Monday Motivation: Fat America

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 1:25pm

Australia has the answer

**Chili Pepper** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 1:39pm

I'm lucky, in that both of my boys seem to have inherited my slim build. My 12-year-old I've no worries about him ever getting fat - he's up at 6 every morning (his choice), does push-ups, crunches and chin-ups when he's bored, has completed 5km and 10km races, as well as doing capoeira every week.

His older brother, well, he's far more sedentary. He can be motivated into physical activity, but it isn't his idea first. Frankly, he's very much like I was at that age. I eventually found activities I really enjoyed (martial arts, and later, rock climbing) so I'll keep throwing different hobbies at him to see what sticks.

As for their Phys Ed programs at school, in their primary school, they actually had muay thai and BJJ training one semester.

**Devil** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 1:46pm

Originally Posted by jnp

In my opinion, playing sports, being on a team and competing on a regular basis is one of the best character building activities available to modern youth.

The physical benefits are nice too.

I'd tend to agree and I encourage my kids to play team sports. I never really did when I was a kid for some reason. I tried baseball and didn't like it. When I got older I thought about playing football but I was more interested in going to the games on Friday nights to chase girls.

I was always into martial arts and never team sports. That may have something to do with me not being much of a team player as an adult. I can function in teams but in all honesty I don't get much satisfaction from team success. Only individual success.

Athletically, I was a late bloomer. I was never a fat kid or anything but never did any real hardcore exercise until I went into the military and learned I could push my body further than I realized. I hated every minute though and never learned to love exercise until after I got out of the military. Then I really got into trying to improve my performance and peaked around 26.

Oddly enough, most of the kids I grew up with who were the athletes are the fatasses now. I'm not sure why that is and I'm not sure if it's typical but it was true for my circle of friends. Especially the football players. ESPECIALLY the big guys who were benching 300 plus pounds in high school. Their metabolism slowed down and they turned into gigantic blobs.

Cardio is your friend.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 2:25pm

Originally Posted by Devil

Oddly enough, most of the kids I grew up with who were the athletes are the fatasses now. I'm not sure why that is and I'm not sure if it's typical but it was true for my circle of friends. Especially the football players. E

I've noticed this as well. I wonder if part of it is the focus on team sports, which often doesn't extend into adulthood (and if it does, it's usually casual and won't have a coach shouting at you during your many practices). There's also dudes who played tons of sports in highschool and managed to stay in good shape on a diet of hamburgers, burritos, Mountain Dew etc, then continued those habits at their desk job.

**Kharon** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 2:29pm

Being a dad from a community were sports are on the chopping block everyyear this has been of particular concern to me. And being a red blooded American Ineed to point the finger at someone. There is just no way I could take creditfor having lazy kids is there, no that would never do. So instead I’m going toblame teachers and lawyers. Teachers for insisting on making a small fortune ontop of their regular salary for coaching. and lawyers not just because it's alwaysfashionable to blame them but because of them parents can't volunteer to coach.

Try not to take me to seriously I’m kinda just venting, sorta, maybe.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 2:35pm

Originally Posted by Chili Pepper

I'm lucky, in that both of my boys seem to have inherited my slim build.

The problem is that fat is just the most visible indicator of a lack of fitness. There are plenty of unfit skinny people too. It's just medically impossible for someone to be obese, and "fit", in a practical sense of the word.

**money** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 3:01pm

Originally Posted by Phrost

The problem is that fat is just the most visible indicator of a lack of fitness. There are plenty of unfit skinny people too. It's just medically impossible for someone to be obese, and "fit", in a practical sense of the word.

I think that depends on your definition of "fit". What about Sumo?

**Gabetuno** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 3:14pm

Originally Posted by money

I think that depends on your definition of "fit". What about Sumo?

Strong. Powerful. Specialized. Not fit... for living over 40 anyway.

**Devil** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 3:17pm

I'd put sumo giants in the same category as offensive linemen in the NFL. Fit? Maybe. Healthy? No. It's not natural to weigh that much AND do that much exercise. Your body wants to get leaner when you exercise a lot. Force feeding people so they remain gigantic despite a very high activity level is not good.

**money** · Posted On: 3/05/2012 3:32pm

TIL "Sumo wrestlers have a life expectancy of between 60 and 65, more than 10 years shorter than the average Japanese male. They often develop diabetes, high blood pressure, and are prone to heart attacks."