web counter
 

Here's to Your Health

By Tater Barley Banks | Posted Under Comment Diversions | Comments (84)

Your-Home-Is-Your-Gym.jpg

So here I was, all sick and shit with what I hope is at worst a gargantuan and miserable chest cold (and not really pneumonia), wishing I could die for just a little while, trying to muster the strength to come up with a diversion for you wonderful people. (The only real benefit to this illness is I have my Death-Metal Barry White voice back — “War, Famine, Pestilence, Destruction … baby” — with which I could leave awesome phone answering messages.)

We know Pajibans are scathing and bitchy. Who knew we were psychic too?

Into my “In” basket came this, from the stupendiawesome Mrs. Smith, to whom I couldn’t be more grateful:

Hey Tater,

Mrs Smith here. I’ve got a suggestion for a comment diversion for you.

With it being the new year and all, almost everyone on Earth is thinking about ways to improve their health and/or lifestyle in order to stave off imminent death.* Some are hoping to lose weight, some are trying to get more exercise, some may be trying to drop a bad habit like smoking or drinking— all in hopes of feeling or looking better in 2011.

So, how “healthy” are the ‘jibans? As a group it seems we probably have some bad-ish habits, and a few have suffered extreme health scares but overall, are we really sickly and unhealthy, obese, arthritic, and heart-attack prone; are we a group of super-fit, raw food-eating gym bunnies or, do we fall somewhere in between.

I, for one, am actually super-fit in a cardio sense; I work out regularly (I teach spinning, weight-lifting and mixed martial arts classes part time), but I could definitely stand to lose at least 20 pounds. I don’t smoke, but I do love a good g&t or a glass of red wine at dinner and I eat red meat and enjoy the occasional Arby’s Beef & Cheddar with a jamoca shake. I like to think that my gym routine sets off my less savory eating and drinking habits, but who knows, just because my Vo2max is in the superior range for a 20 year old (I’m 48), it doesn’t mean that I won’t be struck down tomorrow with arthritis or colon cancer, both of which run in my family. I did sign up for Weight Watchers (again) on Jan 2 and will probably get those 20 pounds off, but I’ll still be “pleasingly plump” especially for a group fitness instructor, and I’m cool with that as long as I can get back into my work clothes and not look like a sausage in my padded bike shorts.

So how about it. Are we a bunch of junk food junkies, raging alcoholics, steroid pumpers, sedentary office workers, high-metabolism youngsters, or some other form of human body types, and what, if any, plans do you have to change your health and lifestyle choices in the new year?

Cuddles.

Mrs Smith

*For tax reasons, some rich people may feel this is a good year to kick, since the so-called death tax is in a lapsed year and that means when you die, your family will not have to pay taxes on your estate. I am not a tax expert, so don’t do anything foolish based on this information.

—-

Well, as you might imagine, long-term health goals are on the back burner for me right now. I just hope I feel better tomorrow.

What about the rest of you?










Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Jesus, People. You Are Shameless | The Weekly Murdertank | How to Cook Like a Top Chef →









Comments

I'm juuust askinnnn, okaaaaayyyy? But it seems to me if you do all that cardio and you still need to lose 20 lbs, then either you are having way too many of those beef and cheddar things or you are lying to yourself. The math does not work.

Since you so kindly asked me about me (I totally have this subject covered): I am in very good health and I watch what I eat and stuff but I'm not a pain in the ass about it. I used to run marathons but after years of that I have better stuff to do than get up at 5 on Saturday for a long run of 3 hours. No more.

Heart disease runs in my family so I watch the cholesterol, but I definitely love to drink ... and stuff.


OK, I'm bored.

Posted by: klingonfree at January 15, 2011 4:48 PM

I like to get drunk and eat chicken fingers...What do you think?

Posted by: Blank at January 15, 2011 5:10 PM

i'm making fillet mignon and sipping a glass of pinot noir. making potatoes and broccoli, both will get a little bit of butter.

love, fatty mc-drinky pants

Posted by: glittergirl at January 15, 2011 5:11 PM

I like food. A lot.

And I'm lazy and hate exercising.

That's it, really. I don't drink much, I don't smoke, don't do drugs. I just eat and don't work out because I just can't be bothered to care.

I like SUGAR, dammit.

Posted by: Figgy at January 15, 2011 5:16 PM

I'm pretty healthy, but I could lose about 30 pounds. At 6'5" this isn't tremendously noticeable, but it does make me a bit self conscious in a white T shirt or on the beach, so I've been cutting out bread and cheese and greasy foods since the new year, as well as dropping alcohol all together. I've always been a bit lucky genetically, I never really worked out much but I still kept slim, but as I've gotten older (late twenties) I've noticed a slightly alarming trend of my lethargic lifestyle beginning to show. I guess now it's time to buckle down and start actually working for those muscles before I end up as the huge looming fat guy who nobody wants to sit next to on the plane.

Posted by: Razz at January 15, 2011 5:17 PM

I drink, but rarely to excess (and a couple of other Pajibans could testify that it takes very little to be excess for me--can't hold my liquor AT ALL). I don't smoke except for a cigar every couple years or so. My eating habits are all over the place--sometimes I eat very 'clean' and healthy and sometimes I'm just a mess (like lately while in the process of moving). My exercise habits are also all over the place. I get very into fitness sometimes (blogged about fitness for 3-4 years, in fact). My weight goes up and down (especially with having babies and all that). Right now my weight is on the way down in spite of not exercising at all lately. Go figure. So I am just an inconsistent sometimes healthy mess.

And I for one can believe Mrs. Smith can do all that cardio and still need to lose 20 lbs. The body and its metabolism can be very weird, especially for women. You can be both fit and fat (and maybe she's not needing to lose as much as she thinks, anyway).

Posted by: pickled tink at January 15, 2011 5:17 PM

(stupid button)

But aside from slightly high cholesterol, I'm surprisingly healthy. At least I was last time I had my bloodwork done. I really should watch what I eat more though, because I have shitty family history on both sides. Stupid heredity.

Posted by: Figgy at January 15, 2011 5:18 PM

My health isn't too bad really, considering. I don't drink or wreck myself with other substances. My diet is pretty crappy since I'm a stupidly fussy eater. I'm not all that fit, but I've been trying to take better care of myself for a while. I took up running which I liked but left me with sciatica and bad pains in my feet. Every now and then I do a workout video.

As for new year health resolutions, I have somewhat insanely signed up for roller derby in February. Since I'm clumsy enough on two feet, me on skates could be deadly.

Posted by: Carrie at January 15, 2011 5:21 PM

General rule for 99% of us is that we're eating twice as much as we should and working out half as much as we should.

