Skinny fat...

Awhile ago I mentioned that it was possible to be "skinny fat." Several people scoffed at this notion. While browsing the addictive site of Pinterest, I came across a blog that explained the concept better than I did and included pictures illustrating two women with approximately 12-15% body fat. Both of them are in the healthy fat range, but this also explains why weighing less isn't always better.

The first picture is someone who would look really good with clothes on. Enter the supermodel:

Can we all say "EWWWWW." That is NOT attractive. Sure, she's thin. But that is all she is. There is no muscle tone, she is bony, and that does not look healthy.

Now enter a woman who probably weighs at least 30 pounds more and has the same percentage of body fat:

Who would you rather look like? Thin and look good in clothes or Fit and look good naked. I, personally, would rather be the latter.

For a better explanation of this concept and more pictures, visit http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/.

Must-have mags....

Because I am a full-time mom, employee, student, etc., I subscribe to very few magazines. The main reason is because I am so short on time, but the other reason is that the magazine has to be worth my time and money. With that said, there are two magazines I subscribe to that I have set up for automatic renewal. I do that so I don't miss an issue.

The first one is Women's Health. It has recipes, helpful information, exercises, etc. I enjoy reading this one and it's a great all-around resource.

The second one is Clean Eating magazine. I LOVE this one. It is chockfull of recipes and tips for healthier living. All the hard work of revising recipes so that they are jam-packed with nutrition is done for me. I love this one so much that I hole punch each issue and place in a binder so that I have my own healthy recipe "book." So far this week, I have made two recipes from this magazine that I also tested on my in-laws.

The first was Pork & Sweet Potato Mole, with Lime & Cabbage Slaw. OMG!!!! Other than getting a little heavy handed with the Chipotle Chile Powder (my own fault), this stuff is out of this world. What's even crazier, my hubby and his parents were in love with it too (and they never prepare "clean" meals). Even funnier, my hubby is not a sweet potato fan and he had no clue that they were in it. All of the flavors blend together that well.

The second recipe was Mulligatawny Soup. This one looked really good, but I was a little skeptical of the ingredients. I was mainly skeptical because the soup called for coconut milk and Granny Smith apples. However, I wasn't going to let that stop me and decided to try it anyway. It, too, was YUMMY!!!! Even hubby enjoyed it, although he asked if those were apples or potatoes in it. :-)

So if you're looking to cut back on magazines, I totally recommend it. Just make sure you keep the ones you actually read or use. And if you're looking to add to your stash, I would highly recommend both of those.

I'd post the recipes, but I am not sure what the Clean Eating magazine's stance is on that. I'll just wait till they come out on their website. But if you want to check out some of their recipes for free, visit www.cleaneatingmag.com.

I have a confession...

That's right. I have a confession to make. And here it is: I am not naturally skinny. Yup, that's right. I am the size I am because I have to work hard to be skinny. And unfortunately, my working at it went on hiatus when I got pregnant and for a long time after having my son. (He'll be 3 in August for a reference for you.)

What makes this super frustrating for me is that one half of my family is what I would like to refer to as the "Land of Little People." Not that they are all really short. Although, my mom does claim to be 5' and I think she really is probably 4' 11". (Don't tell her I said that.)

Truth be told, I am the heifer in my immediate family. My mom barely weighs over 100 pounds. And on a BAD day, my sister MIGHT weigh 100 pounds. They both shop regularly in the Juniors section. This is truly frustrating for me, because when we go shopping, I wander aimlessly while they browse and just wait patiently till we can go to the grown-up section.

Now, I don't hold this against either of them. I could because it would be very easy to resent them for their genetic jackpot. But, I don't. Why? Because upon closer inspection, we are built differently. My mom and sister both have a small skeletal structure, whereas, mine is more average. Add in that I tower over my mom and have several inches on my sister just adds to my ogre-ish feeling when I am clothes shopping with them.

However, since my journey to becoming a healthier me began, I have noticed something and that is this:

No matter how skinny someone is, NEVER think they don't work at it.

That's right. My mom walks every day, golfs when she can, and eats only till she's no longer hungry. (We won't discuss her obsession with Diet Pepsi.) My sister works out probably six days a week. Her routine includes Insanity, running, weights, tennis, P90X, or whatever she can fit in. She also eats really healthy and has always practiced portion control.

So while the rest of us want to cuss the "naturally skinny" girls, more often than not, we can learn from them. Even the rest of the family on my mom's side do the things my sister and mom do.

Now my build will never let me be as small as my sister. Because if I were, I would look emaciated and gaunt. But I can still work at becoming healthier, leaner, and more energized than even now.

I know I still have a lot of work to do before I reach my "ideal" me. And that ideal may not be reflected in the number on my scale. That is why I think it is so important to measure our progress using other methods than just Trusty Rusty. This weekend, I plan on taking pictures in hopes of "seeing" a difference since I started. I took measurements over the weekend and found that I had lost more than an inch off my waist. (I know that's not a great deal...BUT, it's progress.) I had also lost from other areas, as well.

