FATTEST & FITTEST - Top 10

Okay gals and guys, I had so many ERRORS in my last post that I just decided to start all over. I hate when I send out wrong info and of course, having NO way to EDIT or DELETE my own post makes it difficult at best. Anyway the CORRECT INFO on the "Fattest and Fittest" Cities is below. The information I shared with ya'll in the first post was based on LAST YEARS information. One ironic thing about the new info? Several of the cities on the "Fattest" list last year is now leading on the FITTEST list this year. I had to check that several times cause I just knew I was messing up again. Hugs to all - I'm going to work on updating my profile, it's been too long - then heading out to have a birthday lunch with some girlfriends. It's EILEEN F's Birthday!!!! Top 10 FITTEST Cities - Feb, 2006 Edition: Chicago Las Vegas Los Angeles Dallas Houston Memphis Long Beach El Paso Kansas City Mesa Top Ten FATTEST Cities - Feb 2006 Edition: Baltimore Honolulu Virginia Beach Tucson Milwaukee Colorado Springs San Francisco Seattle Louisville Boston ...and here is the link that I got the information from! http://chicago.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=chicago&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mensfitness.com%2F

Hey Lei - well since I always read from the top down I haven't seen your error-filled post!! But thanks for posting this. I see your home city is in the fattest!! I'm actually surprised at that. And I'm surprised I didn't see San Diego (my HOME city) in the fittest!! I've loved in both San Diego and Los Angeles, and I would have to say in my little humble opinion, San Diego is much more fit. But then what would I, a total couch potato, really know about such things. Happy Birthday to Eileen!! love donna

G'morning girlfriend!!!!! (granted, I'm an entire day LATE!!) Sippin' on my ice coffee w/protein as I read the boards - actually, it's my second, can't seem to shake this FOG that's enveloped my entire being. One of these days I'm gonna realize I'm too OLD for late nights out - although the band we listened to last night is worth losing sleepover. As far as the fattest/fittest cities - after all that (including this new and revised post) I still think I got some of it wrong. I really wish this site had an edit/delete option that "original posters" could use - lol - I'd make both of these disappear based on inaccurate half researched info. Next time I won't be so impatient and will wait for the actual live casting of the show. Enjoy your weekend - gorgeous! Hugs & Love - Lei

Hey Lei - well speaking of editing!! Did I say I 'loved' in both San Diego and LA!! Actually I meant 'lived'!! But I did do it two times and one was in San Diego and one was in Los Angeles, so I guess that was an okay slip!! I'm slow getting started as well. And I didn't do anything fun like dance the night away like you!! Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks. I am so looking forward to seeing you and Paul!! love donna

Hey girlyfriend! Thanks for such a fun day yesterday!! I had a great time with my best friends!!! Wasn't lunch awesome?? And thanks Lei, Wendy and Carole for the great presents! And the night out ~ we had a great time!! Mike and I thought that the band last night was awesome!!! I wish that more people knew about that place. Mike was talking to the singer about trying to get a gig at Scandals, because it is always crowded there and I think they could get a bigger following to come and see them at 'Get R Done' and get that place hopping a little more. I had a great time playing pool ~ wow, it was probably 35 years since I had played. I sucked, but it was fun anyway! See you this week ~ you know I can't do Freemason Abbey without a babysitter and my Mom is sick with a cold, but hopefully we can go down there for lunch sometime. Eileen p.s. Thanks for the b-day wishes, Donna Mae!!

Leilani, Ok... with your correction, I have three cities on EACH list that I have lived in! HUGS Patti