If anything, lift some goddamn heavy weights now and again, regardless of gender or body type. Reading a magazine on the cross trainer isn't enough.

Posted by: elzupasmonkey at January 15, 2011 5:22 PM

I've got wonderful genes (thank you, family!) and am in near excellent health despite the fact that I treat my body so terribly (drink, smoke, eat way to much of the greasy junky horribly-bad-for-you crap). My only problem is my brain's occasional tendency to short circuit into a grande mal seizure. Which is nothing if not a way to keep life exciting.

Posted by: Edwina the Magnificent at January 15, 2011 5:23 PM

So, I'm one of the crazy ones I guess. I work out five days a week, two hours a day, but I'm a club sports team. I love food, but generally try to achieve some sort of happy medium.

Posted by: Ruby at January 15, 2011 5:28 PM

My job is pretty active, and I try to work out regularly. On the other hand, I love to drink, definitely more than I should. I eat well in terms of quality, but not so well in terms of quantity.

Overall, I'd say I'm pretty much in the same boat as Mrs. Smith--could stand to lose 20 pounds or so, but otherwise I'm pretty damned fit (and, to my constant delight, able to more than keep up with my thinner male colleagues). Given the obesity and diabetes that are rampant in my family, I count myself very lucky.

Posted by: meaux at January 15, 2011 5:30 PM

I'm in grad school, so at the moment I eat like a fourth grader and drink like a fish, all the while finding zero time to find for things like a treadmill, BUT, in real life, I am an excellent, healthful cook and I dig on yoga and jogging.

I'm lucky in that I have an hourglass figure, which is much more forgiving of the grad school weight than most body types. I'd like to drop about 15-20, but I still have a very defined waist and happen to have gained most of my weight in my hips and boobs (so I can relate to the Christina Hendricks post from earlier this week. I say "real").

I'm not great at maintaining an exercise routine, but since I'm an actor I do a lot of physical work in classes, and I'm a bit of a stage-combat enthusiast, so I do OK. If I cut out the beer, I'd probably drop a size. But then I wouldn't have beer.

You win some, you lose some.

Posted by: Tammy at January 15, 2011 5:31 PM

I could certainly stand to improve in some areas.

I drink, often to excess, but you will only get my rum from me over my dead body and pickled liver. I don't smoke, I don't eat meat, no drugs. I eat fairly well most of the time. And then some days, I eat a box of caramel Crunch N' Munch and call it lunch. (I'm about to lose my dog to cancer, so damn it, I give myself a free pass for the foreseeable future.)

Exercise is the area that really needs improvement. I joined a gym in october, and did great for that month and November. And then I was off work all of Dec and rarely left the house, and January has had a lot of snow days, and now the dog... I just don't have the drive to go. I wish I lived in an apartment complex with a gym, cause then it'd be right there and I'd be more likely to go more. The good news on that front is that my job keeps me very active from May-Sept, and fairly active the rest of the year other than Dec/Jan, so I get some decent exercise in all summer.

Posted by: Gabs at January 15, 2011 5:35 PM

I'm a yo-yo-er. Basically, during intense, time consuming projects at work I struggle to maintain good habits. Two times a year I gain like 10-15lbs and spend the rest of the time working it off. Bad for my heart, maybe.

Posted by: brdkelli at January 15, 2011 5:37 PM

I guess I'm pretty healthy, though I think my age and metabolism is on my side. My Asian genes help too. I try to go to dance classes about twice a week (though I haven't been in about a month bc they are expensive and xmas wiped me financially) and I walk everywhere. The city is my treadmill. I really, really hate the gym - it bores me to tears. I do drink, though not that much - I'm as lightweight as a feather - and I gave up smoking socially (like when I'm drunk) three months ago.

I really, really want to work out (which means go to dance class) more and get better at it, because I feel less lethargic when I am consistently active. I've also been toying with the idea of kick-boxing, mostly because I want to be like Sydney Bristow from Alias. But I am also lazy and poor.

When it comes to food, I eat what I want, and that even includes the healthy stuff. Sometimes, I get cravings for red meat, a burger or a steak, and other times, I think, "I really want a salad with an avocado in it." My ideal meal is ramen with an egg in it. Or pot stickers. Truthfully, more than anything, what dictates my meals is how much they cost, whether if it's at a grocery store or out.

Also, I don't crave sweets. I'd eat it and like it, but I don't generally get hankerings for cookies or ice cream or whatever you sweet-tooths (sweet-teeth?) usually get cravings for.

It's funny that you chose this diversion (Mrs. Smith truly is psychic) but I've been thinking about taking care of my body more lately. I'm really young and up until recently felt like I was invincible because I've been made more aware of my mortality.

Of course, thinking about it does not equal doing something about it.

Posted by: denesteak at January 15, 2011 5:41 PM

I lift weights 3 times a week, and jog once a week. Could improve my cardio and lose 5 lbs, but wont give up the chocolate or alcohol. Live in beach community and try to stay beach fit year round.

Assuming Mrs Smith is doing all that cardio but is still significantly overweight, she needs a weight lifting regimen targeting the major muscle groups (thighs, back, and chest). Muscle weighs more than fat, but weight lifting is better for fat loss than cardio. This is because it increases your metabolism in that you are burning fat when you are sleeping/not exercising as your body works harder to recover. She should also up her calcium intake.

And ladies, dont worry about looking to muscular from liftin weights. It doesn't happen overnight. You can ease up if you start to look a little too bulky.

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at January 15, 2011 5:42 PM

I'm reminded on one of my personal favorite philosophies.

"Eat right, work out, don't smoke...die anyway"

Posted by: Uncle JR at January 15, 2011 5:45 PM

Thank you, L.O.V.E.--so true about women not bulking from weights. Tracy Anderson types with their tiny weights talking about making any type of body look like tiny ballet dancers make me so stabby. Ice pick stabby.

Posted by: pickled tink at January 15, 2011 5:51 PM

If this comment diversion had been posted a year ago I would have been depressed, eating horribly (good) fatty foods every meal and drinking up a storm to drive the pain away from a seriously suck-ass relationship with an asshole who was cheating on me with anything and everything that moved.

A month after I dumped the loser I scheduled a health exam and was told that I had a fatty liver and, if I didn't lost at least 25lbs and commenced to exercising regularly that very, very bad things would happen.

Needless to say, I did indeed heed her warning and I am now four dress sizes smaller (at a comfy size 10 going on size 9), eat nothing but fish, poultry and veggies and make sure to get in the recommended 64 oz. of water daily. In addition, I've continued a comfortable workout regime that includes cardio, strength training and ab work and, even though I want to murder the trainer at times, I'm sticking to it.

