FIT n FAT

I know, I should have way more blogs but it's just that I spend so much time exercising I can't get any blog time in.  I can't type and treadmill at the same time. Maybe I could if I was going 2mph but that won't burn enough calories for my liking so I huff and puff and my blogging falls by the wayside.

I just want to tell all of you, I am living proof that you can be Fit AND Fat.  If you caught me on the scales and put my height and weight into any BMI calculator, I would be either overweight or obese. To look at me, ya you would say she is chunky but looks happy.  Overall I am pretty happy except for doctors and BMI charts and people frowning because I am not the ideal size that an insurance company came up with 60 years ago.

Now for a little background. I grew up as a F-A-T kid. Compared to today's kids I would look again chunky but not fat. Let me just say kids are HORRIBLE. They will tease each other about anything. Your hair is to long, your hair is the wrong color, but when you are fat...That is universal. On Valentines Day. I always got the pig Valentines. Fatty fatty two by four was a standard song I heard. I was ALWAYS selected last in P.E. class. You get the picture. I can very much relate to overweight people and the things they suffer through. Been there done that.

In high school things improved slightly. One summer I dropped over 50 pounds. People didn't recognize me. I liked it. It didn't help in gym class but at least the fatty fatty jokes stopped.  How did I lose the weight? I quit eating. I would only eat dinner and maybe an apple for lunch. I was in high school and you can do anything in high school.

Then came college. I put on the freshman 15 at least and some of the comments came back. I was devastated. I didn't know what to do so I found these pills called Dexatrim. They helped me not be so hungry so I could starve again. Life was good. I was to naive to know how bad for me they were. I am pretty sure they messed up my metabolism or something... Anyway...

After college I went to work. They had a health fair at work. I attended being the naive 20 something I was. What could it hurt? It did. They told me I was over weight. My BMI was at like a 23 or 24. I needed to lose some weight and tone up. Again - devastation hit. I am 5'6" and probably weighed around 135 pounds yet they told me I was in serious trouble.

Now I added exercise to my diet routine. I began walking at lunch. I remember walking 20 blocks or so in my suit at lunch to get my lunch of a bag of popcorn. I was trying. After work I would go for bike rides. I would take aerobic classes. Once I started, I have never stopped. I have been exercising 4+ days a week for 25 years or more. The type of exercise has varied over the years but I have always did something. I exercised up to the day of giving birth on all 3 of my children. (The folks at work still talk about that.) I started exercising after they were born before the doctor gave me the OK to exercise. I was busy chasing kids but still exercised. My weight crept up even with all that. I did stop taking those evil diet pills and began the never ending cycle of constant hunger.

So here I am now well into my 40's. Still exercising and still obese. I personally think I am in pretty good shape. I can R-o-C-k the treadmill. In one hour I can burn 600+ calories. If you know anything about a treadmill workout, that isn't bad.  Some days I even do multiple workouts a day. Those kill me. I am so sore. This old body is getting tired, but on I keep going.

To look at me you wouldn't know it but my resting heart rate is 56-58. My blood pressure is right around 100/60. I am not on any medications. I am fit AND fat.

So now I am sure you are thinking I also rock the McDonald's a lot to do all that working out and still be fat. WRONG. I do NOT eat fast food. As a matter of fact I have given up eating out almost 95% of the time. Even good choices of restaurant food contain to much sodium. In the last two years I have overhauled my eating. People thought I ate healthy before. HA. Now I watch levels of everything in my foods. Am I perfect? HELL NO, but I really am trying hard to eat well.

I do use a website to help me stay on track. It is: Calorie Count There are a lot of sites out there but this one is free and easy to use. It tracks food and activity and a must if you are serious about being healthy. I average an A or A- on eating via that website. Yes, they give you grades and food will surprise you.  I also eat between 1200 and 1600 calories a day - not a lot. Again, I should be thin but I am not.

I guess I am writing this blog to give Hope to all those out there who are overweight. You don't have to be a size 0-6 to be healthy and happy. I am currently a size 14/16 just to show you I am being honest and sincere. You don't hear to often about people like me but I am here to share the news. Do your best. Keep a record of activity and food that enters your mouth. Make changes as you can. Keep on truckin!!!
 

Leave it to the engineers...

The company I work for never ceases to amaze me at the things it comes up with to cause me to shake my head in wonderment.  Here is a new one I just HAVE to share with my readers.  This very detailed email was actually sent to an entire floor of workers. Be sure to contrast that with our floor. I have italicized the email. If you can't make it through skip to non-italic fields for rest of blog.

