The real pandemic that is being ignored in our country...

[jbell]

I posted this in the thread that is discussing some treatments for the RONA, and after thinking about it I decided that I would like to get others thoughts on my perspective. Please, if you feel I am off base letter-rip I will not get offended in any way and truly welcome someone to give me some reason to change my perspective. If you agree maybe let’s start working together and spread the word. Here it is:

“I am not here to bash on anyone specifically or any doctors (I have several friends who are doctors) but it seems to me that those who are most vocal about the dangers of this virus are those who‘s income directly benefits from it. Now that is not to say that all new reporters, pharmaceutical manufacturers, doctors, and politicians are “only in it to profit” but damn it seems strange to me that getting anything but the worst out of any of these sectors is very rare / non-existant. How often have you hear one of these entities say anything about personal health and wellness? Meaning get the fuck off your ass and start getting in shape, square your diet away (STOP EATING PROCESSED EVERYTHING AND MASS AMOUNT OF SUGAR).

IMO this is the narrative our politicians, medical professionals, and news organizations should be pushing:
Being a fat ass has never been and never will be a good way to live your life, and there is only 1 person to blame for the fact that you are at such a high risk of ANY virus killing you and that fat lazy mother fucker is looking at you in the mirror. Moreover there is only 1 person who can help you, & that is you. Take it on yourself to become resilient to viruses and disease, no medication will help you fix the root cause. This is a very simple equation and it is so easy to identify. Just take a look around this country is massively overweight and over stressed. People need to take accountability for their actions and decisions, and our “leaders” along with medical professionals need to stop enabling people to ignore the fact that their life choices is not only killing the individual person but this whole country.

Yes, I am fully aware that I am an asshole but I am NOT a bullshitter! I am more than willing to help people get healthy with instruction, encouragement, nutrition and exercise advice but I am NOT willing to pay for your fucking medical bills (either directly by government aid, or indirectly by excessive insurance premiums) because you are too fucking stupid and lazy to take your health into your own hands. If you are getting offended while reading this then maybe you should go have a long talk with the person in the mirror because if we are being honest here we both know the truth...”

 

[gunman_7]

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

You are probably barking up the wrong tree. The politicians don't care about anything other than money. I bet a few minutes of research would send you down a rabbit hole. High fructose corn syrup would be a start. Fast food industry and the processed foods industry would probably be nutrition 101 course to follow. Now look into how many people they employ to lobby politicians. The politicians influence the FDA and other alphabet DC bullshit.
I wonder who's scratching who's back? How is the welfare food stamps programs linked to the problem? Is big pharma and the fast food, processed foods group in bed together? Or do they just benefit?
Personal responsibility went out the window and you have a better chance of wrangling fog than getting people to take care of themselves.

 

[Cosmic338]

You need to be someone’s personal trainer lol. “Wake up FATASS it’s time to RUN!”

 

[BullGear]

This has been an American problem since the 60's. I'm one of them too. I have diabetes which has killed my kidneys. I'm going 3 times a week and have 2 gigantic needles put into my arm and having my blood sucked out of my body to be cleansed.

To all the younger guys on the Hide. Listen to this man. Start eating right, exercise regularly. You don't have to be like Arnold, just get up and move. Take it from someone who has lived "that life". You need a proper diet and exercise.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Apparently telling people they are morbidly obese is hate speech and if you suggest that people would be healthier if they stopped shoving junk food in their faces, you are flaunting "thin privilege" and are an evil person who needs to be unpersoned right away.

 

[Bigfatcock]

 

[Inifinty]

Good post

But I thought the topic was going to be about ignorance, stupidity, and lack of common sense.

 

[Rthur]

Create system of profit, like fast food.
Fast food makes most behemoths.
Sell them "health care" to fix their guilt about being a fat bastard.
Rinse repeat.
Simple acid test:
Compare the number of deaths from medical malpractice to the claimed Rona deaths...
Weird, right?

