Dear Straight Talk: After reading about Geoff’s and Greg’s junk food experiences, I thought I’d write. My family is techno-savvy, so I grew up with a computer in the house and taught myself how to use it at an early age—around kindergarten. While this has been quite useful, back then it kept me from exercising and by 7th grade I weighed 230 lbs at 5’4”.
When I got to 8th grade, I started having to walk to school every day. I didn’t like this in the beginning—it was a mile each way, and the walk home was uphill, but there was no choice and I’ve had to walk to school ever since. I actually enjoy walking now, but more importantly, I weigh 170 lbs at 6’ tall. While making sure kids eat right is important (I haven’t eaten McDonald’s for 4 years), they also have to exercise.—Peter, 18
Dear Peter: You’re right about exercise and walking is the most basic exercise of all. There is a rhythm to walking that the human body is designed around and besides stimulating metabolism, it keeps the hormonal and immune systems balanced. Many experts think the obesity crisis is due mainly to lack of walking. Your story certainly supports that. (Readers, Peter lost all these pounds simply by walking. He did not do sports.)
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