Tis the season! As I have said before, the battle of the bulge has been my lifelong nemesis. This season is especially hard. Not only do you have get togethers and parties, but goodies are often delivered to my place of work. Sinful confections seem to surround me everywhere. I mean seriously, "Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads". I can't even escape in my sleep.
Thanksgiving already did me in. Two separate but equally LARGE meals took place and the result was a few pounds taking place on my hips, thighs, stomach and the other wherevers of my body. And to my detriment, the official Christmas goodies haven't even started yet! (Jillian would be so disappointed)
All of that strength and determination I found a few months ago has seemed to have abandoned me and left me in search of instant gratification in the form of SUGAR! Oddly enough, I went with my best friend to a nutrition class and learned a very important fact. Sugar is the enemy when it comes to inflammation. And I, my friends, suffer from chronic inflammation. I have a hip problem that keeps me in some form of constant pain. So, vicious cycle goes like this: Overweight-hip hurts- hard to exercise- no weight loss- depression from the the things just mentioned- food to comfort- weight gain!! I had recently turned it into a cycle of : Overweight- hip hurts- push through and do moderate exercise- feel better- eat better- weight loss- less pain- more exercise- better overall feeling! Which one to pick seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, I have discovered there is a big problem with the obvious. SUGAR! Try as I may, to stick with the healthier lifestyle, I keep going back to the enemy. Why? I wish I knew! Habit? Maybe. Addiction? Probably. An old familiar friend that feels and tastes good? Definitely!
Since this blog is a record of the things I am learning in life, I have come to realize a couple of things. I will never completely eliminate sugar from my diet. Doing so, is the thing that pushes me straight to it. But everything in moderation. So with that said, I am hoping to shoot for a regular schedule at the gym, time spent for relaxation and de-stressing, modifications to my diet that include healthy choices, and yes a little bit of sugar every now and then. Wish me luck, and we will see how this goes!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Whatever Happened to Black Friday?
One of the things I remember growing up was that my mother told me the day after Thanksgiving was the "busiest shopping day of the year." I also remember her refusing to go anywhere near a store on that day. Always feeling a bit denied of some thrill I wasn't aware of, I decided as soon as I could drive, this would be one adventure I would readily take. That first "day after" shopping trip was nothing like I could have ever imagined, no parking, long lines and everything I had wanted was sold out. After that disappointment, I decided I probably would join my mother in banning this shopping day forever. But, as fate would have it, I started working for a major retail chain in my early 20's. I spent 7 yrs facing this shopping day from the "other side" of the register. During those 7 yrs of forced labor on Black Friday, I decided that my earlier conclusion was right. Stay away from the mall on the day after Thanksgiving. And for years after I left that job, I did exactly that.
Fast forward many years, and a friend asked me to go shopping with her on that day. I reluctantly agreed and met her at 5am to be at the store opening at 6am. I have to admit, after that one day, I was hooked. Funny, but I realized that I had missed this, after all, however, it wasn't the shopping, but the people watching I had missed from my many working days at the mall. I loved to watch the excitement of someone getting that purchase they had been so desperately waiting for or the reactions when 3 people are all going after the 1 last item on the shelf. As the years have gone by, I found myself becoming one of those people desperately seeking the best deal. A few years back, I even started going out in the wee hours of the morning, setting up a chair and climbing in my sleeping bag, just so I could be one of the first in the store to get the hot item that everyone wants. (Let me tell you, the year of the "Furbie" about brought me to tears and physical voilence). But this year brought about change. With stores opening at all different times, I spent most of my Thanksgiving studying store circulars and plotting my route. I was to be at the first store at midnight, shop there for a couple of hours and make my way to the next store that opened at 3am. After that, I would have to decide where to be at 4am, since there were several stores opening then. The next store in line, would open at 5am and from there it was a short jump to the last store opening at 6am. Thanksgiving night, I prepared myself, said good night to my kids and headed out for my quest. The night went pretty much as planned and I was able to get most everything I wanted. In one of the last stores, I was talking with a fellow shopper about the fact that it was 8am and we both were headed home to bed. Even though, I had been able to get the deals I was seeking, a kind of disappointment began setting in. I realized that Black Friday is not only about the deals, but about the thrill of the chase. And this year, the retailers took that away. Sad as it sounds, I miss having to sit outside the store all night waiting for it to open in the morning. Now that everyone can store hop, the shopping day is over by 8 or 9 am, and you are so tired that you have to go home and go to bed. If you try to be traditional and get to the stores around 7 or 8 am, you have missed all the sale items. If you make it for the sales, you can't stay awake to shop the rest of the day. Now I know that these changes aren't as serious as World Peace or anything, but to those of us die hards, we miss our traditional Black Friday and the thrills that go along with it... Just saying.