It's funny because if it hadn't been for that warning I still would have been eating my yummy, fatty comfort food and the only exercising that I would have done would have been the lifting of my remote but sometimes life has a way of shaking you up a little to get you to doing what you need to do so...

Nowadays whenever I crave a cheeseburger I just picture my liver getting glazed over with more fat than is already present and just let it pass.

Posted by: Slappysquirrel at January 15, 2011 6:11 PM

Add me to the chorus that says you should lift weights. They will help you lose poundage. I did a weight loss contest with a friend and I won because she didn't lift weights because she was afraid of bulking up. It was silly. Weight training helps you burn more when you combine with cardio. I think it helps speed up your metabolism, maybe? Not sure of the exact science, I just know it works.

Posted by: tinmo at January 15, 2011 6:38 PM

There are pictures of me in second or third grade, and I was incredibly thin. Then all of sudden I'm huge, and have been that way since. Well, when I was a freshman it was TOO bad. I had to walk EVERYWHERE so I was plump, but not huge. Then we moved and I don't ever go out.

I'm not a greasy, junk food kind of person, so I guess that's good. I don't like chocolate or peanut butter, and I hardly ever use salt. When I say hardly ever, I mean like...once a year. I'm big on 'at home' cooking and baking from scratch. Pie crust included. I don't eat as many veggies as I should, but I do try.

Every now and then I'll get the gusto to exercise, but once I start I remember why I didn't do it in the first place. No matter how much better I feel after doing, it's the feeling in the middle of exercise I don't like. And sweating's gross. Blegh. And running outside is gross. It's this irrational fear of bugs flying into my mouth as I'm running that really stops me.

Posted by: Candee at January 15, 2011 6:46 PM

I meant 'WASN'T too bad'.

Posted by: Candee at January 15, 2011 6:47 PM

Ya welcome, Pink.

Here is a Womens' Health article on the issue which explains why weights beat cardio for weight loss.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/cardio-vs-strength-training-workouts

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at January 15, 2011 6:53 PM

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at January 15, 2011 6:59 PM

I think I am reasonably fit, I do group fitness classes at the gym a few times a week, and do a fair amount of walking. This is all well and good, but having signed up for the Oxfam Trailwalker in April, I am having to get waaaaaay fitter to walk 100kms in 36 hours.
Man, that shit is gonna HURT!!!

Posted by: Clairenz at January 15, 2011 7:05 PM

I went Raw eight months ago, and relatively painlessly. I've had three weeks since then (traveling) in which being raw wasn't possible, but I've always come home and gone straight back to my dark leafy greens, fruits, nuts and seeds.

Being raw has improved my thyroid function, my sleep habits, trimmed me down some (but not more than 10lbs...I'm 5'8" and 130 now), and put an end to my emotional eating cycle.

Exercising is more challenging for me, though I'm joining Crossfit as soon as my financial situation improves a little. The 3 month initial commitment should be incentive enough to make it a habit.

Posted by: Lexie at January 15, 2011 7:05 PM

I'm a few years into a program of not dying of lifestyle. After the third multi-year round of stress-puppying & abusing my bod followed by illness & collapse, it had had enough. Each round ratcheted-up my squishy-weight and especially diameter.

The doc's first prescription was disconcerting. The second got my attention. Since everything he wanted to prescribe for is treatable with lifestyle ... to the focus, the deliberateness and discipline!

My father's terminal illness last year took me off-program for about 16 months with another round of stress & body abuse. I'm now back on track and about where I was before that interruption.

From where I started I'm about 6" down on waist size, with 2-3" more to go. From getting winded walking a block, now I'm good for a 20-mile bike ride, a day's playing stone mason in the summer heat, or 5-7 miles hiking in a snow storm without special prep or taking damage. These days I feel bad if I don't get a lot of exercise and my diet habits have reprogrammed to fresh and local, low carb & high fiber, whole vs. processed & etc.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 15, 2011 7:20 PM

It's FILET mignon, Mc fucktard .
also , yeaah everybody should lift heavy weights , ...ever heard of back problems ? Sucker
My resolution is to insult more people for no good reason.It purifies my soul and makes me want to have sex.delicious, filthy sex

Posted by: orianne at January 15, 2011 7:23 PM

Lexie!

Go for it. There is seriously nothing like Crossfit. Two years ago I couldn't do a pull up, and after training with Crossfit I can do muscleups and handstands and such. I promise you'll have a blast, especially if you're joining an affiliate. Good luck!

Alas, I still have health issues. I definitely have some kind of binging disorder I think. While I was at college, I ate Paleo all the time and did Crossfit like a motherfucker. I dropped a lot of weight and got stronger, faster, etc. However, I've been home for a month and eaten pretty much nothing but crap and I feel like a fat slug. It's a very bad habit of mine to just lose it and erase a lot or all of the progress I've made. Hopefully going to work it out!

Posted by: Patrick the Bunny at January 15, 2011 7:28 PM

Since it'll take longer than a year to slap some sense into the theater industry that larger performers can sing, dance, and act as well as emaciated performers, I'll be trying to drop my weight down to more " visually acceptable" standards. I was mooed a few too many times at auditions last year (how I wish I was joking; I had the misfortune of auditioning in front of the same costume designer three times and the bastard did it every time I walked in the room). God forbid someone my height wear a pant that says "35" or "36" on the label (shock horror mooing). Here's to not going overboard (again) and staying healthy while losing some weight this time.

Posted by: Robert at January 15, 2011 7:30 PM

"I've always been a bit lucky genetically, I never really worked out much but I still kept slim, but as I've gotten older (late twenties) I've noticed a slightly alarming trend of my lethargic lifestyle beginning to show." Wait until your forty+ welcome to adulthood.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at January 15, 2011 7:34 PM

Also...

Slappysquirrel

Congrats! That's the type of lifestyle change I've never been quite able to pull off, and I find it incredibly admirable when anyone succeeds at it. My hat goes off to you.

And

L.O.V.E. and pickled tink

Word on weightlifting for the ladies. I know women who are slender, toned, and frankly, damn sexy who deadlift twice their bodyweights. It's hard to get super bulked up without chugging supplements everyday. Personally, I think a healthy woman with a little extra weight or muscle is more attractive than any of the skinny chicks.

