The reasons we (Liberians) are dying slowly in America!

Ever wonder why our people in Liberia look better, younger, and happier then we in America do even with the high poverty and jobless economic going on in Liberia? Well its simple, they are eating better foods, drinks and work less stressful jobs unlike us in America.
FOOD: I checked many of the food we eat in Liberia and compared it with the average food in American restaurants, it no amazement why as soon as we enter this country, our blood, sugar, and heart rate shoot straight to the sky. This is why the older we get the more medications we find ourselves on in America. The average adult age 45 takes at lease four different types of medications per day in America. We Liberians love to “when in Rome do as the Romans” so therefore we are joining the ban wagon and hopping on the medications train in America. We are having high blood, strokes, heart diseases, mental illness (ok, this one is from the white folks stressing us out) and diabetic. Then there is the weight gain and gain and gain. The average person weighting 150lb should have no more then 50g carbohydrates, 1,200 mg sodium, 5g saturated fat, 5g fat, 1,800 calories and 0g trans fat per day. Look at this meal in America - Applebee’s Appetizer Sampler - 2,500 calories, 49g saturated fat, 6,520 mg sodium, 157g carbohydrates. And to think you have not had the real meal yet, this is just the appetizer to get you started. Let add the actual meal, Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger - 1,820 calories, 4 g saturated fat, 4,410 mg sodium. This one meal is enough to cause the average 50 years old male a stroke or heart attack. And this is just lunch. Add breakfast, dinner and snacks and you are a walking dead man/woman living in America.

EXERCISE: The most unloved E word in America. The reason it takes our people a long time to gain weight in Liberia is they walk a lot and most of the time they are carrying something or someone while walking. Liberians exercise in America, please! Every Liberian I know in America has a car or two or three, so walking is out of styles for us, not so? There are few of us that show our faces at a gym here and there and pay the monthly fees and take our medicines each night before bed. But look at our people in Liberia, they get their exercise and it’s free and they don’t even know they are exercising.

BEHAVIORS: We Liberians need to go back home or start living the way we do at home here in America so we can get the opportunity to eventually retire and move to Liberia and not die here. We need to leave some of the American “way of life” behaviors and continue our Liberian way of living, like walking, eating more boiled foods like our soups, instead of running to the pharmacy, run to the African food store. Instead of eating out, eat in and cook it your Liberian way. Instead of Applebee, go to Kendajah you will live longer. Instead of vegetable oil use your palm oil and don’t believe anything the white man told you about your country’s food, its all lies!

REST: Stop working two to three jobs to pay for a house you hardly live in, its unhealthy and add years to your life. Instead of living in a big house you cannot afford, down size your home to fit your one-job income. One of the best moves I ever made in my life. I do not do the “two-job” thing because I love my sleep and my Guinness on weekends. I see a lot of my friends living in large homes with 4 – 5 bedrooms, 3 ½ bath, large oversize TV but when you call their homes they are never home. The kids are raising themselves why, they are doing weekend or weekday live-ins or at some minimum wage job to earn extra money to buy gas for work because their mean job can only pay the mortgage. Get rid of people, places and things that ill you. If they cause you pain and stress, they are not good for you no matter what you think you are gaining from them? Get some sleep, the parties were there before you were born it will be there when you die, get your rest.

FAITH: If you are a Christian/Muslin and your church is not fulfilling you, find another church, there is one on every third corner in America. Say your prayers daily; say it out loud sometimes so you hear what you are praying for. Call a pray line, a friend of mind introduced me to one and I love it. Call a pastor for prayers, Lord knows Liberians have a lot of pastors in our mist, call on them. If you have not been to church in a while, this is the perfect time to go back. If you love God, admit it, for peace sake, say it loud, let God be your Alpha and your Omega in everything you do. When I am about to do something or say something I am afraid of or not sure of or I am somewhere I am not comfortable, I repeat Psalm 23rd out loud, by the third times I feel like someone took a warm blanket and wrap me up in it. At the point nothing moves me or get in my way because I know it is well with my soul!! My boss said when he hears me repeating Psalm 23rd; he stays out of my way. I really don’t know what he means by that and have never care to ask!

INCOME: Pay yourself FIRST, meaning save your money and stop wasting it on needless things. Why are we buying $300.00 purses or shoes and suits, do you think the white man will love you more if your total outfit you are wearing cost you a thousand dollars, I think not, actually he will most likely think of you the same way I do – you are a stupid idiot and should be slapped. Look at how Michael Jordon dresses and compare it with how Bill Gates dresses. From their looks can you tell who has the most money? No, you cannot because Bill Gates pays himself first and does not waste his money; Michael on the other hand, pays Christian Dion first.

