I recently read an article on the Huffington Post website that sparked something in me, and I have something to say about it.

New York Soda Ban Approved: Board Of Health OKs Limiting Sale Of Large-Sized, Sugary Drinks – Huffington Post

I think, and this is just my opinion, if they are going to be banning things that make you fat, they might as well ban it all. You can’t tell someone they can have 16oz Coke but not a 20oz coke and be ok with them eating a super size french fry and a Big Mac. You can’t just set the limits on one thing and not everything else. If they are going to ban drink sizes, then they might as well ban portion sizes too and make all adults have a kid’s meal. And while they’re at it, they might as well ban 2 liter bottles, Twinkies, cupcakes, and ice cream from the grocery store.

“The limits will not apply to drinks sold in grocery stores, diet sodas, drinks that are more than 70-percent fruit juice, or that contain alcohol.”

The article compares banning drink sizes to banning cigarette smoking in public places.  The problem is that they are forcing people to quit smoking, and now those people are getting fat, so now it is big government who is stepping in once again to take more control over our lives. Well, not our, I live in California, but it starts in New York and where does it end? This is just the spark that will spread like wild-fire throughout the country and next thing I know, I’m not allowed to buy a 32oz diet coke for $1 in the summertime anymore.  I know the limits are not on diet sodas, but how is it fair to limit sodas with sugar, and not diet soda?  The other customers will see me with a 32oz cup and think it’s unfair and then they will end up banning diet coke too.

And yes, I know a little something about getting fat from quitting smoking. They banned smoking in public places in California in the 90’s and I quit smoking in 1996. My reason wasn’t because of the ban in public places, but it was because they were raising the price of cigarettes to force people to quit. I eventually did quit when I was so disgusted by the horrible taste of the generic cigarettes. I gained 50lbs almost immediately and have gained another 50 since then which has led to sleep apnea and diabetes. Losing weight is not easy when you don’t have the money to pay for the expensive diet food and gym memberships. I am too heavy for my bike now and have back and knee problems, so exercising isn’t as easy as it used to be.

And yes I have heard it all.  If you’re fat, just quit eating.  Sure smart ass.  It’s so easy for people to tell me that because they aren’t fat.  They have no idea how hard it is to lose weight.  It takes 10 seconds to eat a cupcake, but the fat from that cupcake will stay with me forever.

I think if the government is going to step in and start telling people what they can and cannot drink and eat, they need to make it easier for people to lose weight by bringing down the high cost of the healthy foods, and stop making it so easy to get fat.  Get rid of the dollar menu on the unhealthy foods and allow us fat people who are trying to lose weight eat healthy foods.  Make the veggie burgers less expensive at the grocery store, help bring the cost of vegetables down and all the other health foods.  Make it easier on us instead of just banning things.

Children do the opposite of what they are told, so if you tell us “adults” that we can’t have more than 16oz, we’re just gonna buy 2 to spite you.  That you can count on.