Our fat global population has an enormous fricken problem when THIS is a viable, marketable solution.
Did they stop to consider folks can't keep this thingamajig inside them for life (just like many folks gotta get the adjustable band removed due to erosion, complications, etc). And then it's massive regain time. I mean, they ate all they wanted all along, where's the behavioral change once the device is gone?
Eat all you want.
Sit all day.
Don't believe you can change.
Pig out freely and we'll take care of it with assisted "puking."
Bulimia, sponsored soon by your insurance.
Hey, weight loss is tough and diets fail vastly more often than they succeed. I'm struggling to get back in rolling mojo control. Others struggle. Even some folks who have had bariatric surgeries struggle.
But this device...I just shake my head.
Permission to continue to overeat. Geez, at least the lap band forced you to control portions. This is license to keep doing the damaging stuff that made us fat to begin with.
:::more head shaking::::
Showing posts with label obesity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obesity. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2013
Sunday, September 2, 2012
"Hey, Fat Girl!"--and if you're a heavy person exercising in public, feeling eyes on you, read this...
Seriously, READ THIS. It's fabulous.
Read it especially if you're AFRAID to go out there and move cause you're 200, 250, 300,, 350 or plus...pounds.
I know firsthand how hard it is to move when the body is burdened with fat. I got to 300 lbs.
And I know what it's like to be morbidly obese and walk into a Pilates studio full of fit, slim folks--and in my case, MODELS, bona fide "in national magazines" models. Me, at 280 lbs, ungracefully climbing on and off equipment like a drunk turtle, huffing and puffing, oozing sweat, while sleek dancers and models elegantly "glowed" in their slim splendor and mutant beauty all around me, yeah, me with my size 4x workout wear. Yep, FOUR X. I had to mail order it, cause Sports Authority and places didn't have those sizes. (Click Phat Pilates tab up under the blog header to see some pics taken after I'd been doing Pilates a bit.)
But I did it. It took me months to work up the nerve, but my desire to get healthier overcame all shame, embarrassment, and fear.
I started walking regularly while still obese. At 240 or so pounds. It was hard. I could barely manage 10 minutes without pain in my feet and knees, without feeling a bit woozy.
But I did it.
In time, bit by bit, I could go faster and farther and longer.
And then, little by little, I got props--from the trainers, fellow exercisers, neighbors seeing me walk and get slimmer month by month, family members, my husband, who noticed I could keep up with him when we went out and had to walk blocks...and not feel like I had to sit down and gasp.
I think some small-minded folks will always ridicule those of us who are big and trying to be less big when we hit the streets or the gym. The idiots abound in every society.
But the kind folks are out there, too. Folks who will high five and thumbs-up a large person, male or female, making the effort. Folks who will give you a second wind just with a smile of approval.
I make it a point --and did back then--to encourage my fellow fatties (and I say that with empathy and affection) in our exercise efforts. A thumbs up. A smile. A word or phrase to say, "I notice you and you are fabulous."
Remember that if you're NOT big, if you're out and see a hefty person on a bike, or out for a walk or jog, or trying to work a gym machine: It takes courage for them to go and do that. On top of that courage, it's physically taxing in ways non-fat people cannot imagine. The thighs that rub hard together, the feet can overpronate. Bending over can be quite an effort, or not possible. The extra effort to just MOVE, the painful joints...all these things are obstacles one has to overcome to keep going. It takes guts to breathe hard, sweat, jiggle, and wear revealing workout wear in public.
If you haven't gone out there to MOVE out of shame or fear, I say this, and you should say it, too: Screw the idiots and screw the shame. GONNA DO IT FOR ME!
And if you're doing it: God bless you and keep at it. You're gonna feel the change.
Hey, Fat Girl. Hey, Fat Guy. Listen up. Keep moving forward. You rock!
And when I was morbidly obese and exposing myself to the eyes of dancers and models and skinny joggers in my neighborhood, I rocked. I rock when I don't let the creeps get me down. When I do it for my good and for the good of those who love me and want me to have a long life.
You're heroic, big person moving it out there where eyes can see every jiggle and limp. Keep walking, running, moving. Don't let any critics make you stop!
I bow to you, too!
Read it especially if you're AFRAID to go out there and move cause you're 200, 250, 300,, 350 or plus...pounds.
I know firsthand how hard it is to move when the body is burdened with fat. I got to 300 lbs.
And I know what it's like to be morbidly obese and walk into a Pilates studio full of fit, slim folks--and in my case, MODELS, bona fide "in national magazines" models. Me, at 280 lbs, ungracefully climbing on and off equipment like a drunk turtle, huffing and puffing, oozing sweat, while sleek dancers and models elegantly "glowed" in their slim splendor and mutant beauty all around me, yeah, me with my size 4x workout wear. Yep, FOUR X. I had to mail order it, cause Sports Authority and places didn't have those sizes. (Click Phat Pilates tab up under the blog header to see some pics taken after I'd been doing Pilates a bit.)
But I did it. It took me months to work up the nerve, but my desire to get healthier overcame all shame, embarrassment, and fear.
I started walking regularly while still obese. At 240 or so pounds. It was hard. I could barely manage 10 minutes without pain in my feet and knees, without feeling a bit woozy.
But I did it.
In time, bit by bit, I could go faster and farther and longer.
And then, little by little, I got props--from the trainers, fellow exercisers, neighbors seeing me walk and get slimmer month by month, family members, my husband, who noticed I could keep up with him when we went out and had to walk blocks...and not feel like I had to sit down and gasp.
I think some small-minded folks will always ridicule those of us who are big and trying to be less big when we hit the streets or the gym. The idiots abound in every society.
But the kind folks are out there, too. Folks who will high five and thumbs-up a large person, male or female, making the effort. Folks who will give you a second wind just with a smile of approval.
I make it a point --and did back then--to encourage my fellow fatties (and I say that with empathy and affection) in our exercise efforts. A thumbs up. A smile. A word or phrase to say, "I notice you and you are fabulous."
Remember that if you're NOT big, if you're out and see a hefty person on a bike, or out for a walk or jog, or trying to work a gym machine: It takes courage for them to go and do that. On top of that courage, it's physically taxing in ways non-fat people cannot imagine. The thighs that rub hard together, the feet can overpronate. Bending over can be quite an effort, or not possible. The extra effort to just MOVE, the painful joints...all these things are obstacles one has to overcome to keep going. It takes guts to breathe hard, sweat, jiggle, and wear revealing workout wear in public.
If you haven't gone out there to MOVE out of shame or fear, I say this, and you should say it, too: Screw the idiots and screw the shame. GONNA DO IT FOR ME!
And if you're doing it: God bless you and keep at it. You're gonna feel the change.
Hey, Fat Girl. Hey, Fat Guy. Listen up. Keep moving forward. You rock!
And when I was morbidly obese and exposing myself to the eyes of dancers and models and skinny joggers in my neighborhood, I rocked. I rock when I don't let the creeps get me down. When I do it for my good and for the good of those who love me and want me to have a long life.
You're heroic, big person moving it out there where eyes can see every jiggle and limp. Keep walking, running, moving. Don't let any critics make you stop!
I bow to you, too!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Absorbed and Forgot to Eat, but I Just Made Myself Eat NOW! And Is FAT INCURABLE? I'll hang on to hope...that I can be cured. :D
I looked up from some stuff I was doing--some researching, some writing--and lo and behold, it was 11:30 and I had not had but one meal, breakfast. Some eggs, papaya, boiled yuca (cassava), and coffee. That was it. Maybe 600 calories. Under 25 grams of protein, most likely.
I didn't want to end the day without enough protein (and yeah, still not really hungry), so I have a spinach-cranberry-almond-cheese salad , a protein shake (Swanson protein 17 g with some lowfat organic milk) and drank some beef Gelatin powder in water for more protein. Maybe 500 cals. I should end the day at a not too bad 1100.
I really think it's dangerous not to get enough protein and not to eat enough, period, in terms of holding on to lean mass and not making some bonkers hormonal reactions.
So, while I'm chewing, I decided to type. Cause I was still pondering an article I read a couple days ago, the one you ALL must have seen, read, and read people respond to. It was rather dire. You know which one I mean?
It was by David Wong over at Cracked.com with the title: Fat is Officially Incurable (According to Science).
You should read it if you have lost weight, are losing weight, or WANT to lose weight. It's not really saying something very different than what those of us who have kept up with the research over the years ALREADY know. I remember reading something very similar--diets fail, nearly all the time--by a bariatric specialist when I was early in my weight loss blogging. It scared me, but it made me want to be one of the few freaks who keep it off. The minority.
I'd blogged before about how it's the few, very few, who lose a lot and keep it off, barring those who have bariatric bypass, since they have much greater chances of keeping it off, but might suffer complications that are hard to live with later. (And we've all seen famous bypassers regain, like Carnie Wilson. We've seen fellow bloggers with some form of surgical intervention regain partly, sometimes back into obesity. It's not a guarantee, but it does have better stats.)
This was also one of the reasons I never aimed for THIN. Thin, I knew, just knew, was beyond me. I aimed for NOT OBESE. That's all. Just not obese. Just overweight.
And I'm here now. Not obese. Not Thin. Just overweight.
I have no idea if I'll be one of the very few who stay not obese. I want to be, but I'm not gifted with future-vision.
All I can do is remember that it's EASY to regain. What will happen if I get the wild hunger so many "losers" report after hitting target or near-target weight. The mad urge to eat that is verified by science--studies that show hunger hormones elevated in those who dieted, lost weight. Even a year later, amazingly, a year after not being on the tight caloric regimen, hunger hormones remain HIGH, and need for calories LOW. (Lower than never-fat folks at same weight.)
It's scary. Really scary.
It's unjust. Sure. We say that.
It's reality.
But don't despair. Do read this balanced response over at 180 Degree Health by Rob Archangel, and just assess where you are and where you can be and how you can improve in the various health areas.
Sometimes, we damage ourselves trying to get to a perfect weight, or an ideal weight, when what we need is just to be at a healthy place, and that healthy place might be at an overweight or even mildly obese place. (I cannot be convinced that serious obesity/morbid obesity can be a healthful place.)
I lost 3.4 lbs this past week in a not healthy way. It was effortless, but it was not WELLNESS.
Some would say, "Shut up, take your losses and celebrate."
I would, except that I want to be WELL, not thin. HEALTHY, not skinny. FULL OF ENERGY AND STRONG, not a size 6.
I'm a size 12/14/16 depending on who/the cut/the style. And I'm okay being here as long as I'm here with good habits--sound food and good movement--and not here doing weird stuff or stressing out or having disordered eating or just laying around and turning to skinny mush.
Rob Archangel is right. We want health. Let's do what is good for health, and not be yo-yo dieters or obsessive over-exercisers, destroying our joints, or life stifling food perfectionists, trapped in orthorexia and unable to even enjoy a dinner out with friends or a holiday celebration.
This isn't just a scale thing. This is a quality of life thing.
If we can't focus on anything else once a good amount of weight is gone, if we can't learn to eat in a sane way and maintain that sane way of eating and moving, then there's something wrong with whatever plan we have. If the weight is bouncing up and down and up and down, then it might be doing more damage than just working on other issues until the weight can be addressed with more calmness and strategy.
Just jumping into a fad diet out of despair at not fitting into a fave outfit might mess you up.
Weight loss requires a lot of work and planning and discipline, and it requires MORE to keep it off. Be aware, you newbies. Take time to learn.
Yes, you, if you're just starting your journey to a healthier weight, please remember the odds are bleak, but YOU can be one of the few successful ones. Do it right. Eat well of real food, move without hurting yourself, rest, meditate/pray, have supportive people around you (online and off), and accept that it's a lifelong vigilance, lifelong good habits that increase our odds of making it into the minority that KEEPS weight off.
Now, with hope, we move on....to be well.
Goodnight.
I didn't want to end the day without enough protein (and yeah, still not really hungry), so I have a spinach-cranberry-almond-cheese salad , a protein shake (Swanson protein 17 g with some lowfat organic milk) and drank some beef Gelatin powder in water for more protein. Maybe 500 cals. I should end the day at a not too bad 1100.
I really think it's dangerous not to get enough protein and not to eat enough, period, in terms of holding on to lean mass and not making some bonkers hormonal reactions.
So, while I'm chewing, I decided to type. Cause I was still pondering an article I read a couple days ago, the one you ALL must have seen, read, and read people respond to. It was rather dire. You know which one I mean?
It was by David Wong over at Cracked.com with the title: Fat is Officially Incurable (According to Science).
You should read it if you have lost weight, are losing weight, or WANT to lose weight. It's not really saying something very different than what those of us who have kept up with the research over the years ALREADY know. I remember reading something very similar--diets fail, nearly all the time--by a bariatric specialist when I was early in my weight loss blogging. It scared me, but it made me want to be one of the few freaks who keep it off. The minority.
I'd blogged before about how it's the few, very few, who lose a lot and keep it off, barring those who have bariatric bypass, since they have much greater chances of keeping it off, but might suffer complications that are hard to live with later. (And we've all seen famous bypassers regain, like Carnie Wilson. We've seen fellow bloggers with some form of surgical intervention regain partly, sometimes back into obesity. It's not a guarantee, but it does have better stats.)
