Mayor Bloomberg to Welfare Moms: Get off the Coke!

[crb]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/nyregion/07stamps.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper



Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg sought federal permission on Wednesday to bar New York City’s 1.7 million recipients of food stamps from using them to buy soda or other sugared drinks.

The government shouldn't control what people eat or drink, and in a perfect world we'd all be self sufficient and personally responsible for our own welfare.

Since we don't live in a perfect world, I like this move. If you're taking government subsidies for food, how bout buying actual food? Furthermore, if you're on food stamps, you're probably also on medicaid, so your health is my business, and I don't want you getting diabetes.

I think food stamps are a good program, I get annoyed when people on welfare have cable tv, or go to casinos, or smoke, or drink, but I don't begrudge them food. But lets limit the definition of food to products that are nutritious.

[Bobmuhthol]

That's weird because I think food stamps are a fucking stupid program.


City health officials say that drinking 12 ounces of soda a day can make a person gain 15 pounds a year.

I've gained about 15 pounds in 6 years and I drink at least 40 fluid ounces of soda every day.

[radamanthys]

It's nobody's right to get food stamps. It's a privlege granted by the taxpayers. And thus the government has a right to state what those stamps will and will not buy. As such, cookies, candy, luxury foods (lobster, etc), soda, etc. could all serve to be on the same non-coverage list as tobacco and alcohol.

[Murkshev]

What I want to know is when the hell they start letting people buy soda with food stamps? I grew up on welfare and don't ever remember having soda in my house. Now cool-aid that was different. Perhaps my mother was one of the few who cared about her health and the food we ate. If the government gives you something for free should there not be a catch? Its hard enough to get security clearance to do government contract work, but to buy anything you can eat or drink with foods stamps with very few restrictions is crazy.

[Parkbandit]

Much like the bailouts... once you have your hand out for help from Uncle Sam, you should abide by any and all strict terms.

You don't like it? Get off welfare.

[crb]

That's weird because I think food stamps are a fucking stupid program.



I've gained about 15 pounds in 6 years and I drink at least 40 fluid ounces of soda every day.

can != will.

You can gain 15 pounds a year. But not everyone will. It will depend on your individual diet and exercise routine.

[Bobmuhthol]

Oh so what you're saying is that you agree with me that the statement I quoted is irrelevant and in no way indicative of the need to ban soda purchases with food stamps?

[RichardCranium]

You can buy whatever you want with foodstamps, as long as it's nit alcohol or tabacco. You can also use unemployment to pay for Gemstone.

[Kuyuk]

I use foodstamps to pay for hookers, and unemployment to pay for STD checks

[Rocktar]

That's weird because I think food stamps are a fucking stupid program.

Actually agree with this.




I've gained about 15 pounds in 6 years and I drink at least 40 fluid ounces of soda every day.

I would imagine that you actually physically move more than many food stamp recipients.

However, the government is basically using food stamps to buy food and distribute it through existing channels instead of doing the work of collection and distribution it's self. So, since the government is buying, they do have the ability to determine what they buy and people need to learn to deal. Personally, if it didn't cost so much, I would rather have the government issue standard relief ration packs to people on welfare in the quantities needed for weekly sustenance. You know, the MREs that are socially and religiously non-offensive. I bet if they did that, people would work real hard to get off food stamps because those things are bland.

By the way, they should save a lot more money for food stamps and ban buying any bottled drink other than fruit juice and milk. After all, if you are on welfare, you don't need to be buying bottled fricking water.

[Parkbandit]

Couldn't find the ZOMG SODA IS EVIL! thread.. this'll work.

A state judge on Monday stopped Mayor Michael Bloomberg (http://topics.wsj.com/person/B/Michael-Bloomberg/4365)'s administration frombanning the sale of large sugary drinks (http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2013/03/04/soda-ban-faq-how-nycs-large-drink-rules-work/) at New York City restaurants and other venues, a major defeat for a mayor who has made public-health initiatives a cornerstone of his tenure.

The city is "enjoined and permanently restrained from implementing or enforcing the new regulations," wrote New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling, blocking the rules one day before they would have taken effect. The city's chief counsel, Michael Cardozo, pledged to quickly appeal the ruling.

In halting the drink rules, Judge Tingling noted that the incoming sugary drink regulations were "fraught with arbitrary and capricious consequences" that would be difficult to enforce with consistency "even within a particular city block, much less the city as a whole."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826704578354543929974394.html

[Latrinsorm]

I can't speak for any of my conservative Republican brethren, but I for one have had it up to here with judges legislating from the bench.

