The Dangers of being overweight and obese.

I promised myself a few days ago that I would write about the problem of being overweight or obese from my point of view.

Obesity is killing too many people in this 'small global village' that I live in.  Everywhere you go there is someone who is overweight.  Some people say, 'I'm thick'; 'I'm big boned'; I'm solid'; 'I'm pleasantly plump'.  No! they are actually overweight and in many cases obese.[That is weighting 20% more then they should for their height] If your waist is over 35 inches as a female that is being obese.  If your waist size is over 40 inches and you are male, you are obese.
  I see obesity on a daily basis whether it is in the work place, at the clinics, in the schools, at the super markets and in the community at large, both male and female.
  This condition does not have to be a death sentence, yet so many young people allow it to be just that. If a person decides to sit and watch television for hours, don't engage in any form of exercise and do not get 7-10 hours of sleep then they make the decision to be obese. And, too many young people smoke that too can increase the risk of being obese.
  In a small country like The Bahamas, there are far too many people suffering with hypertension and diabetes, these can and in many cases lead to strokes, heart problems, infertility and some cancers.
   People who are overweight and obese are discriminated against.  I see young people 'poke fun' at their peers who are obese.  They call them names like 'piggy', 'elephant', and they make the sounds that the pig makes as they pass them.  This is mean.  It only triggers lower self-esteem and encourages the person being teased to find comfort in more 'food'.  The thing is though, they do not eat a whole food like an apple or some grapes; they reach for a chocolate bar, some sugary cookies, ice cream, sugary drinks and soda.
  The schools in this country should sell only 100% juices and yet some sell 'drinks' that are basically sugar, oil, colouring and water. Where they should be selling fruit they choose to sell chocolate bars, M & Ms, candy and biscuits.  These do not help the situation but make it worse. The children now add being hyper to being overweight.  
  I have personally spoken to people who are suffering from hypertension and diabetes because of being overweight, but when you recommend that they try some natural product to help them and suggest that they change their diet, they say they can't afford it. The thing about it, those words 'I can't afford' should be linked to becoming more overweight then to not wanting to spend money to correct the problem they are living with.
  I say that it is cheaper to start a corrective program to change your diet then to get to the point where your pressure is so high that the doctor can't get it down, or to go into a sugar induced coma. It is cheaper that having to call a charter flight day or night to take you into New Providence to one of the hospitals and then pay the doctors and nurses whom you may need for round the clock care. Little changes in your lifestyle can make a whole lot of difference.
  And there are those people, including those in my own family who say, "I inherit this!" I don't think you can inherit being fat.  It 'boils' down to what you put into your mouth and how much of it and how often.
  There is a saying that we are what we eat!  So if we eat fried potatoes and fried chicken every day two to three times a day and then add peas and rice, baked macaroni and cheese, potato salad and follow that with a soda and ice cream what can we really expect? Just as food can be our medicine, it can be our death sentence!
  Anyone can make the decision to live/eat healthy. It is up to us to do that.  We as parents would have to make that decision for our children. We must be the example and let them learn by what we do.

There is a product that I use daily called "Unicity Balance". It works folks, it does. I will be happy to talk to you about it. To find out more, email me at annahorton768@gamil.com.

Let's live people! Not die for lack of doing the right thing.
Be blessed.    

St. Luke's Church Rock Sound Eleuthera,The BAHAMAS.

The congregation of the church above have witnessed and proclaimed God in the community of Rock Sound and the island of Eleuthera and by that the entire Bahamas for 150 years in this building.

There have been a number of priests who have passed through these doors as Rector but today we have a young man from the 'Eleuthera soil';  Bradley Miller whose parents raised him and his siblings in the neighbouring town of Green Castle.  He attended the local high school here in Rock Sound, Preston Albury High School.  He served his country in the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Prison Officers Department and then he got the call to 'come up higher'; to serve not only his country but his people in the Priesthood.

It is fitting that he is the Priest 'today' 2014 as we the congregation of St. Luke celebrate 150 years of service to Christ and the community.