This was also one of the reasons I never aimed for THIN. Thin, I knew, just knew, was beyond me. I aimed for NOT OBESE. That's all. Just not obese. Just overweight.
And I'm here now. Not obese. Not Thin. Just overweight.
I have no idea if I'll be one of the very few who stay not obese. I want to be, but I'm not gifted with future-vision.
All I can do is remember that it's EASY to regain. What will happen if I get the wild hunger so many "losers" report after hitting target or near-target weight. The mad urge to eat that is verified by science--studies that show hunger hormones elevated in those who dieted, lost weight. Even a year later, amazingly, a year after not being on the tight caloric regimen, hunger hormones remain HIGH, and need for calories LOW. (Lower than never-fat folks at same weight.)
It's scary. Really scary.
It's unjust. Sure. We say that.
It's reality.
But don't despair. Do read this balanced response over at 180 Degree Health by Rob Archangel, and just assess where you are and where you can be and how you can improve in the various health areas.
Sometimes, we damage ourselves trying to get to a perfect weight, or an ideal weight, when what we need is just to be at a healthy place, and that healthy place might be at an overweight or even mildly obese place. (I cannot be convinced that serious obesity/morbid obesity can be a healthful place.)
I lost 3.4 lbs this past week in a not healthy way. It was effortless, but it was not WELLNESS.
Some would say, "Shut up, take your losses and celebrate."
I would, except that I want to be WELL, not thin. HEALTHY, not skinny. FULL OF ENERGY AND STRONG, not a size 6.
I'm a size 12/14/16 depending on who/the cut/the style. And I'm okay being here as long as I'm here with good habits--sound food and good movement--and not here doing weird stuff or stressing out or having disordered eating or just laying around and turning to skinny mush.
Rob Archangel is right. We want health. Let's do what is good for health, and not be yo-yo dieters or obsessive over-exercisers, destroying our joints, or life stifling food perfectionists, trapped in orthorexia and unable to even enjoy a dinner out with friends or a holiday celebration.
This isn't just a scale thing. This is a quality of life thing.
If we can't focus on anything else once a good amount of weight is gone, if we can't learn to eat in a sane way and maintain that sane way of eating and moving, then there's something wrong with whatever plan we have. If the weight is bouncing up and down and up and down, then it might be doing more damage than just working on other issues until the weight can be addressed with more calmness and strategy.
Just jumping into a fad diet out of despair at not fitting into a fave outfit might mess you up.
Weight loss requires a lot of work and planning and discipline, and it requires MORE to keep it off. Be aware, you newbies. Take time to learn.
Yes, you, if you're just starting your journey to a healthier weight, please remember the odds are bleak, but YOU can be one of the few successful ones. Do it right. Eat well of real food, move without hurting yourself, rest, meditate/pray, have supportive people around you (online and off), and accept that it's a lifelong vigilance, lifelong good habits that increase our odds of making it into the minority that KEEPS weight off.
Now, with hope, we move on....to be well.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
So, we work REALLY FRICKEN HARD to lose weight and exercise, with all those odds against us, work on issues, see specialists, read and learn, weep and try again when we fall...WORK HARD AS HECK to lose 50, 100, 150+ pounds...and they still think less of us? People! That's CRAZY!
New research out of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, The University of
Manchester and Monash University, has revealed that anti-fat prejudice
still persisted against former obese women, even after they had lost a
significant amount of weight.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Paul Jaminet, Matt Stone, Dr. Thomas Bryan at Paleo Summit--and worth listening to for varying views. Note: If you even mildly suspect or wonder about GLUTEN sensitivity, listen to Dr. Bryan's segment.
Dr. Paul Jaminet, co-author of THE PERFECT HEALTH DIET --and one of the more gracious persons online discussing how we ought to eat for health and weight loss-- is interviewed HERE. You can listen for free for a limited time (maybe just today).
You can also hear Matt Stone--whom I strongly recommend simply for the clear warning not to base your identity around ANY DIET, so that you stop listening to your own biofeedback, which is a super-dangerous thing for anyone-- and other speakers as the summit continues. If you've eaten in a particular diet style--high carb, low carb, Paleo, etc--and it has stopped working for you or you are having increasing issues with metabolic resistance to that way of eating, his talk is very worth listening to for a dissenting view.
Got gluten issues, suspect or wonder about this? Got autoimmune issues and wonder if diet is related to it? LISTEN TO DR O' BRYAN. The synopsis of his discussion is "The most basic Paleo Diet recommendation is the removal of gluten. But did you know that gluten sensitivity goes well beyond the digestive tract? Dr. O’Bryan reveals the latest research on how gluten consumption may lead to autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, and muscle pain without digestive symptoms." I have autoimmune issues--as does my family, and an AI disease killed my mom-- and my hubby HAD digestive ones. Going gluten free helped us both (my allergies/asthma overall improved, hubby's bathroom woes cleared up and he dumped many pounds.) Autoimmune disease is the NUMBER ONE CAUSE of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world, and it seems to underlie cardiovascular disease (which a lot of folks THINK is our #1 m&m cause). If you have MS, migraines, osteoporosis, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Parkinson's, eczema, cardiomyopathy, gallbladder disease, etc...please listen ALL THE WAY through.
The tabs for each talk are near the top part of the pages.
I figure it's worth to hear the different voices out there, those doing research, working with folks, reviewing the science. You may learn something that helps you on your journey. Ya never know. :D
You can also hear Matt Stone--whom I strongly recommend simply for the clear warning not to base your identity around ANY DIET, so that you stop listening to your own biofeedback, which is a super-dangerous thing for anyone-- and other speakers as the summit continues. If you've eaten in a particular diet style--high carb, low carb, Paleo, etc--and it has stopped working for you or you are having increasing issues with metabolic resistance to that way of eating, his talk is very worth listening to for a dissenting view.
Got gluten issues, suspect or wonder about this? Got autoimmune issues and wonder if diet is related to it? LISTEN TO DR O' BRYAN. The synopsis of his discussion is "The most basic Paleo Diet recommendation is the removal of gluten. But did you know that gluten sensitivity goes well beyond the digestive tract? Dr. O’Bryan reveals the latest research on how gluten consumption may lead to autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, and muscle pain without digestive symptoms." I have autoimmune issues--as does my family, and an AI disease killed my mom-- and my hubby HAD digestive ones. Going gluten free helped us both (my allergies/asthma overall improved, hubby's bathroom woes cleared up and he dumped many pounds.) Autoimmune disease is the NUMBER ONE CAUSE of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world, and it seems to underlie cardiovascular disease (which a lot of folks THINK is our #1 m&m cause). If you have MS, migraines, osteoporosis, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Parkinson's, eczema, cardiomyopathy, gallbladder disease, etc...please listen ALL THE WAY through.
The tabs for each talk are near the top part of the pages.
I figure it's worth to hear the different voices out there, those doing research, working with folks, reviewing the science. You may learn something that helps you on your journey. Ya never know. :D
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
What is it with restaurants and salt? Give Beth Some Hugs, Would Ya? And Remembering that FAT KILLS! aka time for another Royal Rant!
Yesterday, I had my Pilates, did a 35 minute walk with hubby, and finished NATIVE STAR, which was great. Too bad it's another typical "pick on religious folks, pick on republicans, pick on big corporations" message...which is sorta cliche these days, but other than that, primo,great fun, romantic in parts, and I'm gonna start the sequel soon. :D
Today, I pick up my organic coop share. Hubby will be happy there are gala apples, broccoli, potatoes, and bananas. I'm happy there are grapes, arugula, local avocado, and local eggplant. Some other stuff, but those are my faves in the share.
Yesterday, I allowed myself multiple carbs/starches with dinner, so I'm staying away from the scale. Starches/more carbs = water retention for me. I had black beans and hummus. My half cup of beef veggie soup (from a Lebanese restaurant, as was the hummus) had a bit of rice, too. I also had extra fruit with dinner. And lowfat Greek yogurt with some walnuts. A lot of carbs yesterday with supper. But I just wasn't in a meaty/poultry mood.
It was half a cup of soup, not the full share, cause it was TOO DAMN SALTY. Geesh. 9 out of 10 times I have soup in a restaurant, it's like someone opened up the Morton's and just went to town in my mouth. What is it with that? Maybe Allan knows, as he's Mr. Restaurateur Supremo.
Crazy.
The hummus was salty, too, so I didn't hit it much, which is fine. It's just for a little flavor.
If a genie gave me 3 wishes, I think 1 of them might be: "Every restaurant in the world will only sell healthful, nutritious, real, organic food without additives or excessive salt."
I know. I ain't getting that wish, but it might lead to world peace if everyone was eating sane. Who knows? :D
We had rain again, and I may leave walking for tomorrow and do something indoors. Dancing. Some calisthenics. Weights. Not sure.
But I am sure my blogging fatfighting buddies, who well understand the power food can have and how hard it can be to refind one's groove, will want to go and give some commenty support to our pal BETH of OBESITY STRIKE blog. She came back to us after a long hiatus. Let's send good wishes, prayers, vibes...and let her know she has the power to overcome this setback!
Saw as I was reading a few blogs (been bad at keeping up with everyone, sorry) that one blogger lost a babysitter due to obesity.
Fat kills.
Fat kills.
Fat kills.
I'm not talking about a little fat. Some healthful dietary fats. I'm talking about obesity. I'm talking about excess fat.
FAT KILLS!
If you think that chocolate bar or that cookie or cake or that double meat pizza or lasagna or drive-thru supermeal is benign, you're kidding yourself. If we have weight issues, those foods are killing us if they are not helping us lose weight. Period. And hey, they might be killing you anyway, with whatever nitrites/preservatives/additives and crap is in there if you're sensitive to it--diabetic folks, gluten-intolerant folks, soy-sensitive folks, preservative sensitive folks, hypothyroid folks, autoimmune folks, binge-eating triggered-folks, I'm talking at ya, stop eating crap you know you can't handle physiologially or psychologically!
Your desire to eat too much is destroying you. It was totally destroying ME. I know it.
Stop it.
Right now.
Find the sane place inside you and grab hold and put down that food you're about to trigger a binge on or go over your alloted calories with. PUT IT DOWN!!!!
We already have people dropping dead all across our country from eating too much. Kids getting diabetes. Adults, too, who only are getting it cause they got fat. That was me...heading right to diabetes cause I ate too fricken much.
Adults getting cancer.
Shortened lifespans.
Orphaned kids, cause their parents couldn't say not to Dominoes or McD's or the Chinese Buffet.
Despairing seniors whose children predeceased them due to obesity -related illnesses or complications.
People being sick and unproductive due to poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
It affects a whole society. Not just me and you. EVERYONE pays for this.
I lost a nephew, who'd probably be well and alive today if he'd gotten a handle on his weight issues. It complicated his medical treatment that he was morbidly obese.
FAT KILLS.
Don't let it kill you anymore than it already has. Yep, who knows what damage WE ALREADY DID to ourselves. Irrevocable damage. Done and not to be undone.
Don't do more. I don't want to mess myself up anymore. I want to heal.
Let's heal.
Put the damn crap down. Spit it out. Refuse to buy it. Refuse to spend your hard-earned bucks on anything that is not NUTRITIOUS and on YOUR (and my) acceptable eating plan.
Live longer, love longer, be well longer....
Today, I pick up my organic coop share. Hubby will be happy there are gala apples, broccoli, potatoes, and bananas. I'm happy there are grapes, arugula, local avocado, and local eggplant. Some other stuff, but those are my faves in the share.
Yesterday, I allowed myself multiple carbs/starches with dinner, so I'm staying away from the scale. Starches/more carbs = water retention for me. I had black beans and hummus. My half cup of beef veggie soup (from a Lebanese restaurant, as was the hummus) had a bit of rice, too. I also had extra fruit with dinner. And lowfat Greek yogurt with some walnuts. A lot of carbs yesterday with supper. But I just wasn't in a meaty/poultry mood.
It was half a cup of soup, not the full share, cause it was TOO DAMN SALTY. Geesh. 9 out of 10 times I have soup in a restaurant, it's like someone opened up the Morton's and just went to town in my mouth. What is it with that? Maybe Allan knows, as he's Mr. Restaurateur Supremo.
Crazy.
The hummus was salty, too, so I didn't hit it much, which is fine. It's just for a little flavor.
If a genie gave me 3 wishes, I think 1 of them might be: "Every restaurant in the world will only sell healthful, nutritious, real, organic food without additives or excessive salt."
I know. I ain't getting that wish, but it might lead to world peace if everyone was eating sane. Who knows? :D
We had rain again, and I may leave walking for tomorrow and do something indoors. Dancing. Some calisthenics. Weights. Not sure.
But I am sure my blogging fatfighting buddies, who well understand the power food can have and how hard it can be to refind one's groove, will want to go and give some commenty support to our pal BETH of OBESITY STRIKE blog. She came back to us after a long hiatus. Let's send good wishes, prayers, vibes...and let her know she has the power to overcome this setback!
Saw as I was reading a few blogs (been bad at keeping up with everyone, sorry) that one blogger lost a babysitter due to obesity.
Fat kills.
Fat kills.
Fat kills.
