FOR most readers, Lent ends tomorrow; for me, Lent didn’t begin. Despite the usual good intentions of ‘going off’ sweet treats of all descriptions, things just didn’t kick in this year and for the past six weeks I haven’t denied myself a thing.
The truth is, not many of us do any more, do we? If we can afford it, and we want it, we have it. I’m not talking about exotic holidays, fancy cars or designer shoes and handbags. For most of us, if we want that slice of cake, that scone, that biscuit, we have it. The notion of a ‘treat’ is lost to many.
This weekend, we’ll be breaking out the Easter eggs, chocolates, sweets and Sunday dinner will be a big one in many houses.
A medium-sized Easter egg contains 23 spoonfuls of sugar. We are eating ourselves into oblivion.
I do it too. I’m not preaching. Just like everyone else, I have been fighting my weight since I can remember. I love food – good food, bad food – and when I’m in the mood to eat junk food, I can’t seem to stop.
The BBC’s health correspondent, Marie Louise Connolly, this week reported that a new programme is being launched to tackle obesity here. The figures she quoted in her report report were shocking: 37 per cent of the population here are overweight, 27 per cent are obese.
The BBC online report also included a weight check – entitled ‘Where are you on the UK fat scale?’ I decided to have a go. I can tell you that on the ‘fat scale’, I am in the overweight category.
When I submitted my measurements, I was told that 56 per cent of women in the 35-44 age bracket are either overweight, obese or very obese. I am in the majority and I need to lose four BMI points to be deemed healthy. There might not be as many Easter eggs consumed this weekend as I had originally planned.
In the online report, Dr Susan Connolly says that obesity has become a ‘social norm’. We don’t realise that this is such a huge problem. We’re not making clever food choices and we’re not moving enough.
I am surprised by these statistics. Everyone seems to be wearing a fitbit or pedometer of some description these days, there has never been as much health food on the supermarket shelves and we are constantly bombarded with diet fads and exercise advice in the media.
I’m very good at watching all the videos and reading all the info but I am very guilty of inaction. Great intentions and all that. It’s always easier to reach for the bag of crisps or the chocolate bar to sort the hunger pangs.
I was glued to this year’s series of Operation Transformation on RTÉ which finished up a couple of weeks ago. The bravery of the leaders was to be commended. These people all had weight to lose and allowed film cameras to follow them as they tried, and often struggled, to do this.
I fight a constant battle with weight and fitness. When I’m on it, I’m on it. Once the motivation hits, it provides an adrenaline rush and away I go. But when I’m not in the zone, I find it extremely difficult to get motivated.
I don’t know why this is. I know that it’s more beneficial to me to put on my trainers and get out the door and walk or run for 30 minutes, rather than sit on the couch watching mundane television or spend the time online.
We are bombarded with images of what we should and could look like if we apply ourselves and do this and do that. To the person who is extremely overweight or feeling very bad about their body image, being seen in public, trying to exercise is a big ask psychologically.
Perhaps it’s time to help each other and motivate each other a little more than we usually do? We can’t wait until January 2020 to try and turn a new page. I will start by going out for an Easter Sunday walk tomorrow.
I have let my fitness slip in recent months and need to kick-start it. I’m going to try to walk/run 5k a day in May. This will require time commitment, but surely my health is worth the investment?