He has made a difference:

St. Ambrose Guild Service

Reviving of the CYM - at the Parish Level;

Revived the use of the Parish Hall- The Fredrick G Guild Complex for Church Functions:

See the latest 150th year Banquet Transformation

Stages of the transformation from Parish Hall to Banquet Hall

 Imagine how much more can be done if we continually work together?

Now a Gazebo is being completed to the north west of the church, imagine the lovely sunsets as you sit and truly enjoy God's creations.

A Parish Fair is being planned for May 31 2014 - Right on the Parish Hall grounds.

This St. Luke's Parish is on the move.

If you come to Eleuthera from anywhere in this Global village please stop by our church to enjoy our Worship and Fellowship.  We worship on Sundays at 11AM every week. 

Reflections.

It's been a while since I last posted on this blog and since then some significant things have happened in my life.
 In September of 2011 I had the pleasure of welcoming my second grandson into this world - Mekhi Amari.
 In June of 2012 the decision to go back into the classroom was realized. So after six years of being in charge of myself, I again became subjected to someone else. What an adjustment. Some of the so called "professionals" treated me as if I was a novice who had never been in a classroom, these included those who I had left there. Time truly changes things and definitely people, but so be it.
  That first month was like living in a 'war zone'. The eleventh grade that I was given, were also 'told' to frustrate me as much as they possibly could. They tried. They, the students 'took' me to the office three times in one week. Did I get the support that I felt I would have gotten? No! Instead I was blamed for being too hard on the students.  The work was too hard, I was too rough, and so on. I found out that 14 of them had their parents' blessings.  It did not stop there, when I let it be known that I felt that some of the adults were being disrespectful, they got the parents involved who felt I was marking too hard, I did not have to point out 'all the errors'. I teach English. Parents came and verbally abused me in front of administration, did I get support then? No! i had to actually say to a parent who brought my husband into the picture, that if she tried it again I would involve the police for the verbal insults and abuse. despite this I entered 90 percent for the BGCSE Language core. I looked beyond the chaos to what could come out on the other side.
 By the Christmas holidays I was ready to get out of the country, so I did. And although I got laid over in Atlanta because of the snow, the feeling of 'lightness' was worth it.  Spending that holiday with my 3 months old grand son and my 6 years old grand son was heavenly. It made the abuse worth it all.  Just for those 12 days of tranquility.
  And then, school reopens. I laid down the law. This term was short and the last term to ensure that the syllabi was covered and that they got the materials needed under their 'belt'.
  They got it.  They realized that it was never about me, but them.
  I realized that it was all a TEST one that was humongous! I took on my Parish's youth organization. The numbers were staggering some weeks ranging from 60 - 90 teen agers and tweens. I realized then that the test was to see if I could do the real work that God had for me to do. See teaching is my passion. I trained to teach Sr. High school students and here I was with ages 8 - 19 and some weeks 20-21 year olds.
  Thank God for the faithfulness of my fellow church member and teacher Ms. Butler. She stuck with me and helped to keep order. Even when she felt she had enough, we knew that we could not let the young people 'down'.  And yes it helped that we taught some of them at school.
  God's sense of humour showed through. The very young people who said that I was too hard on them 'begged' to be part of the Youth group, those very young people came to me as a confident when things were going 'extremely bad' for them. What could I say? God placed me there to be more than a teacher, much more. For that I am thankful.  And those who brought their parents, yes those, they came for personal tutoring and advice on what to do in regards to higher education, for those letters of recommendation, for that help to get things done 'right'. And all I could do is smile because God in His Infinite mercy and wisdom showed me that it's not about me, it's about doing 'His will and His work'. After all He said it's better to have a large stone hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea than to harm one of 'the little ones'.
  The year ended in June of 2013.  When the BGCSE results were revealed, some of those same 'nay sayers' changed their tone. Most of the students in the group passed the core, got the C [highest grade for the core] some their D and 2 got the E. See those who chose to listen and work were rewarded. Those who continued to hold out as if they were doing it for me, learned the hard way.
  We have completed term one and now half way through term two.  There has been a complete turn around.  Now, those same students can't wait to get to class and if by chance they are going somewhere and may miss the class they inform me either personally or through fellow student.  Some of my colleagues have questioned me as to how it is that the students I teach 'behave'? And how is it we can laugh and still get the work done. It's not me! It's GOD He is the master planner and the Designer of it all. I am only the instrument that He is using.
  And when he revels to me that the students are being duped or are going to be duped, I tell them. When they see it they look at me as if I had prior knowledge, No. I do NOT!
  I know now, that God has placed me with the homeroom I have and the students I have to help through teaching because He has a plan for every 'life' He is allowing me to come into contact with.
  While my two grandsons now 8 and 2 have my 'heart'. I see the 105 students I come into contact with in the classroom and the 300 plus outside the classroom as my children.  After all I am a mother/grandmother and who knows when I have to 'stand in the gap'?
  See I know now that God is counting on me as I count on Him.  He is ALL I need.