Posted by: Patrick the Bunny at January 15, 2011 7:48 PM

I don't smoke, drink alcohol, but I drink far too much Coca Cola and other sugary drinks and I absolutely hate physical exercise (probably because I'm terribly unfit and any exercise is very hard work). My husband and I don't really eat all that badly, we try to reduce our portions, and avoid too much greasy and fatty food, but it's my intense dislike of exercise that's my biggest problem.

Before my wedding two and a half years ago I lost nearly 20lbs, but now I've nearly put all the weight back on, so I'm finding myself forced to change my eating habits when it comes to sugar intake. I try to go spinning or swimming once or twice a week, and I use the Wii Fit as well, which is surprisingly good for exercise when you're as out of shape as I am.

Come spring, when the snow melts, I'm hoping to be in good enough shape to cycle to and from work every day (it now takes me 30 minutes by bus), or maybe walk it when the weather is good. Hopefully that will help keep me in better shape. I don't chiefly want to get into shape to lose weight, but to feel healthier and get more energy. Although the weight loss would be a nice bonus.

Posted by: Malin at January 15, 2011 8:14 PM

I jog and play tennis in the summer and indoor soccer this time of year. I eat well but not because I'm responsible, it's just what I've grown up eating so it actually is comfort food to me. I never starve or deprive myself though. If I feel like eating pizza I'll eat a slice of pizza and not feel guilty about it or anything. I also love to spend a whole day laying around watching movies as much as I love going out and being active so I guess it's all about the balance. I think you get really lucky if you grow up in a healthy, fit family. It's hard to learn those kind of habits later in life.

Posted by: becks at January 15, 2011 8:34 PM

I'm 5'3" and around 120 lbs - but I eat like a 5 year old, by which I mean all candy and carbs and little, if any, fruits and veggies. I am well aware that this is a stupid, stupid thing to do, and that I will one day have to get over my fear of healthy foods if I want to live past 30, but as I'm still in university, I maintain that stressing this much over grades 24/7 means I deserve to eat what I like, and what will keep me up, dammit.

I exercise sporadically.

Posted by: dsbs at January 15, 2011 8:43 PM

I don't smoke, don't do drugs, and as a general rule I don't eat processed foods. Sometimes it is unavoidable (especially when eating at my in-laws'), but for the most part I can pronounce all the ingredients in my foods. And I don't eat high fructose corn syrup. No human should ever eat that shit unless they are surviving a famine. As far as exercise goes I walk, plan to take up running again once I'm three months post-partum, strength train, and do Bikram yoga. Despite the diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure that run in my family I'm doing well so far and as long as I keep up my exercise then I'll probably fare pretty well. Of course at this moment I have fifteen to twenty pounds that I need to lose since I had a baby two weeks ago. I tell you, it's difficult not being able to exercise at the intensity that I'm used to for another couple weeks at least. I like to exercise and I'm very health-conscious so for me to be not at my ideal weight and to have maybe three or four outfits that I can wear, all of which require maternity jeans, is very tough. I know I shouldn't feel huge but I do. If someone could give me a magic wand so that I cam wave away two weeks and get myself back to the Bikram yoga studio o would be so incredibly happy.

Posted by: stardust at January 15, 2011 8:56 PM

I need to lose about 15 in order not to be overweight, but would love to make it 20 or even 25, just because I can't remember what it was like to be skinny. I was skinny before I started working.

I'm terrible at working out consistently, but having a dog makes sure that I get at least a little exercise every day.

And I have terrible eating habits. I have an unfortunate Food Network habit, which feeds my trying out recipes habit, which in turn fuels my eating a lot of stuff with butter in it habit.

But I got lucky, and my oven broke last summer, and I haven't been able to afford to fix it, which means that cookies have not been on the menu for a long time.

I tend to go through phases of working out consistently for a few months and then stopping once it gets busy. But this post is motivating me. Thanks for that, Pajiba.

Posted by: Jelinas at January 15, 2011 9:20 PM

Just some thoughts after reading the comments so far:

My sister (300lbs+), mother (250lbs+) and brother (250lbs+), are all overweight, so in my family I am considered "thin." I work very hard to maintain an acceptable BMI range and though I'd never be considered "skinny," I am healthy and fit. And FYI, if you take one of my classes I will kick your ass.

I've been a hard-core weight-lifter and cardio addict since my 20s and I work every day against my genetic disposition towards "plump" and that's really what my question was about....can you be healthy and not necessarily appear healthy?

I like a lot of your comments, life is a balance after all. Being an "acceptable " weight is not really the question here... but more specifically, what works for you?

Posted by: Mrs Smith at January 15, 2011 9:41 PM

I am doing better this year than ever. I have been seeing a personal trainer 3 times a week since November, and slowly dropping meat and dairy to become vegan again...not that I will berate y'all for not doing the same. I just honestly felt better being a dietary vegan.

Weight has not come dropped dramatically on the scale, but I dropped two sizes and I fell stronger every day. Lots of cardio and lots of weight lifting...words can not express how much I fucking hate mountain climbers and jumping jacks. But I do them.

I have never been all that in touch with my body, but I feel better now. My balance is better and posture is improving.

On the downside, paying my trainer is causing me to not contribute to my savings at all. But being fat and unhealthy can also be expensive so it is worth it.

Final note: Do not goad your trainer. If you even jokingly say things like "I thought you were going to make me sweat today", your trainer will have no problem making that happen. While smiling. And turning up the incline and speed on the treadmill.

Posted by: Maria at January 15, 2011 9:43 PM

I'm in surprisingly good health. I mean, I eat nothing healthy at all, just sit reading all day - I haven't been to pilates class in almost a month and I really could stand to lose 4 pounds, but if June comes and I'm still clear of epileptic episodes then that'll make a WHOLE year without new scars! I might not even break my teeth for the third time! Go me!

Well, actually, go new meds, but still.

Posted by: Holly at January 15, 2011 10:05 PM

Mrs. Smith, to answer your question, I feel it's possible. When I'm slogging through the woods carrying 5 gallons of water or a 30 pound electrofisher on my back, having to stop every now and then for my field buddy to catch up, I revel in the fact that I'm a strong, healthy person.

Granted, it'd be super to see a slender gal in the mirror, but although I know what I'd need to do to get there, old habits are hard to break and I'm honestly just not motivated enough to change the status quo. I have my health, and aesthetically speaking, I think I can work what I've got reasonably well. So....*shrug*

And I would love to take you up on your challenge--I fully believe you would kick my ass, but it sounds like a blast!

Posted by: meaux at January 15, 2011 10:16 PM

So after I commented and read all you guys comments, i had a craving for ice cream. This is only significant bc i said above that i don't get sweet cravings. And I just ate a whole bunch of potato chips. I blame you guys.