Knowing that I was improving really helped get my butt out of bed this morning to go running when I really just wanted to curl up under the covers. So if you're like me and are not naturally skinny, please raise your hand. Now, pat yourself on the back. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Having to work at it just makes the reward that much sweeter. And in this case, you will be so much stronger.

What are you worth?

We are intended to be unique, to be individuals, and not to all be made from the same mold. But all too often, we measure our worth or uniqueness using a quantitative method.

What is this crazy method that can determine our value, which ironically, is also an inverse relationship? All too often we measure our worth based on the size of our pants or the number on the scale. Now I don't know about you, but I am the only one who sees what Trusty Rusty displays for my weight. Likewise, I am probably the only one who knows the size of pants I wear. My husband might, but if it doesn't go by length or waist, I doubt the number would mean much to him.

Unfortunately, if the number on the scale goes up by a pound or my favorite pair of pants get too tight, my self-worth plummets. I see myself as less of a person and more of a blob oozing its way through life.

Why do we do this? Why do we allow a number to determine our worth? In "Pretty Woman," Julia Roberts admits to the sales lady she is a size 6. (Keep in mind now when that movie came out.) A size 6 is more on the smaller end, but if we were to use Hollywood's standards, a size 6 today is considered borderline obese when most of the actresses are probably a size 4 or smaller.

So we have Hollywood telling us that our worth is determined by a number, and to have value, that number better be small. Add in magazines that photoshop and airbrush 20 pounds off women on a regular basis and it becomes even more impossible to measure up to this unrealistic ideal.

Well, I say "No More!" (I can't say it for you, but I hope you are saying it for yourself.) I am no longer going to use Rusty or my pants as a way to measure my individuality or my worth. (I'd rather use God's measuring sticks.)

But what I will do is use Rusty and my pants to measure my progress. I'd rather be fit than a toothpick. I am female and curves are what make me sexy and attractive; therefore, I'd rather be strong than super skinny.

My value as a human being has nothing to do with the number on my pants or what my scale reads... and NEITHER DOES YOURS! Why should our weight or pants size determine anything when we are the only ones who see them? Our value is measured in who we are as a person, the characteristics that make us unique, and our thoughts, words, and actions. At the end of the day, we should all try to be a better person.... which cannot be reflected by a smaller number.

Have a great weekend.

My love affair...

I have a love affair that's sad to admit. A love affair with the perfect fit. The perfect fit resides in the perfect shoe. And my perfect shoes take me wherever I choose.

This is my affair and affliction that I am no longer willing to fight. Try as hard as I might, resistance is futile. I lie and I cheat. I'll beg and I'll borrow. For me, my goal is to run in a different pair with each passing morrow.

There is a long-held belief in our culture that women have too many women shoes. The myth also holds that this obsession is with fashionable, cute (a.k.a. painful) high-heeled shoes. While I may have my fair share of high-heeled shoes, my obsession/love affair has ventured down another path.

My love affair and shoe obsession is with running shoes.... More specifically, my obsession is with Nike shoes. Mainly because I have Flinstone feet. That's right. They are short, fat, and square. All my toes are the same length. Even better, this seems to be a family trait with a high degree of heritability. (I'd post a picture, but feet are never attractive.) My obsession remains true to this brand because they always fit my feet and don't vary from model to model. (In other words, I can order online and not worry about returning them, which the same cannot be said for women's clothing.)

However, this obsession is probably up to around 10 pairs in my closet (at least). My belief is that each pair needs to "breathe" at least a day in between use to maintain optimum performance. While there are studies to back up rotating exercise shoes, the studies have yet to recommend the need to own that many pairs.

But that doesn't stop me. I justify each pair as "motivation" and carry on. The only one who really has a hard time with my justifications is my husband. He has yet to understand why I need so many, because after all, you can only wear one pair at a time.

Fortunately, I found the perfect example to show why my justification is necessary. You see, the other day, he cleaned all of his boots. Yes, he uses them for work, to ride, and also to rope. But as he's told me, "You can only wear one pair at a time." Well, I kid you not, he had at least 30 pairs drying outside the back door the other day. We could've opened our own western wear store as long as all of our customers wore his size of shoe.

But after seeing his boots lined up neatly--each waiting their turn to go back in the house--I could only chuckle to myself. For you see, there in full glory was a brilliant example of how shoe obsessions are not limited to women and high-heeled shoes. I now believe his point on my shoe obsession is moot and my love affair is free to continue. Maybe one day he will agree. Until then, I will remain a firm believer of "the one who dies with the most shoes runs the fastest through Heaven's gates."

We are what we eat....

We've all heard the saying "You are what you eat." Well.... there are some days I want to be a chocolate souffle with a huge dollop of whipped cream and slivers of curled chocolate.... (Thank me later if you are now drooling too.)