R

 

[Blue Sky Country]

You are probably barking up the wrong tree. The politicians don't care about anything other than money. I bet a few minutes of research would send you down a rabbit hole. High fructose corn syrup would be a start. Fast food industry and the processed foods industry would probably be nutrition 101 course to follow. Now look into how many people they employ to lobby politicians. The politicians influence the FDA and other alphabet DC bullshit.
I wonder who's scratching who's back? How is the welfare food stamps programs linked to the problem? Is big pharma and the fast food, processed foods group in bed together? Or do they just benefit?
Personal responsibility went out the window and you have a better chance of wrangling fog than getting people to take care of themselves.

Sometimes I pull crazy overtime at work and have to resort to getting small amounts of fast food to get through the day. Even 6 pieces of McDs nuggets and BBQ sauce makes me feel a bit queasy afterwards, more of a psychological factor definitely, but still... Once getting home, gotta stir fry up some cabbage and rice, followed by a heaping serving of blueberries after an hour or so... I don't know how people can live on multiple meals of fast food every day... One of the worst things I recall as a 7-Eleven manager is seeing people buy 3-4 2L bottles of soda every fucking day... Makes me sick just replaying the imagery in my mind... Holy fuck...

 

[Hawkeyemm]

No arguments with OP.

Yes, I am fully aware that I am an asshole but I am NOT a bullshitter! I am more than willing to help people get healthy with instruction, encouragement, nutrition and exercise advice

I’m not anymore. “More than willing...” I mean. I AM aware that I’m an asshole. I’ve wasted enough time trying to explain it and be motivational. They almost never follow through. And the ones that do would have found their way without me. All I say now is “consume less, do more” and follow it up with “but I won’t hold my breath, I expect you to quit”. Which pisses them off. Maybe that will work.

I am NOT willing to pay for your fucking medical bills (either directly by government aid, or indirectly by excessive insurance premiums)

Too late. Already doing it. And you’re only going to pay more in the future.

 

[Bullfrog08]

Im a fit/healthy guy in my 40s, but I do think there are a lot of people that have genetic and physical conditions that cause obesity and its not being lazy or spoon to mouth issue.

 

[Hawkeyemm]

Apparently telling people they are morbidly obese is hate speech and if you suggest that people would be healthier if they stopped shoving junk food in their faces, you are flaunting "thin privilege" and are an evil person who needs to be unpersoned right away.

My experience is that fat shaming is more effective than any public health intervention has been. And by the way, agreeing with someone who is whining that they are fat, or overweight, or whatever, is not fat shaming. It’s simply confirming their observation.

 

[Choid]

Of course you are right, but it is a losing battle. My wife just got an Athleta catalog in the mail, and the cover is full of fat chicks in workout gear. They are the next protected class. And it makes sense. If you want a lot of people on your side politically, Fat Americans are certainly a big group.

 

[ColinW]

Well, damn. It looks like this jarhead....KILL....took a little too much pre-workout. Shouldn't you be yelling at and preaching to your Privates and LCPL's instead? Joking aside, you're absolutely right dude. If you can't kill it, grow it or catch it....It should not be consumed. Now, back to the joking around and ball busting on the Corps.

 

[Hawkeyemm]

Im a fit/healthy guy in my 40s, but I do think there are a lot of people that have genetic and physical conditions that cause obesity and its not being lazy or spoon to mouth issue.

I wouldn’t of disagreed except that you said “a lot of people”. Is a lot = 2%? 10? 50? And at the end of the day, expending more than you consume “always” results in a net loss.

 

[Hawkeyemm]

Of course you are right, but it is a losing battle. My wife just got an Athleta catalog in the mail, and the cover is full of fat chicks in workout gear. They are the next protected class. And it makes sense. If you want a lot of people on your side politically, Fat Americans are certainly a big group.

Pun intended?

 

[Choid]

This is not going away. EMBRACE THE SCIENCE!!!!!

 

[myronman3]

is people being overweight a problem? yup.

i’ll submit an even BIGGER (pun intended) problem than junk diet/fat. and that is tech. tech encourages, and in fact is engineered to suck people in, and keep them sucked in. their days are spent not being active, and cruising though whatever their chosen poison is. there is a documentary out there that shows it all. and it isnt a left verses right thing; it’s folks that actually helped create big tech into what it is explaining it.

i got sucked into it once upon a time. i fixed that. winter and the extreme cold here is the only real reason why i spend much time online these days. when i retire, the phone is going in a faraday cage and checked when i want to and used as needed.

my advice for folks is to shut off their electronics and open your eyes to your life in front of you. wean yourself from tech and actually enjoy life’s flavor again.

