sakaido
Journeyman
Ryuichi+Coffee=Best icon ever.
Posts: 111
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Obesity
Oct 17, 2008 9:50:56 GMT -5
Post by sakaido on Oct 17, 2008 9:50:56 GMT -5
The IRS now views Diet Plans as a treatment for the "disease" that is obesity. And you get tax breaks for them O.o
Don't get me wrong, I understand some people have genetic problems. Some people have eating disorders....
But I'm a little offended that just because at some point in someones life a person either wasn't taught or didn't learn healthy eating habits and a simple exercise plan they get tax breaks for doing what a lot of people do anyway.
By that I mean eating better and generally taking better care of yourself. I want tax breaks for my diet. Which is don't eat too much. It's a simple conscious decision on my part that keeps me at the balanced weight I am.
Cause it really isn't what you eat, but how much you consume. A ho-ho every week won't make a person fat. McDonalds once in a while, won't make you fat.
Is it really that hard to buy more fruits and veggies and go on a bit of a job a couple times a week?
Or is this a plea to the american population to do something about it? Making it tax deductible to go on a diet or weight loss plan.
We don't even have the worst diet. Scotland statistically has the worst diet... Poor America.... Ay yie yie.
Soooo, yeah. Do you think this is ridiculous? Or reasonable?
[Just so's we know's I'm not hating, or bashing anyone. This isn't personally directed in any way. I actually don't know if anyone here is overweight.... Anyhoo I'm sorry if it offends you.] The edit was nothing special. I spelled a word wrong.
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Obesity
Oct 17, 2008 15:49:26 GMT -5
Post by keyodie on Oct 17, 2008 15:49:26 GMT -5
Wow. Seriously? Obesity, a disease? Hm.
That's really interesting. I don't think I agree with the tax cuts though.
I'm going to have to read up on this stuff.
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Obesity
Oct 18, 2008 13:55:33 GMT -5
Post by ladytera on Oct 18, 2008 13:55:33 GMT -5
I gotta say the very idea that my money is going to be used for tummy tucks and liposuction really frosts my butt.
ETA: Okay, that's not what the original post said. I still stand by it, because in 5-10 years, if this continues on, it will be tummy tucks and liposuction as well. I have just as much of an objection to Weight Watchers and gym memberships suddenly becoming medically necessary expenses.
That's kind of the key for me, and why I object to all this crap that is being mandated by government. They scream about tax breaks for the oil companies, these are companies in which millions of US citizens hold stock, to back up their "retirement" that Social Security was supposed to cover. These are companies that provide a product that not only keeps the transportation industry going, but has made massive improvement in many other areas of our lives possible, including medical. These are companies that provide our energy, which is a national security issue. These are companies we have dumped so many regulations on it's not even funny. These are companies that, while their "profit" (please note, those millions of American share holders are the ones making that "profit") may be in the billions, if you look at the profit loss percentages, they run at or under 10% profit, which is normal to low for most businesses, and certainly less than the profit the government (meaning us, as tax payers) makes on the oil industry.
Oops. Sorry, didn't mean to get off on a rant. There is a correlation. Taxes, in this instance, are being used to control the behavior of the citizens. I object to that on the grounds that it is not the job of my government to use the threat of taking more of my money than someone else's because I choose to live my life in a way they do not approve of. That is fundamentally against everything the founders fought and died for during the Revolution, and it really ticks me off when the government doesn't seem to get the point that they have NO RIGHT to interfere in the personal lives of the people of this country. If I want to kill myself with Krispy Kremes, cigarettes, or too many Strawberry Daquiris, as long as I harm no one else (for instance, drunk driving should be illegal because you put others in physical danger), it is nobody's business but mine. This is the very reason why I do not agree with the concept of tax payer funded health care (universal health care is not free, it is payed for by each and every citizen of this country that pays taxes). If you give your neighbor, by way of the government, the responsibility to pay for your medical needs, you also give them the right to dictate your personal choices in any area that might possibly have any impact on your health. Now, your neighbor might be a nice person, who minds their own business, and doesn't have an impact on your life, so it wouldn't matter. But chances are just as good that your neighbor is a vegan, who believes that a minimum of 4 hours of exercise a day is required for good health, that no alcohol, tobacco, caffine or fast food should be allowed in a health life style, and that if you don't abide by those dictates, you shouldn't be allowed to have health care.
Do you get the idea yet that I object to any tax codes pertaining to health care or lifestyle choices?
I agree that obesity is a problem, in not just America but many other nations as well. It has to do with the way our food industries have changed since the early 1900s, and a lack of awareness on the part of many Americans how our choices for speed and convenience impact our overall health. If the government is truly concerned with addressing the problem, they need to work on educating the populace about the problem, so that each person has the best chance of making an informed decision when they are thinking about what they want for dinner or if they'd rather watch TV or go for a walk. They do not need exceed their authority by trying to force a change in behavior through tax codes.
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Raivynn
Journeyman
...my winter storm
Posts: 187
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Obesity
Oct 19, 2008 6:31:27 GMT -5
Post by Raivynn on Oct 19, 2008 6:31:27 GMT -5
I'm not going to get into the tax side of this, because I really don't understand the tax system enough to comment properly.
I do have to say that not all obese people eat just because they love there food way too much. Some really do have problems like faulty metabolisms, eating disorders and mental issues. Some people become so depressed at there gaining weight and inability to drop it they give up all hope of being able to change.
I know this from experience. I've always had a big frame, not fat though. Despite that, I was constantly belittled about being a 'fatty' and a 'chunky' growing up. Now after several years of it, you begin to think they must be right if they all say it. So I stopped eating, then it moved onto eating and throwing it back up. How no-one ever noticed, I'll never know.
Fast forward several years. I'm back up to average weight (Size 10-12 UK), I become pregnant and my weight balloons. Post-pregnancy excercises and healthy eating hasn't made much of a dent on my weight and I'm now at a UK16. No matter how hard I try, nothing seems to shift it. I'm terrfied of falling into another depression, as I don't want my beautiful 4 year old to see her mum like that.
This was not an attempt at a pity party or a woe ist me. I just wanted to provide a different p.o.v to being overweight and that it's not always as simple as not being able to say no.
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Obesity
Oct 20, 2008 21:51:08 GMT -5
Post by ladytera on Oct 20, 2008 21:51:08 GMT -5
I'm not going to get into the tax side of this, because I really don't understand the tax system enough to comment properly. I do have to say that not all obese people eat just because they love there food way too much. Some really do have problems like faulty metabolisms, eating disorders and mental issues. Some people become so depressed at there gaining weight and inability to drop it they give up all hope of being able to change. I know this from experience. I've always had a big frame, not fat though. Despite that, I was constantly belittled about being a 'fatty' and a 'chunky' growing up. Now after several years of it, you begin to think they must be right if they all say it. So I stopped eating, then it moved onto eating and throwing it back up. How no-one ever noticed, I'll never know. Fast forward several years. I'm back up to average weight (Size 10-12 UK), I become pregnant and my weight balloons. Post-pregnancy excercises and healthy eating hasn't made much of a dent on my weight and I'm now at a UK16. No matter how hard I try, nothing seems to shift it. I'm terrfied of falling into another depression, as I don't want my beautiful 4 year old to see her mum like that. This was not an attempt at a pity party or a woe ist me. I just wanted to provide a different p.o.v to being overweight and that it's not always as simple as not being able to say no. Absolutely. I'm well aware myself of some of the issues there. My 10 old is very overweight. He probably will struggle with it his whole life, as all the men on his father's side of the family are large framed as well as very overweight. It is a fine line to walk stressing that he needs to develop healthy eating and exercise habits, without constantly making him feel like I think he's fat, and that there is somehow something wrong with him because of it. Myself, I dropped to a size 7 US when I was sixteen, and jumped to a 10 after I had my daughter. I gained a little more with my second child, but was still fairly stable. Later, with my next child I put on a huge amount of weight, and then got pregnant again five months after I had him, which didn't give me time to get rid of the weight in between. By the time I had my fourth, my metabolism was shot, I weighed 180 (I'm only 5'4"), after I had him, and rather than being able to lose weight, it started a slow but steady climb. I did slide into depression, not because of the weight, but that certainly didn't help any. I finally got to a point where I didn't want to put up with it anymore. I started the Atkins diet and Tai Chi classes. It took me almost a year, but I went from a high of 206 down to 130 by the time circumstances made me give up those two things. Then, a few months later I promptly went and got pregnant again. Needless to say I was a little annoyed at gaining weight again! Now, I'm a little overweight, but still within a comfortable range for me, so I don't worry about it too much. I do worry about the tax code, because if they start making weight a taxation issue, I'm very concerned that I will suddenly be paying more taxes because I'm comfy where I'm at, but not within the range the medical community is choosing this week as healthy. Best of luck with the issue you're going through now. Mostly, don't worry too much about it. If you feel good physically, then you shouldn't let weight make you feel bad emotionally (I know that's easier said than done). But, if you're feeling bad physically, try some simple, consistent exercise. Depression causes inactivity, and inactivity causes depression, leading to an extremely vicious cycle, and activity more than diet will probably help stave it off.
