I have read that by the year 2030 half of all Americans will be obese. If you take a look out the window on a busy day, I would say that we are pretty close to that point already and it is apparent that childhood obesity is rampant. But what is with the negativity? Why can’t we change it around and say that by the year 2030 obesity is eradicated. Why would we want to shoot ourselves in the foot before we even have the gun drawn?

I have first-hand experience with obesity. I have suffered with it two times in my life. I was an obese teenager that seemed to beat it only to slip back into my old unhealthy behaviors and become obese again. Luckily, I got motivated again and have pretty much beat it again. Why can’t we motivate people to beat this obesity problem that we have now? Why can’t we educate people about fitness and nutrition? Obesity is not fun! Being fit and healthy is!

If I woke up in the morning defeated with the thought that I was going to be obese again why would I even waste my time to work out that day? Why put the effort into a losing battle? Why try to eat clean and healthy? Why not just say oh well I’m going to be obese again by the year 2030 so I might as well eat that plate of brownies now? The year 2030 is roughly 18 years away. There’s a lot of living to be done between now and then. We can start today on a path to a better future or we can sit on the couch, waste time and have nothing to show for it in the end.

"The year 2030 is roughly 18 years away. There’s a lot of living to be done between now and then."

People seem to think that working out is hard and to an extent it is but it is my personal experience that living my life with extra weight was a lot harder. Going up and down steps was harder. Buying clothes was harder. Dating was harder. I’m a lot happier now. I have more energy. I feel like I’m actually living and enjoying my life.

My point is – why can’t we try to be a little more encouraging to people? Why can’t we inspire people to increase their activity and try to show people how good they are going to feel when they get fit and healthy. It isn’t very inspirational to tell people that they might as well not even bother because by the year 2030 you are doomed to a life of obesity. Wouldn’t it be nice to be looking back in the year 2030 to the years 2011-2012 and to be saying, “Wow, we used to be really obese people back then. I wonder why we just didn’t eat better and exercise more.”

Why can’t we change the future? The answer is: We can!