 

[ColinW]

is people being overweight a problem? yup.

i’ll submit an even BIGGER (pun intended) problem than junk diet/fat. and that is tech. tech encourages, and in fact is engineered to suck people in, and keep them sucked in. their days are spent not being active, and cruising though whatever their chosen poison is. there is a documentary out there that shows it all. and it isnt a left verses right thing; it’s folks that actually helped create big tech into what it is explaining it.

i got sucked into it once upon a time. i fixed that. winter and the extreme cold here is the only real reason why i spend much time online these days. when i retire, the phone is going in a faraday cage and checked when i want to and used as needed.

my advice for folks is to shut off their electronics and open your eyes to your life in front of you. wean yourself from tech and actually enjoy life’s flavor again.

"The Social Dilemma" is the documentary he is referring to(I think?) Its on Netflix.

 

[uffduh]

 

[TurboTrout]

Number one killer is being fat
Number 3 is blind faith in so so doctors

Seeing a fat Karen screech at me for not wearing a mask, priceless

 

[Porksboy]

Im at risk but not because of obesity, I have a heart condition I just had surgery for. I have a low BMI, Low cholesterol, low side for BP, with no other contributing factors. I wear a mask when in a building other than my own house right now.
I was phisically active until about a moth before surgery and have taken it as my own responsibility to keep myself healthy. One thing that has pissed me off is seeing people around my age that weigh three times my own 170lbs that are waddling along and out of breath and are ignorant of the damage they are and have done to themselves. Not to mention the cost on infrastructure like increased health insurance premiums, increased taxes to care for your fat ass, and I dont like looking at you nor listening to your wheezing, You have a big assed car that you cant park in the space provided so you take two spaces and slam your door into the car next to your to get out.
Try walking from farther out in the lot, Try going to the gym or park rather than watching Netflix or playing video games all damn day, how about walking in your neigbourhood to build some stamina.
I say this as Im listening to my wifes brother who lives with us because his fat ass had a massive heart attack at 45 due to fat ass, untreated high blood pressure, and a handle of rum every other day. Fat ass is eating me out of house and home while I work to keep myself fit and healthy, and employed. If it werent for my wifes kind heart I would kick him to the curb long ago.
OK, rant over, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[E. Bryant]

Good post

But I thought the topic was going to be about ignorance, stupidity, and lack of common sense.

Destroying one's body through sloth and gluttony falls pretty squarely into those categories.

 

[myronman3]

View attachment 7536289

This is not going away. EMBRACE THE SCIENCE!!!!!

one thing you MIGHT be overlooking.....is that if these women that are having weight issues, are actually starting on the path to exercise, diet, and life choice changes that will lead to them being happier and healthier...i am all for it. SO LONG AS that is the goal and NOT “i’m overweight and want to rub your nose in it....look at it....LOOK AT IT!”. the first scenario i welcome. the second? nope.

 

[Choid]

one thing you MIGHT be overlooking.....is that if these women that are having weight issues, are actually starting on the path to exercise, diet, and life choice changes that will lead to them being happier and healthier...i am all for it. SO LONG AS that is the goal and NOT “i’m overweight and want to rub your nose in it....look at it....LOOK AT IT!”. the first scenario i welcome. the second? nope.

Nah man, this is part of the beautiful at every size movement. Wish it were otherwise.