Posted by: denesteak at January 15, 2011 10:40 PM

I was teeny-tiny for my whole life...until I hit puberty. All the women on my mother's side of the family have had the same issue of ballooning up at around age 12-13. While I was never by any means fat, I was definitely overweight until last summer. I was about 137 at my heaviest(doesn't sound like much, but I'm only 5'1" so weight really shows on me...a few pounds makes a HUGE difference on me) and fairly out of shape. A lot of this was due to stress/emotion binge eating (another trait passed down by my mother) and, later, the freshman fifteen--I ate fries/grilled cheese/pizza pretty much every day my freshman year. I went through bouts of trying to be healthier, where I'd go to the gym every day for two weeks and starve myself, only to give up and end up where I'd started.

Last summer when I got home from my sophomore year of college, I realized how sick I was of being chubby and I totally changed my lifestyle. I lost about fifteen pounds in 2-3 months. I'm down to a comfortable 112. I can attribute my weight loss to two things: fiber and pilates. I cut out all carbs that weren't whole grain and started doing pilates three times a week. I also stopped eating cheese (seriously made such a huge difference for me). I also cut out sugar wherever I don't need it (for instance, I switched breakfast cereals) because I really want my sugar intake to count...I have a terrible sweet tooth. For the first time in my life, I felt amazing.

Now I'm pretty much a vegetarian (I eat fish/poultry maybe once or twice a week, and only eat red meat a few times a year). I've relaxed a bit on my dietary rules and college has made it hard to exercise as much as I'd like. I lost a lot of tone over the holiday season, so it's my resolution to get back into the same shape I was in in August.

In terms of my vices...I'm not a big drinker, but I love me some champagne. My sweet tooth can be a big issue, especially during finals or at that time of the month--I try to limit myself to one sweet thing per day. The worst habit I indulge in (arguably) is weed...my boyfriend has turned me into a pretty big pothead. I go through phases of not smoking/smoking less, but at my worst I'm doing it a couple of times a day. I'm responsible about it though-- I'm very good at realizing when it's affecting other areas of my life and cutting back or taking a break.

Posted by: sonk at January 15, 2011 11:03 PM

I lost 40lbs in 9 months and have kept the weight off for 1 year and 3 months now. I started running, did couch to 5k and have run in 3 races. I do 45 minutes of cardio 4 days a week and 2 days I lift for 30-45 minutes (I have a through whole-body routine) and finish with 20 minutes of intervals per the Body for Life program. (Which is what I used to lose the weight. That and SparkPeople.com)

Food-wise, I eat 6 times a day, try to eat whole foods and monitor how much protein I get. I am trying to cut down my sugar intake without killing anyone. I'm determined to hit 130lbs by my 30th birthday next month. 7 lbs to go.

Posted by: TWoP_Fan at January 16, 2011 12:23 AM

Mrs Smith, I'm a big fan of "fitness at any size," and I know there are some people that weigh more than I could, but have tons more stamina and could most likely kick my ass.

I was an NCAA rower for four years, and left the sport with a busted knee (dislocated because of a thigh muscle spasm while on the rowing machine -- the inner muscle stopped working, and the outer muscle was working hard enough to pull my kneecap out of joint -- lots of fun), a stress fracture in my foot, and chronic shoulder and wrist problems that keep coming back to say hello.

I get frustrated trying to go to a gym, because I used to be a rockstar in the weight room (my favorite was the incline dumbbell bench press -- I could lift 65 lbs on each hand -- and I maxed out at 515 lbs on the leg press), and could run for miles at an 8 or 8:30 pace with no problem. Rowing is incredible cardio. Incredible.

Now, if I go to the gym, I have to do physical therapy type stuff, and can't jog because my knee will give me hell, so it's slow going and a long haul with not a lot of results, so I give up easily. But now that I'm in a job with less insane hours, I'm hoping to go back there a bit more, and get over this mental slump with my physical limitations. I know I'll feel better when I start getting more physically active, and if I'm smart and stick with it and go nice and slow, my shoulder and knee will get better.

Also, as per the start of my comment, when I was hardcore, I would work out 18 hours a week in an incredibly calorie burning sport (eating 3000 calories a day to break even). I had muscles -- but my body shape? Pretty much the same. I think I lost a dress size, and when I stopped, got it back after two years and have stayed that way. And the entire time, I didn't lose a pound. (Replaced fat with muscle, but still). So workin' out loads, even when you're on the upper end of the scale, sometimes doesn't lead to dramatic body shape changes. Stamina, strength, firmness, yes. Whittling down to a toothpick? Not necessarily.

Posted by: linny at January 16, 2011 12:37 AM

I think I'm pretty average, in terms of size and appearance, and I credit this entirely to my running habit. If I didn't run, I have no doubt that I'd be at least 100lbs heavier. I can put a LOT of food away. And alcohol. I've always been this way, and while I'm still pretty young, I can feel my bad food habits creeping up on me already, especially now that I've got myself a big person job and am a lot more sedentary. Fuckin real world.

I was a lot leaner my freshman-sophomore years of college, but I credit that to being on a varsity team and working out upwards of 4 hours a day. I didn't gain a lot of weight when I quit, but my body definitely changed. I've got better boobs and hips now, but I miss being strong and fit. I'm not terribly out of shape, though. I do half-marathons and get to the occasional yoga class. I ran my first marathon this past year after slacking off for the 5 months of training, so I'm pretty confident that when I run my next one I'll be able to shave off at least a half hour from my time, based on my half times.

The biggest thing I want to do this year is quit social smoking entirely - I hate it and do it far more often than I'd like. Coupled with the fact that I have asthma, it's an especially bad idea.

Posted by: nosio at January 16, 2011 12:45 AM

Oh, Linny, I was an NCAA rower too. I just want to fist bump everything you said in your comment.

Posted by: nosio at January 16, 2011 12:51 AM

Starboard or port, nosio?

I remember how much food I used to eat a day, and it still blows my mind.

Posted by: linny at January 16, 2011 1:10 AM

I'm bisweptual. That's some solid crew humor (crewmor?) right there.

I sometimes miss the entire sport just for the sheer amount of food I could eat without gaining a THING.

Posted by: nosio at January 16, 2011 1:35 AM

I was starboard, and sculled in the summers.

It was insane, wasn't it? I would eat more for breakfast than I do all day now. There was nothing funnier than watching the entire team just packing it in at one of those all-you-could-eat places. We'd clean them out.

Posted by: linny at January 16, 2011 1:51 AM

I practice bikram yoga three times a week and walk my dog. My job's way too demanding to do much else, although I have a membership to the gym that I need to figure out what to do with. I do enjoy the pool once in a while.