LOVE: This word scares the piss out of most Liberians especially our men because it was never taught to us, we learn it as we got older in life or accidently felt into it. When was the last time you told your spouse you “love him/her”? I am sure most men reading this are saying to themselves, “what does she means I am paying the bills am I not?” Great, pay the bills, but also tell him or her how you feel and why you feel it. If your marriage is not working fix the problem, if the kids are pulling your hair out, (boy can I relate) seek help for them and for yourself as well. We all need a place to go and just spill our guts from time to time. Find your “happy” place and go there as much as you need to. Have sex; in fact have plenty of sex, best stress medicine there is. Now, I did not say go cheap and crazy, I am talking about you and your mate, I also did not say “mates”. Anyone that ever had a good relationship with me will tell you, if I can have sex every day or even twice a day I will. Have it in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, outside, in the car, have sex. Enjoy each other every day of your life, we will take the “thing” with us when we died so enjoy it before it gone, have sex with your mate! You know the old saying “if you are not with the one you love, love the one you are with”. Humans are the only creatures that shy away from love and sex. The animals have sex anytime and anywhere, we see them doing it all the time why not humans???

Every Liberian wants to come to America whether to live or visit. If only they knew what we know now they would get their acts together and stay home and enjoy their lives because there are actually living better then we are. Liberians are very smart people, we are not born smart, we do not work that hard really, it’s because we have limited resources to work with that makes us smart before we get here, not so? Now, why do we come here and join the ban wagon……….Let stop this kind of living and do what is necessary so we can retire and go HOME to LIBERIA!!! Everyone have a great weekend and remember God loves you!

If you are interested, take a look at what you are actually eating in American Restaurants:
The 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America
20. Worst Omelet

IHOP Colorado Omelette

1,890 calories
47 g saturated fat
4,200 mg sodium
130 g carbohydrates

19. Worst Breakfast

Cheescake Factory French Toast with Bacon

1,849 calories
65 g saturated fat
3,114 mg sodium
98 g carbohydrates

18. Worst Sit-Down Appetizer

Applebee’s Appetizer Sampler

2,500 calories
49 g saturated fat
6,520 mg sodium
157 g carbs

17. Worst Thai Salad

California Pizza Kitchen Thai Crunch Salad with Fresh Avocado

2,238 calories

16. Worst Pizza Slice

Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni (1 piece)

960 calories
42 g fat
3,200 mg sodium

15. Worst Wrap

T.G.I. Friday's BBQ Chicken Wrap

1,720 calories

14. Worst Tacos

On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Creamy Red Chile Sauce

2,350 calories
152 g fat (31 g saturated)
4,060 mg sodium

13. Worst Sit-Down Burger

Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger

1,820 calories
46 g saturated fat
4,410 mg sodium

12. Worst Sit-Down Kids' Meal

Cheesecake Factory Kids' Pasta with Alfredo Sauce

1,803 calories
86 g saturated fat
876 mg sodium
70 g carbohydrates

11. Worst Chicken Sandwich

Chili's Buffalo Chicken Crisper Bites

1,620 calories
100 g fat (21 g saturated)
5,380 mg sodium

10. Worst Food Invention

Domino's Chicken Carbonara Breadbowl Pasta

1,480 calories
56 g fat
(24 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,280 mg sodium
188 g carbs

9. Worst Chinese Food Meal

P.F. Chang's Crispy Honey Shrimp

2,110 calories
70 g fat (10 g saturated)
1,815 mg sodium
290 g carbs

8. Worst Fast Food Seafood Meal

Culver's North Atlantic Cod Filet Meal (3 pieces)

2,121 calories
135 g fat
(21 g saturated, 2 g trans)
2,568 mg sodium

7. Worst Sit-Down Ribs

Outback Steakhouse Baby Back Ribs (full rack)

3,021 calories
242 g fat
(90 g saturated fat)
4,648 mg sodium

6. Worst Pasta Dish

Cheesecake Factory Bistro Shrimp Pasta

2,819 calories
77 g saturated fat
1,008 mg sodium
184 g carbohydrates

5. Worst Steak Dinner

IHOP Top Sirloin Steak

2,380 calories
42 g saturated fat
5,220 mg sodium

4. Worst Fries

Five Guys Fries (large)

1,464 calories
71 g fat (14 g saturated)
213 mg sodium

3. Worst Side Dish

Jack in the Box Bacon Cheddar Wedges

760 calories
53 g fat
(17 g saturated, 13 g trans)
963 mg sodium

2. Worst Sweet Drink

Cold Stone PB&C Shake (Gotta Have It size)

2,010 calories
131 g fat (68 g saturated, 2.5 g trans)
880 mg sodium
153 g sugars

1. Worst Sit-Down Dessert

Outback Steakhouse Chocolate Thunder from Down Under

1,911 calories
88 g saturated fat
135 g carbohydrates

Roberta Williams
Dec 2009