 

[myronman3]

Im at risk but not because of obesity, I have a heart condition I just had surgery for. I have a low BMI, Low cholesterol, low side for BP, with no other contributing factors. I wear a mask when in a building other than my own house right now.
I was phisically active until about a moth before surgery and have taken it as my own responsibility to keep myself healthy. One thing that has pissed me off is seeing people around my age that weigh three times my own 170lbs that are waddling along and out of breath and are ignorant of the damage they are and have done to themselves. Not to mention the cost on infrastructure like increased health insurance premiums, increased taxes to care for your fat ass, and I dont like looking at you nor listening to your wheezing, You have a big assed car that you cant park in the space provided so you take two spaces and slam your door into the car next to your to get out.
Try walking from farther out in the lot, Try going to the gym or park rather than watching Netflix or playing video games all damn day, how about walking in your neigbourhood to build some stamina.
I say this as Im listening to my wifes brother who lives with us because his fat ass had a massive heart attack at 45 due to fat ass, untreated high blood pressure, and a handle of rum every other day. Fat ass is eating me out of house and home while I work to keep myself fit and healthy, and employed. If it werent for my wifes kind heart I would kick him to the curb long ago.
OK, rant over, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

you’re more patient than i am. aint a woman on earth i’d tolerate that for.

 

[hiddenshooter]

I agree with you. Lets face it, some people have

View attachment 7536289

This is not going away. EMBRACE THE SCIENCE!!!!!

That is disturbing

 

[myronman3]

Nah man, this is part of the beautiful at every size movement. Wish it were otherwise.

i just might be damned........did we just agree on something?

i know weight is an issue for a lot of folks. i have about 15 more pounds on me than i need, but i’ll tell ya, that’s’ enough to know how easy a pound goes on, but how fucking hard it is to shed it. i feel for folks that are really trying and will do what i can to help them. problem is, when most folks ask....and you start laying it out for them, they lose interest in the first 20 seconds.

 

[hiddenshooter]

When you're a hammer every problem looks like a nail. Doctors are more inclined to prescribe a pill instead of diet and exercise. You dont see dietitians stopping by hospitals and clinics with free lunch, drug samples, and convincing "research". Good pharmaceutical sales reps make 6 figures for a reason.

 

[Choid]

i just might be damned........did we just agree on something?

i know weight is an issue for a lot of folks. i have about 15 more pounds on me than i need, but i’ll tell ya, that’s’ enough to know how easy a pound goes on, but how fucking hard it is to shed it. i feel for folks that are really trying and will do what i can to help them. problem is, when most folks ask....and you start laying it out for them, they lose interest in the first 20 seconds.

You should agree with me about everything, damn it.

Anyway, maybe I am weird, but eating a controlled diet just isn't very hard. And the Covid lockdown should have made it easier, since everybody is eating at home more, but no, every one seems to just get fatter.

 

[Hawkeyemm]

Doctors are more inclined to prescribe a pill instead of diet and exercise.

Unfortunately, that’s typically what the patient wants. Not saying they should give it to them. But they’ll just go to a doc that will.

 

[myronman3]

^ a lot of that is food choices. if a person chooses processed foods....it isnt much better, if at all.

making things from fresh ingredients? whole ‘nother ballgame.

 

[Choid]

^ a lot of that is food choices. if a person chooses processed foods....it isnt much better, if at all.

making things from fresh ingredients? whole ‘nother ballgame.

I hear you, but the idea of eating from anything other than fresh ingredients is completely out of my frame of reference. The most processed thing in my kitchen is probably pickles.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

I'm gravitational challenged.....
Numerous congenital ailments.
I survived the Rona.
Its bullshit.

 

[Snipe260]

Im a fit/healthy guy in my 40s, but I do think there are a lot of people that have genetic and physical conditions that cause obesity and its not being lazy or spoon to mouth issue.

It’s a gland problem

 

[FatBoy]

Though I agree with much of @jbell premiss, the librarian side of me says fuck ‘me. As long as I don’t have to pay for your stupid life decisions do whatever you want. (I know you said that as well).

Unfortunately, that’s not possible anymore as the system is so perverted toward “the common welfare “ it’s impossible to not pay for others dumb ass life choices. The one thing I know for damn sure is no politician, political party or our government is going to fix it. It will take personal responsibility and that is the ONE thing our government specifically tries to destroy daily. It’s never anyone fault because “xxx”.

I’m out, literally heading to the gym to do back. (After having 4 back surgeries). Am I part of the problem

 

[Rthur]

Processed foods have a longer shelf life.
Thus can be shipped from greater distance to the consumers.
Retailers can take advantage of cheap labor in 3rd world countries.
They destroyed the local mom and pops that sourced local producers.
Now boutique grocery stores are acting like they invented it and offering, the same old products mom and pop sold, at a premium.

