I recently posted a picture of 4 FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS visible from my GYM’s parking lot. The point was to show CONVENIENCE; a major factor contributing to our obesity epidemic.
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Today I opened the weekly circular which displayed the following 7 ADS:
Where is the DECENCY and HUMAN COMPASSION for a problem that continues to escalate out of control?
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THIS IS NOT VALUE!
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This is legalized “FOOD PUSHING” that increases food addiction with dangerous consequences. Everywhere we turn (newspapers, TV, shopping stores, highway exits, etc…) we face these destructive products that tempt us the same way drugs tempt drug addicts and alcohol products tempt alcoholics.
Denying this reality continues to spread this epidemic we currently face. To rely on the fast food industry (as a sector) to grow the wealth of our economy is a sad commentary. It is a source of great PAIN and SUFFERING. We consume these restaurant foods an average of 5.8 times a week (as adults) while 30% of children eat fast food on any given day. (United States Healthful Food Council)
We are bombarded with this advertising and have convinced ourselves the dangers are grossly over-exaggerated. Our total disregard to the damaging effects of most fast food products has resulted in obesity and overweight becoming:
THE 2nd LEADING CAUSE OF AVOIDABLE DEATHS
Source:Mokdad AH, Marks JS. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA 291
Since this study is 16 years old, I am willing to bet obesity and overweight has surpassed smoking making it:
THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF AVOIDABLE DEATHS!
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The food industry is not about to change their advertising and marketing approach which continues to grow their revenues at the consumer’s expense. It therefore, becomes the CONSUMER’S RESPONSIBILITY to reduce their fast food consumption by 80-90% if they wish to LIVE LIFE the way they CHOOSE TO, rather than suffering the inevitable PREVENTABLE diseases, dysfunction and DEATH we see TODAY!
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All About Healthy Choices 
Sadly that is the case. It’s either that or every time I turn the TV on the commercials are touting some new drug to cure all the ills. It gets annoying after a bit.
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This just proves that fast food and drugs wouldn’t sell if it was left up to the consumer. These industries realize the importance of NON STOP advertising and marketing. Maybe one day the producers of HEALTHY products will learn from these competitors.
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It is just madness! I’m mostly just at a loss over it all. Yes my war with fast food is over of this I have no doubt. My daughter has removed it all for years now from her life so yes I’m over the moon because of that, but for the country, I fear the battle of the bulge has become more of an attack on their health not just their waistline. its all just so much and its constant. drive around town, watch tv. the ads follow you! nothing is quick or easy about it when in truth you are paying your good hard earn money to shave years off of your life! I want to live! I’ll pass on the taco bell thanks hahaha! š
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I always say how important your comments are because you lived the damaging lifestyle in the past and became determined to overcome it! Something “clicked” inside to make you realize you were worth more than the destructive lifestyle you were living. The readers out hear need to see this reality as well as the RESULTS you have achieved including better HEALTH and HAPPINESS.
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Well thank you for saying Jonathan. I hold your opinion in high regard for sure! I really hope to set a good example for anyone that might need. I was just reading this to my daughter as she tried to help me figure out exactly what ‘clicked’ inside of me…She thinks maybe just the plain and simple fact that I learned after a long life of taking care of everyone else around me I could love myself the same way! As my habits changed I can say just feeling better each day was what got me hooked! Who doesn’t want to feel bettah? right?! š š š
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Absolutely!! Hope the daughter follows in your optimistic foot steps! š
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Oh yes she truly does, she is a great teacher to her mother as well. A big part of how and why I eat so much healthier these days she inspired me! Grows all of her own veggies and even makes her own herb tea! I just made eggplant for my lunch right out of her garden it was excellent! Thank you for your sweet comments! š
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Reblogged this on disue.
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You’re my Frank Sinatra. The song New York, New York starts with, “Start spreading the news….” You do just that. Thank you again for all the support and willingness to share these messages.
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Jonathan, I share your concern about the scourge of obesity, but outside of educating people on the value of good food and the damage fast food does, there is not much you can do. No one makes people go into McDonald’s. It is free choice. I think spreading the information that you do on a regular basis is all you can do. As I have said previously, I don’t understand how anyone who can read can still smoke cigarettes, but they do. When people stop demanding fast food, the merchants will change their offerings.
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Tony, I continue to overlap and repeat certain messages because it takes repetition for the words to “add up” and create an impact. Similar to advertising, it takes 6-9 times to see and hear a message before the consumer CONSIDERS changing a behavior. Sometimes timing is everything. If a post like this is read after an AVOIDABLE health scare, it adds value to the message. Change is slow and I am patient. My intent is to continue to whittle away at the destructive portion in people’s minds revealing their potential for healthier, happier lives. If they refuse this in favor of misery, it is not my place to judge.
Thanks for your feedback. With people like you adding quality information for all to read, it’s just a matter of time before the “light bulb” turns on revealing alternative options to destructive behavior.
