so, but it is less so today than anytime in the last 40 years.

We are just more AWARE of these bad things today so it gets more publicity. This also is true of so many others lifestyle issues, such as sexism, child abuse, alcoholism, on and on. Awareness is the first step in improvement. America is more aware of everything today, and in all these areas.... including Physical Fitness, we are improvwd compared to yesteryear.

Am I naive in this belief ? I do not think so.