[Kastrel]

While rating food in terms of healthiness is a grey area and probably difficult to justify . . .

I would say that food stamps should not be elibible for purchasing diet soda. Worried about public water? Buy bottled water then. There is no reason why food stamps should go towards flavor addiction which literally provides 0 nutritional substances except a pinch of salt.

[Tgo01]

While rating food in terms of healthiness is a grey area and probably difficult to justify . . .

I would say that food stamps should not be elibible for purchasing diet soda. Worried about public water? Buy bottled water then. There is no reason why food stamps should go towards flavor addiction which literally provides 0 nutritional substances except a pinch of salt.

Why just diet soda? The only thing regular soda provides that diet soda doesn't is too many calories.

[Sean]

When you're living on a budget you buy what's cheap.. and soda is really cheap.

[TheEschaton]

Soda is definitely cheaper than milk, and most juices. Milk prices are absurd.

[Kastrel]

Why just diet soda? The only thing regular soda provides that diet soda doesn't is too many calories.

Because someone, somewhere, might be able to justify using it to provide just enough calories to survive.

I'm not saying that it shouldn't be regulated, more that I think it would be hard to prove it should be regulated, since apparently the court system didn't think it could be.

Meanwhile, diet soda is just flavored and carbonated water for a higher price.

[~Rocktar~]

I can't speak for any of my conservative Republican brethren, . . .

AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH . . .

~breath~

AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH . . .

You are no more conservative than I am a skinny black woman.


but I for one have had it up to here with judges legislating from the bench.

It's the 4th sign, I actually agree with this part.

[Thondalar]

I'm liking the MRE idea.

I mean, if the actual intent of the food stamp program is to provide sustenance to "under-priveleged" people (a term that should be obsolete in America, but that's a different thread), then let's move to that. If it's good enough for our troops protecting this country, it should be good enough for people mooching off of it.

As to cheaper or not, who knows. My wife's best friend from childhood grew up to be a useless lump of a baby-producer, she gets something stupid like 900 dollars a month in food stamps. I'm pretty sure she and her kids could live off MRE's for cheaper, but it would involve entirely more number crunching than I care to do, so i'll leave it as an assumption.

I wonder what the economic impact of that would be on grocery stores? I'm too lazy to look it up, but I would have to think that food stamps account for a large percentage of income to various grocery chains. Taking this away and replacing it with government-manufactured prepackaged meals would be interesting.

As usual, large social projects undertaken by the government have too many facets to properly predict their outcome/unintended consequences. For this reason alone they should stop doing them.

But that's a different thread.

-Thond

[Ardwen]

regularly see folks with welfare or food stamp cards buying both lobster and high cost steaks. The system is a joke, the idea is a good one but its so mismanaged as to be nearly worthless. Is a large scam, buy bottled water with your ebt card, empty the bottles return them for the cash and use the cash for whatever you cant get with the card, and best part is its not illegal or against the system rules.

[Tgo01]

Didn't some government official say food stamps was one of the best ways to boost the economy?

[Some Rogue]

regularly see folks with welfare or food stamp cards buying both lobster and high cost steaks. The system is a joke, the idea is a good one but its so mismanaged as to be nearly worthless. Is a large scam, buy bottled water with your ebt card, empty the bottles return them for the cash and use the cash for whatever you cant get with the card, and best part is its not illegal or against the system rules.

Man, a nickel a bottle....they must be rolling in dough.

[Kastrel]

I'd hazard a guess that if you regulated food-stamps so that you only got rationed MREs and maybe some other important household items, we'd see the following things:

1. Less people on food stamps
2. A decrease in obesity amongst lower SES groups
3. An increase in literal starvation (as opposed to obese malnutrition) amongst children in these SES groups

I'm guessing the last because I would estimate there are a lot of people who use food stamps to buy junk food for themselves, and would probably just not bother at all anymore, leaving their children with nothing (rather than easily procured chips and corn syrup)

[Tgo01]

regularly see folks with welfare or food stamp cards buying both lobster and high cost steaks. The system is a joke, the idea is a good one but its so mismanaged as to be nearly worthless. Is a large scam, buy bottled water with your ebt card, empty the bottles return them for the cash and use the cash for whatever you cant get with the card, and best part is its not illegal or against the system rules.

That seems like a lot of work. I know a couple people who sell their food stamp money, they aren't ashamed talking about it either.