Posted by: duckandcover at January 16, 2011 2:58 AM

My typical breakfast in those days: Ham, cheese, pepper and onion omelet. Potatoes. Sausage patties. 2 pieces of whole grain toast with cream cheese. Diet coke (for the caffeine after our 5am workouts), Gatorade, and OJ. Usually a donut, for my breakfast's dessert. I'm cringing remembering all this.

Oh, and half of a grapefruit. You know, to be healthy.

For reals, rowing is one of the best ways to stay in shape. It's also probably one of the hardest.

Posted by: nosio at January 16, 2011 3:56 AM

Women, don't be dumb. You will not, cannot, shall not "bulk up" from weight lifting, unless you start taking steroids or something. Our bodies aren't designed for it, and you physically will not be able to achieve anything resembling "bulk" just by lifting a small amount of weights two or three times a week. Trust me, I'm a trainer, and it sucks to deal with all these women who will not lift weights, and won't do much more than spend half an hour reading a magazine on the elliptical while barely breaking a sweat, and then whine and whine and whine about not losing any weight. I say, look at me, I lift everyday, am I bulky? But nope, they just want to be able to say they "go to the gym everyday!" and not actually work hard at it.

Posted by: CanOfPineapple at January 16, 2011 4:42 AM

I should note that the elliptical trainer isn't completely useless - I do recommend it for people who are just getting into or back into fitness, for women who've recently given birth, for the elderly or anyone with joint problems, things like that. But, obviously, if it's not difficult (difficult does NOT mean painful) then it's probably not doing anything for you. Why are you spending money on a gym membership just to use the elliptical for 30 minutes at a low setting? Head out to a park with some hills and walk at a brisk pace for half an hour for free.

Other tips for people working out: shun processed sugar, and you can pretty much eat everything else. Processed sugary things don't make you feel full. You want that chocolate brownie? No, no you don't, it's a bit of good chocolate mixed with sugar and flour - just eat some good dark chocolate, cut out the useless stuff. Eat lots of vegetables, some good fats, things with vitamins and minerals and nutrients. Carbs are not bad because they are carbs - but if you're getting them from grain sources they aren't going to be as nutrient-packed. Eating some boneless skinless chicken breast and rice is BORING. Start eating good real food and your body will let you know what you need. Bread is not the enemy, red meat is not the worst thing in the world. A bit of those things here and there is fine. Calorie tracking is fucking BORING. But keeping track of what you eat can be useful - I use and love and recommend software called CRON-o-meter that keeps track of vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins and carbs; I think it's interesting and geek out on it. That way you get some idea of how you're doing vitamin wise, what your split on fats/proteins/carbs is, and so on.

Posted by: CanOfPineapple at January 16, 2011 6:47 AM

Posted by: csb at January 16, 2011 6:51 AM

Here's a nice slideshow that shows different bodies for different sports, all fit in their own way: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/30/magazine/803BODIES_index.html

Posted by: pickled tink at January 16, 2011 8:23 AM

pickled tink, I love that slide show. I hadn't seen it. I especially like the stats they give, resting heart rate, VO2max, etc. because they are much better indicators of fitness than simply body size.

I'm off to teach a class, then team practice. You guys have a great day!

Posted by: Mrs Smith at January 16, 2011 9:38 AM

I'd like to 3rd the crew sentiments.

Did it in HS for 2 years. Joining the varsity team resulted in a 35 lbs. weight loss in less than 3 months.

Intense.

Classmates in HS and college would always scoff at me when I mentioned crew as a sport. Everyone seems to picture people rowing canoes with paddles. Freaking idiots.

It is the ultimate team sport, bar none.

However, i wouldn't recommend that your average person just get on the erg and start rowing. You need to be trained to row with the proper technique, otherwise you gain nothing and can injure yourself. In general it seems pretty harsh on the joints long term.

My shoulders have been grinding for years now.

So naturally, I switched to Judo.

Now there's a sport. Hoo-whee.

Posted by: Some Guy at January 16, 2011 11:18 AM

I'm overweight and have been working to fix this for the past year or so (not nearly consistently enough). TheMaskedEmu proposing and my getting back into the acting world have both kicked my ass into gear about it all though. I was a Weight Watchers member for about 6 months, and that helped me so much to change the way I am even now that I'm not on their plan. I realized the two biggest failings I have eating are stress eating (which was both about eating the wrong types of things AND eating too much) and eating whatever is on my plate whether I'm still hungry or not. I also didn't work out nearly enough. But now I'm working out a few days a week and trying to be more balanced about my meals, which is hard with the left over cookies and chocolate from Christmas! I still drink, but I'm not making myself miserable to be skinny either. I carry my weight well due to my hour glass figure, but I'd like there to be a smaller hour glass to work with!

As for the weight lifting, I've never been worried about bulking up, I just literally cannot stand lifting weights. I hate it with a fiery passion. I wish that weren't the case, but every time I try to get past it I fail. In addition, I have an injury from a car accident that is really easy to aggravate and so I get nervous about what I'm doing or end up in pain really quickly. So I stick to mostly cardio, and when I'm in shows, a lot of dance.

I am determined to drop 20-25 more pounds before my wedding, and I have faith that it will happen. That dress is one hell of a motivator!

Posted by: KatSings at January 16, 2011 11:35 AM

I've never been skinny since I was tall & then tall & curvy. But I can do a decent amount of stuff that isn't cardio; I suspect I have asthma, which would explain my difficulties with anything relating to running/hills/etc. Recently I've been trying to get back on track with my eating habits & actually going to the gym. I'm working on problems with eating disorders, which have successfully changed my responses to food to the point that I can't really tell if I'm genuinely hungry most of the time. I love weightlifting & have recently discovered the wonders of indoor rowing (thanks for all those comments! They are very inspiring/intimidating), but I know that unless I get myself back on track with healthy food I will pass out at the gym. Something to be avoided. My boyfriend has started teaching me kettlebells, which is a blast & a great combination of cardio & weights. Sadly enough I wrecked my bad knee (again) right before New Year's, so I don't have a lot of options for cardio now. I like the elliptical machine because I can pretend I'm running without actually killing my knees or triggering asthma, but given that I can barely manage stairs now that's a bad idea. This year I'll be going back to my first love, swimming, which will hopefully help my joints & asthma all in one fell swoop.

Posted by: harlequin at January 16, 2011 12:29 PM

I am 9 months into being a vegetarian for reasons I won't go into as I found that meat eaters don't care and I am not an asshole vegetarian that looks down the meat eating either. I am still teaching myself to think a little differently about food. It is a little easier to eat healthy as all fast food and the majority of what you can get on the go is meat.

