In this blog I hope to track my adventures in fitness, food justice, gardening and body acceptance. I will do so with a critical eye--examining how anti-fat bias, economics, class, sexism, urban (suburban and rural) development deprives us of satisfying movement, and how health is collective and personal.
So, I'm sorry for my absence--I've been traveling and my family has had a few bumps (that are turning out fine), but I'm back. Bad News: LisaD is going to stop being a regular contributor here, but good news, she's starting her own blog soon! She may still post here now and again, but for now she needs to concentrate on finishing her graduate work & launching her own site.
For now, I've decided to return to the earlier format that tracked my fitness progress, mixed with some public policy commentating, etc. So, it'll be a bit more personal & life-style oriented, but they'll still be smart-pants critiques regarding feminism, women's health, pop-culture, etc. Speaking of sound public policy, YAY! The HHS announced today that birth-control and other reproductive health care for women will be classified as preventative which means no co-pays! This is seriously great news!!! Also, breast-feeding aides, such as pumps, will also be covered. So this is a victory for women all around!!!
Now, onto my August Resolutions:
1. Get under 200 lbs (I'm very close); I know that this is a more straight-forward weight-loss goal and less a health-goal, but its my damn goal and I can seriously realize it in a very healthy manner because I'm only pounds away! 2. Concentrate on weight-training & study the possibility of hiring a personal trainer for a specific period of time. 3. Eat more super-foods and anti-oxidants.
I am 100% not a baby person. Yet, I think this ruling is over the top. Planes are public transportation. You by a ticket and you get on. If you got money for first class baby tickets go for it. You shouldn't be stopped just because your baby is loud. People need to be able to get from point a to B and should not be hindered just because they have to bring the baby along.
I commend Jill Scott for losing at a regular person pace. She seemed to be doing it for health and well being instead of Hollywood crazy reasons. She also speaks of portion control and exercise for success. So many celebrities don't talk about the basics. I also like that she didn't do a bikini cover after the weight loss.
Are you kidding me with this? This ad from India managed to be racist, sexist and classist all in one fell-swoop! It is for Lotte Choco Caramel With Mango Inside, "the choco-caramel-colored pregnant maid represents the Choco Caramel With Mango Inside." Link to Jezebel Article HERE. I mean, what can you say? Wow, just wow? Isn't there any...THINKING about ad content?
So, there's a bit of a buzz about Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor Rob MacElhenney gaining 50lbs in order to play a "fat Mac" in the next season of the show. First off, I should be upfront: I think Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the funniest shows on TV! So, if my love for the show is getting in my way of being appropriately critical of it, let me know in the comments. Some of his cast-mates expressed concern for the health implications of gaining 50lbs through eating tons of junk (and that's super valid), but why I think this will be okay artistically if not generally okay healthwise is that the writers of Sunny are super smart satirists and Mac is NOTORIOUSLY VAIN. I think they will explore several issues of weight, self-perception, self-esteem of men based on their physical appearance, prejudice and double standards of beauty in this up-coming season with this deliberate choice of weight gain. Now, this doesn't all happen in a vaccuum and fat men are often "the funny guy" as a defense mechanism in our culture. Fat men like Chris Farley and John Candy died prematurely due to their lifestyles, which in Farley's case at least, included lots and lots of drugs to keep him manic as well as funny. There's also the softer side of the fat man trope, the jolly fat man--think Santa. So, these are cultural touchstones Sunny will have to deal with, and maybe they'll just stick with the Big Mac theme of MacElhenney as the fool who doesn't know that he's fat. We'll see. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and see where they take this. If its all bad, I'll retract this post!
Alright, I'm not one for alarmist reactions to popular-culture health stories with buzz, but this is probably the most comprehensive diet soda study (almost 10 years) and the results are alarming. I've already been on the record that I've had "a diet coke problem" before and that I almost never drink Diet Coke now, but I do occasionally because I'm against purity pledges. I gotta say folks, I'm starting to go all AA on this issue.
