Welcome to
Caribtempo Magazine’s
FAD n’ FANCY
Life’s what you do …. And, how you do it!
That’s a very popular way of thinking. However, there are, quite unfortunately, many who will, for a number of reasons, eventually not wish to align themselves with such a presumptuous and ambiguous philosophy.
But, then, who really cares about life’s taboos and unsubstantiated ideologies; as long as things are moving smoothing?
Incidentally, concern over the trends life takes only really begin to gain prominence when experiences turn out to be against normal expectations.
How we dress …. What we eat … Where we go … Who our friends are ….And, how we do the things we do are all meaningful matters we most frequently tend to overlook; quite likely until we find ourselves in some uncanny predicament that necessitates serious scrutiny and careful remedial attention. Oftentimes, when such situations and conditions occur, it is, regrettably, to our own folly. And, motivated by our all-too-selfish ego, we somewhat spontaneously find someone to blame as an excuse to our shortcomings and errors.
We have, as a consequence of the changing times, developed a few patterns of life that neither fit nor reflect our traditional lifestyles. And, as a result of our adaptation to these newly discovered trends, we simultaneously witnessed a dramatic shift in concepts and ideas. The majority of us have suddenly realized that, “all that glitter is not gold” and “the grass on our neighbour’s lawn is not always as green as it appears to be”. In a nutshell, we’ve learnt, “not to accept the epochs of life at face value”.
About two decades or so ago, our impression of the physical outlook of others was limited in scope to just two types; namely: “thin” and “fat”.
The term, “slim” was just another way of say “thin”.
If you were tiny or petite, you were considered “slim” or, in patios colloquial term, “meg”.
A “meg” person was not merely regarded as someone “unfed”, “badly fed” or “mal-nourished”; but as an individual plagued by worries.
“Janie was meg – thin, because she man, Jim, had ah nex’ woman ‘pon she head”. And, due to her predicament, “Worried Janie was not eating well”. Hence, she was considered a wreck: emotionally and physically.
On the other hand, 300-lb Maryanne was envied, because she epitomized the seemingly true essence of wellness and good health.
Yes! Times have changed!
Since television became commonplace, our outlook on life has been dramatically and drastically altered. Our eyes no longer see things “in mere black n’ white”. We now see a kaleidoscopic array of “grays”, in-between: shades never ever before envisaged.
So, too, have our whole attitude changed.
For example: when we go to the supermarket to shop for meat, we no longer pick up the fatty, attractive cuts that look good and sumptuous. Instead, we carefully choose what we have discovered are best for us. We are, therefore, today very conscious and very seriously concerned about our health and well-being.
We have found out: our health depends – in a lot of ways – on what we eat. We’ve learnt the value of exercise. So much so, that “meg no longer signifies lack of nutrition and the lack of appropriate diet”. We now recognize that: the meg-zo doesn’t mean ill-health, while the fat-so may be facing a far worse situation. So, somewhat miraculously, the term “slim” has taken bright new meaning and connotation … to the extent that “the fat-so is now prepared to sacrifice the last dollar to become slim, to be in good shape to be prim and attractive”.
Being blunt and down-to-earth seldom attract the kind of attention most folks anticipate and desire. However, sometimes it’s the type of response that jolts the brain to prompt attention. And, therefore, becomes desirable.
Today, even the ‘poorest of the poor’ in our behind-time, woe-be-gone economic state has recognized the true significance of “being…and staying healthy”. Some, in the most unexpected circles, are willing to make great financial sacrifices for that purpose.
In the kitchen, the old – now, outmoded – approach to a meal has magically disappeared.
Presently, we find cooks stripping chicken off its skin because, we know fully well, that “below the skin contains a large amount of saturated fat”.
Everybody’s now, for a variety of health reasons, watching “his” or “her” fat intake.
The number-one cause of high serum cholesterol is the consumption of high volumes of saturated fat: the kind of fat that is found in full-fat dairy products and animal fat.
Carefully and cautiously, then, we select the things we eat. And, with the greatest of concern for ourselves and those we dearly love and care, we labouriously go through the routine of preparing “what we eat”, as well as, “what we drink”.
There’s “prime”, “choice” and “lean”. In other words: “fatty”, “less fatty” and “lean”
In a way, and to an extent, it’s almost like saying: “fat”, “thin” and “slim”.
Prime meat is about 40% to 45% fat, by weight.
Choice meat is from 30% to 40% fat.
Select - or, diet lean – mean is from 15% to 20% fat.
Eating well, plus a few other wellness-oriented matters, does not only result in the reward of a “healthy body”. It accounts for “sound mind”, “alert reflexes” and a “healthy heart”. It is the fundamental requisite to an attractive physical structure: one of elegance and grace.
Don’t panic by what you’re about to discover. Just prepare your mind for what you should have known all the time.
Though high blood cholesterol can almost unilaterally play an important role in the development of CORONARY HEART DISEASE, other risk factors also contribute to the problem. These include:
- High Blood Pressure
- Cigarette Smoking
- Family History of Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Known Disease or Blockage of the Arteries of the Brain (or elsewhere in the body)
- Severe obesity ( being really over-weight/ )
- Low “High-Density Lipoprotein
[HDL: the so-called “good cholesterol level]
- And, strange, but true:
- Being Male
So, life’s not always what it seems to be. You may dress smart, but look dull.
Expensive garment on a clumsy blob just won’t look impressive. And, that’s a fact!
You are the personality and character actually emanated by your “aura”.
If you’re not impressed by the truth, that’s your “FAD n’ FANCY”. So, you can take solace in your make-believe ecstatic world; because no one should pry into your thoughts: since that represents a vicious and dangerous violation of your privacy: mental, and otherwise. But, do remember also, what you are outside, in some ways, does reflect some of the qualities of what you actually are: inside.
Welcome, friends, to CARIBTEMPO MAGAZINE’s own unique approach to dealing with the wide variables that help to constitute our individualism.
We wish to assure you that all the suggestions and recommendations we offer are sound. The sideline observations are humorously presented to captivate your reading attention. If you should ever detect criticism, it is not of conceit, irony or false pride. It will be done deliberately in order to alert all of our attention to some unsavory practices – surely not on an individual basis – because, in spite of all the new scientific discoveries, there’ll still always be a place for some of our traditional values.
Your tit-bits - recipes, beauty care, exercise tips, etc – will always be highly appreciated.
Let us hear from you. Write us at:
Fad-n-Fancy@caribtempomagazine.com | 