Election Fever is Now.

Today, Election fever is in the air.
People are making every effort to register and some are becoming frustrated. I just spoke to a young man who said he can't find his birth certificate and he wants to register.  He now has to go to Nassau in order to get one.  I was surprised to realize how many people have been turned away because they do not have the required documentation to register.
I fear for those first time voters. In this country there are so many people who do not have a passport, nor a birth certificate in hand. Now they would have to pay for an affidavit to prove that they are truly Bahamian. What about those people who are not working? Who is going to supply them with that $50 plus to get an affidavit?
Tonight, 19th March, 2011. The FNM party would hold its first Mass Rally at the Clifford Park in Nassau. The leader is going to report to the Nation the things that were done for the good of the People of the Country in the last 3 years and 10 months. Modern technology would have it streaming live on the Internet. I guess that is so that scholars out side the country can watch and listen.
This 'show tonight' at clifford park would start the race towards the 2010 general election, or it may be earlier!
So, as stated earlier, people who want to register and are being turned away due to documentation must be helped...not everyone has a passport, a birth certificate in hand, has no money to get to Nassau, nor a place to live when they get there. I would like for a way to be made for people to register without so much hinderance.  Voters need help.

Changes Come

It is already the tenth month of the year. Boy have things changed in the last four months. In July 2010 I made that BIG leap, I committed to being a Rotarian.
  My sponsor a former student invited and encourage me to give through Rotary instead of just giving. I agreed.  As soon as I was in the door, I was challenged to become the Chair for International Services/Rotary Foundation. I raised to the challenge.
  First challenge get a young lady through to an Ambassadorial Scholarship.  How do you work with a name without a face? You communicate.  And that is just what we did Communicate. A few weeks later she made it in and is now awaiting her final answer to study law.
  Second order of business get to a two day Leadership workshop in another city [Saturday/Sunday] . So, it was rush on Friday after five PM packed and do some house hold chores, and get to be early for a 7AM flight the next morning. Airport to Workshop until 4PM and the back the next day. At 5AM Monday morning back to the airport and from there drive 22 miles to work...That is what is calls for "Service above Self".
 This is only the beginning..Now it is learn, learn, learn and apply to make life better for those nationally and internationally and I am have a 'blast' as I do so.
  To serve is truly what brings 'JOY'.

Scenes to enjoy

                                  The Waters of Eleuthera - The Isle of Freedom ...

                                        A view of the Ocean from Millionaire's Heights, Eleuthera.

                                          
                                           The Gulls of Summer...

                                                  Enjoy a Sunrise, you'll never forget it.

A PICTURE PAINTS MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS, YOU NEVER SEE THE SAME THING TWICE.

Summer School

With school out for the Summer and children having so much free time on their hands, it is an excellent idea to enroll them in Summer School.
The advantages include enhancing what they learned during the year; exposing them to fun ways to learn; meeting and interacting with new children; visiting places they may not otherwise visit; and learning to stand up for themselves.
  It is believed that when students stay at home during the entire summer break they lose up to 60% of what they learned during the school year.
  At home there are many things to keep the children occupy, but most of them revolve around the television.  They are either to watch cartoons, or to play some electronic game be it WII or any other game.
  If children attend summer school for at least 4 -5 weeks they would benefit more than watching the television.
  The older children may work at summer jobs, but they too should be jobs where they learn a skill not just sit around and do nothing or very little.
  It is my hope that parents would ensure that their children use that long summer break wisely.