Fast forward many years, and a friend asked me to go shopping with her on that day. I reluctantly agreed and met her at 5am to be at the store opening at 6am. I have to admit, after that one day, I was hooked. Funny, but I realized that I had missed this, after all, however, it wasn't the shopping, but the people watching I had missed from my many working days at the mall. I loved to watch the excitement of someone getting that purchase they had been so desperately waiting for or the reactions when 3 people are all going after the 1 last item on the shelf. As the years have gone by, I found myself becoming one of those people desperately seeking the best deal. A few years back, I even started going out in the wee hours of the morning, setting up a chair and climbing in my sleeping bag, just so I could be one of the first in the store to get the hot item that everyone wants. (Let me tell you, the year of the "Furbie" about brought me to tears and physical voilence). But this year brought about change. With stores opening at all different times, I spent most of my Thanksgiving studying store circulars and plotting my route. I was to be at the first store at midnight, shop there for a couple of hours and make my way to the next store that opened at 3am. After that, I would have to decide where to be at 4am, since there were several stores opening then. The next store in line, would open at 5am and from there it was a short jump to the last store opening at 6am. Thanksgiving night, I prepared myself, said good night to my kids and headed out for my quest. The night went pretty much as planned and I was able to get most everything I wanted. In one of the last stores, I was talking with a fellow shopper about the fact that it was 8am and we both were headed home to bed. Even though, I had been able to get the deals I was seeking, a kind of disappointment began setting in. I realized that Black Friday is not only about the deals, but about the thrill of the chase. And this year, the retailers took that away. Sad as it sounds, I miss having to sit outside the store all night waiting for it to open in the morning. Now that everyone can store hop, the shopping day is over by 8 or 9 am, and you are so tired that you have to go home and go to bed. If you try to be traditional and get to the stores around 7 or 8 am, you have missed all the sale items. If you make it for the sales, you can't stay awake to shop the rest of the day. Now I know that these changes aren't as serious as World Peace or anything, but to those of us die hards, we miss our traditional Black Friday and the thrills that go along with it... Just saying.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Jillian is my...uh, Hero?
I have spent a lifetime battling the bulge. As a child, I was described as "pleasantly plump". Although, I clearly remember the sizes in the girls section of the Sears catalog were called "chubbie". That has such a negative connotation. After all, the boys sizes were "husky". Somehow the label of a "husky boy" sounds better than a "chubbie girl". As a teenager, I was in regular size clothes, just the upper end of the sizes. It wasn't until I was married and had children that I officially crossed over into what is described as "women's" sizes. Normal sizes for women are called "misses". Can someone tell me what the difference is between women and misses? Somehow "misses" sounds younger and more energetic, and "women" sounds older and more mature. Hmm, still a negative connotation. After trying diets and various other fads (I had Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda on speed dial), I gave in to the belief that I would spend my life as a "bigger" girl. That is until I found 2 things...The Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels!
Even though I had never watched the show, I thought The Biggest Loser was horrible because they voted someone out each week, and I know that people with weight issues also frequently have esteem problems too. This just bothered me. I don't know how I ended up seeing an episode, but once I did, I was hooked. While watching the show, I became fixated on the trainer Jillian Michaels and the methods she used to push people into weight loss. I soon realized that she was the kind of trainer I needed. She would break a person both physically and emotionally to get to the root of their weight (and esteem) problem. Unfortunately, I am not a contestant on the show, nor can I have Jillian as my trainer. So I have done the next best thing. I belong to a local gym and have a set of Jillian's workouts. When I watch the show, I try to take in the advice and education as if it was directed at me. Good thing is, I can't get voted off. During the last 2 seasons, I have successfully used the inspiration and exercise to lose a large amount of weight. I am still far from my finish line, but I know I can get there.
