“You sure look healthy” can mean many things. It might mean it looks like you’ve been working out, doing yoga, swimming, hiking, biking, playing basketball, football and baseball or even running marathons and triathlons. It might imply you’ve been eating
“You sure look healthy” can mean many things. It might mean it looks like you’ve been working out, doing yoga, swimming, hiking, biking, playing basketball, football and baseball or even running marathons and triathlons. It might imply you’ve been eating right, or that mentally you have your act together.
I thought I was getting compliments from the few friends and neighbors who still speak to me. They were saying, “you sure look healthy!” I took it as a compliment, although I really don’t feel that healthy. Then I realized they were trying to tell me in a polite way: Wow, you sure have gained a lot of weight, you look fat. What happened?
Many people, including myself, seem to gain weight during the holiday season and winter months. There are shorter days, parties and free samples in the stores. Friends and family will send expensive fruit cakes, cookies and alcoholic beverages as gifts which contain mega calories. Not being as active will also lead to added pounds. Winter time also brings on healthy appetites which all contribute to tight shirts and larger belts. I like to use the excuse that the dryer must be shrinking my clothes, however the scale and camera phone selfies don’t lie.
Friends will give that same compliment to my dog, “boy, your dog sure looks healthy!”
I was always so happy and proud when people would say that. I thought they were telling me subliminally that I really take good care of my dog. I take pride in my dog and my dog is my best friend. When someone compliments my dog and says my dog sure looks healthy, I become a beaming, proud dad. To my disappointment, just as with myself, they were telling me my dog looks pleasingly plump and fat, what happened?
I will tell you what happened, we both like to eat and although I never intended to spoil my dog with human food I just can’t resist feeding her what I eat, especially when those innocent eyes are staring straight into my soul the whole while.
I always feel uneasy during the holidays when people that normally aren’t nice, are all of the sudden nice and saying things like, merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy New Year and my obvious favorite, “you sure look healthy.” I am thrilled the holidays are over and people can get back to being their normal, selfish selves.
And now with New Year’s upon us, I plan on shedding a few pounds. Hopefully next time someone says, “you sure look healthy,” it’s because I’m strutting a new six pack, and I’m not talking about Budweiser, but then again, maybe I am?
• James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapaa with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby www.dakinetalk.blogspot.com
