Sports which are just too posh, rich and over-represented at the Olympics

First topic message reminder :

Swimming/Gymnatics - have too many medals on offer
Equestrian/Yachting/Shooting etc. require loads of dosh to just get on the first step (and I'll include the Pole vault in that)
And filthy rich sports like football, tennis, golf, rugby and basketball should never even have a sniff of Olympic participation - well, not the multimillionaires anyway. If the Olympics ain't the pinnacle of the sport, then they shouldn't be in.

Lumbering_Jack wrote:A family member of mine has a resting heart rate of 97bpm and a BMI of over 45. Utterly digraceful I am sure you'd agree.

What did they eat for tea that night after getting the results. Fish and Chips from the local takeaway.

It is a cultural problem and kids in schools need to be actively involved in sports to keep them fit. The main benefit is health, if they discover they have a talent after then that is a bonus.

Better say cheerio then.

It's not cultural, it's just how lazy and glutenous and without shame people are these days.

What on earth do they think when they look in the mirror or step on the scales?

super_realist wrote:

Lumbering_Jack wrote:A family member of mine has a resting heart rate of 97bpm and a BMI of over 45. Utterly digraceful I am sure you'd agree.

What did they eat for tea that night after getting the results. Fish and Chips from the local takeaway.

It is a cultural problem and kids in schools need to be actively involved in sports to keep them fit. The main benefit is health, if they discover they have a talent after then that is a bonus.

Better say cheerio then.

It's not cultural, it's just how lazy and glutenous and without shame people are these days.

What on earth do they think when they look in the mirror or step on the scales?

i doubt he has even seen his 'johnson' for donkies!! But I do think we have a cultural issue at the moment. Long live Jamie oliver i say!

Calling it a cultural issue though, almost sounds like people are trying to absolve themselves of personal responsibility.

It isn't culture which makes them stuff their faces and do no exercise. It's sheer greed and lack of self control.

That is an example of how we think differently. I know how tough it is for some familes/people. Life isnt straightforward.

If i was talking to one of them one by one- i would just say buck up your ideas and stop blaming the world. But as a generalisation I am happy to blame society.

However its not all doom and gloom. There are some very great things about this country as well

mystiroakey wrote:VTR the thing is if your that big- you will probally lose a bmi a day from just eating 2000 calories each day, you still wouldnt have to move!

then once you hit 35 you maybe could start tieing your shoelaces and that will lose a few more. At 30 you can play pro golf(shane lowery)

Golf isnt exactly tiring (despite what golfers tell you). Swing a bat, walk 300 yards, swing bat again, walk 50 yards etc...

Oakey, what do you mean it's tough for some families.

Tough finding the time to stuff your face? Tough sitting on the settee watching telly and eating KFC, tough driving to the shops 300 yards down the road?

It doesn't take any brains at all that eating too much and not exercising isn't good to you.

I've no pity at all.

I know exactly- but it would be a good sport for an obese person to take up- It is suprising how many calories you burn

super_realist wrote:Calling it a cultural issue though, almost sounds like people are trying to absolve themselves of personal responsibility.

It isn't culture which makes them stuff their faces and do no exercise. It's sheer greed and lack of self control.

I actually think it is a combination of both. Seeing someone else being fat almost makes it acceptable for you to be fat and it has a domino effect. Of course it is also just sheer greed.

I blame Jessica Ennis

I'm disgusted to see a really fat person Jack. THey should be publicly shamed, or have to pay for their health care pro rata for their weight issues.

super_realist wrote:Oakey, what do you mean it's tough for some families.

Tough finding the time to stuff your face? Tough sitting on the settee watching telly and eating KFC, tough driving to the shops 300 yards down the road?

It doesn't take any brains at all that eating too much and not exercising isn't good to you.

I've no pity at all.

My opinion has changed so much from the people I employ , the people i have meet through my work and just through wisdom. A bit of help and better education is needed, rather than just dishing out money.

Btw i am talking about culture and the way people behave , not just what they eat!

super_realist wrote:I'm disgusted to see a really fat person Jack. THey should be publicly shamed, or have to pay for their health care pro rata for their weight issues.

Have you never played pull a pig?

Education?

It is impossible for anyone not to understand the energy in/out equation.

If you can't understand that, I'm afraid all hope is lost.

I have no problem with people who are fat, and accept its their fault, but blaming anyone, the government or culture is a total copout.

SR mate, i dont know any fat person that does blame society..

We on the other hand can!!

I couldnt tell you how many people i have spoken to that are so thick in reagrds to food...

Many go on ridiculas fad diets as well!