The Study Found:
Measures of height, weight, waist circumference and diet soda intake were recorded at SALSA enrollment and at three follow-up exams that took place over the next decade. The average follow-up time was 9.5 years. The researchers compared long-term change in waist circumference for diet soda users versus non-users in all follow-up periods. The results were adjusted for waist circumference, diabetes status, leisure-time physical activity level, neighborhood of residence, age and smoking status at the beginning of each interval, as well as sex, ethnicity and years of education.
Diet soft drink users, as a group, experienced 70 percent greater increases in waist circumference compared with non-users. Frequent users, who said they consumed two or more diet sodas a day, experienced waist circumference increases that were 500 percent greater than those of non-users.
Also:
"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans."
Yeah, when my diet coke addiction was at its worst, I was gaining the most weight. One individual's data isn't significant, but this large-scale and comprehensive study? It has me convinced that "Diet Coke" ain't my friend. Water, iced-tea (lightly flavored with juice), coffee, juice, etc. These will hydrate and refresh you. Put down the can!
I say celebrities need to keep their hookup out of the press. The relationship is over so why talk about it just to get ratings. Same goes for you Jennifer Aniston.
Lark Voorhies " Lisa Turtle of Save by the Bell" make the list for making big hair work. I also appreciate that post Saved by the Bell she didn't go for the nude scenes to try to get famous like some of her co-stars.
I recently read Randy Jackson's Body with Soul. This book was a quick read. I enjoyed the book mostly because he "kept is real". So real that Dawg was frequently used in the book. What I liked about it compared to other diet books, he actually had commentary from real doctors, dietitian, and personal trainers. He also stated that even though he had the weight loss surgery it took a lot of personal effort to get to the thin we see now on American Idol. He also talked about how people can get weight loss in a slow and steady fashion. So I felt for an at home reader, following him and his teams suggestions would leave you more satisfied then a 30 day cleanse type book.
I feel this story if true should have come sooner. I feel what she should be talking about instead of abstinence only sex education. She should talk about the real issues:
- Birth control dosage to stop cramps is not the same dosage as preventing pregnancy
- Underage drinking leads to bad decisions
- Getting to know your partner before sex will tell you a lot about their character
- sexual acts with an intoxicated person maybe considered assault
I wish her the best, but I do feel all the interviews and books even if true are pretty sensational and all done in the sole pursuit of money.
This a follow-up to my June 3, 2011 post . I am glad Gabrielle Union spoke out and is keeping it real about the emotions that rape victims go through. It is easy for people to say what they would do if they were in a situation but you thoughts and reactions don't always align in a crisis situation.
Radaronline is making this seem like a "Pretty Woman" moment where people don't want to sell to questionable girlfriends. But to me this seems like a shopping while black moment. They were happy to take his money when is was shopping with white people. Yet, when he goes to the men's department by himself the store wants to treat him differently.
I agree with her on this issue. I believe she is being held to a double standard when it comes to the Man Down video. The movie "The Skin I Live In" staring Antonio Banderas has similar subject matter without the same backlash.
It think the truth of the matter is that rape is an act based on violence and power. So the natural reaction to this event is to react in a violent and powerful way. The only way to overcome the natural reaction is a lot of therapy and the current mental health system doesn't provide that opportunity for most.
The cast of Punky Brewster makes the the Vintage Beauties list because they were children dressed like children. This is lacking in today's TV when you consider the pageant children reality shows like “Little Miss Perfect,” “Toddlers and Tiaras,” and “Little Beauties.”
I get it black people don't want to be compared to inanimate objects. Cadbury has apologized and pulled this ad. Yet, I wonder how many advertises, who weren't black, came up with this campaign not seeing this complaint coming.
Okay, so obviously this young woman is extremely ignorant (or just really good at self-delusion), but what is this BBC show really trying to accomplish? Is it really trying to educate young women and pregnant women about health hazards to their feti? Or, is it just another reality show opportunity to be disgusted by stupid people? "16 & Pregnant" followed by "Teen Mom" may have started out with good intentions: showing how awful it is to be a pregnant teen/teen mother, but its turned into a side-show (complete with US Weekly cover for those featured). This pre-occupation with pregnancy, baby-bumps, teen mothers, stupid pregnant people, surprise pregnancies/babies, etc. Its such a weird phenomenon and shows that seek to further this voyeuristic vein of pop-culture worry me. What are your thoughts, readers?
I think people need to realize that not everyone is willing to talk about their reproductive lives publicly. So the next you about to ask a woman when she is going to have a baby, you might want to think twice. The woman may want kids but is having fertility issues and doesn't want to discuss them with you.
So, I went on an OkCupid date last night and it didn't go too well. There are a variety of reasons why I'm not going on a second date (and he's not TOO TOO awful), but one of those reasons is that he's fat-phobic and apparently I've reached a thin enough stage to "pass" as a (if not skinny person), not fat person. Maybe as a fat-identified person, I'm too sensitive, but he had to tell this elaborate story about the indignity of sitting next to a fat person on his last leg of a trip (in 1st class no less--and those seats are way bigger) from Japan. Add insult to injury, dude was not a skinny minny himself--he's probably about 40lbs overweight. It just seemed mean and unnecessary, but it is probably something I'll have to get used to (and at times will be compelled to call people out for and at other times, like a bad first date, just leave alone because I don't want to have to deal with a stranger on the defensive, who will probably just call me a fat bitch for standing up for the fatties...remember, even if I ever achieve "skinny minny" status, women are always great targets for the body-shame/bitch combo by angry dude-bros).
Some converts, like myself, might be compelled to anti-fat tirades because of self-loathing or self-righteousness (I lost weight, why can't everybody?), luckily I'm not one of those people. No matter my size, I'll always be fat-identified and body-diversity promoting. There are so many identity factors that "the man"/the kyriarchy use to divide natural allies, and body acceptance is one of the most powerful, whether its about weight, hair-texture, height, coloring, etc. Only the trim, white man is normative and everybody else is "other," which is bullshit.
So, no second date for dude-bro (he also appears to be a binge drinker and culturally incurious, so those are also valid reasons for not going on date two), but I have a feeling that in my dating life, this will probably just be the first of many "fat people suck" jokes/comments I'll have to get through on my journey to find Mr. Right.
The reason I bring this topic up is because it seems that society wants women of a certain age to be married and pregnant. Since Kim is in her early thirties. Some insist she can't be happy because she doesn't have a baby or a husband like her sisters. Yet, I think she is very happy playing the field and making $5 million a year.
Also, she was married before I think she knows what it is like. So I think we should get out her business. Because each time we pay attention to her limited talent self she gets a check.
Samantha Mathis was picked as a Vintage Beauty for her role in Pump Up the Volume . She gets girl power points for rocking dark hair in a movie, when so many were filled with blonds in the late 80's early 90's.
So, according to Vegetarian Food Historian, Rynn Barry, the myth that Hitler was a vegetarian cannot be substantiated. She's written a book, Famous Vegetarians & Their Favorite Recipes available HERE.
She contends: "Mainstream historians have an elastic definition of vegetarianism," he says. "They don't hold Hitler to the same standards as a practicing ethical vegetarian. You can't be a vegetarian and eat liver dumplings."
Frozen Yogurt--love love love, frozen yogurt and a couple Orange Leaf shops have opened in Lexington recently. I had some and didn't even check the calorie count before going. I know that frozen yogurt is on the light side, but I forgot how light. Check out Orange Leaf's nutrition info HERE. Yes, the listed serving is only 1 ounce and especially at self-serve places, you're putting more than 1 ounce in the cup (although, I think I did a pretty good job of gauging what I could/should eat). Now, the toppings? That's another story. But there's fresh fruit and nuts (as well as candy bar bits). This summer, I'm definitely taking myself (and prolly my niece) for Orange Leaf on a hot day at least once a week. Soooo gooooood.
Surprise surprise, overweight women make less money than "average" sized women and significantly less than slender women...what about the mens? Slightly overweight men make MORE than "average" sized men. What's the solution? Shape up fatties! Yes, the researchers recommended that discriminated people seek to normalize their weight rather than we have to deal with bias and discrimination on a cultural level.
"That study found that compared to average weight women, those who weighed 25 pounds less made about $15,572 more, and women who weighed 25 pounds more made $13,847 less." That is a, pardon the pun, HUGE difference in pay and I'm feeling kinda ragey about (and poor!!!). Here's the Jezebel take down and HERE is the original study.
Its an international study and the US actually comes in 31st (with Iceland the least discriminatory), so anti-fat bias specifically against women was found to be present in all 134 countries studied. So, that's bad, but what's worse is the incredibly condescending "shape up fatties" message from the researchers at the end of the study summary. The simple minded, pat advice breaks down to: "Focus on what you can replace ice cream with," he said. "Maybe it's yogurt or fruit." 95% of diets fail, but regardless of those statistics, the researchers call on individuals to shape up rather than for anti-fat biases (found globally, though yes, there are still cultures that value and prefer fat women--though, insisting that women conform to being fat is as restrictive and body-diversity denying as insisting that they must be thin) be looked at as serious human rights violations and discrimination. Individual solutions are bunk--people's salaries and social mobility should be based on performance, education, hard work and skills, not suit size. I'm not saying that its impossible to lose weight and keep it off (and for those who do, they tend not to diet, but to integrate a lifestyle of exercise, healthy eating, extra movement whenever they can get it and a host of other things (like sleeping 8-9 hours instead of 6-7) and they tend not to be "thin" but simply "not fat" anymore--going from fat to thin and keeping it that way is really hard to sustain, but getting thinner is more likely to succeed if your goals in mind are health oriented and not specifically aesthetic.
So, dear reader, do you feel like your size has played a role in your salary? Career success? Share in the comments.
I've been going strong with my Friday yoga classes for over six weeks now--maybe longer actually. I love it. I'm taking a Yin/Yasa class which concentrates on both strength (or heat building) and stretch (poses designed to get deep stretches or cooling poses). Here's the official description from my studio:
Yinyasa features both the active movement of vinyasa, as well as the complementary practice of yin which focuses on release of the deep connective tissues. Like a satisfying exhale after rapid breathing, the passive poses of yin feel deeply relaxing especially following the strength-building poses typical of vinyasa. The goal of this class is to help build focus and strength, and then to enjoy the relief of passive stretching and a more peaceful mind.
I prefer taking yoga at studios rather than gym based classes (where the focus tends to be on the fitness elements more than the overall yogic philosophy). Plus, gym classes often mix in pilates or other strength moves that really don't have anything to do with the natural flow of a traditional yoga class. Although, that's just my bias from trying gym based classes a couple times at a couple different gyms...your gym class might be great and wherever you workout, I recommend checking into a yoga class! HERE is a great resource describing the different styles of yoga and how you might better determine what you'd like the best.
Alright, so there's been tons of buzz that the fate of Bridesmaids will either greenlight or kill several other women-centric comedies and that you MUST MUST MUST see this film. Well, that might be true and that sucks--especially since the demographic its supposed to appeal to WOMEN are not some strange sub-set of the population. Women are 51% of the population for goodness sake!!! Of course, the logic is that women will see male-centric movies, but men won't see films led by female protagonists. Well, there were plenty of men (okay, only 33% according to the stats laid out HERE) present and they, along with the women, laughed our collective assess off. It was really funny and not really in a gross-out kinda way alluded to in the previews (yes, there was a pretty bad case of collective food poisoning, but that was part of the overall plot showing Wiigs character trying, but failing to do her duty as Maid of Honor on a seriously restricted budget due to her dream & small business, Cake Baby--a bakery--failing due to the economy. That felt really real and another nice thing about this film was that they didn't try to make everything better, no rich person swept in at the end and gave her back her business like Daddy Warbucks, we were left feeling like she'll figure it out now that she's really clawing her way out of this slump in life, but not exactly how or when. I liked that (I don't think that that really spoils anything in the plot because there's plenty to resolve in the main storyline as well). Anyway, go see Bridesmaids, not because you should due your duty, but because its funny.
Another film that looks like it is challenging our view of what a comedy can be is Jumping the Broom, which, much like Bridesmaids, is a comedy that dares to talk/show/think about issues of class. I haven't seen Jumping the Broom yet and I have read one very critical take on it HERE, but I have also seen several positive reviews over at Jezebel (though not an indepth review that it deserves, Jezzies--it was just contrasted in the concluding paragraph in a review of the new Kate Hudson vehicle, Something Borrowed, HERE.). Anyway, class is something that the movies have tended to shy away from in recent years--Hollywood prefers to show us the safe happy lives of the upper-middle class, the outright rich or the damn dirty poor--working class, working poor, middle-middle class, these folks rarely get to see their lives reflected on the silver screen. Jumping the Broom takes that a bit further by showing a tension between a working class family and an upper-middle class (no, probably outright rich family, but they are supposed to be upper-middle class I think) within the African American community. One of the producers is a preacher from Atlanta, so the critical Pandagon article really casts his eye on how the resolution seems "too pat" through commonalities reached through "the Black Church." So, I haven't seen it yet, but I will this weekend.
Overall, I'm glad to see two comedies taking on issues of class, a subject that begs for examination!
So, I'm really impressed with Kath's (she of Kath Eats Real Food or KERF) series on organic cleaning and her general organizational philosophy. She's a great food and lifestyle blogger who I admire for many reasons, she eats well and she eats for pleasure, she works out--and for the joy of movement, not just to reach or maintain some aesthetic ideal--she also seems pretty eco minded without being preachy and of course, its been fascinating to watch the process it takes to open a Great Harvest Bread Franchise (something that I've thought of doing before). I also really enjoyed her post regarding budgeting, which was really enlightening, but she certainly takes the cake when it comes to organizing her home. LisaD is actually quite the organizational maven, btw, so she might want to share her tips sometime, but for someone who integrates organization and aesthetically pleasing living spaces, Kath excels like no one else on the internet (on a real person budget I should add--sure, there are perfect design blogs and home decorating blogs, but the budgets?). Anyway, check out Kath's series and report back on your favorite organizing/cleaning tips in the comments. When I set up my next apartment, I will try to document my (very on a budget) approach.
So, Jennette Fulda, she of PastaQueen is folding her current blog--a blog I've been a fan of ages that detailed her weight loss of 200lbs--she's not completely giving up blogging, she's just doing it under her real name and a new domain site that more fully expresses who she is today. Her new blog will be over at JenFul.com. She's leaving her archives up, so feel free to browse her storied blog for inspiration and to see her story unfold--which covers the writing and release of not one, but two books (the latest, "Chocolate and Vicodin" details her journey to try to cure her chronic headache). She's super cool, so if you aren't a reader already, consider looking her up.
This was really interesting to watch. Two things of note: 1.) I totally remember that Cindy Crawford ad and today she'd prolly be called fat if she were a contemporary model; 2.) the German Sprite ad at the end is crazy and worth watching the entire video to get to...yes, I would like European modeled healthcare/work-life balance, etc. but I could totally pass on their tv commercials.
I think that I might have accidentally take a hiatus for a month or so! Sorry, my bad--it was totally not planned! Well, I'm back and LisaD, luckily, has not been as absent as I have over the past 4-6 weeks, so there have been some posts, but in recompense I will have a POST A DAY all week and try to maintain that level as best I can. I mean, really, is there really ever a day that goes by when the interwebs don't deliver us up a new health trend to follow or debunk? Nah, plus of course, where would y'all be without my journaling of my weight-loss/attempts at meeting fitness goals (or Lisa's?).
Anywho, I'll just give a brief over-view of what's been going down with me...let's see, how much weight am I down now, oh, yes: 56.2lbs!!! The other day, I tried to carry 35lbs of cat litter from the trunk of my car into the house and it was SO DAMN HARD, I can't imagine that I used to carry that around on my body!!! I'm more than half-way to my goal, which is an even 100lbs. I've also been quite regular with the Friday Yoga classes, btw! So much so, that not only do I feel a difference in my own form and ability, but in that "body awareness" that you hear all the yogi's rave about--yoga really does help you pay attention. So, those are two good things. What needs improvement, well, I totally skipped the gym and all cardio last week. I've packed my gym bag (since the rain has made it difficult to walk/jog outdoors for a while), charged up my ipod and I'm heading over to the gym right after work. I'm even thinking about taking a Cardio Kickboxing class on Thursday--whadda think? Will I become a super awesome kick-boxer or more likely, will I somehow manage to injure myself or another? If I do start that class, it'll prolly be next week due to scheduling.
Check out this super-cute (and multi-priced) slide showof 14 cute, plus-sized dresses for spring. There's also two other slide shows of interest on this site, one dealing with bathing suits for various plus-sized body types and the other featuring party dresses. The prices for all of these slide shows include affordable ($25) to ridiculous ($$$ whatever that number is for you).
True You was a quick read. It is not a tell all book. She barely mentions her second marriage, she states for legal reasons. The premise of the book is that Janet is just like you and her insecurities and low self esteem caused her to have disordered eating which generally equaled stave/binge patterns. She tells her story as well as stories of fans who had similar issues and overcame his/her issues after listening to a Janet song. She does have her nutritionist do the afterward and he discusses the medical aspects of losing weight. His top tips:
Stop dieting and change your lifestyle habits
Get a medical evaluation before you start the new lifestyle, because the damage of past habits, could hinder weight lost of the new habits
Also that proper sleep and nutritious foods are just as if not more important then exercise
The book also has some recipes with nutrition info mapped out for each recipe.
Okay, so I'm totally gonna be a yogi when I grow up. Seriously, I went to that noon yoga class and it was fabulous--exactly what I'm looking for. I used to do yoga at a number of studios a few years ago, but after gaining weight, it got more and more difficult, so I stopped trying. Well, I've been losing weight over the past six months or so (I believe that my last update was down 40lbs, well, now that's 49lbs). So, yesterday, when we began doing Downward Facing Dog (pose above), I was nervous, but then I realized, "this is easier" and so it was. I was able to do all the poses & sequences, gently, yoga is not the place to be competitive and a couple times I did do modified poses (like staying in child's pose while some in the class did twists, but many people elect to stay in a pose that is deeply satisfying, like child's pose, when you are in a class that stresses listening to your body). So, I signed up for the 30 days for $30 of unlimited classes to try a variety of things (there are several classes that start at 7:15 p.m. which works well for me, though I do think that my favorite will probably be this Friday noon class). I'll keep the blog updated on my practice. Meanwhile, know that I'm feeling Friday's class--all sorts of little muscles come alive during yoga. I just took a walk, so that will probably work-out some of the muscle tension, but its a good tension (especially in my arms and shoulders--I feel so much more from that class than I ever do from lifting my 5lbs arm weights.
The other day I was at Kroger (a big chain grocery store in the Midwest/South) and I noticed that zucchini was $2.79lb and eggplant was $3.99 each!!! I about flipped. Well, this wasn't a fluke because food prices rose by 3.9% over the PAST MONTH ALONE the biggest increase since November 1974. Yes, there's been several cold snaps in Florida, California and Mexico, where most of our early season produce comes from, so that's a big factor, but meat and milk are rising as feed costs more and even junk-food composed of various soy/wheat/corn bi-products will rise in response to several factors, including the steadily increasing cost of fossil fuels and our own laughable "green" efforts to subsidize ethanol (which is a biofuel from corn that requires more OIL INPUTS FROM FOSSIL FUELS THAN IT GIVES BACK--GREEN MY #$@@). So, more ethanol, more corn production, less corn/wheat/soy for feed, more expensive meats/dairy and of course, more expensive travel of fruits/veggies across thousands of miles from here to there.
So, what can we do in both the short term and long-term about this?
Short-Term: personally, I can't wait until the Farmer's Market opens in April. I love going to the Farmer's Market just because the energy is so great, but mouth-breathing pro-greed enthusiasts should shop there too because its cheaper than the grocery store. Generally you have to pay via cash, but honestly that's good for establishing and keeping to a budget. Also, very little junk food is available at the Farmer's Market, so you'll probably end up eating healthier if you can plan your meals around seasonal availability. Another thing to look into is eating more vegetarian--not French Fries vegetarians we all know--but incorporating more rice/beans into your meal plans to help with the expense of general market upward trends. The easier thing in the universe is mixing up some kidney beans with spaghetti sauce and additional tyme over brown rice--serve with some fresh wilted greens from the Farmer's Market and, heck, shred a little extra sharp white cheddar cheese from the dairy stall, on those beans/rice--its dynamite!
Long-Term: Consider riding your bike to that Farmer's Market! Try to cut down on your own carbon footprint, lobby for sound agricultural as well as environmental policies--Do not vote Republican, evar--not one Republican on the Environmental Impact Committee in the House the other day agreed that Climate Change was real, though our most august bodies of scientists have shown the proof over and over again, they don't care about reality. Reality based thinking is what we need to save our collective asses (from ourselves). Anyway, long-term is hard and I'm working on my long-term strategies (and I bet several of our readers are well ahead of me on their footprint management--for example, I still commute 40 minutes via car 4 days per week; I really really really want to change that, but that will take a job switch, which I'm working on).
Meanwhile, just know, you are not crazy--food costs more!
The New York Times has a trend piece on "permanent make-up" aka GETTING YOUR FACE TATTOOED!!! I'm sure that they've run a hundred pieces about how awful tattoos are, but permanent make-up, no that's a harmless (nay, convenient) TREND. Ugh, ladies, remember, make-up styles and trends CHANGE DRAMATICALLY OVERTIME. What is "standard" today may look as out-there as pencil thin eyebrows from the 1930's or the seriously over-exaggerated fake eyelashes from the 1960's.
I think shows like MTVs Teen Mom show the other side of the single motherhood also if any woman looks at the single mother in their neighborhood knows it is not a bed of roses. So I think his comments are just sensational.
For me the bigger concern is the money spent on fertility treatments for people like Mariah Carey (41), Halle Berry (40 ) , Kelly Preston ( 48), Celine Dion (42) make it seem like having a baby at 40 is easy and anybody can do it. I think that is the most hurtful pregnancy trend coming out of Hollywood.
I do not condone the schools actions but I am glad not only a woman suffered the repercussions of the society's commentary on the issue of premarital sex.
Serena Williams was hospitalized for a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lungs, this week according to TMZ. Her official rep stated:
Williams' rep released a statement explaining, "Monday Serena Williams underwent emergency treatment at Cedars for a hematoma she suffered as a result of treatment for a more critical situation."
The statement continues, "Last week, Serena suffered from a pulmonary embolism [a blood clot in the lungs] which was discovered upon her return to L.A. She had been in New York for doctor appointments for the ongoing issues with her foot."
The rep added, "Doctors are continuing to monitor her situation closely to avoid additional complications."
Even tip-tip athletes (especially tip-top athletes actually because they put their bodies through so much) can be taken down by a couple errant cells traveling through the blood-stream. We are vulnerable creatures. I'm glad that this embolism was detected and she's receiving treatment and I wish Ms. Williams a speedy recovery. I also wish that everyone confronted with a medical emergency in this country could receive quality care without worrying about bankruptcy. The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are (according to WebMD):
The most common symptoms are:
Sudden shortness of breath.
Sharp chest pain that is worse when you cough or take a deep breath.
A cough that brings up pink, foamy mucus.
