So, I’m thinking about taking part in a diabetes study. It seems like a pretty good deal; they give you lunch and dinner every day plus $100 a week to buy breakfast and snacks. They only have two stipulations in order to take part:

First, you must stick strictly to the diet, even down to the name brands that they give you, and absolutely no cheating. So no alcohol for two months during the Study. I’m pretty sure that the last time I went two months without alcohol was during my senior year of high school.

I suppose it would be good for me to go a while without hitting the booze, but it’s so tough! Both my roommate and my girlfriend are brewing beer and wine. Plus my sister and her boyfriend have become self-proclaimed beer conisuers and have even started a blog about their beer-ventures titled Beer at Joe’s (http://www.beeratjoes.com). So, I don’t exactly have the unwavering support of my friends and family.

Secondly, to take part in the study, you have to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is considered severely overweight to obese. Surprisingly, I passed this one with flying colors. I am borderline obese (tack on another four pounds, and I am officially obese). Of course, the BMI only takes into account weight and height, so very muscular, athletic people can have high BMI’s since muscle weighs more than fat. Luckily, I’m pretty muscley, but I’ve still got a fair amount of flub clinging to my frame. Checking your BMI is easy; I like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention BMI calculator because it gives you a little description of what your BMI means - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.htm.

I’m very happy with my size, but I would still like to lose about 10 pounds. Then I would be back to the same weight that I was during my senior year of high school. Although, even after losing these 10 pounds, I would still be considered severely overweight. So what would it take for me to be considered a normal weight? Take a quick guess how much weight I would have to lose… go a head, think of a number between 0 and 100. OK, for me to reach the very highest bracket of “normal” weight, I would have to lose 35 pounds (from 205 down to 175)… jeez! I was probably 15 years old the last time I weighed that much. I don’t think I would like my body after losing that much… I’m just a big guy, that’s all there is to it.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that America has a HUGE weight problem, but I think that I eat well, exercise on a regular basis and understand nutrition well enough to make the logical decision that I am at a healthy weight. On the other hand, I think that our society is getting desensitized to being overweight, which is skewing our view of a “healthy” size. I have two close friends who I look at and think, “Wow you’re scrawny! Look at those tiny, little arms and twig-like legs. I could break you.” Lots of other people make very similar comments. So, we decided to check on their BMIs as well. Sure enough, they are both considered to be at a very healthy weight.

I think it’s strange that people look at me, an “obese” individual and say, “Obese, that’s ridiculous. There’s no way you could be considered obese,” while saying that my “normal” weight friends are entirely too skinny.

Either way, two months of free food and $1000 to participate in a diabetes study sounds pretty good to me. It’s not even a weight loss study. They want me to maintain my weight (or lose it slowly) however; I’m going to be in a friend’s wedding in September and attending a second wedding during the same week. Sorry, but I’ll have to drink during these events (what kind of groomsman would I be if I didn’t drink during the bachelor party) so I wouldn’t be able to start the study until the very end of September. We’ll see what happens.

Oh, I recently saw Super Size Me - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521. If you have some free time, it’s worth checking out. Makes me happy that I only eat at fast food joints a couple times a year.

Camp 20 Cabins in Laona, Wisconsin - http://www.camp20cabins.com

Forget the Hotel! Enjoy modern conveniences while nestled in the heart of the Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin's Northwoods. Cabins are fully furnished and brand new. They're cozy and comfy while still providing all of your modern ammenities. Rustic Luxury as we like to call it.