Red pill or the blue pill?

edorice

The Matrix movie depicts a future in which reality as perceived by humans is actually a simulated reality created by machines to pacify and subdue the human population. I was recently thinking about this and I was wrapping my mind around the idea. What I came up with is how it applies to our diets. My weight loss and exercise journey has me thinking that I’m fighting against the machines. It seems like there is a great force out there that wants us to be pathetic, subdued and weak. Seriously! Every hour of the day I can hear from my coworkers radio a commercial about the Lapband surgery or cosmetic surgery; urging us to take the easy way out, without putting in the work.

Our children as a whole are not going out to play or exercising each day. They have remote controls and DS/Wii/Playstation controllers glued to their pudgy little hands. An article came out recently in CNN that stated that we are endangering the strength of our military, because our kids are FAT. Our sons aren’t allowed to play aggressively on the playground anymore. As they grow up they are forced to get in touch with their feelings and they have to be “well behaved” at all times.

As a whole, our society is fed in the cheapest manner. We’re corn fed like cows. We are pacified with plenty of food all day long and constantly within reach. Food that is empty of any nutritional value. ***sigh***
I’m choosing to take the red pill. I choose to wake the hell up.
Do you choose the red pill or the blue pill?

MissAnjy

I'm with you on the red pill. I have two sons with Cystic Fibrosis, it is CRUCIAL that we get them extremely active. That's the main reason why I'm here on this journey. Am I thin already? yes. Could i be more fit? DEFINITELY. I need to be more fit and be the example of physcial fitness for my children. More kids need to put down the video games and get outside, play, run, jump around, be kids. I will definitely be aware of this as my kids get older. We as a family HAVE to be physical or our childrens health will diminish (more rapidly than a normal child)

Life is definitely a wakeup call lately. I'm jumping on board the activity train lol

themyriadthings

I agree with you that MFP is part of the 'red pill' - forcing us to wake up and see reality and stare those numbers in the face. I don't think I'd equate aggressive behavior with health however - someone (male or female) can be strong and healthy without being aggressive. A balance between physical and emotional aspects of health is good for everyone.

I also like avoiding the 'blue pill' aspects of mainstream media and advertising which do perpetuate the myth that we can quickly buy our way to happiness and health.

The Matrix is an awesome movie! (even the sequels are good!)

iwannawearatutu

Amazing! That is so incredibly well said. Red pill, all the way! I'm going to print this out, I love the way you put this, I want to read it again and again whenever I am tempted to take that blue pill and go back to "sleep".

Thank you so much for this incredibly insightful look at how our culture treats fitness and nutrition. I love it.

hpsnickers1

Great, great post. My man's niece is 10 years old (I think). She refuses to eat anything but junk food. Her Thanksgiving dinner consisted of brownies and soda - because she doesn't like any of the food on the table - while she just laid there on the couch in front of the TV. Then a little later some Velveeta shells and cheese. She hates all fruits and vegetables. She eats packets of sugar at the restaurant table - in front of mom - and mom doesn't say a word. She is already chunky on her way to being fat. One of my coworkers has a nephew who is 11 and 180 pounds. He already on Lipitor and his dad thinks it's funny that he can down 4 hot dogs at a time.

Wake up parents! Do you realize what you are doing to your kids!? I spent my childhood (I'm 40 now) running around and playing hide and seek and tag. Summer vacations were spent outside. I joke that when we were little we had to push the toy cars around. Now kids can sit with a remote control in their hands and watch the cars move. We went roller skating every weekend. Get your kids off the sofa and get them outside. Enjoy the sun and the air and the true fun of being a kid!

BTW - red is my fave color so I take the red pill!

edorice

Great, great post. My man's niece is 10 years old (I think). She refuses to eat anything but junk food. Her Thanksgiving dinner consisted of brownies and soda - because she doesn't like any of the food on the table - while she just laid there on the couch in front of the TV. Then a little later some Velveeta shells and cheese. She hates all fruits and vegetables. She eats packets of sugar at the restaurant table - in front of mom - and mom doesn't say a word. She is already chunky on her way to being fat. One of my coworkers has a nephew who is 11 and 180 pounds. He already on Lipitor and his dad thinks it's funny that he can down 4 hot dogs at a time.

This is beyond sad.

JoyousRen

I love the analogy.

AlannaPie

I feel truthfully that we are not well informed when we become parents. I'm not a parent, but I am a teacher. I was horrified to find that so many parents do not read to their children, but who can blame them if they don't understand the benefits or purpose. It's the same with activity levels. It requires a lot of effort to go against the norm of society. I was discussing with friends about how there are so much more healthy alternatives out there now. I'm 27 and when I was growing up I never heard of brown rice, low fat milk and diet soda were disgusting drinks for fat people.

hpsnickers - omg that's horrifying

My cousin is an overweight child. Instead of trying to change her eating habits, they insult her and openly talk about how fat she is. They try to find every allergy under the sun that they can use as an excuse. it's sad.