Others just are worrying about so much other stuff it just isnt important to them(these are the ones that i can almost sympathise with)

I used to tell everyone I am gonna write a weight loss book.

And all it had in it was eat less and excercise more!!

It is so simple. Jeas the whinging i used to hear from girl colleagues in london- that used to say - i am so unlucky i cant lose weight.. ITS like jeas- they never blame society , they blame themselves and there own matibolism. I blame society and education- because they clearly dont have any idea of how to lose weight and dont have the motivation to do it!

The worst thing I hear is "I can't afford fresh fruit/veg". By the same people that will happily spend £5+ on one artery busting takeaway.

I could easily make 2 or 3 decent meals from fresh produce for that!

People are stupid, I can vouch for that.

Group of women in the office are eating blocks of cheese in an attempt to lose weight. Education most definitely is important.

People blaming their own metabolism is a classic excuse for people to remain fat.

yeah VTR that one sends me mad- They dont understand how to cook. I was brought up cooking all the time. You cook stuff and you dont even have to eat it that day either. many people i know just throw leftovers away if they ever actually do cook on that rare occasion. People need to be taught!

super_realist wrote:People blaming their own metabolism is a classic excuse for people to remain fat.

It is yes, nobody is disagreeing with you, but when people in your office are eating huge amounts of pasta "because it is healthy" at times when the body is idle it clearly is a education problem. These people are all well paid profressionals.

You shouldnt under estimate just how little people know about diet and exercise when it comes to being fit anf healthy.

If you eat too much of anything you'll get fat.

People should throw out all the large plates and deep bowls in their houses and use smaller ones.

I wonder how many get the lift up 3-4 flights or get the bus right to their door.

It's pathetic, and totally obvious, I'm incredulous how people can't work it out for themselves.

People are thick SR/ they really really are.. people then go for the easy option to try and lose weight. Which even if it does work they just put the weight straight back on after. and many of these easier options are very unhealthy..

Many nationalities(italians,spainish,indians,french,etc) social experences revolve around food- which is kinda ironic but food is a passion to them and they create and make and its realtively healthy. Our lack of food culture and the lack of cooking with the whole family and sitting down to eat is actually a detrement to us. Its all about quick things and no one has the time etc etc!- This is very much a culturual problem we have

super_realist wrote:If you eat too much of anything you'll get fat.

People should throw out all the large plates and deep bowls in their houses and use smaller ones.

I wonder how many get the lift up 3-4 flights or get the bus right to their door.

It's pathetic, and totally obvious, I'm incredulous how people can't work it out for themselves.

I agree and thankfully I am one of those who has researched the area so I have a thorough understanding, unfortunately a large number of people have not. Education is clearly an issue when the people following stupid diet plans are educated to degree standards and would generally be considered clever.

Too many people think that eating large volumes of something which is healthy in moderation only is acceptable. Likewise, people do not understand the best times to eat these foods and will never understand unless they are told. This is why it is important to educate the youth of today the importance of a healthy balanced diet, and the correct times to eat food.

There's a lot of sense being talked on here. Its preaching to the converted though - how can we get the fatties to read this? Maybe change the thread title to "Free Kebab If You Click This Link"

The point is Jack that you shouldn't need to research it. It is as much common sense as sleeping in the road isn't a good idea.

People using lack of education as an excuse for being fat is really a poor excuse.

SR no one who is fat will blame education.. We are blaming education- we are not excusing them completely

I think we are on the same side here Oakey.

If I was fat it would be my fault , not society, not education, not culture.

yeah we are..

So doesn't it make it incumbent on governments to promote a culture that like discourages obesity and promotes heath via (amongst others) sport.

A fat tax on calorie dense foodstuffs (especially trans-fats) would be a start.

Yep tax junk food!


And yes it clearly is something the government needs to concentrate on!

Tax the fat, give tax relief for the healthy.

does help to solve the growing threat of overpopulation though, each lard@rse should be praised for their selflessness, not chastised for being too revolting to look at without gagging

To be suitable for certain operations in the NHS you need to have a certain BMI or body fat percentage. So, assuming you are fatter than the higher limit you need to demonstrate you have the ability to lose weight to be allowed the operation....

Surely here is where the problem lies. They have demonstrated they can lose weight yet still expect the expensive option because they have done.

It is a joke.

A few other ideas:

All takeaways to be located on at least the 5th floor (with no lift access obviously)

All airline passengers to be weighed with their suitcases - overall weight determines the charge

Supermarkets to install treadmills in the frozen food aisle. The freezer doors only open if you can get a set amount of revs on them

VTR wrote:A few other ideas:

All airline passengers to be weighed with their suitcases - overall weight determines the charge

I've always thought this is a good idea, with obvious exceptions. A 18st rugby player who is clearly athletic is exempt. But an 18st lard arse is not.