My biggest indulgence is also weed so that, in turn, makes my biggest indulgence cookies and cotton candy.

Posted by: Stacey at January 16, 2011 12:41 PM

A gym, what's a gym?
Posted by: csb at January 16, 2011 6:51 AM

Around our house we call him 'James', calling him Jim is a little too personal.

Posted by: Xtreme at January 16, 2011 1:13 PM

Outwardly, I think I seem very healthy to other people. I eat ridiculously well and try to get in cardio and toning every day. I can run for an hour without stopping some days.

However, I'm about 10 to 15 pounds underweight, which I realize is just as unhealthy if not more than if I were a little overweight. My blood pressure is way too low and I get dizzy and tired at certain times of the day. I was anorexic for two years in college and still suffer from body image issues and disordered eating behaviors. I don't let it rule my life anymore, though. I'm gradually learning to let go of the guilt that used to come with eating.

I am thin, but I believe that this body type suits me. This may be the disorder talking, but my body gets me a lot of positive attention. And you know what? I still probably don't conform to Hollywood standards. Not that I care. The most beautiful women in the world, in my opinion, are the full-figured gals like Christina Hendricks and Kate Winslet.

I wish I could be healthy and curvy and still feel confident, but I haven't quite reached that state.

Posted by: CrystalW187 at January 16, 2011 2:43 PM

As far as I can tell, unless you're doing extreme amounts of exercise you're not going to lose much weight from working out. The last time I lost a lot from exercise (15lbs) was on a manual labor job that had me working to exhaustion every day for 10 - 12 hours a day in the hot sun. I literally couldn't eat enough to keep up.

Right now I'm about 30 pounds overweight and I drink and love my sweets. But I also quit smoking a year and a half ago, bike 7.5 miles to work most days, and eat 95% home-cooked vegetarian whole food.
So I'm probably not very healthy, but I feel good. Which, really, is all I care about.

Posted by: king at January 16, 2011 3:46 PM

CanofPineapple, I use the elliptical at my gym when I don't run, but I choose the one that has resistance up to level 20. I've never made it past level 15. I also do intervals on it, to break up the monotony and make sure I get good training in.

I'm seriously considering trying some rowing.

Has anyone tried spinning?

Posted by: TWoP_Fan at January 16, 2011 4:00 PM

As the Pajibook crowd is all too aware of (because of my tediously boring posts about it) I run now. I SHOULD say 'jog' I guess, because I am NOT fast at all. After a year of diligent daily cross country and hill walking I got the mad notion to try a little running. Thanks to all the hill climbing, I was in at 2 miles right from the start, no problem. This was in September, I think. I increased to running 5-6k a few times a week as well as shorter STEEP runs 3 or 4 times a week. Weather has limited my access to the Hill Of Pain, so since Thanksgiving I have been running 5k in the park 4-5 times a week, except THIS week which will only have 3 runs. IF I get out there NOW and DO it. I am probably going to back off and only do 3 runs a week or so for a while, then go back to 4 or 5. I hit a WALL after New Years week, running 7 5k in 8 days, and I think I need to plateau for a while. I am NOT talented or particularly cut out for running, so I try for good form and consistent tempo rather than more distance and speed. I train horses for a living and I am all too aware of how exercising poorly balanced or crooked strides can tear a body apart over time. I have lost a ton of lard, and am the fittest (although not skinniest) I have ever been.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at January 16, 2011 4:08 PM

running absolutely bores me, even when I take my ipod with me.

what helps is running at a field dribbling a soccer ball. it also helps with coordination and leg strength. I can also mix in sprints.

running at the gym helps too, because, frankly, jogging on a treadmill behind a girl with a nice behind can be a great motivator to keep going. It also raises the testosterone according to my very scientific boner response system, leading to a more intense workout.

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at January 16, 2011 4:30 PM

TWoP_Fan - I have done several spin classes (they are called RPM at my gym) and I love them. They hurt like a bastard, and sometimes the old legs are a bit unstable afterwards, but they are great.

I think its important that in trying to get fit people don't focus too much on their actual weight...it can be very misleading and so many other things need to be taken into consideration. I'm just shy of 6 feet tall and built in proportion to my height, and there is no way that I can weigh less than 155 pounds and be healthy. Focus on other indicators instead, chuck the scales out the window.

Posted by: Clairenz at January 16, 2011 4:41 PM

At 5'1" and 155 pounds, I'm a size 8-10P. BMI and height/weight charts usually tell me I'm at least 40-60 pounds overweight; by virtually any standard measure I'm "obese" for my height. Yet I had my body fat measured when I was 155, and it came out at 22%, which is within normal range for a young woman. I can only conclude that I do carry more muscle than a lot of women. I'm curvy and have a pretty good waist-hip ratio, so my padding isn't all bad. While I could probably find 15-20 pounds of fat to carve off my frame, I can't imagine weighing less than 135 without looking terrible or giving up muscle mass.

I think I eat pretty well- lots of vegetables and low-fat protein, and I work out 3-5 times a week, doing cardio and weights. I don't feel like my extra 20 lbs. is holding me back, so why should I give up my pasta?

Posted by: RhymesWithSilver at January 16, 2011 4:48 PM

... but more specifically, what works for you?

Posted by: Mrs Smith.

Anchors for me are biking, walking and a light workout I put together from Aikido & Karate warmups, calisthenics, plus sword forms. I do utility and commuting biking in my training zone, with traffic & short hills creating intervals. plus about one long ride a week. It's an unusual day I won't walk a few miles, carrying up to 40#. The "workout" workout is settling toward a couple days a week, after all the disruption last year.

I like functional exercise. Landscaping & working the wood lot at the homestead were big this summer. I put on a fair amount of upper-body muscle, although that wasn't the point. Stone work & throwing around an 8# maul will do that.

I trend toward a more Mediterranean / paleo diet the fitter I get. When I'm paying attention to diet, I batch-up healthy / fit meals to just grab & save gourmet cooking for cheat days.

Right now I'm about the same weight as when I had 6" more on my waist, so there's been a lot of remodeling. I want to keep that going.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 16, 2011 4:54 PM

CanOfPineapple, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, because your posts made me go, "EXERCISE. FUCK YEAH."

Posted by: duckandcover at January 16, 2011 5:27 PM

I'm 5-11, 164 pounds, fifty years old. I feel good and healthy, but could stand to lose about ten pounds because I still have a bit of a tummy. I play squash and run, and do obscure Chinese martial arts -- all this to bring my health back up to above average. I've cut out most of the crap, but don't eat "fringe" healthy stuff -- just try to eat stuff that most people would call "food". For me, it's about function: feeling strong, fast & flexible.

