Let’s Go Walkin’!
Weigh In August 30th, 2007“Let’s Go Walkin, Mississippi” is the state’s plan to get people to stop being so overweight. I think Mississippi has the most obese people of any state. Pretty sad. In case you didn’t know, I live there lol. Can I blame my obesity on that?
Speaking of obesity, I have just 8 pounds to lose until I won’t be obese anymore. Seems like so much, but I will make it there eventually. My weight is down again to 202.0 this morning. that’s down .4 since yesterday, down 1.2 lbs since monday. Pretty neat! Let’s hope it keeps it up for awhile. It makes me so glad that I didn’t give in to my hunger pangs last night and eat a snack.
I upped my calorie count on The Daily Plate to “moderately active” that includes my childcare and housework, so I hope I live up to the calories. I may go walking today as well, we will wait and see. I have a lot to do today to prepare for DS’s bday party and I need to plan that day carefully so I don’t eat myself twice my size.
I went to a running shoe store and gosh those things are expensive! But I’ve decided not to run again until I get new shoes. I really think I could run again by next week, but I don’t want to do it in the shoes i have. I put them on yesterday and almost twisted my ankle again. I have a tendency to walk on the outside of my feet and that causes problems during running. I really need some shoes that correct that. Also the shoes I currently have are very warn and now lean to the outside, hence me almost breaking my neck yesterday, having not worn shoes in a couple of days. How could I not have noticed it before? i’m starting to wonder if that was the reason I hurt myself and not the rock. Anyway, DH and I are discussing it. Hopefully I can get them soon (unless one of ya’ll will send me 120 dollars! )
8 Responses to “Let’s Go Walkin’!”
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August 30th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Hope this helps: my dau. (the runner) has had P.T. for a few weeks at 3 different times for various reasons, post stress fx., tendinitis (twice)….our best (by far) physical therapist said: New Balance running shoes and ONLY New Balance. She gets a stability model and has had zero problems for about 5 yrs…..her model shoes cost about 89.00…….also, running stores have inserts geared to help specific gait and pronation problems and usually (around here, anyway) their staff is pretty well trained to fit and advise if you’d rather go that route…I rec. a small locally owned store staffed by runners rather than a chain…….good luck, shoes are important…
August 30th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Youre right darlin— I used to live in Ole Miss.. in Meridian..
I think its a southern thing. Looking at the list and the article, it seems that the southern states are the fattest.. Probably because of all the yummy soul food and the way its cooked???
Miss. ranked fattest state in nation
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 28, 9:04 AM ET
JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippians need to skip the gravy, say no to the fried pickles and start taking brisk walks to fight an epidemic of obesity, experts say. According to a new study, this Deep South state is the fattest in the nation.
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It also became the first state to crack the 30 percent barrier for adults considered obese, with West Virginia and Alabama just behind, according to the Trust for America’s Health, a research group that focuses on disease prevention.
Aside from being a butt of late-night talk show jokes, the obesity epidemic has serious implications for public policy.
If current trends hold, these states could face enormous increases in the already significant costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments related to extra weight. The leanest state in the rankings was Colorado, with an obesity rate projected at a much lower 17.6 percent.
“We’ve got a long way to go. We love fried chicken and fried anything and all the grease and fatback we can get in Mississippi,” said Democratic state Rep. Steve Holland, chairman of the Public Health Committee.
Poverty and obesity often go hand in hand, doctors say, because poor families stretch their budgets by buying cheaper, processed foods that have higher fat content and lower nutritional value.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — a self-described “recovering foodaholic” who lost 110 pounds and tried to put his entire state on a wellness plan — explained during a Southern Governors’ Association meeting last weekend that there are historical reasons poor people often fry their foods: It’s an inexpensive way to increase the calories and feed a family.
Lack of exercise is a huge factor in obesity rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found last year that more than 22 percent of Americans did not engage in any physical activity in the past month. The percentage is greater than 30 percent in four states: Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Mississippi’s public schools already are taking steps to try to turn the trend around.
A new law requires at least 150 minutes of physical activity instruction and 45 minutes of health education instruction each week for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Until now, gym class had been optional.
The state Department of Education also is phasing in restrictions on soft drinks and snacks.