R

 

[E. Bryant]

Solid post, @jbell - and I say this not as someone who's super-skinny or who has been a lifelong fitness freak.

The simple fact of the matter is that overconsumption of so many things - food, alcohol, tobacco, et al. - is the single largest contributor to preventable death, and as evidenced by Covid, it greatly increases the likelihood of a poor outcome from other diseases.

Sure, obesity might improve one's odds of survival in a famine - but that risk seems awfully low today compared to death from coronary disease, stroke, diabetes, liver failure, and a host of other things related to generally not taking care of one's body.

Unfortunately, both the food and medical industries have nothing to gain financially from improved health habits. The political right doesn't want to interfere with the corporate profits that come from selling compressed bits of fat and sugar and the drugs that cover up the symptoms from that behavior; the left protects the insurance companies and doesn't want anyone's feelings to become hurt from an honest assessment of their waistline. And yes, our genetics are fighting against us - survival 15,000 years ago meant eating everything in sight, but that programming doesn't work nowadays (just as sticking our dicks into anything that moves is generally not helpful to the goals of modern civilization).

Good ol' personal responsibility would seem to be the best medicine for this problem, but it's far more likely that I'm going to get lectured by a morbidly-obese guy for having rusty cab corners on my truck or dirty gutters on my house than I am going to get a helpful nudge by a trusted peer that maybe my lunch hours should involve a much larger ratio of pull-ups to french fries. And then when I go to my doctor, he's just going to put me on meds for my cholesterol or A1C instead of telling me that I might not live to see my kids graduate from high school without significant lifestyle habits. And everyone will happily make excuses - he's so busy, his genetics are poor, bla bla bla.

As I started off by saying, I ain't perfect in my exercise or diet. But despite falling off the path after college for the usual reasons, I was fortunate enough to get some gentle wake-up calls before doing permanent damage. It would have been easier to stay on the path, and that's really the lesson we need to be passing on to kids, while giving adults every possible incentive (positive and negative) to do the right things for themselves. Too bad we can get trillions of dollars in government spending for reactive Covid and employers spend untold hours each year chasing down minor improvements in health care costs (which nowadays just means attempting to control the yearly cost increase), but there's just about zero incentive in both the public and private sectors for addressing root causes.

 

[Cosmic338]

I use to be around 240, made it down to 160 in a year and a half. People need to know how truly amazing that feeling is and how beneficial it is to your health.

 

[WaltHer]

First, I'm not diminishing your point about fitness playing an important role in everyday survival (from diabetes, heart disease, CA, etc) as well as from the Rona (we all see people with comorbidities having worse outcomes).
However, I would assert that individual's vocality stems from their frame of reference. Of course Dr.s look at the health perspective. Politicians are always looking for new laws, rules, or regulations. And business owners remain concerned about the economic impacts of decision. Add a healthy dose of rational self-interest and you get our current predicament.

 

[WaltHer]

View attachment 7536289

This is not going away. EMBRACE THE SCIENCE!!!!!

P.S. Just threw ip in my mouth. Look how happy those fatties look.

 

[E. Bryant]

P.S. Just threw ip in my mouth. Look how happy those fatties look.

If they were happy because they're a few weeks into a new diet and workout program and are starting to realize how much better it is to be in shape, great! But we know damn well that's not what the "body acceptance" movement wants.

When so many different factions are actively pushing against physical health and fitness (and really mental health as well, since the two are related), it becomes somewhat more obvious what sort of evil we are up against.

 

[WaltHer]

"When so many different factions are actively pushing against physical health and fitness (and really mental health as well, since the two are related), it becomes somewhat more obvious what sort of evil we are up against."

^^^^^This.

 

[Aries256]

Sometimes I pull crazy overtime at work and have to resort to getting small amounts of fast food to get through the day. Even 6 pieces of McDs nuggets and BBQ sauce makes me feel a bit queasy afterwards, more of a psychological factor definitely, but still... Once getting home, gotta stir fry up some cabbage and rice, followed by a heaping serving of blueberries after an hour or so... I don't know how people can live on multiple meals of fast food every day... One of the worst things I recall as a 7-Eleven manager is seeing people buy 3-4 2L bottles of soda every fucking day... Makes me sick just replaying the imagery in my mind... Holy fuck...

