Today’s biggest problem is the chiknay foods that we eat, the unhealthy pakistani lifestyle (be it anywhere in the world) and ultimately the health problems that we face or are about to face in the future.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT OUR PARENTS
I have managed to convince my parents and some aunties and uncles that I will prepare a diet and exercise program for them other than just for a walk in the park or the odd mediterranean dishes at dinner.
GOT A PROBLEM
I bought a Tai Chi tape from the store a month back but its still in its box, no one’s bothered to take it. I don’t know what exercise routine to organise for my parents and aunts and uncles.
I myself do weights in the gym, go running and cycling but its not something they can do. I’m out of my league here guys so please give me some educated suggestions.
I dunno most people young and old seem to see excersize and eating right as some kinda fad.
I started excersizing and eating right years ago after reading an article in the Reader's Digest where they did a study with some seniors and saw putting them on an excerize program cured them of most of their physical ailments!?
It such a stupid thing to allow yourself to get in such bad shape and literally let your body rot out of simple laziness and neglect.
An hour or 30mins a day is all it takes to keep yourself in good shape for life.
Thanks for the know but what do you suggest doing in that 30 minutes?
Paki culture is based around food. We go visit a place, we get there, eat and come back. We go to someone house, we get there, eat and come back. Weddings are based around eating in congregation and are judged on the quality of food. Marriages are based around the frequency of food produced. Kids won't be healthy if they don't eat as much as an elephant. Pakistani cities have more eating places than schools, hospitals and police stations combined.
All this is something that is deep in the roots of history and culture. You can't take much out but you can introduce exercise and physical activity.
hmm... my dad suffered from a heart attack.. so after that we changed everyone's diet for a yaer... do it as a family thing not on an individual basis...
i know walking doesnt sound like a big deal.. but it helps A LOT... ive asked my mama to go on daily walks for about half an hour after dinner..
with the food thing.... let them eat their curry.. (i do as well) lekin cut down on the fatty stuff... or i mean cut down on the amount of oil they use (change the style.. maybe used Kanola)... cut down on salt... declare war if you have to (we do).. and instead of lets say eating two rotis... make them eat one..
the biggest problem i see with all the aunties and uncles in pakistan is that.. they have joint problems... and thats cus they arent drinking enuff water and are always sitting around... also they have huuuuge tummies regardless of how thin their bodies are.... i say make them walk about 20-30 min bout 4-5 days a week... it makes a big difference... getting them to go to the gym is a monstrous task... even if it happens.. it'll be for a few weeks then kapput
Well you gotta change their diet.. how you're gonna do that I have no
idea?
As for what to do in 30min..
start off with walking
then get them to walk faster lol
eventually see if you can get them on an excerisize bike.
oh I remember this one time I was visiting my uncle and his brother.. so I took them to their apartment's 'gym' .. I saw them on the bike going so ridiculously slow ..they were better off just sitting there and doing nothing lol
They were both in their early 40's still very young ..typical skinny body huge gut ..
so anyhow I told them how I once lost more then 6 inches off my waist just doing the bike 30 min 4 days a week (slight exaggeration in size of waist mind you-for inspirational purposes) ;)
Oh God it was hilarious!
Suddenly they both got all excited and tried to out do each other going as fast as they can.. they were done in under 5 mins and drenched in sweat and gasping for air. lol
yeah diet and exercise r important MUSH but i reckon these days our parents generation is also facing health problems coz of lack of EMOTIONAL HAPPINESS n PEACEFUL RELAXED FAMILY LIFE
i mean, kids live far away from their parents, parents are not living with joint families, city life is stressful, kids are not so obedient, badtameezi karte haen maan baap se...
and so on...
:(
asal sehat khushi se aati hae...
we should try to make them emotionally happy....thats whats gona be the best for their health...
Wow, you guys actually bothered to reply, bohot shukriya, and very diverse answers too!
Well I think the walk thing is a good idea, 30minutes walk is good, considering that the walking pace is really slow I think a good starting point is to increase the pace.
My parents are both working and although us kids are still living at home we live a very cosmopolitan life, since we are all adults and either working or at uni. I guess you're right, a slow down is necessary once in a while for happiness sake.
The problem is that if you make your diet and lifestyle healthy enough to avoid heart trouble... all it means is that you're more likely to live longer and get long painful drawn out deaths like cancer.