I'm not talking about a little fat. Some healthful dietary fats. I'm talking about obesity. I'm talking about excess fat.
FAT KILLS!
If you think that chocolate bar or that cookie or cake or that double meat pizza or lasagna or drive-thru supermeal is benign, you're kidding yourself. If we have weight issues, those foods are killing us if they are not helping us lose weight. Period. And hey, they might be killing you anyway, with whatever nitrites/preservatives/additives and crap is in there if you're sensitive to it--diabetic folks, gluten-intolerant folks, soy-sensitive folks, preservative sensitive folks, hypothyroid folks, autoimmune folks, binge-eating triggered-folks, I'm talking at ya, stop eating crap you know you can't handle physiologially or psychologically!
Your desire to eat too much is destroying you. It was totally destroying ME. I know it.
Stop it.
Right now.
Find the sane place inside you and grab hold and put down that food you're about to trigger a binge on or go over your alloted calories with. PUT IT DOWN!!!!
We already have people dropping dead all across our country from eating too much. Kids getting diabetes. Adults, too, who only are getting it cause they got fat. That was me...heading right to diabetes cause I ate too fricken much.
Adults getting cancer.
Shortened lifespans.
Orphaned kids, cause their parents couldn't say not to Dominoes or McD's or the Chinese Buffet.
Despairing seniors whose children predeceased them due to obesity -related illnesses or complications.
People being sick and unproductive due to poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
It affects a whole society. Not just me and you. EVERYONE pays for this.
I lost a nephew, who'd probably be well and alive today if he'd gotten a handle on his weight issues. It complicated his medical treatment that he was morbidly obese.
FAT KILLS.
Don't let it kill you anymore than it already has. Yep, who knows what damage WE ALREADY DID to ourselves. Irrevocable damage. Done and not to be undone.
Don't do more. I don't want to mess myself up anymore. I want to heal.
Let's heal.
Put the damn crap down. Spit it out. Refuse to buy it. Refuse to spend your hard-earned bucks on anything that is not NUTRITIOUS and on YOUR (and my) acceptable eating plan.
Live longer, love longer, be well longer....
Friday, September 2, 2011
For Food Freak: The Princess & Pilates
Food Freak asked in the comments section of the previous post:
I'm not in the mood. BUT, I'll do a quickie now before bed--well, as much as I can do anything "quickie" style--and refer folk to the PHAT PILATES page (see tab to click under blog header). It has pics of me doing it and you see what a session is sorta like.
I knew about Pilates for decades. Back in my younger days, magazines often featured celebrities and trainers who did or taught Pilates. It was a fashionable exercise in NY and LA with the models and actresses. I used to see pics of people in magazines in the TEASER pose. :)
I never did it, though. But as I came to feel more and more that since I could not seem to get a handle on dieting, I could try to stop being a couch potato. Try exercise FIRST, and see if that helped. I also wanted to build muscle. I was terrified of the hanging skin post big weight loss, and I wanted to build a better architecture under the fat to support loss with , maybe, I hoped, less shar-pei skin.
I began Pilates on June 30, 2008. I was in the 270s; highest weight doing Pilates was 278. It was very hard for me to get my courage up. Took months of thinking about it, driving by this particular studio a mere 5 minute drive from my house. Finally, I called and asked if they had anyone with experience with obese clients. I ended up seeing the co-owner of the studio, Liza.
I began 3x a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) for 55 minute sessions.
In the beginning, thought I was gonna die. When you're that big and that out of shape from a completely sedentary and reclusive lifestyle, going into a studio with bona-fide dancers and models around you is intimidating. When you're that big and out of shape and have emerged from self-hiding with bad joints and asthma, getting through nearly an hour of ANY exercise is hard as crap.
I persevered.
Money considerations meant I had to decrease my visits to 2x a week (which is where I remain) after 9 months or so of my starting date.
My development was slow, but sure. I felt a difference in a matter of weeks in terms of better flexibility and after months, the well-being and strength were increasing. I used to let my hubby carry in groceries. I got tired walking half a block. I now can walk and walk and I can carry ALL my groceries myself in ONE go (the clerks at Publix still marvel at how much I can carry and keep asking if I'm not SURE I want a cart). I don't use a cart. I take bags and just load them up and grunt my way to the cash register, loaded up. :D
Sex improved, too. Seriously. You get flexible, strong in the core, that helps in the bedroom. And as I got stronger and felt more able to DO stuff, I DID more stuff. Went out and did things I hadn't in years out of distrust of my own body's ability to move and endure and shame of my girth.
Strength. Flexibility. Focus. Mindfulness. Balance. Gentle movement. Breath control. A growing sense of mastery. Reconnecting with a body that one can become alienated and distrustful of. It feels good.
Anyone can google Pilates and read about its founder and principles. I encourage it. I chose it specifically because of my issues (bad knees, asthma--which at that time precluded aerobics, safety concerns). I was the biggest person who went there. It took guts. And I'm proud of myself.
The reason I posted the PHAT PILATES blogs/pics was so other big gals would not be afraid to TRY Pilates. Yes, you'll flop around like a wounded turtle on the machines when you're huge, but a good instructor and accepting environment make it worthwhile. And the machines are fun. I LOOOVE the Reformer and Cadillac. I love how they made my legs look and built up my core. I love how she modified for my belly and thighs and neck fat. Any really well-trained and experienced instructor can modify for obese clients. If they can't modify, they aren't for big folks. And they work with body imbalances and weaknesses....so there's no fear other than one's own neuroses. ; )
Anyway, not so quickie, but there it is. It's a great form of exercise for introverts like me, as it's very inward focused, very mindful. And for folks with bad backs, knees, etc...very easy on the joints.
Food Freak, that okay? ; )
Sometime, when you're in the mood, could you dedicate part of a post to what Pilates is, how you discovered it, how long a session you do it, how often, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. LOL.
I'm not in the mood. BUT, I'll do a quickie now before bed--well, as much as I can do anything "quickie" style--and refer folk to the PHAT PILATES page (see tab to click under blog header). It has pics of me doing it and you see what a session is sorta like.
I knew about Pilates for decades. Back in my younger days, magazines often featured celebrities and trainers who did or taught Pilates. It was a fashionable exercise in NY and LA with the models and actresses. I used to see pics of people in magazines in the TEASER pose. :)
I never did it, though. But as I came to feel more and more that since I could not seem to get a handle on dieting, I could try to stop being a couch potato. Try exercise FIRST, and see if that helped. I also wanted to build muscle. I was terrified of the hanging skin post big weight loss, and I wanted to build a better architecture under the fat to support loss with , maybe, I hoped, less shar-pei skin.
I began Pilates on June 30, 2008. I was in the 270s; highest weight doing Pilates was 278. It was very hard for me to get my courage up. Took months of thinking about it, driving by this particular studio a mere 5 minute drive from my house. Finally, I called and asked if they had anyone with experience with obese clients. I ended up seeing the co-owner of the studio, Liza.
I began 3x a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) for 55 minute sessions.
In the beginning, thought I was gonna die. When you're that big and that out of shape from a completely sedentary and reclusive lifestyle, going into a studio with bona-fide dancers and models around you is intimidating. When you're that big and out of shape and have emerged from self-hiding with bad joints and asthma, getting through nearly an hour of ANY exercise is hard as crap.
I persevered.
Money considerations meant I had to decrease my visits to 2x a week (which is where I remain) after 9 months or so of my starting date.
My development was slow, but sure. I felt a difference in a matter of weeks in terms of better flexibility and after months, the well-being and strength were increasing. I used to let my hubby carry in groceries. I got tired walking half a block. I now can walk and walk and I can carry ALL my groceries myself in ONE go (the clerks at Publix still marvel at how much I can carry and keep asking if I'm not SURE I want a cart). I don't use a cart. I take bags and just load them up and grunt my way to the cash register, loaded up. :D
Sex improved, too. Seriously. You get flexible, strong in the core, that helps in the bedroom. And as I got stronger and felt more able to DO stuff, I DID more stuff. Went out and did things I hadn't in years out of distrust of my own body's ability to move and endure and shame of my girth.
Strength. Flexibility. Focus. Mindfulness. Balance. Gentle movement. Breath control. A growing sense of mastery. Reconnecting with a body that one can become alienated and distrustful of. It feels good.
Anyone can google Pilates and read about its founder and principles. I encourage it. I chose it specifically because of my issues (bad knees, asthma--which at that time precluded aerobics, safety concerns). I was the biggest person who went there. It took guts. And I'm proud of myself.
The reason I posted the PHAT PILATES blogs/pics was so other big gals would not be afraid to TRY Pilates. Yes, you'll flop around like a wounded turtle on the machines when you're huge, but a good instructor and accepting environment make it worthwhile. And the machines are fun. I LOOOVE the Reformer and Cadillac. I love how they made my legs look and built up my core. I love how she modified for my belly and thighs and neck fat. Any really well-trained and experienced instructor can modify for obese clients. If they can't modify, they aren't for big folks. And they work with body imbalances and weaknesses....so there's no fear other than one's own neuroses. ; )
Anyway, not so quickie, but there it is. It's a great form of exercise for introverts like me, as it's very inward focused, very mindful. And for folks with bad backs, knees, etc...very easy on the joints.
Food Freak, that okay? ; )
Friday, August 26, 2011
Which "Obesity Stage" Are You Living In? I like being a ZERO!
BMI isn't so useful a tool. I use it as a milestone marker. But I know it's got serious limitations and problems.
Some docs want better ways to gauge obesity and its effect. So, I was reading the stages in the Edmonton Obesity Staging System:
And I realized this:
At my very highest at just about 300 lbs, I would have to self-categorize myself as having dipped into Stage 3 for a spell. Not cause of organ damage (though I was damaging my liver, had elevated enzymes, Ultrasound showed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), but cause my activities were severely impacted. Movement...breathing...sleeping...and depression was rampant. "Impairment" of well-being, oh, yeah.
I spent most of my morbid obesity in Stage 2. No question about it.
I look over the criteria, and realize I'm a ZERO, just from how I feel and what doc says: Prediabetes resolved. No hypertension drug now. HDL and triglycerides, amazing. LDL higher, but good LDL particle size. Apnea pretty much gone, no waking up choking... though I'm asleep, so can't really tell for sure, hah. Reflux gone. Liver hasn't been rechecked via ultrasound, but I'm guessing way, way less fatty. Easier to move (exercise!). Energy high. Depression not in sight. Joy of life, even with its sad moments--considerable.
I do have damage--to skin, to joints, to liver, I'm sure--from having been obese for more than 2 decades. No joke. You pay a price! I suspect the longer one is obese, the more price to be paid. Some things are irrevocable. Lifespan may be impacted for sure. We can't know for certain. But I do suspect the longer you wait to fix the problem (don't be an ass like me), the less you get to live and the more you suffer down the line.
BUT....for today...for now...being a zero is nice.
I want to stay a big zero when it comes to this.
I can cross my legs. I can touch my head to my knees. I can go up a flight of stairs without being winded. I can walk and feel strong and buoyant, simultaneously. I take such joy in doing these things I could not do before.
And I"m still fat. Overweight.
Just not obese. :)
What stage are you in? Don't you wanna be a ZERO?
Some docs want better ways to gauge obesity and its effect. So, I was reading the stages in the Edmonton Obesity Staging System:
STAGE 0: Patient has no apparent obesity-related risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, serum lipids, fasting glucose, etc. within normal range), no physical symptoms, no psychopathology, no functional limitations and/or impairment of well being.
STAGE 1: Patient has obesity-related subclinical risk factor(s) (e.g., borderline hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, elevated liver enzymes, etc.), mild physical symptoms (e.g., dyspnea on moderate exertion, occasional aches and pains, fatigue, etc.), mild psychopathology, mild functional limitations and/or mild impairment of well being.
STAGE 2: Patient has established obesity-related chronic disease(s) (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, reflux disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, anxiety disorder, etc.), moderate limitations in activities of daily living and/or well being.
STAGE 3: Patient has established end-organ damage such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetic complications, incapacitating osteoarthritis, significant psychopathology, significant functional limitation(s) and/or impairment of well being.
STAGE 4: Patient has severe (potentially end-stage) disability/ies from obesity-related chronic diseases, severe disabling psychopathology, severe functional limitation(s) and/or severe impairment of well being.
And I realized this:
At my very highest at just about 300 lbs, I would have to self-categorize myself as having dipped into Stage 3 for a spell. Not cause of organ damage (though I was damaging my liver, had elevated enzymes, Ultrasound showed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), but cause my activities were severely impacted. Movement...breathing...sleeping...and depression was rampant. "Impairment" of well-being, oh, yeah.
I spent most of my morbid obesity in Stage 2. No question about it.
I look over the criteria, and realize I'm a ZERO, just from how I feel and what doc says: Prediabetes resolved. No hypertension drug now. HDL and triglycerides, amazing. LDL higher, but good LDL particle size. Apnea pretty much gone, no waking up choking... though I'm asleep, so can't really tell for sure, hah. Reflux gone. Liver hasn't been rechecked via ultrasound, but I'm guessing way, way less fatty. Easier to move (exercise!). Energy high. Depression not in sight. Joy of life, even with its sad moments--considerable.