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Raivynn
Journeyman
...my winter storm
Posts: 187
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Obesity
Oct 21, 2008 12:32:31 GMT -5
Post by Raivynn on Oct 21, 2008 12:32:31 GMT -5
Thanks. It's good to have someone who understands my circumstances. I really do try not to and most days I really don't. I just get very frustrated sometimes and I teeter on the edge of old depressions. I'm very concious about not falling over into that abyss, no matter how fat or frumpy I might feel. I don't want to go back to that place where I was a few years ago.
No matter how bad I do feel, I have someone that loves me for me and I can't ask for anything more.
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Obesity
Oct 21, 2008 12:45:21 GMT -5
Post by ladytera on Oct 21, 2008 12:45:21 GMT -5
That is always the best you can ask for! Should you ever need an outside ear, I'm always available. Depression is a sneaky, vicious, little bugger that tiptoes up behind you and tries to sandbag you into misery and apathy for no good reason. Anything I can do to land a blow against the slippery little bastard wherever it crops up is always good.
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Obesity
Oct 24, 2008 1:25:11 GMT -5
Post by Bubba's Dad on Oct 24, 2008 1:25:11 GMT -5
I still carry the weight my wife gained when she was pregnant with Bubba. That must be it. When I was younger, I ate everything in sight, drank beer from time to time and watched TV, and I was always skinny. I do the same things now, but I have a belly. It must be the fact that I got married. Yah, that's it.
All kidding aside, My decision to eat those chocolates my wife stashed in the cupboard or my choice to ride to work instead of walking the 1/2 mile is not a decease. It is my poor choices. Now, some people do have deceases or disorders that keep them obese. That is not me, and not most of my fat family. My Dad should be fat too, but he walks about 5 miles a night during his work at Wal-Mart, and he always stayed in good shape while in the Navy. But the rest of my family, well we get round as we get older.
One thing about it, when even the poor in this country have obesity problems, things can't be too bad. Food, food everywhere, but not a diet that works.
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chiefgibson
Apprentice
I am Jack's smirking revenge.
Posts: 84
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Obesity
Nov 6, 2008 17:24:52 GMT -5
Post by chiefgibson on Nov 6, 2008 17:24:52 GMT -5
Ok lets do this!
Humans are always looking for something to take the blame off of themselves. Its how we work. The reason its a disease is because a group of people didn't want to say its their fault. So now they have a "disease." But wait a minute... what about all the other over weight people? The must have the same thing. So now that we assume that all or most overweight people have this "disease." Problem is now the ones that truly do have a genetic problem are being summed up with the ones that don't. See what I'm getting at here? This happens with a lot of problems that are not really problems. Its a vicious circle....and I love Dane Cook btw
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edward
Student
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
Posts: 23
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Obesity
Nov 28, 2008 18:51:16 GMT -5
Post by edward on Nov 28, 2008 18:51:16 GMT -5
Well I gotta say, it's not really how much you consume either. I used to eat McDonalds almost everyday since my mom used to work there, and now that she doesn't work there I still eat fast food quite a bit. I'm vegetarian now however but even when I wasn't, I stayed in shape. I consumed a lot but burned it all off, either by playing football, soccer or running crosscountry, and now just hitting the gym. Don't get me wrong though, i'm not trying to say that fat people are lazy, because I know it's generic to some and others try but can't.
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