Subject: Refrigerator Cleaning Plan

 All,

Engineering has initiated a process to improve the cleanliness and health of the third floor refrigerators.  In order to begin the regular cleanings, the two units will be completely emptied and cleaned March 1, 2013.  All food located in the refrigerators or associated freezers on that day will be disposed.  Packages may be disposed or recycled.  Personal lunch pails and containers will be saved and placed on the counters for a week before also being disposed or recycled.

PLEASE EMPTY ALL REFRIGERATOR CONTENTS FOR THE MARCH 1 PURGING.

Going forward, a labeling system will be implemented to protect your food from disposal and to ensure all refrigerator contents are not expired.

1. Engineering will provide tape on a hook with a pen for labeling items.
1. Labels should include owner’s name and date of storage.
2. Write “FOR STAFF” if you’d like to share it with others on the floor.  “FOR STAFF” items will not be disposed until the expiration date on the item.
2. Anything not labeled at the last Friday of each month or that has a label that is more than a month old will be disposed.
1. Containers and lunch pails will not be tossed. They will be rinsed and placed on the counter for a week.
2. Food will be tossed in the trash can, liquids in the sink.

Thank you for your attention to the health and safety of the floor,

Did you actually read all that? I mean my head began to swim after the first couple bla bla bla sentances and I am a detail oriented person!!!

Now for the Refrigerator Cleaning Plan on our NON-engineering floor:

Note posted on refrigerator door -


THIS REFRIGERATOR IS BEING CLEANED TOMORROW. RETRIEVE YOUR FOOD BY THEN OR IT WILL BE TOSSED!

I like ours - simple, to the point, no bureaucracy.

Spring Break 2013

My oldest son is home from college on spring break. S-P-R-I-N-G

This is our weather for the day.

 

 

BREAK out the swimsuits!!!

Income taxes

Guess what? It is that time of year again. We get to file income taxes. Well if you live in America and have a job and make a bit of money you have to file.  It almost seems like I am in the minority anymore with illegal immigrants working and not filing income taxes yet using the benefits of our government, or the so-called small business owners that decide it is their right to cheat the government and say the government should go after the big guy. (Shaking head in disgust.)  Yes I am one of those few honest individuals that actually do what I am supposed to do. I make money and give a percentage of it to the government to keep the U.S.A. a great country.

Let me just say it sure is a very very time consuming task. First you have to wait for statements and other official forms to show up in the mail. Then you must gather all these forms together in a spot where they won't be lost. Next you must take them to a professional to assemble onto the correct IRS tax forms OR you do it yourself through a program you purchase or God forbid by hand.  Inevitably you lose a form or must wait and call up for a replacement form. It never goes smoothly. Every year I know I need my auto registration slips yet since they are to be kept in the car when I get to that section of the tax form I am tromping out to each car looking up the numbers on the registration that I need for that particular deduction. Just a pain in the you know what.

I believe the amount you have to pay is just as unfair as rest of government.  Some of the loopholes allow the well off to pay less taxes than Mr. Truly Middle class. The sad thing is Mr. Truly Middle class has little knowledge on how to change the situation yet Mr. Wealthy knows how to persuade the government how to keep things as they are so they don't pay their fair share.  Knowledge is power so I ask Mr. Truly Middle class to educate themselves to make this craziness stop!

I also hate how the computer software programs rake you over the coals with fees for this or that and upgrade this so you won't get audited.  There is more ads and junk in these filing programs than tax  ode!  On top of all that their other gimmick is they charge to FILE your taxes!  If you are  lucky enough to make little or  no $ or file by paper (which they discourage) you are paying ridiculous fees to file these required forms.

The system is so broken it is sad.

The bureaucracy makes me just shake my head. There is nothing I can do as one individual to make the changes needed to our country. Very sad.

I have my forms all filled out. I would like to submit my taxes to receive my refund that is due to me. (I paid in more taxes than I owe.)  The computer software program and the IRS say "NO you can't have your money yet as we don't have the forms finalized yet."  I don't think I could get away with that in my job.

I need that refund. I pay my property taxes with the tax refund I receive from the federal government. Yes I pay yet another set of taxes from the refund I get from the first set of taxes I pay.  The U.S.A. isn't such a great place any more if you are one of the honest people.  I may need to retire to another country!!!