As part of my job I read the local newspapers and magazines every day/week. This morning I grabbed the Las Vegas Review Journal and on the front page a headline read "another reason to FIGHT THE FAT." Well, this certainly caught my attention since I am, indeed, overweight, and also because I've become so much more aware of my weight and losing weight within the last month and a half.
Although it wasn't an article I had to read for any work-related purposes, I took the time to read through this side-bar of sorts that gave details about a new study released in the medical journal, BMJ, by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Boston Obesity Nutrition Research Center.
The gist of the study showed that being fat during middle age may hinder women's chances of making it to their golden years in good health by almost 80 percent. This means that women who are overweight in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s have an almost 80 percent decreased chance of surviving to 70-years-old in good health (defined as being free of chronic disease and having enough mental and physical ability to perform daily tasks such as grocery shopping, vacuuming or walking up a flight of stairs).
American researchers observed more than 17,000 female nurses with an average age of 50 in the United States. At the time the study began, 1976, all women were in good health. Researchers monitored the women's weight and health and tracked changes every two years until 2000.
In this study, for every one-point increase in their Body Mass Index (BMI), women had a 12 percent lower chance of surviving to age 70 in good health. For every 2.2 pounds of weight gained since the age of 18, women's odds of surviving past 70 years old dropped by 5 percent. Likewise, women overweight at the age of 18 who gained more than 22 pounds later in life only had a 20 percent chance of surviving to age 70 in good health.
The article also described previous studies conducted regarding similar topics. A British study published earlier in 2009 found that obese people die about three years earlier than normal while those who are morbidly obese die, on average, a decade earlier. Another study also found that men are probably equally at risk for these results since fat acts largely the same way in both genders.
I took some time after reading this to compare it to my own life. At the age of 18 I wasn't overweight, but I was starting to gain weight more regularly. It wasn't until 20-years-old or so that I would have been consistently considered overweight, and I didn't reach the label of obese until I was almost 24 and worked behind a desk for a living. According to this study, I am definitely one of the women whose chances of being in good health at the age of 70 is decreasing. The article didn't say anything else and no other details were given about what people can do to try and curb this trend or whether or not losing the weight then re-increases the chances of survival. I have to assume that, for someone like me who is still quite young, if I take the time to correct my eating habits, slim down and exercise regularly that I still have a fighting chance of shimmery golden years. Regardless of that study and my own "percentages" I'm still trekking on. Only time will tell how my health shapes up.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Clothing Issue
Last week my mom asked about clothes. She asked, "When can I expect to drop a size?" My answer for her was simple and extremely honest, "I have no idea."
Everyone trying to lose weight, and/or successfully losing weight is different. No matter what's being eaten, how much exercise is involved, etc., where the body loses the fat from first changes from person to person. My mom commented that she thinks she's losing the weight in her face and chest first, but not where she wants it gone the most -- her stomach. So, I thought about it for a few minutes, and I think I'm actually lucky because I'm losing it from my stomach and sides right off the bat.
Today is a good day to talk about this topic for me because last night I got inspired enough to try on a LBD (little black dress) that I bought when I first moved here two years ago. I have never worn it out in public, and I quickly outgrew it since I put on weight like I was stocking up for an Alaskan winter. So, last night I went into the closet, pulled out the dress and shimmied into it. I was floored to find out that it actually fit. Not only did it fit, but it looks pretty darn cute and it feels like an even better fit than I remember from when I first bought it. Whether that last part is true or not, who knows. I even brought Mike into the closet with me in case I needed someone to help wrestle me out of a too-tight piece of clothing.
Everyone trying to lose weight, and/or successfully losing weight is different. No matter what's being eaten, how much exercise is involved, etc., where the body loses the fat from first changes from person to person. My mom commented that she thinks she's losing the weight in her face and chest first, but not where she wants it gone the most -- her stomach. So, I thought about it for a few minutes, and I think I'm actually lucky because I'm losing it from my stomach and sides right off the bat.