Charlie001

I choose RED! I have already taken the blue. I have been down that road. I know where it leads. I have gone from the office fatman, to the slimest most muscular in the office. I say...NEVER AGAIN! Give me a "So say we all!"

jaded_rose

So going for the red pill. I've been on the red pill since august and I'm happy to say I'm happy about it. I've lost 20 lbs and am down a whole pant size. I haven't this small for over 6 years. When ppl at work ask me how I did it i tell them hard work and watching what I eat. Most say that they don't have it in them to do that. it's what your willing to do and not do.

NanBar

I have two children, one a teenage girl and one an eleven year old boy.
Both are home or cyber schooled. We live in a state forest on many acres.
The nearest town is a 35 minute drive- one way.

My kids are both very fit. They are both ballet dancers- as well as hunters!
My son (11) rides his bike 5-7 miles a day on our property and through the forest.
My daughter is very active as well.

I do not feed my children processed food. They ESPECIALLY do not eat things with names that are not representative of what the actual food in the product is- POP- TARTS, HOT POCKETS- ugh!
They eat lots of fresh vegetables, lean meats, with whole grains and small amounts of dairy. They eat fruits and vegetables. They eat small amounts of butter, and cane sugar.

For the last 7 years I have gotten up early every morning and made my children breakfast. They have an omelet-- I make about 10 different kinds (my sons fav is when I have leftover taco meat (deer) and I add a bit of that and make him a omelet burrito!) some a choked full of vegetables- spinach, peppers, etc- I usually use part skim Mozz cheese or laughing cow with all...and some venison sausage. There is NO cereal in our house.

I have been talked about, pointed at, and ridiculed- because "I don't let my kids have goodies or junk" We do have goodies, but they are given occasionally and are mostly homemade- such as cookies. My kids are not given candy everyday- maybe they might have a piece every few weeks. They do not eat McDonald's regularly- but a few times a year. (I see MANY mom's who bring them by McDonald's as an afternoon SNACK- when did a hamburger, fries and coke become a snack- that's a MEAL??- an apple is a SNACK) Pizzas are (usually) homemade.

I am not sure when convenience foods took over the lives of America- but they are slowly killing our children.

I would also like to state that both my children are adopted. They were in the foster care system for many years- their medical records show that they were each at the doctors at least 8-10 times a year, and given antibiotics on a regular basis before they came to live with us. Their diet was mostly processed food, and low in nutritional values. After the initial 3 months they were with us- neither of my children have been to the doctor for a sickness. Neither of the them have been on antibiotics in 7 years. Both were in public school until the 5th grade. Good NUTRITION works wonders for children.

It may take more time- but they are your KIDS- stop poisoning them with processed food, food low in nutritional value. You are burdening the ones you love most with a possible life time of illness and obesity.

It's probably safe to say that I took the red pill.

NanBar

PS- my weight gain was mostly due to depression and inactivity- not only over eating. I suffered a loss a few years back that I could not come to terms with- and I shut down completely. I am one of those people who must move. I am moving AGAIN.

soysos

it all comes down to balance. your diet has to reflect activity. when I was growing up we ate a lot of red meat, simple carbs, butter, whole milk, to this day I still won't drink anything less. at the same time I also had a taste for all sorts of fruits and vegetables, we hardly ever had sodas, or even refined sugar. the big thing was athleticism me and my siblings started sports at a very early age, 4 years old for me, 4-6 workouts a week sometimes 2 in a day. so we needed those calories.

Unknown

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NanBar

Here here Bynsky!


(ps we are not a video TV house either!)

BADGIRLstl

Thanks for this post.... a real wake up call! I chose the red pill a year ago!!!

hpsnickers1

I have two children, one a teenage girl and one an eleven year old boy.
Both are home or cyber schooled. We live in a state forest on many acres.
The nearest town is a 35 minute drive- one way.

My kids are both very fit. They are both ballet dancers- as well as hunters!
My son (11) rides his bike 5-7 miles a day on our property and through the forest.
My daughter is very active as well.

I do not feed my children processed food. They ESPECIALLY do not eat things with names that are not representative of what the actual food in the product is- POP- TARTS, HOT POCKETS- ugh!
They eat lots of fresh vegetables, lean meats, with whole grains and small amounts of dairy. They eat fruits and vegetables. They eat small amounts of butter, and cane sugar.

