Okay folks.... So you know I got some beef with some of you. Since I've decided to get serious about my health, get back on my "Run or Die" workout plan, and watch my diet.... I have had some VERY interesting conversations with people about health. And sadly, the majority of African Americans have memiced their bad diet choices and health behaviors from their Grandparents, who most likely had very little knowledge about the things we did and eat and how it would affect us in the long run. I right now i'm about to rant about three things: FOOD, WEIGHT, and FINANCE.
FOOD
Okay so you know this is my #1 problem with us. Yes soul food tastes good, Yes you know that bad for you. But, why do we still eat it?..... ANSWER: "Cuz grandma made it and she's 75 and she aint dead yet" That answer sums up about 80-90% of the reasons I hear. Yes grandma is 75 and she aint dead yet, but she also got high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes (BKA "Suga"), colon problems, poor circulation problems, had 8 bypass surgeries, a collapsed kidney, 2 ulcers, and God only knows what kind of Cancer is waiting at her doorstep with a "Guess what you've just won" envelope. Now I loved my grandparents to death, but although they have helped to shape my parents and I into who I am today, they have unfortuantely, also motivated me pursue my career in public health. I have lost BOTH sets of grandparents to cancer (prostate, breast, and ovarian), and too many uncles and aunts from (prostate, lung, and colon). And lets not get started on our lovely friend Diabetes. And although I LOVE them from the deepests pits of my soul and pray that God grant them with the blessing of paradise..... I REFUSE to allow myself to go down this path, If I can do things now to help prevent them.
DIET
This past Friday, I saw probally the most disturbing thing i've seen in a while. Four women (obviously related) came in Applebee's for dinner. A Grandmother, her daughter, and 2 grandkids. What was the obvious trend between them... they were all excessively overweight. One of the kids couldn't have been any more than 10 years old... and that's what REALLY bothered me. We teach our kids to do right from wrong and tell them to live their live's in the example of God, Jesus, Muhammad, or whomever, but we don't provide examples of being healthy. How can we tell our kids how to stay healthy and eat right, we aren't doing them ourselves? Is our future forever doomed? When are we gonna end this vicious cycle of passing down Grandma's "Heart Attack" Mac and Cheese and stop putting in the whole damn pig (or turkey) in our greens. We've got to do better. Its time to tell Big Momma... NO. You aint gotta eat EVERYTHING you see just cuz she cooked it or tried to put it on your plate.
FINANCE
This is a little off from the other two topics, but i still felt the need to talk about it. People, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...... Tell Big Momma to stop hiding ALL her money in the house. Hiding money in so many damn places she forgot where da hell it was. Stop hiding all your money in the Bible, under the matress, in the empty coffee can in the kitchen, under the bathroom cabinets, and anywhere else that does not require a deposit slip. Now some of you might laugh and say "That aint me", but you aren't too far from it. Instead of getting direct deposit.... Ray Ray take his check to "Give me all yo money" Check Cashing place and go pay EVERYTHING in cash.... Rent, Water, Lights, you name it.... STOP IT..... NOW!! That mess is triffling... Please go get you a bank account. No, I take that back... Go get two: A banking and a savings acount.
ooooooo.... and another thing... Tell Big Momma to write a Will and Final Testament and stop saying "The Lord is gonna take me wheneva he says and what I can't take with me.... belong to all of ya'lls." I'm tired of seeing black folks fight over who gonna get the Big Screen TV she bought when she won the lottery after spending half of her Social Security Check.
Okay... I'm done with ya'll for today.
Stay Alive!
Cricket deserved better.
16 hours ago
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5 comments:
I can't deal with people who don't have checking and savings accounts. People trying to "hide" their money from the government. Hot mess!
I think we have abandoned our grandparents eating habits all together. Although its been tradition is our families to eat unhealthy foods...our grandparents new the importance of fruits and vegetables. My granny always had a green veg with every meal. When I asked for a snack early in the day she gave me a fruit. I was told to eat that before and "sweets". We live on fast food in our black communities and our grandparents always cooked fresh vegs and foods. We should try to keep those good habits and leave the bad ones.
And I still stash money...but i have 3 bank accounts too.
the major problem is black people esp women tend to think that it is o.k to be big(thick call it what you want its unhealthy). Of course we know that everyone big isn't unhealthy but it is usually a very clear sign of health. I've been working at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta and it kills me to see so many black women who are over weight. They come in can hardley walk going to see a heart specialist.. they come in huffin and puffin becuase they cant walk half a block... the funny thing is... half of their problems would dissapear if they would just lose a few pounds.
The money is off the subject but i believe that is a direct result from the lack of trust in the government and of other people. they worked so hard for the money they do have that it can be hard to give it to a bank. you grew up in a different time and sometimes change is a little harder for people that grew up in times where there still was a great amount of distrust for the government as well as other people. My mom has a Masters degree and til this day afraid to do anything online... its a fear that the little you have someone will take so you keep it where you feel it will be safe. you don't have to understand but until you get to know those people, who worked their asses off for the little they do have don't talk. it was a money in her bossom, money in bible totten, money in the flower vase women that paid my mothers way through school and opened the door for me to be who i am.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/04/death.penalty.fat.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
I don't know if your intention was to write such a hilarious post, but you did. LOL. It was funny and informative. Alot of good points made. One thing for sure - wherever you see a granmother and her grandchildren there are going to be @ least one overweight grandchild. That usually is the child that grandmother has spoiled to death.
"Cuz grandma made it and she's 75 and she aint dead yet" This, and big mama hiding all her money in the house had me rolling on the floor laughing.
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