I do have damage--to skin, to joints, to liver, I'm sure--from having been obese for more than 2 decades. No joke. You pay a price! I suspect the longer one is obese, the more price to be paid. Some things are irrevocable. Lifespan may be impacted for sure. We can't know for certain. But I do suspect the longer you wait to fix the problem (don't be an ass like me), the less you get to live and the more you suffer down the line.
BUT....for today...for now...being a zero is nice.
I want to stay a big zero when it comes to this.
I can cross my legs. I can touch my head to my knees. I can go up a flight of stairs without being winded. I can walk and feel strong and buoyant, simultaneously. I take such joy in doing these things I could not do before.
And I"m still fat. Overweight.
Just not obese. :)
What stage are you in? Don't you wanna be a ZERO?
Friday, August 12, 2011
Some Princess Dieter comments and links speaking on the Theories & Complex Factors on the Matter of Becoming Obese and Getting NOT Obese and a Quote ....on a lazy, bloated, wanna-nap day...
Scale is up from salt and added carbs these last 4 days--both of which cause water retention and scale stalls in me, historically. I knoweth of what I speak.
As much as I have enjoyed the added taters, sushi rice (with my veggie sushi), and brown rice (with my grilled chicken and veggies) this past week, and as much as my salt-hungering tongue loved the dips into soy sauce and shakes of the Celtic sea salt, and as much as my fruit-addict self loves summer's bounty of colorful sweet beauties, it's time to get back on program and stop being slackerish on my tracking.
No binges. No massive overages (though I have gone over calories twice this week). It's just me being hungry again from the carbs. I know it. I've doubled my fruit intake. While that may be a heathful food option, raw fruit, it's still too much in the sugars department for my metabolically not-normal body.
So, back to more veggies, fruit moderation (noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, weep, weep) and scaling back on tubers and rice. I won't ever eliminate them, but I got too loose with allowances. Once or twice a week, fine. But almost every day this week, even modest portions not so fine. For me, it's NOT just calories--it's insulin. It's appetite. I felt my appetite growing and my night-time snack urges return. I want them to go away again and regain the Zen Appetite. :D
Yesterday, I walked and did Pilates. 1 hour and 20 minutes of exercise. Felt good. I'm sore.
Lots of interesting discussions out there in LowCarb/Paleo/Primal blogs after the Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS).
I'd recommend this one first: There is no single cause of (or treatment for) obesity
And I recommend this one for the lucid and gracious third reaction to the Taubes/Guyunet debate by Dr. Paul Jaminet.
For me, recognizing the food-reward research/findings set me on the road to loss. That was pivotal for me. Then Taubes anti-carb pronouncements helped me see my Insulin Resistant status needed a careful eye on starches/sugars. Dr. Jaminets (and others) on toxins/inflammatory foods helped me realize that as a person with a big family history of and personal affliction with auto-immune diseases, I need to consider THAT aspect as well. All three have served me.
But I agree with Healthy Skeptic--it's a very, very complex situation and it requires looking at the variables. Not all situations are equal, because not all bodies function the same.
However, caloric restriction works. We Challengers know it.
And yet, most dieters who lose regain. Or never make goal at all.
How can one keep on a restricted diet for life (if needed), if the appetite is insane or binges are an issue? Even bariatric surgical patients have issues with regain, so how could it not be for those lacking the assist of constricted stomachs or rejiggered intestines?
If wanting or wishing were both = to doing, no one would be fat.
And why don't all people lose at the same rate on the same calories? Not everyone maintains on the same calories, even if they are of the same height and weight. Not everyone is as healthy or energetic or satisfied with their meals or nourished on the same QUANTITY of calories. Bodies differ. Medical status differs. Types of food ingested differ. Fluids processed differ (ask a kidney disease patient about that one.) Carbs tolerance differs --ask an I.R. or diabetic person about that. Tolerances of foods differ--ask a celiac disease or I.B.S. sufferer about that. Fat metabolism differs--some of us absorb and fill up fat cells more efficiently. Some of us release fat from cells LESS efficiently. THere are genetic tests for that. Some folks swell up fast with salt. Some are barely bothered. Some are metabolically more efficient and their bodies ratchet up to burn excess calories. Some just make more fat and don't elevate temperature or activity naturally to compensate.
Variables.
Because I'm genetically a fat-hoarder (if I eat too high fat like some low-carbers, I'm screwed), and auto-immune (I can't have some things that don't seem to bother others), allergic (some food groups are totally out to me, limiting what I can eat), and a hyperconditioned overeater (I do respond to the food-reward combo of fat/starches-sugars/salt, so I have to restrict or avoid trigger hyperpalatable foods or I BINGE). I also have hypothyroidism and that affects metabolism and mood and makes losing weight harder. (Saw what happened to Linda Ronstadt when her thyroid went kaput?) I'm post-menopausal, so I need fewer calories than when younger. Age is also an impediment, though not a solid wall 100 feet high.
Impediments aren't insurmountable, they can just make it harder, make it slower, make it maybe necessary to get MORE professional help.
I'm a genetic, medical, neurotic mess. I need to read and study and work to get over the hurdles to lose weight. For me, every pound is a fight. I'm never gonna be the stellar "Lost 8 pounds a week" type. Oh, no. But I made it out of obesity and just wanna stay outta obesity, even if no one ever nicknames me "Slim." :) It's about health for me. Not Perfect Health (as that has always been beyond me, since birth), but better health.
I've said for nearly a year to assorted friends and relatives who ask that I've lost on both low-fat and lower-carb, but that for me, moderating carbs is an appetite suppressor in a way low-fat never was. But that both break the reward cycle and can help people with that. I still believe this. But I think every person should examine their individual situation and see how many of these variables discussed out there on bariatric matters--toxins, carbs, protein, fat, low fat, low carb, low toxin, hyperpalatability, food-reward, etc--and see which are the predominant factors in YOUR life. Depending you YOUR issues, you may need to tweak how you eat or see a counselor or dietitian or specialist in endocrinology. It's not one diet plan fits all.
I also do believe you must reduce caloric intake (as a nation, we freaking eat too much crap and some of us too much even of the good stuff). But I think that for those of us with crazy big appetites, it's worth looking at appetite suppressing properties in moderating carbs/starches/sugars.
Whatever your individual situation is--and you may be much healthier than me and not saddled with a plethora of genetic wackiness, or you may be WORSE off and feel hopeless--just know that you can learn a lot from the scientists and sociologists and psychologists out there working to see how to solve our problems. But it will come down, as transformations always do, to working your butt off and developing new habits It's hard. But it's not hopeless.
Here are a couple ofs quote from Dr. Jaminet--just two the many I read this afternoon among the blogs chattering after the AHS:
~~Paul Jaminet, co-author of THE PERFECT HEALTH DIET
As much as I have enjoyed the added taters, sushi rice (with my veggie sushi), and brown rice (with my grilled chicken and veggies) this past week, and as much as my salt-hungering tongue loved the dips into soy sauce and shakes of the Celtic sea salt, and as much as my fruit-addict self loves summer's bounty of colorful sweet beauties, it's time to get back on program and stop being slackerish on my tracking.
No binges. No massive overages (though I have gone over calories twice this week). It's just me being hungry again from the carbs. I know it. I've doubled my fruit intake. While that may be a heathful food option, raw fruit, it's still too much in the sugars department for my metabolically not-normal body.
So, back to more veggies, fruit moderation (noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, weep, weep) and scaling back on tubers and rice. I won't ever eliminate them, but I got too loose with allowances. Once or twice a week, fine. But almost every day this week, even modest portions not so fine. For me, it's NOT just calories--it's insulin. It's appetite. I felt my appetite growing and my night-time snack urges return. I want them to go away again and regain the Zen Appetite. :D
Yesterday, I walked and did Pilates. 1 hour and 20 minutes of exercise. Felt good. I'm sore.
Lots of interesting discussions out there in LowCarb/Paleo/Primal blogs after the Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS).
I'd recommend this one first: There is no single cause of (or treatment for) obesity
And I recommend this one for the lucid and gracious third reaction to the Taubes/Guyunet debate by Dr. Paul Jaminet.
For me, recognizing the food-reward research/findings set me on the road to loss. That was pivotal for me. Then Taubes anti-carb pronouncements helped me see my Insulin Resistant status needed a careful eye on starches/sugars. Dr. Jaminets (and others) on toxins/inflammatory foods helped me realize that as a person with a big family history of and personal affliction with auto-immune diseases, I need to consider THAT aspect as well. All three have served me.
But I agree with Healthy Skeptic--it's a very, very complex situation and it requires looking at the variables. Not all situations are equal, because not all bodies function the same.
However, caloric restriction works. We Challengers know it.
And yet, most dieters who lose regain. Or never make goal at all.
How can one keep on a restricted diet for life (if needed), if the appetite is insane or binges are an issue? Even bariatric surgical patients have issues with regain, so how could it not be for those lacking the assist of constricted stomachs or rejiggered intestines?
If wanting or wishing were both = to doing, no one would be fat.
And why don't all people lose at the same rate on the same calories? Not everyone maintains on the same calories, even if they are of the same height and weight. Not everyone is as healthy or energetic or satisfied with their meals or nourished on the same QUANTITY of calories. Bodies differ. Medical status differs. Types of food ingested differ. Fluids processed differ (ask a kidney disease patient about that one.) Carbs tolerance differs --ask an I.R. or diabetic person about that. Tolerances of foods differ--ask a celiac disease or I.B.S. sufferer about that. Fat metabolism differs--some of us absorb and fill up fat cells more efficiently. Some of us release fat from cells LESS efficiently. THere are genetic tests for that. Some folks swell up fast with salt. Some are barely bothered. Some are metabolically more efficient and their bodies ratchet up to burn excess calories. Some just make more fat and don't elevate temperature or activity naturally to compensate.
Variables.
Because I'm genetically a fat-hoarder (if I eat too high fat like some low-carbers, I'm screwed), and auto-immune (I can't have some things that don't seem to bother others), allergic (some food groups are totally out to me, limiting what I can eat), and a hyperconditioned overeater (I do respond to the food-reward combo of fat/starches-sugars/salt, so I have to restrict or avoid trigger hyperpalatable foods or I BINGE). I also have hypothyroidism and that affects metabolism and mood and makes losing weight harder. (Saw what happened to Linda Ronstadt when her thyroid went kaput?) I'm post-menopausal, so I need fewer calories than when younger. Age is also an impediment, though not a solid wall 100 feet high.
Impediments aren't insurmountable, they can just make it harder, make it slower, make it maybe necessary to get MORE professional help.
I'm a genetic, medical, neurotic mess. I need to read and study and work to get over the hurdles to lose weight. For me, every pound is a fight. I'm never gonna be the stellar "Lost 8 pounds a week" type. Oh, no. But I made it out of obesity and just wanna stay outta obesity, even if no one ever nicknames me "Slim." :) It's about health for me. Not Perfect Health (as that has always been beyond me, since birth), but better health.
I've said for nearly a year to assorted friends and relatives who ask that I've lost on both low-fat and lower-carb, but that for me, moderating carbs is an appetite suppressor in a way low-fat never was. But that both break the reward cycle and can help people with that. I still believe this. But I think every person should examine their individual situation and see how many of these variables discussed out there on bariatric matters--toxins, carbs, protein, fat, low fat, low carb, low toxin, hyperpalatability, food-reward, etc--and see which are the predominant factors in YOUR life. Depending you YOUR issues, you may need to tweak how you eat or see a counselor or dietitian or specialist in endocrinology. It's not one diet plan fits all.
I also do believe you must reduce caloric intake (as a nation, we freaking eat too much crap and some of us too much even of the good stuff). But I think that for those of us with crazy big appetites, it's worth looking at appetite suppressing properties in moderating carbs/starches/sugars.
Whatever your individual situation is--and you may be much healthier than me and not saddled with a plethora of genetic wackiness, or you may be WORSE off and feel hopeless--just know that you can learn a lot from the scientists and sociologists and psychologists out there working to see how to solve our problems. But it will come down, as transformations always do, to working your butt off and developing new habits It's hard. But it's not hopeless.
Here are a couple ofs quote from Dr. Jaminet--just two the many I read this afternoon among the blogs chattering after the AHS:
It seems to be easiest to induce obesity with a roughly equal mix of carbs and fat; both low-carb and low-fat diets tend to be less obesogenic. This result is compatible with Stephan’s views because carb and fat together are more rewarding than either alone, and with my views because carb-fat combinations can be highly toxic – for instance, a fructose-PUFA combination is more toxic than either alone; or carbs feed gut pathogens while fats carry their toxins into the body.
...
Due to the diversity of factors which conspire to cause obesity, it is a rather heterogeneous disease. Its unifying character is that some combination of causal factors induces “metabolic damage,” such as leptin resistance, in a variety of organs, including the brain. Metabolic damage can affect both appetite regulation and energy homeostasis.
~~Paul Jaminet, co-author of THE PERFECT HEALTH DIET
Friday, August 5, 2011
As of today, officially, no longer OBESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :::bliss celebration dance:::
 |
| BMI of 29.9 & no longer obese. Just overweight. With "Salma" nail polish by Zoya, cause one needs great glmmering summer golden red nails for a party! I got on twice to confirm, and you can see both readings! |
A lot of work to get here. A lot of work to go to get to goal weight (or revised goal weight, whatever). A lot of work to STAY not-obese. The fight never ends.