For the last 7 years I have gotten up early every morning and made my children breakfast. They have an omelet-- I make about 10 different kinds (my sons fav is when I have leftover taco meat (deer) and I add a bit of that and make him a omelet burrito!) some a choked full of vegetables- spinach, peppers, etc- I usually use part skim Mozz cheese or laughing cow with all...and some venison sausage. There is NO cereal in our house.

I have been talked about, pointed at, and ridiculed- because "I don't let my kids have goodies or junk" We do have goodies, but they are given occasionally and are mostly homemade- such as cookies. My kids are not given candy everyday- maybe they might have a piece every few weeks. They do not eat McDonald's regularly- but a few times a year. (I see MANY mom's who bring them by McDonald's as an afternoon SNACK- when did a hamburger, fries and coke become a snack- that's a MEAL??- an apple is a SNACK) Pizzas are (usually) homemade.

I am not sure when convenience foods took over the lives of America- but they are slowly killing our children.

I would also like to state that both my children are adopted. They were in the foster care system for many years- their medical records show that they were each at the doctors at least 8-10 times a year, and given antibiotics on a regular basis before they came to live with us. Their diet was mostly processed food, and low in nutritional values. After the initial 3 months they were with us- neither of my children have been to the doctor for a sickness. Neither of the them have been on antibiotics in 7 years. Both were in public school until the 5th grade. Good NUTRITION works wonders for children.

It may take more time- but they are your KIDS- stop poisoning them with processed food, food low in nutritional value. You are burdening the ones you love most with a possible life time of illness and obesity.

It's probably safe to say that I took the red pill.

I made my comment about the parents that turn a blind eye do their kids diet and now I will comment on you.

KUDOS TO YOU AND ALL THE PARENTS LIKE YOU!!! I WISH THERE WERE MORE OF YOU OUT THERE! THEY WON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BLUE OR RED WHEN THEY GROW UP.

kjensen15

Great, great post. My man's niece is 10 years old (I think). She refuses to eat anything but junk food. Her Thanksgiving dinner consisted of brownies and soda - because she doesn't like any of the food on the table - while she just laid there on the couch in front of the TV. Then a little later some Velveeta shells and cheese. She hates all fruits and vegetables. She eats packets of sugar at the restaurant table - in front of mom - and mom doesn't say a word. She is already chunky on her way to being fat. One of my coworkers has a nephew who is 11 and 180 pounds. He already on Lipitor and his dad thinks it's funny that he can down 4 hot dogs at a time.

Wake up parents! Do you realize what you are doing to your kids!? I spent my childhood (I'm 40 now) running around and playing hide and seek and tag. Summer vacations were spent outside. I joke that when we were little we had to push the toy cars around. Now kids can sit with a remote control in their hands and watch the cars move. We went roller skating every weekend. Get your kids off the sofa and get them outside. Enjoy the sun and the air and the true fun of being a kid!

BTW - red is my fave color so I take the red pill!

My brother in law's little girl sounds very similar to your man's niece. She's ten years old both parents were(are) morbidly obese. Her dad, my bro in law lost 165 lbs and really takes care of himself now. His ex wife is still very over weight and eats nothing but junk! The little girl lives with her and my sister and her husband only have her every other weekend and one day a week every other week. The little girl only eats a hand full of things. Tacos, spaghetti, pizza, and fried chicken, then not to mention every sweet imaginable. She refuses to try anything new and she won't touch ANY vegetables. Her mother is content in feeding her happy meals every day, some times twice a day. My sister complains to my mom and I a lot about how horrible she eats and how frustrated she gets b/c the girl won't try anything new. Well I would complete be on my sister's side on this one except for the fact that every night they have the little girl they take her out to eat!!!! I know they are just trying to make her time enjoyable when they have her, but they are just reinforcing her mother's bad eating habits. Its very frustrating to me! I don't know why my sister thinks it is so much different/better for the little girl to eat a taco platter from Abuelo's than it is for her to get a taco meal from Taco Bell!!!

edorice

I am not sure when convenience foods took over the lives of America- but they are slowly killing our children.

nannyk - it certainly has, it's a battle.

bbygrl5

The Matrix movie depicts a future in which reality as perceived by humans is actually a simulated reality created by machines to pacify and subdue the human population. I was recently thinking about this and I was wrapping my mind around the idea. What I came up with is how it applies to our diets. My weight loss and exercise journey has me thinking that I’m fighting against the machines. It seems like there is a great force out there that wants us to be pathetic, subdued and weak. Seriously! Every hour of the day I can hear from my coworkers radio a commercial about the Lapband surgery or cosmetic surgery; urging us to take the easy way out, without putting in the work.

