State of the body 2014
Oct. 15th, 2014 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendi(Obvious statement is obvious: If discussion of body/health issues is something you'd rather avoid, avoid this post.)
So last I checked, I weighed in at around 205 pounds on my 5'8" frame. I'm not from the cult of BMI, but trust me, that ain't good when that's largely fat, which it is. Three+ years back, when I was first diagnosed with Teh Diabetees, I was at 218. I'd managed to get down to around 180 before things started creeping back up over the last year and a half.
On the one hand, that's still a good thirteen off from where I've been. On the other, that's a lot of regression. It's purely the result of backsliding on my eating habits. As some of you might know, I stress eat. And I've had a lot of stress over the last two years (and yes, I stress over my body, which is a fun cycle, let me tell you). I've still generally been good about desserts other than when I travel, but resisting food has been a losing battle all too often, especially during the day. And naturally, almost none of the pants I wore last winter are an option as a result, and the smaller (size L) shirts I'd been buying in recent years all now either ride up or cling to demonstrate my gut.
I'm not happy with this, and want to change it. But it's tough. When I was good, I managed to really routinize my eating, and somehow overcame the cravings. But nowadays, I just seem to give in almost instantly. It's something I need to work on, but need to figure out how to short circuit (and without any obvious sign of stress reduction in the near future).
It's not all bad, mind you. I still walk 6-13 miles a day (just think where my weight would be otherwise), and my calves are awesome, the sort that would convince a frost giant like Skaði to choose me in a convoluted husband-picking ceremony arranged by the Vanir. I suspect I'm at least a touch healthier (beyond the weight loss) than I'd be otherwise as a result.
I also started taking the belly dancing class a co-worker is offering. It's a short (five or six session) men-only* class that's not about getting us to perform (I have less rhythm than almost anyone you could think of, and although I'm reasonably well coordinated when playing certain video games, that fails at advanced levels), but it's an opportunity for some more exercise, and exercise that's using muscles I don't normally use. My long-term goal is to start doing more working out at home, and some of the routines I'm picking up here are helpful for that (and I've got a TV with a Roku in it in the basement; no reason I can't find a zillion easy workout channels there, too). On days I do at least eight miles of walking, I'm not going to worry too much about other exercise, but on other days (rainy and snowy ones especially, and weekends), I'm going to see about augmenting things here. Along with being stricter about my own diet and working on resisting temptation.
Anyway, that's the state of the body. Not great, but not apocalyptically awful, at least. Goal is to avoid that apocalypse for now.
*The other two students, though, are in much, much better shape. One's a rugby player, the other's thin and wiry in a way that I will never, ever be. Needless to say, they're both mastering the various hip movements at a much faster pace, although we all have our moments of utter incompetence; the teacher is incredibly patient.
So last I checked, I weighed in at around 205 pounds on my 5'8" frame. I'm not from the cult of BMI, but trust me, that ain't good when that's largely fat, which it is. Three+ years back, when I was first diagnosed with Teh Diabetees, I was at 218. I'd managed to get down to around 180 before things started creeping back up over the last year and a half.
On the one hand, that's still a good thirteen off from where I've been. On the other, that's a lot of regression. It's purely the result of backsliding on my eating habits. As some of you might know, I stress eat. And I've had a lot of stress over the last two years (and yes, I stress over my body, which is a fun cycle, let me tell you). I've still generally been good about desserts other than when I travel, but resisting food has been a losing battle all too often, especially during the day. And naturally, almost none of the pants I wore last winter are an option as a result, and the smaller (size L) shirts I'd been buying in recent years all now either ride up or cling to demonstrate my gut.
I'm not happy with this, and want to change it. But it's tough. When I was good, I managed to really routinize my eating, and somehow overcame the cravings. But nowadays, I just seem to give in almost instantly. It's something I need to work on, but need to figure out how to short circuit (and without any obvious sign of stress reduction in the near future).
It's not all bad, mind you. I still walk 6-13 miles a day (just think where my weight would be otherwise), and my calves are awesome, the sort that would convince a frost giant like Skaði to choose me in a convoluted husband-picking ceremony arranged by the Vanir. I suspect I'm at least a touch healthier (beyond the weight loss) than I'd be otherwise as a result.
