I’m back from an awesome weekend full of father’s day fun.
Lots of playing in the pool and spending time with family.
I was even allowed a little ‘kid free’ down time to catch up on some reading.
During this time I managed to read an article about how increased TV and computer time are making our society fat.
While reading this article I thought to myself “RIGHT ON – KILL YOUR TELEVISION!”
But then I stopped.
After all, the key to progress is to challenge the things we automatically assume to be true.
So do TV and computers make you fat?
Personally, I figure I only spend about 6 of my 16 awake hours NOT in-front of a computer.And this is on a good day.
Of those 6 hours some are spent driving (sitting), some eating (also sitting), and some playing with Brier and Ro (typically moving around, but it’s not like I’m doing wind sprints).
The point is I am in-front of a computer ALL the time.
If I’m not in-front of a computer then I am reading.
My success is based around me reading and keeping as up-to-date as possible. I have no choice but to read and write as much as possible (good thing I love it!)
So for me, TV or Computer time has not made me fat.
I know that other people who make livings on line also spend a great deal of time reading and writing. Craig Ballantyne, Vince Delmonte, John Barban, Joel Marion, these are all people who are probably in front of a computer as much or more than the average person, but each one of them is much leaner and more muscular than the active person. (just a random selection of people who have pictures available)
The difference?
These people have all been consistent with their workouts. They all weight train 2-5 times per week. AND, as an average they all eat less than the average person.
The bottom line – blaming TV and Computers for our obesity epidemic is easy (since it takes the blame off of eating and exercising) but its probably unfounded. My guess is, it IS a contributing factor (especially fast food commercials), but not a direct causal link.
There are people (like myself) who spend an EXCESSIVE amount of time in-front of a computer, that still maintain a lean body.
It is possible.
As always, the key to losing weight is to eat less and move more…and the moving more part does not mean you have to be active 10 hours every day! If your diet is in order, then you can lose weight and maintain a lean body without being obsessive about exercise, nor do you have to quit your day job.
BP
