Play Nice at the Gym (Gym Etiquette 101 for Laymen's)

So, I've been working out lately - and I must admit I have a couple of pet peeves when it comes to going to workout (these are almost big enough to make me want my own at home gym). If you are guilty of any of the following, please change up your habits because you are annoying to be in the same workout facility with...

1. Don't come to the gym while you're sick. This is disgusting. I don't want your coughing, aching, sneezing, or nausea, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea, anywhere near me. I'm at the gym to be healthy. If you are sick, stay at home. Don't pass that mess to the rest of us. And please, if you are sick, clean your machine very, very thoroughly afterwards. This is how germs are passed...
2. Don't get on the machine next to me when there are plenty others around. I don't really like working out next to anyone but the hubby. If I don't know you, don't get next to me -- especially if there are plenty of other free machines. I understand if the gym is busy. If not, please let me have my space.
3. Please wear dark colored shirts - especially if you are gross under there. Ok, so you may not know that you're gross, but you are. Please don't wear light colored (especially white) shirts when you know that you sweat a lot.
4. Don't dig in your butt while working out. I'm sorry. I just can't take it. Then you put your hands right back on the machine. EW!
5. Don't drop your weights on the floor. It makes me think it's an earthquake. This disturbs everyone around you. If you have to drop your weights like that, the weights are TOO HEAVY for you to lift.

Sorry, those are just the thoughts going on in a big girl's head.

What ticks you off at the gym?

Prodding Progress...

On May 20, 2010, I weighed 240 pounds. My how things have changed. I have loss 6.8 pounds so far on Weight Watchers, but I'm still nowhere near that it doesn't seem. I'm still in the 250s.

At this point, the weight loss is going so slow, yet it has happened so fast. I wish that I could lose weight much quicker. I wish that my double chin was gone. I wish that my cankles were gone (hopefully those go away). I wish that I was much more healthy. Unfortunately, I'm not there yet.

I just wanted you all to know that I go through many of the same struggles as you. I'm glad to be started though.


Isn't it time you got started...???

I'm Back in Full Effect

Hi, you guys!

I'm starting back up with my weight loss journey.

Here are my stats:

Weight 260.2 pounds (I call it 261)
Program: Weight Watchers PointsPlus
Goal: Size 10/12 pants and HEALTH!

Here's a video I recorded just for you!

I look forward to your thoughts.

Til next time,

Big Girl E

Posting Schedule Going Forward

So the posting schedule I think I'm comfortable with is Monday - Thursday posts regularly and then adding Friday - Sunday posts as a bonus. So that's what you can look forward to, and I'm sticking to it!

Fat is like HIV/AIDS

Yesterday was World AIDS Day, and I didn't actually know until after I posted for the day. So, this post is in memory of those we lost to the disease as well as those who are living with it step-by-step and day-by-day. Much love to you all!~

Now, on to regularly scheduled programming...

Fat waits for no one. No one has to give it permission. No one has to invite it over. No one has to even talk to it! Fat is the red-headed stepchild that no one wants to be seen with in public.

Why does Fat sneak up on us? There are a couple of reasons -- 1) it catches you with your pants down (you didn't even see it coming) or 2) you weren't being conscientious about your eating habits even though you knew a visit from Fat was right around the corner. Either way, you've got to clean up your life.

If you are so busy with other things that you can't take the time for yourself to see that you are actually unhealthy, that you aren't taking in the best foods, etc. you need to take a step back and take some time for you.

If you just didn't care either way about your weight, have I got a newsflash for you? It's becoming more difficult as days pass by to "justify" being Fat. Not only is Fat uncomfortable, but it's also disgusting, awkward, and just all around unnecessary. The only reason you should EVER be Fat is if you have a tapeworm or some other disorder that otherwise prevents you from being healthy.

Another thing is, Fat is a DISEASE. It's actually very similar to HIV/AIDS. No one dies of HIV/AIDS, they die of complications stemming from the disease. No one dies of being Fat - they die of complications from it - like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.

There are only three differences between HIV/AIDS and Fat -- 1) people with HIV/AIDS have access to treatments but no cures, there is nothing they can do to get RID of this disease. Fat is completely avoidable. 2) Everyday people with HIV/AIDS have to live with (or die because of) one bad choice they or someone else made. Everyday Fat people have the choice of making good decisions for their health - it was not ONE mistake that got you where you are, there were MANY. 3) HIV/AIDS is a contagious disease and can be passed to another human by way of certain body fluids. Fat is not contagious. No one put you where you are but you and you alone.

So, on World AIDS Day, think about the fact that you are blessed to not face the illness and all we (myself included) have to deal with is Fat. Pray for the people who have to live with the conditions of this disease. Also, keep up hope for a cure.

Now, what reason is it that you can't put down the food and commit yourself to doing what NEEDS to be done? Do you want to live or die? Each day you get the make the choice while others aren't so lucky.

How to Get Motivated About Losing Weight

So you know that you need to lose weight, but you're having a hard time making the commitment to do so. The first thing to do is step back and looking at the reason you want to lose weight. Is it for health reasons (i.e. you have an obesity-related illness or are on the verge of illness)? Is it for cosmetic reasons (you just don't like what you see when you look in the mirror)? Or, is it for some other reason?

After you determine your real reason for wanting to lose weight, then you should evaluate how important that is for you. For example, if you are wanting to lose weight to look better - what effect will this have on your life? Are you looking for a partner? Do you want to become a model? While the modeling may be a bit outlandish, it's a real concern. There are many people who want "the perfect body". So, you run to Google (or whatever search engine) and pull up a search for "how to get motivated about losing weight". You find this blog, and you're wondering how this girl who deals with her own issues could possibly help you.

Well, some of the best advice comes from someone who has been in your shoes before. It makes my blood boil to hear someone who has never had a fat bone on their body lecture overweight people for being the way they are. That's something you will never hear from me. I will never lecture or belittle or any of the above. Why? Because I believe that if you're going to get motivated about losing weight, you need to be able to rely on someone who will be compassionate to your needs and guide you in the right direction. At times, I may call you out as needed, but please know it will all be done in love.

One thing that will help in your quest to get motivated is to determine what you need to do to get to where you want to be. One particular piece of software I would recommend is a program called myFitnessPal. Be careful, though, because this system will put your business on blast (if you let it). On the flipside, it also tracks your calories intake and burn. It's a pretty neat little gadget - especially for the price, which is $0.

Ass-Backward Society!

We live in a (pardon my French) ass-backward society!

On one hand, we praise the slender - so much so that it drives even those who are healthy size and weight to suffer from extreme eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. We showcase the tall, "skinny" model as the "ultimate woman". This of course leads us to believe that thin is in and anything else is...well, you get the point.

However (and this is where it gets interesting) - we effectively price people out of being healthy. I have many theories about this, but only one of them is related to the blog. It's a form of what's called "population control". Population control is when the population of a species is unnaturally controlled by some man-made concept, idea, or mechanism. Now, that's just Big Girl E's definition, nothing out of Merriam-Webster. I digress, but follow me here...

Unhealthy food options are the cheapest. If you think of the dollar menu at any fast food restaurant, processed foods, etc. On the same token, look at organic food or food at more health-conscious restaurants. Of course, if you can't afford to buy the more expensive foods, you will opt for the less expensive alternative.

The cycle goes: you pay less money and get unhealthy food, you get fat and unhealthy, then you die from some sort of obesity-related illness.

Why do we allow them to keep us down and continue to make it hard to be healthy? Does this make ANY sense at all?