Bea Loozer

Has anyone determined the percentage of TV ads that promote pharmaceutical drugs? Maybe because I tend to watch programs that are aimed at mature people and pay very little attention to programs aimed at teeny boppers, it seems to me that at least a third of the ads claim to offer a medicinal remedy or present a new ailment for us to worry about having. The good news is that with recording devices for TV, we can skip most of the ads.

But I honestly wish we could ban them, as has been done in other countries. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Unless you’re taking a surgical approach, weight loss is accomplished by getting a grip on the basics like keeping active, eating healthy food, using portion control, etc. It also helps to keep up with new findings, like the importance of sleep, knowing which foods provide the nutrients you (as an individual) really need and the possible advantage of fasting daily for 12 hours so your body will not have to metabolize food during the nonfood hours. There is something to be said for these approaches, and staying tuned to new findings can really help.

Also important is to surround yourself with other supportive people who can share their wisdom and who care about your health. It’s really helpful to get the support you need from Golden Goalies. We understand your challenges. We understand what it feels like to gain weight since the weigh-in the previous week. We can even laugh about it. But we are there to encourage you, to share insights, and to celebrate your steps toward better health.

We all know how much easier it is to live a healthful life if your family members do the same and how challenging it can be if they don’t. Blessings to members who help not only themselves but also family members by working to improve their own health. I hope the support members get from Golden Goalies proves to be as helpful as it does to me.

Join our group for support, encouragement, shared wisdom and some good laughs. Weigh-in is between 7:00-7:40 Saturdays in the Mirror Room of Sun Lakes Country Club. The meeting starts after weigh-in next door in the Friendship Room. Contact Rita at 895-2559 for more information.