I was somewhat conscious of what I ate before my stroke. Now, I am overboard on how I am eating. (Not saying this is the way to go.) Before I tried to adhere as closely as possible to eating clean. This is a concept that you basically eliminate all refined sugars and flours from your diet and eat more lean meats and WAY more fruits and veggies. (Lots of 'ands' in that last sentence. Sorry.) Now, I may be going overboard in avoiding things I previously enjoyed, but I am trying to eat as healthy as possible in the hopes of helping to prevent another stroke. (I realize there are numerous factors that influence it, but eating is one I can control.)

I was beginning to think that I might be leaning toward OCD in regard to things I am avoiding, and then Coke and Pepsi announced they were both changing their recipes to eliminate a potential carcinogen from their products. Don't believe me? Check it out: http://gma.yahoo.com/video/health-26594251/coke-pepsi-change-recipe-to-remove-carcinogen-28561131.html

Seriously??? They know it is a potential carcinogen and left it in their product for how long? Then in the last few days, I see that "pink slime" is added to hamburger meat that is served in some schools and fast food restaurants. Geez... What else can they do to what nature provides us... http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/is-pink-slime-in-the-beef-at-your-grocery-store/

Dang, as a farm girl, I am ready to get back to my roots and start raising a steer each year. Hubby is opposed to chickens, who thinks I could sneak a steer past him? I think I am going to try.

No matter what changes you are choosing to make in your pursuit of becoming a healthier you, it's always important to keep in mind that eating basics are better than eating man-made products. While basics may seem more expensive, refined products are typically empty calories your body stores as fat instead of receiving nutrition from them. So the more refined products tend to lead to weight gain, more doctor visits, and more prescriptions. For me, the benefits of eating basic outweigh the alternative of consuming refined products.

Also, I know the bandwagon fell apart when I was in the hospital, but I hope you stuck to it and continued to step on the scale to check your weight on Fridays. Plus, it has been long enough that taking pictures and measurements is a good idea.

Finally, I am looking forward to going for a run in the morning. (Yes, I really am that crazy.) It's been too wet or cold or lack of time has prevented me from doing so this week, but tomorrow morning I have no excuses. I hope you don't either.....

Trusty Rusty and Accuracy

For those of you who are still on the bandwagon, (If you've fallen off, GET BACK ON!!!), today's post will discuss scales.

Since my stroke, I have seen multiple doctors, stepped on multiple scales, and noticed something pretty comical (in my warped humor)--NONE of the scales weigh the same. Why is this comical? They are all at the doctors' offices, so shouldn't they be accurate? What I am seeing, is NO!!!

The scale I refer to as Ol' Trusty Rusty is the one I use at home. It is a scale endorsed (or made) by Weight Watchers. I don't know who makes it, but Weight Watchers is written across it, so I am guessing they have some affiliation with Rusty. According to him, I have lost 11 pounds since starting this blog. I am going to go with that for consistency purposes.

Last week I went to the doctor (OBGYN). If I had to guess, I would bet that this scale is the most accurate. Because there are a LOT of hormones that cross that scale each day, and I don't think you want to set one of those women off. Before that appointment, I stepped on Rusty so that I could compare readings. Ironically, I had to ask to get on the scale at the doctor's office. Crazy but true. I guess because this was more of a consultation visit about the medications I can no longer have.

What I saw was that Rusty and the doctor's scale were pretty close. I would say that they are the same, especially when you consider that Rusty sees me naked and pre-breakfast and the doctor's scale sees me with clothing and after breakfast.

Then, yesterday I had another doctor's visit to establish a primary care physician. I again did the same thing. Stepped on Rusty in the a.m., so that I could compare with this other doctor's scale. Same breakfast, similar clothing.

What I saw when I stepped on that doctor's scale was frustrating. I understand a pound or two of difference. But this sucker was more than FIVE pounds different that Rusty. I about freaked. But then, I got to thinking. (Scary, I know.)

As women, we ALL struggle with weight loss and self-esteem. It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, or how much you weigh. We all think we can be smarter, thinner, prettier, etc. So in addition to those struggles, we need to make sure that we use a consistent measuring tool. This means that we need to use the same scale as a tool to track our weight loss. Different scales will manipulate our weight and either make us really happy or leave us truly depressed.

We also need to only measure ourselves BY ourselves. There will always be someone who is thinner, prettier, smarter, etc. But that is our OWN perception and is NOT reality. That person who you feel is better in an area may be envious of you in another. It all comes down to how we see ourselves.

So, if your goal is to lose weight, use the same scale to measure yourself each time. If your goal is something else, figure out a way to chart your progress against yourself--whether that is through pictures or another method.

The bottom line is this: Be the best YOU that YOU can be. There is no one else like YOU, so don't measure yourself by someone else!