Our children as a whole are not going out to play or exercising each day. They have remote controls and DS/Wii/Playstation controllers glued to their pudgy little hands. An article came out recently in CNN that stated that we are endangering the strength of our military, because our kids are FAT. Our sons aren’t allowed to play aggressively on the playground anymore. As they grow up they are forced to get in touch with their feelings and they have to be “well behaved” at all times.

As a whole, our society is fed in the cheapest manner. We’re corn fed like cows. We are pacified with plenty of food all day long and constantly within reach. Food that is empty of any nutritional value. ***sigh***
I’m choosing to take the red pill. I choose to wake the hell up.
Do you choose the red pill or the blue pill?

*chanting.. red, red, red, red* Let's continue this revolution girl! I'm with ya! After we're done with ourselves, we'll start taking down the establishment and the companies that are nursing these American fat lifestyles!

jamaka1

red all the way, 5 yrs ago when i went 2 the doc and my A1C was high i took the initiative to become a vegetarian, i love it, it works i never had 2 take a diabetes med and i,m doing gr8. i also try hard not 2 buy white products, no soda, junks for the house. of course that doesn't stop them but its not at home. for the new yr i will be cooking less meat for the kids & more vegetarian dishes. my kids are pretty active & they do like to work out by themselves or with me. parents are the trendsetters, its true we cant stop them from eating junk but we dont have 2 bring it home 4 them

GiGi76

Love it, Red Pill for me PLEASE!!!!

GunNut37086

An article came out recently in CNN that stated that we are endangering the strength of our military, because our kids are FAT. Our sons aren’t allowed to play aggressively on the playground anymore. As they grow up they are forced to get in touch with their feelings and they have to be “well behaved” at all times.

I definitely agree with you on this part. Schools around here won't even let kids wear Star Wars t-shirts, b/c the fictitious light saber is considered a weapon. Heck, I don't think as a boy that I ever picked up a stick in the yard DIDN'T pretened it was a sword or a gun. I didn't grow up to be violent. Boys are just hard-wired to play rough (now called aggressive) and be competitive with each other. Now they are feminized and punished for being what they are...boys. Worse, there is no outlet for this type of energy.

As for the rest of the problem, bring back 5 days/week of PE class and make it mandatory, quit serving chicken nuggets and burgers & fries in the cafeteria, and for God's sake order fewer pizzas and Happy Meals and we may see some of the childhood obesity issues turn around.

collettemrk

Red pill for me!! No sodium please!!

edorice

Red pill for me!! No sodium please!!

LOL

roylawrence87

Its time to wake up people! Throw off the chains of oppression! Put down the burger and fries and pick up your life!
Im downing the red pill will 80oz of water please!

millerll

I always hear,, "Oh, I don't have time to cook meals or go to the gym." Really? What takes priority over your kids' health and your own health? And your futures. Soccer practice? While at least it's exercise, if that's the only exercise they get, that's not gonna cut it. Parents are so busy shuttling kids from one useless activity to another, then it's home for fast food, a little homework, then bed. Hey, I'm all for enriching kids' lives, but why do they need four different activities at a time? How about just one, plus shcool work. That would leave time for them to play and be kids, and time for you (parents) to make decent meals and still have a little personal time for your own fitness. You're a parent, not a maid. What good are you to your kids if you're sick and unhealthy? Tired all the time, high blood pressure, diabetes, all that. Not much fun for little Johnny, I'm sure.

Let's put some sanity back into the American way of life, starting with the red pill. Well said.

TheMaidOfAstolat

Red pill please! I've always been pretty healthy and thank goodness my daughter takes after me. As far as I know she is the only child in her class that knows how to cook. We spend the bulk of our time in the kitchen or outside playing. There are no gaming systems in our house and she isn't allowed on the computer unless its for something productive. She takes dance and I'm trying to get her to play soccer or take up martial arts. She works out along side me during yoga or 30 day shred. The American society has become sloppy, lazy, and ignorent about diet and excersize. I loved watching Jamie Olivers Food Revolution. If only there were more people out there that were like him our nation would be in much better shape than we are currently.

rayfromtx

You can keep both pills and I'll just have some haricot verts, lean meat and a salad thanks.

Unknown

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soysos

I don't have kids yet, and I may change my mind when I do, but I intend to do exactly what my my parents did. skip the baby food, if the fist thing in your mouth is bland garbage than thats all you'll have a taste for. I will keep a broad and healthy diet for myself, and feed my kids off my plate. your kids will eat whatever you eat, if you eat right they will eat right, if you eat junk they will eat junk. and most importantly teach them to cook. it does no good to instill good eating habits in our kids if they don't know how to make it.