What I am "F'd Up!" about today! DO YOU WANT US SKINNY OR NOT?

I have to vent.

When writing and researching the Skinny Fat post, I discovered this article on the NBC website: "Lost Pounds Lead to Burst Fantasy". In short, the article puts a negative slant on losing weight, that somehow lost weigh equals happiness and many who have lost the weight realize that they are now a smaller person with the same issues.

What chaps my hide is the fact that the author of the piece makes the aesthetic part of losing weight the seeming goal of weight loss. The emphasis on health and well being is really diminished. And the main "character" of the piece is someone who used bariatric surgery to get results instead of trying to lose weight on her own. She is now writing a book about still being a fat person in a skinny person's body. She sounds miserable.

WHAT IS THE DEAL HERE? I don't understand the media, I really don't. On one hand they are shoving health and wellness down our throats and the other hand they don't want us to be healthy. They want the company to come with that misery. They want a plus size woman to advertise for bras and panties and the controversy that comes with not airing the ad. They want "TV's toughest trainer" Jillian Michaels to be rock hard and then crucify her when she says she would rather adopt than put her body through a pregnancy.

How is the average person supposed to respond? In a world so full of contradictions, the one thing we shouldn't be conflicted on is a universal message of health. That eating right and taking care of our bodies through exercise is GOOD. That starving ourselves and master cleanses to fit into a dress is BAD. Health isn't the enemy here.

I am not the thinnest person, nor the fattest person. But I have been large and I have been smaller. It took me years to work on the mental health aspect of health, that my brain had to realize that taking care of myself was a lifelong project and not "I will be happy when I weigh this much". Not every day is a good day. But every day is another opportunity to work on myself and be a better me. My wish is for authors to remember that the pen is mightier than the sword and to be more mindful when writing articles like the one I mentioned. We don't need anymore help to say no. We need all the help in the world to keep saying YES.

Are You Skinny Fat?

Oh, you know the type. Lean and tall, croissant in one hand while the other hand is pulling up the skinny low rise jeans that are barely being held up by a non existent pot belly. Let's give her a cigarette, just to villainize her a little bit. Okay, take away the cigg. I'm just being jealous. A girl that slender must be healthy. Right?

Wee woo. Sorry, skinny. Turns out you can be fat on the inside, too.

This week's Today Show featured a segment called "Take it off Today!" (catchy, I know) that did a follow up story on an attractive middle aged woman named Nancy. Thin, blond, and tan and seemingly athletic, you would think by her appearance that she was 100% the picture of health. At 5'7", 140 lbs, and a BMI of 22, Nancy's body fat percentage was 27%. A normal body fat percentage should be at or below 25%. Nancy is considered obese by these standards.

Today show contributor Joy Bauer tested Nancy with body fat calipers, which you can find at your local gym or you can purchase yourself (you'll need some assistance to squeeze 'em), but she also recommends using hydrostatic weighing like you see on The Biggest Loser or buying a scale that tests body fat percentage. Testing yourself is important because having a high body fat percentage causes inflammation of your internal organs and can lead to such serious problems as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease.

In 8 weeks, Nancy was put on a program of cardio for 30 minutes, 5 times a week that consisted of walking and Zumba classes that helped to burn body fat. She also did manageable, at-home weight training sessions for 15-20 minutes, 2 times a week that increased her lean muscle mass and helped burn more fat and tone her body. Joy also looked at Nancy's diet and helped her in making more mindful choices: More veggies, less pasta, smaller portions, and a little less dessert.
At the end of the 8 weeks, Nancy didn't just get to 25% body fat. She blew through to 22%! All by making simple, sustainable changes that cost little to nothing. Nancy says she feels stronger, more energetic, and more healthy.

Don't assume your weight is an end all indicator of your health! Healthful eating and exercise is the start to being healthy inside and out!

First Lady Uses Lady Guns Against Obesity

When I was a kid I never understood why my mother did not want me eating Lucky Charms and Cookie Crisp. I would spend the night at my cousin's house and it was like Christmas morning with the amount of sugary cereals she had to choose from. My house? NutriGrain. Muslix. YOGURT. What was she trying to do to me?



My mom is a little thing- only 5'2" and about 120 pounds on a bad day. She has always had a "food is fuel" mentality, whereas I think food is delish and the more the merrier. Hence why I had a weight problem and she didn't. Looking back, I am thankful that my mom instilled in me those positive food thoughts. Can you imagine if Michelle Obama had been in the White House too? Why, I may not be writing this blog! (Just kidding. I still would have this passion- I just had to take the long hard road to get here.)



The Huffington Post featured this article about our fearless First Lady speaking at the Grocery Manufactures Association. She put the smack down on companies such as Kraft and Coca-Cola about the products they produce. It is refreshing to read that someone is calling out these companies that are mislabeling products as healthy, taking fat out of a product and replacing it with sugar and salt, and supplying our kids with vending machine Frankenfoods.



With new bills being passed to reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity, the Froot Loops and Fruity Pebbles of my childhood may become a distant memory. Have you read the label on a box of Froot Loops? The number one ingredient is SUGAR. Before the grain! And the front of the box has a huge banner that touts it is a nutritious source of fiber. OMG, y'all.



I'm hoping that all these healthy regulations pass and nutritious real foods become the norm instead of a trend. And I hope that the busy mom at Wal-Mart with her four kids running around her won't have to take time out to read the label on that box of cereal because we will all know what's in it. Follow my nose! It always knows!