Why should us folk in the regular weight range be charged gor going 1lb over the limit, when somebody has probaly just eaten a meal that weights 1kg gets away with it.

True story this... me and some friends were going skiing and the baggage limit on a mates suitcase had been exceeded. They wanted some ridiculous sum off him for what was a couple of pounds.... He refused, opened his suitcase and put on his ski suit, berghaus coat, hat and ski goggles as well as a couple of jumpers to avoid the fine.

In the end a manager came over and agreed he could put it back in his bag. Never laughed so hard in my life.

The fit live longer, they should pay more national insurance

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:The fit live longer, they should pay more national insurance

They contribute more to the economy through being at work rather than sick and earning more money. Speaking in general terms of course.

I'd guess they'd pay more on food VAT as all the junk they stuff down their faces is VAT-able, whereas the food they all "don't like the taste of" i.e. things that actually resemble food not brown processed mush aren't

Of course the net benefit of that is wiped out when they demand a £50k stomach stapling operation aged 35

VTR wrote:I'd guess they'd pay more on food VAT as all the junk they stuff down their faces is VAT-able, whereas the food they all "don't like the taste of" i.e. things that actually resemble food not brown processed mush aren't

Of course the net benefit of that is wiped out when they demand a £50k stomach stapling operation aged 35

Which every person who is overweight does right?

Those who drink get taxed?
Those who get stressed by working too hard should pay more because they are a heart attack risk?
Those who are geneticaly predisposed to hold higher bot fat percentages get killed at birth?

It's not fair on the rest of us if a tax is put on junk food, it's fine in small amounts and I don't think the stupidity of others should ruin it for others.

I don't think there is anybody who isn't aware that eating too much, eating rubbish foods and not exercising is threatening their health and weight. They choose to do that, they suffer the consequences.

Of course not PSW. I'd have hoped it was obvious my last few posts were less than serious!

Does anyone actually like junk food- does anyone care if a macdonalds was 10 quid a pop- I certainly dont know anyone that would care..

mystiroakey wrote:Does anyone actually like junk food- does anyone care if a macdonalds was 10 quid a pop- I certainly dont know anyone that would care..

I'd care.

For one, I work part-time at McDonalds until I've finished my degree, so it would affect my work.

Secondly, I don't see why me having a McDonalds every now and again should cost a lot more than its worth. Why should I not be allowed to have some unhealthy, but nice, food every now and again because some people have no control.

VTR wrote:Of course not PSW. I'd have hoped it was obvious my last few posts were less than serious!

Given the ignorant and offensive attitudes shown by others on here, no it wasnt.

You bring up the next problem . the junk food industry is based on multinational companies that kill local business. People that cant get jobs anywhere else work there at the expense of local business. You would be working in the local sushi place or a decent deli if people couldnt afford macd's . No shame at all ..

Offcourse you can have unhealthy food- fill your boots mate ,there is no accounting for taste!

Remember when Usian Bolt won the gold at Beijing?
His pre race preparation was a sit down, some nuggets and fries and coke, followed by a nap.

mystiroakey wrote:You bring up the next problem . the junk food industry is based on multinational companies that kill local business. People that cant get jobs anywhere else work there at the expense of local business. You would be working in the local sushi place or a decent deli if people couldnt afford macd's . No shame at all ..

Offcourse you can have unhealthy food- fill your boots mate ,there is no accounting for taste!

Is your local chippy owned by a multi national corporation then?

Are health food shops only owned by local cooperatives?

i only have a problem with processed junk- Fish and chips is deep fried yes- but it at least is whole food!

I also dont have a problem with all multinational firms. however we can draw the line at ones that dont do our society any favours. Why would we tax health food?

Clearly if our country or the USA (where most of these establishments originate) didnt have obesity problems there wouldnt be a problem with these junk food outlets. there is a clear link with junk food and obesity..So the fact remains that we have an issue. Education is my way of going about this -I am not totally sure taxing these places is the ideal soloution. however it is a soloution. Nothing wrong with throwing it in there..

Most of the unhealthliness of fast food is in its calory density though- if people ate the right number of calories, regardless of what type of food, you won't get fat. Might get atherosclerosis but not overweight. I'd argue that calorific snacks and foods that are not universally seen as unhealthy are more harmful to society than McDonalds

The problem wiuth macy d's is that it doesnt fill you up!

The other problem is the amount of e numbers in them. It doesnt just cause weight issues?

You can be more healthy yet slightyly more overweight than the next person it you have a better balanced diet..