I also started taking the belly dancing class a co-worker is offering. It's a short (five or six session) men-only* class that's not about getting us to perform (I have less rhythm than almost anyone you could think of, and although I'm reasonably well coordinated when playing certain video games, that fails at advanced levels), but it's an opportunity for some more exercise, and exercise that's using muscles I don't normally use. My long-term goal is to start doing more working out at home, and some of the routines I'm picking up here are helpful for that (and I've got a TV with a Roku in it in the basement; no reason I can't find a zillion easy workout channels there, too). On days I do at least eight miles of walking, I'm not going to worry too much about other exercise, but on other days (rainy and snowy ones especially, and weekends), I'm going to see about augmenting things here. Along with being stricter about my own diet and working on resisting temptation.
Anyway, that's the state of the body. Not great, but not apocalyptically awful, at least. Goal is to avoid that apocalypse for now.
*The other two students, though, are in much, much better shape. One's a rugby player, the other's thin and wiry in a way that I will never, ever be. Needless to say, they're both mastering the various hip movements at a much faster pace, although we all have our moments of utter incompetence; the teacher is incredibly patient.
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(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-15 10:56 pm (UTC)Anyway, I find that one solution for me is to only snack on something actually useful (like nuts) that have healthy fats and actually make me feel full pretty quickly. As opposed to my high-ish fiber wheat crackers, which are too delicious to stop eating in a timely fashion. I also try to drink a LOT of water, and that helps. It's a creepy trick I learned from a friend who has (since recovered from) an eating disorder, but as long as you're using it as a first step to postponing unnecessary snacking and not actual meal replacement, it can actually make you feel a lot BETTER. I often find that I don't need another cup of coffee: I need more water. That sort of thing.
My mom's technique was low or no calorie foods that she liked, such as pickles. I actually do like pickles quite a lot. I also like green peppers. I've also been eating more fruit lately, even though that's got more "sugar" than vegetables. I'm trying to enjoy the benefits of the farmers market while I still can...
good luck. <3
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:13 pm (UTC)I do try to keep healthy snacks, but alas, I'm also very, very good at not feeling full, so while peanuts (my snack of choice) are great, I'm capable of eating a lot of them (I do buy the small $.50 packets, which at least force me to have to actively open a second one if I give in; when I'd buy the big BJ's/Costco jar, it was so easy to keep grabbing more. The snacks I get from Graze are also good for this.
I've also gotten back into the habit of recording what I eat (using My Fitness Pal, although I've also used MyPlate in the past). I find it very easy to forget that I indulged early in the day when I'm giving in to cravings and temptation later on.
Alas, the unlimited veggie snack option doesn't work well for me, as I just never get full. I've eaten an entire jar of pickles on many occasions.
Good luck to you, too! <3
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 03:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 08:18 pm (UTC)Have you ever been to a nutritionist? Just curious.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-17 01:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-17 11:42 am (UTC)My husband and I went to one at a weight-loss clinic a few years back and learned a whole new approach to eating. Of course, that didn't last because we went on vacation and fell off the wagon...and then there have been years of off/on stress-eating...but the thing is, when I go back to watching what I eat and controlling my portions, I lose weight easily without exercising.
It's the constant monitoring that I have trouble with. :/
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:46 am (UTC)I'm incredibly impressed by the amount you walk each day - I thought I was doing well at 4 miles! (Thank goodness for an energetic dog!) I forget, is walking to work how you get your miles in?
Good luck with the belly dancing! Sounds awesome, I hope you enjoy. :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:14 pm (UTC)And yup, I do my walking en route to work, as well. I don't think I'd ever have the discipline otherwise!
And the belly dancing is awesome, other than my lack of coordination!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 03:23 pm (UTC)That's awesome. I want to get back into biking to work, I haven't since we moved. And the ride is only a mile longer, so it's not like it's an insurmountable distance. I just need to DO it!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 11:53 am (UTC)I think we need to go work to institute recess periods where we all can just run around or something.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:15 pm (UTC)And yes, A.. is amazing! She never once slapped her forehead or said, "are you sure you know where your hips are?" to me, and that clearly took a huge amount of willpower!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:35 pm (UTC)Hahahha!! Yes!!! Patience of a saint!
(are saints really all that patient?)
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 04:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 02:52 pm (UTC)I've been dancing tango for 15 years, and still suck at Beginner's level DDR.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-17 04:19 pm (UTC)Belly dancing is GREAT for exercising muscles you don't use much, especially with a desk job! Have you considered doing some strength building a couple times a week? Y'know, stuff with weights. Adding muscle helps burn fat faster.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-11-03 07:52 pm (UTC)