DISCLAIMER: Before you read this, please know that it comes from a place of absolute love for you and my wish for you to have a long, healthy, happy life with those that you love.

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From Gallup Well-Being on August 16, 2012

In U.S., Majority Overweight or Obese in All 50 States

Colorado boasts lowest percentage of overweight and obese residents

by Elizabeth Mendes and Kyley McGeeney  12>

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly seven in 10 adults in West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky are either overweight or obese -- more than in any other state in the first half of 2012. At the other end of the scale is Colorado, the least overweight state in the union, but even there, 55.1% of residents are overweight or obese.

Read the full article here http://www.gallup.com/poll/156707/Majority-Overweight-Obese-States.aspx 

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68% of America is overweight and about 38% is obese. A USA News story in May of this year says that obesity could rise to 42% by 2030. This is just adults. 1/3 of our nation's children...I might cry...ONE THIRD...is overweight or obese. Remember Augustus Gloop in the original Willie Wonka movie? As my friend Rob recently pointed out to me, that is what 1 out of 3 of our children look like now.

This is why I write my blog. This is why I'm going to become a health coach. We have literally become the people at the end of the movie WALL-E. People who drive through drive-thrus, getting fast food, eating some in the car, eating the rest on the couch as we prop our feet up, turn on the tube and sigh about how exhausted we are.  It is unacceptable.

I've struggled with weight my whole life and so I know first-hand how hard it is. But I also know first-hand there is a way out of this hell and I won't stop preachin' til I'm dead in my grave. We owe this to ourselves and, more importantly, to our children.  

It begins with love.  It begins with finding out why we don't love ourselves and our children enough to put the hammer down on bad eating and lack of exercise.  It begins with understanding why we hate ourselves so much that we are slowly killing ourselves and our families.  Once we begin to understand the self-loathing, only then can we begin to repair it and heal our minds, bodies and spirits.  Simple as that.  It begins with love.

Thank you to my friend Ali for posting this on her Facebook page today and allowing me to spread the love. ♥