Walking with Bob

Why be healthy

To be or not to be? That is the question. As a speech major in college I met a bunch of theater majors and some turned out to be famous. They warmed up in class asking Shakespeare’s famous question over and over. It never made sense to me, but it did to them.

I was fat from the time I was a little kid. I ate six donuts at a setting and ordering at least three hot dogs at a time was a way of life. Diets were a yearly ritual from high school on. The two years in the army took me from 230 down to 180. I was deprived of what I wanted to eat and ate and drank what they told me to eat and drink. The army also had morning exercise. YUCKO. I had no choice.

 I accepted being fat until about age 76. I do not remember the date, but the day still sticks in my mind. I remember saying to myself “If I keep on eating and drinking like I am right now, and if I keep on spending money for pills, frenzy diets, doctor bills and health club memberships, where will I be in five years?” I would have been dead.  

On June 12, 2006 I made the choice to walk every day. Why did I make that decision? I wanted to start living a healthier life. My dad died too soon because he chose to keep smoking. I had friends who died too early from eating bad food. The food and drink industry does not force us to eat the stuff. We choose to do it. Politicians now have added a sin tax for selling drinks with too much sugar. You and I have friends and love ones who still drink them just like they still smoke. 

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