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I understand exactly what you are saying. I have told people more than once in conversations that they can listen to me now and get themselves on the right track or continue on their current path and end up under a doctor’s care. It’s a one step at a time deal.
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Fast food is readily available, and it’s cheap, so increasingly families rely on it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It seems nobody has the time to cook a decent meal anymore. In fact, many people don’t even know how to cook at all! But the truth is that laziness gets the better of us. It’s a lot easier to order take out or pick up fast food at the drive-through on the way home than to spend a little while cooking a healthy dinner. Why bother to learn how to cook when you can just buy fast food? That’s the mentality.
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It is PERCEIVED easier to stop in for fast food in place of cooking. I use the word PERCEIVED because it is NOT EASIER to undergo cardiac bypass surgery, live a life on medications for high blood pressure, diabetes and other AVOIDABLE diseases. Obesity is NOT convenient or easy. Short term thinking in lieu of LONG TERM planning rarely provides an “easier” or “better” outcome.
This is why I write these posts. It is to reinforce REALITY BEFORE it’s too late.
Preparing food does not have to be time consuming. The whole family can get involved as well. Parents have a responsibility to TEACH their children a lifestyle that offers them an opportunity to grow up HEALTHY. Fast food on a regular basis is “side stepping” this responsibility!
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Even the picture you used to illustrate at the beginning is nauseating. We don’t eat fast food in our household. I have relatives who used to bring happy meal toys to my house and scold me that my children were missing out…Lol
On what? Obesity and heart disease? No thank you! Excellent, Jonathan!
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Tanya, you get the BIG PICTURE. People like the instant gratification of “taste” that fast food offers. They don’t bother concerning themselves with the damaging and PAINFUL outcomes seen “down the road.” You clearly GET IT!
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I find the days that are difficult to control are those where I forget (or don’t allow myself enough time) to pack a decent lunch to take to work. Those and when I’m traveling long distance – driving. Travel is by far the hardest time not to give in to the fast food places. But even then, I can choose well. I can do a Subway using lettuce instead of bread (yes, most places do it IF you ask). Or even just the roast beef out of an Arby’s. So it’s doable. Just not … easy.
Excellent post. And good notice on the newspaper ads. You’re so right – they shove it in our faces. And it’s just tooooo easy to play dumb and go along with the flow.
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Everything you identified produces the challenges most people face. It is HARD to say NO, but avoiding the devastating outcomes in the end makes it all worthwhile.
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So true !!!! I have just gone to my post box and just alone there were three leaflets on Fastfood companies, one A4 spread, and the other two, smaller but advertisements on both sides, then an A5 booklet of all the fast food places in the area and their menus !!!! and this was just shoved in my box this morning !!!
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This is a world wide problem. They push their products on the consumer relentlessly. They realize this approach effectively drives business. It’s just a shame that profit is achieved at the health expense of others.
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The fast food sector is actually a DRAG on the economy. The extremely low wages that permit deceptively low prices also force employees to rely on government aid like food stamps. People who prepare healthy meals at home are subsidizing the fast food pushers with their tax dollars. This fact should be recalled whenever one hears pseudoconservatives rail against raising the minimum wage.
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Unfortunately, I will have to disagree with your opening comment that, “The fast food sector is actually a DRAG on the economy.” It is a HORRIBLE DRAG on the employee’s ability to meet bare essential financial obligations, however, the fast food industry is a major player contributing significantly to our GDP. This translates into great PAIN for the employee and the consumer as the corporation (McDonald’s alone) grows over 2000 new franchises every year.
Undoing this model is unlikely to occur. Helping transition it to a new model that’s financially viable, employee friendly and consumer responsible is the best outcome I can envision in the future. Unfortunately, this process will require many lives sacrificed because change typically occurs ONLY after extensive PAIN is experienced.
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Reblogged this on Going Dad and commented:
I am loving the content shared by Doctor Jonathan as I sift through his old and new posts. Fast food is not the way we should rely on our nutrition, and here he presents the reasons in a clear and concise format. While we all see/hear how bad it is on a daily basis, most people still consume it on a daily basis.
Not a day goes by that I want to help change how families are fed. For now, helping to spread information on the negative effects of poor nutrition and lifestyle in general seems the best approach. Please give this and the many posts sure to come a good read and put at least one of the thoughts into practice. Our kids, our family, and YOU deserve it.
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Doctor Jonathan, I apologize, my original reblog never worked, so I just published a post linking back to your page with my original message above. Please let me know if you are not okay with this and I will remove ASAP.
Loving the content and hope to spread to parents and, well, everyone else that I can. Would love to sit down and have a talk on all of these topics one day, I know it would be a great one. Keep up the excellent work!
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You are more than welcome to forward my messages to anyone you feel can benefit from the content. I appreciate you helping me spread REALISTIC methods for achieving healthier, more fulfilling and purposeful living.
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