Be careful Jo Anna!!! If your BMI doesn't line up with the governments idea of "healthy", you might have to pay out of pocket. LOL :lol: :lol: :lol: Come to think of it... ...Since you have an opinion that is contrary to theirs, they most likely will not cover it!!!
I edited my last post because I got names mixed up. My sister has Graves Disease (sp?) and she is as thin as a rail. Most of her thyriod is dead. She struggles to keep weight on. If the government ever implemented a plan that works with the BMI, how this would affect/effect her?
People who are unhealthy usually have more medical expenses. Because of this, insurance rates go up. I don't want to pay for higher insurance rates for the people who can do something to change their unhealthy ways. I also do not believe the government should have their noses in our BMI or our lifestyle. I should not have to pay higher rates because many people choose to have a unhealthy lifestyle. (I am not pointing fingures at any one. I also know that due to injury and other things, it is very difficult to keep ones weight down. People who smoke have no excuse for not quitting. I smoked one pack a day for eight years and quit. It was difficult but very possible.)The point I want to make is....People who choose to have healthy lifestyle should not pay higher insurance rates for those people who choose to not have a healthy lifestyle. I do not monitor my child's BMI. He is not over weight, but if he was I still would not monitor it. As a family we do stress exercise and we could improve on eating more healthy.
I can't say your points are not valid. I think that like with life insurance or car insurance, maybe some could get a discount on insurance? Not sure how that would work....didn't someone suggest that...Steve perhaps?
Well said, peanutsweet! In his own words, "He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future."-Adolf Hitler
This is interesting and my question is not directed at you; rather your post made me think. What is healthy? Rather, what will the government declare as healthy? Granted it isn't a person who eats donuts daily, a smoker, or somebody who drinks to the very end. BUT, some people appear healthy, yet I dare to say they are not. Some people are so fixated on weight, rather than health, that they exercise themselves to death. They are depleted of nutrients. Some might suffer from eating disorders and not look like it. I think a healthy lifestyle should be mental as well as physical. There are some people who will put their bodies through some great stress in order to "look good" and fall into a certain weight category. Body builders and some models come to mind. We have countless numbers of girls who vomit daily, or more, in order to keep the weight down. This can't be seem with the naked eye until they start to get sick or they actually start looking unhealthy. Yet, clearly they are unhealthy if they are willing to go to drastic measures to look good. I would be so interested to see how the government classifies "healthy".
Funny....some time ago we tossed around Hilter quotes and themes concerning this president and it caused an outrage. I was one who caused an outrage so I am not complaining. Just a thought...not really intending discussion on this point. It just came to mind. Maybe more see it now or those who were offended aren't reading it. lol
Good points also. Besides, how could one prove they are living a healthy lifestyle. My fil drinks and smokes but has no health issues....other than a slight sugar issue but that's hereditary. He did stop smoking...but that was not doctor's orders. He read a connection between smoking and blindness so he stopped. Anyway, I know a few people who are not living "healthy", organic, green lifestyles but have a clean bill of health. I am healthy but I could stand to lose weight...should I have to pay more because it's possible I may have an issue. What if I lose weight...do my rates go back down... Interesting thoughts...
Oops! I'll have to claim ignorance on this one...I'm new to the Spot and didn't realize quoting Hitler was a point of contention. Clarification: I'm not comparing PS teachers (I'm a former PS teacher) OR our government to Hitler. I'm agreeing with peanutsweets point that those teaching our children have great power to shape their worldview. I would rather have that influence be from parents than from the government, which does promote a *very* different worldview than the one I hold. Okay, there's my official disclaimer!
In November we were picking up my MIL from Colorado and we stopped at Wendy's for a bite. My MIL went outside to smoke and a few seniors told her she should stop smoking. My MIL said that if it hasn't killed her yet, then it could go ahead and take her now because she lived a long, full life, and she was ready to go. (She's a stubborn woman! :evil: :angel Then this man turned around and shared that his grandpa just passed away from smoking or lung cancer. One of the seniors asked how old he was, the man said 99. LOL This isn't to say smoking is alright because I do not believe it is. Yet, I do believe that there are MANY factors that assist in different illness or diseases and to pin them down would be insane. Plus, I do not think it is even possible.
Who's to say that "eating a donut a day" ISN'T healthy? It could be, if that person wasn't eating a lot of other junk all day long. And how many things are declared "unhealthy" one day, and the next is declared "better" for you? Butter comes to mind. I WILL NOT use margarine or any of the synthetic butters. Sugar, too. Artificial sweeteners scare me. Blessed, quote away! If the quote fits, go for it! At that time, some people on here were upset at the idea of Obama being anything like Hitler, and were super-sensitive. Lol, Patty, my "little" brother tried to get G'ma to stop, and Dad told him the same thing! At her age, it wasn't going to matter, so just let her alone!
LOL...so sorry that was not directed to you specifically. Sorry!!! You were not the one to bring that up...many posts ago on this same thread it was brought up also. I just found it funny. Believe me, I completely agree...in fact, I think I used the same quote you did. LOL. It's not a point of contention anymore...just a little thread happening. I could not agree with you more...and many on here are right with ya. In fact, I think more and more hold these values as we see what our government is turning into. Sorry! I was typing out loud again...lol
I NEVER eat anything with Splenda or the alike. I have heard there are other alternatives that are natural like Sun Crystals...but I haven't looked into it. I also NEVER use margarine or synthetic butter either. I used to eat a huge bagel with full fat cream cheese and a cup of coffee every morning at my thinnest and most in shapest...LOL. That isn't exactly the breakfast of champions. Donuts are terrible...but if you can fit in the sugar, calories and fat, without it causing you to become obese then who cares, right? I mean runners can afford to eat a ton of things someone living a sedentary lifestyle could not.
Ava Rose, I understand where you're coming from. I was *not* offended at all by your post. I just thought I should issue a disclaimer so I wouldn't offend anyone else Thanks for the heads up!
This is a GREAT thread!!!!! I guess it is time to get off the computer! My eyes are blurred, my fanny hurts, and I need to move my body. Perhaps the government should allot a set amount of time for us to be on the computer.
Sounds like everyone agrees that the government should not regulate how we should live. What is healthy? That depends on each individual. Fake sugars and over process food bothers my body. So I use real sugar which is probably not best. Exercising in a gym would probably be better for me because I would get less injuries. If I had to exercise in a gym, I would become a couch potato instead. I wouldn't want someone to tell me where and how to exercise or eat. When I exercise hard and long, I eat high calorie foods. I need the calories and know I can't eat much. This is probably not the best but it works for me. Seems like society as a whole decides that certain potentially harmful behavior is not acceptable while others are. Nowadays having high BMI and smoking is not acceptable. What will not be acceptable in the future? What will the government try to regulate in the future? Scary thought. Each individual should decide how they want to live. What is best for one person is not best for another.
