Weight of the Wolds
Nowadays, nutrition and exercise seem to be much discussed by the Media, and even rank on the political agenda.
I am obese, according to my doctor, and I have been so for many years now, but I don’t feel it and I don’t enjoy the label. I have always enjoyed walking, not just for the fresh air and the scenery but also because I seem to have my best conversations while striding out in the countryside. I am lucky to have enjoyed a long marriage to Mark, a man who shares my love of walking, and who is also obese.
This year, we decided to walk the Yorkshire Wolds Way. This is a National Trail through a distinctive rolling landscape of dry chalk valleys. We live very close to the path, which runs from the north bank of the Humber to Filey on the Yorkshire coast. The path is 79 Miles (127 km) long and we walked it in both directions (a total of 158 miles), in 17 easy stages. And, of course, this was by no means the only walking we did this year.
The point is that “obese” does not equal “lazy”. The next time you see someone who looks as though they should be losing some weight, please remember that they are probably doing the best they can and they are probably also as fed up as I am of hearing about what a strain they are likely to be on the NHS.
By Lorna Smith