But sometimes, you get a great day to celebrate freedom! Freedom from all sorts of fat-related shackles. This is one!
 |
| Time for a walk..to keep the pounds off... hair is UP (I hate wearing my hair up, but it's HOT!) |
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Pounds To Goal Weight..really? Wow. How'd I Not Focus on that?..A Gal Who Lost What I Want and Plan To Lose and Has KEPT IT OFF (most important!)--ie, ROLE MODEL of HOPE.... And a Book I'm Gonna Pre-Order....and a blogroll purge...
I was reading one of the challenger's blogs in SLIMMER THIS SUMMER, and she was happy that she's only 21 pounds away from her goal weight. Her "end is near."
I'm super happy for her, too. Isn't that what we all hope for. To complete our weight loss journey.
And I realized, as I commented on her post, that I'm 27 pounds away from my goal weight. (Although, I confess, as I'm pretty darn happy at my weight now, I think my goal weight may be adjusted a bit higher than the original 160. Perfectionist, I'm not. I just want health and sustainable mobile/flexible/normalish weight.)
Yep: 27 pounds away.
I remember when I was 139+ pounds away and it seemed utterly, totally, ridiculously hopeless. I was dispirited big time.
Then I was 129 pounds away and it seemed only slightly less hopeless, but hope had risen in my bosom some, and I started a weight loss blog in 2007.
Then I was 119 pounds away, and I felt mired, but not hopeless, and looked for all sorts of options/ways to make progress, with lots of backsliding, with lots of experimentation, with half-hearted attempts, but never again to that dread 139+ hopelessness.
Every 10 pounds made it less hopeless. Every 10 pounds NOT regained kept me NOT hopeless.
Then, momentum came, at last, God be praised, and every 10 pounds lost lit a fire and every 25 pounds lost made me feel utterly victorious. Though goal sure still felt so far away...
Now, I'm 27 pounds away, and these last pounds are the hardest, but the ones most full of joy and hope. Yes, I can see that finish line. Which is only a new starting line: maintenance.
I googled for "lost 140 pounds and kept it off" to find a role model. I used to do this with google back in 2007 and the couple years after. Looked for people who had lost more than 100 or 120 or 130 etc pounds. Now, I search not for those who lost it alone. I've seen too many regain who have lost those massive 100+ pounds.
I want to know who KEPT THE DARN WEIGHT OFF.
I found this gal: Debra Mazda. She looks mature, healthy, fit, but not perfect. She looks realistic. She looks like *I* could look if I kept going and got down to 160-165 and kept working out. She's a realistic role model for me. (And if I get an indication we'll still be in South Florida for my birthday next year, that cruise of hers sounds like something I can reward myself with for making goal/close to goal/new goal by Christmas.)
Seeing her look so vibrant at a weight HIGHER than my goal of 160 make me think, sure. I can be happy bigger than 160, if it's a HEALTHY, FIT, MUSCULAR 160+. I'm happy now. I can be happier. :D
Do you ever look for your size/your loss/your dream role models? Realistic, real-people role models? If not, start.
And I hope one day I can be the "She kept the weight off for 5, 10, 15" years role model for someone who needs to lose 130+ pounds. Isn't this part of why we document and blog and give our insights out. To give hope to those who are where we WERE?
Thanks, Debra Mazda, for being one of those beacons of hope to the ones, like me, who had/have a long, long road to get to a happy weight.
So, now that I have time to read again, I am gonna pre-order this one (unless I learn it will come for the Nook, and wait for that): WHEAT BELLY: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back To Health by William Davis, M.D.
I feel loads better since ditching wheat/most grains, and I want to see what he says more in-depth about it. He, like Dr. Mercola, the Primal/Paleo folks, the New Evolution folks, and the Jaminets of the Perfect Health Diet, pretty much show the value of going wheatless/gluten-free. For those with resistant appetites and Metabolic Syndrome or heart disease issues (especially inflammatory issues, like me), it's worth a look for sure.
I'm off to purge my blogroll on my old blog, then this one some time later or tomorrow. There are bloggers who haven't updated for weeks or months and it's time to say "adios". I posted/commented often to try to lure some back, but when folks wanna stay gone, well, what ya gonna do? They gave up and you can't make folks post, right? Time to remove them from the list and make room for those who are posting. Some will always be remembered fondly.
I'm also thinking of saying adios to some other bloggers who are active--even VERY active--and who I kept my on my old blog's linky blogroll, but who have indirectly, probably even unknowingly, been insensitive or have caused me pain. Sometimes, you gotta do that, too. For mental health.
I wish my challengers and all fat-fighters a strong and happy Sunday. Beat your food demons. Beat your lethargic, couch-potato demons (my issue this new week, to get back to my exercise-girl persona habit). Let's win the war and win back our health!
I'm super happy for her, too. Isn't that what we all hope for. To complete our weight loss journey.
And I realized, as I commented on her post, that I'm 27 pounds away from my goal weight. (Although, I confess, as I'm pretty darn happy at my weight now, I think my goal weight may be adjusted a bit higher than the original 160. Perfectionist, I'm not. I just want health and sustainable mobile/flexible/normalish weight.)
Yep: 27 pounds away.
I remember when I was 139+ pounds away and it seemed utterly, totally, ridiculously hopeless. I was dispirited big time.
Then I was 129 pounds away and it seemed only slightly less hopeless, but hope had risen in my bosom some, and I started a weight loss blog in 2007.
Then I was 119 pounds away, and I felt mired, but not hopeless, and looked for all sorts of options/ways to make progress, with lots of backsliding, with lots of experimentation, with half-hearted attempts, but never again to that dread 139+ hopelessness.
Every 10 pounds made it less hopeless. Every 10 pounds NOT regained kept me NOT hopeless.
Then, momentum came, at last, God be praised, and every 10 pounds lost lit a fire and every 25 pounds lost made me feel utterly victorious. Though goal sure still felt so far away...
Now, I'm 27 pounds away, and these last pounds are the hardest, but the ones most full of joy and hope. Yes, I can see that finish line. Which is only a new starting line: maintenance.
I googled for "lost 140 pounds and kept it off" to find a role model. I used to do this with google back in 2007 and the couple years after. Looked for people who had lost more than 100 or 120 or 130 etc pounds. Now, I search not for those who lost it alone. I've seen too many regain who have lost those massive 100+ pounds.
I want to know who KEPT THE DARN WEIGHT OFF.
I found this gal: Debra Mazda. She looks mature, healthy, fit, but not perfect. She looks realistic. She looks like *I* could look if I kept going and got down to 160-165 and kept working out. She's a realistic role model for me. (And if I get an indication we'll still be in South Florida for my birthday next year, that cruise of hers sounds like something I can reward myself with for making goal/close to goal/new goal by Christmas.)
Seeing her look so vibrant at a weight HIGHER than my goal of 160 make me think, sure. I can be happy bigger than 160, if it's a HEALTHY, FIT, MUSCULAR 160+. I'm happy now. I can be happier. :D
Do you ever look for your size/your loss/your dream role models? Realistic, real-people role models? If not, start.
And I hope one day I can be the "She kept the weight off for 5, 10, 15" years role model for someone who needs to lose 130+ pounds. Isn't this part of why we document and blog and give our insights out. To give hope to those who are where we WERE?
Thanks, Debra Mazda, for being one of those beacons of hope to the ones, like me, who had/have a long, long road to get to a happy weight.
So, now that I have time to read again, I am gonna pre-order this one (unless I learn it will come for the Nook, and wait for that): WHEAT BELLY: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back To Health by William Davis, M.D.
I feel loads better since ditching wheat/most grains, and I want to see what he says more in-depth about it. He, like Dr. Mercola, the Primal/Paleo folks, the New Evolution folks, and the Jaminets of the Perfect Health Diet, pretty much show the value of going wheatless/gluten-free. For those with resistant appetites and Metabolic Syndrome or heart disease issues (especially inflammatory issues, like me), it's worth a look for sure.
I'm off to purge my blogroll on my old blog, then this one some time later or tomorrow. There are bloggers who haven't updated for weeks or months and it's time to say "adios". I posted/commented often to try to lure some back, but when folks wanna stay gone, well, what ya gonna do? They gave up and you can't make folks post, right? Time to remove them from the list and make room for those who are posting. Some will always be remembered fondly.
I'm also thinking of saying adios to some other bloggers who are active--even VERY active--and who I kept my on my old blog's linky blogroll, but who have indirectly, probably even unknowingly, been insensitive or have caused me pain. Sometimes, you gotta do that, too. For mental health.
I wish my challengers and all fat-fighters a strong and happy Sunday. Beat your food demons. Beat your lethargic, couch-potato demons (my issue this new week, to get back to my exercise-girl persona habit). Let's win the war and win back our health!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Scale, Pounds Lost ticker Updated, Restarting harder than imagined, and Quote for those working on becoming "Everlasting Splendours"
Tanita-san: 187.0
That brings me to 112 pounds lost.
I'm happy about that. If I lose 2 more pounds, I am numerically, officially, finally, not obese anymore. Two more.
Exercise: I'm out of the habit. Yep. I put off and put off--hubby this, me that, reasons, yadda--walking and didn't. And realized that I'm OUT of the habit. Before, I'd get antsy if I didn't do my walking and Pilates. Now, I'm happy to sit on my butt again.
This is why I don't take "vacations" from healthy eating. I've read the studies (last year, again this year) on how the brain keeps old habit pathways intact, but new ones can be more "active", let's say. And as you keep doing the new stuff, you make the old habits less pressing. However, revert to old ways, and old habits become more pressing.
While I didn't slack on eating well while having our horrible event, I was totally not exercising. Old couch potato leanings are in force. This is bad. I have to now exert my full will to get myself to move again.
I know, I really do know, that a few weeks of doing my exercise thang and THAT will be my habit again. But now I have to fight to regain that momentum and habituation.
Sucks.
This is why you don't stop.
This is why you don't say "Oh, just while I'm on vacation" or "Just for my birthday weekend". This is why the brain and old habits can be our enemies, while the brain with new habits are our allies.
This is why.
It's hard now. It wasn't hard before.
Old habits don't really die, or if they do, they die hard. DIE, DAMN YOU, DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so, that was the good and the bad.
I have a ton of laundry to do, my food for today to plan, grocery shopping, and EXERCISE. (And I get the "don't wanna" thoughts just typing "exercise", I kid you not.)
If you have inculcated good habits, keep them up. Slack off and you have to do all the heavy lifting of new-habit forming again.
It's not only positive physical habits I am working on. I started reading a Dallas Willard book last night. I bought it a few months back, but I'm only getting onto it now. I wanted a spiritual read and something to encourage me to move forward and not be beset by grief, fears, doubts. Just keep an eye on TRANSFORMATION, which is my word for this year. Change. Transform. Renew.
He uses quotes from Scripture, of course, and from famous authors. I looked up one of his CS Lewis quotes to get the larger quotation. I like it. I like thinking that we are working to change ourselves, yes, not just on the outside, because inside/outside is interlinked in humans. I believe in soul/spirit/mind, not just body/brain. And I've learned that for me, the inside has to change first to make the outside (words, actions) change. I truly believe we are outside, in what we say and do, what we already are inside. And if we want to change the outside, the inside must be transformed.
For me, mind and soul and, above all, will have to take the step first.
When we cooperate together to take those steps, encourage each other, we're helping in transformations. I think that's pretty cool. Thanks to those who've helped me--authors, bloggers, friends, family. Change is hard. Change is necessary. I hope we're all moving to that better destination, even an inch, today.
Here's the quote, and let's all become "everlasting splendours":
That brings me to 112 pounds lost.
I'm happy about that. If I lose 2 more pounds, I am numerically, officially, finally, not obese anymore. Two more.
Exercise: I'm out of the habit. Yep. I put off and put off--hubby this, me that, reasons, yadda--walking and didn't. And realized that I'm OUT of the habit. Before, I'd get antsy if I didn't do my walking and Pilates. Now, I'm happy to sit on my butt again.
This is why I don't take "vacations" from healthy eating. I've read the studies (last year, again this year) on how the brain keeps old habit pathways intact, but new ones can be more "active", let's say. And as you keep doing the new stuff, you make the old habits less pressing. However, revert to old ways, and old habits become more pressing.
While I didn't slack on eating well while having our horrible event, I was totally not exercising. Old couch potato leanings are in force. This is bad. I have to now exert my full will to get myself to move again.
I know, I really do know, that a few weeks of doing my exercise thang and THAT will be my habit again. But now I have to fight to regain that momentum and habituation.
Sucks.
This is why you don't stop.
This is why you don't say "Oh, just while I'm on vacation" or "Just for my birthday weekend". This is why the brain and old habits can be our enemies, while the brain with new habits are our allies.
This is why.
It's hard now. It wasn't hard before.
Old habits don't really die, or if they do, they die hard. DIE, DAMN YOU, DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so, that was the good and the bad.
I have a ton of laundry to do, my food for today to plan, grocery shopping, and EXERCISE. (And I get the "don't wanna" thoughts just typing "exercise", I kid you not.)
