The Obesity "Problem"

I just read this article about an obese woman's struggle to lose weight, and her even greater struggle with her pride, shame, and despair.

I commend her for making the decision to change her life and get healthy.This decision, whether it be by sheer willpower alone or by weight loss surgery, is probably the greatest decision that she will ever make. I understand that she struggled with that decision and her own personal convictions, although I don't quite understand why she was so against weight loss surgery. But ultimately, isn't the point getting healthy? Does it really matter what method is used? Does opting for weight loss surgery instead of hard work change the value of the weight that is lost?

There are a few things that I don't understand:

1. I do not understand why obese people are so vilified. These people already have horrible self esteem and they already realize that they need to lose weight. It's painfully obvious to them both physically and psychologically. I don't think they need people telling them "lose weight, fatty," or "put down the cheese burger, lardass."

2. On that note, I do not understand how people can be so cruel. What do they think they are accomplishing? What do they hope to accomplish by insulting someone, usually a complete stranger? If you look at the comments on that woman's blog, you will see comments such as "LOSE WEIGHT FATTY," and "you disgust me." This woman just shared extremely personal details about what it is like to weigh that much, basically poured our her heart and soul sharing her fears, shame, and inner conflicts, and all you can focus on is how fat and disgusting she is? What do people like that contribute to society at all? Honestly.

3. Not to be a flip flopper, but I also don't understand how people can get to that point. I did not read the rest of this woman's blog, so I don't know what kind of a person she is. But this isn't even really about her. How does anyone who is morbidly obese allow themselves to get to that point? At what point do they say "I really need to change my life and get healthy?" When do they see their first red flag? Is it when they get out of breath walking to the other end of their house, or is it when they can't even stand for more than 2 minutes without their joints aching under their weight?

I don't mean to come across as callous in that last bit. I understand that there can be many factors in how a person gets to be morbidly obese. Extreme psychological stress, for one, can be a huge factor in why people get addicted to drugs, alcohol, and even food. I understand that it can certainly be much more than just not knowing when to stop eating. But despite the choices that someone makes in their own lives, that's what it is. It's their life.

The "problem," as stated in my title, does not refer to obesity. It refers to the problems that occur in the minds of the obese and the actions of society around them. The problem is essentially the lack of help and support for obese people who want to change their lives.They must make the decision to change and get healthy, and we must be here to support their decisions and help them in any way, instead of shunning them.

Home again home again, jiggity jig

I've finally moved my ass back to Kauai. I'm so relieved to be back home. It's such a wonderful feeling. Of course there are those underlying feelings of guilt that stem from being an unemployed bum that is mooching (albeit temporarily) off of her parents. But I quickly bury those thoughts whenever they start to find their way to the surface.

Since I've been home it's been nothing but good times. I finally got to attend the bon dance that I've so desperately waited for, and I'm stoked about attending the rest of them for the season. Also spent the day at the beach today with my friends, which was really nice. Tomorrow night is a BBQ, which are always fun. And this Thursday is Hilo! So I have a busy schedule of fun, but of course I feel guilty for having it.

It's scary to think that this type of lifestyle is going to disappear in a few short months. I'll get a job, and then I'll be vacation-less. No such thing as summer vacation anymore. Not like this. It feels like there's a chapter of my life closing (which there is, naturally), but more than that it feels like a part of me is growing up whether I like it or not. I don't want to lose this aspect of my personality. I don't want to be deprived of fun so much that I forget how to have it.

Dreams

I am one week away from moving back to Kauai, and now I'm questioning if it's really the right thing to do.

Today I found out that if I were staying on Oahu, I could have had an adjunct position at my University. It would have only been for summer, but still...I know from my teaching day at the neighboring high school that I am capable of teaching. I come from a family of teachers: my mom, my sister, my mom's sister, my grandma...it literally runs in the family. And I found out that I have it in me too. So I know I could handle teaching an EN 100 class. But this whole thing has me feeling torn.

My first true love is English. I have a BA in it, I was going to go all the way with it. But I changed my mind. Now I have English and Criminal Justice to fall back on, but I think I will always love English more. If the local community college had a poetry class or something to teach, I would totally do it. Maybe there will be something available when I move back home. I dunno.

I kinda feel like I'm probably passing up a really good opportunity. I don't want to be kicking myself later. But there's really nothing I can do. Everything is packed, all the arrangements are made, my parents are coming in a day to help me. I guess everything happens for a reason. Maybe now isn't the right time to be teaching. But I would love to teach at my University...

My Uglydolls

I am not a therapist

I love my friends. I would do just about anything for them. If my friends have problems, I will listen to them if they need me to. I will offer advice if they need me to. But I am not here as your personal bitching post. Do not base every single conversation you have with me on the shitty things that are going on wtih your life. Bitching gets really old, really quickly.

If you only tell me about the crappy things that are happening in your life, I'm quickly going to think that you are an extremely negative person who just can't focus on the good things. Things like...what a nice sunny day, it's wonderful to be alive! Something as simple as that is something to be happy about. That's a good thing. Small, but a good thing.

Don't base your life around all the negative and shitty things that ever happen to you. What does that say about your character if you base your life around negativity?

Excuse the really lame analogy, but sometimes you need to clean out your real-life friends the way you clean out your MySpace friends. Bitching every single time we talk is not interesting. Not being able to have a conversation without the mention of basketball is also boring. I don't think it's wrong of me to want friends who can give me variety whenever we interact.

Do you?

Kateri's 5 Facts

So everyone was getting tagged over at the Ukulele Underground forum. So I wanted to play too. :D

Class project 001 by Ickest

This video get's me every time. I can't decide if I enjoy Bigego or Mirth more. Oh shaaaaat!