[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The truth is we all have to leave this earth.

Yes, but I'm not leaving without a fight. You've no doubt heard of people with cancer who are said to be fighters? Well, I believe in not waiting for something to go wrong. I think it's easier to be proactive by reading, discussing and practicing the healthiest lifestyle possible. Then if something does go wrong, I'll be able to say I gave it my best shot and have no regrets.

The secret is to not waste precious time worrying about it.

I can't spend all of my time smiling and dancing. Besides I'm a terrible dancer. Anyway, I don't worry about it. Why would you think that? I simply find the subject interesting. I'm the type of person who gets bored with the usual things very fast. I've tried almost every activity but can't seem to maintain enough interest to keep them up. But nutrition, and health in general, I find interesting. So I hereby declare it to be my hobby. You wouldn't want to deprive me of a hobby that makes me happy, would you?

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by coralway

Seems entertainers also do not hang around long.

I think the two groups, actors and athletes, have a lot in common. After all, they're both in the entertainment business, aren't they? We are entertained by athletes as much as we are by Hollywood actors.

Many of their problems are the same as far as drugs, drinking, partying, suicide rates and eating disorders etc.. Some actresses suffer from anorexia and some suffer from bulimia (binging and purging etc.). Competitive athletes practice "binge and burn". I believe it's just as damaging as purging, but it's accepted because it's channeled "productively" and sometimes profitably.

One source said that competitive (male) athletes may require up to 6,000 calories per day and 4,000 for women. But I once talked to a woman who was training for the olympics and she said she was burning between 6,000 and 7,000 calories per day. Another search turned up even more: Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps was said to have an intake of 12,000 calories per day.

I would call it an eating disorder on the basis that it's harmful to the body causing disease(s) (later in life) resulting in a shorter life expectancy.