[Ardwen]

Some states water bottles are a dime a bottle, case of cheap water is 3-4 bucks, its not a terrible rate of return if ya desperate, and alot less work then actually gathering cans

[Kastrel]

I've run into a lot of people selling their food stamps outside of Super-Markets. They usually offer a pretty reasonable deal, 2:1 stamps to cash.

[Ardwen]

See selling the stamps or buying for other people is illegal and can get ya taken off the program, wasting what you buy cant.

[Methais]

You can buy whatever you want with foodstamps, as long as it's nit alcohol or tabacco. You can also use unemployment to pay for Gemstone.

If you use unemployment to pay for Gemstone, and then use Gemstone to earn money from selling silvers, are you really unemployed?

PROOF THAT UNEMPLOYMENT CREATES JOBS!



Didn't some government official say food stamps was one of the best ways to boost the economy?

http://justinwashingtontheblogger.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/pelosi_joker.jpg

[4a6c1]

I'd hazard a guess that if you regulated food-stamps so that you only got rationed MREs and maybe some other important household items, we'd see the following things:
2. A decrease in obesity amongst lower SES groups


I stared at this sentence for a good 60 seconds trying to understand why you would post something so stupid. Then I realized you're probably just misinformed, so I read back a little and saw this....


I'm liking the MRE idea.

I mean, if the actual intent of the food stamp program is to provide sustenance to "under-priveleged" people (a term that should be obsolete in America, but that's a different thread), then let's move to that. If it's good enough for our troops protecting this country, it should be good enough for people mooching off of it.

As to cheaper or not, who knows. My wife's best friend from childhood grew up to be a useless lump of a baby-producer, she gets something stupid like 900 dollars a month in food stamps. I'm pretty sure she and her kids could live off MRE's for cheaper, but it would involve entirely more number crunching than I care to do, so i'll leave it as an assumption.

I wonder what the economic impact of that would be on grocery stores? I'm too lazy to look it up, but I would have to think that food stamps account for a large percentage of income to various grocery chains. Taking this away and replacing it with government-manufactured prepackaged meals would be interesting.

As usual, large social projects undertaken by the government have too many facets to properly predict their outcome/unintended consequences. For this reason alone they should stop doing them.

But that's a different thread.

-Thond

Modern MREs are meant to fuel military personel in extreme heat and cold while wearing body armor, weaponry and gear. Typically, military can be made to perform the work of four people so they often have the caloric intake of professional athletes. Post 9/11 MRE's are packed with sodium, carbs, protein and fat to prevent dehydration and other weather related injuries while promoting muscle growth. So we're talking 1,500-4000 calories per single serving meal package. The average civilian consumes 200-900 calories per meal and stays sedentary for most of the day. MRE's issued to poor civilians would further complicate the obesity epidemic. tldr: giving race horse food to circus ponies bad. Letting poor people buy expensive fruits, vegetables and meats good.

The previous paragraph can alse be read as: Thondalar is a fucking retard.

[Androidpk]

What Rojo said. Plus MREs aren't cheap.

[Methais]

They hand out MREs like Halloween candy after hurricanes down here. I'd imagine the same applies for other disaster situations in other states. Nobody seems to complain about them not being good enough then.

Also if the average American is consuming 900 calories per meal, then I think we've found the source of this whole fatass epidemic, considering that 2,000 calories a day is what's recommended for the average person.

[Bobmuhthol]

Also if the average American is consuming 900 calories per meal, then I think we've found the source of this whole fatass epidemic, considering that 2,000 calories a day is what's recommended for the average person. Maybe if the average person is six years old. There also is no average person. Men need more than women, younger people need more than older people. If I consumed only 2000 calories a day, I'd waste away.

[Methais]

Maybe if the average person is six years old. There also is no average person. Men need more than women, younger people need more than older people. If I consumed only 2000 calories a day, I'd waste away.

I guess those nutrition labels on every food item in every store must be lying then.

[Bobmuhthol]

... what? All they do is give % of contribution to a 2000 calorie diet. Are you seriously using an FDA reporting regulation as a scientific argument that all humans should consume exactly 2000 calories per day?

[Androidpk]

The labels don't say that everyone should be consuming 2000 calories.


"Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs."

