Duluth.Talk

By Walker

August 22, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

I live in the city without a lot of sidewalks, and yes, at times, walking can be dangerous here in Atlanta. BUT, I still want to be in good physical shape, and NOT overweight, so I try to walk whenever I can. I walk my dogs around the apartment complex (without sidewalks) twice a day, and I definitely watch what I eat. I have also noticed the times that I could not exercise that just by cutting out calories, I lost weight, so the responsibility lies with us to be in decent physical shape.

By Cletus Snow

August 22, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

Have you noticed all the people that live on the even number side of the street are slim and the odd numbers are fat?I wonder if the further out in suburbia you live the fatter you are? The address is is a very weak argument for being overweight,its almost as good as blaming it on Burger King. YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION IS EFFECTED ONLY BY YOU.

By Harold

August 22, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

Sidewalks do not make it safe to bike! Sidewalks are the most dangerous place to bike. No driver expects a 12+ MPH bicycler on a sidewalk. No driver looks up and down a sidewalk before turning across it!

If you want to ride a bike somewhere, do it! but do it at the right edge of the roadway, not on the sidewalk.

You will find it a lot safer at the right edge of the roadway.

By friederich

August 22, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Another Cynthia McKinney voter.

By BPJ

August 22, 2006 02:14 PM | Link to this

No matter how doggedly some people want to deny it, some places invite walking, and other places discourage walking - whether by design or by chance. An individual’s preference is only part of the picture. Take a suburban dweller and put them in Savannah for a weekend, and watch them walk all over the place; similarly, this intown Atlantan, on a recent trip to LA, found it hard to walk from point A to point B.

Places matter

By Deborah Lee

August 22, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

You live near the new McDaniels Park which is a great place to walk, ride a bike or jog. So is Bunten Park and Suwannee Park with is 5 miles long going through the woods. I see people walking the malls every day for exercise. For a couple hundred dollars you can get a treadmill and watch TV when it is raining or cold.Where there is a will there is a way. If you lived in the country you could have the excuse of not exercising because you might run into wild dogs or copperheads. Good luck losing weight and if you quit it is your fault.

By ATICO

August 22, 2006 06:08 PM | Link to this

Your overweight because you can’t control you mouth. Does not matter where you live, if you have bad eating habits you will remain fat, sloppy and not a good sight to look at no matter what age. Most liberal bloggers will blame their fass A__ on President Bush, seems like all the losers blame poor ole W for all their failures.

By AGN

August 22, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this

ATICO - just because somebody is overweight does NOT mean that they overeat. In fact, did you know that undereating can also slow your metabolism? Even thyroid issues can cause problem with weight that are unrelated to the amount of food intake.

Most of Gwinnett is just not made for walking. When I first moved to Gwinnett from Cobb a few years ago, my husband got mugged within the first few months of us living in our Duluth apartment. That was not an atmosphere conducive to walking and feeling safe whilst doing so. Now that we’ve living in Dacula in a house, I feel more comfortable walking in our neighborhood than in any apartment complex I’ve lived in, either here in Gwinnett or over in Cobb.

By Shade

August 22, 2006 10:13 PM | Link to this

Amazing that someone would blame a condition of latitude /longitude on their inability to control their weight. Regardless of the rude and insensitive drivers in our fair city, you can find numerous places to exercise. If I recall, the 0-cost office gym where I shower after taking my lunch run has a stationary bike and a tread mill. Even if you shun indoor activity as I do, there is only one person to blame for the condition you might find yourself in. I have four kids, ran every morning for years prior but somehow dealing with them and the wife precludes me from activity in the am so what to do - find an alternative such as a lunch hour walk, an after dinner stroll, or a tread mill. I would agree that the Gwinnett suburbs are not the place to play ‘frogger’ with the traffic but for this paper to post an article insinuating that the lack of an urban condition equates to weight gain is in my opinion an act of lapsed journalistic ethic. Odd that I lived at the same intersection you mentioned when I first arrived in town and found a place to exercise (run) 5 miles every morning. Let your mind decide your necessities and not the inequities you perceive to be your downfall.