Today is a good day to talk about this topic for me because last night I got inspired enough to try on a LBD (little black dress) that I bought when I first moved here two years ago. I have never worn it out in public, and I quickly outgrew it since I put on weight like I was stocking up for an Alaskan winter. So, last night I went into the closet, pulled out the dress and shimmied into it. I was floored to find out that it actually fit. Not only did it fit, but it looks pretty darn cute and it feels like an even better fit than I remember from when I first bought it. Whether that last part is true or not, who knows. I even brought Mike into the closet with me in case I needed someone to help wrestle me out of a too-tight piece of clothing.
Since the dress fit so great last night, I decided to take what I thought was a risk and where it to work with dressy sandals and a sweater. Turns out it looks pretty good because I've already received three compliments and it's only 8:30 a.m.!
So, my entire point with this story about the dress is that even just a little change (16 pounds so far for me) can have a huge impact on how clothes hang on your body. I still have a gut, and love handles, and what I consider to be a huge butt, but my pants aren't too snug around the waist, shirts are falling straight without clinging and I fit into that LBD! But then again, maybe it isn't that 16 pounds changed how clothes look on me, but maybe I'm gaining just a little bit of confidence and I'm changing how I view myself. Could that be it? Could confidence be the main factor? I guess only time will tell!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Inspirational Reading
One thing Vegas is known for is good food and plentiful buffets. After living in this town for any amount of time that can definitely catch up with you. Gary Mahoney, former Las Vegas casino owner recently released his first book, “The Last Cookie Club.”
Based on his own experiences with fighting his battle with food addiction, the book uses fictionalized characters that easily hit close to home for anyone trying to lose weight or who has lost weight in the past.
Nearly all his life, Gary has battled an addiction to food. His passion throughout that time has been investigating a variety of programs and treatments, learning all he could about his addiction to help himself and others suffering from this and similar destructive behaviors.
Thus, “The Last Cookie Club” goes beyond tactics and fad diets to uncover the real reasons why people overeat. By turns poignant, humorous and enlightening, “The Last Cookie Club’s” all-too-human characters travel on an unforgettable journey of joy and sorrow, triumph and despair that anyone who has faced that last cookie at 3 a.m. and asked, “What do I do now?” can surely understand.
The club, which Gary began in 2005 while still owner of Mahoney’s Silver Nugget in North Las
Vegas, included Gary's employees as well as patrons of the Silver Nugget. The club still lives on today, reminding its members that they’re not alone in their battles.
Gary also has an on-going blog and updates his continuing adventure with his addiction to food. You can read more about it at http://www.thelastcookieclub.com/. In hopes of inspiring more people to face their weight problems and fight them head-on, Gary is launching The Last Cookie Club radio show on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The weekly show will air from 4-5 p.m. every Tuesday on on KLAV Radio 1230 (Las Vegas). Who knows, maybe I'll even be lucky enough to be one of his guests in the future too!
Based on his own experiences with fighting his battle with food addiction, the book uses fictionalized characters that easily hit close to home for anyone trying to lose weight or who has lost weight in the past.Nearly all his life, Gary has battled an addiction to food. His passion throughout that time has been investigating a variety of programs and treatments, learning all he could about his addiction to help himself and others suffering from this and similar destructive behaviors.
Thus, “The Last Cookie Club” goes beyond tactics and fad diets to uncover the real reasons why people overeat. By turns poignant, humorous and enlightening, “The Last Cookie Club’s” all-too-human characters travel on an unforgettable journey of joy and sorrow, triumph and despair that anyone who has faced that last cookie at 3 a.m. and asked, “What do I do now?” can surely understand.
The club, which Gary began in 2005 while still owner of Mahoney’s Silver Nugget in North Las
Vegas, included Gary's employees as well as patrons of the Silver Nugget. The club still lives on today, reminding its members that they’re not alone in their battles.Gary also has an on-going blog and updates his continuing adventure with his addiction to food. You can read more about it at http://www.thelastcookieclub.com/. In hopes of inspiring more people to face their weight problems and fight them head-on, Gary is launching The Last Cookie Club radio show on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The weekly show will air from 4-5 p.m. every Tuesday on on KLAV Radio 1230 (Las Vegas). Who knows, maybe I'll even be lucky enough to be one of his guests in the future too!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I Turned the Car Around
I don't have anything profound to say today, but I did want to share with everyone that I'm proud of my actions. Yesterday was a difficult day for me food-wise because I was craving pasta and pizza and carbs like you wouldn't believe. I wanted nothing more than to go to Olive Garden and devour the Garlic Herb Chicken Con Broccoli or have dinner at BJs and have the Parmesan chicken pasta. I felt like I needed it. I even spent a fair amount of time rationalizing the decision to be "naughty" at dinner by saying I've been great for more than a month, I can work it off tomorrow etc. etc.
When Mike called on his way home from work last night we talked about what to have for dinner. The conclusion we came to? Let's go to BJs for an early dinner since it's just down the road. The plan was that I would meet him there, so I got ready, hopped in my little BMW and started driving out of the neighborhood. I didn't even make it to the main road before I had second thoughts and guilt about heading to BJs with the intention of scarfing down Parmesan pasta. Not only was it pasta, I thought, but it's lathered in creamy Parmesan sauce and served with garlic crustinis. Yum!
I must have sat at the stop sign for more than a minute with my head in the clouds and the angel and devils on my shoulders battling out the pros and cons of meeting Mike at the restaurant or turning around and going home. Thankfully no car ever came up behind me otherwise I would have looked like a lunatic. I eventually came to the decision I needed to make and I called Mike. I told him to head home instead of heading to the restaurant. When I hung up with him I whipped a u-turn and headed back on the exact path I had just driven not 2 minutes before. When I pulled into the garage and went inside, the dogs were ecstatic to see me so soon, like they thought I had left forever. It was at that point that I realized just how pinnacle a moment I just had. I had made the decision to give in to temptation, then managed to work my way out of it in order to make better decisions.
I rarely say I'm proud of myself, and if anyone has a low self-esteem, it's me, but last night as I ate something much healthier than that delicious parmesan pasta, I gave myself a little pat on the back and remembered that once I've eaten and I'm full, that pasta doesnt even sound that great anyway.
When Mike called on his way home from work last night we talked about what to have for dinner. The conclusion we came to? Let's go to BJs for an early dinner since it's just down the road. The plan was that I would meet him there, so I got ready, hopped in my little BMW and started driving out of the neighborhood. I didn't even make it to the main road before I had second thoughts and guilt about heading to BJs with the intention of scarfing down Parmesan pasta. Not only was it pasta, I thought, but it's lathered in creamy Parmesan sauce and served with garlic crustinis. Yum!
I must have sat at the stop sign for more than a minute with my head in the clouds and the angel and devils on my shoulders battling out the pros and cons of meeting Mike at the restaurant or turning around and going home. Thankfully no car ever came up behind me otherwise I would have looked like a lunatic. I eventually came to the decision I needed to make and I called Mike. I told him to head home instead of heading to the restaurant. When I hung up with him I whipped a u-turn and headed back on the exact path I had just driven not 2 minutes before. When I pulled into the garage and went inside, the dogs were ecstatic to see me so soon, like they thought I had left forever. It was at that point that I realized just how pinnacle a moment I just had. I had made the decision to give in to temptation, then managed to work my way out of it in order to make better decisions.
I rarely say I'm proud of myself, and if anyone has a low self-esteem, it's me, but last night as I ate something much healthier than that delicious parmesan pasta, I gave myself a little pat on the back and remembered that once I've eaten and I'm full, that pasta doesnt even sound that great anyway.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The New BMI (Body Mass Index)?
Leave it to a professor from the University of Nevada, Reno to come up with a new system for figuring out what a person's healthy and optimal weight should be. For decades, literally, people have calculated their optimal weight using the Body Mass Index (BMI) which uses height and weight to calculate an estimate of their body fat. However, it isn't an exact science, but more a tool to find out where you should be as far as weight and BMI are concerned according to your height.
For instance, I weigh 213 pounds and I'm 5'6". My current BMI is 34.4, well above the healthy range for a person my height. The healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. My goal of weighing 150 pounds puts me right into that healthy BMI range with a 24.2. I thought these numbers were a bit strange, however, because when I calculated my range the BMI said I could be as low as 114 lbs or as high as 156 lbs and still be considered healthy. No offense to the BMI, but if I was 114 lbs then I would be in danger of looking like I had an eating disorder.
So, those discrepancies are exactly what sparked George Fernandez, a professor of applied statistics and director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at the University of Nevada, Reno to reevaluate the BMI system and find a new, better way to determine one's Max Weight Limit (MWL). For the entire press release, visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/uonr-npd091809.php, otherwise, here is a primer.