[Kastrel]

Modern MREs are meant to fuel military personel in extreme heat and cold while wearing body armor, weaponry and gear. Typically, military can be made to perform the work of four people so they often have the caloric intake of professional athletes. Post 9/11 MRE's are packed with sodium, carbs, protein and fat to prevent dehydration and other weather related injuries while promoting muscle growth. So we're talking 1,500-4000 calories per single serving meal package. The average civilian consumes 200-900 calories per meal and stays sedentary for most of the day. MRE's issued to poor civilians would further complicate the obesity epidemic. tldr: giving race horse food to circus ponies bad. Letting poor people buy expensive fruits, vegetables and meats good.

I'll preface this by saying that this discussion is using MREs as an example of a concept, that of a predesigned and prepackaged meal with specific nutritional needs being provided. If something like this were implimented, there is no reason at all that it would have to be a carbon-copy of military grade MREs; they could be toned down, with reduced nutritional additives (sodium, for instance) to suit civilian lifestyle. So when I say MREs (and I'm speaking for no one else), I'm considering them as a style of food-distribution, not an exact calorie count.

With that out of the way, I'd like to point out that a lot of the obesity epidemic (not all, but a lot) has nothing to do with calories, but quality of the source of said calories. There will be a significant health difference between someone who eats 2000 calories of meat and vegetables, and someone who ingests 2000 calories of chips, chocolate bars, and sugary drinks (read: high fructose corn syrup). The actual method of ingestion of certain types of sugars actually leads to different types of metabolism and fat storage, so the source of said calories is significant. Even ignoring this aspect, vital nutrients are not necessarily found in these types of foods, and may well be found in MREs (you'd have to tell me more, I have literal personal experience with them), or some variation based upon them. There is nothing worse than an overweight kid who is malnourished because their parents provide them with junk food and soda because its "easy".

What about the flavor element? This is a genuine question, if you've had them; how do MREs taste? Best case scenario, even if they are good, are they "amazing"? A big, big element of obesity, especially amongst children who lack self-control, is flavor-addiction. Give people delicious food that isn't filling, and you end up with people who eat because it tastes good, and become hungry faster because it provides little satiety (is that the right word? I'm drawing a blank). Its pretty well documented that the increased rates of obesity amongst lower SES groups are because a lot of the cheapest food is the food that is filled with ingredients like HFCS and tons of sodium to give it lots of flavor, but also gives little nutritional value other than bulk calories. This is the type of food the poor are getting, and its the type of food that favors poor self-control with food. But what if food stamps could only be used to purchase a prepackaged meal that has little attention to flavor, only reasonable nutrional value? That would seriously discourage snacking and overeating, ESPECIALLY if they are filling.

Not to mention, do you think the person drinking 800 calories in soda a day is eating even one BITE less to "compensate" for it? Most people do not consider their fluid intake as part of their daily quantity of calories, except with things like milkshakes.

All of these reasons would lead to shifts in eating habits which could lead to a significant drop in obesity amongst those buying food stamps. The only complaint I can see if from said individuals, pissed off about their shitty tasting food. Well, that is the trade-off for living on the government's money.

[Androidpk]

The government is making money off the food stamp program. There is no need for them to dictate what people on them eat.

[Methais]

... what? All they do is give % of contribution to a 2000 calorie diet. Are you seriously using an FDA reporting regulation as a scientific argument that all humans should consume exactly 2000 calories per day?

All humans != the average person, which apparently the average person is recommended 2,000 calories a day. Depending on your above or below average needs, this can increase or decrease.

[Bobmuhthol]

Again, the average person needs 2000 calories assuming the average person is six years old. You can't take a point estimate for millions of people.


Not to mention, do you think the person drinking 800 calories in soda a day is eating even one BITE less to "compensate" for it?Having just consulted a two liter bottle of soda, I apparently drink at least 800 calories of soda per day. Yes, I do think that there are people whose calorie consumption is largely dominated by soda, and who do would otherwise eat more but for that soda consumption. Here I am.

[Tgo01]

That six year old must be running 8 hours a day to need 2000 calories.

[Bobmuhthol]

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/estimated-calorie-requirement

[Tgo01]

Considering most Americans live a sedentary lifestyle 2000 calories a day isn't really that crazy. Might be a bit low but it's not totally off the mark.

[Tgo01]

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/estimated-calorie-requirement

Exactly. Thank you.

[Bobmuhthol]

Most Americans live a sedentary lifestyle? Most Americans live in cities. That WebMD article says walking 1.5 to 3 miles per day is "moderately active," and I don't know anyone in a city who isn't doing that.

[Tisket]

I grew up on welfare and don't ever remember having soda in my house. Now cool-aid that was different. Perhaps my mother was one of the few who cared about her health and the food we ate.

