I have a really crappy scale from Ikea in my bathroom. I have fiddled with the knob enough times that it is not really very accurate, but I continue to use it. I am happy to report that this morning when I stepped on, it appeared that I am at the lowest weight I have been in two years. Yay!
I chalk up my success to: drinking GreenVibrance every morning, home cooking vegan food and eliminating most dairy from my diet.
However, that is not to say every day is perfect.
Yesterday, we had a work team-building event, which included lunch: pizza, salad and soda. I had a slice of veggie and piled up the salad. I also had one can of Coke, which is highly unusual for me. I nursed it over a couple of hours (to give my energy for all those team-building trust circles and what not!). The meal was, of course, nowhere close to being a healthy, wholesome affair. But I think it’s important to recognize when you have to be flexible.
I am feeling a bit run down and on the verge of a cold this week. And like so many people, today is the last day of “open enrollment” for health insurance. Which brings me to my final point.
An article in the New York Times last week, “Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty” (Oct. 29, 2008) showed what I consider to be institutionalized sexism and underscores how important it is for women (and men) to have agency in their own health, starting with nutrition.
The article showed that women who buy individual health care – like freelancers or contract workers – pay significantly more than male peers. One reason: maternity care sends the costs up. This is – in absolute terms – a penalty for being born with reproductive organs. Unlike car insurance – where men generally pay more for premiums – having a uterus is not an opt-in activity. And unlike in car insurance where you are rewarded for “preventative care” such as driving lessons, in health insurance you are punished for “preventative” doctor’s visit.
The cost of healthcare must spread out over society as a whole – we are obligated as a society to bear the cost equally. Women make less money than men overall, and yet pay more for health insurance. This is an inequality of the highest order.
An addendum to last week's post on money and health: I found this clever blog and it has some quite helpful money-saving tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment