This past week bikehikebabe sent me an e-mail entitled “Panda Therapy” that included pictures of some of the most beloved animals in the world:
My question is why do we love the sedentary Giant Pandas so much when we make fun of our own couch potatoes?
The above pictures of Pandas do touch my heart and sooth my spirits, but so does thinking of my low-energy uncle. He didn’t eat junk food like the fellow in the cartoon, but he did love to cook and enjoyed eating. He also puttered in his garden and watched TV a lot. We would visit him every year when we went back to California to see my mother. Invariably he would be sitting watching some historical documentary, but he was always happy to stop watching and chat with us for a while. I looked forward to those visits and thinking of them are just as therapeutic as looking at the Pandas above. Who’s to say the Pandas and my uncle don’t/didn’t live as meaningful a life as the more ambitious achievers in the world?
What do you think?
If you are a coach potato you will DIE, DIE, DIE much too soon. We are bombarded with the diet & exercise facts almost every time we turn on TV. < But they're not "preaching to the choir". The choir is out exercising.
You can't lead a meaningful life if you are dead.
bikehikebabe,
Statistically that’s true, but my grandmother, who was even heavier than my uncle, died at the age of 98. And I know people who died relatively young of cancer even though they had healthy habits. There are no guarantees and we can’t decide what is best for another person. If my uncle had forced himself to exercise and deprived himself of his favorite foods would it had been worth it to him if he had lived a few more years? There’s no way we can answer that for him.
Some people think I’m weird because my diet is so healthy, but it works for me. I’m not doing it for extra years, I eat well and exercise regularly because it adds so much enjoyment to my life now.
Ah yes, the cute factor of a Panda.
Let nature take its course. My son, who is still growing and currently eats me out of home and hearth – yet you can count his ribs on sight – was appalled when I told him last night that people who eat very little will live to 120 (who says?) He has no intention of living that long if his enjoyment of life is curbed by a grumbling stomach. Quite. Couldn’t agree more.
Ambition and working yourself into the ground vastly overrated. So Pandas and your uncle clearly are/were onto something.
.-= Ursula´s last blog ..Cutting a dash =-.
Ursula,
“Ambition and working yourself into the ground vastly overrated.” Amen to that!
Ray Walford is the go-to-guy on the eat less front.
I think many an achievement is just pointless if not harmful – playing dress-ups in front of cameras and making money meaningful?
Evan,
My guess is none of us are interested in drastically cutting the calories we eat. I’m sticking to the advice to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, etc., don’t smoke or drink too much and get regular exercise and enough sleep. And also have interests that give my life meaning. It’s a winning strategy even if it doesn’t give me a lot of extra years.
And to have an effect the calories you eat have to be WAY less. There is no way to get RDI’s on the calorie restrictions required. And it would mean eliminating pretty much all the fun stuff.
The number one factor for influencing health for westerners (ie. once public health and food availability are looked after) agency. This is the reason behind The Status Syndrome: as you go up the hierarchy what increases is control over your life.
Evan,
I don’t think in terms of hierarchy so much, but clearly people with more resources have more choices. They don’t always choose to exercise those choices of course.
I don’t think in terms of hierarchy much either – the main research was done in a highly stratified workplace (Whitehall in London).
We really have to just go at whatever pace we feel comfortable with. For some people a lot of energetic activity is necessary, for others, it is just not so. Depends on the person.
I watch what I eat and exercise so that I can get out and do stuff when I’m not working. One of our main pleasures when we travel is to hit the hiking trails — and, the heavier I am and the more out of shape, the harder it is to get out on the trails.
Of course, there are benefits in other ways.
The other day, I rode to lunch and back with a coworker who I’ve known for almost 30 years. Back when I first met him, he was a skinny “kid.” Today, he is very large. During the ride, I noticed how labored his breathing was, just sitting. I’ve got to believe that the excess weight is a detriment to other parts of his life… as it is with many of the others in the office let’s-go-out-to-lunch-bunch.
If I let my weight and health go the way it tends to naturally, my health would certainly suffer as would many of my interests.
I agree with bikehikebabe. Meaningful means little when you die before your time.
.-= Mike Goad´s last blog ..Virginia Beach Panorama and 2 new photo galleries =-.
Within the family, I am known as the Panda! In India of course it means something else too. Short for Pandit! I suppose that I qualify on both counts.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Visitor. =-.
gaelikaa,
Yes, that’s the point of the post. We can only decide for ourselves and not judge other people.
Mike,
I haven’t had to worry about weight for years because I exercise regularly and have learned to like vegetables and other nutritious foods. That works for me but I can’t make that decision for other people.
Rummuser,
Yes, I too think of you as a beloved Panda. 🙂
Cathy,
I don’t think of Pandas as couch potatoes. I think of people like my uncle as lovable Pandas.
I don’t see the panda as a couch potato but rather an endearing other, all ready to join me in a cuddle on the couch whilst I watch a movie 🙂
I use my couch as a resting place, particularily in the evening when I’ve had a hard day out and about. Plus I have really found a benefit in putting my feet up – less problems with them…got a damn plantar fascia and in the same foot/leg I have circulatory problems.
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..Achievements + usual Opinions =-.