Gratitude

Thursday class at Heal One World was small. Only two of my regulars showed up. Actually I think it has been dwindling over the past month. I try not to think about the numbers because you never know whats going on in another persons life, so you can't expect people to always show up at your class. Taking it personally is kind of silly because it never has anything to do with you, but nevertheless you still feel a little sad that you don't get to see someone that week.

Anyway I put together a slow class and since there were only two I tried to really watch them and adjust or correct their movements. At the end of class I thanked them for coming and got to talking with Norma, a small hispanic woman who takes care of 3 boys and her hubby. She was telling me that the teacher on Fridays is crazy hard and that she'll run away if she sees her again. Haha. Norma started coming to my class (and I think one class a day) a few months ago because her doctor recommended it. At the end of class today she expressed all her changes and gratitude. She has no more back pain. She used to have to visit the doctor frequently for one thing or the other, but she doesn't have to go anymore. The most interesting thing she said was she doesn't get angry easily anymore. She's calmer and happier and feels better every day.

So that made me feel like if there were only one person in class every week, then it would still be worth it.

Obesity...Epidemic?

Obesity. An obese person carries an excess of body fat. I've read or hear a few definitions. WebMD says if you are 20% over normal body weight, then you're obese. I've had documentaries tell me that 100lbs over weight is considered obese. Then a few weeks ago, I hear CNBC call obesity an epidemic.

You usually associate the word epidemic with contagious diseases like the flu or the measles. But CNBC was serious. In the US, obesity is an epidemic. In 2008, no state had fewer than a 15% obesity rate.



What are the instigators? Over eating. Eating unhealthy foods. Being sedentary. Lack of knowledge. Genetics. Access to unhealthy foods (a whole other topic in itself these days - watch Food Inc. if you haven't already). I'm sure there are more.

Why is obesity so bad? Complications that come with being obese. Type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure. Heart disease. Sleep apnea. And more.

The US spends 344 million dollars a year on fighting obesity.

It costs $50,000 a year to treat diabetes.

1 in 3 children are obese or overweight.

It makes me sad to know that so many other countries are fighting hunger. But we are fighting obesity. This needs to change.