With all of that said, life still has a way of throwing you a curve ball. I have the pleasure (most of the time) of working with children. If there is anything that can be said about children, it is that they call it like they see it and that they have no censors. The other day at work, I met a 7 year old girl. She came bouncing up, smiling and asked if I was going to be "working" with her. I replied, "yes". Then she proceeded to say, "OK. You're Fat!". I stood there for a moment waiting for her mother to say something to her about not being rude or about politeness, but she just stood there. At that moment, I had to make a quick decision. I wanted to tell the mother she should teach her daughter better, but instead I decided to reply to the daughter. I leaned over and excitedly said to the girl, "Guess what." She said, "What?". I simply replied, "I know." After that, the girl smiled and went to play.
This just goes to show me that I should never get comfortable with the progress I have made. There is always more to strive for, whether it is in the battle of weight loss or just life in general. When you stop trying to reach for new things and new goals, you stop living. Life is about change and adapting to the changes. Whether you make those changes good or bad, is up to you!
Even though I had never watched the show, I thought The Biggest Loser was horrible because they voted someone out each week, and I know that people with weight issues also frequently have esteem problems too. This just bothered me. I don't know how I ended up seeing an episode, but once I did, I was hooked. While watching the show, I became fixated on the trainer Jillian Michaels and the methods she used to push people into weight loss. I soon realized that she was the kind of trainer I needed. She would break a person both physically and emotionally to get to the root of their weight (and esteem) problem. Unfortunately, I am not a contestant on the show, nor can I have Jillian as my trainer. So I have done the next best thing. I belong to a local gym and have a set of Jillian's workouts. When I watch the show, I try to take in the advice and education as if it was directed at me. Good thing is, I can't get voted off. During the last 2 seasons, I have successfully used the inspiration and exercise to lose a large amount of weight. I am still far from my finish line, but I know I can get there.
With all of that said, life still has a way of throwing you a curve ball. I have the pleasure (most of the time) of working with children. If there is anything that can be said about children, it is that they call it like they see it and that they have no censors. The other day at work, I met a 7 year old girl. She came bouncing up, smiling and asked if I was going to be "working" with her. I replied, "yes". Then she proceeded to say, "OK. You're Fat!". I stood there for a moment waiting for her mother to say something to her about not being rude or about politeness, but she just stood there. At that moment, I had to make a quick decision. I wanted to tell the mother she should teach her daughter better, but instead I decided to reply to the daughter. I leaned over and excitedly said to the girl, "Guess what." She said, "What?". I simply replied, "I know." After that, the girl smiled and went to play.
This just goes to show me that I should never get comfortable with the progress I have made. There is always more to strive for, whether it is in the battle of weight loss or just life in general. When you stop trying to reach for new things and new goals, you stop living. Life is about change and adapting to the changes. Whether you make those changes good or bad, is up to you!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time... Isn't that how fairy tales start? We all were taught that as little girls. Around age 7, I was particularly mesmerize by Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. I am talking about the original one with Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella. (My 20 year old daughter can't believe that "Brandy" wasn't the original Cinderella.) Anyway, that is where I was first introduced to the concept of a "Fairy Godmother". I watched in amazement as a pumpkin and 6 white mice turned into a beautiful horse and carriage. I knew all the words to the song "In My Own Little Corner" and sang it all the time. (OK, true confession, I still sing it.) Unfortunately, a good singing voice is NOT among my best attributes. But whether or not I could sing, dance or act, the one thing I knew was that everyone had a fairy godmother, and for some unknown reason, mine MUST be lost.
Now, I am a 40-something woman that has reached this point in life without even a glimpse of that fairy godmother. Everything I have accomplished, I have done on my own. Although I am still holding out hope that one day I will see the beautiful woman with her magic wand, I am prepared to take charge of directing where my life will go from here. My children are grown and in college. My marriage of 20 yrs has long been over. So now it is time for me to work on becoming "Karen" and not just someone's wife or someone's mother. I am sure there are many things I will learn along the way, and I plan to use this blog to record my discoveries as I search for my fairy godmother and for my own personal "Happily Ever After".
Now, I am a 40-something woman that has reached this point in life without even a glimpse of that fairy godmother. Everything I have accomplished, I have done on my own. Although I am still holding out hope that one day I will see the beautiful woman with her magic wand, I am prepared to take charge of directing where my life will go from here. My children are grown and in college. My marriage of 20 yrs has long been over. So now it is time for me to work on becoming "Karen" and not just someone's wife or someone's mother. I am sure there are many things I will learn along the way, and I plan to use this blog to record my discoveries as I search for my fairy godmother and for my own personal "Happily Ever After".
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