Treats and modern-day obesity.

 Well, isn't this exciting? A brand new blog under my newly-rebranded business name - Total Mind and Body Wellness.

I am not a newcomer to blogging, mind you. I have other blogs in my name under 'Debbie Does' and the 'Run 103 coastpath' blog from way back in the day, not forgetting the 'Epic Adventures' blogs.

I have a need to get things out of my head and into the written word, and, to be honest I'm not that bothered if people read it, but I am grateful if they do, because if I feel it's important enough to come out of my head, then it's important in life.

Today's blog is no exception to that rule. Today I want to talk about the following........

WHY do people feel the need to 'TREAT' themselves, their pets, their children for no special reason these days? And is this increasing trend in 'TREATING' leading to obesity in our pets and loved ones?

Here is an example of where I first started to realise that it is becoming more of an issue, and it starts with people and their dogs. I see a lot of people out with just one dog, out and about, and recently I see an increasing number of these dog owners giving little biscuits and treats to their dogs, just for walking, sitting and doing what well-trained dogs should do, naturally.

'Well done Rover for not taking that other dog out as we walk through the park!'

'Well done Poppy for not barking at that child on the swings, have a biscuit!'

Growing up in the 1970's, a treat for a dog was a walk, or a 'good dog' when they sat at the road edge. I will be referring back to the 1970's later in this blog, so sit tight for that one! Dog treats were limited to Bonio's on a dog's birthday or Christmas, but certainly not as a reward for good behaviour on a daily basis. This is because more and more people recently have humanised their pets. This may be to do with loneliness in the lockdown, but I think it was happening way before then. Dogs no longer live out in the garden in a kennel, they are even allowed into the bedroom these days, dressed up, treated as though they are actually human beings, and not the 4-legged savage killers, that we let live in our houses, that they really are.

Because of this there is an increasing amount of overweight, unfit dogs walking about among us, with their unfit, overweight owners, who behave the same way themselves.

Maybe I should have started this blog with a warning about how harshly I can speak at times, but I am always honest. I have seen a serious downslide in people's self-respect, and respect for the carcass that carries us and our organs around on a daily basis.

I will put it like this - we only live once, and we only have one body, it needs the correct fuel and movement for longevity, if it doesn't get this, it fails, and we really only have that one chance. Life can be short, and can be even shorter if we don't look after it. How do you rate your own mortality? Do you even care? Do you think to yourself, as you sip that glass of wine every evening, 'I could be shortening my life every time I do this, my poor kids won't see me live past 50 at this rate?'

So this 'treating' our pets, comes from us 'treating' ourselves, for good behaviour, or for a special occasion, or because we have had a bad day at work, or because it's a Wednesday! 

Here, I leap back in time again, as I warned, back to the 1970's, where cake was only eaten on a special occasion. Where sugary fizzy drinks were only drunk at your school-friend's birthday parties. TREATS, were just that, not every day, not every week, and not every month in some circumstances. They were rare, enjoyed and special. There was very little obesity in those days, partly because of this, and partly because people had more active jobs and weren't addicted to TV and social media. It wasn't a lazy society, and I suppose I'm nostalgic about it, because it was my era, but I do think the world and everyone in it has taken a massive nosedive in terms of health since then.

As a personal trainer and nutritionist, I hear the same things over and over again, 'I had a glass of wine, because I had a stressful day!' 'I had some cake, because I was stressed about *insert life event* and so I thought it would make me feel better!' They are just every day life events, not special, or deserved, you want to treat yourself with sugar and alcohol, just for being alive? You are missing the point! I treat myself with exercise, fresh veg, herbal teas because I am alive - and I want to live a lot longer! YOU are punishing your body, I am PRAISING mine. Something really needs to change, and fast.

So, I've had a rant, I'm not allowed to I'm told, because of my business, what I do, how I should be nurturing, on account of being a WELLNESS coach. But tough love is often needed to get the message across. I see people every day of the week, taking minutes, hours, weeks off their lives by bad choices, just because life dealt them a bit of a bad card that day. That IS life, and there are other, better ways of making things better than shoving a pasty in your mouth.

What I am REALLY saying is, take a moment out, TREAT yourself on special occasions, of course, do that, that's the RIGHT time to do it. But also remember that Wednesday, every Wednesday, isn't a special occasion. Be respectful of the body you are given, work with it for longevity, be kind to it by exercising, drinking water, decreasing sugar, alcohol and processed carbs and sleeping well.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF.

If you have read all of this, thank you, if it made sense to you, great, and if you hated it, maybe there is a message in there for you. Take care, drink water and do all the good things!

Debbie :)