I was browsing on Yahoo and found what I originally saw the other day...listing Baltimore as the FITTEST and did a doubletake. Sure enough, they DID make it as #1. This goes to show, NONE of these surverys know what they are talking about!!! LOL! _________________________ Baltimore Is Named America's Fittest City By BEN NUCKOLS, Associated Press Writer Sat Jan 7, 7:16 AM ET BALTIMORE - Baltimore has been named America's fittest city, with Chicago overtaking Houston as the fattest. Last year's fittest city, Seattle, drops to No. 8 in the new list, released today by Men's Fitness magazine. When the annual survey named Baltimore the fittest city in America, many Charm City residents had the same response: You gotta be kidding. Sure, people here are known for eating lots of seafood, but are crab cakes and deep-fried lake trout the staples of a healthy diet? "I think it's probably the most mis-fit city in America," said Charisse Bailey as she dug into a typical Baltimore lunch: fried red snapper on thick white bread, with a side of french fries and a beer. The city's skyline is dotted with neon signs advertising Domino sugar, Utz potato chips and National Bohemian beer. And while many neighborhoods, such as Fells Point and Federal Hill, have been transformed by an influx of young professionals, a Friday night visit to either reveals a culture that revolves around drinking and greasy food. Nevertheless, Men's Fitness magazine placed Baltimore at the top of its annual list of cities where fitness is king, ahead of Honolulu (No. 2 for the second consecutive year), San Francisco (No. 7) and last year's winner, Seattle (No. 8). The fattest city in America for 2006 is Chicago, taking over the dubious honor from Houston. Last year, Baltimore was closer to Houston than it was to Honolulu, checking in as the 25th-fattest city in the Men's Fitness tally. How could such a turnaround be possible in the span of a year? Men's Fitness editor Neal Boulton is quick to point out that the survey is far from scientific, and he says it took additional factors into account this year that worked in Baltimore's favor. Among them: the amount of public park space, access to health care, air quality, the relatively small number of fast-food restaurants and the leadership of Mayor Martin O'Malley. Boulton says Baltimore has become safer, more prosperous and more conducive to fitness. "Baltimore is a paragon of urban renewal. That's why it's the fittest city, that's why it's the comeback city," he said. Boulton says he also reduced the importance of climate in the survey, which is one reason Baltimore squeaked ahead of Honolulu. Rival magazine Men's Health had a different take on Baltimore. In its current issue, the magazine ranks Baltimore 93rd on its list of the "100 Best Cities for Men," with grades of "F" in health and quality of life and "C+" in fitness. San Francisco tops the Men's Health survey, and Honolulu is No. 2. Baltimore residents seemingly would have had an easier time believing the Men's Health ranking. When told of the Men's Fitness honor, they invariably reacted with shock, bewilderment or outright laughter. "Baltimore lives on junk food. That's why we're all standing here," said electrician Mark Smith as he surveyed the scene at Lexington Market. The popular downtown lunch spot has dozens of kiosks selling fried chicken and cheap Chinese food. "I've been eating here for 21 years," Smith said. "I walk around and think, 'What's the lesser of the evils?'" While the city has seen significant reductions in violent crime, large sections remain plagued by poverty and drugs, and residents of less prosperous neighborhoods often have to depend on convenience stores and takeout food for sustenance. "We don't eat well at all," said Tremonteria Morgan, a vegetarian. "We eat a lot of fried foods -- fried chicken and soul food. For myself, I have to search high and low for a health food place. We have a lot of obesity here in our city." The mayor looked on the bright side, attributing Baltimore's increasing fitness to its economic revival and the end of its precipitous population drop. "You see some neighborhoods starting to grow again, and attracting younger people. With those younger people coming, there's a number of gyms now," O'Malley said. "In every growing neighborhood, you look for two leading signs -- one is a gym and the other is a Starbucks." ___ The fittest and fattest cities in America in the annual survey by Men's Fitness magazine, with cities in order of ranking, and 2005 rankings in parentheses. Some were on the opposite list: TOP 25 FITTEST CITIES: 1. Baltimore (25 fattest) 2. Honolulu (2) 3. Virginia Beach, Va. (12) 4. Tucson, Ariz. (8) 5. Milwaukee (15) 6. Colorado Springs, Colo. (3) 7. San Francisco (4) 8. Seattle (1) 9. Louisville-Jefferson, Ky. (not ranked) 10. Boston (11) 11. Sacramento, Calif. (7) 12. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (25) 13. Albuquerque (10) 14. Tulsa, Okla. (22 fattest) 15. Phoenix (12 fattest) 16. Atlanta (23 fattest) 17. Portland, Ore. (6) 18. Washington (23) 19. Oakland, Calif. (20) 20. Denver (5) 21. Minneapolis (13) 22. Arlington, Texas (22) 23. Austin, Texas (19) 24. Jacksonville, Fla. (18) 25. Omaha, Neb. (16) TOP 25 FATTEST CITIES: 1. Chicago (5) 2. Las Vegas (9) 3. Los Angeles (21 fittest) 4. Dallas (6) 5. Houston (1) 6. Memphis, Tenn. (4) 7. Long Beach, Calif. (20) 8. El Paso, Texas (11) 9. Kansas City, Mo. (18) 10. Mesa, Ariz. (15) 11. Indianapolis (13) 12. San Antonio (10) 13. Fort Worth, Texas (14) 14. Miami (19) 15. Detroit (3) 16. Columbus, Ohio (16) 17. Oklahoma City (21) 18. Cleveland (24 fittest) 19. Wichita, Kan. (17) 20. Charlotte, N.C. (24) 21. San Diego (9 fittest) 22. Fresno, Calif. (14 fittest) 23. Philadelphia (2) 24. San Jose, Calif. (17 fittest) 25. New York (8) SOURCE: Men's Fitness