Fernandez says every person, male or female, has an optimal max weight limit. Furthermore, that number can be determined using basic algebra. He says that there is a baseline height for males and females that can be used to determine the optimal weight; for males it is 5'9" and for females it is 5'0". Also, for men the base weight is 175 lbs and for women it is 125 lbs. For each inch off the baseline height, add or subtract five pounds. When you calculate your height with the additional or subtracted weight, then that is your Max Weight Limit.
I am 5'6", so I am 6 inches above the 5' standard. For each of the extra 6 inches, I add 5 pounds for each inch, so an additional 30 pounds can be added to the base weight of 125 lbs. According to Fernandez's method, I can weigh up to 155 lbs (125+30) and still be considered healthy.
For me, it seems this method turns out alright since it appears to line up really well with the BMI calculations. However, I heard about this when I was listening to Mark & Mercedes in the Morning on Mix 94.1, and there were men calling in to talk about what their optimal weight was and it seemed to be very low for a healthy, strong man. If I remember correctly, one man weighed around 230 lbs at about 6'4" and was considered to be in great shape, but he's more than 20 lbs heavier than Fernandez's study recommends.
I guess this just means that it's not an exact science either! Maybe the best way to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight or not is to actually be healthy. Eating healthy, exercising and getting the recommended physicals at the doctor is definitely one of the most effective ways to keep in shape.
For instance, I weigh 213 pounds and I'm 5'6". My current BMI is 34.4, well above the healthy range for a person my height. The healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. My goal of weighing 150 pounds puts me right into that healthy BMI range with a 24.2. I thought these numbers were a bit strange, however, because when I calculated my range the BMI said I could be as low as 114 lbs or as high as 156 lbs and still be considered healthy. No offense to the BMI, but if I was 114 lbs then I would be in danger of looking like I had an eating disorder.
So, those discrepancies are exactly what sparked George Fernandez, a professor of applied statistics and director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at the University of Nevada, Reno to reevaluate the BMI system and find a new, better way to determine one's Max Weight Limit (MWL). For the entire press release, visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/uonr-npd091809.php, otherwise, here is a primer.
Fernandez says every person, male or female, has an optimal max weight limit. Furthermore, that number can be determined using basic algebra. He says that there is a baseline height for males and females that can be used to determine the optimal weight; for males it is 5'9" and for females it is 5'0". Also, for men the base weight is 175 lbs and for women it is 125 lbs. For each inch off the baseline height, add or subtract five pounds. When you calculate your height with the additional or subtracted weight, then that is your Max Weight Limit.
I am 5'6", so I am 6 inches above the 5' standard. For each of the extra 6 inches, I add 5 pounds for each inch, so an additional 30 pounds can be added to the base weight of 125 lbs. According to Fernandez's method, I can weigh up to 155 lbs (125+30) and still be considered healthy.
For me, it seems this method turns out alright since it appears to line up really well with the BMI calculations. However, I heard about this when I was listening to Mark & Mercedes in the Morning on Mix 94.1, and there were men calling in to talk about what their optimal weight was and it seemed to be very low for a healthy, strong man. If I remember correctly, one man weighed around 230 lbs at about 6'4" and was considered to be in great shape, but he's more than 20 lbs heavier than Fernandez's study recommends.
I guess this just means that it's not an exact science either! Maybe the best way to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight or not is to actually be healthy. Eating healthy, exercising and getting the recommended physicals at the doctor is definitely one of the most effective ways to keep in shape.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Doing It For the Right Reasons
Last week I asked the question, "What's your motivation for losing weight?" and I was secretly terrified of the responses I was going to receive. When the poll closed, however, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I offered four possible answers and each person could only choose one. The people taking the poll could choose from these answers: myself, my spouse, family or social acceptance.
When I originally posted the question, I was scared that the majority of the responses would be for the spouse or social acceptance, but in reality, most people said they were losing weight for themselves.
Here's how the poll turned out:
Myself - 66%
My Spouse/Significant Other - 6%
My Family - 0%
Social Acceptance - 26%
What a fricken relief, seriously!
