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Weighty issues Back to Journal Page 6/3/2008 4 Comments  Accept, get rich and retire, or make a decision.... hmmm.... Personally, number two isn't much of an option - so I guess it ought to be a balance between 1 and 3. Problem with the decision is, you have to KEEP remaking it, every trip to the store, every overscheduled evening, every day. And for overworked, overstressed, overtired, overresponsible women - it's the sticking to it that's so hard. But the concept of a more equitable and reasonable division of responsibility leading to better weight/health for society in general is interesting to ponder. Glad to see you join the ranks of actively posting bloggers! I've recently found out that here in Dallas - at the Cooper Aerobics Center - it's been proven for years that "overweight" people with a BMI of 25-29.9 (who are fit) have the lowest mortality rates of all other BMI groups. In fact until relatively recently a BMI of 27-28 was considered ideal. Now it's dropped to 18.5-24.9. And guess what? Pharmaceutical companies who push weight-loss drugs are the ones responsible for that drop in standards. The fact is, hypertension has nothing to do with body fat. But if you do get it, it's generally only a threat to your health if you're either thin of the "ideal body weight." The fact is, atherosclerosis has nothing to do with body fat; a fact that's been proven with autopsies as far back as the 50's. The fact is, subcutaneous fat - the fat right under your skin - actively intervenes to protect your heart and cardiovascular system by sucking out triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. That's a FACT. Every single man and woman I know who's died of cardiovascular issues early in their life - or are suffering from serious cardiovascular issues at a young age - were and are TRIM. Frankly I think this is just an excuse for class warfare, and Tess' observations about class are apropos. "Well, you Mexicans are fat. That's why you're poor." "Now look at you people! You're fat! How the fuck are we supposed to pay for Medicare and Medicaid now? Huh?! And you can forget about your national health insurance!" And Tess' observation is dead on: women busy living a life and getting things done are the one's having "trouble" with their weight. I just finished "A Fat Girl's Guide to Life," and that's been explicitly noted by that author as well. It's time to tell these nags to take a long walk off a short pier. Acccording to my BMI I am obese - which is ridiculous. I am at my smallest since the 8th grade - In fact I am smaller than when I was in 8th grade - yet I weigh more - by 30lbs. I am not fat - but my BMI falls in the obese catagory. I work out in martial arts up to 13 hrs a week. I am guessing the muscle, my age (older), sex (female), etc, are messing with the calcs - though I don't understand how/why. So - I don't buy into any of that anymore. I stopped weighing (and depressing) myself (LOL). My jeans, when I pull them on after a fresh wash and dry, tell me where I am. I read up on health and nutrition, weight control, exercise, fitness, all the time, just for the info, to find out what - in theory - is 'new' in the field. I 'weigh' it in my mind, for what might be helpful for me - and 'chuck' the rest, like bad or fattening foods. I struggle to maintain my SIZE (not weight). I take baby steps, with healthier food habits, exercise/training, every day of my life. I constantly seek a more healthy, well rounded, eco/green way of life/place. Inch by Inch. Oh - I have bad days, weeks, months. I mess up, and give up for periods of time - until my jeans get tight. Then I refocus. I start anew every single day. Every day is a new day - a fresh start, with no mistakes in it yet- or over eating - or not exercising moving/doing SOMETHING that is strenuous/active for body and soul. I hate exercise - just for the sake of exercise. So I found something that had deeper meaning in it for me - kung fu and tai chi. It engages my mind as well as body. Some people kayak, others dance. I do martial arts even though I am not as strong as the young men - or - yes, the occassional other but younger female. I have accepted I cannot do certain things as well, or as long. Some things I cannot do at all. I just do what I can, as well as I can. I enjoy myself (key). Even so, there are days I have to force myself to go. Literally. I am maintaining as much muscle mass, staying as flexible, learning as much, as I am able. Weight training and resistance build muscle, which is smaller (pound for pound than fat), takes up less space (than fat) and helps burn that body fat. Lean muscle 'ups' the metabolism rate. It keeps on burning long after the exercise, including while you sleep (my favorite part). It is easy to stay thin(ner) when you have more lean muscle - once you GET there. That is a reason to exercise - as well as wanting to be around and in good shape for your grandkids / family. Hang 'that' picture on your bathroom mirror. Think on that when you walk(run) your dog every day. Heredity plays a huge part, I think. Women age like their mothers. It freaks me out how much I remind myself of my mother, especially when I am around her. I used to cringe at it. It took me a long time to reconcile, to accept, to respect, even admire it - admire my mother - myself - her body - mine. There's a connection, there. It took one hell of a long time - and kung fu and tai chi - to get me 'back into' my body - to get re-seated - into my 'center'. We had that, innate, as little girls - but it usually disappears by the time we reach puberty, probably BECAUSE of our 'image' oriented culture, of TV/model/actress thinness and beauty. Sports, physical activities, exercise, kung fu and tai chi, whatever, helps reseat us in our bodies, helps bring back that love of body - that we lost the first time we saw a perfectly airbrushed bikini clad model in a photograph. I still cringe when I see the aging on my arms/hands - and recognize it as my mother's. I have watched my mother age, her body size expand, contract, again and again. I see that in me too. Her creppey (sp?) old arms, her ravaged hands - her lumpy old body - will be mine one day (too soon). I try to love it - her arms/hands -body - try to love mine - as is - as a badge of life. Well, I keep on trying. There is a trick, I think, to maintaining thinness. First GET THERE - by any means possible, by whatever works for you. Never easy. But once there, it gets easier - to maintain it. Exercise - find something you love - and a reason to do it. Count calories, and baby step toward wholesome foods, as close to nature, as unprocessed, as possible, cut out white sugar/flour, bad fats - but with plenty of good fats(eat those avocados!). Baby steps. Forgive messing up, and start over - don't even have to wait for a new day. Just start over, whenever. And learn to love thyself - AS IS. And renew that everyday. Because it isn't easy. Oh, one more thing - when energy is focused intently on one thing or place, or space, or activity, goal, whatever, it takes from another area of life. Forget cleaning the house. LOL. I did. Hey, it opens up other avenues when you let one go. Can't be super woman - And housework is something I hate more than exercise - LOL. Tit for tat - an instant reward. It was easy to chuck :-) One of these days though, I just gotta spring clean . . . sigh. I wonder sometimes if my excess weight is my canary in the mine shaft. The weight of matter compensating for the weightlessness of spirit. Is this weight a feminine rebellion against my puer/senex animus? A ball and chain against that rapacious hunger for the novel? My ego loves striving. My body teaches me stewardship. She pulls me back from conceptual musings to the ground of my being. Her questions are simple. Which vegetables are in season? Which fruits can I buy locally? Which farms practice free range grazing, responsible irrigation, crop rotation, organic planting? Tess is right, body awareness takes libido (energy). Stewardship to the Earth takes even more. Kermit the frog got it right, "its not easy being green"! Individually and collectively matter is calling us home. I have learned, or better said, I am learning that our canaries will surely suffocate in the cages of matter if we continue to rape the earth and pollute the skies. Maybe with each food choice, activity choice, responsible purchase, or novel energy saving idea, I am finally learning to balance the digging with the soaring and listen for the birdsong. |
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