All public schools are currently banned from selling full-calorie soft drinks to students. Next academic year, elementary and middle schools will allow only water, juice and milk, while high schools will allow only water, juice, sports drinks and diet soft drinks.
The state Department of Education publishes lists of snacks that are approved or banned for sale in school vending machines. Last school year, at least 50 percent of the vending offerings had to be from the approved list. That jumped to 75 percent this year and will reach 100 percent next year.
Among the approved snacks are yogurt, sliced fruit and granola bars, while fried pork rinds and marshmallow treats are banned. One middle school favorite — Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — are on the approved list if they’re baked but banned if they’re not.
State Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds said he hopes students will take home the healthful habits.
“We only have students 180 days out of the year for seven hours in a school day. The important thing is that we model what good behavior looks like,” he said Monday after finishing a lunch of baked chicken.
Bounds ate at a Jackson buffet that’s popular with state legislators. The buffet included traditional, stick-to-your-ribs Southern fare: fried chicken, grits, fried okra, turnip greens.
Dr. William Rowley, who worked 30 years as a vascular surgeon and now works at the Institute for Alternative Futures, said if current trends continue, more than 50 percent of adult Mississippians will be obese in 2015.
Holland, who helps set the state Medicaid budget, said he worries about the taxpayers’ cost of treating obesity.
“If we don’t change our ways,” he said, “we’re going to be in the funeral parlors … because we’re going to be all fat and dead.”
Here is the state-by-state breakdown of obesity rates, ranked from highest to lowest, released by Trust for America’s Health:
Mississippi — 30.6
West Virginia — 29.8
Alabama — 29.4
Louisiana — 28.2
South Carolina — 27.8
Tennessee — 27.8
Kentucky — 27.5
Arkansas — 27.0
Indiana — 26.8
Michigan — 26.8
Oklahoma — 26.8
Missouri — 26.3
Texas — 26.3
Georgia — 26.1
Ohio — 26.0
Alaska — 25.8
North Carolina — 25.6
Nebraska — 25.4
North Dakota — 25.1
Iowa — 24.9
South Dakota — 24.9
Wisconsin — 24.8
Pennsylvania — 24.5
Virginia — 24.5
Illinois — 24.4
Maryland — 24.4
Kansas — 24.3
Minnesota — 23.7
Delaware — 23.6
Oregon — 23.3
Idaho — 23.2
Washington — 23.2
Maine — 23.0
Florida — 22.9
Wyoming — 22.8
California — 22.7
Nevada — 22.5
New Hampshire — 22.4
New York — 22.4
New Jersey — 22.2
New Mexico — 22.0
Arizona — 21.7
Utah — 21.1
Montana — 20.7
Rhode Island — 20.5
Connecticut — 20.1
Hawaii — 20.1
Vermont — 20.0
Massachusetts — 19.8
Colorado — 17.6
August 30th, 2007 at 9:13 am
P.S. I am in Montana…
August 30th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Girl - if I had the money I would send it to you …. and I totally agree that New Balance are the only way to go …. I lucked out and found mine for 59.00. One thing to know about New Balance is that the higher the number on the back of the shoe - the better the shoe it is. Mine is a 609 - so it is pretty good - but I am just a walker so it is good enough for me.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I like new balance as well. I worked at a nursing home and walked soooo many miles a day. My feet always had blisters in the nursing shoes. I bought a pair of new balance and my problems went away.
August 30th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I pronate so I love New Balance: btw, California …I think it’s the guacomole…or maybe the monterey jack.,…dritta
August 30th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Yep, us southern girls are FAT! I thought Kentucky was the fattest state. I am actually glad to see we aren’t the fattest, we are about the worst at everything else!!
Shoes are important. If I had the money I would send it to you! I have to start looking for new shoes soon. Mine are looking pretty rough right about now! It sounds like you have a plan. Hang in there you will be running again soon!
Oh! and Congrats on the size 12 jeans…stretch or not, That is awesome! Good Job!!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:26 am
Only 8 pounds left! That’s awesome!
I agree - you gotta get the best shoes you can afford. My most expensive pair of shoes are my sneaks which I’ve had for a few years and I just love them. They make a difference! I saved up for 3 months for those shoes and it was worth it…..