If you have inculcated good habits, keep them up. Slack off and you have to do all the heavy lifting of new-habit forming again.
It's not only positive physical habits I am working on. I started reading a Dallas Willard book last night. I bought it a few months back, but I'm only getting onto it now. I wanted a spiritual read and something to encourage me to move forward and not be beset by grief, fears, doubts. Just keep an eye on TRANSFORMATION, which is my word for this year. Change. Transform. Renew.
He uses quotes from Scripture, of course, and from famous authors. I looked up one of his CS Lewis quotes to get the larger quotation. I like it. I like thinking that we are working to change ourselves, yes, not just on the outside, because inside/outside is interlinked in humans. I believe in soul/spirit/mind, not just body/brain. And I've learned that for me, the inside has to change first to make the outside (words, actions) change. I truly believe we are outside, in what we say and do, what we already are inside. And if we want to change the outside, the inside must be transformed.
For me, mind and soul and, above all, will have to take the step first.
When we cooperate together to take those steps, encourage each other, we're helping in transformations. I think that's pretty cool. Thanks to those who've helped me--authors, bloggers, friends, family. Change is hard. Change is necessary. I hope we're all moving to that better destination, even an inch, today.
Here's the quote, and let's all become "everlasting splendours":
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you may talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit— immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Assorted Pics: One year Check of Fatwings THEN and NOW...and yeah, they hang!...Dinner Out Sleeveless Outfit...New Shorts and Tank in XL from Sports Authority..and look, smaller belly! Wooo!
Lyn of Escape from Obesity, one of my favest of all bloggers, fatfighting and otherwise, has had a hard time lately with her upper arms.
:(
Hey, all of us who've been fat/are fat/were very fat prolly have issues with that body part. While fat, we hate the big ole ham arms. While slimming, we hate the emptying skin that crinkles and hangs. When at goal--I'm not there, but I've read enough blogs to know-- we hate the empty sac of skin and think about plastic surgery.
Yeah. I hate my upper arms. But I've been wearing sleeveless since last year. I figure if you don't like seeing my ugly upper arms, too bad for you. It gets too dang hot in Miami and I've gone too many years covering up and tolerating the raging hot-humidity. Last year, with hot flashes still occasionally striking, I said, "I NEED SLEEVELESS" and I let my freaky arms fly!
Here's a pic of my fatwings last May, and even after TWO YEARS of Pilates in this pic, there they are, with more muscle, but oodles of fat:
Here are my fatwings today in my new purple Soffe tank:
I found my new workout wear to be great for Pilates. For an 8 buck tank, worked lovely. I like functional CHEAP. Snug, but not so snug as to impede Pilates moves. We did ALL sorts of new stuff today and trainer was woohooing my increased flexibility and ability to do stuff even harder and better with less abdominal fat. I felt pretty damn great doing the Cadillac stuff! I need to get another pair or two of these shorts. They were super comfy and stayed in place, and if I could find the tank with a V, even better. In some positions, the edge of the decolletage hit my lip. I need it a bit lower.
First, me in a purple top back in Nov of 2008 at nearly 280 lbs:
Anyway, that adorable man I married took me to dinner last night. I have had stress/mood issues creeping back up, and this cheered me up immensely (especially since it forced me to pretty up and think "date" attitude!)
Yep. I ate more than planned cause that no-crouton Caesar Salad was soooo crazy good, but dang, that was a lot of dressing! I couldn't even guesstimate how much that dressing was...and I ain't happy with that. No bread, no dessert, lots of amazing decaf made in a Frieling French press right at our table. I ordered three, this was so good. About 6 cups of coffee. Yum. Hey, and fluids!
Anyway, the Princess is solidly back on plan TODAY! No dressing orgy. But here I am, bare arms in view:
Don't care if anyone thinks they're gross. I felt pretty and had fun and did lots of smooching of hubby between cafe sipping. Fitting MORE than comfortably in a booth. Lotsa room. Life is good!~~
Well, I had my post Pilates fluids while uploading all these pics and I can have my lunch salad and fruit.
I wish you a very happy Monday and may this be a great week of fatfighting. Encourage a fatfighter today!
Later...
:(
Hey, all of us who've been fat/are fat/were very fat prolly have issues with that body part. While fat, we hate the big ole ham arms. While slimming, we hate the emptying skin that crinkles and hangs. When at goal--I'm not there, but I've read enough blogs to know-- we hate the empty sac of skin and think about plastic surgery.
Yeah. I hate my upper arms. But I've been wearing sleeveless since last year. I figure if you don't like seeing my ugly upper arms, too bad for you. It gets too dang hot in Miami and I've gone too many years covering up and tolerating the raging hot-humidity. Last year, with hot flashes still occasionally striking, I said, "I NEED SLEEVELESS" and I let my freaky arms fly!
Here's a pic of my fatwings last May, and even after TWO YEARS of Pilates in this pic, there they are, with more muscle, but oodles of fat:
 |
| May 31, 2010 --fatwings at 266 lbs |
Here are my fatwings today in my new purple Soffe tank:
 |
| Fatwings at 198 lbs on May 23, 2011, after Pilates (excuse the dirty hair) |
I found my new workout wear to be great for Pilates. For an 8 buck tank, worked lovely. I like functional CHEAP. Snug, but not so snug as to impede Pilates moves. We did ALL sorts of new stuff today and trainer was woohooing my increased flexibility and ability to do stuff even harder and better with less abdominal fat. I felt pretty damn great doing the Cadillac stuff! I need to get another pair or two of these shorts. They were super comfy and stayed in place, and if I could find the tank with a V, even better. In some positions, the edge of the decolletage hit my lip. I need it a bit lower.
First, me in a purple top back in Nov of 2008 at nearly 280 lbs:
 |
| Purple Top at 278 lbs...Nov 2008.."I gots HAMS for arms!" |
 |
| Aspire 7 inch Bike Shorts ($17) and Soffe tank ($8) in XL; arms hanging naturally. |
 |
| Nov 2009 at 268 lbs. I was pressing my arms close to body with effort. |
 |
| Still lots of torso/back/arm fat to lose! |
 |
| Belly is not as sticky-outie. This pleases me no end. |
 |
| Older pic at 268 lbs. Compare. |
 |
| Sweetest Hubby in the World and Pic-Taker, and He Pleases me No End! |
Yep. I ate more than planned cause that no-crouton Caesar Salad was soooo crazy good, but dang, that was a lot of dressing! I couldn't even guesstimate how much that dressing was...and I ain't happy with that. No bread, no dessert, lots of amazing decaf made in a Frieling French press right at our table. I ordered three, this was so good. About 6 cups of coffee. Yum. Hey, and fluids!
Anyway, the Princess is solidly back on plan TODAY! No dressing orgy. But here I am, bare arms in view:
Don't care if anyone thinks they're gross. I felt pretty and had fun and did lots of smooching of hubby between cafe sipping. Fitting MORE than comfortably in a booth. Lotsa room. Life is good!~~
Well, I had my post Pilates fluids while uploading all these pics and I can have my lunch salad and fruit.
I wish you a very happy Monday and may this be a great week of fatfighting. Encourage a fatfighter today!
Later...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Is Sugar Toxic? Well, I am on the "Yes" side of the debate aisle....and it scares me poopless to think what I've done consuming the crap for 50 years.......beware, a rant...
"If Lustig is right, then our excessive consumption of sugar is the primary reason that the numbers of obese and diabetic Americans have skyrocketed in the past 30 years. But his argument implies more than that. If Lustig is right, it would mean that sugar is also the likely dietary cause of several other chronic ailments widely considered to be diseases of Western lifestyles — heart disease, hypertension and many common cancers among them.
Some time ago, I posted on my old blog the link to the youtube video of Dr. Lustig's SUGAR: THE BITTER TRUTH. That and Gary Taubes first book on carbohydrates and their link to fat storage/obesity/diabetes/heart disease got me to start weaning off sugar, bit by bit. I think they are both onto something. And it's VERY scary.
Read the article. Even if you have doubts or disagreements, read it. If you're insulin resistant or diabetic, you had really better read it, especially the last paragraphs dealing with I.R. And if you eat sugar and HFCS, please, please, take a few minutes to read it. If you forget about this post, you'll find the link on my right sidebar for "Is Sugar Toxic?" If you want a hard copy, I believe it will be in this coming Sunday's NY TIMES.
I was diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome in 1998 (Syndrome X was the term I heard a lot back then for the syndrome). I have Insulin Resistance. Changes in my diet kept me from going full-blown diabetic in 2004 when I was at my highest weight. Thank God. As I lose weight, I hope to burn off the toxic fat in my liver. Yes, I have fatty liver (and I do not drink). Reading the part in this article about the possible correlation with cancer is terrifying. I have been I.R. for two decades plus. What the hell did that do to me?
Did I start to get fit in time? I ask myself this question a lot. I'm 51.
Like Allan says, "Sure, take your time. Being fat is no problem." This article says there's a time bomb and it may be well related to sugar/HCFS consumption and insulin resistance/diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome.
Time bomb.
Yeah, let's keep stuffing down those sugary treats and justifying them as just "a little sweet something" cause we have a craving, we're stressed, or coworkers keep bringing them in, our period is coming, our in-laws bug us, the weather sucks, it's Christmas, it's Mardi Gras, it's Easter, it's Fourth of July, it's Halloween, it's Thanksgiving, it's my birthday, your birthday, his birthday, their birthday, my anniversary, his anniversary, the President's speech is on, the next Harry Potter movie is on, it's a blue moon, it's an eclipse, it's a meteor, it's Monday, it's Friday, oops, it's the PMS thing again, and another Friday, and it's ABCXYZ... ad infinitum...
It's just a treat. No biggie. A sweet something that makes us feel good.
Only that treat is being used often, every day, twice a day. How many treats are in our food journals each day, day by day? Sugar-including treats? HCFS-riddled treats? A cookie or two here. A Skinny Cow there. A chocolate VitaTop (sugar--third ingredient) here. A 1/4 can of Pepsi there. A frozen yogurt here. A 1/2 cup of Ben and Jerry's there. Oh, look, a handful of M&Ms and a Pop-Tart slipped in that uber-stressful day. Maybe a 90-calorie Quaker granola bar get snapped up for an in-the-car breakfast. (Count how many times sugar comes up in the list of ingredients. Gasp freely.Go look at your granola's ingredients. I dare you. )
I can't do those justifications anymore..not with any amount of ease. I'm too scared of the damage already done and the damage that would be yet-to-come if I went back to sugary ways.
Note no one is talking about an occasional, special treat. We eat this crap daily in the US. A lot of us eat it several times a day in all sorts of foods....
See if you can do sugary treats and foods and sodas with mental ease after reading the article. After watching Dr. Lustig's video. See how calm you can be handing that second slice of birthday cake, side of ice cream to Juanito, that bag of lollipops or that Three Musketeers bar to lil Emily, the candy apples and cotton candy at the fair to Jenny, or the couple Oreos or Froot Loops breakfast to Caleb, Jr?
What are they eating in school that you can't control readily? Do you even know? (Watch the recent Jamie Oliver program on the LA area's school food. OMG! ) Sweetened chocolate milk. Sugar-added pancake syrup. Sugar-fruit yogurt. Sugar laden pizza sauce. Danishes. Brownies. Sugary cereals. The chocolates for fundraisers for the band. Any vending machines nearby? What do they have?
Then maybe the young ones are on the way home, and they pick up some treats--gum, chocolate bars, ice cream cones, milk shakes. Then while doing homeowork, some trendy new treat gets munched on. Maybe hit some jelly beans when it's time to watch tv. Or caramel popcorn. Or a few Nilla Wafers washed down with some "fruit juice beverage" that's essentially sugar water. Or a Coke or a Dr. Pepper.
Maybe dinner has meat drenched in bbq sauce (HFCS second ingredient) or they use up a 1/2 cup of ketchup on that burger with fries (HFCS # 3, corn syrup #4 ingredients) or there's sweet-n-sour Chinese or a honey-mustard dipping sauce for the nuggets that's more sugar or corn syrup than actual honey. And what are they drinking with dinner? Sugary fruit punch? Sugary lemonade? Hawaiian Punch? Regular soda? Flavored/sugared milk?
Just see if maybe you don't think twice...three times...about what mainlining all that sugar's gonna do to your babies....what it already is doing...
Me, I regularly call sugar-- online and offline-- "da debbil". I do believe it is the devil in the human diet. One of them, for sure. The Big One, perhaps. It's pervasive in the US (read labels). It's addictive. (Take away a kid's--or PMS woman's treats--and try not to get killed.) It's fattening.
The devil in the diet.
"Isocaloric" is not "Isometabolic", says Dr. Lustig. (See the article for definitions.) We forget that, I think.
Here are the concluding paragraphs:
Most of the researchers studying this insulin/cancer link seem concerned primarily with finding a drug that might work to suppress insulin signaling in incipient cancer cells and so, they hope, inhibit or prevent their growth entirely. Many of the experts writing about the insulin/cancer link from a public health perspective — as in the 2007 report from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research — work from the assumption that chronically elevated insulin levels and insulin resistance are both caused by being fat or by getting fatter. They recommend, as the 2007 report did, that we should all work to be lean and more physically active, and that in turn will help us prevent cancer.