The reason I asked this question to anyone willing to answer was because I have spent a lot of time thinking about why I'm losing weight, and likewise, I've also spent a fair amount of time defending why I'm losing weight to other people. With my wedding right around the corner (less than 9 months away), when I tell people I started losing weight recently, they automatically seem to believe that I'm losing weight for that purpose. WRONGO! If I wanted to drop pounds for one day of my life then I'd probably choose a crash diet or something that allows me little hassle over a long period of time. However, I chose to change my entire lifestyle and every single eating habit I have because I want to be healthy again, I want to learn how to lose weight and keep weight off, and I want to look my best over a long period of time.
When thinking about the why, I've examined all of the options I listed, my family, my spouse-to-be and social acceptance, but none of them are my driving factor. I'm almost 26 years old, I gave up giving a crap about what society thinks of me a long time ago. If I got discouraged every time I saw some hot twenty-something in a short dress and long legs then I would have moved from Las Vegas and entered hibernation two years ago. I just want to be happy. That's it. And, I know I won't be happy with myself or happy in general until I make the changes necessary to get that way.
When it comes to my family and my spouse-to-be, I've never felt pressure from either category to look a certain way or be a specific weight. I've honestly never been around more supportive people. Like my personal goal, I've been told time and time again that me being happy with myself is the most important thing.
I'd be lying if I said looking amazing on my wedding day didn't cross my mind, but if I haven't reached my ultimate goal by that day it really doesn't matter! My wedding day isn't the end -- of my diet or my life -- it's exactly the opposite. My wedding day is the start of something new, and I hope by that point I've instilled in myself the necessary skills and habits to move forward with the best intentions and a happy state of mind.
When I originally posted the question, I was scared that the majority of the responses would be for the spouse or social acceptance, but in reality, most people said they were losing weight for themselves.
Here's how the poll turned out:
Myself - 66%
My Spouse/Significant Other - 6%
My Family - 0%
Social Acceptance - 26%
What a fricken relief, seriously!
The reason I asked this question to anyone willing to answer was because I have spent a lot of time thinking about why I'm losing weight, and likewise, I've also spent a fair amount of time defending why I'm losing weight to other people. With my wedding right around the corner (less than 9 months away), when I tell people I started losing weight recently, they automatically seem to believe that I'm losing weight for that purpose. WRONGO! If I wanted to drop pounds for one day of my life then I'd probably choose a crash diet or something that allows me little hassle over a long period of time. However, I chose to change my entire lifestyle and every single eating habit I have because I want to be healthy again, I want to learn how to lose weight and keep weight off, and I want to look my best over a long period of time.
When thinking about the why, I've examined all of the options I listed, my family, my spouse-to-be and social acceptance, but none of them are my driving factor. I'm almost 26 years old, I gave up giving a crap about what society thinks of me a long time ago. If I got discouraged every time I saw some hot twenty-something in a short dress and long legs then I would have moved from Las Vegas and entered hibernation two years ago. I just want to be happy. That's it. And, I know I won't be happy with myself or happy in general until I make the changes necessary to get that way.
When it comes to my family and my spouse-to-be, I've never felt pressure from either category to look a certain way or be a specific weight. I've honestly never been around more supportive people. Like my personal goal, I've been told time and time again that me being happy with myself is the most important thing.
I'd be lying if I said looking amazing on my wedding day didn't cross my mind, but if I haven't reached my ultimate goal by that day it really doesn't matter! My wedding day isn't the end -- of my diet or my life -- it's exactly the opposite. My wedding day is the start of something new, and I hope by that point I've instilled in myself the necessary skills and habits to move forward with the best intentions and a happy state of mind.
Monday, September 21, 2009
My Inspiration Photo
I've talked about it a couple of times, that one photo that I have and you should all have that really inspires you to keep pushing yourself on your weight loss journey. I have photos that I look at in disgust due to my weight, but I have one particular photo that inspires me to reach my goal because I feel like I look great in it. So, here's my photo, my inspiration. It's hanging on a wall of a bunch of photos in our house, and I look at it every day to help push me forward.
This photo was taken in 2003 on a cruise with my family. We are actually on a waterfall in Jamaica, but my dad and sister were cropped out of the photo since I didn't take the time to see if they wanted to be online in their bathing suits!
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