You Can Do It Too!

Who wants to exercise? Who wants to give up fast food for fruit? Anyone feel like spending hours at the gym or at a sports practice? That doesn't sound too appealing but let's think about it in another light. Who wants to be healthy and feel good about themselves? Who wants to eat satisfying food instead of empty carbs? Anyone feel like making a ton of new friends by joining a sports team? Before high school I didn't exercise much, except for soccer once, maybe twice a week. I ate as much junk food and pizza as anyone. Then, in 7th or 8th grade, mostly thanks to the work of Michelle Obama, I started to learn about the epidemic of obesity across America. I didn't categorize myself as a fat American and I thought that obesity would only reach those people who ate in McDonald's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and worked the remote control instead of something productive. Well, I was wrong. Anyone can reach the state of obesity and 1/3 of Americans are. An outrageous 2/3 are overweight. These numbers are incredibly high and something has to change. To avoid slipping into a rut that is so hard to get out of I joined a soccer team, became a vegetarian, and tried to go out with my friends or do something productive instead of sitting in front of the TV. I don't miss watching 3 TV shows a night and I met some of my closest friends through soccer. Simple changes can make the difference and you'll even be happier. Maybe you aren't the most athletic person in the world. Instead, go for a run or even a walk a few times a week and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get some of your friends to make a lifestyle change with you! Instead of getting a large slushy and popcorn drowned in butter at the movie theater, get a water and skip the salt and butter on the popcorn. Being a healthy person is like being a good student. You can settle for being an average student and blending with a majority, but you'll be more satisfied if you put in the extra effort and get that A instead of the B-. Wouldn't the reward of having better stamina, more energy, and a healthier glow be just as great, once you give up the extra dessert and skip the 4th hour in front of the computer to go for a jog with your friends? Don't you want to prove to the rest of the world that America isn't just loud, fat people?