You mean the drink that used to cost pennies but called for two cups of sugar per pitcher? Yeah, that's healthy living for sure.

[diethx]

In what city do the majority of people walk as their main mode of transportation? I know it's prevalent in NYC, but in what other cities does that happen? I know in Atlanta, driving is generally the main mode of transportation.

[Tisket]

In what city do the majority of people walk as their main mode of transportation? I know it's prevalent in NYC, but in what other cities does that happen? I know in Atlanta, driving is generally the main mode of transportation.

I have a neighbor who loads her two dogs up in the SUV to drive around the corner where she lets them out to poop in a wooded stretch of road, loads them back up, and drives back around the corner to her house. I can understand not wanting your dogs to poop in your own yard but this is like a three minute walk from her front door.

[Tgo01]

Most Americans live a sedentary lifestyle? Most Americans live in cities. That WebMD article says walking 1.5 to 3 miles per day is "moderately active," and I don't know anyone in a city who isn't doing that.

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/NutritionInsights/Insight40.pdf

Also almost 36% of Americans are obese, you can't convince me a significant number of them are anything but sedentary. So that's 36% right there.


I have a neighbor who loads her two dogs up in the SUV to drive around the corner where she lets them out to poop in a wooded stretch of road, loads them back up, and drives back around the corner to her house.

That's hilarious and sad all at the same time.

[Bobmuhthol]

Even if you drive, if you're walking less than 1.5 miles per day, you're either spending too much time in one location or you're fucking lazy.


Also almost 36% of Americans are obese, you can't convince me a significant number of them are anything but sedentary. So that's 36% right there.If I can't convince you that there are not a significant number of people with a BMI above 30 (definition of obesity) who are not sedentary, then we really shouldn't be having this discussion at all.
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publication.../Insight40.pdf (http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/NutritionInsights/Insight40.pdf)Let's take a look at their claims:
Note that this analysis did not include time spent in leisure-time physical activities, including sports, walking or running, or exercising.So when we don't consider people playing sports, walking, running, or exercising, we find that people spend very little time playing sports, walking, running, or exercising. Come on.

[diethx]

Or your job requires you to sit at a desk most of the day? I mean, I agree that someone should be getting that much activity per day. That doesn't mean it actually happens, though.

[Tgo01]

If I can't convince you that there are not a significant number of people with a BMI above 30 (definition of obesity) who are not sedentary, then we really shouldn't be having this discussion at all.

The link of yours said moderate activity is 1.5 to 3 miles per day at a rate of walking 3 to 4 miles per hour. You really think obese people are hauling that ass that fast?


So when we don't consider people playing sports, walking, running, or exercising, we find that people spend very little time playing sports, walking, running, or exercising. Come on.

Yes because most people play sports, walk, run or exercise for fun. I'm not saying there is no one out there like that but again I find it hard to believe it's a significant portion of society, nowhere near approaching 50%.

[Bobmuhthol]

The link of yours said moderate activity is 1.5 to 3 miles per day at a rate of walking 3 to 4 miles per hour. You really think obese people are hauling that ass that fast? Do I think obese people walk a 20 minute mile for a total of 30 to 60 minutes per day? Yes.
Yes because most people play sports, walk, run or exercise for fun. I'm not saying there is no one out there like that but again I find it hard to believe it's a significant portion of societyWhat planet do you live on?

[Parkbandit]

Yes.What planet do you live on?[/COLOR]

He probably doesn't live in the center of Boston or NYC... where it would seem that everyone walks 1.5 to 3 miles per day.

[Tgo01]

Do I think obese people walk a 20 minute mile for a total of 30 to 60 minutes per day? Yes.

You know more active obese people than I do then.


What planet do you live on?[/COLOR]

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/americans-lag-on-exercise-20101006590


a telephone survey of randomly selected American households, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 43% of adults met the recommendations for cardiovascular (heart-protecting) activities and 22% met recommendations for muscle-strengthening activities, but only 18% did both.


On any given day, only a small minority of American adults engage in vigorous activity. The most commonly performed activity—after eating and drinking—was watching television or movies, done by 80% of those surveyed. Preparing meals was the most common moderate-intensity activity (26%), followed by gardening or taking care of house plants (11%), neither of which really get your heart beating faster. Barely 5% of those interviewed said they engaged in vigorous activities like swimming, running, or strength training. These findings also appeared in the journal’s October issue.

80% said the most commonly performed activity was watching TV.

