Dear examinator,

I've been giving further thought to your question,
"Should 'lifestyle' be a dirty word?"

I've come to the conclusion that some of us need to
re-think our choices - especially as far as
maintaining a healthy life-style goes.

We've grown accustomed to the idea that if we get
sick - doctors are going to make us well again.
However, the truth is that often we make ourselves sick,
and doctors sometimes can do little to make us better.

A prime example is tobacco use. The dangers of
smoking are well known and yet so many people
still continue to smoke.

Another example is -
people exceeding the speed limit - that kills
so many each year.

Then there's many who eat
themselves into cholesterol-induced heart disease,
and still encourage their children to eat junk food.
Others become addicted to alcohol and other drugs,
whose dangers are common knowledge.

It would be much cheaper, and far more effective,
for individuals to make changes that
would prevent serious health issues from occuring
in the first place.

Dear examinator (Wise One),

Thanks for bringing up the issue of 'lifestyle,'
as a thread. I've just thought of another health
issue that is very much connected to a person's
lifestyle - and is becoming such a common problem
today - Diabetes!

Living with diabetes isn't easy. However by making
lifestyle changes such as decreasing fat intake,
particularly saturated fat and increasing fibre as
well as achieving the physical activity necessary
(and recommended) and weight loss, it's been shown that
diabetes can be prevented in people who are at high
risk (overweight, high blood pressure, high cholestrol
levels - et cetera).

Therefore lifestyle factors such as inactivity and a
poor diet can result in not only diabetes - but many
other illnesses and potential killers (heart attacks,
strokes et cetera).

After many years of trying - I've finally managed to
persuade my husband to take out a membership at my
gym - and join me in exercising 3 times a week.
Yay!

Foxy "We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts - self government means self reliance."

That might be so however, the opposite is also true,

Most governments are far too willing to take unto themselves the right to regulate and control the efforts of the population and then levy individual tax payers for consequences of politicians and faceless bureaucrats folly.

I feel such a judgment will eventually befall this “ethereal” ETS which Krudd and Co are hell bent on imposing upon us all, regardless of its real worth, merit or consequences.

And I feel the consequences of government acts, invariably do greater damage than any individual could to inflict upon themselves with their own acts.

As to self reliance… exactly… bring it all on.

Throughout my life I have made decisions, some good and some follies but I have born the reward and price / consequences of them all.

That is not only self reliance, it is also personal growth and if we were not put on this earth to grow and develop as individuals….

Why were we born in the first place?

– certainly not to be the work horses and chattels of an all powerful and all controlling governing state.

“Therefore lifestyle factors such as inactivity and a poor diet can result in not only diabetes - but many other illnesses and potential killers (heart attacks, strokes et cetera).”

We should be free to make our own choices and not be penalized with governmental or social pressures to conform to the aspirations of specialists and experts, especially when the expectations of zealots of any persuasion have been seen to fall far short of the truth, when scrutinized.

I refer to the activities of medical charlatans and activists who, through their claimed “expertise”, supposedly know best for us all, just as religious zealots proclaimed the virtue of the inquisition.

Diversity is the most underrated of all human attributes.

Foxy "We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the
Government in some miraculous way to save us from
the consequences of our own acts - self government means
self reliance."

That might be so however, the opposite is also true,
Most governments are far too willing to take unto themselves the right to regulate and control the efforts of the population and then levy individual tax payers for consequences of politicians and faceless bureaucrats folly.
I feel such a judgment will eventually befall this “ethereal” ETS which Krudd and Co are hell bent on imposing upon us all, regardless of its real worth, merit or consequences.
And I feel the consequences of government acts, invariably do greater damage than any individual could to inflict upon themselves with their own acts.

As to self reliance… exactly… bring it all on.

Throughout my life I have made decisions, some good and some follies but I have born the reward and price / consequences of them all.

That is not only self reliance, it is also personal growth and if we were not put on this earth to grow and develop as individuals….

Why were we born in the first place?

– certainly not to be the work horses and chattels of an all powerful and all controlling governing state.

Dear Col,

I've got a husband whose personal 'lifestyle,'
choice is - very little physical activity
(getting him to go for a walk is difficult),
lots of rich food, and alcohol.

That's a stroke and heart attack waiting to
happen.

I've finally managed to get him to agree to come
to a gym with me - how long this will last -
who knows? But its a step in the right direction.