By mark osgoode

August 23, 2006 06:12 AM | Link to this

While i concede that over weight individuals are chiefly to blame for thier problem, the fact remains that the north Alanta burbs seem to have been designed with the needs of Hummer drivers exclusively in mind. in the future I hope we can design our communites to meet needs of people instead of cars.

By Octavian

August 23, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this

That there are more lazy than active people is a fact of life. A neighborhood that is not pedestrian friendly will make lazy people become fat. Unfortunately most of the recently-built neighborhoods are not pedestrian-friendly. More and more people are becoming fat and this is one of the realities this country will have to face sooner or later, if only seen cynically as a drain in the country’s medical resources. I wish people would stop politicizing this issue, it is not a republican or democrat issue. The sooner we address it the better.

By LG

August 23, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

During the week, I walk 3 to 4 miles in the evenings, and on the weekends I’m currently walking 15 miles on Saturday and 9 on Sunday (training for the Atlanta 2-day walk for breast cancer). I have not had any problems finding safe places to walk. The parks are safe places to walk, sub-divisions even without sidewalks are safe (the ones I walk anyway), and Duluth and Norcross have asphalt paths on Peachtree Parkway and PIB that are safe.

By ChrisD

August 23, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Suburbs don’t add to the waist line. Sitting on your butt watching TV adds to the waist line. Everyone CAN do it, but most are simply too lazy.

By Octavian

August 23, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

Exactly my point. I am happy for you that you are active, however most people are lazy. People that live in high density inner cities do more walking because it is impractical to drive and walking is much more pleasant and engaging. Most people in the suburbs are not walking. Some neughborhoods may be nice, but generally modern suburbs are very unfriendly for pedestrians since are built for the automobile (high-speed collector roads, lack of sidewalks, large blocks, and so on).

By hello!!!

August 23, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

Beni never said she could not find places to walk safely…she said she couldn’t walk safely to the store or to meetings. That is a VERY different statement and one that everyone is ignoring. The lack of sidewalks and safe routes to the places you need to go anyway make it necessary to go out in search of exercise. Beni - I hear you - Atlanta was designed for drivers only! I ride my bike on the street as suggested but I still feel like I’m putting my life on the line in a lot of places. Good luck!!

By Antownete

August 23, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

My friend stays in suburbia and the only time I can go for a run or walk is when I’m at her house because my city condo has hardly any sidewalks and I take the chance of getting run over or have to drive somewhere to walk.

By annandale

August 23, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

Suburbia does not make you walk less or more, it may be a contributory factor in your decision to become more active or not. The solution lies in our mind and will. Yes having safer side-walks, parks, closer shopping convenience may facilitate walking, however these should not be seen as reasons for one to become lethargic, indolent and complacent.

For too long we have evolved our thought process to believe that convenience is the most prized commodity. We do not have to “work” to get what we want, just press the button. Technology has created such advances to make us less mobile. Where is the remote to turn on the tv? As a matter fact, it is more convenient to play video games than to play outdoors. (Badminton, volleyball, soccer etc are games that can easily be played in our suburban backyards). Actually our addiction(mental) to this “convenience” life style may be our undoing. We would rather watch television than meet and socialize with our neighbors, we would rather drive when we can walk, we would rather use the remote when we can get up, we would rather sit when we can stand. We would rather pick up when we can cook, we would rather have a blower than to sweep the dirveway.

The point I a making is that with increased standard of living, we have “dumbed down” our bodies to do less in terms of mobility and more in non-motor activities.

No do not blame suburbia, blame the brain in the head. Wow, if I could find a way to type this blog without using my fingers I can then thank suburbia.

By ATICO

August 23, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Note to AGN:

If was reported in this mornings Gwinnett Post that two thirds of the American public is overweight.

Do you still stick to your story that over 200 million Americans with a weight problem could be from a thyroid condition? Please give me a break.

Sorry, but I DO stick to my words that if you control your mouth you can control you weight.

Blaming someone else for your decision to move into a crime ridden neighborhood just does not fly either. Hey these are life choices, and nothing more.

Good luck in Gwinnett County, I left six months ago, and it’s a wonderful life in a more northern county.

Oh by the way, according to the medics doing housework is one of the best exercises available. Maybe you should think about using the vac and mop on a DAILY basis.