But some researchers will make the case, as Cantley and Thompson do, that if something other than just being fatter is causing insulin resistance to begin with, that’s quite likely the dietary cause of many cancers. If it’s sugar that causes insulin resistance, they say, then the conclusion is hard to avoid that sugar causes cancer — some cancers, at least — radical as this may seem and despite the fact that this suggestion has rarely if ever been voiced before publicly. For just this reason, neither of these men will eat sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, if they can avoid it.
“I have eliminated refined sugar from my diet and eat as little as I possibly can,” Thompson told me, “because I believe ultimately it’s something I can do to decrease my risk of cancer.” Cantley put it this way: “Sugar scares me.”
Sugar scares me too, obviously. I’d like to eat it in moderation. I’d certainly like my two sons to be able to eat it in moderation, to not overconsume it, but I don’t actually know what that means, and I’ve been reporting on this subject and studying it for more than a decade. If sugar just makes us fatter, that’s one thing. We start gaining weight, we eat less of it. But we are also talking about things we can’t see — fatty liver, insulin resistance and all that follows. Officially I’m not supposed to worry because the evidence isn’t conclusive, but I do.
Rant Done.
Now I'm going to bed (this will be published hours from now) singing a bit of an old Randy Stonehill song: "Shut de do'. Keep out de debbil. Shut de do'...keep de debbil in de night...shut de do'...keep out de debbil...light de candle...evvything's all right..."
Friday, March 18, 2011
Day 40 of P5: MILESTONE: No longer "severely obese", just "obese" now. Time to sparkle and dance! And FLY!
Tanita-san: 216.0
Got on three times. Three times, same number. Yes!
Okay, another milestone in getting out of obesity. I started morbidly obese, the category of obesity I stood in when I began this blog. I got down to severely obese at 246. Now, I'm just obese at 216. Next milestone: 186, no longer obese.
I put on some Buck Tick (MEMENTO MORI cd) and put "Galaxy" on repeat:
Well, I was gonna write one of my usual all over the place long posts, but I'm gonna get up and sing along and dance with Sakurai-San. Here, you can burn off some calories dancing, too!
Got on three times. Three times, same number. Yes!
Okay, another milestone in getting out of obesity. I started morbidly obese, the category of obesity I stood in when I began this blog. I got down to severely obese at 246. Now, I'm just obese at 216. Next milestone: 186, no longer obese.
I put on some Buck Tick (MEMENTO MORI cd) and put "Galaxy" on repeat:
In your heart, the heart marks danceI felt like I "woke up" some last summer, and woke up more last fall. It's been a process of learning to fly. It feels good. Hard, but feels good. Life is starting to really sparkle cause I have the hope of this year, THIS YEAR, getting out of the obese category for the first time in two decades.
Your dripping wings quiver, your life sparkles
Come on, wake up
Come on, fly away
Well, I was gonna write one of my usual all over the place long posts, but I'm gonna get up and sing along and dance with Sakurai-San. Here, you can burn off some calories dancing, too!
I draw a peace sign over your heart
The sun shines through your wings
Life overflowing, blindingly bright
Come on, wake up
Come on, fly away
Come on, so gentle
Come on…
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Day 20 of P5: 100 Days to Go....And I'll Send Weigh-In Today, not Tomorrow; What Would A "Maintenance Phase Challenge" Look like; Thoughts on June...
Official P5 weigh-in will be sent today: 219
Tanita-san said 219.4, and we round (up or down) as needed.
It'll be 3 weeks down in Phase 5 tomorrow, and a lot more weeks to go. But 100 days past quickly. Just look how fast 57 days have passed this year so far. Time flies, baby, always has (except when the dentist is doing something painful or you're waiting for a pay bonus to deposit).
In 3.4 pounds, I will no longer be severely obese...just obese. Milestones. I got my eye on 'em.
When Phase 5 ends, I hope to be close to not being obese. I suppose miracles can happen and I won't be obese anymore. But close is good. Very, very good. It's amazing, actually.
I'm selfish enough that I hope Allan will have a "let's see if we can keep it off or lose more" or "maintenance" phase. I know, we should not ask for more, when we're getting so much. But yes, I am selfish now. I like his accountability and progress structure, and I know maintenance is tough. He'll be at maintenance before me, but that doesn't mean that it's not something good to do. Learn the right way to readjust calories. Not everyone can do it right. I've seen bloggers stumble slightly, moderately, and major-EffingUppingly when they lost the weight and tried to maintain or just lose the last 5 to 10 lbs. Something about being close to or at goal can mess up your mojo.
And maintenance has always been hard.
My goal is to be a kick-ass maintainer one day. What number will I maintain? Who the hell knows? I've learned enough reading weight loss blogs for 4 years that what one thinks will be the end number isn't always the right end number. One may have to be realistic and accept a higher one; one may have been not optimistic enough and do well with a lower one.
I actually wonder what a "maintenance phase" type of challenge would be like, how would it be set up, since some would lose more, some try to stay in a small range of ideal weight, some realize they can't hold the low weight and need a higher number.....
Well, that's something for me to ponder, since I plan to have to do it, even if it's on my own. My own "maintenance phase challenge" to get me in gear for a lifelong phase of maintenance.
One day. Soon, I hope. :)
Phase 5 ends in June. June is a special month for me. LOTS of things to celebrate related to me and hubby. It's a "very few clothes" time of year in Miami, cause it's when hurricane season (read hot and muggy and wanna die to get into a cool place while terrified of the weather reports season) starts and when we all sweat and have a hard time keeping our hair from frizzing and makeup from melting. Mosquitoes and mug. Ugh. BUT...with fewer clothes (and bathing suits for the ones not afraid to show hanging skin or rolls of fat), we're gonna be so glad we were in the DDDY and made progress.
Here's to making bigger strides before summer makes us reveal our skin to the world....
Happy Saturday!
(Off to have FUN now...and burn some calories...see ya...)
Tanita-san said 219.4, and we round (up or down) as needed.
It'll be 3 weeks down in Phase 5 tomorrow, and a lot more weeks to go. But 100 days past quickly. Just look how fast 57 days have passed this year so far. Time flies, baby, always has (except when the dentist is doing something painful or you're waiting for a pay bonus to deposit).
In 3.4 pounds, I will no longer be severely obese...just obese. Milestones. I got my eye on 'em.
When Phase 5 ends, I hope to be close to not being obese. I suppose miracles can happen and I won't be obese anymore. But close is good. Very, very good. It's amazing, actually.
I'm selfish enough that I hope Allan will have a "let's see if we can keep it off or lose more" or "maintenance" phase. I know, we should not ask for more, when we're getting so much. But yes, I am selfish now. I like his accountability and progress structure, and I know maintenance is tough. He'll be at maintenance before me, but that doesn't mean that it's not something good to do. Learn the right way to readjust calories. Not everyone can do it right. I've seen bloggers stumble slightly, moderately, and major-EffingUppingly when they lost the weight and tried to maintain or just lose the last 5 to 10 lbs. Something about being close to or at goal can mess up your mojo.
And maintenance has always been hard.
My goal is to be a kick-ass maintainer one day. What number will I maintain? Who the hell knows? I've learned enough reading weight loss blogs for 4 years that what one thinks will be the end number isn't always the right end number. One may have to be realistic and accept a higher one; one may have been not optimistic enough and do well with a lower one.
I actually wonder what a "maintenance phase" type of challenge would be like, how would it be set up, since some would lose more, some try to stay in a small range of ideal weight, some realize they can't hold the low weight and need a higher number.....
Well, that's something for me to ponder, since I plan to have to do it, even if it's on my own. My own "maintenance phase challenge" to get me in gear for a lifelong phase of maintenance.
One day. Soon, I hope. :)
Phase 5 ends in June. June is a special month for me. LOTS of things to celebrate related to me and hubby. It's a "very few clothes" time of year in Miami, cause it's when hurricane season (read hot and muggy and wanna die to get into a cool place while terrified of the weather reports season) starts and when we all sweat and have a hard time keeping our hair from frizzing and makeup from melting. Mosquitoes and mug. Ugh. BUT...with fewer clothes (and bathing suits for the ones not afraid to show hanging skin or rolls of fat), we're gonna be so glad we were in the DDDY and made progress.
Here's to making bigger strides before summer makes us reveal our skin to the world....
Happy Saturday!
(Off to have FUN now...and burn some calories...see ya...)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fewer than 20% of Americans Get Recommended Exercise Levels...and where does the cycle start? Do YOU exercise?
Sitting here watching the ABC Evening News. There's a report on a study on exercise/obesity.
34% of us are obese. (I am. Severely obese. need to lose 7 pounds to just be plain "obese".)
Less than 20% get recommended exercise.
Of course, the states with least exercise are among those with the highest rates of obesity and diabetes. The ABC report is online now (just checked):
Studies show that people underestimate the calories they eat and overestimate their activity. So...we eat way too much and we move way too little. Not surprising, right?
What they don't correlate is: Which came first?
Do those of us who are obese stop moving cause we got fat from eating too much/too much crap? Or are they fat cause they stopped moving and are eating crap?
I use to exercise when I was normal weight and when I was "just overweight", dance a lot, bike, swim, etc...when I had the energy. As I got fatter and made poorer food choices, moving became HARD. Energy plummeted (especially as my hypothyroidism worsened). The fatter I got, the more painful/difficult it was to be on my feet, move. And the more self-conscious I got, the less I wanted to move.
I had to force myself against a huge wall of lethargy to start Pilates in 2008. It was defying my inertia, and it was hard, and some days the energy was so low, just getting going was an ordeal. I did little else...at home or weekends. It wasn't until I addressed my macronutrients in the summer of 2010 that I felt my energy change. A change in thyroid meds helped, too. (Not more, just a different combo). Energy began to increase.
For me, fixing the FOOD began to fix not just the weight but the ENERGY issue. I wanted to move suddenly. Not like a fidgety hyper person. Like a more NORMAL perosn.
So, they really need to LOOK into this.
Gary Taubes in WHY WE GET FAT puts the cause and effect the other way around. People get fat and stop moving, not that they don't move and get fat. He tags the obesity on a bad diet, which leads to low energy (he gives the science case studies where this happens in experimental animals....it's interesting stuff) and conservation of energy by not moving. One review of the book notes this:
I noticed this. As I ate better and lost weight by dieting, I felt more energy and WANTED to do more. It was changing the diet that was key to the energy that then led me to be able to pump up my activities.
It may just be a double-arrowed trend--goes both ways. BUT...I think people need to consider that moving less, doing less, sitting still may come about BECAUSE one got fat.....and then that feeds into more fatness cause the diet is out of whack and what we eat is just plain BAD for us (not just too much, but unhealthful).
If you wanna see the CDC report, HERE.
Well, just some thoughts....
If you have not incorporated regular (daily?) exercise into your weight loss/heath plan, why not? What is your roadblock?
Mine was low energy. Totally no motivation due to lethargy. Pain in feet and knees (now hips) were a factor. For a while, my muscles were a mess due to statins (pain ALL THE DAMN TIME). Off the statins, no chronic muscle pain, but my joints are kinda a mess from decades of obesity.
What prevents you from moving/sweating/walking/jogging/dancing/Pilates-ing/Yoga-ing/weight-lifting/surfboadring/biking?
And please look at yesterday's post to give feedback on what type of item you 'd like to see in a giveaway. So far, one person said "exercise or fitness item" and one said "gift certificate to Amazon." THANKS. :)
34% of us are obese. (I am. Severely obese. need to lose 7 pounds to just be plain "obese".)
Less than 20% get recommended exercise.
Of course, the states with least exercise are among those with the highest rates of obesity and diabetes. The ABC report is online now (just checked):
Regionally, the problems are even more pronounced. Inactivity runs rampant across the U.S. South and Appalachia, where nearly 30 percent of people reported that they do not get any physical exercise -- not even light activities such as golfing or gardening.
"That's probably even an underestimate of the real problem," said Dr. Antronette Yancey, a professor at UCLA who serves on a board that supports first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign. Yancey said that in self-reported data, participants often vastly overstate their actual activity.
Studies show that people underestimate the calories they eat and overestimate their activity. So...we eat way too much and we move way too little. Not surprising, right?
What they don't correlate is: Which came first?
Do those of us who are obese stop moving cause we got fat from eating too much/too much crap? Or are they fat cause they stopped moving and are eating crap?
I use to exercise when I was normal weight and when I was "just overweight", dance a lot, bike, swim, etc...when I had the energy. As I got fatter and made poorer food choices, moving became HARD. Energy plummeted (especially as my hypothyroidism worsened). The fatter I got, the more painful/difficult it was to be on my feet, move. And the more self-conscious I got, the less I wanted to move.
I had to force myself against a huge wall of lethargy to start Pilates in 2008. It was defying my inertia, and it was hard, and some days the energy was so low, just getting going was an ordeal. I did little else...at home or weekends. It wasn't until I addressed my macronutrients in the summer of 2010 that I felt my energy change. A change in thyroid meds helped, too. (Not more, just a different combo). Energy began to increase.
