Life more precious than a slimmer physique
by Shannon Harrison, managing editor

     One night while sifting through a magazine, I found an article about six people who lost their lives while trying to lose weight. A routine procedure, diet pills or even avoidance of meals took away their lives.

     As I was reading, I realized how serious this problem is and how too many people feel a need to meet the standards they think society has set and believe that being thin is more important than living.

     Looking through magazines or watching a movie, you notice beautiful, thin-looking women. That’s when you decide that to feel better about yourself, you must take action.

     I had a friend in high school who was not overweight but grew thinner each day. As it turned out, she had two eating disorders: anorexia and bulimia.

     She would wake at 4 a.m., work out for an hour, then starve herself for a few days. Then she would eat a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and anything else she could find. She would then go into the bathroom and throw up.

     When her family started to catch on, she would throw up in jars and hide them in her closet. Her family finally sent her to a clinic. When she got out, she appeared better, but was not. She had to return to the clinic. My friend survived this situation, but many others don’t.

     If you’re not happy with your looks, there are alternatives to losing weight other than surgery or starvation.

     The best alternative is to join a gym. For a small monthly fee, a person can have access to different kinds of workout machines, fitness classes and a pool.

     If you cannot afford a gym membership, you can buy a workout video. They are inexpensive, and if you use it regularly, the pounds will start coming off.

     Those who don’t like this alternative can choose a free alternative—100 sit ups every night before bed or a walk or run each night after dinner.

     People need to realize that most of us are not the Hollywood elite. I’m sick of hearing girls in size two jeans complain about being fat. I’m sick of hearing about girls who think the only way that they can lose weight is to not eat. I’m sick of people complaining about their weight and not doing anything to help themselves.

     I do understand that losing weight is not the easiest thing to do, but like other things in life, it doesn’t hurt to try. If you eat right, get exercise and take care of yourself, then at least you are trying to help yourself feel better.

     For those of you who think that pencil thin is sexy, you are wrong. Being happy and successful without having to worry about gaining five pounds is more important. Too many people believe that in order to be successful, they must have perfect looks and a nice body.

     It’s called intelligence, people. Last time I checked, a person needs a good brain and a degree to make it in this world, not a size 38 C bra cup and size 4 pants.

     If you do want to lose weight, do it for yourself and not for anybody else. It’s not about what other people think but about how you feel on the inside. All it takes is some good sense, nutrition and a workout to accomplish. It does not, however, require surgery, pills, starvation or vomiting.

     So the next time you go to stick that finger down your throat or to take that pill, think about how many success stories there are, and then realize how many aren’t.

     A person’s life is far more precious than to waste it on trying to lose a few pounds.