Out of control – Lessons on FAT

Posted on 10. Feb, 2008 by Keith Scott in Blog, Fat loss, Fitness

 As I was driving back to work from my lunch break a few days ago, I noticed something about three blocks ahead of me, in the distance, in the middle of the road. As I got closer, I saw an extremely large, obese man attempting to cross the street. Naturally, I slowed down so I would not hit the man, but as I did and the other cars were approaching, it became painfully obvious that this man had no ability to “hustle” up to possibly save his own life. You see, this road is a busy road with three lanes of traffic. Yet, this man in his attempt the cross the street could only hope that people would see him and slow down enough so he would be able to make it across safely. As the other cars were approaching, he looked desperate to get to the other side and more desperate that he would survive the walk. I stopped in the road in hopes that other cars would follow my lead and at the very least, slow down. Some cars did, and other cars did not. Two cars came extremely close to hitting the man, but still, he did not, and could not move any faster to get out of harms way. Lucky for him the cars were able to stop at the last second to avoid smashing into him. The man easily weighed over 400 pounds and he had obvious physical limitations because of his weight, yet he did not look a day over 30.

As I watched him make his way to the safety of the curb, and saw the look of desperation change to relief, I could only think what could be so important that this man would risk life and limb for at this busy moment on a busy road. I felt sorry for the guy for a moment. However, as my eyes followed him, my sorrow changed a bit to disbelief. The man who was almost struck down on a busy road, in the middle of a busy intersection was making a b-line for a Dunkin Donuts.

After witnessing this, I sat at the red light for the next couple of minutes trying to figure out a few things. I started thinking about how out of control this man must be to risk everything just to have a Donut or four.

It all comes full circle. He was in that predicament most likely because of the choices he made in his life. Fast foods, lack of activity, and no guidance. He continues to be there because he is not making positive changes. Someone at some point needed to step in and show him his future and take away that donut, or teach him about movement…I pondered this for a few days, unable to believe just how some people get to that point.

Three days later, I found my answer. My girlfriend and I were enjoying breakfast at a local diner when I saw something much more amazing and much worse than the obese man crossing the road. At the table next to us was a very fat boy no more than ten years old. He was sitting with his parents who were each well over 250 pounds, and not in a good way. The boy was obese for his age as well. His plate was full of waffles with ice cream on top. I think it was called an Ice Cream Sundae Waffle. (Some genius thought it would be a great breakfast treat to add ice cream to an already, fattening, and sugary dessert.)

The waffle sundae was the best part of this however. When the boy was finished devouring the waffles and ice cream, (he ate them faster than Bill Belichick sprinted off of the field two weeks ago after he realized he lost the most important game of his 18-0 season) he proceeded to reach over the table and grab a hand full of heavy coffee creamers. He then drank three or four heavy creamers in a row, while his parents laughed at him. Instead of making the boy stop, his parents were laughing and encouraging him to drink another. I could not believe what I was watching. It was not enough that this boy was obese and headed for a heart attack faster than Britney Spears would head for the local night club on a back to school night for her kids…

But to watch his parents encourage the behavior and support his decision to do so, was as bad as it can get.

I immediately flashed back to that man trying to cross the road. This boy is that man twenty years earlier. No wonder he is the way he is. No one was there to step in and guide him. NO one was there to help change is behavior. It is sad, really sad because there are boys and girls all over this world right now in a similar situation. The parents are too fat to realize just how fat their kids really are. Therefore, the cycle continues.

If you have someone in your family or know someone that is moving down the road to obesity, step in. Get them help. Don’t be afraid to say something. Sometimes all a person needs is some positive words and guidance, because they are not always getting it from the places they should be getting it.

Tags: , dunkin donuts, fat, Fat loss, obesity, waffles, Weight loss