[diethx]

What if you watch TV while you vigorously exercise, as I do? O.o

Also wtf, how is preparing meals a moderate-intensity activity? Someone's watching too much Iron Chef.

[Parkbandit]

What if you watch TV while you vigorously exercise, as I do? O.o

Also wtf, how is preparing meals a moderate-intensity activity? Someone's watching too much Iron Chef.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=f_DhacT_gdM&feature=endscreen

[Latrinsorm]

Considering most Americans live a sedentary lifestyle 2000 calories a day isn't really that crazy. Might be a bit low but it's not totally off the mark.Count your calories sometime.
The link of yours said moderate activity is 1.5 to 3 miles per day at a rate of walking 3 to 4 miles per hour. You really think obese people are hauling that ass that fast?Get a pedometer (which could be but is not a device for measuring pedophilic tendencies). This goes for everyone who doubts the "how far people walk a day" stats. It all adds up.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a...se-20101006590Surveys are pretty good ways for finding out what people believe, but what people believe has notoriously low correlation with what is in fact the case.
In what city do the majority of people walk as their main mode of transportation? I know it's prevalent in NYC, but in what other cities does that happen? I know in Atlanta, driving is generally the main mode of transportation.Trick question, Atlanta is in the South and therefore isn't a real city.

[Tgo01]

Count your calories sometime.

You count your calories wise guy!


Get a pedometer (which could be but is not a device for measuring pedophilic tendencies). This goes for everyone who doubts the "how far people walk a day" stats. It all adds up.

I use a pedometer. It takes quite a bit of walking to reach 2 miles. It's not a very hard goal to obtain but when you consider a lot of jobs these days has people either sitting down at a desk or standing still for upwards of 8 hours a day it's actually not that easy for a lot of people to squeeze 2 miles in. Also the pace at which people walk has to be taken into account too. Walking very slow or breaking up those 2 miles into 20 1/10th mile chunks doesn't get the heart pumping fast and doesn't burn as many calories.

ETA: For example right now my pedometer has me at 3800 steps for the day which it estimates is 1.4 miles and I've been purposefully walking (as opposed to accidentally walking) to get that many steps.

[Originate]

Holy shit, this thread is nothing but ignorant perceptions of nutrition and individuals on welfare.

[Latrinsorm]

You count your calories wise guy!Always. :|
I use a pedometer. It takes quite a bit of walking to reach 2 miles. It's not a very hard goal to obtain but when you consider a lot of jobs these days has people either sitting down at a desk or standing still for upwards of 8 hours a day it's actually not that easy for a lot of people to squeeze 2 miles in. Also the pace at which people walk has to be taken into account too. Walking very slow or breaking up those 2 miles into 20 1/10th mile chunks doesn't get the heart pumping fast and doesn't burn as many calories.Good, this is a good start. Now go out to the track and try to walk slowly enough to complete a mile in 20 or more minutes. I command it!!! Spoiler alert: it is a very, very slow pace, so slow that you (with your lack of swag) have to go out of your way to attain(!) it.
ETA: For example right now my pedometer has me at 3800 steps for the day which it estimates is 1.4 miles and I've been purposefully walking (as opposed to accidentally walking) to get that many steps.It's barely 2 of the clock, and you're less than one tenth of a mile (or three metric hectares) away from the declared limit. It is time for another pipe face. :|

[Tgo01]

Now go out to the track and try to walk slowly enough to complete a mile in 20 or more minutes. I command it!!! Spoiler alert: it is a very, very slow pace, so slow that you (with your lack of swag) have to go out of your way to attain(!) it.

Yes a 20 minute mile is a very slow walk. Maybe I just know slower obese people than most but I don't exactly see them walking fast enough to do a mile in 20 minutes. And even if they do they would have to do that twice in a day to be considered "moderately active."


It's barely 2 of the clock, and you're less than one tenth of a mile (or three metric hectares) away from the declared limit. It is time for another pipe face. :|

And I've also been purposefully walking, not accidentally walking and I've already provided a few links that show most people only accidentally walk.

[Latrinsorm]

So we are agreed. I am right and, what's more, big enough not to rub your face in how wrong you were, Mr. Wrongy Wrong Wrongpants (née Olivier).

[Tgo01]

Latrin owned me by having me show him how wrong he is :(

He is a wily one!

[diethx]

Ahahahaa, PB.

[~Rocktar~]

Some day people will learn to read. This is what I was refering too about the MRE thing, not actual MRE's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_daily_ration

Pass these out instead of food stamps and let's see how long people stay on the program.