Comments on 12 Million Steps: Step 4,270,392

I'll show you love even if others refuse. You're l...

2009-07-13T10:53:27.668-07:00

I'll show you love even if others refuse. You're looking good buddy. Keep up the good work. I know the long road you've traveled and the determination and dedication it takes.

I feel your pain. I see people with handicapped stickers park right next to the store and then go trotting into the store. It's easy to judge and ask yourself what qualifies that person as a person with a disability. If there is no obvious ailment, I guess laziness. It would be naive to say there are not lazy people who take advantage of the system. I know it's not everyone, but that percentage makes it difficult for anyone with legitimate health problems.

If people want to get their panties in a bunch over your comments, that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, if they want to fix the problem, they either need to stop being lazy or start harassing those who are simply lazy and not in true need of assistance.

My two cents.

Keep it real.

Telling you about the pain I suffered at my high w...

2009-07-12T04:17:23.560-07:00

Telling you about the pain I suffered at my high weight was to illustrate that sometimes using those cart is for medical reasons that can't be easily seen.

I must admit that, at my highest weight (272.5), I...

2009-07-12T04:15:44.647-07:00

I must admit that, at my highest weight (272.5), I developed plantar fasciitis which made it excruciatingly painful to do any walking. I never used those carts though despite my husband suggesting it, even when I was pregnant and suffering from severe hip/pelvic pain too, and now that I've lost the weight (109 lbs lost so far), I no longer suffer from any of those pains.

I think the people who left the comments forgot th...

2009-07-11T21:22:40.323-07:00

I think the people who left the comments forgot that this is your blog and you are pretty much able to say what you want to say here. If they disagree about it, I think they should respect that this is your thoughts and feelings and your blog. They can choose to read it and not comment or not read it, but it is your blog and your opinion. I'm really terrible about judging people; I would be thinking the same thoughts you thought but there could be more behind what I see as is obvious with the people who negatively commented.

In most cases, not all cases, obesity is something a person can control by choosing to eat healtier and exercise more. There are those cases that people have a disability that makes them take medicine that causes weight gain and increases appetite, etc., but for the majority of overweight people, it is poor eating habits and no exercising (and that is my opinion, I don't know if I could back this up with any type of scientific statistics)

that being said, cool bike!

betty

I have lupus. I used to use those carts from time...

2009-07-11T17:23:10.948-07:00

I have lupus. I used to use those carts from time to time. And I usually left my crutches or walker in the car, because even though it took me a heck of a long time and a lot of pain to cross the parking lot without them, there wasn't any place to put them in the motor carts.

When I was less mobile, I gained weight faster. Before my knees went shortly after college, I played soccer, was on the synchronized swim team, and rode my bike all over. After the deterioration of my joints started, I did next to nothing.

It's been a hard road increasing my mobility, and yeah, it's true, some of it has been helped by weight loss and clean eating... but not all of it. Yesterday someone offered me a wheelchair while I was picking up my family's groceries. I'd hate to think if I'd taken it that people like you would have been judging me... or have been judging me for all those years.

You can't always see when someone is disabled. I have friends with MS who look fine some days, other days have severe problems. They aren't likely to be "packing crutches" so that they aren't embarrassed to get help.

It's dehumanizing and demeaning to constantly have to justify yourself to others who are so judgmental, and so sure that they know what's going on inside the lives of others.

You seem kind of young, I can't tell how old you a...

2009-07-11T14:11:31.206-07:00

You seem kind of young, I can't tell how old you are. I have a friend who's been very obese pretty much his entire adulthood. He's about 37 now and I don't know if it's entirely because of his weight or there were other mitigating factors, but his knees are shot, he can barely walk, it's tough to see him in such pain walking from the handicapped parking spot to the ticket booth at the cinema. Of course, his pain and effort is obvious when he walks. If you couldn't see any struggle in these people before they got to their carts, you may be right. Who knows.

I'm sure that some people have a legitimate health...

2009-07-11T12:07:20.665-07:00

I'm sure that some people have a legitimate health issue. Maybe those issues would be improved with a little walking.

Wow, you are full of compassion, aren't you?! You ...

2009-07-11T11:15:43.185-07:00

Wow, you are full of compassion, aren't you?! You never know if people have some other underlying condition (like rheumatoid arthritis or heart problems) that necessitate use of a cart. Unless you know for sure what someone's medical issues are, maybe you shouldn't judge.