By ATICO

August 23, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Note to “Hello”

You do put your life on the line if you ride a bicylce anywhere on the Gwinnett County streets. This is just common sense, as the roads are not built for bicycles, they are built for automobiles and trucks. Got it. Maybe they should have been, but that is anoher story. Fact: They were not.

I suggest you use bicycle trails to enjoy your gixxering, otherwise you voluntarily put yourself in great peril, knowing full well, that the streets are not safe.

Even walking in some Gwinnet neighborhoods is a risky business, as some of your neighbors are probably not in sync with the posted speed limit signs, and this, I must say, is really a sad comentary.

By Jennifer

August 23, 2006 07:08 PM | Link to this

Ignorance abounds about the overweight. Simple fact is, some people are fat no matter what. Some people no matter if they eat healthy and excercise 5 days a week will be a lot bigger than the next guy doing the same thing. It’s called genetic diversity. The good thing is that big fat person is still a healthy person.

It’s all about lifestyle and health, not weight and fat. Weight and fatness are but two factors in health. Others are cardiovascular and muscular fitness and flexibility, good blood pressure, low cholesterol and blood sugar, etc.

At the end of the day there is only one thing you can do, have a good lifestyle and let the rest fall as it will based on heredity.

Think twice before you judge a fat guy/girl simply for being fat.

My brother-in-law is an Army Captiain. He does triathalons, too. Yet, he’s a short little chubby guy. But he can run most people into the ground.

By tina

August 23, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this

I grew up in NY (suburbs) and worked in NYC. There is no such thing as driving your car into the city unless you have plenty of money to pay for parking. You were forced to take public transportation and walk after that. I managed to maintain a decent weight. then I moved to the Atl in 1990. I have never weighed so much in my life. I already have the hypertension and asthma. I know it’s now or never to change my sedentary ways and overeating. I have two young children I need to stick around for. Between the sweet tea and having to drive everywhere, Atlanta makes you fat.

By ATICO

August 23, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

Note to Jennifer:

You must be a liberal without manners. Why call people ignorant. Are you that uncouth?

People are fat and obsese because they overeat. Get off of this big bone syndrome and learn something except how to call other bloggers names. Are you overweight? I am 15 pounds over the desired weight at my height, and it is all due to shoving the wrong stuff in my mouth, not because I have tyhroid problems or that I am short and square like you friend in the Army. He is probaly not over weight for his height or he would be kicked back to your neighborhood. Have a good day, but keep it nice, shoulder chips are a horrible thing.

By Jennifer

August 23, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

ATICO, you sound like the one with the chip on his shoulder.

(1) Assumptions about me: (a) that I’m liberal (b) that I have no manners, especially compared to your post (c) that I am overweight (d) that I don’t know what I am talking about.

(2) Reality about me: (a) I am neither liberal nor conservative. I am very middle. (b) Manners are a thing of perspective. Saying someone is ignorant simply implies they lack knowledge, not anything else (c) I am athletic (d) I am married to an obesity researcher, so I’m up to my ears in information about the reality of fitness and fatness.

Read a book called The Obesity Myth. Get to know some fat people. Most fat people are no more lazy and eat the same amount of bad as most thin people. It’s an accident of genetics.

Sure, you will see really large people stuffing themselves. And you will see really thin people working hard to be thin. But does fat deserve contempt? Does thin deserve accolades? You could take the point of view that the person working hard to stay thin is vain. And vanity is a selfish and shallow trait. I am not saying this viewpoint is the one to take. It’s just the polar opposite of the contempt people have for fat people.

And I was talking about my brother-in-law, Army Captain and triathlete. I know him well. He is fat. Not like a beachball, obviously. But he is short, square, with the unfortunate genetics to give him cellulite on his shapeless legs. He also has narrow shoulders, kind of pear shaped. But he is very fit and lives a very good lifestyle.

Health = lifestyle. Lifestyle = good food + good relationships + good education + good activities.

Fat and thin…it’s just a side effect.

By Jon

August 24, 2006 05:55 AM | Link to this

Since when did health become a liberal talking point, ATICO?

Seems to me you’re using the label “liberal” as a means to discredit someone, which is absurd.

Liberal or conservative are POLITICAL leanings that would have implication on how a person acts/votes/legislates on a topic. It has nothing to do with someone’s knowledge of said topic.