Pulmonary embolism can also cause more general symptoms. For example, you may feel anxious or on edge, sweat a lot, feel lightheaded or faint, or have a fast heart rate or palpitations.
If you have symptoms like these, you need to see a doctor right away, especially if they are sudden and severe.
What increases your risk of pulmonary embolism?
Anything that makes you more likely to form blood clots increases your risk of pulmonary embolism. Some people are born with blood that clots too quickly. Other things that can increase your risk include:
Being inactive for long periods. This can happen when you have to stay in bed after surgery or a serious illness, or when you sit for a long time on a flight or car trip.
Personalize your goals. Set goals that are within your capabilities and take into account your limitations.
Aim for realistic weight-loss goals. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.
Focus on the process. Make your goals "process goals,"
Think short term and long term. Short-term goals keep you engaged on a daily basis, but long-term goals motivate you over the long haul.
Write it down. When planning your goals, write everything down and go through all the details.
Start small. It's helpful to plan a series of small goals that build on each other instead of one big, all-encompassing goal.
Pick a date. Timing is crucial, often making the difference between success and failure. Choose a definite start date and don't put that date off for anything. Be sure to account for life circumstances that might hamper your efforts, such as work or school demands or relationship problems. You may need to resolve some issues before starting.
Plan for setbacks. Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. Identifying potential roadblocks and brainstorming specific strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course.
Evaluate your progress. Review your goals each week.
Reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Be willing to change your goals as you progress in your weight-loss plan.
1. Personalize: Lose 10 lbs in 7 weeks. End date 2-10-10. 2. Realistic: That is 1.4 lbs per week. 4. Think Short & Long Term: Short term maintain my Jump Start losses when I return to school. Will do another Jump Start in the Summer. 5. Write down when planning: I track my progress at www.diettalk.com and WeightWatchers.com 6. Start Small: Track all Eating. Do purposefuly exercise 7. Set Start Date: 12-30-09. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I didn't chose to lose 14 lbs in 7 weeks. I gave myself "wiggle room". 9 & 10 Evaluate & review Progress each week; Reassess & Adjust Weekly: : Every Wednesday I track my weight, set new goals, and measure the success of previous goals.
Thealogian: Goals and Progress Updates
Recommendations from the Mayo Clinic:
1. Personalize: Shed 50lbs by my birthday July 8, 2010. 2. Realistic: That is 2lbs per week, I have successfully lost 3.3lbs per week in the past, so with systematic exercise regime, 2lbs is realistic for me. 3. Progress Goals: Exercise 4-6 days per week, don't obsess on food. 4. Think Short & Long Term: long-term, exercise 4-6 times per week; short term, go to gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, do pilates or yoga Friday & Sunday. 5. Write down when planning: I'm doing that now (and in a journal); I will also eat Greek Yogurt/granola (measured) for breakfast & Turkey Chili for lunch Mon-Thursday; crackers/2% cheese snack & raw veggies. Dinner will be lean protein with veggies & one piece of dove chocolate for dessert. 6. Start Small: Pack exercise bag & prepare Breakfasts/Lunches for week Sunday night. 7. Set Start Date: TODAY, Jan. 3, 2010. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I wanted to exercise this weekend, but it was too cold to walk outdoors (I tried), the treadmill is on the frtiz and the gym is closed; I couldn't do yoga or pilates because I pulled a muscle in my back, but that's mostly worked out now (thanks to my sister in law's massage knowledge and nursing skills). Despite all this, I was able to eat non-neurotically and I cleaned out the fridge and organized my bedroom, plus dusting, vaccuuming. So, set back #1 dealt with compassion for body. 9. Evaluate & review Progress each week: each Sunday, I'll do a status update here, in this window. 10. Reassess & Adjust Weekly: Come back to this window to check out weekly goals.
Goals Jan. 4th-10th Exercise at Gym Mon-Thurs; Pilates or Yoga Friday and Sat or Sun. Eat pre-packed breakfast/lunch Meditate 5-10 minutes per day