For me, fixing the FOOD began to fix not just the weight but the ENERGY issue. I wanted to move suddenly. Not like a fidgety hyper person. Like a more NORMAL perosn.
So, they really need to LOOK into this.
Gary Taubes in WHY WE GET FAT puts the cause and effect the other way around. People get fat and stop moving, not that they don't move and get fat. He tags the obesity on a bad diet, which leads to low energy (he gives the science case studies where this happens in experimental animals....it's interesting stuff) and conservation of energy by not moving. One review of the book notes this:
Taubes makes the very interesting point that obese people are sedentary not because they are lazy, but because their energy stores are locked up (insulin traps fat energy and makes it inaccessible). They simply don't have enough energy to exercise and therefore don't want to. I agree with this. Our patients who lose weight become much more interested in moving. You only need to read a few weight loss blogs to see how frequently obese, sedentary people turn into avid exercisers, even marathoners.
I noticed this. As I ate better and lost weight by dieting, I felt more energy and WANTED to do more. It was changing the diet that was key to the energy that then led me to be able to pump up my activities.
It may just be a double-arrowed trend--goes both ways. BUT...I think people need to consider that moving less, doing less, sitting still may come about BECAUSE one got fat.....and then that feeds into more fatness cause the diet is out of whack and what we eat is just plain BAD for us (not just too much, but unhealthful).
If you wanna see the CDC report, HERE.
Well, just some thoughts....
If you have not incorporated regular (daily?) exercise into your weight loss/heath plan, why not? What is your roadblock?
Mine was low energy. Totally no motivation due to lethargy. Pain in feet and knees (now hips) were a factor. For a while, my muscles were a mess due to statins (pain ALL THE DAMN TIME). Off the statins, no chronic muscle pain, but my joints are kinda a mess from decades of obesity.
What prevents you from moving/sweating/walking/jogging/dancing/Pilates-ing/Yoga-ing/weight-lifting/surfboadring/biking?
And please look at yesterday's post to give feedback on what type of item you 'd like to see in a giveaway. So far, one person said "exercise or fitness item" and one said "gift certificate to Amazon." THANKS. :)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Day 15 Spawn of SoDDDY Challenge: The deliciousness of fatty Cobb salad convenience, a few chilly glimpses of eclipse, and amazement at the self-sabotage all around us while I have a full-on rant about holiday food nuttiness....
Anyone watch the eclipse? I used to be a real avid skywatcher (got my first telescope when I was 13 and it was love with the stars/planetss/etc thereafter). I used to stay out all night to watch meteor showers and stay through the duration of eclipses, but in the neighborhood we're in now, I don't feel safe out at night in the yard, so my skywatching is curtailed. I did catch bits of it as I went in and out in the chilly night. Lovely. The full eclipse phase was particularly beautiful with the rusty-dark moon in shadow and all around it the most beautiful stars of winter--Orion, Taurus, Canis Major... I mean, it was a bejewelled display with that smoky red lunar stone as the centerpiece. I hope you caught some of it.
Yesterday, my calories made it to 1569 (42/36/22 ratio, too much fat). Made the water and then some. Had low hunger until later in the day, when appetite came back.
Holding at 238.0.
I gotta say that I could get addicted to that Ready Pac Cobb Salad I picked up at Publix. What caught my eye as I was shopping for produce was the big 290 (for the calories) on the label. Of course, those calories were heavy on the fat! But man, so tasty. It was a crazy flavor bomb in my mouth. If you're watching fat, stay away. If you're low-carbing, this baby is insanely yummy for about 300 cals and super-duper convenient for take-to-work type lunches (if you have a fridge or cooler to keep them in, I guess).
Speaking of fatty deliciousness: What's with all the cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, cakes, and assorted crap my blogging compatriots are indulging in? Seriously, reading our challenge leader's post today echoed what was in my own brain.
I'm hardly the epitome of any sort of really self-deprivation type dieting, but the last thing me, a conditioned overeater, should be doing at ANY holiday is baking up a bunch of all-out butter/sugar/carb-bombs to tempt the hell out of everyone around us.
First off: We obese overeaters should never be baking a bunch of crap for us or anybody. It's counter-productive for us and it's not good for them. Trust me. Kids, no matter how active and lean, don't need to eat half a dozen cookies and a slice of cheesecake just cause it's a holiday. What? Do we want them to be fat, too, and struggle like we do?
Second: How many can really avoid the temptation? For real...
Third: Do we wanna addict another generation to eating tons of sweets/treats and connecting those with love/holiness and they get to pig-out seasonally as well?
I understand that there are holiday traditions and they have meanings beyond mere taste. Emotions, nostalgia...bonds.
But I've seen a couple bloggers who are not just baking one junk food item that has meaning (and if it's loaded with butter/oil/sugar/flour/carbs or a combination thereof, yes, it's junk). It's an uberfest of baking and frying. Does any family need dozens and dozens of items that strain the pancreas and fatten the belly?
I know my family feast will have certain traditional items--quite a lot sanely nutritious, with actual protein and fiber and vitamins and minerals and spices and good stuff, and quite a lot that are pure trash in the nutrition/dieting-aid dept. I have no clue as to what specifically most of the guests will bring. I can only be certain of a few things, and what I bring, natch.
So, while accept that the holiday is usually just ONE day (maybe more, but generally the big feasting falls on ONE day), and it's not a horrible thing to enjoy the special foods on that one day, even enjoy more than one's diet-level caloric allotment (here I differ from some other dieting bloggers, and that's fine, the world is not full of automatons, but individuals) in order to bask in those memories/bonds/emotions; why is it that there is a week or two weeks or three weeks of eating all the accompanying crap?
Are we just looking for that excuse to overeat? "Well, it's the season. Let's have another cookie! Let's break open that pie! Let's fry up some churros and hit it with some cocoa made with butter! Just like grandma used to make!"
I dunno. I do think we just want a reason to go nuts and totally lose logic about what's sane treat-enjoyment. I mean, we got this fat cause we AREN'T sane about food. And this is like this retro-trip back to an all out vacation to the Land of --and this is Beth's term, but it fits, and if you hate cuss words, look away and skip to the next paragraph-- Food Fuckery.
Part of me is worried that I will fall into the FF pit, because everyone around me seems happy to dig the pit and stock it with candy cane spikes.
Um, if you have fat people in your family, stop with the baking already, stop with the frying and overloading fridges and finding ways to show love with food. Can we show love with something else? Cause with little kids getting diabetes, the idea of a month of candy canes, sugar cookies, pumpkin pies, caramel popcorn, chocolate truffles, spice cakes, donuts, funnel cakes, churros, and what-not is like saying, "Yes, die sooner. Fewer Christmasses, but we'll die in a happy sugar-fat haze."
Oh, man, I went overboard. Sorry. I just worry about myself and all the obese--and there are LOTS of them--younger folks in my family. Lots of us are HUGE, HUUUUUUUUUGE, and the pies, cakes, and crap will be on display like a trough to get us into our caskets sooner.
Christmas has a lot more about it, going for it, special about it that doesn't have calories. With our weight issues in the US, it's time to find new, non-fattening ways to say, 'I love you. Merry Christmas."
And if that came across mean, sorry. I'm more distressed and worried than mean. Oh, well.
On to another day of taming the food demons. Make it a great Tuesday, k?
Yesterday, my calories made it to 1569 (42/36/22 ratio, too much fat). Made the water and then some. Had low hunger until later in the day, when appetite came back.
Holding at 238.0.
I gotta say that I could get addicted to that Ready Pac Cobb Salad I picked up at Publix. What caught my eye as I was shopping for produce was the big 290 (for the calories) on the label. Of course, those calories were heavy on the fat! But man, so tasty. It was a crazy flavor bomb in my mouth. If you're watching fat, stay away. If you're low-carbing, this baby is insanely yummy for about 300 cals and super-duper convenient for take-to-work type lunches (if you have a fridge or cooler to keep them in, I guess).
Speaking of fatty deliciousness: What's with all the cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, cakes, and assorted crap my blogging compatriots are indulging in? Seriously, reading our challenge leader's post today echoed what was in my own brain.
I'm hardly the epitome of any sort of really self-deprivation type dieting, but the last thing me, a conditioned overeater, should be doing at ANY holiday is baking up a bunch of all-out butter/sugar/carb-bombs to tempt the hell out of everyone around us.
First off: We obese overeaters should never be baking a bunch of crap for us or anybody. It's counter-productive for us and it's not good for them. Trust me. Kids, no matter how active and lean, don't need to eat half a dozen cookies and a slice of cheesecake just cause it's a holiday. What? Do we want them to be fat, too, and struggle like we do?
Second: How many can really avoid the temptation? For real...
Third: Do we wanna addict another generation to eating tons of sweets/treats and connecting those with love/holiness and they get to pig-out seasonally as well?
I understand that there are holiday traditions and they have meanings beyond mere taste. Emotions, nostalgia...bonds.
But I've seen a couple bloggers who are not just baking one junk food item that has meaning (and if it's loaded with butter/oil/sugar/flour/carbs or a combination thereof, yes, it's junk). It's an uberfest of baking and frying. Does any family need dozens and dozens of items that strain the pancreas and fatten the belly?
I know my family feast will have certain traditional items--quite a lot sanely nutritious, with actual protein and fiber and vitamins and minerals and spices and good stuff, and quite a lot that are pure trash in the nutrition/dieting-aid dept. I have no clue as to what specifically most of the guests will bring. I can only be certain of a few things, and what I bring, natch.
So, while accept that the holiday is usually just ONE day (maybe more, but generally the big feasting falls on ONE day), and it's not a horrible thing to enjoy the special foods on that one day, even enjoy more than one's diet-level caloric allotment (here I differ from some other dieting bloggers, and that's fine, the world is not full of automatons, but individuals) in order to bask in those memories/bonds/emotions; why is it that there is a week or two weeks or three weeks of eating all the accompanying crap?
Are we just looking for that excuse to overeat? "Well, it's the season. Let's have another cookie! Let's break open that pie! Let's fry up some churros and hit it with some cocoa made with butter! Just like grandma used to make!"
I dunno. I do think we just want a reason to go nuts and totally lose logic about what's sane treat-enjoyment. I mean, we got this fat cause we AREN'T sane about food. And this is like this retro-trip back to an all out vacation to the Land of --and this is Beth's term, but it fits, and if you hate cuss words, look away and skip to the next paragraph-- Food Fuckery.
Part of me is worried that I will fall into the FF pit, because everyone around me seems happy to dig the pit and stock it with candy cane spikes.
Um, if you have fat people in your family, stop with the baking already, stop with the frying and overloading fridges and finding ways to show love with food. Can we show love with something else? Cause with little kids getting diabetes, the idea of a month of candy canes, sugar cookies, pumpkin pies, caramel popcorn, chocolate truffles, spice cakes, donuts, funnel cakes, churros, and what-not is like saying, "Yes, die sooner. Fewer Christmasses, but we'll die in a happy sugar-fat haze."
Oh, man, I went overboard. Sorry. I just worry about myself and all the obese--and there are LOTS of them--younger folks in my family. Lots of us are HUGE, HUUUUUUUUUGE, and the pies, cakes, and crap will be on display like a trough to get us into our caskets sooner.
Christmas has a lot more about it, going for it, special about it that doesn't have calories. With our weight issues in the US, it's time to find new, non-fattening ways to say, 'I love you. Merry Christmas."
And if that came across mean, sorry. I'm more distressed and worried than mean. Oh, well.
On to another day of taming the food demons. Make it a great Tuesday, k?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
I am officially no longer MORBIDLY OBESE! Even exacerbated asthma can't bum me out today!!!
 |
| Not my scale, just my weight |
I got on the scale FOUR times, turning it on and off, to make sure. One of those times, it winked a 245.0 at me. I assume he was feeling playful and teasing me. The other three times: 245.2 .
I got my OMRON fat loss monitor. It said: "BMI = 39.6"
This jives exactly with the online one: 39.6
I am now categorized as "severely" obese.
Not so great, yes, but great, yes? Heh.
There was a point where I was more than half fat, percentage-wise. Today I'm 45.3. Down from 46.0 in October. Down 48.3 a year ago. Down from 51% in 2004.
It's been progress since that high-weight low point. But this year has been especially good. And this challenge has been especially motivating. Thanks, Allan.
I"m feeling unwell, which mitigates my celebration. It feels like a strong fella has his big mitts around my throat and is choking me. Breathing feels like someone plugged up my nose 80%. For those of you with asthma and allergies, you know what I mean. Energy is down as a result. I don't even feel like blogging.
But this is momentous for me, so I will.
I am really happy. So happy.
When I was 299 lbs (and maybe more, who knows, scales being scales and me not weighing constantly back then), this number seemed so far away. When I was struggling to get out of the 270's, which took me ages, this number seemed a distant dream. I haven't weighed this little since around 1999.
It's really nice to be here. And now I look forward to the 230's with hope. And 199 seems less impossible. Seems actually probable. Amazing what a milestone can do for one's confidence. Not to mention the most weight I had ever lost was 34 lbs. I've now lost a scosh less than 54. And I do not feel demotivated at all.
I do feel like crap physically at the moment. But I'm so, so happy!
Monday, November 15, 2010
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