Back to the point, has surburbia added poinds? Well, when I livedin the city I biked to work, walked the grocery, etc. Now, I have to getin my car. I have to make up the physical activity in my spare time that I used to be able to incorporate in my regular activities. As a result, I have less spare time and spend less time with my family. My wife has not started exercising because she gets home and starts cooking dinner. That sounds real sexist but she’s a much better cook and prefers to do it. And because I make a point to exercise most afternoons she finds that the only time she can do it is in the evening, after the kids arein bed, or on the weekends. She’s good about the weekends, but too tired after commuting on the weekdays to do it after the kids are in bed.

So…SHE’S put on pounds since we moved to the burbs. But, it’s okay. She’s healthy. I love her for reasons more important so I am still just as attracted to her. When we argue the first thing that pops in my head is not “Man, she’s gotten kinda fat, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about and should shut up because I’ll dump her for a prettier thinner women.” The first thing that pops in my head is usually, “Man, she’s wrong and I’m right. How can she not see how I am right? How can she hold such a wrong-headed idea?”. I imagine that’s how most people think when they argue.

It doesn’t matter to me that she’s gained weight until she comes home unhealthy.

Don’t get me wrong. She’s not lazy. She works hard at her job and at home. And she works like a demon in the yard and in her gardens. She just doesn’t like exercise for exercise sake and since she can’t incorporate it into her daily routine, like walking to work, walking to the store, walking the mile or so to visit friends anymore…well, it means she doesn’t exercise so much.

So, yeah, I definitely see how living in the burbs, what with longer commutes, no town centers, super large subdivisions, etc, how it’s easy to let the weight slide upwards.

By LG

August 24, 2006 06:32 AM | Link to this

Jon,

Your wife can find time. if she wanted to. I been a single mom for 10 years, I work outside the home, and I do all the inside and outside chores of my house. I have always found time to exercise. When the kids were small, they rode their bikes while I walked - went hit the parks, and after I walked, they got to go to the playground. They’re teenagers now, so I can do major power walks while they’re doing homework. But, it’s your wife’s choice, not living in suburbia.

By Jon

August 24, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this

LG,

That’s good that you can do that. And, since I live with my wife I can say that it would probably take more effort on MY part to enable her to exercise, especially since she doesn’t like mindless exercise.

Thing is, we get home from work around 7:30 every evening because of the commute. Immediately she has to cook supper for the kids. Since we get home so late we have precious little time with the kids. While she’s cooking I usually exercise and involve the kids. Then we sit down to eat and by the time we’re done it’s 9pm and the kids have to get baths, get read to, and go to bed. Then it’s 10:30. Too late to exercise when you have to get up at 5am in order to get everyone out the door for 6:30am.

I think, for her to exercise, I’d have to give up some of MY exercise time and take over the cooking.

She’s not sedentary. On the weekends she’s up at the crack of dawn working in the garden, hauling dirt around, digging things up, etc, until the afternoon.

She used to play soccer and liked it a lot. But there’s no time for it now with working in the city, commuting, and bringing the kids around to their activities.

Now, while I can sacrifice to make it easier for her I don’t see her cutting into time with the kids for herself.

Plus, she’s got no motivation from me to lose weight. I’m not complaining about her putting on some weight when she does so much stuff for us. She’s still beautiful and sexy to me. But I guess it’s because of who she is, not what she looks like. But she’s a pretty woman no matter what.

I just get bent out of shape over people being all judgemental because I LOOK fit and she doesn’t and they think I deserve better, of that she should feel lucky to have me. It’s insulting to both of us.

By ATICO

August 24, 2006 04:56 PM | Link to this

Note to Jon and Jennifer:

I called Jennifer a liberal because in most cases when a person starts using sarcastic words in a debate, like ignorant, stupid etc. they usually are on the left side of the tracks politically. If Jennifer is not on that side politically, than I made a mistake.

However having said that, I suspect all sensible thinking liberals or conservaties will agree that closing your mouth a little sooner at the eating feast will surely help the fatso’s take off some of their extra poundage.

Hey, Jennifer I am not saying your are fat, that is between you and yourself to figure out. Have a good day, but don’t go for the “super size.”