Posted by: mograph at January 16, 2011 5:43 PM

What I find works the most is my very own CALORIFIC! diet. The exclamation point is crucial here. How it works: no calories for 3 to 4 days. After that time has passed and you really didn't consume any calories, your stomach will have decreased in size. Thus, making it difficult to eat large quantities and not feel awful.

Sure I have pondered, "Hm, do I have an eating disorder?" My answer is no. I eat regularly now (a month after step 1) and I have continued to keep off the weight even through my lack of physical activity.

It's CALORIFIC!

Posted by: ssarah at January 16, 2011 6:29 PM

Ah, Some Guy, I completely agree with you about people getting on the erg:

As much as I recommend rowing, PLEASE be careful about your form. I've yet to see any non-rowers correctly using the erg, and this includes various gym/health club employees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA
This video is a pretty good tutorial for beginners.

Posted by: nosio at January 16, 2011 9:03 PM

Ssarah, technically that is an eating disorder. It's a form of bulimia.

Posted by: Kris at January 16, 2011 10:05 PM

I assume that ssarah is joking (or a college student!) but either way, because it does come up all the time, there is no way to change the size of your stomach other than gastric bypass. If you eat a fuckton of food in one sitting your stomach will temporarily expand but once it empties it will return to normal size. Not eating for a few days, however, does not make your stomach shrink.

Posted by: CanOfPineapple at January 17, 2011 4:47 AM

I drink every day, smoke a pack of 20 Marlboros a day, ride 20km on a bike every day, and lift weights every day.

So...I dunno.

Posted by: zeke the pig at January 17, 2011 5:53 AM

duckandcover- I have this habit of thinking everyone on the internet is being sarcastic, always, which is paranoid I know, but I hope to treat your comment as sincere. I have always had body issue troubles, and have done things like running 5 miles a day while consuming less than 300 calories (and shitloads of caffeine) and ending up skeletal and ill, and also gaining thirty pounds in three months on binges while smoking and downing gin like water, and it just could not continue. And then I got tired of treating exercise and food so unheathily and toxically.
But getting into weights, and noting down out my daily food so I could see the nutrition content, not the calories, and things of that sort really changed my life in a huge way. Now I enjoy going for a run in the park, now I love feeling fit and strong, now I adore a big protein- and good-fat- filled salad most days, while not kicking my own ass if I want to enjoy a glass (or bottle) of red wine or a cigarette or cigar here or there. So I end up having night with friends where I toss back four Old Fashioneds, some wine, a tonne of french cheese, and some baguette. I had a great time, I didn't eat a fuckton of sugary garbage, I won't do it every night.
It sounds dumb but it was revelatory to me that you could be in shape and enjoy food and exercise and indulge your vices a bit, that it didn't have to be either or. Living in Europe for awhile was very helpful for me, seeing how much people enjoy good whole foods but eat sensibly and walk a lot. Parisiennes certainly have body issues, and the idea of "going to the gym" is seen as sort of weird for the most part, but that notion of loving food but not eating so much of it was new to me.

Posted by: CanOfPineapple at January 17, 2011 6:01 AM

I was being sincere.

Posted by: duckandcover at January 17, 2011 9:16 AM

I have always yo-yo'ed, but recently have stayed within the same 4 lb range for a while. Winter in Jersey has not been good and I have been going through bouts of depression, so no exercise for me. Usually I hit the treadmill and do some light weight lifting 3 times a week.
I eat like shit on weekends and eat healthy during the week, it's the only thing that keeps me sane.
I'm 5'2" and 122 lbs. I would like to lose at least 4 lbs, preferrably more like 8 llbs. I have a lot of body image issues and past ED issues, so I'm probably insane. I like to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred when I want to look really toned in the middle area.

Posted by: ninetwenteetoo at January 17, 2011 10:59 AM

I am also 5'2" and slso a within roughly 4-lb range of 116 to 120 (when I'm getting my holiday drinking on). I'm sane-healthy eater with a no junk food/fastfood/soda policy and a repectable marathoner who runs between 35 and 50 miles a week because I fucking love to run. I'm running Boston for the second time in few months, and I expect to be one of the plumpest on the course. Because body type is real!

A few years ago, pissed that I could be so active and still not "thin," I added serious weight training, started swimming on off-days, and started resticting my eating. As you might imagine, this made me into the world's most boring person. Yeah, I was able to get down to 112 lbs for a period of a few months. But you know what? Nobody gave a shit. I didn't look appreciatively different or become magically hot. AND I got to be obesseive and miserable and hungry. Yeah, fuck that. Excercise is great, and, done in the way that's right for you, makes you feel great. When it makes you feel worse about yourself, you're doing it wrong.

Posted by: Kettle at January 17, 2011 12:39 PM

After being overweight (by about a stone and half - sorry, British person here!) and feeling awful all of the time, I found out I was allergic to wheat. Cut it out, started thinking about what I was eating instead of scoffing whatever I could find and have since dropped that extra weight (which has now stayed off for 2 years) and feel rather wonderful and svelte. That's the healthy bit. As for the rest of me...

I do no exercise whatsoever (I hate it, and books are always there to be read instead), smoke at least 20 cigs a day (roll-ups, unfiltered), smoke a ton of weed and drink at least 2 glasses of wine a day (with one massive binge every month when I drink so much I can barely stop myself from turning inside out the next day) and use harder drugs at least once a month.

I should probably be hanging my head in shame right now, but won't in case it counts as exercise.

Posted by: Bumwee McGee at January 17, 2011 12:46 PM

Lindsey with an 'e' - good on ya! After running on and off for 6 years I'm still slow as molasses. I'm not fast, I am persistent.

I am a triathlete. I work out 4-6 days a week. I get weighed once or twice a year. I don't give a good goddamn about the BMI or what anyone tells me is my "ideal" weight. I judge my fitness based off my performance and I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm not winning any races but I've improved immensely over the last 18 months and I'm just getting stronger.

I eat fairly well. I cut out high fructose corn syrup completely, I try to eat my veggies, whole grains, not too much meat, very little red meat. I take vitamins and fish oil. My husband can't have gluten so the food we keep in the house is probably a bit healthier than average.

On the other hand I am addicted to coffee, I love white carbs and cheese and I can't go a week without ice cream. I suppose it all balances out in the end.

Posted by: FyreHaar at January 17, 2011 1:53 PM