The only soda I drink is the zero sugar, zero calorie stuff, or kombucha. I try to avoid added sugars and well sugar as much as I can. (outside alcohol, and carb conversions). My weakness is beer ..... and whiskey.

 

[Thumper580]

I'm 65... Growing up fat kids were rare... That's way we made fun of them... All my friends were thin, maybe because we played outside all day, rode bicycles and dug forts. One thing was certain getting sweets was a TREAT. Hardly any around the house. In the mid to late sixties there was a huge increase in processed sugars in everything... AND fast foods took off. One documentary I watched addressed this topic and one main point was that sugar addiction should be right there with drug addiction.... It didn't happen by accident....

 

[Aries256]

View attachment 7536289

This is not going away. EMBRACE THE SCIENCE!!!!!

Looks like a herd of hippos

 

[kthomas]

This whole "pandemic" is being handled from the completely wrong perspective.

The virus on its own is very benign, and requires pre-existing underlying conditions and co-morbidities to exploit in order to be deadly. The average fatality in the US has 2.9 co-morbidities, and the average age of death is over the average life expectancy. The median age of death worldwide is around 80-82, depending on the country.

The fact is, it isn't healthy people dying. The people that are struggling with this virus are really unhealthy and/or really old. The media isn't telling you this, but the virus discriminates towards the very old and unhealthy.

Hospitals were full before COVID-19. Another fact the media doesn't tell you. Apparently they only get full with this "pandemic", is the perspective a lot of people are getting from the media. I think we need to ask ourselves, why were hospitals full pre-covid? Ignoring the business aspect of it, what was filling up hospitals pre-COVID? It's the same underlying conditions and co-morbidities that are allowing the virus to exploit and be lethal.

If you eradicate this virus tomorrow, nothing is solved. The same underlying conditions are still prevalent, and will continue to kill more people then the virus itself ever will. This isn't about saving lives, because none of the policies enacted are saving lives.

So a virus is raging, and you would think they would want to reinforce people's ability to maintain and improve their immune systems. But instead they close gyms, prevent people from going outside and getting vitamin D and exercise, and prevent people from staying mentally healthy and connected. When the virus was first discovered, banning travel was "racist" and "xenophobic", but now that the virus is endemic in pretty much every country, it's okay to ban travel. There's ZERO evidence to support using Lockdowns and masks, but here we are. Nevermind the fact that this virus discriminates against the very elderly, but let's shut down everything. And what about kids, who aren't really effected by the virus and don't seem to transmit it (per extensive contact tracing studies), let's shut down all schools. Nevermind the fact that they are commiting suicide in record numbers now.

We're also seeing an increase in cancer rates for the first time in decades. The NCI is predicting tens of thousands of excess deaths from cancer this year, directly due to our COVID-19 policies. People are not getting treatment for other health ailments - for example, hospitals are treating severe heart attacks at a frequency of ~40% of what they were pre-COVID. I guarantee it's not because people are having less heart attacks. Mental illness, substance abuse and suicides are all sky rocketing as a result. Hell, some are predicting that ~30 million people may die around the world due to the disruption in food logistics.

From a public health perspective, none of the COVID-19 policies make sense. I've come to believe that none of this is about public health. If it was, the policies would be completely different.

 

[Aries256]

Im a fit/healthy guy in my 40s, but I do think there are a lot of people that have genetic and physical conditions that cause obesity and its not being lazy or spoon to mouth issue.

Fork to mouth syndrome is not a genetic condition. Nor is fat spreading on the sofa in front of the tv or Xbox. One does not create energy from no where. Fat is stored energy and one has to intake more than they use to gain fat cells. That is just basic science. If fatasses are getting fat while eating little, or exercising, then they need a Nobel prize because energy crisis’ are now solved! If a condition should exist where the body sustains on 200 calories a day then that person needs to throttle back the face stuffings.

 

[jr81452]

You don't get rich or elected solving peoples problems. You do it by telling people you know HOW to solve their problems, but never actually doing it.